You Know Why
Mia
Erik was surprisingly consistent about seeing Arne this visit.He’d made it to a couple of soccer games and invited us to watch him work again today.Arne was as excited about the treats at the craft service table as watching the filming, but as long as Erik didn’t flake, I’d try to carve out the time.
Today was a green screen filming.I hadn’t understood, but when Erik set us up in a spot to watch, he and some other actors were put into harnesses.Using those, they did flips and jumps in front of a green background.What people would see in the background would be added later by computers.
Erik explained what the scenes would look like when they were finished as we enjoyed another on-set meal.The food was really good.This acting gig had some nice perks.
Trouble started when Erik asked Arne what was new with him.
“I skated!Mom says I can have lessons in the fall.I want to play hockey, but I have to learn to skate first.My friend Barney plays, so I hope I can play with him after I get good at skating.”
Erik turned to me.His eyes narrowed.“You took Arne skating?”
Arne beat me to the answer.“We went with Mr.Justin.Barney was sick so I went with Mommy to Mr.Justin’s house and we went to an arena and Mr.Justin got us skates and he helped me.I didn’t know Mommy could skate!Can you skate, Daddy?”
Erik’s lips thinned, but he kept it together for Arne.“I can skate, sure.Haven’t done it for a while, but I’m pretty good.”
“Mr.Justin is good too.He’s fast, and he can skate backward!”
Damn it, this was not the time for Arne to fanboy over my ex-boyfriend.Erik wasn’t happy.He distracted Arne by mentioning ice cream.We left soon after, but later, after Arne was in bed and I was settled in, ready to sleep myself, I got a call from Erik.
“Is everything okay?”I spoke quietly, not wanting to wake up my son.
“What the hell is your ex doing taking Arne skating?”
I stepped out of the room.“One minute.”I went downstairs and out the back door to the rusty lawn chairs around the BBQ where no one should be able to overhear.
“Justin did not take Arne skating, not like you’re implying.I’ll explain if you’re willing to listen.”Was I hearing gritted teeth on the other end?
“Fine.”
“There wasn’t any school that day—a Professional Development day for the teachers.I’d arranged for Arne to stay with his friend while I worked but the kid got sick and had to go to the doctor.Was I supposed to call you and ask you to babysit?”
He ignored that.“What about Cora or your mom?”
“Cora took Mom to a doctor’s appointment we set up months ago.”I hated having to justify myself.But Erik was entitled to know that I was taking care of our child.
“What do you do when I’m not around?”
Which was always.“I find ways to make it work.In this case, Justin told me when he hired me that I could bring Arne if there were problems with childcare.”
“So how often has that happened?”
Was this paternal worry, or stupid male posturing because it involved my ex, my more-famous-than-Erik ex?“This was the second time.Justin’s team set up an on-ice assessment, so I had to drive him to the arena.After it was over, he offered us the chance to skate.He knows Arne is hockey obsessed, and that I hoped he might hate skating and get over it.”
“He didn’t, did he?”
I drew in a breath.“No.So I’ll let him take skating lessons in the fall and maybe he’ll not be very good or get diverted into speed skating or figure skating.I have neither the time nor money for hockey.”
“Maybe you should talk to me before you enroll him in something that could be dangerous?”
My hold on my temper slipped.“Maybe if you were in Arne’s life on a consistent basis, I would do that.But when you’re off in LA living your dream, I’m the one dealing with everything.His school, his hobbies, his clothing, his food, when he goes to the doctor, who takes care of him when I’m working—that’s all me.So don’t you dare drop in for a few weeks and try to demand co-parenting rights when you aren’t here to deal with all the shit I have to take care of on my own.”
“Bitchy much?”
I closed my eyes and counted to ten.Any more truths and Erik would nurse his wounded feelings and things would be messier later.“I’m going now.Good night.”I hung up and turned off my phone.