Author's Note: Two updates in two days. Not bad huh? However it might be Sunday or Monday before I can update again. In the mean time, tell me what you think. And thanks for all the reviews. You guys rock.
The Bridges we Burn
Chapter Three: The Brady Bunch
After the third time the phone rang, Bobby almost gave up. He thought that maybe his luck was turning around. After all, all he could do was try. If no one answered, well, that wasn't his fault. But then someone did answer. At first all he could hear was the sound of loud music and some faded voices in the background. But then a tired "hello" came through the line. It wasn't Sabrina.
It was Jaime. Bobby was sure of it. Bobby's voice caught in his throat and for some strange reason he couldn't answer. Of course, Bobby would deny that it was any sort of emotion that was blocking his airway, but nonetheless he said nothing.
"Hello? Any one there?" The kid continued. Then Bobby realized that the kid didn't sound tired. He sounded high.
"Uh, yeah. You're mom there?" Bobby managed to answer. Before it could register in Bobby's mind that he should have asked for Sabrina and not 'your mom', the kid had muttered a 'hold on'. The music got louder as well as the men's voices. Bobby shook his head disapprovingly. Leave it to Sabrina to bring a kid to Parkview.
"Ma, some dude is on the phone. He wants ya!" The kid yelled, his northern accent prominent in his speech.
"Tell her it's Bobby," The oldest Mercer said quickly, but he highly doubted the kid could hear him. Bobby could barely hear himself over the bad excuse for music.
"Yeah?" A female voice slurred. Bobby felt like knocking the bitch out. What was she doing? Getting high with her thirteen-year old and a bunch of random men?
"Sabrina. It's Bobby. What the fuck are ya' doing at Parkview? You know what kind of shit goes on there?" Bobby practically yelled. Sabrina let out a cold laugh.
"Course I know what kinda shit goes on here Bobby. Whadda ya think I'm doin, hosting a bible study secession? And Parkview is what I can afford. It's not exactly like you welcomed me with open arms," The lady answered. Bobby bit his tongue. Why? Why did these things always have to happen to him?
"Yeah, okay, you got me. I um…I'm sorry about that," Bobby apologized, then paused, waiting for some biting remark. When none came, Bobby knew something wasn't right. With Sabrina, there was always a comeback.
"Is Jaime high?" Bobby finally broke the awkward silence that never occurred when he was talking to women. Especially to women like Sabrina. There was a distant laugh followed by a deep coughing that could have only come from the female on the other line.
"M' sorry, what? Did you say something?" Sabrina asked through an amused drunkenness. Bobby rolled his eyes.
"High. Is Jaime high? You know, has he hit the rocks? Is he doped out? Shot up? Strung out? Which ever term that pleases you most," Bobby said clearly, not bothering to hide his irritation. He shouldn't have called. He should have left it alone. Shit, he should have left her alone. He didn't need this. Not now.
"What's it to you Bobby Mercer? He's not your kid!" Sabrina said accusingly. Bobby grimaced. Once again his words were coming back to bite him in the ass.
"Call it me doing my Christian duty. Fuck Sabrina, he's thirteen years old! Shouldn't he be in school?" Bobby answered with mounting frustration. Why did he feel like he was talking to a brick wall? Suddenly the music got louder and another voice could be heard clearly. A man. And then the sounds of deep throat kissing. Bobby gagged dramatically, not caring that no one was around to see.
"Yo…hey Sabrina! Are you even listening to me?" Bobby yelled. He could hear the woman sigh.
"Hold on baby," She said to the other man. "Who the fuck do you think you are Bobby? A pastor or some shit? I have my own life now." Bobby shook his head. The nerve that this woman had!
"Yeah? What ever happened to 'I drove all the way from Minnesota to see you'? Huh?" Bobby mocked, repeating her earlier words. Sabrina huffed.
"I came to introduce you to your son. But since you don't want him, well, I found some new men that'll be great role models for him," Sabrina told him. Bobby wanted to be furious, but instead he could feel nothing but sympathy. Sabrina sounded as if she really believed that. As if she really thought these men would be there for her son.
And Jaime, well hell, he definitely knew what it was like to be in his shoes.
"Hey Bri. Why don't…" Bobby took a deep breath, knowing he was going to regret his next sentence. "Why don't you and Jaime come stay with us for a while? I mean, it's a decent size house and now that Jerry has a family and Angel got his lazy ass a job and a place to stay, we have plenty of room." Bobby didn't want to mention Evelyn's death. He didn't want to remember that there was another bedroom that could be used.
"Thanks but no thanks Bobby. I don't need your damn charity," Sabrina spat. Bobby looked at the phone with surprise. After all, wasn't it her that showed up at his house this morning, trying to get him to take care of her son?
"Sabrina…Bri it wouldn't be like that. I mean…" Bobby closed his eyes tightly and grit his teeth. "I…want you to stay." Bobby predicted Sabrina to laugh. To say some ready made joke. But once again, his expectations weren't filled.
"Okay," She answered instead. "We'll be there tonight. Eight o' clock." And then she hung up. Bobby listened unbelievingly to the dial tone before giving the phone a once over.
Yep, something was definitely not right.
--
It was seven o' clock before Jack came back home- without milk. At first, Bobby wasn't going to say anything. Jack often needed space when he was pissed. But then Bobby noticed that Jack seemed to be in a better mood, even going as far as to hum the anthem to The Brady Bunch, so Bobby decided to try his hand at starting a conversation.
"Dude, The Brady Bunch? I mean, does that show even come on T.V anymore?" Bobby started, watching Jack shove a cigarette into his mouth. Jack shrugged.
"Ah dunno. Jus' stuck in my head," Jack mumbled, fumbling with the lighter. Jack walked onto the back porch, followed by Bobby.
"Noticed you didn't bring home milk," Bobby stated. Jack laughed, causing Bobby to smile to himself. So Jack wasn't mad at him anymore. Well, that was a relief.
"Forgot about it," Jack admitted, blowing out the smoke slowly. There was a comfortable silence before Bobby started again.
"Hey uh, about earlier-" Jack waved his hand in a dismissal.
"Don't worry about it," He said nonchalantly. In all honesty, Jack was still upset. Bobby could see that, having known Jack for so long. Bobby wanted to ask what made Jack so upset in the first place, but the doorbell rang before he had the chance.
"Who the fuck rings our doorbell?" Jack asked curiously. Bobby felt his heart speed up, but he kept his face calm.
"Like I was saying, about earlier-" Bobby began, but was once again cut off. But this time not by Jack.
"The door's unlocked, so we're coming in!" Sabrina called from the front door. Bobby smirked. Now there was the Sabrina he knew. He stopped smiling however when he saw the look on Jack's face. An emotion Bobby couldn't read. Bobby didn't have time to think too much into it though, because Sabrina marched her way through the kitchen and onto the back porch, followed by an unreadable, dark-haired boy.
"You know, you could have at least offered to pick us up or something Bobby. You know how much-" Sabrina started ranting, stopping in mid sentence. Her eyes grew wide, her mouth open, her hand flew up to cover it in pure surprise. Or horror. Or both.
Bobby looked from his fearful-looking brother to the shocked Sabrina with utter confusion. Sabrina lowered her hand, as if to say something, but was beat to it by the now smiling, bright-eyed boy.
"Jack!" The boy yelled. And before Bobby could react or Sabrina could close her mouth, Jack's arms were full of a very excited thirteen-year old boy.
Suddenly Jack was laughing, Sabrina was crying, and Bobby was so very confused.