The Wanted Short Stories(3)
Author: Kelly Elliott

I smiled weakly. “No, sir.”

“Let’s go for a walk. I need some fresh air.”

I followed him around the porch and down the steps. We started walking in silence.

Gramps cleared his throat. “What’s going on, Drew? You look like you’ve got a heavy heart, son.”

I pushed both my hands through my hair and let out a sigh. “Besides Jeff just basically accusing me of being a shitty husband and possibly cheating on my wife, I’m not really sure what’s going on, Gramps.”

He nodded his head. “Are you?”

My heart dropped, and I froze in my place. Gramps stopped walking and turned to look at me.

“How can you even ask me that?”

“Drew, I’ve had friends who loved their wives beyond belief, but they got tempted. They did things they later regretted, and most of them didn’t even have an affair. The idea that they even thought about having an affair drove a wedge between them and their wives.”

“I’m not having a fucking affair. I’ve just been busy with work. I’ve never thought about being with another woman—ever. It’s just work.”

“Work?”

I let out a deep breath. “Bill asked me to design a house. I said I’d love to. Gramps, I love designing, and honestly, I missed it.”

“I thought you loved the ranch.”

“I do love the ranch. I just needed a bit of a change. I needed something else to do, I guess.”

Gramps nodded his head and began walking again. “I’m sure the way you were feeling is probably how Ellie feels as well, considering her day is filled with the same exact thing day after day.”

Oh geesh. He’s gonna lecture me about this, too.

Gramps stopped and turned to face me. “Drew, I’m only going to say this because, to be honest with you, I don’t like the person you’ve become in the last month.”

My mouth dropped open. “What?”

He shook his head. “What bothers me the most is that you don’t even see it. You don’t see how unhappy your wife has become. You don’t see that when you miss your kids’ practices or games, you’re never going to be able to make that up. That moment in time is gone—forever.”

I swallowed hard. “I’m not cheating on Ellie. It’s never even crossed my mind, Gramps.”

“Why did you come here today, Drew?”

I tilted my head. “What do you mean? I came here because I needed to talk to someone.”

He gave me a weak smile. “The person you need to talk to isn’t me, son. It’s your wife.”

My cell phone buzzed, scaring me. I never got a signal out here. I pulled it out and read the text message.

Karen: Not happy at all with how the bathroom looks. I’m freaking out. When can you get here? I need this fixed, Drew. Now.

Me: Can it wait until tomorrow? I need to spend some time with my wife.

Karen: If you can’t handle it, I’ll call Bill. He’ll take care of it.

“Fuck!” I dropped my head back and looked up at the sky. I was already tired from being out late with them last night and mending the fence all morning.

Me: I’ll be on my way in a few minutes. I’ve been working on the ranch all day, so I need to get cleaned up first.

Karen: No. Now. I need this fixed. Now.

Me: Leaving now.

I looked at Gramps. “I have to go.”

“To Ellie?”

I shook my head. “No, Karen isn’t happy with something they are doing in the bathroom, and I need to see what’s going on.”

“The construction manager can’t handle that? I mean, all you’re responsible for was drawing up the plans.”

I turned and began walking back to my truck. “No, Gramps, he can’t because nine times out of ten, I’m drawing her a new plan.”

I picked up my pace. I needed to get away from gramps, so I didn’t have to listen to him telling me what a shit-ass husband and father I’d become. I walked up to my truck and opened the door.

I looked over the bed of the truck and smiled at my grandfather. “Thanks for the walk, Gramps.”

He didn’t smile back. He shook his head and walked away from me.

“Gramps, what am I supposed to do? I signed up for this job. I have to do it.”

He turned and looked at me. “If it were me, I’d go home and tell my wife how much I love her. Maybe I’d even attempt to make love to her, and then I’d go and do the job if it were that important. It seems to me though that your wife should be more important.”

I shook my head. “I can’t do that, Gramps. I would if I could, but I can’t. I’ll talk to Ellie tonight.”

I got in my truck and started it. I drove down the driveway, and I slammed my hand on the steering wheel. I stopped the truck and sent Ellie a text message.

Me: Hey, baby. I’m so sorry. I have to run to Fredericksburg. Karen, the client I’ve been working with, isn’t happy with her bathroom. I promise to make it up to you tonight. See if Mom and Dad can watch the kids. I’ll take you to Austin for dinner. I love you.

Ellie replied before I took off driving again.

Ellie: Be careful. We’ll see about tonight when you get home.

That’s it? Shit. She is pissed.

I looked in the mirror at myself and smiled. I hadn’t dressed up in forever. I glanced over at the clock. It was four thirty, and I’d heard nothing from Gunner. I sighed as I walked out of the bedroom. I went down the hall and into the living room.

I smiled when I saw Gunner’s mom, Grace, sitting on the sofa with Alex on one side and Colt on the other.

Grace was reading to them, and when she glanced up, she did a double take. “Oh, Ellie. You look beautiful, darling.”

Alex looked at me. “Mama, you look even more prettier than ever.”

Colt jumped up and walked over to me. He stopped just in front of me and said, “I’m not sure Daddy is going to like you being all pretty, Mama.”

I bent down and smiled as I tapped his nose. “Why do you say that, Colt?”

He scrunched up his nose. “’Cause all the boys will be looking at you. I’ve heard Daddy tell Uncle Jeff he doesn’t like when other boys look at you. So, when you look so pretty, even more boys will be looking at you.”

I felt the tears burning my eyes. I grabbed my son and pulled him to me as I attempted not to cry. “I love you, Colt Mathews. I love you so much.”

When I pulled back, a tear ran down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. Colt smiled and then ran back over to Grace. She was smiling at me, but her face was filled with concern.