Saturday was the perfect day to have a party. The sun was out and the temperature was in the 70's, which anyone from Massachusetts can be thankful for. I had rented a moon bounce and a few ponies to entertain the kids. My father was thrilled to see 3 ponies being brought into his backyard.
"John I'm telling you if those horses do anything to destroy my yard it will be your ass" my father warned me.
"Fabo, relax its cake… besides it's your grandson's birthday, have a beer and take a seat".
He grabbed a drink and sat down on the couch mumbling what I believed to be curses in my direction. I laughed as Boston jumped into his lap and began chatting his ear off.
"Boston take a breath" I said to my son. He stuck his tongue out at me.
"Do it again and I'll cut it off" I teased.
"Jackass" he replied. Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at him.
"Boston Anthony John Mercer where did you learn that word" I yelled.
"Atie Maddie call you it" he said with tears in his eyes.
I took him for my father and hugged him.
"It's ok Boo that's a bad word, don't say it again" I told him.
"Otay daddy I tell Atie Maddie she says bad words and they are bad"
"You do that when she gets here" I said putting him down. He ran off to go play with one of the kids that had just arrived. It was still early and not many people were here yet.
"Are you going to change his last name?" Sean asked.
"I've thought about it but I'm not sure … maybe when he is a little bit older" I said.
I had thought about changing Boston's last name but then again it was Ashley's. But then I would think if we were together at the time when he was born he would have my last name, and that she would still be alive and we'd get married. Sometimes I thought so hard about that specific subject, that if it were possible my brain would start bleeding.
Boston's friend Nicole arrived along with her mother… who seemed to have a thing for me, the feelings weren't shared. Connie Homes (not relation to Katie believe me I asked) was good looking but right now at this point in my life romance was the furthest thing from my mind.
"Hey John" she said flirtatiously.
"Hi" I replied.
"So what time do you want me to pick her up?" Connie asked, making sure her shirt was down low enough for me to see something.
Sometimes I really wondered if the world was going to hell, she is trying to give me a show at my son's birthday party.
"Umm we're eating at 5 so anytime after that" I said.
"No problem" she said.
She gave her daughter a kiss and told her to be good and as she was walking out she blew me a kiss, I wanted to gag but that would be impolite.
"Seems like you are getting a little action"
I turned around to see Abby.
"Bite your tongue" I scoffed.
She laughed a little at my distress.
"Did you come here to mock me?" I asked.
"Hey you invited me" she said "and no… I even brought a gift"
She lightly threw it at my chest.
"Boston, Abby is here come say hi" I yelled.
He came running over and gave Abby a hug. Then he went back over to his group of friends. For a 2 year old he has a lot of friends. I caught Abby watching me out of the corner of my eye. I couldn't help but like the feeling.
Abby was beautiful there was no denying that. Her caramel colored skin and brown eyes suggested a mixed background. She was the athletic type or so her body portrayed her as. Ashley had been the same way the last time I had seen her.
"So like what you see?" I asked.
Abby seemed shaken for a brief second but she played it off nice
"Well I would if I wasn't looking at you" she replied.
'Nicely played' I thought.
"Sure whatever you say" I walked away.
Later on I found her talking to Maddie (not a good thing). I really didn't want to know what they were discussing. But I went over to them anyways.
"Madeline something to discuss with you" I said.
"Yes Jackass what is it" she said.
"Well you see your 2 year old nephew called me a jackass earlier and when I asked him where he heard that word he said Auntie Maddie"
"Aww I wish I was here… I always miss the good things" she faked whined.
"Seriously please be more careful I don't want him going to school and saying those words"
"Fine" she said "I agree with you and I'm sorry but you still are a jackass"
"Yeah… yeah whatever" I said.
"So how long have you known John?" Maddie asked Abby.
I had walked away but I was still within hearing range talking to my dad.
"I've known him a little over a year, Boston is in my dance class" Abby replied.
"So has he tried to sleep with you yet?" Maddie asked.
I shot her a glare which basically meant cut the shit. She grinned back at me. Abby laughed.
"No and I don't want him too"
I shook my head and walked away.
"I just do that to annoy him but in reality he loved my sister very much" Maddie said "as much as I dislike him I have to admit I'm impressed at how much he has changed"
"Have you always not liked him?" Abby asked.
"No there was a time when my whole family thought John and my sister were going to get married but then John fucked it up" Maddie said.
'That's right I fucked everything up' I thought bitterly.
After we ate dinner Boston was really anxious to have the cake and open presents.
"Now daddy?" he asked for the 5th time.
"Ok cake time" I yelled.
Boston was jumping up and down now. He had a seat poor little guy had to sit on his knees to reach the table. We sang to him and I helped him cut his cake. Boston being the wise guy that he is decided to stick his hand in his piece of cake and wipe it all over my face.
"That's it Boo it's on" I said and that was the beginning of the biggest food fight I had ever been apart of.
Parents came to pick up their kids who had food all over them and all the kids kept saying was they wanted to come and play at Boston's house again. Let's just say some parents won't be letting their kids near my son for a while. Boston seemed to have a good time.
"Ok Boo medicine time" I said. This was after I bathed him and pressed him in a pair of red feetie pajamas with footballs on them.
Boston and I were in the kitchen. I grabbed the medicine out of the fridge and began to shake the pink bubblegum tasting liquid. I was surprised that Boston didn't fight me he just sat down and opened his mouth. I had never had a reason to give him medicine before so this was new to me.
My mother walked in as I was about to feed Boston his medicine.
"No!" she exclaimed knocking the spoon and it contents to the floor.
Both Boston and I were startled.
"What the hell was that about?" I asked wiping the medicine off of my sleeve.
"He's allergic to penicillin" she informed me "you could have literally just killed him.
My face fell as the seriousness of the situation sunk in.
"Oh my god was all I could say"
"Who the hell did you take him to?" she asked in a fit of outrage" what kind of half assed doctor would give medicine to a child who has a serious allergic reaction to it"
"I am the worst parent in the world" I sank into a chair "I was just going to feed him his medicine without a care in the world"
"You didn't know" she put her hand on my shoulder.
Boston climbed into my lap and I ran my fingers through his hair because I knew he loved that.
"You did… I'm his father I should know these things" I insisted.
"That may be true but look at you John, you have grown up in such a short time… believe me there was a time I was really worried about you but now I couldn't be more proud"
Knowing my mother was proud of me lifted my spirits a little.
"You used to party till all hours of the night but now you enjoy sitting around playing with your son"
"I still go out I just don't drink as much" I pointed out.
"John you were a selfish inconsiderate jerk who I thought about disowning more than once but since Boston entered your life you have become such a better person" she said
"But at what cost?" Boston was half asleep in my arms.
"Someone has had a very long day, I'll take him and get him ready for bed go hang out with your friends"
I handed him over and went outside there were still some people over mainly family and friends and Abby was still there she happened to be talking to my cousin. I had a seat and closed me eyes.
"I'm impressed" Abby said.
"About what?" I asked.
"When I first met you I honestly thought you didn't care but I am happy to admit I was wrong" she replied.
"I care… sometimes too much" I said.
My mother brought Boston back out. "He wanted to say good night"
I took him from her and kissed his forehead.
"I love you Boo and have good dreams"
"I wuv you daddy" Boston said.
"Grandma is gonna put you to bed ok" I said.
"No you" he said.
"Boo come on I put you to bed all the time" I said.
"No … you" he insisted.
"Fine" I relented.
I read and sang to him, tucked him in and gave both him and the bear a kiss.
"Ok night Boo" I said.
He mumbled something in his sleep.
I went and sat on the porch.
"You have a nice singing voice" Abby said.
"I guess" I replied. I shrugged.
"So what's the deal with you?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"How did you start doing what you do?" I asked.
"Well I had been dancing all my life and when it came time to decide what I wanted to do I knew I loved to dance and that I loved kids so I tried to find some way to combine them" she explained "my mom freaked out but my dad was happy for me"
"My mom was the same way" I laughed a little "she kept saying that I was going to break my neck"
"So what's going on between you and Connie Homes?" Abby asked.
I cringed "I have no idea what she thinks but there is nothing going on… I don't want anything going on with anyone, Ashley was the love of my life and I royally fucked that up, I don't feel like I deserve to be in a relationship" I put my head in my hands.
"Don't think that way" she forced me to look at her "you are a good man John don't forget that"
"Aww doesn't this look cute" I recognized the venomous tone right away.
Maddie, who had seen the intruder arrive, came over to us.
"Adrian, what are you doing?" Maddie asked cautiously.
"What's the matter little sister didn't you miss me?" Adrian seemed different. Even Maddie seemed a little bothered by Adrian's presence.
"When were you released?" Maddie asked.
"About a moth ago" she replied "thanks for the letters by the way"
"Ok what the hell is going on?" I asked.
"Oh so you don't know" Adrian said "goodie… I've been in a mental hospital for the past year"
The blood drained from my face.
"Apparently trying to kill yourself merits a stay in one"
"Adrian please you are scaring people" Maddie reasoned.
"Relax I'm not staying I just came to let John know that I'm taking Boston back…"
A/N: Ok I'm done with this chapter. A new update will be soon. Oh and if anyone is interested to know what Boston looks like there is a link in my profile that goes to my myspace page. Go to the pics and look at the ones labled Nicholas. You don't have to just thought I would put the option out there.
