Before the Bells Could Ring

"I'm going to take the kid and jump in the river, vanish from your world for good."

With that, he grabbed Sean's hand and headed for the door. Sean started to cry and scream:

"Mommy, I don't want to die, make the bad guy leave!"

Rosie looked even more upset as she grabbed my suitcase. "Malcolm, enough with the drama. I am so tired. Can't you stop causing more trouble?"

Larisse was so angry she yelled. "Rosie, let him go. I would like to see where a guy with no home can even go."

Yes, I had no home anymore.

Once upon a time, I sold the house my parents left me to pay for Larisse's medical bills.

I even used up all my savings for her and Rosie.

They thought they had me wrapped around their fingers because they believed I could not live without them.

However, they did not know that job offers kept coming, even though I stayed home.

I stayed for Rosie's love, but that love is gone now.

As I grabbed my suitcase to leave, Jeffrey tried to give me some crumpled bills.

"Malcolm, you're broke, huh? Here's some cash for a hotel. Come back when Rosie and her mom cool off."

I barely looked at him and said: "Saving to jump in the river? Keep your money for your own urn."

Rosie, who had tried to stop me, got so mad she kicked my suitcase out the door.

"Leave! And don't you dare come back!"

The door slammed behind me, and I stepped out into the chilly air with my suitcase.

I checked into a hotel and called my senior Adrian.

"Hey, I'm in for that job you mentioned."

Adrian was thrilled. "Awesome, Malcolm! You are making the right move. However, it's an overseas gig, at least three to five years, okay?"

"No problem," I said.

"We'll throw a welcome party tomorrow and you can meet the team," Adrian laughed.

I had almost thrown away my future for Rosie and her mom. It was time for a fresh start.

After a short chat, I hung up and slept like a baby, free from caring for Rosie's mom.

The next day, just before lunchtime, I walked into a restaurant and saw Rosie throwing a birthday party for little Sean, who was turning five.

Larisse kept smiling as she passed veggies to Jeffrey, telling him what a thoughtful and great son-in-law he was.

Jeffrey smiled back and said, "Of course." When he saw me, he gave Rosie a quick kiss on the cheek, just to tease me.

Rosie giggled and blushed, leaning on Jeffrey's shoulder.

Just then, little Sean in her arms spotted me and pointed. "Mommy, there's the bad guy."

Rosie turned and our eyes met. She looked like she did not know what to do.

Jeffrey, still smiling, looked at me.

"Malcolm, did you sneak here to mess up the birthday party?

"If you're mad, be mad at me, not the kid.” He's done nothing wrong.

"I'll say I'm sorry right now."

He stood in front of me and started slapping his own cheek, making everyone else look.

Rosie was going to explain, but she stopped. She helped Jeffrey up, mad at me.

"You're awful, picking on a kid.

“Jeffrey was nice enough to forgive you yesterday and even told me to forgive you and bring you home. And this is how you act?"

Larisse wheeled over, glaring at me with open hostility.