Reading Time: 100 Minutes
Title: What’s Past Is Prologue
Author: Duochanfan
Fandom: 9-1-1, Hawaii Five-0
Genre: Angst, Crossover, Drama, Family, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Relationship(s): Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz, background pairings
Content Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Discussion-Sexual Assault, Discussion-Violence, Discussion-Combat Injuries, Attempted Murder, Attempted Rape (Wells), Violence – Domestic, Violence – Against Children, Homophobia, Racism, Hurt/Comfort, Dark Themes, Stalking, Canon Typical Violence, Gun Violence, Toxic Family Dynamics, Character Bashing, Ableism, Discussion-Combat Injuries,
Author Note: I entirely blame HarleyJQuin for this monster. She gave me the idea and it really didn’t want to let go. Now that it’s written, edited and all, I bow to you, HarleyJQuin and say, thank you! I loved working on this one.
Beta: HarleyJQuin – You are a miracle worker and an absolute star!
Alpha: HarleyJQuin – this is all your fault, a small idea and look at the monster it became. Thank you for helping me keep going!
Word Count: 131,758
Summary: Moving to LA with Shannon and Christopher after being shot was supposed to save his marriage. Instead, he felt more alone and abandoned than he did in El Paso. That is until he meets Evan Buckley; a former Navy SEAL who was finding his footing in LA. The two rekindle a friendship that had barely started in the sandbox and plan for their futures.
Artist: halestrom
Chapter Fourteen
Evan pulled the jeep up outside the address that Eddie had sent him. The message had come through earlier that day, with Eddie asking him for help. He got out of the jeep as the front door opened. Eddie stood there, leaning on his cane more than normal. “Hey, what happened?” he frowned, “You were doing okay when I saw you two days ago?”
“I came home to find Christopher home alone. He’d fallen and was hurt. Shannon and I took him to the hospital, but he didn’t want Shannon near him,” Eddie began to explain.
“Let me guess, you had to carry him?” he stated.
“Yeah,” he answered, “I know I wasn’t supposed to. That the bullet fragment they found would cause more damage with any strain put on the leg,” he murmured, “I couldn’t let him down as she had, Evan,” he finished quietly.
“No, I don’t think you could. So I’m not going to lecture or say anything, but I understand. I would’ve done the same,” he said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
“I know,” he said, giving a small smile. “I don’t want to stay here any longer. I want to move out. Shannon isn’t around much anyway. Ignores me and Christopher to such a point that Christopher doesn’t really want to see her at the moment. Not that she has gone near him since the day after his fall. And that second day was her choice,” he snorted.
Evan nodded, “So what do you need then?”
“I need your help to move some of my things. I’m sorry to ask, but the only other ones I could call are my cousins, and they are mostly busy for today and I want to get out ASAP,” he told him, leaning him into the home.
“Right, anything big that needs to be moved? Furniture and that.”
“No, we have most of the basics already at my Abuela’s. She’s taking us in for a bit since she has the room. My aunt and some of my cousins have gotten that started for us as well. I’m planning on finding a place for us to live, so I’m hoping it won’t be too long before I’m moving,” Eddie said as he entered the living room. Christopher was curled on the couch, watching something on the TV. “Mijo,” he called out, “Evan’s here.”
“Evan!” Christopher called out, sitting up and raising his arms for Evan to hug him.
Evan smiled and rushed over, hugging him tightly, “I heard you got hurt, you okay now?”
“Yeah, the doctors and nurses fixed me all up. Daddy was with me all the time I was there. He said I was very brave,” Christopher said relaxing in Evan’s arms.
“I bet you were,” he said, smiling as he hugged Christopher for a moment more before letting him go.
“We’re going to live with Bisabuela,” he stated, “I’m glad about that. Mommy and Grammy don’t love me,” he said sadly as he looked down.
“Oh, buddy,” Evan sighed helplessly, he didn’t know what to tell the kid with that statement.
“It’s okay, I have Daddy, Bisabuela, Tía Pepa, and all my cousins still and I have you too,” he smiled, “And Miss Mary and Joany,” he added.
“Then you have a lot of people around you that love you still,” he smiled, “And I’m glad I have you and your dad as well.”
“Right, mijo, Evan, and I are going to get some things packed,” Eddie said as he went over and hugged his son and kissed his forehead, “If you need me, all you need to do is shout for me.”
“Okay, Daddy,” Christopher nodded as he went back to watching his cartoon.
Eddie and Evan headed out to the two rooms that the Diazs were using. “So, what else is going on?”
“I’m thinking about filing for divorce. I’m going to wait to see if she figures out that Chris and I aren’t here anymore. I know Janet won’t care at all. But I don’t want Christopher around the two of them at the moment with the way that they have been behaving. Especially Shannon, it’s like she’s forgotten about Christopher unless confronted about things. And she… she said she wants time. And well, I’m going to give her all the damn time she wants. But my marriage to her is over. Even if she realizes what she is doing and that, I’m not taking her back. It’s over, but I know that Christopher loves his mother. At the moment he doubts that she loves him. He’s only four, and if she stays out of his life for too long, he isn’t going to remember her at all. I… I don’t want that for him. I don’t want him to be disappointed in his own mother. Like I am,” Eddie sighed in frustration as he rubbed at his face.
“You can’t make Shannon do anything, she has to come to the realization of what she is doing. When she does, patience may be needed to bring the two of them together again,” Evan advised, “But he has you, and the rest of his family that love him. He’s going to miss out on some things, but look at what he has instead for now. Work on making sure that Christopher is going to be okay. Make sure he’ll be safe and loved. Because from what you’ve been telling me, he isn’t in this house. The only one that gives a shit, is you. Take him, go with your family. I know that you said your grandmother already adores him.”
“She does,” he smiled, and nodded, “Yeah, concentrate on Christopher and not the failure of a marriage. I need to think of the relationship that she will have with our son in the future when she finally gets her head out of her ass. Janet is never going to change. She’s a racist bitch, always has been, always will be. One of the things that she said to me after Christopher was born, was that she was glad he looked white instead of Mexican,” he growled.
Evan winced at that, “Damn, well, fuck her. If she wants to be like that. Walk away, she deserves none of your time, effort, or anything. From either of you, you deserve so much better. Does Shannon realize?” he asked.
“She does,” he said, as he started to pull some of Christopher’s clothes out for them to start packing away. He had been doing bits over the last day, since the moment that Shannon had decided to fuck off shopping with her mother again. “She doesn’t do anything about it. Never sticks up for Christopher or me. Not since the beginning. I think… we should never have married. I don’t doubt that Shannon would’ve given Christopher to me with Janet’s insistence. Janet’s dislike of Christopher is known.”
“So, fuck ‘em,” Evan stated simply. “Wait until they come crawling and then make sure that Shannon realizes that she could have easily lost Christopher forever with her actions. But make sure that you think mostly of Christopher and what he needs. Get him to see someone about what is going on. This is… abuse, Eddie, you have to realize that.”
“I have, I tried to say something when we were in the hospital about Shannon leaving him alone. She fucking squeezed my damn shoulder. I know it’s mostly healed up, but fuck Ev, I felt like I had just been shot, she knew exactly what she was doing as well. The fucking smirk on her face and then the glare I got because she knew I was going to fucking say something. I’ve not… I’ve not spoken to her since we got back here after that. Any love I still felt for her left in the moment that I found Christopher, but her actions afterward, have made me hate her. I hate her Evan, and I don’t have fucking time for that shit,” he ranted as he folded Christopher’s clothes and put them in the box he had gotten from the garage. Most of them in there were their things from the move from El Paso. They hadn’t unpacked as much as they planned.
Evan listened as he ranted a little, more before huffing and mentioning the other things he had in the garage that could be taken as well. Evan got them out to the jeep, and with Isabel’s address, he headed out with the first load. Three loads later he was heading to Isabel’s for the last time, all of Eddie’s and Christopher’s things now at the elderly woman’s home.
“Welcome home, nieto, bisnieto,” Isabel greeted as she went over and hugged them both tightly. Pepa was there, as Eddie had asked her to stop by as soon as she was able to do so.
“Can you keep Christopher occupied while I talk to Tía Pepa?” Eddie asked Evan.
“Sure, if you don’t mind me invading your home once again, Mrs Diaz?” Evan asked the woman.
“You’re welcome to come in,” she smiled at him, “go play with my bisnieto.”
“Thank you,” Evan smiled and went with Christopher as the four-year-old struggled to get into Isabel’s home, though there was now a ramp on the stairs for him to use with his gait trainer.
Eddie went into the kitchen and sat at the large table that was in there. Isabel and Pepa joined him with drinks. “So, I want to divorce Shannon. She’s been leaving Christopher alone on his own, in the house. He had a fall a couple of days ago, he’s okay, it’s a small sprain, and as you can tell, he isn’t letting that stop him from walking around,” he said before the two could even ask. “But this is the last time. This is the fifth time she has done this that I know of. Now, I have proof. Janet had a security system installed, which included cameras around the house. The only places that aren’t covered are Janet’s bedroom, Shannon’s room, and the bathrooms. Everywhere else is, with sound. I’ve been recorded on it saying I’m going out, and an approximate time I’ll be back, then they decided that they were going out. The videos captured Shannon saying that Christopher would be fine on his own for a few hours. He’s four, Abuela, four, not fucking fourteen,” he told them, giving them a run down of everything that had happened since he and Christopher had moved into Janet’s home.
Isabel went into a rage as she began to curse in rapid Spanish, and even Pepa had a little trouble keeping up with some of the curses that she was saying.
“Mama,” she called out, hoping to calm her, “We need to think of what we are going to do. First I’m going to get you in touch with a good lawyer, he will help you the best in this. He’s really good. He will do right by you and Christopher. Make sure you have documents of everything you can, and copies of videos and files in their entirety. Don’t cut them at all, or edit them. They will need to be verified as well. He will see to that,” she said as she began to tell him what he’d need to have to make sure that things would go well. “Does Shannon know that you have left?” she asked when she was done.
Eddie shook his head, “No, I’ve left a disc in Christopher’s room, which is easily found since I attached it to the wall above his bed with a message about where we are. I have a video of me doing so. I need to learn how long it’ll take her to even notice that her son and husband are no longer at home. As soon as she realizes, then I’ll be sending the divorce papers. So I want them sorted as soon as possible.
“That could backfire on you,” she warned him.
“I’ve no doubt, but I’m planning on talking to the local police, to tell them what’s going on if they get a report of a missing child. That I’m going to be divorcing her as she has been negligent of our son, and that I am waiting to see when she notices that Christopher is no longer there,” he said, he knew it wasn’t the best way to go about this. But it was the only way to drive the point home, to Shannon of how she has been acting. “I’m hoping it’ll shock her,” he admitted, “That she will see and understand she needs to change what she is doing.”
“We will be here for you, no matter what,” Isabel told her grandson.
“Thanks,” he smiled as they talked a little more about what was going on, and what the plan was for Eddie and Christopher now, before they joined Evan and Christopher out in the garden.
Chapter Fifteen
A week after moving out of Janet’s home, found Christopher in the hospital, having the surgery that he needed. Thankfully, that had been arranged the day after Christopher’s fall, he didn’t need to call and have Shannon around for it. Since she had made sure that there was paperwork detailing that Eddie was to take care of it all on his own. So, Eddie had been there, with Evan beside him, supporting him while his son was in surgery. Even when it was over and Christopher was back home a few days later, Evan was still there, doing what he could to help the father and son each day, especially since he wasn’t working. Isabel would’ve done all she could, but she was on a small getaway with her sisters that had been planned for the last year.
Eddie tucked Christopher into bed. “You alright, mijo?” he asked him, wanting to make sure he wasn’t in any pain.
“Yes, Daddy,” the four-year-old yawned as he pulled his favorite toy in for a cuddle and sighed happily. It was a purple bear that Evan had gifted him last time he was in the hospital.
“Okay, sweet dreams, mijo,” he told him, kissing his forehead as he finished tucking him in. Eddie got up, grabbing his cane as he headed out of the room. Evan had been the one to get the kid into bed, leaving Eddie there for tuck-in duties. “Thanks, for being here and helping out so much. I wanted to put off his until I was better, but I’m going to need an op myself to fully recover,” he said as he sat down, signing in relief at being off his leg.
“What needs to be done?” Evan asked him.
Eddie sighed, “There was a bullet fragment that was left behind in my leg. They didn’t find it the first time. Only when I got x-rayed stateside did they find it. It was fine, for the most part; it was stable,. It’s only when they stopped monitoring it, that it shifted. It’s caused a few minor problems, but now it’s ended up near a nerve cluster, which is sending more pain signals through my leg than I can handle. If it’s not removed then it could continue shifting; so I need another surgery to give me the best chance of a full recovery. My shoulder is healing okay, it’s doing better, though what Shannon did could have caused me a lot of problems, thankfully, it hasn’t. So I should be fine with that going forward. It’s just the leg that worried me. If it doesn’t start healing properly soon, then I could be left with permanent damage to my leg. So as soon as Christopher is well, I’ll be going for my own operation. It’s tentatively booked for the beginning of next month.”
“It’s a lot, and you know I’ll be glad to help you while you recover. If you say no, I’m going to be talking to Isabel about that, and she’ll set you straight,” he smirked as Eddie groaned.
“Seriously, Evan,” he huffed, but knew that Evan would do what he said, and if his Abeula found out, then he’d be in a whole heap of trouble.
“I’m looking out for you,” he replied, “Now, I know that Mary wants to come over tomorrow, if you’re alright with that. She said that she was looking into a few things for you.”
“Yeah, I’ve been looking at schools for Christopher. I know they’ll want to talk to Shannon as well, but so far, well, she doesn’t even know that we’ve left,” he snorted looking at his friend.
“She still hasn’t?” Evan exclaimed, eyes going wide.
“Nope,” he answered, “I don’t know how long she’s going to remain oblivious to the fact that Chris and I are no longer living there, it’s been nearly two weeks.”
“You’re going to have to get in touch with her soon if she doesn’t figure it out,” he reminded him.
“I know,” he sighed, leaning back and letting his head fall on the back of the couch. “I left things there for her so she knows exactly when I moved out, and how to get in touch with me, since I’ve not changed my number or anything. She hasn’t even called or messaged me at all for anything else either. Not even to see about using the truck.”
“Well, make sure you’ve covered your ass,” Evan said, not wishing for his friend to get in trouble.
“I’ve made sure to cover my bases on that. She signed papers a while ago, telling everyone that I had full control over Christopher, and I could do what was needed to keep him safe and healthy. It was mainly so I could be the main person when it came to the operation and the after care, but it works for all things. The lawyer made sure of that,” he grinned.
Evan snorted, “As long as you’re covered, then it should be fine.”
Eddie nodded in agreement as they began to talk more about what Eddie was going to have to do for his own health.
XxXxX
It was almost three weeks after he had moved out of Janet’s home when Shannon finally called. Eddie was at his grandmother’s still. He was in the process of buying a home for himself and Christopher, a nice three-bedroomed home that he had taken a shine to.
“Edmundo Diaz, how fucking dare you leave the house like that?!” Shannon yelled as soon as Eddie answered the call.
“Considering it took you three weeks to even call me, then I say I should have left sooner,” Eddie snapped back at her, “It’s more of a how the fuck dare you be angry at me taking our son from a home where he was neglected and abused by two women that should have loved him. You fuck off with your mother all the time and never, not once have you taken him with you. You both left him alone time and time again rather than taking him with you. You left him alone, and he got hurt. Why the fuck would I let him remain in a home when I couldn’t trust you to watch him when I have doctor’s appointments or physical therapy. Several times I found him home alone after my appointments.”
“My mother is dying, you may not like her, but she is my mother and I love her a lot. She’s been a rock for me,” Shannon hissed at him, “I am entitled to spend as much damn time as I want with her.”
“You also have a son that is only four years old, he needed you and you failed him. And you’re right, I don’t like your mother because she’s a racist asshole, who also hates her own grandson and wishes he had never been born. So why the fuck would I like Janet. It’s why I wanted us to have our own home out here. So I could make sure that Christopher was going to be in a place where that bitch couldn’t yell at him. And yes, I’ve got damn footage of her doing just that, and slapping him. If I had know that, I would’ve left that day and not two days after you abandoned him again for him to get hurt,” he spat, standing up and pacing. Though it didn’t last long when his leg gave out on him and he landed on the couch. “Fuck,” he cursed to himself.
Shannon was quiet for a moment, though Eddie could tell by her breathing that she was furious with him. “My mother would never do that!” she yelled down the phone.
“Want me to send you the video of your own mother being physically, verbally and emotionally abusive in front of you?” he asked her, “Because I’ll fucking do just that.” he said, grabbing his cane this time as he headed to the kitchen where he had left his laptop.
“She didn’t, Eddie, she’s a loving mother.”
“To you, yes, she wants you. She doesn’t want anything to do with me and because I’m half Mexican, she doesn’t want anything to do with Christopher either. Why the fuck did you think I was trying to get us to find a damn home before we moved here. I know what she is like, and I never wanted Christopher exposed to that. Did you know that he thinks you and Janet don’t love him. No he knows Janet doesn’t love him, but he now thinks you don’t for the way you have been acting. I get it, Shannon, your mother is dying and you have a limited amount of time with her. But you can’t neglect Christopher,” he told her, shaking his head as he searched for the video and sent it. “There, you should get an email with a video. This is why I am not going to let Christopher go back there.”
“What, and your mother is a saint?!” she snapped at him.
Eddie snorted and laughed, “My mother is a bitch,” he hissed, “Why the hell do you think I kept telling you to call the police when she starts her shit. I never put up with it. I’m never going to be the good dutiful son she wants, because she wants Christopher, and she isn’t getting my son. She can cry and scream all she wants. Part of the reason why I said yes to moving to LA, was because of Helena and her noises about taking Christopher. I also knew that you want to spend time with your mother. But I also thought that you’d want to work on us as a family; obviously I was mistaken in that.”
“You weren’t. I do want to work on our relationship, I do. But I need to focus on Mom, she’s dying Eddie and I want…”
“What you want and what needs to be done are two different things,” he interrupted her. “I know what you want, to spend every single moment of your time with your mother. But you have a son that needed you, he needed his mother and you let him down. How many times did you leave him alone? Leave him to cry and call out for someone to go to him? How easy was it for you to abandon him?” he asked her.
“We’re never going to damn well agree here,” Shannon spat as she hung up.
Eddie snorted as he then made another call. “Hey, Nigel,” he greeted hearing his lawyer answer the phone. “She finally got in contact with me.”
“What me to serve the notice tomorrow then?” he asked him.
“I think it might be for the best at the moment. We might actually be able to talk things out better with lawyers around than without. She’s just not listening. I do get it, her mother is dying, but she still has a family that needed her,” he ranted. He knew his lawyer had heard it all before. He had said the same thing over and over again, to different people and even to the same people sometimes. He felt like he needed to constantly justify what he was doing.
“I’ll send it through, and I’ll make sure she signs for it, so we have proof she received it. Don’t worry. I’ll be making sure that she knows that to get in contact with you or Christopher from this point on, she’ll have to go through our office,” Nigel told him.
Eddie sighed, he wondered again if he was doing the right thing. He hadn’t thought Shannon would do this. He knew her worry and her fear, but in his mind he couldn’t understand why she was now ignoring Christopher. He knew that she was a good mother, Christopher and how bright and happy he had been when they were living in El Paso was proof of that. The only downside of being there was his parents. He’d hoped that without them, he and Shannon could finally connect properly without their overshadowing and demanding presence. Instead, it had all gone down the drain. “Thanks, Nigel,” he said as the call ended and Eddie was left feeling hollow and wrung out.
Chapter Sixteen
Eddie heard a knock on the door, but before he could reach it to let the person in, Mary barrelled in and said “I have the information that you wanted.”
“Hello, Eddie, how are you? I’m good Mary, and yourself?” Eddie rolled his eyes as he let her inside.
“Sorry,” Mary laughed, “I’m getting a little too like my brother sometimes.How are you doing? And how is Christopher healing?”
“I’m doing alright, and he’s doing absolutely fine. Would you like a coffee?” he asked her as he walked towards the kitchen.
“Would love one,” she smiled as she followed, “I’m glad he’s doing well.”
“Same here. He’s not asking about Shannon either, which worries me. I know that… Shannon has a lot to answer for at the moment,” he sighed, “She’s dragging her feet on the divorce, or even seeing me with the meetings. I don’t know how to force it,” he added.
“There’s nothing that you can do,” Mary told him, “she’s in denial of what is going on around her. She’s losing her mother, her son and you all in one go. She’s bunking down, I do not doubt that she won’t address certain things until after one thing has gone from her plate. I believe she will wait until her mother’s passing before she addresses things between you both and about Christopher.”
“She’s going to be too late by then when it comes to Christopher. It’s already too late for me and her, from the moment I found out that she has been leaving Christopher home alone. I don’t think I could be with her at all after this. Not only that but it’s been what… two months. I found him home alone in April, and it’s not the middle of July and I’ve brought a damn house already. Moved in a week ago,” he shook his head as he began to make them coffee.
“Not much you can do, just wait it out. Hopefully, she’ll actually come and see Christopher soon. I know he’s upset, he’s talked a few times about it, and he’s angry and hurt about his mother; I’d advise getting him a therapist that he could talk to about his issues. It’s not a good idea to let them fester, you know that,” Mary reminded him as he brought over a mug of coffee as she sat at the breakfast bar of Eddie’s new kitchen.
“I know, already looking. Getting help for myself has helped me to see that he does need it. His frustrations over his CP and his mother. He tries to tell me things as well, but I don’t know how I can help him more than I already am. I’m listening and trying to find solutions,” he sighed as he sat down with her.
“Good,” she stated, “I take it Evan is with Christopher as well?” she asked, as she hadn’t heard anything else from inside the house.
“Yep,” he snorted, “He came over with Joan and they yelled out playdate. So they went off to the park,” he smiled sitting down.
Mary laughed, “Well, at least they are out having fun, I’m surprised to actually find you here instead of out there with them,” she said, curiously.
“Rehab was not fun for me today. They are getting ready for the surgery for me next. I’m not sure about going through it just yet. I’ve got things going on with Shannon, making sure Christopher is healing well,” he sipped at his coffee, “I just feel like I should put it off. I’m living alone as well, and I can’t… I can’t stop that at all, I have Christopher to take care of, and while Shannon knows where I am, she’s not visited since then, not even called to talk to him. She’s still wrapped up about her mother.”
Mary nodded as she listened, “Ask Evan, I know he’d do what he can to help you. He already did when it came to Christopher. No doubt he’ll jump at the chance to get out of the shared house for a few weeks as well,” she added.
Eddie nodded and then looked up with a frown. “What do you mean he’d be jumping at getting out of the shared house? I thought that was helping him better being with a group of people.”
“It was, and still is. Therapy is doing well for him, but the environment that he stays in at the shared house does help as well. Reminds him of a time when he was happy with friends, even when he was in the SEALs. But, his housemates leave a lot to be desired,” she said, pursing her lips together. “I had my wild days, but they take the cake and eat it.”
“Ah, right,” he said with a slow nod, “I’ll… ask,” he said hesitantly.
“Do it,” Mary said, giving him a look, “You know Evan will be the first to offer his help.”
“I know that, I just wish it wasn’t necessary. I should have had this done ages ago. But with Shanon and then my parents,” he rolled his eyes, “I felt like I couldn’t let them down with being laid up for any longer than needed.”
“You needed to be selfish,” she told him, shaking his head, “Well, there isn’t anything else that you can do. You need this, if you want to heal up properly, you need to go through with it and the sooner the better by the sound of it,” she added, giving him a look.
Eddie huffed, “I know that, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling a little guilty.”
“Evan will kick your ass about it.” she reminded him, snorting as her friend laughed.
“Yeah,” he smiled, “Well, it doesn’t matter, I’m confirming the operation as soon as I talk to Evan, I promise.”
“Good, now, here is the information you wanted about the schools around here. There is someone that I know who might be able to help you when it comes to getting what you need for Christopher. She’s working with a client at the moment, but I think that she’ll be free in around a month and a half for it. She’s good, one of the best that I’ve worked with,” she added.
Eddie listened and then smiled, “That’d be good, I could do with the help, I’m not sure that I’m going to be able to keep affording what he needs. The damn paperwork is so fucking confusing, I’m scared that I’m going to mess it all up and Christopher is going to be let down.”
“You won’t,” she reassured him as they began to go over the options for Christopher’s schooling. They were getting closer to Christopher turning five and Eddie wanted school and Kindergarten sorted out as soon as possible. He had been going to a nursery down in El Paso, and they had wanted to continue something like that in California as well. It helped him socialize and get to know other children. It allowed him to play and allowed him time to grow, without his grandparents hovering in the background.
XxXxX
Evan looked at Eddie, he could tell the man had something on his mind as they watched Christopher playing at the park. The four-year-old was happy as he could be on the swing, gently trying to move himself after he stopped both Evan and Eddie from trying to push him. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Eds?” he asked him.
“Just thinking…” he trailed off and then snorted at himself, “Fine, so… I need the op, now more than last time they checked.”
“Let me guess, it moved again,” Evan said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
“Got it in one, it’s moving around. It’s causing damage to some of the nerves in my leg, not just the cluster it had been sitting on. Also damaging the muscle and tissue as well. It’s not stabilizing,” Eddie explained, “So they are going to have to remove it and repair some of the damage as well.”
“Need me to help you out for a bit?” Evan asked him, looking more serious now.
Eddie nodded, “I do, I know I’m not going to be able to look after Christopher on my own.”
“I don’t mind helping,” Evan said, smiling as he saw Christopher getting the swing to move. Both Eddiie and Evan had shown him how to get himself swinging, though it was a little difficult for him, he was doing it.
“You can come and stay with us for a while. Would be easier than having to go back to the house share each night,” Eddie suggested, glancing over at his friend before looking back at Christopher.
“Are you sure?” he said, looking at Eddie, “I mean, I don’t mind going back if you want the space. I have nightmares still, might not be a good idea for me to come and stay,” he frowned as he looked away.
“Evan,” Eddie said firmly as he put a hand on his friend’s arm, “I get it. I really do. I still have nightmares about my own time out there. We saw and did things that not many can understand. I do, a little, different branch after all, but still, some the same. The terror we saw, the injuries, the violence, and the tragedies. It’ll be fine, Christopher knows nightmares. He has a few himself, not like ours of course, but still…” he trailed off with a shrug, “It’ll be fine, really, just come and stay with us for a bit.”
“Fine, I will,” he smiled, nodding a few times, “Come o-” he began as he started to stand.
Eddie’s phone began to ring. He picked it up and looked at it, “Shannon,” he said, surprised to see her name flashing across the screen.
“Oh?” Evan frowned, “How about I keep Christopher occupied so you can take it?” he suggested.
Eddie nodded and Evan headed to meet up with Christopher who looked done with the swing. Eddie answered the call, “Shannon,” he said, his voice void of emotion.
“Where the hell are you?” she demanded to know.
“I’ve been told by my lawyer not to let you know where I live at the moment, if you want to see Christopher, I’ll happily meet you at the visitation center. I just need to call them and set up a time for you to come and see him. You’re free of course to take him off for a few hours, as at the moment I have primary custody, and due to your actions in the past, you have not been granted any ability to have him overnight,” he reminded her of the order that had been settled a week ago.
“You don’t have any right to stop me from taking my son when I want and from wherever he is,” she hissed at him, “he is my son too, not just yours.”
“Then maybe you should have remembered that part when you left him at home alone. And the custody was decided by the judge. Since you didn’t turn up to the appointment you lost any chance to defend your actions,” he reminded her. That had been a week ago. He had messages sent to her and even tried to call her, though his lawyer had warned him not to open the lines of communication between them at the moment. Eddie wanted it open so that Christopher could talk to his mother. This was the first time she had called at all since the day she had found out he had moved himself and Christopher out of Janet’s home.
“I will fight you,” she told him.
“Then do it, and mean it,” Eddie told her, “Now, do you want to see Christopher?” he asked her, “I need to make the appointment if you do.”
“Yes,” she answered.
“Right, any days I can’t?” he began.
“I’m free, my hours are flexible, and I do the work at night anyway. He’ll be in bed by then,” she said, sounding calmer.
Eddie felt relief as he listened to her, “Right, I’ll make the appointment and make sure that you can come and pick him up. He’s still angry and hurt about what you’ve done, but he does still love you,” he added.
“Hmm,” Shannon hummed before hanging up.
Eddie sighed and looked to his son, hoping that Shannon was finally going to see Christopher, even with the hurt he was feeling, the four-year-old still loved and missed his mother.
Chapter Seventeen
Eddie was at the visitation center, waiting for Shannon to turn up. Christopher was playing in one of the rooms, and Eddie was talking to one of the support staff who worked there. “I don’t know where she is. I know that her mother is dying at the moment. But they have been going out and shopping whenever they get the chance so far,” Eddie said, as he looked into the room, seeing Christopher looking sad as he quietly played. There was none of the usual enthusiasm he showed when played. It was subdued.
Eddie sighed and wondered if it had been a bad idea to try this. Shannon had asked for the date and time. She has promised that she will be there, no matter what. Her mother was going to see some of her friends today, so Shannon would be free. Christopher has been a mix of excited and scared at seeing his mom again. After the last time when she ignored him, he was scared that she was going to tell him that she didn’t love him. Just as Janet had done several times over the last few months.
“We can only allow you to stay another fifteen minutes Mr Diaz, then you’re going to have to rebook another time,” the worker said as she looked sorry about saying such.
“Yeah,” he nodded, biting his lip. He had messaged Shannon three times over the last hour and a half. So far she hadn’t got back to him. “You know, I’m done. I’m not going to wait around for her any longer. She’s had plenty of time to come. I don’t want Christopher here any longer. I don’t know if I’ll be making another appointment for her to see her son at this point. I hate seeing that look on Christopher’s face,” he ranted a little as he sent a message to Shannon telling her that the visit was no longer going to happen as they had run out of time at the center.
“I can understand, we see this a lot in some cases, in others the other parents could be here an hour before the child is even due to arrive,” she told him, guiding him back to the room and through the door.
“Hey, Chris,” Eddie said as he went over, “Well, mijo, how about we go and find Evan and see if he wants to come out and play?” he asked, kneeling before his son.
“Okay, Daddy,” the four-year-old replied, “I think Mommy doesn’t love me anymore,” he added as he put some of the toys away.
“She still does, I think,” Eddie told him, helping him to put things away, “I think something might have happened that made her super busy. She has a lot to do after all.”
“But Mommy always played with me before we lived with Grammy Janny,” he sighed, “Grammy Janny hates me a lot, I think she made Mommy hate me too.”
Eddie did his best to hide the wince as the woman who was in the room looked at him with a frown. “I don’t know, mijo, maybe one day we can ask Mommy what she thinks when she comes back.”
“I’m done, Daddy,” Christopher said as he settled with his gait trainer.
Eddie stood up, “Thank you,” he told the worker before he and Eddie left the center. He sighed as he got to the truck and strapped him in, feeling his phone buzz several times. Someone was calling him and he already knew who it was. Well, it was too late. He pulled out his phone, seeing that he was right, and swiped to dismiss the call and send it to voicemail. He wouldn’t be answering her call until he got home at the very least. He didn’t want to get distracted before driving home, he didn’t want to be angry behind the wheel, not with Christopher riding with him.
“Daddy,” Christopher called out as soon as Eddie got in the truck.
“Yes, mijo?” he called back as he started it up.
“Can you help me write Mommy a letter?” he asked, “Or maybe a video. I want to tell her that she is hurting me.”
“Sure I can,” he answered, thinking it might be a good idea, to let Shannon see what she was doing to their son. A letter could easily be seen as something that Eddie had done, instead of Christopher, so a video might be the better choice.
Christopher was silent on the drive home and Eddie’s phone rang seven more times. As soon as they got home, Christopher went into his room, telling his dad he needed a nap as Mommy’s were exhausting. Eddie shook his head at the language and wondered what exactly Evan was teaching him.
Eddie’s phone rang again and he sighed. This time he answered it. “Shannon,” he greeted.
“About fucking time, Eddie!” she yelled down the line, “Where are you, I’m at the center now!”
“At home. I gave you almost two hours. You picked the time and the date and you couldn’t even keep them. They can’t let us stay for too long, there are other people that actually need the rooms to meet and talk in. Not just us. So, I’ll do this one more time, Shannon, and I’m going to have this noted by our lawyers. I want this done properly. I should have made you go through the lawyer last time, but from now on, if you want to see Christopher, then you can organize it through them. I’m done trying to help you. Do you know our son thinks you hate him? That you hate him like his Grammy Janny does. Part of me thinks that moving out here might have just been a mistake. I thought it’d make things better for us, but it really hasn’t,” he told her, not letting her get a word in at all. He didn’t want to listen to the excuses that she made up for why she didn’t turn up.
“I had to do something,” Shannon told him.
Eddie frowned and then decided to quickly check something. Looking on Shannon’s insta he could see exactly what she had gotten up to. “Right, so shopping with your mother and her friends was more important that keeping an appointment to meet your son,” he snorted.
“What?!” Shannon hissed, “I was…”
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Shannon. It’s all over your insta, and should I check your mother’s, I’ve no doubt it’s on that as well. You knew that you should do this, yet again we see that you give no fucks about how Christopher feels at all,” Eddie snapped at her, shaking his head.
“I was spending time with my mother, that isn’t a damn crime, Eddie,” she told him, growling slightly as she then added, “It’s not like Christopher will really care, he’s a kid, he’s going to forget about it one day.”
“But that day isn’t going to happen for a long time, Shannon and you’re right, it isn’t a crime, but leaving your son home alone when you know that there will be no one else there is,” he reminded her, “And I’ve got all that shit of fucking video.” With that, he ended the call and blocked Shannon’s number as he didn’t want to listen to her excuses for now. He’d unblock in a few days, she knew how to get in touch with him if she really needed to. She had his lawyer’s number after all and his Abuela’s.
“Daddy,” Christopher said standing in the doorway.
“Mijo,” he said.
“That was Mommy, wasn’t it?” he asked.
Eddie sighed, “It was,” he nodded, being honest, even though part of him wanted to lie.
“Can we make the video?” he asked, going to the chair in the room and climbing on it after making sure his gait trainer was nearby.
“Yeah, okay,” he nodded, feeling like maybe this will get through to Shanon. He knelt down, ignoring the twinge in his leg. He was already paying for it by driving, but he had gotten the okay to do so as long as it wasn’t a long journey. He’d be glad when he could have the operation in two weeks.
“Ready, Daddy,” he called out, sitting there looking too serious for a four-year-old.
“Okay, mijo, recording now,” Eddie said.
“Mommy, do you remember when I was little and you said you loved me so much that I was your bright star?” he asked, “I do, I thought you would always love me, just like Daddy loves me. Even when he was far away he always called and wrote letters for you to read to me and made videos like this,” he smiled a little. “But you don’t love me, do you? You hate me like Grammy Janny hates me,” he carried on, tears now starting to fall, “You hurt me here, Mommy,” he said, putting a hand on his chest as he began to hiccup. “I love you, Mommy, but I don’t know if I want to see you.”
“Mijo, do you want to stop?” he asked him, he could see how upset his son was.
“No, Mommy needs to know she is hurting us both, Daddy,” Christopher cried softly, “Mommy, I hope you will be happy without me and Daddy. We’ll be sad, but you can be happy with Grammy Janny now. I’m done Daddy,” he said, sobbing now as he held out his arms for his dad.
Eddie stopped the video and went to his son, hugging him tightly. “It’s okay mijo, you have me, Abuela and Tía Pepa, and all our cousins, and we also have Evan, Joan, and Miss Mary,” he said, as he began to list all the people that love Christopher and spend time with him.
“I miss Mommy,” he said, “she hurt me, but I miss Mommy,” he cried, holding onto Eddie for a while longer before he began to fall asleep.
Eddie knew better than to pick him up, but he did it anyway and took him to his room and tucked him in. Grabbing his phone he made a few calls. Wanting to do something nice for Christopher. He set up a little gathering of his aunt, grandmother, Evan, Mary, and Joan, knowing that Christopher would like it. Eddie sent the video to Shannon, messaging her and telling her that this is what she has done to their son. She is going to be blocked for a couple of days while Eddie helps Christopher over the hurt he is feeling and he hopes she will finally realize just what she was doing.
Two hours later, Christopher was on the floor in the living room with the larger Lego, playing happily with Joan.
“You okay?” Evan asked as the women were off to one side talking and smiling as they watched the two children.
“I don’t know. I was hoping she’d actually turn up, for Christopher’s sake, and she didn’t. She was out shopping with her mother again,” he muttered, shaking his head as he sipped at the soda he had poured for himself. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep going and trying for her to spend time with him before it becomes too painful for Christopher to cope with. He’s four years old, and he… he’s been through a lot.”
“Not much you can do,” Evan told him.
“No, well, she has the divorce papers, she’s refusing to sign them at the moment, but she will, eventually. She knows I’m not going to change my mind. I don’t mind shared custody, but I want primary until the trust between the two is back to what it should be, then 50/50 will be good enough for me. Would I like full custody, yes I would. But I don’t want to take my son from his mother fully,” he sighed, “Come on, let’s join the fun instead of talking about crap things,” he said moving away.
Evan shook his head, but joined his friend in cheering up his son.
Chapter Eighteen
The summer was heating up and Eddie had just had his operation and was finally home. Evan had moved in for a few weeks to help out. The man was going to be laid up for at least two weeks before his doctors would allow him to start really moving around and getting back to rehab. Christopher had been scared when he had gone in, not liking to see his dad in the hospital. The four-year-old had clung to Evan when they were at home, always asking when they could go and see Eddie.
Eddie lay on his bed, he was sore and tired, and wanted nothing more than to sleep. His lawyer had contacted him, telling him that there was to be a meeting between him and his soon-to-be ex-wife in two days, since Shannon had finally contacted his lawyer. It was just typical that she’d start the process when he was supposed to be resting. “Okay,” he said, as he looked at Evan.
“You sure this is going to be okay?” Evan asked him, frowning as he knew what the doctors had said.
“I’ve not got much of a choice. But the wheelchair is going to help for now. We just need to make sure Christopher is dropped off with Mary, and it should be okay,” he reminded him of the plan. I’m not going to do anything that could jeopardize my health, not anymore. Which is why I’m asking if you can come with me so you can push me around,” he grinned.
Evan snorted, “Fine,” he said, “I don’t mind doing that. I’ll beg a day off work to do it.”
“I thought you were planning on being a firefighter?” he asked him.
“I am, I’m just wanting to get back into shape again. I kinda let myself go a little. Need to build that back up a bit more before I apply, and I was a little late to go for it for this year. So I’ll be going to join up next year I hope.”
“Hm,” Eddie nodded, “I don’t know if I’ll be ready for next year,” he said, “But talking to you about it makes it sound like something that I wouldn’t mind doing as well.”
“It’d be great if you could, though I don’t know if we’d be working together. If you join after me, then maybe I could make a case for it with whatever captain I work with,” he said with a little shrug.
“That’d be good, it’d be nice to be working with someone that I can trust to have at my back. Though, I do need to think about work at some point. The insurance will run out soon, and I can’t rely on my savings for much longer. So as soon as I’m able to, I’m going to try and find something I can do. No doubt that Tía Pepa would be able to get me some work with the place she works with,” he said, as it went around in his mind. He wasn’t going to rely on his savings, he needed that for Christopher.
“You concentrate on yourself for now, you need to recover and get better, things will be okay. I know you saved a lot, and the money to buy this place wasn’t as much as it should have been. Though why they sold it for so low, I don’t know,” he added, shaking his head.
“They wanted a quick sale and they know my abuela, so they understood that I needed a place for myself and Christopher. It’s a nice little place, and well, I can see myself living here for a long time,” Eddie was almost babbling, though Evan wondered if that was more because of the medication that he was currently on. Eddie had tried to throw out the painkillers, not wanting to use them. Evan had been able to talk him around to only taking two per day. One for when he needed to rest and maybe nap, and one just before going to bed. So at least he’d be able to rest properly.
“Nice,” he nodded, striking, “Well, you get some rest, Abuela has Christopher for another hour. Mary has found a nice daycare place that you were looking for. It has a place for Christopher, and he will be learning a few things.”
“Good, he’s already starting to read and write, his writing is shaky, but damn he’s already doing it,” Eddie grinned, so proud of his son.
“He’s so damn smart,” Evan chuckled, “Well, get some damn sleep, Eds, I’m going out there and seeing what we have for dinner.”
“Okay,” Eddie nodded as he sunk into the mattress and started to relax, “Thanks, Evan, for being here and helping out like this. I didn’t know if I could go to you, I trust you more than anyone else.”
Evan smiled as he got up and started to head out, “De nada, Eddie.” He walked out of the room, closed the door quietly behind him, and headed to the kitchen.
XxXxX
Evan wheeled Eddie through the hallway to the meeting room where they were to meet with Shannon and her lawyer as well as Eddie’s lawyer. “Let’s get this going,” Evan whispered as they reached the room and he knocked on the door.
“Come in,” came a voice.
Evan opened the door and wheeled Eddie inside. Shannon stood there, eyes going wide as she looked at her husband.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I ask Evan to stay with me. Makes it easier this way,” Eddie said as he was pushed down the edge of the room to where his lawyer was sitting.
“It’s fine,” his lawyer said, “I’m Nigel Marks,” he said, greeting Evan with a nod as he wheeled Eddie into place before taking the offered hand.
“Nice to meet you,” he greeted, “I’ve been helping Eddie while he has been recovering, and I’ve been helping Christopher as well.”
“How dare you bring a damn stranger around my son!” Shannon yelled out, glaring at her husband.
“What did you expect me to do?” Eddie asked her, “You knew that Christopher and I both needed an operation. Christopher had his, ages ago, and Evan helped back then as well, since I couldn’t carry Christopher, I could barely drive before my operation, and it was only when it was needed,” he reminded her.
“You still shouldn’t have done it, I would’ve taken care of him,” she told him.
“Mrs Diaz,” Nigel began, “you’re on file as abandoning your son on several occasions to go shopping with your mother. We have notarized videos, messages and calls from Mr Diaz that clearly show the abandonment. You’re even on record saying to your mother, that, and I quote ‘He’ll be fine on his own for two hours. He’ll just watch cartoons.’ end of quote,” he said as he looked down at his notes. “Now, as for the purpose for this meeting is to get around to the divorce proceedings.”
“I’m not divorcing him,” Shannon said, “I just need some damn time with my mother and then things can go back the way they were.”
“I don’t love you anymore,” Eddie stated, his voice a little cold. “How can I love someone that did what you did? You let your mother shout at our son and just stood there and watched. Christopher had done nothing to deserve that treatment from her. Janet has yelled at him several times, telling him that he is unlovable in various ways. He also believes the reason you keep leaving him alone is because you believe the same damn thing. How can I love a person who’d allow that to happen to a four-year-old child?” he asked her, waiting for an answer.
“She’s upset, distraught, she’s going to die and she knows it,” Shannon tried to reason.
“Even before she knew she was going to die, she always said she didn’t like Christopher, and she doesn’t like me either,” Eddie pointed out to her, “She never has because I’m part Mexican.”
“I still believe we can make this work,” Shannon told Eddie, ignoring what he was saying.
“Shannon, I don’t love you anymore. The moment I found Christopher home alone and hurt, all the love I felt for you left me, all I felt was disgust,” Eddie told her, shaking his head. “You left us in a house where we were hated, so much that it was hostile all the time. Neither Christopher, nor I, were able to truly relax or even feel safe there. When we were in El Paso, we could tell my parents to fuck off, or call the damn police when they refused to leave. I can’t do that with Janet.”
“Mom is going through a really tough time Eddie,” she reminded him. He knew she was going through a tough time, anyone would, with that hanging over their head.
“It doesn’t excuse the behavior she has always shown, though does it. Even you have to see what she was like the only time she damn well came to visit. She disdained Christopher and was downright hostile to me. The only reason she allowed you to marry me was because there was an air-tight prenup and marriage contact between the two of us, one she assumed would protect you from your deadbeat Mexican husband. Which I was grateful for, since you tried to fucking take the money I had, and just put your own in your account and never help towards the household funds. You’ve been putting into the household funds until I moved out, and I’ll remain out of that damn house, I won’t let our son be subjected to abuse ever,” Eddie argued back.
“Mrs Diaz, Mr Diaz,” Nigel said, calling to them both, “Please calm yourselves.”
“Sorry,” Eddie said, “I’m just trying to get through to her that I am not ever going to get back together with her. I don’t mind us maybe becoming friends again in the future, but at the moment, I’m disappointed in her, and our son is suffering from how Shannon has been behaving since the moment we arrived at Janet Whitt’s home.”
“Mrs Diaz, from what Mr Diaz has said, the divorce will happen,” Nigel told her, “You can fight it all you wish, but Mr Diaz is adamant about it.”
“He’s my husband, he should have my back,” Shannon said through gritted teeth.
Eddie sighed as he looked at her, “The moment you turned your back on your son, stopped me from having your back. I did all I could when I was home and when I was out there, doing what I could to make life as easy as possible for our family. I made sure that my parents were kept on a short leash, to keep them away from you and to make sure that they wouldn’t bother you. I gave you the tools you needed to deal with them as soon as they became too much,” he reminded her, shrugging, and adding, “I’m sorry Shannon, but I can’t… I can’t be your husband now. I need to be there for Christopher, and I won’t allow him to be abused by his own grandmother. He’s dealt with enough of the ableist bullshit my own mother was throwing around like confetti, but at least my mother doesn’t hate him or tell him that he’s unlovable whenever she gets the chance.
“Eddie, please,” she begged him.
“Shannon, just sign, it’s not going to work, at all. I’m not going to come back. When you’re ready to be a mother again, then contact me. But until then, I only want to hear from you when you want to see our son. He misses his mother, even if you have hurt him.”
“The… video, does he… really feel like that?” she then asked, her voice shaking.
“Yes, you hurt us both by your actions. I just hope by the time you come back to your damn senses, it’s not too late for you and Christopher to recover your relationship,” he told her.
Shannon finally started to listen as they started to go through the prenup they’d signed, made sure that everything was correct with what she owed, before the papers were signed. Custody had already been sorted in the previous court proceedings when Eddie filed for separation, with Eddie being granted primary custody. Shannon would have to go through the visitation center until she had proven that she had her son’s best interest at heart. Eddie was exhausted when he arrived home, falling asleep as soon as Evan helped him into bed.
Chapter Nineteen
Eddie flopped back on the couch, he could hear Evan puttering around in the kitchen. The man had been staying with him on and off since his operation, he was helping as Eddie slowly recovered, and it was a slow recovery. His healing was taking longer than they had first thought it would’ve.
Evan walked back into the room, “You alright?” he asked, biting his lip and feeling unsure.
“I will be, I can’t believe they want a second op,” he muttered, the appointment he had just gone to was not the good news he wanted.
“Yeah,” Evan nodded, walking over and setting the mug of hot coffee down, “here, drink that, you need anything else?” he asked.
“For you to sit down?” Eddie told him, grinning.
Evan snorted, sitting down with his own coffee. “How are you with what they said?” he asked.
“Not happy. I had hoped that the first operation would cover things, and it hasn’t. They are going to need to go in and repair some of the damage. If they don’t, they I won’t regain full strength,” he glowered as he added, “I hate this. I thought this was over. Fucking bullet fragment just had to move from where it was. I don’t know what caused that, they said it was stable and in a place where it wouldn’t do any harm,” he muttered.
“We all know that sometimes they’d lie about shit like that. They want feet on the ground, not in the hospital beds,” Evan reminded him, “When you were discharged, to them you were done being feet on the ground, and were now not needed.”
Eddie nodded, that was exactly how it felt to him, since he turned eighteen he had given his life to the army, and now, it felt like he was being thrown away. “Yeah,” he sighed, “Well, doesn’t really fucking matter now. It is what it is, and I need to deal with it.”
Evan gave him a look, “You know what your therapist is going to say about that.”
Eddie snorted, trying not to spill his coffee over him with the force of it, “Yeah, I know.”
Evan laughed, “Well, I should go and get Christopher, and the doc said no driving,” he warned him.
“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, pulling a face
“Eddie, you’ve broken that rule twice,” Evan reminded him as he drank his coffee, wincing at the slight burn, “It can cause more damage,” he finished.
“I know that, but needs must at the time,” he reminded him, rolling his eyes. “But I’ll be doing my damn best to make sure that I don’t fuck myself over any more than I already have. They say that I should have a full recovery, but… I don’t know,” he sighed, leaning back and closing his eyes.
“They said that it could take a good few months before they know for sure,” Evan told him, as he got up, taking his mug to the kitchen.
Eddie watched him go, he was hopeful for a full recovery, but he wasn’t counting on it. The damage was bad, the muscles that were around the fragment had been cut and torn apart, which had led to a weakness in his leg. Evan walked back into the room, now seeing the morose look on his friend’s face.
“What are you thinking?” Evan asked him.
“Just what I can do when I’m finally healed up enough. I have insurance to think of as well, I’ve got savings but they aren’t going to last me for long. Thankfully, Shannon has covered that for the most part. I’m just glad that Christopher’s operation was covered. My second one is going to be covered, but…” he trailed off as he thought of all the things that needed to be taken care of.
“Let’s not borrow trouble, we’ll take it one day at a time,” Evan said, knowing that Eddie was about to spiral again. He had done so a few times when it came to the care of his son, and what was needed for himself. The man didn’t like the fact that he wasn’t working and that things were more up in the air than they should be.
“Yeah,” he said taking a deep breath, “One day at a time, I have money saved. My severance pay and a few other things come in. Mostly because Shannon made me pay for a lot of things she should have been helping with. She still had to give that back, to make sure it was even. Gotta love a mother who liked fairness, and didn’t believe I’d be able to pay much into the marriage,” he snorted, shaking his head.
“I still can’t believe something like that even existed,” Evan said, frowning.
“Same, but Janet was insistent on it. I think she thought her daughter would be putting more into the marriage than myself because it’s really bit Shannon in the ass,” he snorted, “But anyway, go and get Chris, I know he didn’t want to go this morning.”
“No he didn’t,” Evan laughed as he headed to the door, “I’ll be back in around an hour, no doubt Abuela has things for me to bring back for you.
“Yeah,” Eddie nodded, smiling, as Evan then left him alone to his thoughts. They weren’t as dark and worrying as they had been, but still, the pressure was beginning to mount on finding work and getting some good insurance for himself and Christopher. The divorce is finally going through, since Shannon had stopped fighting it. Though she still hadn’t managed to see Christopher at all. Three more times she had given dates and organized the meetings and three times she had failed to come through. The fourth time she had done so, Christopher had called her using Eddie’s phone and told her that he didn’t want to see her.
Eddie yawned and then groaned as his phone began to ring. “Damn,” he muttered as he saw who it was. He answered the call, “Hello, Mom,” he stated.
“Eddie, why didn’t you tell me that you’re getting a divorce?” Helena demanded straight away, instead of greeting her son.
“That’s the only thing you have to say after not speaking to me for what, four, five months, since I moved out here,” Eddie snorted, “Mom, I love you, but it’s none of your business what I do in my life.”
“Of course, it’s my damn business,” Helena snapped at him, “What are you going to do now? You going to have to move in with your father and I while you get a new house. I really think you should send Christopher here.”
“Not going to happen, I’m not moving back to El Paso. I don’t care if my marriage is over, this is where I live now and I’m recovering well, in case you even cared,” he said, though that was a small lie.
“Of course, you’re going to move back here. I told you, I warned you that it was going to go wrong the moment you moved away. And look what happened, your marriage is in shambles, and you and Christopher are alone. You need to come back, or at the very least send Christopher home. He deserves to have people there for him, and you can’t be there for him, you-”
“I am not going to send Christopher to you at all. It’s never going to happen, no matter what you say, or what goes on in my life, I’ll continue to be a father to my son. I’ll be there for him, and help him as he goes through the divorce. I’ll never be moving back to El Paso, so drop that. It’s not going to happen. I’ve already bought a new home here in Los Angeles, and I like the area I live in now. The house is large and well suited for me and Christopher,” Eddie added, “So please, stop trying to harass me into giving you Christopher, or us moving back to El Paso. it’s never going to happen.”
“I am trying to do what’s right by Christopher,” Helena told him, sounding upset, “Why are you stopping me from doing that?” she whined.
“Do you want some cheese with that whine mother?” Eddie couldn’t help but ask, “Honestly, stop being a damn child when you think someone has taken your toys away from you. Would you be able to lift and carry Christopher around?” he asked her, going for blunt now since nothing else was getting through to her.
“Of course, I could,” she huffed.
“How about when he’s seven? Eight? Nine? Would you still be able to lift him?” he asked her. “Would you be able to make sure he gets into his classes, help him with his homework, and teach him what he needs to be able to live independently?” he asked her.
“He can’t live independently, he has a disability. You’re going to set him up for failure if you carry on-”
“Shut up,” he said, causing his mother to stop at the shock of being told off. “You need to listen to me carefully, what you’re saying is ableist. Christopher will find certain things difficult, and almost impossible to do. But he will still be able to do a lot of things himself. Nearly everything. His doctors and therapists all say the same thing, living independently is in his future, one day, you and I aren’t going to be there for him. He needs to be able to take care of himself, and being in a home is not in Christopher’s future before you even think about it,” he finished, shaking his head.
Helena was quiet for a moment, “I am doing what I can to make sure that he will have all that he needs, instead you’re ruining it and him, you’re going to just drag him down with you. Don’t come running to me when you realize just how much you have ruined your son,” she snapped at him before ending the call.
Eddie shook his head, knowing that it wouldn’t be the last time that she’d call him to try and get him to comply with her wishes. It was what she did, to make him feel guilty for going against her, and make him want to apologize, the method no longer worked on him and it hadn’t been done. She had done it since he was a child, and had done the same with his sisters for a while, but after they moved out and married, Helena had concentrated on Eddie, especially after he’d brought a place in El Paso.
The front door opened and he could hear Evan chiding Christopher. “Not so fast, you’re going to fall if you keep going like that,” he said.
“But I want to see Daddy!” Christopher called, and to Eddie, it sounded like he didn’t pay any attention to what Evan was saying.
“Listen to Evan, Chris!” Eddie called out.
“Fine!” came the huffy reply.
Christopher soon came into the living room, “Daddy,” he called out as he went over.
“Hey, mijo,” he murmured as Christopher was soon leaving his gait trainer behind as he climbed onto the couch with a little help.
“Missed you, Daddy, did the doctors be nice today?” he asked, as he curled into Eddie’s side.
“Yes, they were,” Eddie smiled, as Evan watched from the doorway, “It’s taking aggggeeees,” he said drawing out the word, “to heal, but I’ll be okay. I may have to have another operation,” he said.
“You’re going to catch me up,” Christopher said with a yawn. “I need a nap, I had too much fun.”
Eddie laughed, “Then we can both have a nap,” he agreed.
“You both do that in bed,” Evan ordered, “I’ll make a start on dinner. Mary gave me a recipe that I’d like to try, it’s a special lasagna.”
“Ohh,” Both Eddie and Christopher grinned.
“Go and rest,” he told them, shaking his head as he headed to the kitchen.
Chapter Twenty
Christmas was fast approaching, and Eddie had been fending off his parents for the last two months, ever since they had found out about the divorce. It’d be another three months before it was fully finalized, but it was over with for the most part. November was coming to an end, and Thanksgiving was over and done with; Eddie had spent it with his family. Christopher enjoyed the time he had with his cousins. Evan had spent his holidays with Mary and Joan, as they hosted her brother and his partner for a few days.
“Well,” Eddie said as he tucked Christopher into bed, “Sweet dreams,” he said, leaning down and kissing Christopher’s forehead.
“Night, Daddy,” he yawned as he snuggled down in his bed.
Eddie smiled as he got up and walked out, he still had a slight limp still, but it wasn’t as bad as it was before the operations. He was still in physio, and he could tell that he was stronger than before. He headed to the kitchen, to make himself a drink before settling down with the book that Evan had recommended for him when his phone started ringing, he sighed as he hoped it wasn’t his mother again. He’d had enough of dealing with her, she had been threatening to come out and see him, bringing his father along for the ride as well. While he loved his parents, he was disappointed in the way that they acted towards him and his sisters.
“Hello,” he greeted, not looking at the name and expecting his mother to answer him.
“Eddie,” came a sobbing voice.
“Shannon,” he frowned, hearing her broken sobs, “What’s going on?” he asked her.
“She’s… gone, Mom’s dead, I went into her room and she was just… gone,” she sobbed.
Eddie sighed, and said, “I’m sorry for your loss,” he told her, not knowing what he could say. He didn’t like the woman, was he sad that she was dead, not really, he felt nothing about her passing. She was a woman who had tormented his son, part of him was slightly glad of the fact that she’d never be able to do so again.
“You don’t even fucking care? Do you?” Shannon yelled down the line, still crying.
“Shannon, I know she was your mother and meant the world to you, and I’m sorry that you’re going through a hard time. But no, I have to admit, I don’t care, I’m sorry. She tormented our son, shouted at him, belittled him, and got you to abandon him over and over again,” Eddie told her, “How can I care about such a woman? I’m sorry that you have suffered this loss,” he finished once more.
“you’re so fucking heartless,” she snapped at him.
“Goodbye Shannon, and my condolences,” he stated before hanging up on her.
Eddie had nothing he could say to her, he knew he sounded mean and horrible, but he couldn’t help what he felt. He silenced his phone as it began to ring again, seeing Shannon’s name coming up again. He’d talk to her tomorrow, and give her some time. He did not doubt that she wouldn’t be alright for a while longer yet.
XxXxX
Eddie smiled at Pepa as she took Christopher out for the day. He’d be meeting Shannon in around an hour at a cafe. She wanted to talk to him, and he wasn’t sure if he should meet her, it had been a week since her mother had died, and while he had let her call and answered her the next day, she had just been angry at him and yelled, blaming him for the way things were for herself.
“Thanks,” he said as the Uber he had ordered had arrived and he went over to it. He was cleared to drive, but his leg was painful that morning and he had been told if it was, to take it as easy as he could, which is why he was using his cane a little.
Christopher and Pepa waved as they drove off, the Uber going in the opposite direction. He was quiet on the ride, not wanting to talk at all. Arriving, he got out and saw Shannon already waiting for him. He nodded to her as he went to the counter and ordered himself a coffee. Eddie took the time to look at her, it was the first time he had seen her since the meeting at the office with their lawyers about their divorce. She looked a little tired, and worn down, and he had no doubt that was from being with her mother those in her final days.
“Eddie,” she said as soon as Eddie walked over to her.
“Shannon,” he greeted, not showing any emotion as he sat down. He started putting sugar into his coffee, “What do you want?” he asked her.
“Well, I’m… I’m good now, I can come back,” she said, giving him a sigh.
Eddie shook his head and snorted, “Shannon, you broke every bit of trust that Christopher had in you. He hasn’t seen you since the day he hurt his arm after you left him home alone. He was scared of Janet, knew that she hated him, and he was scared of her, never wanting to be alone with her at all. He was always pale and shaky each time you left him alone with her,” he told her, shaking his head.
“He was-”
“Remember the video I sent you,” he reminded her, “And we will never be getting back together, if you want visitation with Christopher, you need to go through the courts. I’m not going to keep putting him out there for you to hurt him all the damn time.”
“How can you be so fucking cruel?” she demanded to know as she began to tear up.
“Because I have a four-year-old son who needed to be protected from a woman who kept abandoning him, a woman who made promises to see him and then never showed up. What am I supposed to do Shannon? Even you have to admit that you abandoned the both of us as soon as we moved out here. I asked that you take care of Christopher for a couple of hours while I went to my appointments, and instead, you left him home alone. You want to see him, fine, but you can go through our lawyers, and get visitation that way. Because, I for one, don’t want to see my son in tears because he believes you hate him like his Grammy Janny did,” he said, as he grabbed the togo cup of coffee and stood up, “I think we’re done here.”
“Edmundo Diaz!” she yelled out, gaining the attention of others in the cafe.
“We’re done Shannon, I gave you chance after chance to make things right with our son, at the moment he is so upset with you and angry that I’ve been asking a friend for help with getting him to see someone, so he can talk about what he is going through. In his eyes, he lost you the moment that we moved out here. You were so busy with Janet that you forgot him, Shannon. He doesn’t see it as you spending time with your mother. He sees it as you going with a woman that hated him, and to him, that connected in his head and he thinks that you feel exactly the same way about him” he shook his head, “I’m sick of going over this with you, I’ve said it so many fucking times. Listen once and for all, if you want to see Christopher, go through the courts. If it’s me you’re after, it isn’t going to happen. All the love and care I felt for you vanished the day you left our son home alone after I told you I had an appointment. I have no doubt that in Janet’s twisted mind, she was looking for a way to get rid of Christopher, and me.”
Eddie walked off, not listening to Shannon as she kept calling out to him. He pulled out his phone as he set his drink down on a small wall outside so he could call an Uber and message his lawyer. He his lawyer to make it clear to Shannon that she’d have to go through the courts to see Christopher from now on, he was done trying to help her. He got in the Uber and headed to his lawyer’s office.
XxXxX
Christopher was excited as he was carried in Evan’s arms, the other man was coming to his birthday party at his Bisabuela’s, and he was so happy about it. “I can’t wait to see everyone,” he grinned as he waved at his dad. He had spent the morning with Evan and Joan, who was being carried in by her mother.
Isabel greeted them all with a smile, a hug, and a kiss on the cheek as she directed them into the garden where the party was going to happen. “Evanito,” she greeted Evan after he had set Christopher down to go and play with his cousins, “Eddito is in the garage getting more garden furniture, will you go and help him?” she asked him.
“Sure, Mrs Di-” he began only to get a look from the woman that made him stop.
“Evan,” she said, with an admonishing tone.
“Sorry, Abuela,” he said a warm smile on his face as he then went to the garage, to find Eddie, grabbing a few things and setting them aside. “Glad I got here in time,” he said.
Eddie turned, “Oh, hey,” he grinned, “I was about to come in and see if Gio was around to help.”
“It’s fine, I’m here to help,” Evan said, “Just point out what I need to take out there and I’ll do it, you’re under strict instructions to carry nothing while you’re recovering,” he added, giving him a glance, seeing that his cane was leaning against the wall nearby.
“I don’t really need it at the moment, I brought it more for the fact that physio was hard this morning for me,” he admitted quietly, “I’ve got an appointment just after the new year, to see how things have been healing with no interference,” he finished, “Now, take these,” he pointed to the folding chairs he had been pulling out and setting aside, along with the folding table that was usually used when his Abuela had large celebrations.
Evan nodded and grinned he began to ferry things into the garden under Eddie’s instruction. They finally made it into the garden fully and started to enjoy the party as Christopher played with his cousins, before coming over and opening a few presents before he went back.
Eddie sat down, smiling as he had a drink in one hand, Evan sat beside him, “He’s really having a lot of fun, he hasn’t even finished opening his presents,” Evan snorted.
“Nope, when he’s having fun, he prefers moving around to being stationary,” Eddie told him, grinning, “He’s always been like this, when I had my first leave, and came home to see him, he was bopping away to any music, moving when he could, he wasn’t walking, or even crawling properly at the time, but he was still having as much fun as he could.”
“He never likes to slow down,” Evan smiled, watching as Christopher did his best to keep up with his cousins.
“He’ll be starting with crutches in the new year, he was measured and chose the color of them at his last physio appointment, he can’t wait to get them,” he said, “he’s growing up so fast and he’s got so much potential,” he added.
“It is what he wants, he is so damn independent, he wants to try doing something himself before asking for help,” Evan said, “He’s an amazing kid.”
“He truly is,” Eddie agreed as Christopher cheered, the kids were playing some form of soccer and they seemed to be having a lot of fun.
The rest of the party was a joyful celebration, with the next being Christmas in two weeks.
Chapter Twenty-One
Eddie had no idea why he was there. But Janet’s will was being read, and he’d received a letter from the law firm she used, asking him to attend.. He wondered if it was a way for Janet to once again show how much she detested him; it wouldn’t surprise him at all. It could also be a way for Shannon to try and get back together with him? She had been sending him messages and voicemails. As soon as he blocked one number, she’d get another. He had gotten his lawyer to send a cease and desist order telling her to stop, but it had been ignored.
He saw Shannon walk into the room, there were only three people in the room, and that didn’t include the one reading the will. He sat, seeing Shannon and Janet’s sister, who the woman rarely saw.
“We are here for the reading of the last will and testament of Janet Whitt,” the man stated as he looked at the three. “Should be present is Shannon Whitt, daughter, Karen Whitt, sister and, ex-son-in-law, Edmundo Diaz.”
“We’re all present,” Shannon said, nodding, her eyes were red, clearly still grieving, and he couldn’t blame her. Even with all the problems that his parents caused, he knew that his mother’s death, even his father’s, would cause much the same within him.
“Very well. I shall just read what is relevant, Ms Whitt, I’ll be giving you a full copy of the will,” he said as he then went back to the will and started to read. “To my sister, I leave you $250,000 and the albums of our family, though leave a few for Shannon.” he said, Making sure it was noted that she’d be receiving the check that was set aside for her. “To my beloved daughter, Shannon. I’m sorry to leave you, but know that the condo is yours, and a sum of $500,000 is left to you. Enjoy your life, my beautiful girl. Live it well.” he read out, his voice almost emotionless, causing the words to hurt slightly instead of feeling the warmth from Janet’s last words. “To Edmundo Diaz, I leave you words. Leave my daughter, take the spawn and leave her alone.”
“That’s already done,” Eddie said as he got up, “Goodbye to the Whitt family.”
“Mr Diaz this reading is not over,” the man said.
“As far as I’m concerned it is, Janet Whitt was a racist bitch that made life hell for my son. She turned my ex-wife away from her son, enough that Christopher no longer wants anything to do with her. Because Christopher knew that Janet hated him, as she yelled it in his face often enough in the few weeks that we lived with her. And if you don’t believe me, then I have video proof of what Janet and Shannon both did. Christopher, because of Shannon’s need to always be with her mother and ignore Christophers’ needs, believes that his mother hates him just like Janet did. So yeah, this is over and I don’t see the point to tell me something that I already knew that bitch wanted,” he shrugged, seeing that both Shannon and Karen were glaring at him. “Goodbye, and like I said, talk to the lawyer if you want to see Christopher, but be prepared for him to ignore you.”
“How dare you-” Karen began.
“How dare I talk about someone who is dead in this way?” he asked as he reached the door, turning to face her, “Easily, seeing how she abused my son. Shannon knows what she did, what both of them did. They left a four-year-old home alone when I was at a medical appointment. Alone. He fell and hurt himself, which is now on record with CPS, by the way,” he said as he looked at Shannon, “I’m done making excuses for you. Talk to the lawyer but don’t be surprised if I get a court order that you can’t go near him. I’ll be busy, taking care of MY son,” he said and then turned and left the room, letting the door close behind him. He didn’t care what either of them thought of him. He knew it was a bad idea to come, but he had been told it was best to do so.
He headed to his truck and was about to unlock it to get in when he felt a hand grab his arm and swing him around. He came face to face with Shannon, red-faced and angry.
“How dare you say that about my mother!” she yelled at him.
“I’m telling the truth,” he shrugged, he knew he was being callous, but at that moment, he really didn’t care, he could be home with his son instead of being around a woman that he had lost all trust and care about.
“You didn’t have to say it today of all days!” she continued, crying once more.
“Then why the fuck was I to come, just to hear her once again insult MY son, since it’s obvious that you care more about your mothers fucking opinions, than the heartbreak that you have caused Christopher,” he demanded to know. “I don’t think there is a single fucking thing that you could say to me, to get me to trust or care about you ever again. You showed me what you’re really like. I just… would like to know what happened to the woman I fell in love with? That adored her son, even with everything that was going on?” he asked her, “Because as soon as I got back, you changed, you no longer cared about Christopher, and you clearly didn’t love me anymore Then coming out here, you took it even further and pretended that neither of us existed,” he shook his head a few times, “I’m sorry Shannon, but… you should go on pretending we don’t exist, considering Janet Fucking Whitt’s last words to me were to keep myself and Christopher away from you, I’m kind of inclined to agree with her; I’ll be staying away. Talk to the lawyers if you want anything, because I’ll continue to block you at every single turn, and if you carry on harassing me I’ll get a restraining order. Don’t forget that I was granted full custody, and you’re to have supervised visits at the center.”
With that, he pulled free and got in his truck. She banged on his window, trying to get him to listen to her. But Eddie was done. He couldn’t do it, he really couldn’t. To be dragged to the damn reading, just to hear that, knowing that Janet Whitt truly hated him and Christopher hurt. Not in a way that he cared what she thought, but more that Christopher never had a chance to have a grandmother who could have loved him for who he is, instead of just seeing the CP. Just a possibility of Christopher having that, as he had with his abuela, at least he could share his abuela with his son.
He pulled the window down a crack, “Leave me alone, or I’ll call the police right fucking now,” he told her when she didn’t stop banging.
“Fuck you Eddie!” she snapped at him, stepping away, glaring furiously at him as he got out of there. He returned home, finding Evan and Christopher both napping on the couch. He smiled, feeling better just from seeing them both. He went over and sat down, closed his eyes, and let himself drift.
XxXxX
Eddie looked up from where Christopher was crying against him. “hey Evan,” he greeted.
“What happened?” he asked, staying where he was.
“Grandma is so mean!” the five-year-old yelled.
“It’s okay, mijo,” he said, rubbing his beck as Christopher flopped against him again
While Eddie was concentrating on Christopher. Evan made his move to quickly head to the chair and sit down. When he looked up he saw a worried looking Eddie checking him over.
“What’s going on with… them?” he asked carefully.
“As you know they tried to visit for his fifth birthday,” Eddie began, biting his lip for a moment. “They didn’t, because I refused to tell them where I lived. I didn’t want them here, they upset Christopher,” he said, gesturing to the upset child in his lap. “They tried again at Christmas,” he added.
“Yeah, I remember, the same thing,” Evan frowned, “So, what’s changed since then since I know they didn’t visit.”
“They came to take me away!” Christopher wailed as he clung to Eddie even more. “They said Daddy will hurt me, that he’s really mean, Daddy isn’t mean, he’s nice and loves me!”
“Turn up on the doorstep three hours ago. I had to call 9-1-1 to get them to leave,” Eddie sighed, “They hired a PI to find out where we live, and to try and collect dirt on me for their custody case.”
“Damn,” Evan muttered under his breath.
“Now, what happened to you?” he asked, “I saw you limping.”
Evan sighed, “Roommates,” he stated simply.
“Yeah?” Eddie prompted as he continued to soothe Christopher.
“They left things out and I didn’t see them until I was falling over them,” he sighed and shrugged, “Not the first time something like this has happened, usually I’m able to see them before I fall.”
“Evan hurt?” Christopher sniffled as he started to catch on to what Eddie and Evan were talking about.
“Just a little, buddy,” Evan smiled at him, “I’ll be just fine soon enough,” he added.
“What happened?” he wanted to know.
“I fell over something that belonged to one of the people that I live with, they didn’t put it away,” he answered him. “It’s nothing to worry about,” he reassured.
“That’s not very nice,” Christopher frowned, “You should tell them off. If I leave my things around, then I’d be told I’m being silly, and that someone could get hurt because they are in the way.”
“Exactly,” Eddie nodded, “To be honest though, Evan, I really don’t like you in that place. This isn’t the first time that something has happened.”
“Maybe not, but at the moment, it’s where my mind is,” Evan gave a little shrug. “I didn’t want to stay at Mary’s anymore, she has a kid, after all.”
“But she a really little kid, I’m bigger, I know better,” Christopher said and then brightened, “You can move in with us, Evan!” he added, clapping his hands, excited about getting the man to live with them like he had done when he and his dad had to have surgery.
“I can’t do that, bud,” Evan said, shaking his head.
“You could,” Eddie told him, “I don’t mind, we have the room as well,” he smiled, “It’d be nice to have someone else in the house as well.”
“Hey, I’m someone else,” Christopher pouted at his dad, upset almost forgotten.
“I mean another adult,” Eddie said, rolling his eyes as his son.
“Okay, I suppose I’m not an adult yet, but one day I will be,” he reminded his dad.
Eddie’s eyes went wide, “No, don’t tell me that you’re going to grow up. I won’t believe it, even if you end up taller than me. You’ll still be my sweet little mijo,” he said.
Christopher patted his dad’s chest, “Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll still love you when I look down at you,” he grinned.
“Burn,” Evan laughed at the two of them, “I’ll be fine at the house share.”
“You’re not if you get hurt,” Christopher told him.
“The offer is there, and we will be bringing it up often,” Eddie warned him, “I know you didn’t want to say with Mary, but you’ve been good at therapy like I have been, and having someone that can truly understand most of what we’ve gone through when the nightmares hit, might be a good thing in the end,” he pointed out, giving him a look.
Evan sighed but said nothing for a moment. “I’ll… think about it,” he said and then changed the subject.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Eddie looked at his parents, grateful that Mary had been able to take Christopher with her to the park. He really didn’t want his son around them. Helena looked at her son. “What?” he asked her.
“You know what,” she hissed at him, stepping into the house, not caring that she had pushed her son out of the way.
“No, I don’t,” he stated with a heavy sigh as his father followed his mother into his home. He wished that he had been able to keep them away. He still was pissed that they had used a PI to find him and find out what was going on. No one in his family would’ve told them anything, since they knew how overbearing the two could be when it came to Christopher and his care.
“We’re here to take Christopher back to El Paso, he needs a mother in his life,” Helena told him, not caring about what was best for Christopher in her eyes, she was what was best.
“Not going to happen, if you want my son, go to court. Because that’d be the only way you’d even have a chance of getting anywhere near him. Because even if something happened to me, there are plenty of other people he’d be going to,” he stated, staring at his mother, “I don’t trust you to do what is best for Christopher,” he added.
“I know what is best for him, you made him go and have another operation and he had no need for it,” she snapped at him, starting to look around the home to see what it was like. Eddie knew she was trying to find something that she could use against him, but it wasn’t going to happened. He’d already had a home study done when he was divorcing Shannon and sorting out where Christopher was to live before that.
“No, you don’t know what’s best for my son,” Eddie disputed, shaking his head, “You’ve tried to stop every single thing that his doctors ever suggested when we lived in El Paso. If you had your way, Christopher would be in such a state, that he wouldn’t be able to move without you helping him. He wouldn’t be able to do anything, on his own. He is a five-year-old child who loves to move and have fun, and you’d stop all that with what you believe. I won’t clip my son’s wings, like you tried to do to me. I won’t be the one that stops him from doing something with his life; you would. Like you tried to dictate exactly what I did, who I saw, and everything that I was to do in my life.”
“We were trying to do what was best for you, mijo,” Ramon stated.
“How would you know what was best for me?” he turned to ask his father, “You were never there, instead you listened to what she said and believed it, instead of actually asking your children what they needed in their lives.”
“Your mother wouldn’t lie,” Ramon stated.
“Oh, really,” Eddie snorted, “She lied all the damn time. Let me guess, that she told you that I was doing drugs and that was why I needed to have a curfew and to not be allowed to take my driving test?” he asked.
“Yes,” Ramon nodded.
“I wasn’t taking drugs, I was actually on the varsity baseball team, and I have proof of that. She said that I was doing drugs because she didn’t approve of the friends I was making, especially the ones that I had a crush on. And, yes, they were male, that was what Mom didn’t want me to be around,” he told him, shaking his head, “She’s lied to you about so many damn things I don’t even know what she’s told you, and I doubt she remembers all of them either.”
“Helena?” Ramon asked her, seeing her go pale and then red.
“I did what I had to do, no son of mine is going to be a fag!” Helena yelled out, “I won’t stand for it, Ramon. He will marry the woman that I have chosen out for him, and he will move back to El Paso!” she carried on.
“Not going to happen,” Eddie said, “You can try and force things all you like. I’ll never go back to El Paso, and I won’t have that kind of crap around MY son,” he told her, “And that’s the crux right there; Christopher is my son, not yours, he will never be yours.”
Helena screamed, “I’ll get him, you won’t be able to keep him,” she said as she stormed to the door.
“If she comes near me again, Papi, and I’ll be calling the police. Why do you think I was always so quick to do so in the past? I don’t want her near Christopher, she will ruin him like she tried to do to us. You need to evaluate just what she tells you, she has lied to you about all three of us, all the damn time. No doubt she’s doing the same about Christopher as well, to make it sound like she’s the only one that’d be able to take care of him. Christopher’s needs are being met easily by me and others. I have people I can actually rely on out here,” he told him, “Be careful, Papi,” he warned him one last time.
“Ramon!” Helena yelled from the door, “We’re done here, we need to consult a lawyer,” she added, giving Eddie a smug look.
“You won’t win,” Eddie told her, “and don’t contact me again, I’m not going to answer from now on. All communications between us will be through our lawyers, and expect a restraining order to come through if you continue to harass me.”
Helena sneered at him, “I’m doing what is best for Christopher, since you don’t know how to be a parent.”
“I know more than you,” he snorted as he then watched her storm out, his father following behind her.
Eddie shut the door and pulled out his phone, messaging Mary that it was safe for Christopher to come back. He began to walk away from the door when someone knocked on it. “Honestly,” he said with a sigh as he opened it, blinking when it wasn’t his parents on the doorstep any more. “Evan,” he said as he let the younger man inside.
“Sorry to stop by like this, had enough of the noise at the house. They were playing music so loud I think my bed vibrated about three feet away from where it started,” he snorted as he was let into the house. “I saw the car speed away, Helena and Ramon again?” he asked.
“Yeah,” he sighed, “And are you going to move in?” he asked again.
Evan sighed, “Eddie…” he trailed off, looking to the side.
“What’s going on in that head of yours, Evan?” he asked, this time his voice was coaxing, gentle.
Evan sighed, “I… like you.”
“Good,” Eddie nodded, “I like you, and I’d love nothing more than for us to go on a date. I know we should take things slow, and that moving in like you are is probably moving at the speed of light. I’m not asking you to move in to share a room with me, you’ll have your own room; I am not going to push for anything on that part. I’m newly divorced, and just six months ago, I loved my wife, a lot. I’m still getting over the betrayal, so a slow, crawl-like dating life… I think that’d be best for us,” he told him, smiling.
Evan stared at him, “You… want to date me?” he asked, sounding so unsure and unlike the man that Eddie had gotten to know.
Eddie guided him to the living room, “Yeah, I do. As I said, we both have a lot going on. I’m going under the knife again in about a month, you’re still in therapy and will be starting the fire academy in two or three months.”
“So, taking it slow?” he asked, getting a nod, “I can go for that,” he agreed.
“Good, we’ll go on a date next week, I’ll think of the first one,” he grinned, “Now, moving in, you’ve already been using the spare room when you stay here, so, we’ll just make it your room,” he told him. “Please, you know it makes sense.”
Evan slumped, he had to admit that it’d be nice to be around Eddie and Christopher. Eddie was a great man to be around. The two of them bonded over their time in the Sandbox as well as the therapy they were going to. Not only that, but he also loved and adored Christopher. The young boy was so happy nearly all the time, and when he wasn’t there was always something behind his tantrum or tears. “Yeah, I… Okay, I’ll move in.”
“Good, Christopher is going to be so happy with that,” Eddie grinned, “I’m currently cleared to drive, so we can go over and get what is needed. And maybe you can always get yourself something more if you need to add it to the room. I know you like to read, but I don’t know if you have books.”
“I have a few, but most of the time I give them to charity shops. I’ve never really had a permanent home; I always lived on base when I was stateside, or stayed with one of the others,” he shrugged, “I didn’t mind it, I was never really used to having a home of my own. Not sure if I could have stood it, if I’m honest.”
“I don’t know how you did it,” Eddie said, “I know what it’s like in the barracks, and while I can sleep anywhere, and with a lot of shit going on around me, I prefer my own comforts at the end of the day.”
Evan grinned, “I can’t do it. Hell, even after I joined up and when I was on leave, I was sleeping in my jeep half the time, while I found work, most of it off the books,” he snorted.
“I’m going to message Mary and ask her to keep Christopher for a bit longer, and get you moved in now. He’ll be ecstatic,” he grinned.
Evan looked at him, “Alright,” he agreed, “how about we do that, then we’ll talk about what is going on with your parents, I know something is,” he added as they headed out of the house.
Three hours later and a minor celebratory meal was being served in the Diaz house that now held a Buckley. Mary and Joan are there to join in. Hours later when Christopher went to bed, it was time for Eddie and Evan to talk, and not just about his parents.
“So, I’m unsure if we should tell Christopher that we are dating,” Evan stated as soon as they were alone and settled in the living room.
Eddie nodded, “I don’t mind waiting a bit, for us to see how things go. I just don’t want to hide this from him long term. He’s going to be happy, as he loves and adores you.”
“Yeah, but he knows me as a friend, not as a potential partner for you,” Evan pointed out.
Eddie nodded, “Yeah,” he agreed, “Which is why I don’t mind that we wait a little bit. It’s going to be an adjustment, he’s still not happy with Shannon and she hasn’t reached out to my lawyer in a while either, I’m still looking at what I can do for work as well,” he bit his lip.
“Well, with me moving in, I’ll be contributing to the household bills,” Evan told him, staring at him to make sure he knew what he’d be doing.
“You-” he started, getting a shake from Evan, “Fine, we’ll split things up.”
“Good, now tell me about the parental units, and what we should be doing about that,” Evan prompted, as talk turned to Helena and Ramon Diaz.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Eddie was irritated. His Abuela was celebrating her birthday, and Valentine’s Day was approaching as well. Helena and Ramon were trying to talk to family members, but were being frozen out. Since Christopher had latched onto Evan and wouldn’t let him go. Mary was there, little Joan doing much the same as Christopher, keeping close to Evan.
“You’re not happy that they are here?” Mary asked, knowing there was something really bad going on between Eddie and his parents.
“They are trying to get custody of Christopher. It’s not been working the way that they want it. It won’t either. I’m doing what I can to make sure that Christopher will be safe should something happen to me. But…” he trailed off, shaking his head.
“There is only so much that you can do,” Mary finished for him, getting a nod. “Well, you’ve been making it clear that you’re not going to let Christopher go to them, they’ll have to get over it sooner or later.”
“I’m hoping,” Eddie nodded, giving her a small smile.
“Don’t worry, it’ll work out,” Mary told him, reaching over and patting his arm. Eddie smiled a little more at her before she went off to go and talk to Evan, and see her daughter.
“Eddie,” Helena snapped as she rushed over to him, “How dare you mix with her, can’t you see she wouldn’t be a good mother.”
“She’s a fantastic mother, her daughter is with Christopher at the moment. But if you’re implying that I’m with her, then you’re wrong. She’s not… my type,” he said, eyes narrowing as he looked down at his mother.
“You will have to hurry and find a good mother for Christopher since you’re so determined to bring him down with you. We’ve got a few people in mind who we know, who’d be willing to date and marry you. However, I doubt they’ll want to take care of Christopher; he is needy as you know. He’ll need special care at some point, and you won’t be able to do that when you have more children,” she told him, a little smirk playing on her lips.
“You can think that all you want. I’ll never marry someone who doesn’t accept that Christopher will be with me all the time. He is my son and I’ll never leave him behind, he is not a burden or needy, he is a child that I love and adore, and I’ll burn the world for him if I have to,” Eddie hissed as his father now joined them.
“We’re trying to look out for you, mijo,” Ramon said, shaking his head, as he put an arm around his wife. “We’re just trying to remind you that while Christopher is a wonderful little boy, he has needs that you aren’t going to be able to cope with one day. He’ll need special care and he can’t get that when you decide to move on from Shannon and marry someone else. No one is going to want to take care of someone else’s disabled child. They will want their own healthy children,” he finished, giving a heavy sigh, “We’re just trying to help.”
“You’re trying to take my son from me. How would you have liked it if Abuela and Abuelo decided that you couldn’t care for me? If they’d to take me from you?” he asked them, trying to get them to think about it from a different angle.
“It’s different Eddie,” Helena said, shaking her head.
“How is that different? You’re trying to take my son from me, he is my son, not yours. Certainly not a do-over for you, nor someone that you can control. He is a little boy who is living his best life, as best as he can, with what he has. I’ll make damn sure of that,” Eddie snapped at her, “The only difference is that you have it in your head that I can’t be a good parent, well, I am a damn site better father than you, Papi. I listen to my kid, I talk to him, even when I was away, every single day that I could. The only time I heard from you was when you were home. Never a phone call, letter, or even a damn postcard. So don’t tell me I am not a parent,” he said as he began to walk away. He didn’t want to say anything else, as he had no doubt that Isabel’s birthday would be a washout if he did.
“Eddie!” Ramon yelled at him before he could get too far, “I was working.”
“So was I, but you and Shannon held it against me all the time. That I was never there, that I wasn’t being a husband or a father. But I was doing exactly what a real father would do to ensure that my son had everything that he needed. When his diagnosis came in, we needed the insurance that the army provided, and the money that I was bringing in, helped make sure I was able to buy a house, and have enough left over to have a good chunk of savings as well,” he stated. Not saying anything at all about the prenup that had been signed. He knew his parents would be using that against Shannon all the more, and he didn’t want that, no matter what he thought about her at the moment.
“You just… you don’t even know your son, we do, we know what is best for him. You have to see that.”
“Not going to happen, no matter how much you try and guilt me. You do this all the damn time, trying to make me feel guilty about anything I do. It’s disgusting,” he stated, shaking his head, “Now, get out of my way, I’m going over to my friends and kid.”
“Eddie,” Helena called.
“No, this farce of a discussion is over. At the moment, neither I, nor Christopher, want anything to do with you. We want a break for at least six months, maybe spend that time figuring out how to be grandparents, instead of an overbearing mother trying to suffocate everyone and a father trying to force her wants on everyone,” he told them, shaking his head and leaving them behind.
“You okay?” Evan asked as soon as Eddie reached him, seeing the thunderstorm that was behind warm brown eyes.
“Yeah, I just wish they weren’t here,” he murmured as he saw his Abuela heading over to his parents.
“I know, pity you can’t ignore them, but let’s just celebrate the day with Isa-” he paused as he saw the look on Eddie’s face. “Abuela,” he corrected, rolling his eyes but his smile gave away his true feelings on being told to call her Abuela instead of Mrs Diaz or even Isabel. “Then we can go home and enjoy time without them.”
Eddie’s smile brightened a little more and nodded, “Let’s celebrate and keep them away from Christopher. He’s started to be very… blunt and uncaring when telling someone all about themselves. No doubt he will do so to Mom and Papi, if they push him.”
“Considering what he sent Shannon a couple of days ago,” Evan snorted.
“That’s the third video he’s sent her,” Eddie told him as Mary approached again, the children had gone with her when she had gotten up to get some food.
It was nearing the end of the party, some of the cousins had already left, more than half the children had left with their parents. A few stayed behind for sleepovers with other cousins. Evan smiled as he saw how close the family were. It was nice to see, considering his own family. He still hadn’t spoken to his parents since the moment he had left to join the Navy. He’d gone straight into the service from high school, graduating early, so he could do the civilian challenge contract the moment he was old enough. He’d tried to talk to Maddie before he left, and she’d just fobbed him off, telling him that he needed to stand on his own two feet. So he had, and he hadn’t spoken to any of his family since. He had sent the occasional, ‘I’m alive’ postcards to Maddie, but that was all he had done. He may send her something to tell her that he was now settled in LA. But he wasn’t sure yet.
“No, why would I want to live with you!” Christopher yelled out, causing the noise in the yard to quieten down immediately. Eddie and Evan headed over, hoping to stop anything more from being said. Helena had done nothing but hurt her grandson since he could talk, often trying to make him believe whatever it was she was telling him..
“Christopher, why don’t you just admit that you want to live with us?” Helena said as she knelt down, “You-”
“No, you’re mean and horrible to me, and about Mommy and Daddy. You say mean things all the time and I don’t like you; I don’t have to be around people that are mean. I like good and nice people, and you and Abuelo aren’t good people,” Christopher glared at them, “You told me that Daddy didn’t love me, but I know he does.”
“You what?!” Eddie yelled out as he reached him.
“Daddy, Evan!” Christopher yelled, turning and lifting up his arms, the crutches that he had been using for the last couple of days falling to the ground.
Evan picked him up first, looking at Eddie and getting a nod, “Okay, buddy, let’s let your dad deal with Grandma and Abeulo, and we’re going to go inside, the other kids can come in and play for a bit.”
The kids were ushered to follow him and Mary into the house. Eddie stared at his parents.
“We’re ju-”
“I don’t care what you were trying to do,” Eddie interrupted his mother, “I really don’t care,” he repeated, “What I do care about, is how you’re lying to MY SON. What the fuck, Mom!” he yelled, “You told my son that I don’t love him?!”
“I’m trying to get him to see that he should separate from you! You’re useless as a father Eddie, when will you realize that and let him come to us!” she yelled back.
“That’s it,” Eddie said, shaking his head, “From now on, don’t contact me again. Never, I don’t want to see you, hear from you nothing. Not ever a-damn-gain. You will keep away from me and my son, because I won’t let you do that shit to him.”
“You can’t cut me out of his life!” Helena screamed, going red in the face.
“Mijo,” Ramon began, shaking his head, “you need to calm down and think about things. You do th-”
“I don’t care, you want to sue me, go right a fucking head. I’ll fight you with everything I have, and more. I won’t let you take my son from me. What you’re doing is abuse!” he interrupted him. “It’s called parental alienation, and it’s classified as child abuse in the state of California. Do you really think I’ll let either of you around my son anymore after that? Fight me for it, but I can guarantee that I’ll never, ever speak to either of you again now. You’re both dead to me, I have no parents.” With that, he turned to his abuela and said, “I’m sorry Abuela, I can’t stay here in their presence any longer. I’m going home, I love you, and feliz cumpleaños.”
“That is fine, nieto, you go with Evanito and bisnieto, and the lovely Mary and Joan. We will speak and see each other soon,” she said, quietening him down and hugging him tightly.
Eddie nodded and headed off as Isabel turned to her son, “I want you gone, you’re no longer welcome into my home. I don’t know what has happened to you, but you’re not the son I raised.”
“Mama,” Ramon began, eyes going wide as the words hit.
“No, Ramon, you and that gringa you married have finally gone too far. No more will I have such disrespectful people in my home. Leave, and do not return. The family supports Eddie, not you, never you,” she said, laying down the law in the family. Everyone nodded in agreement.
“We will all help Eddie, no matter what,” one of the cousins said.
Ramon and Helena looked around the gathered family. They had no one there who’d support them, and with heads held high they left. Eddie and the others already leaving before they did.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Eddie looked at the letter he had received that morning. It had been a full week since Isabel’s birthday, and his parents had returned to El Paso. As he had promised, he’d blocked them on everything, not a single thing could get through. Except for a letter. He was tempted to return it to them, unopened, but he was curious as to what they had to say.
“Hey,” Evan said, seeing the anger and hurt that was on Eddie’s face as he walked into the living room. He went over, putting the letter to one side, and pulled Eddie into his arms.
Eddie leaned against him, “Thanks,” he murmured.
“It’s what I’m here for,” he joked lightly.
Eddie looked up at him, moving back just slightly, so he could see into his eyes, “You’re more than just here for me, you’ve helped in so many different ways. You… I’m falling for you, hard, and fast. I don’t think I… ever felt like this with Shannon. With Shannon, it was hard work,. always an uphill battle just to find some even ground. I did love her, and I wished we could have worked things out, but I can’t really be disappointed since it means being with you. It’s easier, we still work at things, and we talk, which with Shannon it was more of a shouting match half the time to get her to listen to anything I tried to say,” he sighed, leaning his head on Evan’s shoulder again.
“Well, we keep talking, have you talked with Nigel?” he asked him.
“I have been, he’s been good at advising me. At the moment things with Shannon is up in the air. I’m contemplating suing for her rights to be severed. She’s not answered anything about Christopher since before her mother passed away. I’ve been trying, Nigel has sent her things as well, to try and make appointments at the center so she can visit. But she is just not interested. I’ve asked Nigel to make a meeting between the two of us. This will be the last time. She still hasn’t fully repaid everything either, she’s got to do that soon, or she’ll be penalized for it again,” Eddie sighed, closing his eyes and taking in the comfort and strength he felt from Evan.
“You do that, and I’ll keep Chris occupied,” he replied gently.
“Yeah, I’ve got the appointment for the op,” he added with a murmur, “I’ve been expecting it, but if I want a full recovery, I’m going to have to go in. I’m slightly limited in my movement, with this I’ll be able to finish my recovery, and will never, hopefully, need the cane again.”
“You’ve not been using it much,” Evan pointed out.
“No, I don’t always need it, only when it’s painful to walk, do I use it,” he gave a little shrug before moving away, “Thank you.”
“A hug I am always free to give or receive,” he smiled, leaning down and kissing him lightly on the lips, “Now, drink your coffee and we’re going over to Mary’s, she is making dinner, she said that she has something to tell me,” he added.
“Oh, do you know what?” Eddie asked, turning and grabbing his mug.
“Nope,” he said, popping the p, “She seems excited about it.”
Eddie nodded and went over to the couch, sitting down and waiting for Evan to join him. Bringing with him a book that he was in the middle of reading. “The book for the fire academy?” he asked.
“Yeah, I asked them to send over what I’d need, or at least a list of recommended books and sites that I should read through,” he said, leaning against Eddie, as the older man put the TV on.
XxXxX
Mary smiled at everyone, as they were already at her home when the door was knocked. She jumped up, a large grin on her face, “Steve!” she greeted, as soon as she opened the door.
“Hey,” he said as he soon had an arm full of his sister, “Good to see you again,” he told her, being honest.
“And you, Danny, glad you could make it as well. Evan is here, with his little family too,” she added quietly as she let her brother go and hugged Danny as well. “Come on in,” she let the two in.
“Steve,” Evan said as he got up to greet the man, “Damn, I didn’t think I’d be seeing you for a while.”
“I had something I needed to tell Mary, and well, it’s not good to do this over the phone,” he added, “But, since you’re here as well, I don’t mind telling you as well.”
“What’s going on?” Mary asked, “I’m not going to have to run and hide am I?” she asked, giving him a look.
“No, nothing like that,” Steve said, rolling his eyes.
“What has he been doing that caused that?” Danny asked, eyes going wide, “And, no, nothing like that.” he repeated.
“So what is going on then?” she asked, biting her lip, she observed her brother for a bit, seeing that there was something different, but not sure what it was until something glinted in the sunlight that was coming in through the windows, “Oh My God!” she said, standing up and storming over, grabbing their hands and looking at the matching rings, “Seriously?!”
“Yeah, we got married,” Steve said, giving her a smile.
“Without me?” she asked, looking at him.
“I know, it was… sudden,” Steve told her, “Very spur of the moment. We didn’t want anything fancy, I just wanted something quiet, and just us, me and Danny.”
Mary sighed, “I wish I could have been there for you. If you have pictures, you better share them,” she told him, giving him and then Danny a look.
“I told you, Babe, you should have asked her to fly out, or we could have come here,” Danny said, shaking his head, “I have some pictures and a video.”
“Good,” she huffed, “At least let’s have a good meal out.”
“Yeah, I can agree to that,” her brother agreed.
Evan got up and went over, “Congrats, I’ve been telling you to ask for ages. Glad you finally agreed to it.”
“Shut up Mage,” he muttered, rolling his eyes as the younger man gave him a quick hug. “You taking care of yourself?”
“Yeah, no doubt you heard I left the Navy. I’ve been accepted at the local fire academy. I start next month, three months on the training and then probie time in a firehouse from six months to nine months long,” Evan said, patting him on the shoulder. “I want you to meet Eddie, and his kid Christopher.”
Steve walked over and nodded at Eddie. “I’ve met you,” he stated.
“You have, a mission out there that went south, you, Evan, and your team were able to help get us out,” Eddie said, standing up and holding out a hand, “Thank you for that,” he added.
“Welcome,” Steve nodded, smiling.
“This is my son, Christopher,” Eddie said, gesturing to the five-year-old.
“Hi,” Christopher said as he stopped playing with Joan for a second, “Thank you for helping my daddy and Evan,” he smiled at him.
“Welcome there, kiddo,” he smiled at him.
“Unca Ste, Unca Danno,” Joan giggled as she got up and went over to them.
Steve picked her up, “Oh, so you finally say hello?” he asked.
“Play with ‘Riss,” she grinned as she hugged him tightly, and then made grabby hands towards Danny.
“You want to go play with Chris?” Danny asked her after he got his hug from the little girl.
Joan nodded and Danny set her back down. Mary got them all something to drink and they talked a little more as she quickly made a reservation at a nice place for them all to go and celebrate.
XxXxX
Eddie walked into the meeting room at his lawyer’s office. Shannon had been contacted, and she’d agreed to meet. He wondered if she still thought they had a chance. He thought he’d been clear that he wanted nothing to do with her, especially after the confrontation at Janet’s will reading, that he was done with her and her family. He didn’t want Christopher to be around her until she got her head on straight. He’d given her chance after chance and Christopher’s heart broke a little more each time. Four videos had been sent to her from Christopher. The last one was him saying he wanted nothing more to do with her. He was only five, but he’d give him some time to get over the anger he was feeling at his mother’s actions.
“Nigel,” Eddie greeted the man, holding out a hand for it to be shaken.
“Eddie, good to see you again. She’s already in the building, she has someone with her. A young man, but we don’t know if they are a lawyer or not; no name has been given,” he told him.
Eddie nodded, preparing for her to have moved on. He had, he didn’t see why she couldn’t either. She walked in, her head held high as the man was holding her hand. She had someone, he didn’t give it a second look, not caring that she had brought a boyfriend with her. “Shannon,” he greeted.
“Edmundo,” she snipped back, sitting down, “What do you want?” she demanded straight away.
“One, to remind you to pay what you owe according to the prenup, and then to talk about the child support that you still owe. That was in the custody agreement after all,” he stated simply.
“Why would she have to pay you anything?” the young man asked.
“Because it’s in the agreement, she’s the one that hasn’t been putting any effort into seeing Christopher, even though we made several appointments at the visitation center, with her approval, that she never bothered to show up for,” he answered, not showing any emotion as he looked back at Shannon. “It’s up to you what you do, but if you continue to refuse to pay the child support, I’ll take you to court again,” he told her.
“Fuck that, I’m not paying a damn cent,” she snapped at him, “You won’t let me see him!”
“I have messages, emails, and even more proof that I have tried to get you to see him. It’s you who keeps canceling. You’ve broken his heart for the last time. At the rate you’re going, it’ll be a long time before he’ll be ready to see you. If you don’t want that, then you can sign away your rights. All you’ll have to do is pay what you owe on both fronts, and we will never have to see each other again,” he told her, his face carefully blank.
“Fuck you, Eddie Diaz,” she glared at him.
“I’m doing this to protect Christopher. You claim you want to see him, but you’ve done nothing to try and do so. Not since we moved out. You’ve not seen him in months. You didn’t even come to his birthday party, and you were invited, I came down and gave you the invitation myself. So don’t tell me I’ve not done what I could to make sure you’re kept in his life. You’ve done that your damn self,” he snapped back, “it’s up to you, I’ve told you what will happen, you make the decision.” Eddie went to get up.
“I’ll fucking sign, and then I never want to see either of you again. Mom was right, I should have washed my hands of both of you as soon as Christopher was born,” she spat as she held out her hand.
Nigel went into his bag and found the papers, “You will be required to repay the $7,000 within two months. Non payment will up the amount due each month by $500, as per the prenuptial contract you signed,” he told her.
Shannon pulled out her phone and tapped viciously for a few minutes, “It’s all fucking transferred over, you can damn well check,” she said, grabbing the forms and going through them, not even reading the paperwork, as she signed all her rights to Christopher away. She got up and tossed them to Nigel, “There, hope you’re happy. Never fucking contact me again,” she warned him as she gestured for the man that she came in with.
“Well,” Nigel said, “are you happy?” he asked as soon as Shannon had gone.
“Not really. She’s Christopher’s mother, I was hoping she’d actually fight and try and get some sort of visitation in order. One day, I hope she realizes just what she’s lost,” he sighed, rubbing his face and unsure how he’d be telling Christopher that his mother no longer wanted to be part of his life.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Evan looked at the second letter that had arrived from Helena and Ramon Diaz. “I’m just grateful that they don’t know that Shannon signed away her rights,” Eddie said as he handed it over for Evan to read.
Evan read through it and nodded, “Agreed, but it does leave you in a difficult position,” he reminded him, biting his lip. Being around Steve and Danny had put an idea in his head, he just didn’t know if Eddie would go for it. They were still in their dating stage, and while both of them figured that their relationship was going to be something long-term, he didn’t know if Eddie would want the next step, or rather the step after that.
“What’s on your mind, Evan?” he asked, looking at his boyfriend.
“I know we’ve only been dating a short while, and while we are moved in together, we’re not sharing the same room, yet,” he said, biting his lip again, only for Eddie to reach over and stop him. “Sorry,” he said when he saw the look Eddie was giving him.
“Try not to do it, Evan,” he said gently, giving him a sweet kiss, “And you know we’re taking this as slow as we want to. We’re building something special here. I can tell.”
“Yeah, so can I, which is why I have a suggestion. It’ll help protect Christopher, but it’d mean doing something a little faster than we’d want to,” he said, “I’ve been talking with Danny, he and Steve spend a lot of time with Danny’s kids, even though one lives out here now, going to college,” he added. “But there is still a little kid back in Hawaii that they spend time with. And well, I was thinking, if we got married, since Shannon gave up her rights, I could… maybe adopt Christopher?” he suggested, wincing at the end.
Eddie was silent, “I… I think that could help. I’m not sure, Nigel, we’d have to talk to him, about how it’d all work.”
“Then we should call and ask for his advice,” Evan suggested.
“We will,” he smiled, already grabbing his phone. It took a moment for Nigel to answer the call. “Sorry about calling you like this, but I need a little advice. I have a partner, and we’re thinking about marrying, will that help to protect Christopher at all?”
“It will, partner adoption is on the cards, especially since Shannon signed her rights away two weeks ago. That’s already been filed with the courts, so she can’t dispute the adoption and don’t even have to inform her. It’s an involved process, there will be a home study, and interviews, to make sure that Christopher is in the best possible home with your partner. It can take a few months for this to go through, and that’d be after the marriage. All three of you will be interviewed,” he warned, going through a checklist of what they’d need and what they’d need to do.
“Thank you, Nigel, we’ll get on that,” Eddie said, feeling a little more relieved that something more could be done to protect Christopher.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he said, before hanging up.
“Well,” Evan said, “Looks like we can,” he gave a sweet smile.
“How… how do you want to work this?” Eddie asked, “I think we should talk about it and make sure that we’re on the same page. We need to make sure to keep communicating things.”
Evan nodded, “Yeah, let’s go sit down and we’ll talk. I know I want to spend my life with you already. But we’re not ready for this step just yet. I know we’re protecting Christopher-”
“But you still want to go on dates, do things together, as we were still dating, that stuff doesn’t stop after marriage. We’re going to work on our relationship, always. I’m… I’m not going to drop things again,” he promised.
“We’ll work on it. I’ll look into what we need to get married,” Evan said, though he had done most of that already, and had a few links saved as well as numbers.
“Let’s have a look,” Eddie said as the two of them headed to the laptop that Evan had been using to look things over.
XxXxX
A week, was all it took for everything to be organized for them both. Luckily Steve and Danny were still in LA for another couple of days. So they had headed to the court that morning, with an appointment already booked for them to get married. It had gone well, with the few family and friends that they wanted there.
“Well,” Eddie said, the nervous feeling that he had that morning was now a thing of the past, and the delight and happiness he felt was now more prominent.
“I can’t believe we did this,” Evan said, but he was smiling as well, eyes bright as he looked at the few friends that were gathered. Mary was there, little Joan in her arms. They were wearing lovely dresses, and Joan looked super sweet. Steve and Danny were standing with her, smiling and holding hands, as they looked at the couple that had just gotten married.
Christopher was giggling joyfully as he wiggled where he stood. Isabel and Josphina standing on either side of the five-year-old. “Yay, I have a papa now,” he grinned as he headed towards the two. His steps were still a little unsure as he went over to them.
Evan knelt and smile as he opened his arms to him, “You do, and I have a wonderful son,” he said softly as Christopher fell into his arms, sure that Evan would catch him easily. Wrapping his arms around him, he picked Christopher up and looked at Eddie, “We’re a family,” he stated simply.
“That we are,” Eddie nodded, smiling as he leaned over and kissed Evan.
“Blegh,” Christopher laughed leaning away as the two men shared a look and then kissed Christopher cheeks, causing him to burst into delighted giggles. “Love you, Daddy, love you, Papa,” he said, sighing in happiness.
“We love you as well,” Evan said, smiling softly at the little boy. His delighted giggles a balm to any soul, and they were for Evan, a wonderful one..
“You’re the last piece of our little family,” Eddie whispered, “And I wouldn’t change that for the world. Love you, mijo.”
“Right,” Isabel said as she clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention, “There is a party at mine. Let’s go,” she ordered.
“Yes, Abuela,” Evan said with a nod, smiling at the woman as he and Eddie headed toward her. She had already organized the family into getting together and made sure that there was food and drinks and everything needed for a wedding celebration. Christopher insisted on going with Steve and Danny as they went in their rental. Leaving Evan and Eddie to make their way alone.
“Well,” Eddie said again, “We did that, the adoption will be done when it’s done. We’ve started that paperwork, how about when today is over, we go away?” he suggested.
Evan looked over at him, “Go away?”
“Yeah, Abuela and Tía Pepa are very happy to take Christopher for a couple of nights, since we can then go and have a little more time in getting to know each other. We already know we get along, but I thought we could have a small honeymoon, just for us. I know we’re a little rushed, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to have that with you,” he answered him, reaching over as they pulled up at a red light and taking Evan’s hands for a few moments before it turned back to green.
“I’d like that,” he laughed, “I just didn’t think about doing something like that. Because well…”
“Look, I know we’re rushing the marriage part, I know that. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to spend my life with you already. Sometimes, you know when you will spend a lifetime with someone. It took a lot for me to think I could spend my life with Shannon, it didn’t work out. We were just different people, and she wasn’t who I thought she was in the end. You’re different, you’ve been there, helped me, and got me to fall in love with you in tiny steps along the way. It’s not what either of us expected, but I’m going to work with it, because I want to be there for you, 100%,” he finished just as the light turned green.
Evan smiled softly, “Then let’s have that honeymoon,” he agreed, “And Eddie, I love you too,” he said softly as they carried on towards Isabel’s home.
They were the last to arrive and what greeted them was all of the LA side of the Diaz family. Smiles and well wishes went their way as they made it into the backyard that had been decorated for the party. Christopher was standing there, grinning widely as he waited for the two, “You have to say something, Daddy, Papa!” he called out to them as they reached him.
“Oh, do we?” Eddie said as he looked around, his family waiting for him. “Well,” he said, straightening himself up and taking Evan and Christopher’s hands in his. “Thank you, for being here, I know you weren’t there for the vows, but being here with us, to celebrate our marriage is more than I could wish for today.”
“Thank you,” Evan said, “You welcomed me into your home and family, and today I took on a new name, one I’ll be proud to wear for the rest of my life. Thank you for being here to celebrate today with us.”
“I have a dad and a papa now, so I’m really happy,” Christopher said as he looked between the two.
“Of course you are,” Isabel smiled at them, “you’re a lovely family, and Evanito, you’re always welcome here,” she told him, “Always.”
“Thank you, Abuela,” he said, nodding as he then said, “Well, let’s get this party started, I don’t know about you, but the smells of the food that has been cooked is making my mouth water.”
“Here here!” someone called out.
“Thank you again for coming, and lets enjoy the celebrations,” Eddie added, leaning over and kissing Evan to the cheers of those that were gathered.
Everyone started to mingle, and Isabel and Pepa went over to them first as Christopher headed off to play with his cousins. “Your parents have been making noises, they’ve contacted your cousin Luis, trying to find out what is going on with Shannon and such,” Josephine told them both, “No one is saying anything of course.”
“Thank you for telling us,” Evan said, squeezing Eddie’s hand.
“I just… I don’t know what to do at the moment. They want Christopher, they always have. Shannon stopped it before I came back. I took to telling her to call 9-1-1 each time they tried to take him. It stopped them for a while, but when I returned, they went right back to it. I told them never to contact me again, after what they said at the birthday party, that was the last straw. Christopher ranks them alongside his mother at the moment, people he never wants to see again,” Eddie sighed deeply.
“Well, nieto,” Isabel said, “You don’t have to worry, you have the backing of our family, Ramon will never have that.”
“Now, get out there and enjoy your day, we will continue to learn what we can about what they are doing. Do not worry, and don’t worry about Christopher, we have plans,” Pepa smiled, it was a familiar grin, as Christopher often had the same grin on his face when he was going to be doing something his dad might not approve of.
“Just… no trouble,” Eddie sighed, knowing he was powerless to stop whatever it was.
“Of course not, it’s not fun if you get caught,” she said as she headed off to talk to some of the others.
“Do not worry, I’ll keep an eye on them,” Isabel smiled as she followed her daughter.
“Keep an eye on them… more like join them,” Eddie snorted as he and Evan joined the party.
