Stories Of Paper: Unwritten Love

Chapter Seven- Pete

Chapter Seven

Pete

Coka-a-doodle-do the rooster crows announcing the start of my morning. I roll out of bed, get myself dressed, ready for the day. I tiptoe through the house to the kitchen. Thanks to my four am timer I set on my coffee pot, by the time I get there the pot is full. I pour myself a cup, start busying myself getting Jaxs lunch ready. I made macaroni and cheese with hotdogs last night for dinner. So today I'm cutting up the dogs, putting them in the macaroni, mixing it together. I cut up an apple, place it in a sandwich bag. Baby carrots and ranch dressing. All placed in his Paw Patrol vintage style lunch box. With the last touch, his favorite apple juice box and a dollar. Why give him a dollar after all that food I just packed, you ask? Well Jax loves to get chocolate milk from the cafeteria. I can't pack it for him myself, it will spoil. Plus it makes him feel all grown up to get things for himself.

Lunch complete I take a seat at the dining room table. Sipping on my coffee I scroll through i********:. Notification icon is lit up. I click on it who you may know Katie Reign, humm.. interesting. Clicking on her profile, blocked of course. Sending a friend request. Pocketing my phone.

I walk into Jax's room. Light filtering through the curtains. Cascading over his little face. His Paw Patrol blanket snugly pulled up around his neck. Looking so innocent, peaceful, wishing I could just climb into his tiny little bed and hold him for the rest of the day. I lean against the door casing taking one last minute before I have to wake him up. Brennan's photo flashes into my mind's eye.

Brennan is an abducted child who has been missing for two weeks. The department has been working tirelessly to try to find the boy. Our time is starting to run out, cold cases have already been contacted. Cases like this frightens the hell out of me. I wish I could be there to protect my little man all hours of the day. My heart is broken in pieces thinking of not only Brennan, but his family. Staring down at my watch, forty five seconds until I have to wake Jax up. I give myself that time to wallow in my feelings about Brennan and his situation.

Shaking off the daunting thoughts I kneel down beside his bed. Running my fingers through his hair. Jax starts to stir. "Hey buddy. Good morning. It's time to wake up. I need your help making breakfast."

His eyes flutter, he places his small hand on my cheek. Rubbing my beard softly. "So prickly daddy." Giggles from Jax is the sweet sound that fills the room.

"I know buddy, let's go get some breakfast. Don't you want to grow up to be big and strong like me? And a prickly beard too." I tickle his little belly. He starts laughing, throwing his blankets all around. Twisting from side to side, trying to get out of my grasp.

"Pee pee daddy! It's coming." I stop immediately. He jumps out of bed, full sprint to the bathroom.

"I'll meet you downstairs. I put your outfit on your toy box." I call out to him as I make my descent.

Pulling out the eggs, bacon, and bread. Setting the plates, silverware, and cups on the counter. Jax loves to set the table for me. I make a point to include him as much as I can while doing anything in our house. I want him to learn how to care for himself.

Heating up the pan, placing the bacon in, cracking the eggs into a bowl, adding a little milk, I start whisking. Bread is already in the toaster. Jax likes to press the lever. Bacon starts to sizzle, creating an aroma in the air. As I pour the eggs into the preheated pan I hear these little footsteps slapping against the wood floors.

Jax comes up next to me hugs my leg and grabs the plates from the counter. He starts setting the rest of the table. When he is done he says. "Daddy can I press the button now?" He jumps up and down. Geeze I wish I had just a little bit of that energy.

"Yes, buddy. It's all set up for you." Reaching up, pressing the lever down. He stands there watching the toaster until it pops itself back up. "Ready!" He screams when the bread makes its appearance again.

Turning off the cooktop, I reach over and place the toast on a plate that Jax brings over to the table. I continue filling our plates. "Are you ready for school today?"

“Yea, Miss Honey said yesterday we will be painting dinosaurs today.” He says while eating his eggs.

“Painting dinosaurs? Which one did you decide to paint?”

“Trex duh.” He says as he looks at me with his mouth open, eyebrows scrunched together, fork in the air. Questioning looks on his face like is there is any other choice I should make.

“Trex?”

“Yea the big one with little arms.”

“Well duh, my mistake. Eat up so we aren't late then. I'm looking forward to seeing your masterpiece after school.” Jax starts squirming in his seat. Our food is gone.

“Daddy my pants feel funny.” He starts pulling on his pants.

“Come here, let me see.” Jax walks up to me. I take a look at where he is pulling. Holding back my laughter. His underwear is on backwards. The tag is in the front, probably giving him a wedgie as well.

“Buddy you have your underwear on backwards. Go to the bathroom and fix that. I'll grab your backpack and put the dishes in the sink for us. Ok? “

Quickly gathering the dishes and his backpack. Keys in hand. Jax comes to me.

“Can we take the car with all the lights today?”

“Sure buddy, I'll even let you turn the lights on. Only on our street though, does that sound good?”

He giggled with glee as we took off towards his school. Enjoying this time with him as he has the best time looking at all the buttons and gadgets in the squad car. We pulled up to his school. I walk him up to the entrance, I kneel on my knee and he wraps his little arms around my neck. “I love you daddy.”

“I love you too, buddy.” He kisses my cheek. I kiss his back. He takes off towards the door. His backpack is still a little too large for his small frame. Bouncing up and down with every step. He looks back at me and waves. I wave back to him. “Have a good day!” I called out. As he enters the door.

~

Sitting at my art table in the attic of my home, my sketchbook spread out. Drawing frantically. When the urge hits me it's hard to pry myself away. Expressing myself all over the page. Stroke after stroke, the image starts to take form. Blending the graphite with my fingers, swirling, spinning my book to get a better vantage point. When I'm drawing it's like I go to a different dimension. My worries, regrets, and responsibilities vanish. Art has always brought me to that space. I don't tell many people about it. It's very personal to me. A secret escape to work out the demons in my mind. As I work the image to match what is in my mind's eye, I sit back, trying to decipher what it is. My art has always brought me to an abstract point of view. A feeling more than an object. Sometimes I'll sit back and realize I have worked things out. Sometimes I need more closure. Today is one of those days.

Content with my drawing, I take out my acrylics, getting to work on my canvas. Colors blending, strokes are jagged, imperfect. Blending one section while keeping others jumbled, broken. I work tirelessly for hours. Getting lost in my painting. My mind goes blank, concentration focused solely on where the painting takes me. Feeling spent, exhausted, looking over my project. Becoming too much all of a sudden. I clean up my supplies and head down the stairs.

Paint splattered all over my shirt and jeans, I took a look at myself in the mirror. Graphite on my cheek, paint in my hair. I strip down, head in the shower. The warm water washes down my body, running over my face. Stress and tension easing out of my shoulders under the pounding shower head. Quickly soaping up, rinsing off, I switch the shower off. I wrap my towel around my waist, head to my room to get dressed.

Sitting on my couch now, flipping through the channels on the TV. Boring, click. Boring, click. Boring, click. Sick of trying to find something to watch. I opened my text app.

Me: Do you suffer from alektorophobia?

Katie: Are you asking me if I have a disease?

Me: No, I would never! Just wondering if you suffer from alektorophobia? It may be vital information needed for our date.

Katie: Just looked that one up…. Fear of chickens? Why do all your date ideas involve animals? Should I be worried?

Me: Just thinking out of the box, we have already crossed off donkeys so I wasn't sure if all animals are off the table or just ones you would have to kiss? No need to worry. I've got a plan. P.s. you didn't answer my question.

Katie: No I don't suffer from… however you spell that phobia. I just remembered I have an appointment on Friday, I'm going to have to call a raincheck on our date.

Me: Ok, good to know. No chickens either. You are making this very hard on me. All my ideas are shut down without even being given a chance. I know you don't really have an appointment. I promise no chickens.

Katie: I guess you will find out if I’m lying or not when you get here.

Me: Noooo. Don't keep me guessing.