Joey hated seeing his parents fight. One day, he heard aviva shouting through the phone at his father. "You don't come and visit your son anymore! Its YOUR child and first of all, I never wanted to get pregnant! But no... You were all like, come on aviva, lets have a baby!" He could hear what chris was saying through his shouts on the phone. "Well shut the fuck up slut or ill come and shut your mouth for good!" "Make me!" "Alright then." The call hung up, and Joey stood in the doorway. Aviva began to cry, knowing how much Joey hated that. "Mommy, why does daddy hate me?" Aviva hugged her 7 year old son, and held him against her. "He doesn't hate you.., its me he hates." "Why?" "Its best not to tell you right now..." "But mommy, its not my fault you and daddy divorced... Right?" "No sweetie, its not. It has nothing to do with you." "Mommy?" "Yes Joey?" "Is daddy ever coming back to live with us? I miss him." "I miss him too sweetie but it was his decision..." Joey held his teddy bear against himself, and hugged it.
Later, aviva opened the door to find Chris standing there, looking ready to kill. Joey stood in front of Aviva, holding his teddy bear, and in his 1 piece pajamas. He gave Chris an innocent smile, and Aviva held onto him. "Daddy?" "What do you want kid?" "Do you hate me?" "Yes! And your stupid idiot mom as well!" Joey began to cry, and aviva hugged him. "Chris! He's your son! Have some respect!" "I don't care!" He punched aviva in the face, and she touched her bleeding cheek. She couldn't get up, and Chris wouldn't let Joey go near her. "Chris help me!" She cried, but all he did was point and laugh. He kicked aviva in the stomach, and she couldn't get up anymore, except cough up blood. "Joey, call the emergency services please!" She cried, and Joey frantically dialed the number. They came immediately, and took her. When the door closed, Joey was alone, when the neighbor knocked. "Joey, be a dear and open the door please." "Ok!" He opened the door, and let his nanny in. "Hey Joey." "Hi." "What's wrong?" "Daddy hurt mommy." "And you saw all that?" "Yes." He began to cry again, and she hugged him. The elder woman smiled, and touched his cheek. "Why don't you make your mommy a present?" "Like a card?" "Yea, we can go to the store if you'd like." "But I don't have money." "I was going to the store anyway. You can be my official helper for the rest of the day." "Yay!"
In the store, he walked beside her, thinking. "Go get your mom something and I'll be in the produce ok?" "Ok." He returned with a card, and she smiled. "Great choice."
The next day, Joey entered Aviva's room to find her on her bed, sad. "Hi mommy." "Hi sweetie." "Mommy I made this for you." Aviva opened the card, and smiled. "Your presents are always the best." She hugged him, and Joey settled into her chest. "Mommy, will daddy hurt you again?" "I hope not." "If he does, can I protect you?" "Sweetie that's very kind but you're still young and he's way bigger." "No I'm not!" He pouted, and aviva smiled, but felt worried. After all, Chris knew a lot Joey, especially where she picked him up after school. When was it all going to be over? Was aviva going to keep her son hidden from her ex for years?