received a personal message from my boss.
“I wasn’t thrilled with that either, but you know mom. As far as Chloe, I brought that on myself by not letting her know what was going on.”
We talk a bit more and as we’re getting ready to hang up, he says “You might be getting a call from your brother.”
Even though he can’t see me, I roll my eyes. Our family grapevine is alive and well. We make plans to get together soon and as we’re hanging up, my phone beeps.
I hit “send” and say, “Hey.”
I can already hear my asshat brother laughing. “So, I hear you’re in the doghouse. Finally, it’s you and not me. You’re an idiot, J…what were you thinking?”
“Whatever, asshole. I doubt you would be happy if your wife accused you of cheating. Not to mention, mom calling your boss to make you call her back.”
“She called Susan?”
“Yeah, I rejected her calls after she found out about Chloe and the next thing I know Susan is in the ER insisting that I call mom.”
“And to make matters worse, this new nurse at the ER, who was apparently rude to both Chloe and mom, and one who I defended, is on the prowl for a doctor. I didn’t know that shit. I thought they were going overboard for nothing.”
By this time, he is howling with laughter. “You seriously fucked up, J.”
“Laugh it up, I will remember this when you call me next time on how to get out of hot water with Madison.”
“I don’t think I will be calling you. I’ve succeeded to the throne of best husband status; you’ve lost your place.”
“Don’t worry, I will be getting it back. But, you’re right…I fucked up badly. So, king of husbands, what should I do to fix it?”
“Well, what would work for Madison involves soft rope and being tied up. But since we’re talking about Chloe that might not work. Take her to Cabo or something like that. Let mom keep the boys while you’re gone. You know, reconnect…do that lovey shit y’all like to do.”
I mentally shut out any thoughts of Madison and rope and consider his Cabo option. I don’t know if I can swing it with my schedule, but I will call in every favor I have to make it happen. Sleepiness suddenly hits me and I remember how tired I am. All I want to do is see my sons and curl up in bed with my wife.
“Jayson, are you still there,” I hear Connor ask.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m half asleep. I haven’t slept except for a few hours over the last two days.”
I hear all humor leave my brother’s voice. “You need to wake up. I’ll stay on the phone with you until you get to mom and dad’s house. You shouldn’t be driving with no sleep. How much longer until your residency is finished?”
Wearily, I try to think of how much longer until I’m done, but my brain is too fuzzy to come up with an answer.
“I think a couple of months…”
“You should have stuck with engineering. No nights or weekends unless I’m on a special project.”
“That must be why you have so many kids…too much time on your hands.”
We continue to talk and take shots at each other until I reach the street for our parent’s house.
“Hey, I’m here. Thanks for staying on the phone with me.”
“Your welcome, dude. Now get in there and fix everything with your wife. You don’t want mine putting out a hit on you.” Somehow I know he probably isn’t joking.
“I will. Thanks. See you later.”
We disconnect and I park in the driveway behind Chloe’s car. I sit there for a moment while my head pounds even more ferociously than before. I’m also aware that my body is aching all over, but that’s probably just from lack of sleep. There’s no way I can be getting sick…with everything I’m exposed to; I have an iron immune system.
Realizing I’m delaying the inevitable, I lock up my truck and walk towards the back door. The door isn’t locked and as I walk in, I see Chloe and my mother sitting at the table talking. They don’t hear me come in and for a second, I take in
“I wasn’t thrilled with that either, but you know mom. As far as Chloe, I brought that on myself by not letting her know what was going on.”
We talk a bit more and as we’re getting ready to hang up, he says “You might be getting a call from your brother.”
Even though he can’t see me, I roll my eyes. Our family grapevine is alive and well. We make plans to get together soon and as we’re hanging up, my phone beeps.
I hit “send” and say, “Hey.”
I can already hear my asshat brother laughing. “So, I hear you’re in the doghouse. Finally, it’s you and not me. You’re an idiot, J…what were you thinking?”
“Whatever, asshole. I doubt you would be happy if your wife accused you of cheating. Not to mention, mom calling your boss to make you call her back.”
“She called Susan?”
“Yeah, I rejected her calls after she found out about Chloe and the next thing I know Susan is in the ER insisting that I call mom.”
“And to make matters worse, this new nurse at the ER, who was apparently rude to both Chloe and mom, and one who I defended, is on the prowl for a doctor. I didn’t know that shit. I thought they were going overboard for nothing.”
By this time, he is howling with laughter. “You seriously fucked up, J.”
“Laugh it up, I will remember this when you call me next time on how to get out of hot water with Madison.”
“I don’t think I will be calling you. I’ve succeeded to the throne of best husband status; you’ve lost your place.”
“Don’t worry, I will be getting it back. But, you’re right…I fucked up badly. So, king of husbands, what should I do to fix it?”
“Well, what would work for Madison involves soft rope and being tied up. But since we’re talking about Chloe that might not work. Take her to Cabo or something like that. Let mom keep the boys while you’re gone. You know, reconnect…do that lovey shit y’all like to do.”
I mentally shut out any thoughts of Madison and rope and consider his Cabo option. I don’t know if I can swing it with my schedule, but I will call in every favor I have to make it happen. Sleepiness suddenly hits me and I remember how tired I am. All I want to do is see my sons and curl up in bed with my wife.
“Jayson, are you still there,” I hear Connor ask.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m half asleep. I haven’t slept except for a few hours over the last two days.”
I hear all humor leave my brother’s voice. “You need to wake up. I’ll stay on the phone with you until you get to mom and dad’s house. You shouldn’t be driving with no sleep. How much longer until your residency is finished?”
Wearily, I try to think of how much longer until I’m done, but my brain is too fuzzy to come up with an answer.
“I think a couple of months…”
“You should have stuck with engineering. No nights or weekends unless I’m on a special project.”
“That must be why you have so many kids…too much time on your hands.”
We continue to talk and take shots at each other until I reach the street for our parent’s house.
“Hey, I’m here. Thanks for staying on the phone with me.”
“Your welcome, dude. Now get in there and fix everything with your wife. You don’t want mine putting out a hit on you.” Somehow I know he probably isn’t joking.
“I will. Thanks. See you later.”
We disconnect and I park in the driveway behind Chloe’s car. I sit there for a moment while my head pounds even more ferociously than before. I’m also aware that my body is aching all over, but that’s probably just from lack of sleep. There’s no way I can be getting sick…with everything I’m exposed to; I have an iron immune system.
Realizing I’m delaying the inevitable, I lock up my truck and walk towards the back door. The door isn’t locked and as I walk in, I see Chloe and my mother sitting at the table talking. They don’t hear me come in and for a second, I take in
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