Forever Never

by Lucy Score

He had his reasons, not the least of which was the fact that Remington Ford had been born with wings, not roots.

“And eat a damn pasty to wash down that shake. A man can only have so much discipline before it’s unhealthy.”

It was hard to dislike a man for being happy all the time, but Brick still made the attempt.

Both parents had chosen something other than them. Than him. He never wanted Spencer to feel the weight of that.

Most confused her quiet demeanor for shyness, but the kid was a natural observer, lurking in corners and committing everything she saw and heard to memory.

He’d envied kids who went home to the same house every day. Kids whose parents came home every night.

“Nawesome?” Remi teased. “Shut up. He looked directly at me. What was I supposed to do? Form actual speech? Not everyone’s as brave as you are, you know,”

“I’m not a yoga type person,” she’d insisted, eyeing the colorful parade of tights and tank tops and mats as students of all shapes, sizes, and colors marched into the studio. “I’m more of a ‘boot camp that makes you barf at the end’ person.”

“They started about two years ago, and they’re triggered by stress, which apparently a boring stay at home mother finds in monotonous household chores and the daily ins and outs of raising human beings.

“The sexy lumberjack and drunk damsel would totally have sex,” she said, swaying into him. “I don’t think you’re talking about making a Hallmark movie then,” he said.

“You know what that means,” Spencer announced. “Sleepover! I brought popcorn and beef jerky. We can light our farts on fire and tell ghost stories.” “Boy sleepovers are gross,” Remi observed.

“What’s it like being fascinating? No one’s found me interesting, let alone fascinating, since before I had kids,”

We’re your parents. We love you both. But you two are fucking adults and you need to start solving your own problems. Not blaming them on someone else or running away from them.”

“What good is having your own rules if they just keep you from doing what you want?”

“If these are the only two approaches you’ve tried, I think there’s a lot of fresh options. For instance, have you considered kicking Kyle in the balls instead of doing his laundry?”

We’re talking about you right now. It looks to me like you’re filling your hours with responsibilities and tasks for other people. What’s the worst that could happen if, instead of making turkey burgers on Wednesday, you just told the kids to make whatever they want.”

“Shit.” She took another slurp from the straw. “You are making a point that I’m not sure I’m mentally ready to accept. I may need to linger longer in the martyr zone.” “Understandable and valid,” Remi said, handing her sister the eraser.

“Just because you wanted something and you worked really fucking hard to get it doesn’t mean you don’t get to acknowledge what a horrific pain in the ass it can be,”

You’re the one who decided to be a lawyer first and everything else second. No woman wants to come in second place with her husband. No mother wants her kids to come in second with their father.”

You’re just exactly what he needs. A reminder that life isn’t so black and white. That there’s a lot of fun to be had with colors.”