My Heart Was Wounded Deep
Chapter 32's

Rey buried her head in both hands. It's crazy, why he reacted so harshly to Devan, but Devan just wanted to be nice.

When his phone rang again, Rey was so sure it was Devan and answered without seeing the caller's name. "Hey, I'm sorry. I'm just very confused at the moment" he said, but it wasn't Devan who called this time.

"What's the talk of you?"

Rey took a quick breath when she recognized her son's voice. "Hey, Jas.why not go to school?"

"I was at school. It's resting."

"Then what's up?"

"I just checked the schedule. I have a Wednesday game."

"What time?"

"Around three in the afternoon." Answer Jason.

"I'll watch, as usual."

After a moment of hesitation, Jason said, "Will papa still visit mom like you said at breakfast?"

Recalling his conversation with Devan, Rey knew he had to keep his distance. If Kikan can walk to Devan's house back and forth, then he's fine. But since no one would visit him, and Kikan had no phone in case he needed help, Rey became anxious. Nothing can stop Logan from coming to Kikan's house and causing more chaos. "Yes, it seems like after lunch, why?"

"Will papa tell mom? About match? I sent him a message on Facebook, but I'm not sure mom will read it."

Rey lowered her head while putting both elbows on her knees.

"Did papa hear me? Because I have to immediately end the call. The bell rings soon."

"I'll tell him" Rey said.

"How much should I charge if I buy you a cell phone?" ask Jason.

"You're not old enough to buy anyone a cell phone."

"We can include mom in your plan."

Rey shook her head. His world is getting crazy. "He won't even if we offer."

"Why not?"

"He's a very independent person."

"But that's good, right?"

When Jason says that, Rey is aware of Kikan's independence and strength, his determination to fight back without having to lean on anyone, is part of what makes him interested in the woman. Rey doubts if she has ever met someone so resilient as Kikan. "Yes, that's good."

"Tell mom that I can pick her up if she needs to be picked up."

"You won't have time to pick her up, but I'll ask her if she'll ride with me."

"I'd love it if Mom would come. I hope I can play well."

"Hopefully" said Rey, then they ended the call.

Kikan is far more capable of seizing his son's heart than Rey expected. And it made her feel guilty not trying to get Jason close to her mother long ago.

...*************...

...***...

When Rey arrives at Kikan's trailer, the woman's face is without makeup, her hair is tied back, and she's wearing those ugly oversize shorts.

"Hi." Kikan held onto the door, but his eyes immediately turned into a watchful gaze that he seemed to keep for Rey, as if the new venomous snake Rey had slipped within a distance ready to attack.

Rey holds out the sandwich she bought for Kikan on her way here. "Lunch" he said.

When Kikan refused to accept it, Rey snatched. "Eat your lunch, therefore I give it to you."

"Rey I don't want to be constantly brought food by you. I can't take it."

Kikan pointed and then towards the kitchen. I have canned food." Kikan.

The one he bought with Devan, but Kikan doesn't know that. "That's better, how's your head?" ask Rey.

Finally, after receiving the food bag. Kikan got out of the way when Rey came in, they seemed forbidden to make physical contact. "Good, like getting a new head." Answer Kikan.

Maybe the pain was gone, but the bruises seemed more real, Kikan looked as if he had just been beaten.

"You're battered."

"I'll be healed."

The smell of the new paint smelled, and Rey saw light brown patches on Kikan's clothes and hair. "What are you painting?"

Kikan pointed to the bedroom at the end, the room he had planned as Jason's room. Of course he'll take the time to style Jason's room before the others.

Rey imagines all the money Kikan has sent over the years, and the cards and letters to Jason. Jason gets the best of whatever Kikan has. Rey once chose to view it as a utilisation effort, but now she is beginning to understand that it is how Kikan seeks to be close to their son.

"How's it progressing?"

Kikan frowned. "I'm not a good painter, and that paint has been around long enough. Someone gave it to my mom a few months ago. Honestly, I'm not sure the paint will stick, but I decided to try."

"Let's see"

Kikan. "It's okay. Not finished."

Rey stepped into the bedroom. Kikan followed and stood behind him as Rey observed Kikan's work. "Have you stirred it?" ask Rey.

"Best thing I can."

The paint needs to be stirred more strongly. "You're trying to do all this on your own?"

"It took more time, but I tried to be careful. "

Kikan's work is not bad, considering he may have never painted a room, but Rey has painted it very often. And it can do better in just a few hours.

Rey remembered the roll of tape she had brought in the car just in case there was something she had to cover quickly, and was tempted to offer it to Kikan. But if Kikan had been suspicious of the sandwich he was carrying, the woman would not have been grateful if Rey interfered in his latest activities.

"It's so bad, huh?" kikan said when Rey did not comment.

"It will be good too." Rey turned her back towards Kikan. "Is the pain in your head gone?"

"Most of all."

"And you didn't hear from Logan?"

"No. Is that why you came here? You didn't say anything to her, did you?"

"I came to report Logan's actions to the police. They said they'd handle the matter."

"It won't change the way you want it if the cop says the wrong thing. You know Logan's a badass."

"We have to start from there. Or we'll look like searchers because of it."

Kikan's eyes showed concern. "There's no us. This has nothing to do with you, I've been trying to remind you."

Kikan had also told Devan not to recognize him in public. Kikan knew he was considered a poison.

"Another reason I came is because of Jason. He asked me to tell you that he's going to have a Wednesday game at three."

Kikan did not seem as happy as Rey had originally imagined.

"You want to come, don't you?"

"Of course, but... I hope some of my bruises are gone, otherwise I will attract a lot of attention. Even from people who don't know that I'm an ex-convict."

"Former inmates or not, you're prettier than most other women" Rey said. "I'm not worried about that."

Kikan looks more in disbelief than flattered. "I can wait for the next game, but I'd love to see Jason play, so maybe I'll find a hat, which can hide my stitch bandages."