He Will Be Loved

"I'm going to move in with my lover at a house that is ten minutes away. You're moving to some island and taking my entire family with you...."

"Your leaving me......I have never had a big family, im just getting one, I cant have babies like I want to because im fucking sick....I was blessed with you and your leaving me...."

"Momma I can visit like every day if I want... at least once a week. If I need to talk to someone you're still gonna be the one I come to. But momma you can't just take my family away from me.... miss all the important things. If you leave now you'll miss my eighteenth birthday... miss all the stuff with the kids.... I just... I love you..."

Kevin was silent, tears falling from his cheeks and onto his hands.
"I-I don't want you to leave me...."
What would he do without Zac?

"This place is so crowded momma..." He sighed. "But now I don't think Quincy will let me leave..."

"If you wanna go, he can't stop you...." Kevin turned away.
Jr peeked into the room and hopped into his mothers lap.
"Momma, why are you crying?" He wiped the tears away with his small hands.
"Momma was just being a blind fool for four years baby, he just got a reality check, momma is fine." Kevin sniffled.

"Momma don't you do that to me." Zac frowned. "I'll stay okay? I didn't know that because I will live ten minutes away it means I don't love you." He rolled his eyes to himself.

"Go Zac, I would hate to force you to stay with your family." Kevin bit back more tears as Jr tried to make them stop.

"Momma, Aaron is my family too. I don't want to keep him away from his daddy. It isn't fair. He already didn't have a momma growing up and even though I'm younger than him imma try to fix that."

"So your taking my baby away....least Aaron had a fucking father, growing up I fucking had NOTHING, Daddy was fucking Lane and momma was so depressed he didnt get out of bed, I had to go to Dustin for the shit me and Jessie needed because im the big brother and its my fucking job. Im used to it so go Zac."

"Momma, for the first few years of Aaron's life, Quincy was still.... bad." He refused to say 'a monster.' "You have a family now. You have daddy, memaw, grampa, Jr and ME. Even if I move to Quincy's imma be over here a lot. But if you go to wherever that island is I'll never get to see you...."

"Zac, when someone moves out WE NEVER SEE THEM! Biddy is never around any more, we never see Dustin and Chris, Quinton or Matthew, none of it so you go. Im not sitting here and being miserable because your leaving me."

"That's because no one really knows Quinton and Matt well. Grampa doesn't want Memaw and Dustn around each other. You hate Biddy now anyways. But I'm your son..."

Jr looked at him.
"I thought you were Sydney's son? Isn't he momma?"
It was innocent, he wasn't meaning to hurt anyone.
"I guess so baby, he is leaving me."

"Love you squirt..." Zac smiled softly at his brother before running out of the room.

Jr hopped down and followed him.
"Bubba!!" He threw his arms around Zac's waist.

"Squirt, please.... not now." Zac sighed, his voice splintering. It stung a bit what Jr had said but it was the truth. But what hurt the most was how Kevin was just... not caring. He was just going to leave him. Take his whole family away..

"But bubba its my birthday...." Rick frowned, refusing to let go. "Your not allowed to leave on my birthday. Nope, no fighting either. So you and momma better hug and make up, its my birthday and that makes today awesome."

Zac turned around and gave him a teary smile. He picked him up and kissed his forehead. "Okay shrimp, I won't leave today. Your momma is the one who's being stubborn though." He pecked his cheek.

"OUR Momma is always stubborn like that, you should know by now." He nodded. "Momma takes his time to calm down. Im not moving away, you are, momma cant make me move."

"Baby you've been to Quincy's house. It isn't far away is it? And yes baby, momma can make you move."

"No! Momma cannot! I got memaw and grandpa on my side, and daddy! I win!" Rick shook his head.
"Did I do something bad to make you wanna leave bubba?"

"Oh, no baby, not at all." Zac sighed. "You know your... nephew Aaron right? Well it isn't fair to take his daddy away from him. And I'm just gettin old I guess." He winked. "I gotta grow up..." He wasn't old at all.

"But your my bubba....You gotta stay here and hide me when daddy is mad." Rick hugged him.

"Aw baby imma be over here a lot. I can even spend the night sometimes. Just, my stuff will be over at Quincy's house."