Forgiven 2 of 4

Chapter 14

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Anthony didn't know what to do, what started out as one time thing spiraled into this huge mess.

"Dad, can I talk to you?" Anthony asked his father as he laid in the recliner reading the newspaper, "it will just take a minute?" his father's eyes never leaving the paper, empty beer cans at his feet. Once he started to drink, he went until he passed out Anthony knew his dad wasn't going to be able to help tonight if at all.

Anthony waited another minute or two before storming off, it was typical of his father to tune everyone out.

"Hey runt, you wanna play catch?" Anthony asked Adam, he knew Adam needed someone to look out for him. Their parents complete messes, and couldn't stand the sight of each other.

Adam smiled "yea, mommy and daddy are fighting again" he rolled his eyes, "I hate it"

"I do too, Adam" Anthony said he didn't know what else to tell the kid.

Once outside, Anthony could hear them fighting again, he wished they would just get a divorce already.

Anthony knew his dad was stepping out on his mom, he happened to catch them at a diner one day after baseball practice. He wanted to confront his dad about it, but never had the courage.

It killed him even more when he found out who the woman was and that she had a kid the same age as him, and also a senior in high school.

Bob Ruzek was rarely home, and Anthony knew he was spending time with that lady and her kid and it pissed him off.

He never went to Anthony's baseball games, or Adam's soccer games always too busy with work.

Just thinking about it made Anthony's blood boil, his thoughts interrupted when he heard Adam start to speak.

"Does daddy love us?" Adam asked as he plopped down in the grass "he doesn't talk to us a lot of times, and he's always at work"

"He loves us runt, he's just busy. He's a policeman, you know that's an important job. He's got to save the city" he told Adam, too bad he can't save his own family he thought to himself.

"Like a superhero?" Adam asked his face lighting up, Anthony couldn't help but laugh.

"Yea, runt. Just like a superhero" he tousled the little boy's hair "let's go inside, I have to get ready"

Anthony showered and changed, he didn't even bother to tell his father goodbye, he stopped in the kitchen "I'm going out mom, I will be home by midnight, that's okay right?"

"Yeah, that's fine. Be good Anthony" Linda said as she hugged her son, "I mean it stay out of trouble"

Anthony had been in and out of trouble the last few weeks, she wasn't sure was he had gotten himself tangled up in but it worried her.

She brought it to Bob's attention and all he said was "its just boys being boys, Linda" try as she might she couldn't shake the feeling that it was much more than that.

Anthony sat on the pier, he didn't know what else to do. He had tried asking his father for help, most of the time his dad blew him off.

He sat on the hood of his car as he wrote the note, tears flowing from his eyes. He was so worried about Adam, but he knew this was what he needed to do.

He hoped that it would all end here, that his father wouldn't be in danger any longer. It may even save his family, he didn't see any other way out.

He finished the letter placed it in an envelope and set it on the dashboard, his hands shaky as he pulled the gun from the glovebox, he grabbed a picture of him and Adam and put in his pocket.

He sat down on a bench, and did the only thing he could think of.

----Note----

Still doesn't answer many questions, I know but the answer is coming!

As always, thanks!

-Kristi