Two days later, Alan went to Bri's apartment to visit his grandson, who was going to be in a cast for a few weeks. Doug was working on homework at the small dining table, as Alan, greeting Bri politely, came in.
"Granpa!" Doug looked up with a big smile on his face. His twisted ankle prevented him from getting up.
"I was in the neighborhood, and thought I'd stop by"
"I'm doing some homework right now," Doug said..
"Would you like something to drink or eat?" Bri asked Alan.
"No thanks" Alan said, sitting next to him. "What are ya working on?"
"Math"
"Do you like math?"
"Not really. I like reading better"
"Do you need some help?" Alan offered.
"No. My teacher gives too much math homework" the boy complained.
"It's for your own good" Bri tried to assure him, as she graded papers across from him. "You'll thank her later."
The boy just frowned, and continued with his homework.
"You know Doug, if you need some help in the math stuff, I'm sure Charlie would help you," Alan offered.
"Okay" Doug said.
"I'll leave you to your homework" Alan told him, but then whispered to Bri "I'd like to have a word?"
"okay" she nodded, and the two adults went to the kitchen.
"We need to talk about this situation"
"Alan, please! My lawyer told me not to talk about the case with anyone"
"But you can listen"
Bri sighed. "I thought we had a truce. You can come over, and we wouldn't talk about this"
"Doug's going to be entering adolescence very soon."Alan warned. "It's essential that now, he starts bonding with Don, so that both of you can be parents to him. When Charlie went to Princeton at the age of thirteen, my wife had to raise him alone because I needed to be here to work. She struggled so much! Boys need their father."
"Alan.."
"Think about what I said" Alan told her, said goodbye to Doug, and left the apartment.
09809809809
That Thursday, Don's lawyer called him at his cell, as he wrote a report at his cubicle.
"Ms. O'Brian's lawyer has made a possible offer to settle out of court."
"What kinda offer?"
"Two weekends and a week a month, plus six weeks in summer"
"Tell the lawyer to make it two weeks a month and six weeks in summer, and I'll consider it."
"Will do"
"And I also want equal say in Doug's life and health" Don added.
"Fine"
0980980800
Meanwhile, Doug and Aaron moped at the main office, crutches by their sides. They hated being inside while others were playing at recess.
"We could go camping at my house this weekend" Aaron suggested. "We'll pitch a tent in the backyard, and watch DVDs."
"It's my weekend with my Dad and step mom." Doug pointed out. "Maybe you could come?"
"I'll ask my parents" Aaron said.
Thankfully, Don had met Aaron's parents a few times , so the child was able to stay. After dinner,Don, using an old tent of Alan, set up a camp for them at his and Robin's backyard.
"What do you guys plan to do?"
"Watch DVDs" Doug said. "Aaron has his own DVD player."
"What DVDs will you be watchin' "
"Dunno" Doug said. "He's got lots"
"Yeah I do" Aaron shifted uncomfortably.
"Let me see what you've got" Don insisted.
Reluctantly, Aaron showed him all the DVDs he bought.
Don looked at them, in surprise. "Friday the 13th? Psycho? .." Don kept looking at various DVDs. "None of these are appropriate"
"They're my brother's" Aaron admitted.
"Put them away" Don said "I'll go find something else for you guys" He gingerly got out of the tent, and started going through his collection in the house.
"Didn't the boys bring some?" Robin asked.
"Aaron did, but they're not movies I want'm to see"
"I don't think you're gonna find something that ten year olds are going to like" Robin suggested "Go to Blockbuster"
"I know I have something" Don insisted, and finally found a unopened DVD.
"It was a Christmas gift a few years ago. Person didn't know better" Don said "And this is a family movie." Soon, he returned to the tent.
"I found you guys something" Don told them, and then warned "You're too young to watch those other movies. They can mess up your mind"
"It looks boring" Doug complained, when he saw the cover.
"Movies don't have to be about blood and gore. Give it a chance"
"Okay Dad" Doug took the DVD from his father, and popped it in.
TBC