Chapter 2 - "Simple Things That Make You Run Away"

Aaron sat slumped in his desk, trying to make himself small, invisible, in the back of the classroom. Amy was in the desk to his left. The teacher, a tall, thin woman with dark hair and wire-rimmed spectacles, was finished calling role. “And Aaron Cromwell,” she uttered. She smiled at the boy. “Anything special you go by? Nicknames?”1

Aaron Joseph Cromwell could think of only one. “A.J.,” he answered. Amy smiled at him, snickered a little.2

The teacher smiled. “A.J. Cromwell,” she spoke, “nice to meet you.” The new student smiled.3

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~4

“Benny, come help me with dinner,” Penny Cook called to the ten-year-old boy. “My daughter’s coming to eat with us today.”5

The bright-eyed blond stepped into the small step-ladder behind him. Penny smiled.6

“Right up here, m’boy,” she said, indicating a section of counter. Benny stationed his step-ladder beside Penny’s legs and stepped up onto it. “There you go,” she said. “Now let’s get to work before Caldwell gets here.”7

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~8

Scout’s lawyer stepped out of her office, and she lifted her phone to her ear. She dialed and waited for an answer. “Hello, Carter?” Her brother had answered, and she asked him to meet her at a local restaurant, The Vineyard. He agreed, and she hung up the phone and donned a jacket.9

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~10

Lunchtime for Amy and A.J. was at 11:15. A.J. followed his friend into the cafeteria. The large room was loud and filled with the laughter and conversation of about a hundred twenty students. They carried their lunch boxes to a nearly vacant table and sat down beside each other.11

“Now you get to meet somebody,” said Amy. “Don’t worry; everyone will love you.”12

A.J. was about to admit his anxiety when a boy with buzzed blond hair took a seat across the table from him.13

“Hi,” he said. “A.J., right?”14

A.J. nodded.15

“I’m Mark,” he introduced himself with a small smile. He glanced at Amy. “Hey, Foster,” he said.16

“Hey,” Amy replied with an encouraging smile for A.J.17

An awkward silence followed in which A.J. popped his knuckles nervously and Mark and Amy exchanged expectant glances. “So . . . what’s up?” was all he could think to say, but he said it nonetheless.18

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~19

Caldwell stood and stepped out of her office at 11:30, closing and locking the door behind her. On her way out of the bank building, she passed Pembroke’s office. There sat the passionate, dedicated man, his thin hair falling candidly over his forehead as he worked. She imagined he was a perfect lover, full of passion and vigor. Now she moved on, stepped out the back door to the employee parking lot, and unlocked her car.20

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~21

Carter Bingham was waiting when Scout arrived at the Vineyard. They found a seat and ordered drinks.22

“So what was it you needed to talk to me about?” the young man asked, brushing some of his yellow hair away from his forehead.23

“It’s Benny,” said Scout. “Ralph wants custody.”24

“Is this something you weren’t anticipating?” Carter questioned.25

“I guess it never crossed my mind,” said Scout. “I mean, it’s just natural I would get custody of him, isn’t it?”26

“What right do you have over Ralph?” Carter asked her. Noting her surprised and offended expression, he added, “You’ve got to prove it. You’ve got to prove to a judge that you’re more fit.” He paused for a moment and asked, “Have you considered shared custody?”27

Scout threw her hands into the air. “I don’t know Carter. Ralph’s always been a good father. But haven’t I been a good mother to him too? Wasn’t I always a good wife? Through all of Ralph Randolph’s shit, wasn’t I always a good wife?”28

A waiter approached their table. “Are you two ready to order?”29

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~30

The door swung open and Caldwell Cook entered her mother’s kitchen, where Benny Randolph sat sipping apple juice at the dining table. “Hello, Benjamin,” Caldwell greeted the young boy melodically.31

Penny stepped into the kitchen. “Caldwell,” she greeted her daughter, “my darling, how are you?”32

“Oh, I’m here, mother,” Caldwell replied. “It’s been a long morning,” she explained, “but I’m sure you and Benjamin have something for dinner that will turn me right around.”33

“Well, of course we do,” cried Penny, “don’t we, Benny?”34

The ten-year-old confirmed this, nodding his head enthusiastically.35

“Oh, smells so good, I can’t wait,” said Caldwell.36

Nest there came a knock on the door. Caldwell, being closest to the door, opened it wide to find Ralph Randolph standing in the doorway. “Hello, Caldwell,” he greeted him calmly.37

“Hello again,” Caldwell replied.38

“Here for your son, Ralph?” asked Penny, stepping forward, a towel in her wrinkled hands.39

“Indeed I am, Missus Cook,” the man replied smoothly.40

“Aw, but I wanna stay and eat with Penny,” Benny pleaded.41

“Ah, couldn’t he stay just a while, Ralph?” said Penny. “In fact, why don’t you both stay and eat lunch with us? There’s plenty to go around.”42

“Thanks, but we really should be going,” Ralph declined with a smile. He spoke next to his son: “Say good-bye, Benny.”43

“Ah, come on, dad,” the boy pleaded once more.44

“Benjamin Dawson Randolph,” the man snarled. “I said, come along.” Mother and daughter exchanged glances as the boy moved toward his father. “Please excuse me, ladies,” Ralph said, taking hold of his son’s arm. “Perhaps some other time.” Then he had Benny out the door.45

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~46

“So do you play any sports?” asked Mark.47

“Soccer,” A.J. replied, “and a little basketball now and then. I can’t say I’m any good, but . . .”48

“Oh, shush,” Amy interjected,” you could beat the pants off me any day. You could beat the pants off a lot of people.”49

A.J. blushed, looking down at his watch. “Whoa,” he said, looking back up, “we’re late getting back to class.”50

“Oh, shit,” said Amy, grabbing his hand and leading him back toward the hallway.51

“Talk to you later, A.J.,” called Mark, chuckling.52

A.J. smiled. One new friend was not too bad for your first day at a new school.53

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~54

Scout looked troubled. What should she say? She knew what the truth was; that was easy enough. But how to say it? Should she say it at all?55

“What is it?” asked Carter. His sister didn’t bother to respond. “Scout,” said Carter, “I can tell something’s wrong. What aren’t you telling me?”56

Suddenly, Scout stood and took off across the floor. “I’ve got to call Penny,” she uttered.57

“Scout what is it?” Carter called standing and following her.58

“I’ve got to call Penny,” she cried. She stepped into the hallway, under the sign marked, “Restrooms/Telephones.” She put a quarter into the pay phone and dialed Penny Cook’s number.59