Trial By Fire - Bouncing Back, Book 1

Two

"Dad, would you just let me go?" Memphis pleaded as he polished the gun in his hand with the oil cloth. He had started the task every morning with his father as a way to spend time with the man, but now he was using that time to nag him. He smirked, wondering if it was this much fun for Kennedy when she nagged? Did the looks of displeasure make her as giddy as the look on his father’s face was making him?

Thomas shook his head, hating that his child was being so defiant. Ever since he started high school, the boy had been rebelling. First, it started with dying his hair. Then the biker getup. After Kennedy came back to them with one foot in the grave, it got worse. He started staying out later with his friends. The calls from the teachers telling him that his boy’s marks were sliding started. Now the almost eighteen-year-old was whining and begging like a toddler.

He arched a brow, "The answer is no, Memphis."

"But everyone else went to the hospital to see her yesterday," the teen argued.

Glaring at his only child, Thomas growled in frustration. "If your friends jumped off the Falls, would you do it, too?"

"No," the teen scoffed. "I'm loyal, not stupid. Besides, it’s Saturday. There’s no school, and training was cut because of the recent mission and upcoming exams."

Putting his handgun on the table in front of him, Thomas looked at Memphis. He knew that the boy had been crushing hard on Kennedy for some time now. He would have to be deaf, dumb, or dead not to notice. Watching as the teen pulled back the slider on the sidearm, he was cleaning, his eyes softened. He didn’t want to hold his son back too much, but he really didn’t like the girl his son was head over heels for.

She was too mouthy, too rambunctious for his tastes.

"If you can tell me why she's so important to you and your grades, you can go." Thomas relented.

He narrowed his gaze when delight flashed in his son's eyes. Why his boy liked a girl that uncontrollable was beyond him. He didn’t want his son to end up like he did, but the last argument they had whispered through his mind.

"I don't learn like the others, Dad. Even Kenni thinks I may be dyslexic. The letters get all jumbled on me, I have trouble spelling words that should be easy. Sometimes words are completely backwards when I look at them in my books and it throws me off. With Kenni, I get the benefit of a decently patient tutor who reads s**t out to me so that I can understand what’s required."

Shaking his head in disbelief, Thomas said, "Why didn't you tell me you were having so much trouble with school? I could have gotten you the help you needed. I could have taken time off to be on the same page as you. Am I that much of a hardass that you couldn’t come to your father for help?”

"No, Dad. It’s not like that. I just didn't want to bug you when you’re already so busy," Memphis replied. “I didn’t want to worry you when my friends had my back.”

"Isn’t she always nagging you, though?" Thomas questioned as he got to his feet and pulled a jug of juice from the fridge.

He ran a hand through his blue braids and groaned, "I would have fallen behind without her help, and that's a big reason for me to go see her. The other reason is that I like her as more than a friend. I don’t really care about the nagging because it’s how she shows she cares."

Sliding his glare to the teen, Thomas put his glass in the sink and sighed heavily. "What if she doesn't feel the same way?”

"Can you just give her a chance? I mean, I’ve seen the way you work her harder than the rest of us. Believe it or not, she enjoys it. She actually looks forward to training with you because you push us harder than the other guys." Memphis said as he shoved his feet into his sneakers and laced them up.

"Where do you think you're going," his father asked as he followed him to the porch.

Smirking, Memphis said, "You told me that if I could explain how important she was to me and my schoolwork, you would let me go see her. Are you going back on your word, Dad?"

Taking a deep breath, Thomas reached for the dishrag on the counter and hurled it at the teen. "Get the f**k out, you little asshole. I'll be a monkey's uncle if you don't end up being a lawyer or something, Memphis."

Grabbing his cell, Thomas called his partner. Trace picked up on the second ring.

"Robert's Sperm Bank. You whack it, we pack it," his friend joked.

"Man, my kid's got it bad for a certain red-head we know," Thomas lamented.

Trace laughed, "You think that's bad? I've had to deal with a sixteen-year-old gay kid who's been moping around the house like someone just killed his non-existent pet. Not to mention that I got another kid that rarely leaves his room or his best friend’s room for that matter."

"Ouch, that’s harsh. Think we can sell the kids on Etsy or something? I mean, they are home-made, right?” Thomas grunted with a laugh.

Laughing, Trace said. "Anyway, you're not just calling to check in or swap complaints about our kids' likes and dislikes. I know you better than that, man.”

"Memphis confessed that he's got some issues at school with understanding the workload. I have no idea how to confirm that. I've never heard of it running in my family," Thomas replied. He appreciated his friend's straightforwardness. Among all of them, he trusted Trace the most with his parenting problems.

Maybe it was because the other man was raising two teen boys instead of one. Maybe it was because, as standoffish as he made himself, Trace’s sense of humour brought him a bit of sanity. Whatever the reason, he and the German man had been the best of friends for years.

"His mother maybe?" Trace questioned. "If I were you, though, I'd talk to Donna Amber."

Leaning against the counter, he groaned. "I didn't really want to involve her, but it's worth a shot if it helps my boy get through school. He can't rely on his friends all the time. I’ve been trying, but I guess I missed the signs. It ain’t easy being a single parent, but at least you understand."

"Give yourself a pat on the back, Thom. You've been doing alright as a single dad, but you're gonna go grey if you keep worrying the way you do. Talk to Amber about getting him the help he needs to succeed. As far as Kennedy is concerned, just let the chips fall where they may and see where it goes," Trace advised.

"When the hell did you get so damn sagely?"

"I had to grow up fast for the boys. You know that. It hasn’t been easy, and I know that her leaving will cause problems later on, but the boys and I will cross that bridge when we get to it. Amber punched me in the jaw after I mouthed off the first time I crossed paths with her, too, so that may have had something to do with it. That is one woman I am completely terrified of.”

Thomas laughed, "I remember that day quite clearly. Anyway, thanks for the assist, Trace.”

His friend laughed, “So I’ll see you later at the range?"

“Sounds good, man,” Thomas replied.

Disconnecting the call, he thought over what his friend had said. Deciding that it was in his son's best interest, he called Ambrosia for her input. She answered on the second ring.

“What now?” She snapped when she came on the line.

“If you’re busy, I can call back another time.” He answered calmly.

The Mafia Donna let out a breath. “It’s nothing like that, Thomas. I’m worried about Kennedy. She just woke up, and she’s already asking about homework, assignments, tests, and training.”

“So soon? I figured she would have enjoyed the nice break she’s getting,” he replied, shock setting in.

He didn’t think there was anything left about the girl that could possibly surprise him any more than she already had, but here she was slapping him with something else. Was she really that driven? Was she really capable of helping his boy while keeping up with her workload all the time?

He couldn’t see it.

Ambrosia laughed dryly, “Yeah, right. That girl is unstoppable, Thomas. She knows what’s important, and she knows how to get it done. Regardless, I hope Markus and Phoenix didn’t give her too much work to do yesterday.”

Stunned beyond words, Thomas said nothing. Taking a breath, he sighed into the phone. “I don’t know what to do about Memphis. He’s been arguing about seeing Kennedy for a few days now, and today he told me that she helps him study so that he doesn’t fall behind. Apparently, he’s having issues with reading the material.”

“Is that so? Well, I can take a look into everything and see if I can get in touch with someone who can help.” She answered. “I’d hate for him to fail when he’s come so far in life.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, he thanked her before hanging up. Gathering his supplies, he made his way to the shooting range to meet up with Trace.