Christian
I make my way back home while Brody sings along in the back seat, his excitement over his field trip tomorrow still bubbling away while all I can do is wonder what's going on at the house.
Fuck she's been missing for two days well three days if you include the time kids spend alone and now when she finally decides to reappear she's causing trouble. I hope the girls aren't witnessing her acting like this because that's the last thing they need.
I turn off the main road and onto the dirt trail that leads to the farm when my cell phone starts buzzing in my pocket again. I pull over to answer it just in case it's Tom again but when I check the screen a number flashes across it but no name and as much as I want to ignore it right now I can't, I'm waiting on phone calls regarding the kids and I can't risk missing their calls.
"Hello."
"Hello, may I speak with Mr. Bowen please?"
"This is Mr. Bowen."
"Mr. Bowen my name is Sally Peterson and I am calling from CPS, child protective services in regards to your son Brody Joesph Bowen and your daughter Sophie Maria Bowen."
"Yes, I have been expecting your call." I let out a breath that I didn't even realize that I was holding in. Part of me is relieved that she's called, the sooner we get the ball rolling the better but the other part of me is terrified, I mean whoever wants cps in their lives?
I know I'm a good dad and I know I will give my kids a good life but there's still that small part of me that's terrified that for some reason they will take my kids away. "I'm in the car at the moment and my son is with me so I can't say too much right now."
"Of course, I understand Mr. Bowen. I was actually calling to see if it would be ok to make a home visit to you this evening. I just need to assess the situation and check the children's well-being and as long as I'm happy with the assessment then I'll be more than happy for the children to remain with you while we investigate the allegations against Miss. Jones."
"Of course, that's no problem. What time would you like to call?" Fuck, of all the nights for this!
"How does 6 pm work for you?"
"That's no problem!" We say polite goodbyes while I continue to cuss in my head before I end the call, throw my cell onto the passenger seat, and start heading towards the house again. We pull up outside and Zack quickly appears from the house and comes around to Brody's door.
"Hey, buddy. I was wondering if you could help me out. I need to go and feed all the horses and Uncle Tom was supposed to help me but now he's busy so I was wondering if you could help me?"
"Yeahhhh" Daddy can I go and help Uncle Zack feed the horses pleaseeeee?" He beams out and despite everything, I'm feeling I still laugh at his excited tone. I'm so incredibly grateful to Zack for keeping him away from the house but that also means that shit is going down in there, enough shit that he doesn't want Brody seeing or hearing any of it.
"Yeah, sure thing son but be good and make sure to listen to Uncle Zack ok?" He nods while he starts to unbuckle his seat belt while Zack comes to my door and opens it.
He leans in close to me and starts speaking low and within seconds I'm full of anger again. "Amy's high as a kite brother and kicking off good!" For fuck sake!
"Great! Where are the girls?"
"Mom and Dad took the girls to the grocery store with them just before she turned up so I called them and they are going to drag it out until one of us calls them." Thank fuck for that! the moment he finishes talking Brody calls out for Zack to help him out of the truck and they quickly take off heading for the stables while I waste no time in getting to the house.
I can hear her voice before I even open the door and its fucking grating, I head inside to find her in the kitchen with Tom, Callum, and Jack and man do they all look pissed.
She looks straight at me before she begins talking slowly as she slurs every single fucking word. "Well well well look who finally decided to join the party!"
"What are you playing at Amy?"
"What do you think? I came to get my kids!" Pfft over my dead body!
"The kids that you left on their own for over 24 hours? The kids that you haven't given a second thought to in three days? Are those the kids you're talking about Amy?"
"Oh, stop being dramatic!" Is she fucking kidding me!
"Dramatic, bitch you left my nieces and nephew alone. Alone with no one to care for them and your saying that Chris is being dramatic?" Tom's voice rises the more he talks and I can see his whole body starting to shake but before I can do anything Callum walks over to him and rests his hand on his shoulder.
"She's not worth it brother." He's not quite with his comment and he's also right in what he's saying.
"Excuse me, who the fuck do you think you're talking about!" Amy screeches out the words and I swear my whole body cringes as she makes a show of spinning around as if she's some high-level model with it all to give.
Don't get me wrong Amy has always been a pretty girl but now, hell she is running herself into the ground so fast that she looks like a 90-year-old, not a 26-year-old. If I didn't believe the rumors about her taking drugs before then I certainly do now.
Her clothes are baggy on her and stinking. Her hair is unbrushed and greasy. Her checks are drawn in and she looks like she hasn't bathed in a month. Fuck what is she doing to herself? I swear it's only been 2 weeks since I last personally saw her but fuck it looks like it's been years!
"Amy just leave. I dont want the kids seeing you like this, come back when you're not high or drunk and we can talk." I dont even try to hide how pissed I am, there's no point she doesn't give a fuck anyway!"
"Make me." She starts walking towards me holding on to every bit of surface that she sees to hold herself up while everyone in the room looks at her in disgust.
"Make me!" She repeats as soon as she's standing right in front of me her face level with mine from the high heels that she is wearing.
"What has happened to you." The words leave my lips in a whisper, I'm angry, yes but more than anything I'm disappointed in her and what she's become.
"I'm absolutely fineee!"
"Leave Amy, I won't ask again!"
"Make me I won't tell you again!" My patience is fastly running out with this bitch and I've got the cps woman coming here soon. I need her out of here and now!
"Come on Chrissy boy!" She slurs the words as she starts to leave small slaps on my cheeks.
"Get your fucking hands off me, Amy!" I shout in her face. She can do what she wants to me but I will never raise my hand to any woman, not even one who lays her hands on me.
"Or what huh?" She brings her hand back and then delivers a hard slap to my cheek again and I'm fucking livid. In the corner of my eye I catch sight of her other hand coming my way but before I can react a hand comes from behind me and grips hold of her wrist.
"Get your fucking hands off of him!"