I watched my wife and son, holding back my frustration. I didn’t want to argue in front of others.
“Shelly, come back home with Jack. We need to talk.”
This incident had crossed my line, but she was my wife, and I couldn’t embarrass her in front of others. But Shelly didn’t care about that.
“I’m busy with work, Sean. Can’t you stop making a scene?”
As she spoke, she pulled Jack away from John. “Son, go home with your dad.”
But instead of coming over, Jack clung tightly to John’s leg. “No, no, I don’t want to go home with him. I want to stay with John! I like him!”
Jack’s admiration for John was clear, but I had never seen him look at me like that. I used to think he was just aloof and had even been teased by my cousin: “Even the King of Alameda County can have his own kid turn against him!”
I thought it was just his personality. Now I realized it was because he simply looked down on me as his father!
I glanced at the child and then fixed my gaze on Shelly. “Are you sure you’re not coming back with me?”
Her face stiffened, and she frowned. “Can you stop making a fuss? I’m handling business matters here. Not everyone is fixated on love and romance all the time, and not everyone spends their whole day just dealing with household chores without a care for anything serious!”
Her words became increasingly harsh, and Jack joined in, “Just go already. We have a holiday to celebrate together. Don’t be a nuisance!”
Their words left me feeling cold inside. “If that’s what you want.”
I turned and walked away.
If they didn’t want this opportunity, then so be it.
