Worse came to worst, Hank would become an e–hailing driver. It would be tough, but at least he would have an income.
It had not slipped Hank’s mind that he still held the roles of a husband and a father. He had the responsibility of bringing home the bacon resting on his shoulder.
“Oh.”
Sonny was rather accepting that his father needed to work because Mom had always told him that in the past. It was not old news. The little man knew his father had to go to work every day.
Seeing that her ex–husband was here again, Liberty really did not want to give him the time of day–not like she had time to spare anyway.
Hank carried his son to Liberty and said, “Liberty, I haven’t had breakfast. Get me your recommended breakfast set.”
Before Liberty answered, Mrs. Lane jumped in while serving the other customers. She said, “Mr. Brown, please proceed to pay at the cash register. You can pay, find a seat, and wait for your meal.”
Hank replied, “I’m Sonny’s father. Do I need to pay? Liberty, we were once husband and wife. What is a breakfast set going to cost you? Can’t you treat me to breakfast?”
Although Hank still had a bit of savings after renovating the marital home and giving the Yateses financial support, he wanted to scrimp wherever he could since he was without an income now.
Besides, he had always pinched pennies with Liberty.
The couple was going halves on expenses the last few months before the divorce.
Nimble behind the grill, Liberty said, “Mr. Brown, don’t talk to me about our marriage. I don’t want to fight because Sonny is here, and I have lots of customers too. As Mrs. Lane mentioned, you can pay if you want to support my business. I’ll be happy to make your food. Otherwise, I’ll call the patrolling security to kick you out if you don’t intend to pay.”
Hank grimaced. “What’re a few bucks to you? Can’t you buy me breakfast?”
“No. I can’t do that.”
His expression winced with anger before turning to Sonny. “Look at how petty your mom is, Sonny. She won’t even give me breakfast and expects me to pay.”
Sonny told him outright, “Dunc pays when he comes for breakfast. Aunt Elisa pays too, so you should pay.”
The only people Mom refused payment were Aunt Ser and Uncle Zack while the rest were expected to foot their bill.
Sonny might not understand that it was a business, but he knew that no one else but Aunt Ser and Uncle Zack were the only exceptions to the paying rule.
Hank was dumbstruck for a moment before remarking, “I’m your father, Sonny. How can you compare me with Mr. Lewis? He’s an outsider. Besides, Mr. Lewis isn’t a good man. He’s scary.”
Sharing the sentiment, Sonny bobbed his head and replied in his childish voice, “Dunc is scary, but he’s not a bad man!”
Hank did not forget the time he told his son to kick a fuss every time Duncan came looking for Liberty. Refusing to dwell on the same topic, Hank took the hint and talked about breakfast again. His son was stubborn.
The little man said that Mr. Lewis was scary, but he was not a bad man. Despite Hank’s efforts to change the boy’s mind, Sonny stuck to his guns about Mr. Lewis.
“Alright. I’ll pay. Happy now? I feel like it’s all about money for you after the divorce.
“You’re so petty. You hold every dime against me. We were once a married couple no matter what.”
Hank whined while putting his son down to take out his wallet. He pulled out twenty bucks from his wallet and handed the money to Liberty. He said, “The breakfast set.”
Liberty took his money and gave him back his change.
“You wanted to split the differences in the expenses and bring money to every conversation we had before we divorced. Now that I have nothing to do with you, have you no shame to freeload off me?”
Hank choked.
Women were such vengeful souls.
They went halves for a couple of months. That was all. It had been several months since the divorce, and Liberty was still hung up about the past.
“I’m Sonny’s father.”
“All You Can Eat belongs to me and not Sonny. You’re Sonny’s father, but you’re not mine. So don’t act like I’m your child.”
Hank retorted, “You’ve changed, Liberty. You’ve become sharp–tongued. I bet you learned it from Serenity. Your sister has married into an affluent family, and these families are all about etiquette and class. Can she adapt with that temper of hers? You should talk some sense into Serenity. Tell her to be more ladylike.”
Lifting her head, Liberty callously glared at Hank.
There was not another peep from Hank.
Serenity and Liberty had been living large since Liberty decided to go separate ways with Hank.
With Sonny in his arms, Hank turned around and walked away. He spotted an empty table as a customer was leaving. Hank called Mrs. Lane to tidy up the table before taking a seat at the table with his son.
Watching as Liberty dove back into work, Hank was brought back to the past. He slowly realized why Liberty changed. No. Liberty did not change–she merely regained her shrewd and capable self.
The years Liberty was most foolish and gullible was when she was his wife.
They had known each other for more than a decade. He would be lying if he said he never had feelings for Liberty.
Liberty was good to him in the past because she loved him. Hank took her love for granted and thought she was simply useless.
Now that she had stopped loving him… She became the intelligent and capable woman she once was.
Deep down, Hank was jealous of Liberty’s success in her career, so he manipulated her in the name of love and got her to ditch professional wear for an apron.
Liberty’s life as a housewife revolved around her husband and child. Her whole world was caring for the family, from the parents–in–law to Sonny. Liberty had no time to go shopping or have a get–together with former colleagues. As time went on, her former friends started walking out of her life.
She became out of touch with society. The daily bustle of household chores left her no time to dress up, and slowly, Liberty put no thought to her appearance.
Hank admitted that he was a bad man. He wanted to force
Liberty to grow disconnected from society with no source of income and become a faded woman in her early thirties.
Compared to many housewives who had suffered the same situation, Liberty was a very brave person. She decisively cut off her relationship with Hank.
She never compromised just because of her child.
Although divorce might be harmful to the child, it would be equally detrimental if they fought all day while remaining together and there would be no peace at home too.
It was better to get divorced and raise her son alone. As long as she taught him attentively, she could raise him to be a confident person.
Mrs. Lane took a plate of eggs and bacon and placed it in front of Hank.
Hank was pulled back from his drifting thoughts. His life. now with Jessica was also happy and sweet. Although there were some family conflicts, the husband and wife were still in the break–in period. He would live a better life than with Liberty after they settle down.
He ate his breakfast in peace.
He fed Sonny some of the food, but Sonny`refused to share the same fork with him. The little boy insisted on having his own fork and speared a slice of bacon by himself. He did not need Hank to feed him. He even thought that the saliva on the fork that his dad used was dirty!
“Sonny knows how to feed himself now. What a good boy. Lucas still needs your Aunt Chelsea to feed him.”
Hank felt that his son was better than his nephew.
After a while, Liberty finished cooking Hank’s mushroom soup and asked Mrs. Lane to serve it.
Hank asked for a small bowl and served his son some soup.
The father and son ate together with relish.
As time passed, the morning rush hour ended and fewer people came in for breakfast.
Mrs. Lane and Liberty were finally able to rest.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.