Peter shrugged. Depends on what you call big trouble. I understand you gave your teacher a good bit of grief today. You were loud and disruptive in class. You know better than that, sport.
Am I grounded?
Do you think you should be grounded?
Patrick hesitated, got a scheming glint in his eyes. No? I think Ive learned my lesson, and we can skip the punishment? He lifted hopeful dark eyes to his father.
Seriously? I think I hear a question mark in your answer. You know I cant just let this slide. What if Id been working a big case out of town when I got called to the school? Huh?
Patrick scowled. Youre always working big cases out of town. Why cant you have a regular job like everyone else?
Peters chest tightened. Hed heard Patrick complain about his work hours before, but in light of his teachers concerns, Peter took his sons comments more seriously this time. Patrick, you know Id spend more time with you if I could. Theres nothing in the world more important to me than you are, but I have to earn a living and pay our bills. My job demands that I be gone a lot. I cant change that.
But even as he said as much, a niggling voice in his head argued the point. He could rearrange his schedule or be more selective in the cases he took on so that he could have more time at home with Patrick. Even if the more lucrative cases took him out of town, couldnt they tighten their monetary belts a bit in order for him to be more attentive to his sons needs?
He glanced over at Patricks long face, slumped shoulders. Guilt pricked Peter.
Tell you whatIll make a special effort to cut back on my hours and do more stuff with you
Immediately, Patricks eyes brightened, and he snapped an eager gaze up to his fathers.
If
Patrick rolled his eyes and groaned. I knew there was a catch.
Peter shot his son a stern glance. Dont interrupt. You have to promise me youll work hard at bringing your grades up. Mrs. Navarre said your work has been slipping.
Ms. Navarre, Dad. Shes not married.
Peter quirked an eyebrow, mentally flashing to when hed been corrected by the woman herself on the pronunciation of her name. He worked to school his expression and hide his intrigue with this new tidbit of information. Hed been too worked up, too worried about Patrick during his altercation with the attractive brunette to look for a ring. But even as upset as hed been, he hadnt missed Ms. Navarres shapely curves or model-worthy face.
Hell, he couldnt blame Patrick for being distracted and having faltering grades with a teacher as hot as Lisa Navarre. Any male over the age of nine would be distracted by Patricks teacher.
Peter squeezed the steering wheel and cleared his throat. Ms. Navarre also said that you were talking back to her, being rude. Peter cast a disapproving look to his son. Burping.
Patrick chuckled. Yeah, it was a good one, too, Dad. Really low and loud and
Patrick, Peter said, a warning clear in his tone. It was rude and inappropriate.
But Da-ad
Peter raised a hand, anticipating the coming argument. I know that we sometimes goof around at home and do stuff like that, buttheres a time and a place for that kind of behavior and school is not the time or place.
God, when had he started sounding like his
father? No. Not his father. More like his mother. Egad. That was scary. Peter cringed internally.
But Mark Walsh had never been interested in teaching his son wrong and right. Hed been too busy cheating on his wife. Acid burned in Peters belly at the memory, and he swore to himself, again, that hed be a better father to Patrick than Mark Walsh had been to him.
Mr. Walsh, more than discipline, what Patrick needs is his father.
Patrick, I think the thing I find most disturbing about what happened at school today is that you sassed your teacher. I didnt raise you to disrespect adults and especially not a lady.
Thats no lady, thats my teacher, Patrick said in a deep voice, mimicking the comedian theyd watched on television together the past weekend.
Peter had to bite the inside of his cheek so that he wouldnt laugh. He couldnt encourage Patricks misbehavior, even if he did find his sons sense of humor amusing.
Instead, he gave Patrick the look all parents have instinctively. The I-mean-business-and-youre-treading-on-thin-ice look.
Tomorrow, first thing when you get to school, you will apologize to Ms. Navarre for being rude and disruptive.
Patrick gave a dramatic sigh and stared out the window.
Look at me. When he had his sons attention he added, And youre grounded for Peter did a quick calculation. What length of punishment suited the crime? And why wasnt there an instruction manual for parents? Raising his son alone was, hands-down, the hardest thing hed ever done.
And the most rewarding, he thought as he held his boys dark gaze. For the weekend. No video games, no TV, no going to your friends.
What! Patrick grunted. Whats left?
Try reading a book, or catching up on your schoolwork. Orgoing fishing with me.
Hello? Dadits November. Its freezing.
What, you dont think fish get hungry in November? He tugged up the corner of his mouth. Okay, sowell save fishing for spring, and well Peter turned up his palm as he thought. Catch a football game together.