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Chapter Fifty

Author: Catherine MacKenzie
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

“Jaxsen, stop,” Sebastian yelled over the boy’s scream. Nizhoni came running up the stairs in time to see Sebastian pull the boy’s arms down from his face. Jaxsen kicked and struggled in his arms, his screaming growing in volume. “Jaxsen, stop,” Sebastian pleaded again, tightening his grip and bringing the boy to his chest. Jaxsen fought until he sagged against Sebastian’s torso. Spent and out of breath from the struggle, Sebastian slid to the floor, the wall being his only support. Jaxsen clutched and clawed at whatever part of Sebastian he could reach. His fists balled in anger; another charge of fury about to explode. The whole time they’d been sitting, Jaxsen hid his face in Sebastian’s chest.

“Why won’t you hit me?” He asked, punctuating his question with his fists to Sebastian’s chest. “Why won’t you yell?&rdquo

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    Sebastian sat in the driveway of his country-style home, his head resting against the steering wheel. He felt drained. Exsanguinated of all emotions, thoughts, and feelings. Acid churned in his belly as the stress of the last few months caught up with him. With a lingering, heartfelt sigh and consternation in his heart, he shut the engine of his truck off, looked one more time at the house before stepping out and preparing himself to face what awaited him. When he entered the house he found Nizhoni in a frenzy. She was in the living room cleaning. The couch pillows were askew and thrown onto the recliner, loveseat, and floor.She paused as he entered the room. “Don’t fucking start, Sebastian, okay? Just don’t...” she told him, her face taunt, her lips pulled tightly against her teeth. Suddenly all the emotion that was drained only moments ago came flooding back like a broken l

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    “I love you, Nizhoni Hosteen. I’m sorry, too, baby.” She closed her eyes against the tears that spilled down her cheeks. “Don’t cry, beautiful,” he said, kissing away her tears.“God, Bastian…this is how Mamma Lou felt for all that time. Every time I flinched from her.” Sebastian nodded, the days’ worth of stubble prickling her skin.“You’re gonna freeze out here, beautiful. Let’s go back in, baby.” She allowed him to lead her back inside the house. She stopped as she passed the stairs and looked up. He watched as a myriad of emotions crossed her face.“I really wouldn’t ever hit him. That wasn’t what I meant.” Her voice was low and pained.“I know.” H

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    “Dad?” Sebastian looked to his right where the small voice carried from. Jaxsen stood in the doorway of his study, hands twisting nervously in front of him, his eyes cast downward.“What’s up, sweet boy?” Sebastian gave him his full attention.“Um…a-am I grounded still?” Sebastian studied him for a moment. His shoulders were hunched, drawn up around his ears, his head lowered; red faced and tear streaked, his long eyelashes clumped in a wet mass.“No, Jack.”“Th-then can it be okay if Basil spends the n-night? I wouldn’t ask, but I really n-n-need to to to-” He pressed his lips together, his eyes pleading for him to understand.“Sure. Come he

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    “Dad?” Sebastian looked up from his preparation of dinner. “What’s up, Jack?” “Well, I was, um, wondering if maybe over spring break you could take Basil and me to the monster truck show?” Sebastian chuckled and turned back to stirring the pasta. “Yeah, I don’t see why not. Do you know what day it’s on?” Jaxsen smiled brightly. “Saturday. It’s an important day.” “Yeah? What’s so important about it?” Jaxsen’s smile brightened. “It’s his birthday. I want to make the day special for him.” Sebastian smiled and turned the fire down on his home-made sauce he was going to pour over the pasta. “He’s been sad the last few days. I wanna cheer him up.”

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    “Dad?” Sebastian looked up from his preparation of dinner. “What’s up, Jack?” “Well, I was, um, wondering if maybe over spring break you could take Basil and me to the monster truck show?” Sebastian chuckled and turned back to stirring the pasta. “Yeah, I don’t see why not. Do you know what day it’s on?” Jaxsen smiled brightly. “Saturday. It’s an important day.” “Yeah? What’s so important about it?” Jaxsen’s smile brightened. “It’s his birthday. I want to make the day special for him.” Sebastian smiled and turned the fire down on his home-made sauce he was going to pour over the pasta. “He’s been sad the last few days. I wanna cheer him up.”

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    After a light breakfast Saturday morning, the explanation being there would be plenty of food where they were going, they headed off to the store to purchase Basil a new outfit for the day. Jaxsen couldn’t help but smile at the smile that was plastered across Basil’s face as he picked out each item with great care and equal excitement. Once everything was purchased Basil took the bags to the restroom to change. “He’s really excited,” Jaxsen commented as they waited outside the restroom entrance. Sebastian smiled down at his son and ruffled his hair. Jaxsen’s smile widened. He loved it when Sebastian did that. He loved the pride in the older man’s eyes and the pride in himself that he didn’t flinch away. “He’s a good kid. He deserves something special. Especially today.” The words Sebastian didn’t say hung in the air, and Jaxsen, even still being seven m

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