Petrichor: Chapter 4

DANIEL

Shit. I knew calling Michael was a bad idea. He'd be here any minute and I had to find Serena to warn her. She'd gone to get some rest in upstairs a few hours ago while I looked after the boys, who were currently kicking the soccer ball around in the backyard. She seemed different. More quiet. Less confrontational. I thought it might've been because the boys were around and she didn't want the arguing to start around them. I had a feeling she didn't say much because I wasn't going to like what she had to tell me.

What else was there for me to know? Other than she was probably hooking up with the cop, which I already knew. Just thinking of him touching her made me want to punch something. But we weren't married anymore. She had all the right in the world to be with someone else. I didn't like it. I didn't like it at all. The desperation to keep her at my side must've mirrored what she had felt during the beginning of our relationship when I was being less faithful to her than I should've been. It explained why she always forgave me no matter how bad I had hurt her.

Fuck. I had no idea how to handle this. Hence the bad judgement of calling Michael. I was desperate but not enough for him to come here and make things worse. I could hear his car pull into the driveway and I signaled for the boys to come over to me. They shoved each other on their way towards me and I smirked, seeing so much of Serena and I in them. They had their mother's smart mouth and my physical features. It'd be a lethal combination when they got older, but I was sure Serena and I would find a way around it. We always did.

"Your uncle Mike is here. Ready to meet him?" I informed them and they nodded in unison as we all fist bumped before heading back inside the house. They were shockingly well-behaved for their age, but then again, it's only been a couple of hours, there was still so much I didn't know about them. Like what was their first word. What sports did they like. Were they food addicts just like me or more on the picky side like their mother. What were their favorite colors. Were they allergic to anything.

I used to be good at this when they were babies. It was easier then. Everything was. Now I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn't imagine how Serena raised them this long all by herself. What if she hadn't? What if she built another family for herself? I had too many questions building up inside my head and none of the answers. It was enough to make me reach into the fridge for another beer but I knew I couldn't let the boys see me at rock bottom. It wasn't a pretty sight and it definitely wouldn't make things any better.

"Hey, Dad?" Zander called for me, and I could tell it was him because of the birthmark on his ear. His mother had the same one. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to tell them apart. At least not yet anyway.

"Yeah, buddy?" I lowered myself to his level, while Zach listened in, wrapping his arms around me. Rubbing his head, I hugged him back and held him closer. I never wanted to let them go. I'd lost more in my life than I deserved and they completely made up for it.

"Are you going to take care of Mami now? She said you used to be good at it," Zander added and his words almost brought tears to my eyes. That woman drove me crazy. But I'd take a bullet for her any day.

"Do you think she'd let me?" I countered and he cocked his head to the side, his brows furrowing as he thought about an answer. Zach bounced on his heels, pulling away from me when Michael opened my front door and looked around the room.

"Uncle Mike!" Zach ran towards him, and I held back a laugh when I saw Michael's horrified expression. He picked up my kid in his arms and looked back and forth between the boys as he approached us, confusion in his eyes. I could only assume he was trying to tell them apart.

"Damn, which one are you kid? Last time I saw you, you were a tiny avocado," Michael joked, making them both laugh as he placed Zach down next to his brother. Both of them snickered, Zander reaching into the pocket of his pants, bringing out his sunglasses, and sliding them on.

"I'm Zander, uncle Mike. I'm the cool one!" Zander explained confidently, while I grinned with pride.

"Hey! I'm cool too!" Zach argued, crunching up his face in anger, just like his mother used to do, as he snatched his brother's sunglasses off his face and put them on.

"Yeah right! Nerd!" Zander taunted, sporting a goofy grin as he snatched his glasses back from his brother and I stepped in between them, breaking them apart before they started to fight. I spoke too soon about their quiet behavior.

"Damn, as if having one of you wasn't bad enough. Now there's two more..." Michael jested and I rolled my eyes at him, "hey boys, why don't you two go play outside while I have a talk with your dad?" he suggested and they didn't seem to like that idea, so they kept on snickering behind my back, pushing at each other's shoulders.

"Okay. What if I give you each five bucks to go dig up worms for fun in the yard?" he proposed and they both stopped immediately, while I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Bribing my kids with money already?"

"Hey, this is what uncles are supposed to do. How do you think I got Giselle to lighten up?" he defended with a smile as he pulled out two five dollar bills from his wallet and handed it to them. They took it and shoved it into their pockets, while I shook my head in disapproval.

"Mami says taking bribes from family is wrong," Zach argued, the guilt washing over his face as he began to reach for the money in his pocket again. I always wondered if Serena had told them about the rest of the group. Now I had my answer. She told them about this crazy family and I was more than grateful she hadn't erased them from their history.

"Oh, she did, did she? Where is your crazy mother?" Michael began, looking around the place again, his anger returning. I knew he was ready to tell Serena off, but he wasn't about to talk to her with any kind of disrespect. She was still the mother of my kids and she deserved the benefit of the doubt. Especially now when I knew why she had left to begin with.

"Go on and play outside boys. We'll be there soon," I ordered, giving Michael a warning glance, as they both nodded before they ran towards the patio door, and stepped into the backyard.

"Is she hiding?" Michael continued, as he popped his head into the kitchen, then the pantry.

"She's right here," Serena's voice made us both look towards the staircase. Her arms were crossed, her gaze going straight towards Michael as he approached her, no reservation in sight. I tried to step in between them but she moved away before I had the chance.

"You got alot of fucking nerve coming back here," Michael started his scolding and I pushed at his shoulder, my one and final warning for him to back off. He stared at me sharply, then stepped back.

"I can't believe you let her," he turned towards me as he shook his head and looked away. He was pissed and I understood why, but he needed to relax before I shoved his ass back into his car.

"I had no choice in the matter. Thea was on a warpath and my kids were going to be casualties. I had to leave until it was safe to come back. Now, you can hate me all you want, I don't really care. But I'd appreciate it if you kept it to yourself and away from my kids," Serena told him off, her tone razor sharp and menacing while she kept her composure still and calm. It wasn't like her at all. She was known for cursing up a storm or two, and throwing the nearest object within range. I suddenly realized I had no idea who this new version of Serena was. All I knew was I wanted to know more.

"Is she for real?" Michael asked me and I nodded, shoving my hands into my pockets as I stepped in to stand beside her. Her eyes closed briefly before she moved away from me and I looked down at her, confused at her distant behavior. She wasn't acting like a woman who'd been forced to leave her husband behind. She was acting like she was standing next to a stranger she felt uncomfortable around and it only pissed me off more. What the hell was her problem?

"Yeah, the detective handling the case explained it all to me this morning before they arrived. She was in danger, our boys too. So they packed up and left. I would've done the same shit, Michael," I defended, which forced Serena to finally meet my gaze. I could see how much she was holding back from me, how much she needed to say but couldn't bring herself to say or admit out loud. If anyone could relate, it would be me.

"Well, shit. Now I have to stop being hating her," Michael complained, crossing his arms as he attempted to glare at her, "I'm guessing Marley doesn't know yet."

"I'd prefer it if we kept this between us. I don't want to ruin your wedding with my unexpected arrival," Serena suggested stiffly, giving us both a look before we all nodded in agreement, "Great. Excuse me," she excused herself from us, heading back towards the staircase. Michael and I shared a look, his arms raising as if silently asking to stay out of it.

"Can you watch them while I go talk to her?" I asked my best friend and he looked away before he nodded.

"If she fucks up again, that's all on you, Daniel. The rest of us can't keep watching ya'll kill each other anymore," he stated firmly, walking passed me as he headed towards the backyard to the boys.

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I found her digging through her side of the closet. She left behind some of her things before she took off and she was placing them on top of the bed, clearing the closet out. She didn't look like a woman who planned on sticking around. I wasn't about to be the man who let her slip away again. If I had to get down on my knees and beg, then that's what I'd have to do.

"Going somewhere?" I asked, and watched her stop browsing through her shoe collection long enough for her to sigh and turn to face me. She looked peeved and tired and absolutely beautiful. Her curly hair had gotten longer than the last time I saw her. She was sporting more of the natural look now, probably because most mother's I knew had no time for themselves anymore. Not that she needed the makeup, she looked fine with or without it.

"I've gone down two sizes. I'm donating these to the good will," she answered, forcing me to look down at her curves. Picturing all the time I've spent kissing every inch of skin underneath those clothes only made me close the door behind me, the sound of the lock closing making her look up at me from the edge of the bed where she stood.

"Don't," she warned, while I held her gaze as I approached her, "this isn't that kind of reunion, Daniel," she cautioned, turning away from me, giving me her back as she resumed folding the clothes in front of her. My hands reached for her hips and she stilled, trying her best not to move. Had she missed me as much as I missed her? Did the love we used to have finally burn out? I wanted nothing more than to take off her clothes and find out. But she wasn't ready. Something was holding her back and I wondered if it had anything to do with Detective Mercy.

"Serena, I--"

"Aren't you exhausted from it all?" she questioned, reading my face as she waited for me to give her an answer that would make it easier for her to stay away from me. I knew this woman like I knew the back of my hand and I knew she was about to make a run for it if I didn't give her enough of a reason to stay. And to do that, I had to keep my distance from her. For now at least. Until she figured things out for herself and realized staying was the best choice for the kids. And eventually, for us.

"I'd like to think you're worth it, Serena," I answered honestly and she nodded, disappointment filling her expression as I stepped away from her and gave her the space she needed. I hadn't realized getting what I wanted would hurt just as much as not getting it to begin with.

"We can stay at a hotel if--"

"No," I exclaimed and she stopped abruptly, raising an eyebrow at my desperate tone, "I mean...please stay. I'd like to spend more time with the boys if that's alright."

"I think they'd love that."