The Good Son - 11. Chapter 11: Love for Children

“You’re not too upset about this trip, right?” Jack asked Arty, carrying their bags into the hotel room. Arty rolled his eyes and shrugged, although he was behind Jack and therefore, the other man couldn’t see. Arty slipped by Jack to sit on the bed.

“I’m upset we didn’t get to tell them “bye” first,” the brunette said and crossed his arms in his lap. Jack glanced over from where he put the bags down. The man sighed.

“Well, I asked you if we could leave early.”

“I know. But I didn’t think you meant five in the morning. I mean, besides not telling the kids bye or good morning, Jessica was probably bored out of her mind!”

Jack laughed, “If Jessica was bored, that’s on her.” Arty frowned, giving Jack a look. Then he just shook his head and lay down on the bed. He was tired. It was a four hour drive to the city, and then they had to meet the board, which consisted of five hours talking to strangers, having a tour around the giant building, and sitting out while Jack talked to the “Big man”. It was about time the kids got out of school, and Arty was more than ready to just pass out. Jack was still awake as always, probably from being used to working all day like this.

“Okay, I’m sorry,” Jack said and walked to the bed, sitting on it beside Arty. The younger brunette looked up at Jack, who’s grey eyes were on him. “What’s really wrong?” he asked.

Arty shook his head. “Nothing. ...Ugh, it’s my fucking necklace. You said you’d help me look but you haven’t, and I still haven’t found it.” He sat back up on the bed, watching Jack for an answer. His husband sighed.

“You know I’m always busy, you could have reminded me while we were home instead of four hours away. You still can’t find it?”

“No. I’ve look in your office, in our bed, the bathroom- pretty much everywhere.”

Jack shook his head with a single shrug, exhaling. “I don’t know what to say; maybe it fell under a dresser or something.” Arty gave him a look and stood up to go to the bathroom, but Jack grabbed his wrist, making the brunette look at him. “Come here,” the man pulled Arty into his lap, wrapping his arms around the brunette’s waist. Arty looked back at his husband.

“You’d better seriously help me find it. I mean it,” he said. Jack nodded.

“I will.”

l.l

“Your parents will be here tomorrow night,” Jessica said to Geil, stirring some cookie dough in a bowl. That was the only part of the conversation Daniel had heard, walking into the kitchen to get a bottle of water. Hearing him come in, Jessica looked over and smiled. “Hi, Daniel.”

“Jessie’s making cookies,” Geil said to Daniel as the teen walked passed. He shrugged.

“Good. You call her “Jessie”?” he asked, glancing over. Geil smiled and nodded.

“She says I can call her Jessie.”

“”She” is right here, and you can call me whatever you want, too, Daniel,” Jessica said, looking at Daniel. The teen watched her for a moment before turning away to get the water.

“Do you want to lick the spoon?” she asked Geil while Daniel walked by to leave the kitchen, but he paused when he got a whiff of peanuts. Turning back to Jessica and Geil, he pointed at the woman.

“Geil is allergic to peanuts- are those peanut biscuits?”

Jessica laughed, but it sounded as though she were embarrassed. “Well-”

“No “well”. Get that stuff away from him.” Daniel looked at Geil, who was sitting on the counter beside Jessica. “And get him down from there- don’t you watch kids for a living?” He walked back to Geil, picking him up from the counter. The child was extremely devastated about not eating the cookie dough.

Jessica cleared her throat and smiled at the two, forcibly. Daniel concluded that she didn’t like being put in her place. “Alright then,” she said, “How about I make some chocolate chip, or something?” Daniel shrugged.

“As long as they aren’t peanuts, I don’t care what you do.”

“Oh Daniel...” Jessica put a hand on the teen’s shoulder, looking into his eyes. “He’s just your brother, not your son; lighten up.” She caressed her hand over his shoulder, and he tried reading what was in her eyes. Unhappy contentment. She wasn’t happy with the fact that she was upset with Daniel. Could it be that she had something wrong with her mind? A psychopath, maybe? ...Like him?

“I’m your paycheck, not your play toy,” Daniel said before turning out of the room with Geil, taking him upstairs to his own bedroom.

“Are we still getting cookies?” Geil asked when Daniel put the boy on his bed. Daniel nodded.

“Yes, I’m sure.” He went to sit in his desk, looking out the window before him that showed the snowy outside. “Geil,” he said, “Be honest. Do you like me or Jack better? Your older daddy.” He could hear Geil getting comfy on his bed.

“Mm, I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“No, I don’t know.”

“Alright, then. And how much do you like Jessica? Does she ever touch you like your parents touch each other?” Daniel asked, looking at the boy. Geil was lying on his side, his back to his adoptive brother. Daniel could tell that Geil was having another one of his silent episodes, so the teen stood from his desk and went to his backpack, opening it and pulling out the recorder.

“Testing,” he spoke into it and pressed PLAY, his voice being spit back out to him.

“Testing.”

So it works. Daniel put the recorder in his pocket and left to Geil, covering the boy up with the blanket before leaving the bedroom to the bathroom.

If Jessica was how he thought she was, she would come looking for Daniel. How he would go looking for Arty.

Sitting on the rim of the bathtub, Daniel waited to hear Jessica. It took a little longer, maybe fifteen minutes, before he heard her voice down the hallway.

“Daniel, Geil, the cookies are done!” she called down the hall. Daniel pulled out the recorder and pressed RECORD before walking to the toilet. Opening the lid to the tank, he put the recorder inside so that it would balance on a rod and hopefully not fall into the water. Putting the lid back on, he left to open the bathroom door.

“What is it, Jessica?” he asked, seeing the woman walking down the hall. She turned when she heard him and smiled.

“Oh, well, the cookies are done. Do you guys want some?”

“Geil is asleep, and I was just about to hop into the shower.”

This seemed to peek Jessica’s interest, as the woman approached the bathroom, looking at Daniel.

“Hm… Geil is asleep?”

“He is. He wanted to nap, so I let him into my room. Why?”

Jessica held her hands in front of her, smiling innocently. “Well, because the cookies are still warm. Come down and get some.” She motioned to the stairs, but Daniel hummed.

“I’m not too big a fan of sweets. If you don’t mind, I’m going to shower and do my homework; clear my head.”

“You know Daniel, I’m sorry about the peanuts; I didn’t know.” Jessica reached out, putting a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. The teen held back his discomfort.

“It’s alright, I apologize for telling you as I did.”

“It’s okay Daniel. Do you know how sweet your face is? Your girlfriend is really lucky.” Jessica smiled, stepping closer to the teen. Daniel tilted his head, furrowing his eyebrows.

“I don’t have a girlfriend, though.”

Jessica gasped, watching Daniel’s seemingly confused face. “Why? If you smiled just a little more, all the girls in your school would be all over you.”

“I was told to wait until adulthood for that sort of stuff.”

“So you’ve never even… had your first kiss?”

“No, I haven’t. When did you have yours?”

Jessica giggled some and bit her lip. “I was a little younger than you. Do you want to do it? Kiss someone?”

“Well, I guess everyone does, don’t they?”

With Jessica’s pressing steps, the two ended up in the center of the bathroom, something Daniel noticed was happening but let it, for the sake of acting.

“Well, how about I take your first kiss, then?” she asked, putting her arms over Daniel’s shoulders and moving closer to him, until he could smell peanut butter on her breath, meaning she had probably decided to lick the spoon. He really didn’t want her to kiss him; not that it was going to be his first or anything, but because she was just so… disturbing.

“I don’t think my parents would be happy,” Daniel said. Jessica just smiled, though.

“They don’t have to know.” She pressed forward and kissed him, and it was just as long and gross as he imagined it would be. When she finally ended it, she hummed.

“Why don’t we take this a little step forward?” she whispered. Daniel cleared his throat.

“I just don’t know if I’m… comfortable with this, though.”

“Oh Daniel, since when are bathrooms comfortable? Lets… take this to the master bedroom.”

Daniel couldn’t let her leave, because the recorder was in the toilet. He cleared his throat again. “I don’t know if I-”

“Alright, we’ll just make this quick, okay?”

After that was all done, Daniel actually did take a shower. A very good one. And he brushed his teeth roughly until there was blood when he spat into the sink.

He decided that Geil didn’t have to leave his room, because the child actually did end up falling asleep, so Daniel just put the recorder under his mattress and climbed into bed with Geil.

Then at school, Daniel got the new cellphone.

“It’s kind of cheap, but it should work alright,” Joe said, watching Daniel as the teen looked the phone over. It was a prepaid phone, so it didn’t have a server, just minutes to pay for as you go.

“It’s perfect, thank you. Will you be paying for the minutes, then?”

Joe shrugged. “Yeah, they aren’t that much. I already put my number in it, so you can text me and stuff.”

Danile nodded while putting the phone in his pocket. “Thank you.”

Looking Daniel over, Joe furrowed his eyebrows. “Is that a hickey?” he asked, reaching out and poking the brunette’s collarbone. Daniel rolled his eyes.

“Probably.”

“Well, why?”

“I told you, the sitter’s love for children is a little disturbing.”

Joe gawked and shook his head. “Are you serious?” his voice came a little louder, making a few students look over from where they stood in the hallway. Daniel gave Joe a look.

“Don’t attract attention, I’m already dealing with it.”

“Is that why you need the phone?”

“Oh, no. I just need that to contact you. In case anything goes awry, but I may not if you get me noticed,” Daniel said, making Joe cross his arms in discomfort.

“...Okay, sorry. Is she picking you up after school, then?”

“Yeah, my parents are coming home tonight; I’m stuck with her until then.”

Joe sighed. “That sucks. What are you planning on doing?”

l.l

“Oh my god, I’m so happy to be home,” Arty got out of the car, stretching. Jack also got out of the car, heading to the trunk to get their luggage, but Arty beckoned him.

“Come on, we’ll unpack in the morning or something- I want to see Geil!”

Jack made a U-turn from the trunk to walk to Arty, putting an arm around the brunette’s waist.

“Can we talk about how happy the board was, though?” Jack said in excitement, making Arty look at him and smile.

“You make everyone happy,” he said and kissed the man before walking to the front door, trying the doorknob but finding it to be locked. Jack quirked an eyebrow.

“Did you tell her we were back yet?” he asked. Arty nodded, holding out a hand to the blonde.

“Here, hand me the keys.”

Jack handed them over and Arty found the house key, unlocking the door and opening it. The lights were on, but the living room was empty.

“Jessica! Kids!” Arty called, looking at Jack as the man shut the door behind them. Jessica came running down the stairs, smiling big.

“Hey, you guys are back!” she said happily. Arty huffed and smiled.

“Yeah, after a long ride. Where are the kids?” he asked, taking off his coat. Jessica waved at the stairs.

“Oh, they’re painting and stuff. How was the meeting and all that?” she asked, looking at the two of them. Jack smiled.

“It was great.”

Arty motioned to Jessica. “You have a little lipstick smeared,” he said, making her flush and laugh it off.

“I wouldn’t doubt it, I was roughhousing with Geil,” she replied, making Arty nod in reply.

Said child came down the stairs with Daniel, breaking off and running to Arty and Jack to hug them. “You’re back!” he squealed. Arty picked him up, hugging him.

“I know!”

Jessica clapped her hands. “Here, let me get you guys something to drink, that must have been a rough ride.” She left to the kitchen and Daniel waited until Geil had both Jack and Arty’s attention before going to the coat rack, where Jessica’s purse hung.

Pulling the pair of Geil’s underwear he had hidden a few days ago out of his pocket, he stuffed the cotton into her purse; just before Jack looked at him.

“Hey, how was the sitter?” he asked. Daniel reached up to rub his neck awkwardly.

“...Come here,” he whispered, walking off to a separate room. Jack raised an eyebrow in question before following him.

“What’s up?” he asked while shutting the door behind them. Daniel shifted uncomfortably, taking in a hiss of air.

“...Jessica… did something,” he said. Jack gave him a look.

“Like what?”

When Daniel didn’t answer, Jack motioned lightly with a hand. “Whatever happened, you can tell me,” he said. Daniel sighed and reached into his pocket, pulling out the recorder. Jack watched him in confusion, but then Daniel pressed PLAY.

“I was a little younger than you. Do you want to do it? Kiss someone?” Jack heard Jessica’s voice come from the recorder, followed by Daniel’s.

“Well, I guess everyone does, don’t they?”

“Well, how about I take your first kiss, then?”

“I don’t think my parents would be happy,” Daniel said.

“They don’t have to know.”

The voices were too muffled to hear what happened, but because there was a pause in Jessica and Daniel’s conversation, he assumed it was the kiss they talked of.

“Why don’t we take this a little step forward?”

“I just don’t know if I’m… comfortable with this, though.”

“Oh Daniel, since when are bathrooms comfortable? Lets… take this to the master bedroom.”

“I don’t know if I-”

“Alright, we’ll just make this quick, okay?”

There was shuffling in the audio, but then Jessica’s voice sounded again, with a giggle and some vulgar words, and Daniel stopped playing the recording. Jack was… disgusted, to say the least.

“When did this happen? Why didn’t you call-”

“It was yesterday after school. ...I wanted to ring you, but she wouldn’t let me.”

Jack shook his head. “I can’t believe this. Did she do anything else? After that?”

“...Yes.”

Jack turned to leave the room, but Daniel grabbed his shirt, making the man look back at him.

“It wasn’t just me. ...I saw her put Geil’s pants in her purse.”

Jack left the room, leaving Daniel alone. The teen stifled his laughter and followed after Jack when he heard Jessica’s voice greet him.

“Oh, here’s your drink, Jack,” she said, holding the glass out to the man. He didn’t take it, pointing at her purse instead.

“Can I look in that?”

Jessica shrugged, confused. “…Sure?”

“Jack, what are you...” Arty watched Jack as the man pulled the sitter’s purse from the coat hanger, opening it. Reaching inside, he felt cotton and shook his head, pulling the fabric out. It was Geil’s underwear.

“What is this doing in here?” Jack asked Jessica, stern. Arty looked from Jack to the sitter, confused.

Jessica pointed, chuckling nervously. “That- I actually don’t know why those are in there.”

“What’s going on?” Arty asked, looking back at Jack. The man scowled and looked at Jessica.

“Please explain, Jessica,” he said. She just watched them in light confusion, swallowing.

“Do you like it if I touch you here?”

“I… I’m not sure.” Jessica and Daniel’s voices sounded and the adults looked at Daniel, who held up the recorder. Jessica’s expression dropped and she glared at the teen before dropping Jack’s drink and running at him. Screaming in anger, she slapped Daniel and pushed him onto the ground, getting on top of him and hitting him, grabbing him by the hair and slamming his head into the ground.

“I’m going to kill you!” Jessica screamed, her voice breaking as Jack ran over and grabbed her, throwing her off of Daniel. Arty brought Geil to Daniel, trying to see if the teen was alright.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked her. Jack grabbed her when she tried getting up to attack Daniel again.

“She raped them!” Jack tried holding Jessica, but she wretched an arm free and scratched him on the side of his face, making him let her go in shock. She took off for the front door and the man ran right after, yelling at her to stop.

Arty got out his phone to call the police, Geil asking him what was happening, and Daniel wiping blood from his mouth.

l.l

“Can we do a rape kit or something? How long is she going to be in jail?” Jack asked an Officer Davies. Davies shook his head, glancing at the cop car that held a screaming Jessica.

“Well, she’s obviously assaulted your family, so I’ll make sure we can hold her as long as we can. ‘Thing about that is, we have to let her go if she gets bail. She will go to court though, and I’m absolutely sure the judge is gonna see what… sort of person she is. If you guys press charges, that is,” he said.

Jack scoffed. “We’re absolutely pressing charges,” he muttered. Officer Davies nodded, putting his hands on his belt.

“Well, as far as a rape kit, those things take time and leave everyone feeling uncomfortable. Honestly, they don’t always show. And as for the fact it’s a woman assaulting two boys, I don’t thing anything would show. ‘Best thing to do is make your kids feel comfortable, maybe try and forget some of it.”

“Is he going to be okay?” Arty asked the medic, who just finished patching Daniel up in the back of the ambulance. The woman nodded.

“Yes, he’ll probably just be a little sore. I don’t think that cut on his forehead will need stitches, as long as he doesn’t do anything to pull it open,” she said, offering the man a smile. Then she left, to throw away her gloves, and Arty looked at Daniel, who sat on the back of the ambulance, legs dangling out. The man sighed.

“You okay?” he asked. Daniel nodded, licking his busted lip.

“I’m alright.”

“...I’m sorry, about her. I didn’t know she was-”

“It’s alright, Arty. I’m just thankful you guys care so much.” Daniel smiled a little, his face battered with a red cheek, split lip, and cut on his forehead. Arty sighed again.

“...I mean, damn. Do you want to stay home tomorrow? I’ll let you,” Arty pet Daniel’s head, watching him sadly. The teen laughed some.

“I’m truly alright, Arty. It wouldn’t be fair to Geil, I’ll go to school.”

Arty puffed. “Okay, okay. ...You sure you’re okay? Normal kids don’t want to go to school.”

“Yeah, I want to see my friends,” Daniel said, smiling to Arty. The man clicked his tongue and nodded, smiling.

“Okay, then. Let’s have like, pizza for dinner, yeah?”

Daniel chuckled. “Okay.”