Chapter 3: Distant Daddy
Drake didn't want to remember the awful things that had happened when his dad's drinking intensified. He wanted to forget about them, for they made him so angry and so scared. All he wanted was the peace and calmness he had at the beach. He had so much fear and pain in his past that all he wanted was peace. It seemed to be like a lifelong desire of his. Because of his childhood, which was getting more and more darker.
It had been a year since Michael lost his job. Michael was still working at the small law firm and had gotten a promotion, which meant more money. Audrey had even contributed to the family's income by working as a substitute teacher. With the new money, the couple bought a nice house in Freemont in a good neighborhood. Everything seemed okay. Seemed it the important word. Despite his job, Michael was still unhappy and upset at the fact that his former partners left him alone. Michael was unhappy that his former partners were getting a lot of recognition and money. Michael was upset that he couldn't live the extravagant lifestyle he was accustomed to. However, Michael didn't keep it to himself. He often voiced his pain to Audrey on a daily basis. At first, Audrey seemed supportive, patiently listening to him vent his frustration, rubbing his shoulders, being a good wife. However, with every passing day, Michael's venting began to annoy her and she voiced her opinions.
"Get over, Michael!" she said, sternly one day. "So, you don't have the high powered lawyer job. It's not the end of the world."
"Well, it is to me," he yelled. "I worked my butt off for 10 years and at the height of my success, I lose everything."
Audrey felt hurt. She rubbed his shoulders and said, "You didn't lose everything. You have me and Drake."
Michael shook his head and said, "It's not the same."
Audrey felt her heart break. "Sweetie, are you saying that your career is more important than your wife and son?"
Michael didn't respond. He grabbed his jacket and left the house. "I have to go to the office," he said.
Audrey stood in the hallway, confused at what had just happened. Audrey couldn't believe her husband's priorities had gotten out of control. He was putting his career ahead of his family. It was making her sad. Unfortunately, that feeling would turn to something else.
Audrey decided to focus on little Drake, who was turning six any day. Audrey took him to the movies and out to dinner. She ordered Michael some dinner for she was worried that he hadn't eaten. She was even more worried that he hadn't called her, letting her know where the heck he was.
Audrey decided to push her worries out of the way for Drake's sake. That's how she had dealt with all situations since his birth. If Michael wasn't coming home for dinner, she'd go, "Drake Michael, Daddy can't be home. He has to work. He needs to work hard so we can have all the things we have, ok?" If Michael promised to She wanted him to have a childhood, not be burden by worries with money and family. However, Drake knew what was happening with his dad, he just never voiced his concerns. It seemed that there was a nagging thought that if he did tell his mom about his feelings, it would already add to the stress the family was feeling so Drake kept quiet. Even at the tender age of five, Drake realized that his family wasn't like the families he saw on TV, playing together, eating together, or just being happy. Drake wanted that so badly, he wanted to be happy. Sadly, that wasn't to be….at least for a while
Later that night, Audrey gave Drake his nightly bubble bath. Audrey didn't sing or play with Drake as usual. Audrey seemed to be distant. She had done such a great job pushing her worries away but then, as time went on, Michael still didn't show up. Michael was always one to call even if was for a few minutes, he always letting Audrey know where he was. Audrey was getting worried. She couldn't call him on the cell phone, they couldn't afford the payments and they had sold it. Audrey took a quick glance at the clock. It was nearly 8:30, a whole five hours since Michael left. Audrey was worried and having a tough time covering it up.
Drake had immersed himself in his bath toys, the very few toys he had left. He had been oblivious to his mom's looks of worry until she took him out of the bathtub. After letting the water down the drain and drying Drake off, she asked him a question. "Drake-cake?" she asked, using his baby name.
"Yes, Mommy?" he asked.
"Sweetie, I need you to do Mommy a favor," she said, bending down and taking his face in her hands. "I need you to put your pjs on, can you do that for Mommy?"
"Yes, Mommy," he said. "I will."
"Good boy,": she said, giving him a warm kiss.
Drake turned to walk into his room and change into his pajamas. Then, he forgot his rubber ducky and walked into the bathroom to get it. When he did, he saw his mom, crying her eyes out. Drake couldn't believe it. He had never seen his mom cry, ever. Drake hid in the doorway and watched his mom cry. She was sitting on the bed, bending over and her shoulders bouncing up and down, her face in her hands. Then, she stood up and Drake saw his mom's face laced with tears. Drake went over and said, "Mommy? Mommy, why are you crying?"
Audrey stood up and turned away, wiping her tears. She was trying to hide her pain. "Drake, sweetie, what are you doing? I thought I told you to go to bed," she said, hastily.
"I came to get my ducky," he said. "I saw you crying." He was about to walk over when the two heard the door open. Michael was home. Relieved, Audrey's eyes cleared and she smiled. She picked up Drake and put him to bed. As Drake pulled the covers up, he asked for another nightly tradition. "Mommy, can you sing to me?" he asked.
Audrey looked at him and said, "Maybe later, ok?"
Drake nodded. "Ok."
Audrey kissed and hugged him goodnight. She shut the light and went down to talk to Michael. Drake closed his eyes and went to sleep. However, he was woken up an hour later by yelling and screaming.
"Is this dinner?" he asked, angrily.
Those were the words Michael greeted his wife with. Audrey came down to find her husband standing by the kitchen table, holding the tin-folded wrapped dinner that she had bought for him. He didn't look pleased.
"Where were you?" she asked, ignoring his question.
"I asked, is this dinner?" he asked, his voice growing louder and angrier.
Audrey studied her husband. She looked at him. He was the drunkest she had ever seen him. His eyes were glassy and he could barely stand up. It was scary! For the first time in her life, she began to feel fear. She took a deep breath but apparently it didn't work. In a shaky voice, she said, "y-y-you didn't come home and Drake and I went to dinner-"
"You are suppose to be at home!" he screamed. "Cooking, cleaning, being my wife! Not working, not going out for dinner! Being at home!"
Audrey felt more fear inject her. She couldn't believe that Michael yelling at her over something as little as food.
Audrey's chest began heaving. "Michael, what is wrong with you?" she asked, quietly, still feeling fearful. "You leave the house and don't call me. I get worried about you. I'm crying about you and our son sees and he feels horrible and I'm-"
"Shut up," he said, angrily.
Audrey felt shocked. "What did you say?" she demanded, quietly. Suddenly, the fear went away and angry took its place. "What did you say to me?" she demanded. Michael turned to walk up the steps when Audrey grabbed him by the arm and said, "I'm your wife-"
Michael grabbed his wife's arm and looked deep into her eyes with a penetrating glaze. "That's right, you are my wife and Drake's my son," he glared. "You will both do what I say, understand?"
Audrey felt fear once again entered her. She was so scared that she couldn't speak.
"Understand!" he demanded, louder, grabbing her arm tighter.
Audrey felt more fear and forced back tears. "Yes," she said, quietly.
Michael dropped her arm and walked up to their bed.
Audrey sat down on the chair in fear. She lifted up her sweater and saw the spot on her arm where Michael had grabbed. There was a red spot on it. Audrey took one look at the arm and realized this was the beginning. The beginning of the cuts and bruises.
