I really wish you'd stop interfering. Lochlan scowls at Caleb, who actually came over to feast on some crow after being told in no uncertain terms by Joel that for PJ to be banished (even temporarily) right now at this perfect juncture between Ben's birthday and New Years would be detrimental and probably highly destructive to my well-being.
(I'm guessing Joel finally picked a side and is going to be looking for his brownie points from me from now on.)
I got to tell Caleb this morning and invited him over for his bird-meal. I may film it and put it on Youtube. 'Millionaire's latest attempt at scorched-earth campaign goes bust.'
But for some reason he is still full of fire. Fire and feathers, now.
If it weren't for my interference, you two would be bickering over a nickel in a run-down trailer park somewhere. You'd be drunk and she'd be scared and hungry. Bridget wasn't meant to live like that. I know you're hellbent to, though, so there's the door.
Diabhal. You aren't allowed to speak to him like that.
I am, actually. I pay his bills.
No, I do.
With the money I give you.
I'm not here for your money, Caleb.
I forgot. Those with means are in a lineup behind me. See, Pyro? You're never going to have what you want. You should just get out while you still can before you end up like the others. Save yourself.
And leave her for you? Never.
Am I in a movie? I spin around looking for the cameras but they're well-hidden, I guess. I can't see them. Both men stop and look at me without words. Loch finally says What are you doing?
Nothing. Thinking.
About?
How to fix this so you two don't kill each other. You have four years left. You're more than halfway through this forced arrangement.
Going to be a long four years. Loch says it almost under his breath just as Caleb starts to laugh.
You won't leave here once the custody arrangement ends. I know you better than you think I do, Bridget.
Maybe you'll leave. Maybe I'll lock the point down and everyone will have to move.
You would miss this too much. Miss having all of your boys around. Miss having them watch you, touch you, give you whatever it is you don't get from him.
Definitely a movie. Right on cue Loch dives at Caleb and Duncan and Dalton rush in to pull them apart. I give up. What's my role again? Oh yes, I go out and stand on the edge of the cliff and look out to sea while the camera does a slow pan away from me until I'm but a speck of black on the screen while the credits roll.
Really I just didn't want PJ to feel like he was being shoved out and I don't want Lochlan to feel like he's a charity case. But I worried prematurely. Both things fixed themselves. Lochlan brought me a quarterly rent cheque and told me I'm not to cover it anymore but he would like receipts from Caleb himself, and PJ assured me that he didn't feel pressured to go and really he's happy to remain but he is taking his next long weekend and going to visit some family. I sat looking at the cheque for a while, doing the math in my head and I finally went back to Loch and asked where it came from.
I have a sugar daddy too these days. Thought you would have noticed by now.
I just stood there with my eyes wide because I wasn't putting two and two together. I'm so bad at math.
Batman. I got a Christmas bonus. Early, he said, so I'd have it to use for Christmas. Oh, and the rest of the year off. He's not a bad boss actually.
So this is the bonus?And you're giving it to me?
No, that's just this week's paycheque. The bonus is in the bank. More money than I've ever seen. And it's ours, Peanut. No strings.
From Batman.
Yes.
Oh, there will be strings, Loch.
