CH. 2.

The laundry was started, the sick taken care of, and two of the three children were sitting at the table eating dinner. Franny had some toast and was curled up on the sofa in the other room with an apple juice box and in clean pyjamas, her soiled clothes from earlier in the wash. There wasn't much food in the house, so Gareth, Daisy, and Gabe were eating Kraft Dinner with peas and ketchup, a good comfort food following a trying afternoon. Gareth supposed he would have to go grocery shopping on Saturday since there was no way he could go out when he was taking a sick day tomorrow—the last thing he wanted to happen was to get written up for taking a day inappropriately.

Leeann said she was doing the shopping today, but then she said she was going to do the laundry as well, and Gareth already knew that didn't happen. But she did take the cash that was set aside for groceries. He sighed then smiled at Daisy and Gabe. Even if their mother wasn't the best, and let's face it, that might be an understatement, their children were amazing. He was thankful for them every single day, which was the only reason why he put up with their mother.

........................................

"Hey, Abby," Gareth spoke quietly into the phone after the kids were in bed. "I have to take a sick day tomorrow. Could you put out my emergency plans for my classes?" She was the other grade seven teacher at his school. Tall, with coffee coloured skin, Abby had the respect of her students due to her compassion, but her take no nonsense attitude kept them from walking all over her. Really, an ideal upper grade teacher.

He could hear Abby take in a sharp breath, "Sure Gareth. What is it this time?"

"Nothing, really, just a bit under the weather," he supplied, even though he was certain that Abby wasn't buying it.

Nope. 

"Really?" her voice had a disbelieving, sarcastic tone. "Look Gareth, you need to get yourself and your kids away from her. She's totally toxic and takes advantage of you."

"You just don't understand, Abby," Gareth argued weakly. Deep down he knew Abby was right, but it was so hard and Leeann needed him, or at least that's what she said. Sometimes. Besides, there was no way he could afford before and after school care for the kids, if Leeann wasn't around. He needed her, too. Sort of.

"No Gareth, I don't understand. You're the nicest guy I know and she's going to seriously injure you one day. Domestic violence happens to men, too," Abby argued, even though they'd had the same conversation more than once before. 

Could it really be considered domestic violence if they weren't really in a romantic relationship? He supposed it could, but either way, it was completely and utterly embarrassing.

"Look, I appreciate your concern and all, but I have to go and finish the laundry. I promise I'm fine."

"At least take a picture of the bruises. Please Gareth," Abby cajoled, knowing Gareth was definitely not fine.

"Okay," Gareth acquiesced. It wouldn't be the first time he'd done it. His phone actually held several such photos that he kept just in case. Gareth might be a pushover, but he wasn't a total idiot. He labelled that particular roll "class photos" because if there was one thing Leeann hated more than hearing about his students, it was seeing pictures of them.

"Thank you. Now stay safe and don't worry about your classes. I'll make sure your plans are on your desk and your kids are taken care of," Abby said.

"Thanks again, Ab. See you Monday," Gareth hung up quickly, determined to take a few pictures of his swollen jaw before bed and prior to Leeann returning.

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Phillip's plants were watered and fed, the compost turned, and his tools cleaned. His seedlings were doing well in the small nursery corner he'd set up a few years before, they'd be ready to transplant to larger pots in a few more weeks. The grow lights and a small heater kept the young plants warm, and Phillip was looking forward to having adult annuals to use in his garden in a few month's time while the perennials awoke from their winter slumber.

Phillip had one quick look around his garden shed before turning out the light and locking up. Everything was in its place, bench clear, peg board filled, pots stacked. He took a deep breath of satisfaction at his clean, orderly space, then firmly shut the door, locking it behind him.

Although it was already dusk, the work had helped him determine his course of action. Tomorrow he would call Mrs. Bentman. Not to ask her to speak to Brian, but instead for ideas as to where he could apply and any other advice she had to offer. As much as Bentman's Greenhouses had been his second home, it just wasn't bearable with Brian at the helm.

Phillip entered his empty house through the walkout patio doors and headed for the basement shower. He left his work boots neatly lined up on the mat, dropped his soiled clothes into the washing machine, and stepped into the hot stream of water, meticulously cleaning every bit of himself.

Following ten minutes of scrubbing and cleansing, Phillip carefully dried himself, added the towel to the wash, and started the machine. He may be alone, but there was no reason to leave a mess. After all, he'd just have to tidy it later. He took a clean pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt from the folded pile in the basket, put them on, then took the rest upstairs to put away.

After a relatively healthy microwave meal for one, a large glass of milk, and his one vice, a slice of apple pie, Phillip retired to the living room to watch the evening news. Since his mother died, this solitary existence was all Phillip knew. He spent a few years caring for her when she was terminally ill, losing touch with whatever friends he'd had (not that there were many), and hadn't put any effort into finding new ones. He was reticent, and making friends was not his forte. Small talk was difficult and it seems that was what one did when one tried to make friends. Really, Mel at work was his closest friend, and mostly she was his supervisor.

Later, he completed a nighttime ritual that he'd done with his mother for years. He made a pot of tea and poured himself a cup. Taking it into the living room, he sat watching the steam until it cooled enough to drink. He flipped through the mail and read a science fiction novel while the tv made noise in the background. Even though he wasn't watching, the soft sound of the documentary made the house seem a little less empty, the noise somewhat comforting.

It was funny how he always made a pot. He could have made just one cup, because that's all he ever drank, but Phillip was a creature of habit. So a pot it was. He just emptied the leftovers out each night before bed and put the teabag in the compost bin.

Although he was generally okay, Phillip couldn't help but feel pangs of loneliness from time to time. An only child to elderly parents, Phillip never really mixed with people his own age. He lost his father when he was thirteen, then spent his formative years caring for his mother. Phillip never really developed any relationships, never had anyone special—not like the families who visited the store regularly.

There had to be more to life than this.

He was just so alone.

The news ended and Phillip went to bed after cleaning up the tea dishes. The same single bed he'd had since childhood, the same blue walls, the same room.

Tomorrow he was going to call Mrs. Bentman.

Two weeks later.

"I'm sorry, Leeann. I have conferences tomorrow. I can't miss them. It's part of my job," Gareth went through this argument every term, but it was non-negotiable--he had to report to the students' parents a few evenings per year. He couldn't just skip it. Leeann knew this.

"What about your job here? You know, as a parent?" she reeled on him. She was furious, as usual, because tomorrow night she supposedly had some event scheduled. Gareth couldn't remember what exactly. Girl's Night, Bingo, book club, whatever, they all had her out regularly, and more often than not, they involved the bar. And they were never on the calendar, where weeks ago Gareth had clearly written 'Parent Conferences.' In pen.

"I'm here every evening otherwise, Leeann," Gareth offered, but it was definitely the wrong thing to say.

"What do you mean by that? Are you calling me a bad person because I like to go out once in awhile?" Leeann's voice was reaching a new, higher pitch.

"No, that's not what I meant at all," Gareth tried to explain, although subconsciously maybe that was exactly what he was getting at. Leeann had been going out almost nightly for months, maybe even a year or two now. He really wasn't trying to keep score--she won, hands down. Gareth's stomach was knotting up from the confrontation and he really just wanted her to stop.

No such luck.

"You know maybe I wouldn't have to go out if you'd man up once in awhile," Leeann jeered, her face contorted in an ugly manner.

"Please, keep your voice down, the kids are just in the other room." Gareth hoped he didn't sound whiney, though he probably did. But she was a road he would never go down again, and honestly couldn't. The idea of sleeping with her was completely repulsive to him. There wasn't enough alcohol on the planet.

"Fuck you." She pointed at him with her manicured talons that made him blanch. "Oh, right, there's no way I'd fuck you, you limp dick asshole. And that's why I have to get out of here!" Leeann stormed out and slammed the front door, windows rattling in her wake. 

In all honesty, although they shared a bed, it was purely out of necessity—they never really slept together. Well, obviously they did, twice according to the paternity tests, but that was a long time ago. A very long time ago. And Gareth knew he didn't have a limp dick, he could cite every morning as evidence. He just couldn't get any sort of arousal around her. Except the arousal of his instinct to purge.

...................................

Leeann wasn't home. Half an hour before his interviews were supposed to start, Daisy called him on his cell phone.

"Daddy, Mommy went out," she explained quietly, apologetically. "She told us to call you." He was pretty sure Leeann had probably said more than that, but didn't want to ask.

Gareth looked at the clock with worry, if he left right now, he could just make it. "Get your brother and sister ready. I'm going to pick you up as soon as I can. Please be waiting."

"Okay, Daddy. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Honey. I love you." He was fuming that Leeann thought it was okay to leave the kids home alone, even if it was for just a few minutes. She knew he would come, so there was no real danger of them being alone all night, but she put his job and the kids in jeopardy with her selfishness.

When he hurriedly pulled in the driveway, the children were waiting just as requested, and Daisy had even filled a bag with snacks and activities to keep her siblings busy. She was happy with just her novel to keep her occupied. Gareth made it back to school a few minutes late, but without any irreparable damage to his career. Abby had happily covered for him for the short time. His kids sat quietly in the back of his classroom and occupied themselves while he met a seemingly endless stream of parents, often repeating the same platitudes about how lovely their children were. All in all, it was completely exhausting, especially when his mind kept wandering to Leeann's obvious laying down of the gauntlet.

He didn't love her, he never loved her, but she knew that. She never loved him, either. But he needed her and she needed him. Or at least, she used to.

How they met was rather hazy. Gareth had been at a friend's bachelor party, freshly graduated with his teaching degree and a job lined up. The next morning he awoke in bed with, surprisingly enough, Leeann. He didn't remember any of the things she said they did the night before, and she certainly wasn't the type of person he usually was interested in. Heck, she wasn't even the gender he was usually interested in, although he generally didn't advertise that much. Especially since he was training to be an elementary school teacher. All in all, Gareth was fairly inexperienced in carnal pleasures unless it was a solo effort, with the exception of a few fumbling moments in high school.

When Leeann contacted him a few months later and insisted he was the father of the child she was carrying, he wanted to be involved. Especially after the paternity test assured him that he was, in fact, the father. Gareth loved children he just never expected to ever have any of his own, so as much as he didn't love Leeann, he loved that she was having his baby.

His parents were very surprised but fully supported Gareth's decision to raise his child. He wanted to be a hands on parent and was willing to do whatever it took to be a part of his child's life. After all, he was an adult and taking responsibility was a very adult move. If the mother of his child came as part of the deal, then so be it.

When Gareth went to meet with Leeann to talk about the logistics of everything, imagine his surprise when he met Daisy. He didn't even know Leeann had another child. She was four and had gigantic blue eyes with long tangled hair that she peeped through every once in awhile. Timid and tiny, she was the complete opposite of her brassy mom. Leeann said she wasn't able to take care of herself and her daughter while pregnant, so Gareth had no qualms about taking responsibility for little Daisy, too. Instead of just caring for the newborn, Gareth suddenly had a family of four to support. He took them both in. They needed him and Leeann really didn't have anywhere else to go.

No matter what he felt for Leeann, Gareth had no problem falling in love with the little girl, adopting Daisy shortly after the birth of Gabriel, his son. There was no father of record for Daisy, so the adoption was merely a formality and Leeann was happy to have his assistance.

Franny was the other drunken coupling that Leeann and Gareth supposedly shared. A family wedding, lots of tequila shots, and a second cousin that babysat Daisy and baby Gabe resulted in yet another child. Apparently Leeann was particularly fertile, Gareth was particularly virile, and large quantities of alcohol was the only thing that made sex between them the slightest bit palatable. It was only their second, and very definitely their last, sexual encounter. Gareth had a very low tolerance for alcohol and an even lower tolerance for Leeann.

He was sure Leeann had needs, just like he did, but he didn't ask how she took care of hers. He didn't really want to know, but for the most part, he took care of his in the shower. Easy clean up. And living with Leeann cemented one thing for sure for Gareth—he was sure females just didn't interest him sexually at all. He was resigned to the fact that his children would be the loves of his life and that was, generally, fine. Not everyone deserved or had a life partner and with three young children, he was too exhausted to have anyone else in his life anyway.

Gareth had these thoughts run through his mind as he took some very tired youngsters home, tidied the house a little and collapsed into bed all hours before Leeann returned. Maybe everything would be okay? There had been hiccups in the past.

Maybe not.

Two days later, things went really bad really fast.

A/N: WooHoo! My first cliffhanger :) Thanks for all the positive feedback, and the next update will be on Saturday.

Hugs! JJ