Chapter 3 Doing Right

Troy pulled up to the school with 5 minutes to spare. He'd even managed to buy that phone Eve had been harping on and on about. At least it would keep her mind off whatever had hiked her blood pressure to nearly stroke point.

The test results would be out by now. As his mind rushed to all the possibilities a swarm of kids exited the school. A tap on his window kept his thoughts from getting any worse.

Looking up he found himself looking at a woman holding his son's hand in a vice grip. He rolled down his window while unlocking the door behind the driver's seat.

"Mr. Tinovenga! Thank you for coming to pick up the boys on time. Yesterday the boys were picked up late, and by a taxi that is unacceptable." The middle-aged, white woman looked pointedly at Troy.

"Yes, that was rather unfortunate," Troy's slow emphasis on every word was the only indication that he was irritated by the woman.

Her floral skirt moved in the wind revealing her nude-coloured, knee-high stockings which were firmly strapped into her black open-toed sandals. Her sandals reminded Troy of a cross between Roman gladiators and shoes reminiscent of the era of the Spice Girls. Her pink blouse flapped in the wind providing some distraction.

The teacher frowned. 'Surely this man couldn't possibly think his wife's abandonment of the sweet boys was alright?' She tried again to make him see reason and agree to put his wife straight.

"It was quite irresponsible of your wife to forget them. She could've at least asked someone to take them home. Although we do not have any staff or students who live in Warren Park, something could've been arranged. The poor dears nearly froze to death."

Guilt overwhelmed Troy. If he'd read his wife's text messages yesterday, he would've been with the boys in time to get her to the hospital. Instead, he found her in a pool of blood and his sons absent when he decided to get home early for once.

Michael had called him to ask if his mother was okay and let his father know that he was coming home by cab. By the time the boys had gotten home the ambulance had already taken Eve to the hospital.

"Jeffrey Matthew, get in the car," Troy's voice was low and dangerously calm despite the scowl on his face. Troy spotted Michael jogging to the car as his little brother obeyed his order.

Narrowing his eyes at the teacher and starting the engine Troy continued speaking in a low, calm voice. "It is unfortunate that as we speak my wife lies, hopefully conscious, in hospital. She collapsed yesterday. If I had read her text message the boys would have come home with me, on time."

Michael jumped into the car with a quick, "Hi Dad!"

Troy locked the car doors and waved goodbye to the teacher who stood beet red and gawping at the retreating car. Sensing their father's unpleasant mood, the boys looked at one another and nodded; a silent conversation passed between them as the houses around their school flew past.

Troy caught a glimpse of his youngest son staring at the mansions they drove past almost as if committing them to memory. Troy smiled to himself and glanced at the sedan behind him in the driver's side mirror.

He mentally cursed as he realized it was his mother-in-law's car. He wasn't really in the mood for small talk. His thoughts of evading her were cut short when Michael turned in his seat and smiled widely at his younger brother.

"Jeff, it's Gram Tee behind us!" Michael exclaimed excitedly.

"Cool! Daddy, stop the car! Please?" Jeff asked pleadingly.

"Dude, there's no way Dad isn't going to stop," Michael snorted as he pulled out his cell phone from the inside pocket of his blazer.

"Hey Gram Tee...I'm fine, so is Jeff...We're on our way to see Mummy. We're going to Floribunda to get her flowers, then Honeydew's to make a fruit basket first though...okay!"

Troy raised his eyebrow. Why would they go to-?

"Dad turn here, we're going to Honeydew's first. Gram Tee is meeting us there." Michael said as they reached an intersection.

"Michael, that's not what we agreed on."

"True, we didn't agree on anything specific, but I've already told Gram we're meeting her there so either you call her and tell her I made my own plans, or we meet her there."

Troy thumbed the indicator to indicate they were turning left as he mused how much his eldest son was like his wife. The trip to Honeydews was relatively painless for Troy.

He suspected that his mother-in-law was holding her peace for the sake of the boys. He loved his mother-in-law, but she loved her daughter fiercely and Troy knew he'd fucked up yesterday.

Normally his wife kept her differences with him to herself and would make her displeasure known to him heatedly when they were alone; this was a colossal mess-up that proved everything his wife had been on about as 100% true and un-fabricated.

She normally excused his behaviour to both his and her family as job pressure, but he knew it wouldn't cut it this time. The boys, rather, Michael, pushed the trolley as Jeffrey Matthew selected specific fruits.

Troy watched the boys as they agreed on various items in the fruit and veg store and explained to their grandmother why each item was important. As the teller rang up the items Troy wryly noted that the boys had chosen the most expensive of nearly every item.

The flower shopping was even more interesting with Michael quizzing Troy on his flower selection. The closer they got to visiting hours, the more nervous Troy became.

As they parked in the hospital's parking lot Troy took a deep breath taking in the hospital's extensive grounds and the stone façade of the four-story building.

Stepping out into the sun he felt slightly calmer. As he collected the bags of fruit and assorted goodies the boys had bought, he saw the impatience in the boys' eyes. He quickly closed the boot of the car and locked the car.

Jeffrey took two bags from his father while Michael held the flowers and took another bag. As they walked into the elevator Michael inspected the gift bag his father was also carrying.

In the light of the lift, his father looked funny. He nudged his little brother, "Hey Jeff, doesn't Dad look like a short, chubby version of Michael Jordan?" Michael whispered.

Troy caught Jeff stealing a glance from his right side and smiled at his son who giggled and nodded.

"What's so funny?" Troy asked.

"You look like a shorter, chubby Michael Jordan," Jeff whispered.