When they walked inside the house, the kids went directly into the family room and turned on ESPN."
"Well, I guess we have a little more time to figure out exactly what to---"
"HOLY SHIT! MOM THE GIANT IS ON TV!"
She was so taken off guard that she didn't even acknowledge the swear word.
"Guess it's time for that conversation, Mom." Jake looked at her with a look that set better you than me.
"Fuck you, Jacob Carl Edward Thorsell Jr."
"LANGUAGE!" Patrick said from the living room.
The two of them went into the family room and watched what the boys were watching, starry-eyed cross-legged on the floor.
They were showing highlights from the most recent Black Bears game.
"Mom! He's on the Bears! Your old friend in the NBA."
They watched as the announcer began an interview with Bodhi.
"We are joined today by Bodhi O'Neill of the Tennessee Black Bears. Thanks for joining us today."
"Thanks Erving. It's a pleasure to be here."
"Bodhi, you are the top scorer at the Southern Conference. That is quite a feat for a sophomore player."
"I am just trying my best to help my teammates and team. If not for the opportunity the Newcastle Eagles gave me in the BBL, I would never be where I am today. So, thanks to everyone who gave me a chance."
"Now let's talk salary."
Bodhi blushed and hung his head in embarrassment.
"You signed a four-year contract for sixty-three million. That's almost sixteen million a year. I heard that is far from what you were making over the pond."
"It is, but what I was paid in Europe was over the league maximum average, and to me, it was the experience I gained, not the money. I had a goal, and I played my ass off. Oh, sorry, can I say that?"
"Yes, we are cable, and that's fine."
"So, I played as hard as possible to reach my goal. The Eagles organization supported me, and here I am. One lucky Bear."
"Is that all that kept you going? Your drive and determination?"
"Honestly, I missed home. I had some people that I wanted to get back to. One certain friend told me to go and chase my dreams. I did it for her."
"Her? Weren't you married when you were over there? I gather that's not her?"
Jesus Christ. Didn't I tell Oliver to ensure no one questioned me about her? He looked over at Oliver. He had convinced him to stay with him. He respected Oliver, and he became close to him. He is the one who hired the private investigator who caught Janessa cheating on him. Oliver rolled his eyes and slowly shook his head. He told them they just didn't give a fuck.
"I was married. It was not to my American muse, and I would prefer not to discuss either."
"Sorry. Didn't know that's a sore subject."
The fuck you didn't! He looked at Oliver again, who was pinching the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes closed.
"Bodhi, all of us here wish you the best and are pulling for you to keep up your scoring and maybe even surpass George Crenshaw's record."
"I have the utmost respect for George. He was the greatest Black Bear player of all time. But I would be ecstatic to beat that record."
"Guess we will have to see. Hope you still have your muse! Thank you, Bodhi, for your time, and we will talk to you again."
"Thanks Erving. I appreciate you having me."
Jake and Persephone took a set on the couch behind the boys.
"Mom! He's on the Bears! Your old friend in the NBA," Patrick said.
"MOM! DID YOU HEAR WHAT HIS NAME IS? THAT'S THE BLACK BEAR PLAYER I AM NAMED AFTER!"
"Bodhi, why would you think you're named after him?"
"Cause how many Bodhi O'Neill's are there? I can't believe you named me after my favorite player! I can't believe my favorite player is your old friend!"
"Bodhi, shhh. I want to hear what he has to say," Patrick said.
They sat and watched the interview. Perri's stomach was rolling around, and her heart was thumping.
"Isn't that the jersey you wore this morning, Mom?" Patrick asked.
"One like it."
"No. You had on a number 6 jersey."
"It was an old one, Patrick."
"Did you hear that? Top scorer!" Bodhi said.
They watched the interview.
"Oh my God. Did he say sixteen million a year? Well, you are going make out in child support," Jake whispered.
She elbowed him hard in the ribs. "Ouch. That fucking hurt!"
The announcer mentioned his marriage. She got up. "Okay, I've had enough!"
"Sit down," Jake pulled her arm, and she sat back down. "Hey, how much do you want to bet you're his muse?"
"Oh, I'm sure I'm not anymore. I probably single-handedly sank his career."
As the announcer wrapped up the interview, the two boys turned themselves around.
"Okay, Mom. Explain yourself," Bodhi said, crossing his arms. Patrick mimicked his brother.
"You know how Patrick's middle name is Holden? I gave Patrick his name because I love Uncle Holden and wanted him to feel special. It made Uncle Holden happy."
"So, you loved your old friend?" Bodhi asked.
"No."
"Liar," Jake said under his breath.
"Then why would you name me his name? If you didn't. Did you want to make him feel special?"
"You could have used Uncle Jake's name. We could have called him BJ."
Jake let out a snort. "I don't mind she didn't use it. Bodhi should be, too."
"Look, Bodhi and I have known each other since Mommy was eleven. He was one of my best friends. Uncle Jake was Uncle Holden's friend. Not mine. So, I named you after my childhood best friend. I like his name. Your name Bodhizafa means enlightened. And I also really liked Patrick Swazey at the time."
Jake looked at her, shocked. "Seriously?"
"No, but Bodhi's mom did. Lol."
"Besides Uncle Holden, why did you name me Patrick?"
"Yeah, Persephone, why did you name him Patrick?" Jake said.
She glared at Jake. "You aren't helping," she said through gritted teeth. "Bodhi, the big Bodhi, his middle name is Patrick."
"So, I have two middle names as my name? I'm okay with that. I have the names of two pretty cool guys."
"Do you have any pictures of him as a kid?" Bodhi inquired.
"Jake, can I talk to you for a minute? In the kitchen, Way over there."
"I guess."
"Be right back, boys," she said.
She pulled him by the shirt into the kitchen. "What?" Jake asked.
"That went well, right?"
"Yep. Epic cover story. They will be confused when you sit them down to tell him he's their dad."
"Everyone was right. I really should have done this when I was still pregnant."
"I'm not going to say I told you so. But I just said it." Jake didn't want to tell her that he had called him, and he was told he needed to call because she needed him, but he chose not to.
"Should I show them pictures? I've already lied by omission. I'm sure they will find the pictures at some point. My guess is Holden has a bunch," she said. She was pacing and biting her lip.
"How smart are they? Do you think they will notice they look just like him?"
"His hair is different. He's taller and thinner. They have yet to be eleven. It's not like I have pictures of him when he was five."
"Good point."
"The only thing that never changed is his eyes," she said. She was now wringing her hands.
"Show them. You're right. It's not like he's five in the pictures."
She put her head on his shoulder. "I am so tired. This has been a taxing day."
"I know, Babydoll." He kissed her on the forehead. "Go get the photos."
Perri went to her room and shuffled through the closet. It didn't take long for her to find it. She looked at it often. She held it close to her chest and went into the kitchen.
"Boys! Come sit at the kitchen table," she called.
The boys ran over and slid across the kitchen floor in their socks. They each took their seat at the table.
She opened the album and pushed it towards the kids. "Uncle Jake, is that you?" they asked together.
"It sure is. Your uncle and I have been friends since we were eight years old. We were known as the Four Musketeers. Your Uncle, me, Lewis, and Bodhi."
Jake looked at the pictures. "We thought we would always be close as brothers."
"Now you're kicking each other's butts in parking lots," Patrick said.
"We told you they were just goofing around," Perri said.
"Uncle Jake lost a tooth. Is that the story you want to stick to?"
"Wow. Uncle Holden was a little goofy looking," Bodhi said. "Look, it's Aunt Ashley's husband."
"He has a name. It's Lewis," Patrick said.
"Where's Bodhi?"
She flipped the pages until she reached the period when Bodhi had joined the Musketeers.
She tapped on the picture taken the first time he ever came over. It was of the four boys standing together with their arms around their shoulders. Holden was barely even able to reach Bohdi's.
"Holy cow! He really is a giant! How old was he?"
"Thirteen. He was five foot ten when we first met him."
"I was wrong. He's the goofy-looking one."
Jake and Perri looked at each other.
Oh, my dear boy. You are looking at your future. "I thought he was adorable," she said.
They looked at all the photos right up until the time Persephone got sick. Jake and Perri told them stories about the Musketeers and how Mom had a crush, and then they explained what a crush was.
She closed the album. "I'm hungry. Who wants to order a pizza?"
"Really? Order one? Yes!" Patrick said. "We never order pizza. Not that your pizza isn't good, Mom."
"Well, Mom is tired, and she wants some greasy comfort food."
The boys ate the pizza with smiles on their faces. Patrick was dancing in his seat.
"Mom, can you be tired more often?" Bodhi said, reaching for the last piece."
"Maybe I wanted the last piece, numbnuts."
"Boys, didn't I just say mom was tired? She doesn't need this."
Jake got up and went to the kitchen. He came back with the pizza wheel and a paper plate.
Jake picked up the last piece and put it on the plate. He handed Bodhi the wheel.
"You guys are going to split it. I'm going to let Bodhi cut it, and then you will both be able to enjoy the fruit of your mother's suffering."
"Uncle Jake, that is completely unfair."
"Bodhi is doing to cut it even. Right Bodazafa?"
"Oh, of course. Cross my heart." Bodhi rolled the cutter; you can tell he didn't have a 50/50 split.
"Great. Now Patrick gets to pick the piece he wants."
"What!" Bodhi was shocked and annoyed.
Patrick smiled an evil smile. He picked up the obviously larger one.
"Wow. That was shady, Uncle Jake."
After eating all the pizza, the boys bathed and went to bed. Bodhi asked if he could see Bodhi again. He wanted an autograph.
You have his DNA, which is worth more than an autograph. Jake thought.
Jake and Persephone sit on the couch. "So, what do you want to do now?" Jake asked.
"I have an idea." She climbed up