coyote-friedman-blog

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Does anyone else want to take Kami and shake her a little bit until she realizes that Coyote is bad news? Because I do.

I’ve only got one thing to say to her:

@nurse-al-damiri

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“I never knew if she told you anything about Ladon, I sent her things a few times a year, but we never really talked, I didn’t even know you were still in the area. I’m glad she talked to you, I always hoped you had some idea of what we were up to, and that you’d know where to find us if you wanted to come back.”

Kami shrugged, “My father always told me to “Do the best you can with what you have,” and that’s what I did.  I worked hard to build this life because Ladon deserved to grow up in a stable home, I’ve done everything I could to make that happen for him.  Everything I do is for him.”  She stared him down, looking for a sign that he was lying, but finding none, “I can help you find something, you’re a smart guy, someone will want you.”

She’d been asked that question about once a week since Ladon was born, and she was surprised it had taken him this long to bring it up.  “I had a rough delivery, I was in labor for 36 hours and I really wasn’t getting anywhere and I was so exhausted they had to do an emergency C-section.  I don’t remember much after that, but I do remember that Ladon’s first cry sounded like what I imagined a dragon would sound like, so I picked a name that meant dragon.  I know it’s unusual, but I like it, it’s not too out there and he doesn’t have to share it with almost anyone, it suits him.”

“If I’m honest, I never really talked to  her much either, and she mostly wanted to have something to hold over my head, you know what she’s like, she always has to be a victim.  She complains to me about this grandchild she knows nothing about, but then gets in contact with you and makes no effort to try and get to know him.” Coyote rolled his eyes and ran his thumb over the knuckles of her hand, “I’ve always kept tabs on you, Lah, I didn’t step up when I should have, but I kept an eye out, if I’d seen something before now that made me think you needed me, if I’d realized how much I needed you, I would have come back sooner.” 

“Your father was a good man, I was sorry to hear that he’d passed, but I didn’t think you’d want to see me that day, so I stayed away, but I’m sure it was hard for you.  My father passed right around the time Ladon was born and I was surprised how hard it was, we weren’t close and I knew he was dying, but it bothered me a lot, I can’t imagine how you and Ladon much have felt.  He hasn’t said much, but I got the feeling they were close and he’s still probably hurting quite a bit.”

Hearing her talk about her pregnancy filled him with guilt, which surprised him, he hadn’t felt anything resembling that emotion in a long time, but it sounded like she had suffered a lot, and he should have been there for her, and he had to say so.  “I’m sorry, Kamilah, I truly am.  I should have been there with you, holding your hand, making sure you knew you were going to be alright, helping you pick the name, I should have been there, and I wouldn’t blame you if you never forgave me for leaving when I did, but I hope you can.” 

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@nurse-al-damiri

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@nurse-al-damiri

“...I'm a bad boy, 'cause I don't even miss her I'm a bad boy for breakin' her heart...”

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who did this guy think he was, talking about his sister like that? “i think you better watch what you’re saying about my family and t’s family.” thor says sternly, giving coyote a look. he wasn’t below taking a swing at the guy if he didn’t stop shit talking the people he loved. “i do, but i’m not telling you anything without kami’s permission. it’s not my information to hand out.”

“Alright big guy, watch your blood pressure, I’m not here to ruffle any feathers, I just want to see my girl again and get to know my boy.”  He exhaled a large cloud of smoke and narrowed his eyes a bit, “You’re not holding out on me because you’ve got some sort of interest in her, are you?  Because I know Kami and she’s not really into the whole “Hulk Smash” type, she likes a little brain with her brawn, you can understand that, can’t you? I wouldn’t waste your time, now that I’m back, she’s going to be covered in that department.” 

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Coyote didn’t like this coffee shop, everyone was happy and they all wanted to chat and be friendly.  Some people were into that sort of thing, but it wasn’t for him, he preferred to get his coffee and get on with his day, but Kami was working nights again and had just gone to bed, their son was out with his friends and he needed to look for a job, so here he was, trying to find somewhere to sit when he heard the young woman’s voice, he briefly considered just leaving, but decided he had a better chance of staying on task if he was in public somewhere, so he took the seat, “Thanks,” he said, “I didn’t expect this place to be so busy on a Sunday morning, but I guess I don’t know what else people would do, I haven’t been here long enough to know what people get up to.”  He unfolded the classifieds page of the newspaper, trying to find something in the list of available jobs that appealed to him, but not seeing anything, “Can I ask, what do you do?  I’m a retired lawyer, but my girlfriend says I need a job here and everything I can find just sounds...tedious.”

it was a typical afternoon for penelope. sat in her corner table with her cup of coffee at cuppa joes as she graded her students papers. she seriously questioned how some of these kids were going to pass cause they were clearly taking these quizzes and tests as a joke. she sighed and took a sip of her coffee. she saw someone looking to find a seat. “you can sit over here if you’d like? i don’t bite.” she said quietly.

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“So your shack was more like a condo or a home? Or are you less making a murder type and more like Batman, in the rich broody sense and not in the like dead parents way.” She says with a shrug before allowing herself to lean against the wall. “Well, those are the best story. I mean everyone knows what regular poor folk are doing. Why not here about the rich are doing?” Tony huffs a bit crossing her arms. “Oh, I can tell. I mean, you are banking that a teenage… that hasn’t had a father his entire life will have the emotional intelligence to make the decision of whether or not he wants you in his life. And he’d be meeting for the first time too. But, I mean it seems like your baby mother okay’d your ambush, I hope not but this conversation has taken by surprise at every ” The woman faces scrunches up a bit, “I mean who am I to judge. This is why I can’t have kids, this shit could be like my future.”

“More like a penthouse, or two, technically we owned the top two floors our building back then.  I went to a boarding school though, so I didn’t spend much time there, though the school was in Atlanta, so it’s not like I needed to live away from home, but I still did.  That is where I met Kami though, she was friends with my younger half-sister, so I can’t really complain all that much, she was gorgeous, and probably still is.  Anyway, I haven’t spoken to her since she was still pregnant, so no matter what I do to them, it’s going to be an ambush, I thought starting with him seemed like a good way to get in with her, since she is potentially still angry with me.  In all honesty though, if you don’t want to have kids, it’s good know that, because I didn’t want them, but my partner did and now we’re in this mess, but I’m trying to be decent about it, even if it is a little late.”

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“i’m pretty sure you don’t get a say if you’re not in the picture.” thoren points out, giving the man a look. who did he think he was, insulting ladon and kami the way that he was? “uh, yeah. my sister’s marrying kami’s brother. and honestly, i wouldn’t just drop in on them like this.”

“That’s fair, and it doesn’t seem to have slowed him down any, plus my name is Coyote, I don’t really have a leg to stand on there.”  Coyote brushed off the look the other man gave him, “Huh, the last I heard her brother was still living in Egypt, what’s he doing back here?  I never met him, but Kami was always going on about how great he was, so good for your sister I guess, I hope she’s ready to be a live-in nurse.”  Coyote had no love for Kami’s family, he knew they didn’t like him and weren’t likely to change their minds, so he had no interest in them or what they were doing.  “I guess you’re right, I do need to see her though, you don’t know where she lives, do you?” 

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Kami had wanted to clear things up with Coyote since he arrived, but the timing had never been right.  She had a million questions for him, but she had to talk to Ladon before she moved forward, as this affected him just as much as it did her.  She wasn’t sure what his thoughts would be, but he’d been curious about his father for a while now, and he wanted to get to know Coyote.  Once she had his approval, she had to decide what it was she wanted; she knew what her father would say, he’d tell her to really listen to her instincts, that should could trust them, but she wanted to be with him, no matter what her gut told her, and that, combined with years of loneliness overpowered her better judgement.

“You broke my heart,” she said quietly, “I just wanted us to have a family and you threw me out in the middle of the night.  I had Ladon without your help, I calmed every nightmare, soothed every fever, paid for every basketball camp…I don’t need you, and neither does he.”  It was the truth, she didn’t need him, but she wanted him.  “But I love you, Coyote, I’ve always loved you in one way or another, and if you can promise me that you’re going to be different this time, then I’m going to agree that our family deserves a chance, but this is it.  I’m not doing this again, not to myself and definitely not to Ladon, if you leave again, you stay gone and I never want to hear from you again.”

Though she wasn’t entirely sure she was making the right call, she felt more confident this time around.  “There are going to be some rules if you’re going to stay.  First of all, you  need to get a job.  I know you’re retired, but I’m paying all the bills around here and if you’re staying, I’m going to need some help.  Also, I’m going back to work soon and I work overnights, so you’re going to need to be available to help with Ladon at night, plus you have to go to any games I can’t get to, drive him places, hang out with him, you have to do normal dad stuff.  Can you handle that?”

Coyote had been expecting Kami to take him back, she had never been strong when it came to him, but he hadn’t expected her conditions.  They were reasonable, of course, but this was a side of her he’d never seen before and he liked her with a backbone, as long as she still made him a priority.  In that moment, he realized that she was actually a very good mother, willing to open herself up to pain and heartache just so her son could get to know his father.  He still knew he would have been a terrible father to an infant or a child, but a teenager at least had a personality and could carry on a conversation, so he didn’t mind spending time with Ladon, if that was what she wanted. 

“I’ve always loved you too, Lah, I thought about the two of you every day, I just didn’t have the strength to face you after what I’d done, so I stayed away.  My mother kept me updated as much as she could, but when I heard about the accident I knew I had to see you in person, to be there for you, and you did need me, for a few days at least.  You’re right though, you did good without me, you built a whole life in this place, not the one you would have had with me, but a respectable life, and that’s great, but you shouldn’t have had to do it.  I have no intention of going anywhere or doing anything to hurt you again, you have my work, and I accept your conditions.  I’m sure I’ll be able to find some work here, I’m not interested in going back into law, but something will come to me.”

He reached across the table and took her hand, “For now though, we need to celebrate.  We’re together again, you’re back to being healthy, and Ladon’s team is killing it out there, this is a special night.”  After a brief pause, he added one more thing, “Speaking of Ladon, where in the hell did you come up with that name?”

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“ladon’s your son?” that was…news. thor wasn’t really sure if it was news he was supposed to know as someone who was close to the al-damiri’s, but the guy clearly thought he was talking to a stranger and not kami’s future brother in law. “i think maybe you should speak to kami before walking up and introducing yourself. a heads up might be nice.” 

“Yeah.  I’ve never been entirely thrilled with the name she picked, but I guess when you break up with your kid’s mother, you’re not allowed to stop her from naming them something stupid, I don’t know what I would have picked, but it wouldn’t have been that.  Do you know them? I’d love to know what I’m walking into, I haven’t spoken to Kami in a long time, who knows what she’s like these days?  You’re probably right though, I’ve heard people don’t like it when you just walk up to their kids unsolicited.”

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“I think I’d enjoy that. You seem like a making murder type guy… like you lived on farm with one horse or something,” she huffs out the joke without a smile. “You know-” Tony pauses a bit before erupting in laughter before continuing; before waving hand in front of her face before calming down to speak. “Disinterest?” She says to herself for a moment shaking her head. “You legit just said the ball is in the court of teenage boy that is going to meet his father for the first time. I know I shouldn’t be laughing or anything but you have to see the comedy in that. I mean, if you don’t then you got to go to see someone or something.”

“Thank you.  I think.  I’m really not that type, I’ve lived in Atlanta my whole life, my father was a lawyer, my mother somehow manages to continue to be a trophy wife despite him being dead for 15 years.  It was your average, boring rich kid lifestyle, nothing all that exciting, unfortunately, not a great story.”  He shook his head, “I don’t know anything about teenage boys, it’s been a while since I was one, but he’s 15 or something like that, that’s old enough to decide what he wants, if he wants to get to know me, I’ll be around, if not...neither of us is out anything, so it really doesn’t matter, does it?” 

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“You have some big fucking balls, old man.” Gyda said stepping forward a bit more threatening before feeling a hand on her arm grow tighter, of course it was Viggo holding her back with Jilly on his shoulders. It only made sense for him to stop her and not someone else. She scowled back at her older brother before looking back at Coyote and shaking her head, “you’re not worth it.” She said jerking out of her brother’s grip. “I don’t want to know you, but I know a snake in the grass when I see one and I swear to you right now if you hurt either of them you won’t have to worry about anyone but me. Got it?”

“Really? Old man?”  As much fun as Coyote was having tormenting this woman, he knew better than to continue antagonizing her, he needed to avoid actively pissing off members of Kami’s family, moreso than he already did.  He glanced at the man and the little girl who were trying to pull her away, “Well, unfortunately, I think if you’re marry Kami’s brother, and I’m going to be part of her life now, we’re not going to have much choice, are we?  I’m not going to hurt them, they’re my family, I made a mistake before, but I here to make up for it, and that would be a lot easier without some random woman attacking me for trying to speak to my own son, so maybe back off.  Got it?”

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They needed to talk and Coyote knew he couldn’t avoid it forever, as much as he wanted to.  He had gotten to town at a time when Kami was vulnerable and he jumped in to take care of her when she needed him to, but now that she was back on her feet, she was clearly growing suspicious of his motives and he needed to assure her that things would be fine if he stuck around.  He’d slowly started to bond with Ladon, they shared a love of basketball and had gone on a few early morning runs together, so that was going well, but it wasn’t enough, he needed to win Kami over if he was going to stay

Since she was feeling better, Coyote offered to take her out to dinner so they could discuss what they were going to do and where they were going to go from there, and she agreed. In the spirit of impressing her, he got a haircut and dressed up for her a little, she was so beautiful, he barely remembered why he’d forced her to leave, was being a father really that terrible?  Now that he saw what he’d missed out on, he finally started to feel guilty and he was worried that he might have made a huge mistake all those years ago.

Once they were seated at a table and he’d ordered them a bottle of wine, he got straight down to it.  “Kami, I know there’s nothing I can say to make up for what I did all those years ago.  I was selfish, I was immature and I hurt you and I deprived Ladon of a father, none of that is forgivable and if you tell me to leave, I’ll go, but I’d really like to stay and try to make our family work. “

@nurse-al-damiri

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Though he’d initially been unimpressed with the small town, he preferred Atlanta, where he’d grown up, he had to admit that it was growing on him.  He was staying his ex-girlfriend’s guest room and getting to know his 15 year old son for the first time, and this was peaceful place to settle down, if that was what was to happen here.  He’d been out for a run with Ladon, who’d met some friends in the park and they’d split off, Coyote heading back to the house when she stopped him and he froze as she commanded.  “Perfect, huh? That is usually what people call me, but I think I’m a little too old for traditional modeling, wouldn’t you say?”

Since moving into the small town in Georgia Chana had been out every day exploring. It felt nice to not be followed by the paparazzi for once. She was actually free to just walk around without someone snapping a photo. Camera in hand, she smiled at her subject not caring that they were a stranger. “Don’t move!” Taking a shot, she lowered her camera. “There. Now that was perfect.”

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“No, I’d rather the father that walked on him stay gone because he doesn’t need you around now. Unfortunately his rearing years are long gone and I’m pretty sure Ladon could care less about meeting you or letting you in now. I know if I was in his shoes I sure as hell wouldn’t want the dad that left me back around.” Her arms crossed over her chest and she nodded, “Wow, you are too dense for words. I’m marrying Kami’s brother you conceited asshole. She’s done more than a great job. She’s juggled all of it on her own without any help from you and she doesn’t need your help now.” She couldn’t even believe how much he was degrading Kami as he stood there talking to her. “No, it’s not up to me. It’s up to Ladon. I just hope he doesn’t fall for your low down greasy tricks. You try to weasel your way in all you want but I doubt very highly that you’ll win this one.”

He had to admit, that caught his attention, “Kami’s brother is still alive?  The way she talked about him I expected he’d be long gone, well good for him, I’m genuinely glad to hear that he’s alright, I know she loved him a lot.”  Coyote was fully aware of Kami’s potential, he’d seen it in her when they’d met, she was smart and beautiful, not to mention exceptionally kind, but she lacked confidence and it was through that he’d been able to win her over and mold her into his perfect partner, but when she got pregnant, when something in her life could mean more to her than him, that was when she had to go, but she could still fill that role for him, now that some time had passed and the kid wasn’t likely to need her as much.  “Look, sweetheart, you don’t know me, there’s no tricks, I’m not going to sit in a dark corner, stroking a white cat like a super villain, I’m just a man who wants to meet his son, I don’t know why it bothers you so much, but if you find it that upsetting, why don’t you let me live my life, and you go on and do whatever it is that you do.  This is not your business.”

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“That’s a pretty short story to me,” Tony remarks to herself with a slight shrug. There is that feeling of contempt that she knew she would feel after to hearing exactly what she thought she was hear. Tony knew what it was like to not have a dad or at least one that left at the sight of responsibility and it made her blood boil. She eyes a bit before clearing her throat a bit, “So why did you leave your kid? If you don’t mind me asking. I mean I know why you left your baby mother or whatever but why didn’t you uh- look for your kid? Just asking as a fellow daddy-less child.”

“Well, those were just the highlights, I’d be happy to sit back and tell you my whole life story, but that hardly seems relevant.”  The truth was, Coyote didn’t care about being a parent, he hadn’t cared back then and he didn’t care very much right now, though seeing the boy did pique his interest enough to want to at least talk to him a little, it seemed like a better idea to get in with the kid before trying to win over his mother.  He thought about his answer for a moment, “Disinterest, mostly.  I had both of my parents growing up, but my father never had any interest in me, he maybe said 10 words to me my entire life.  I never wanted to be a father and when it happened, I figured the kid would be better off without me than with being forced to live with someone who really didn’t care what he was doing.  Time has changed my mind a bit and as soon as I realized I’d like to get to know him...well, here I am, at the end of the day, the ball is in his court, so to speak, if he’s not interested, then I’ll move on.”

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Xander had stepped outside of the game to take a phone call, and was now just replying to a few texts when he heard someone speak up. “I don’t usually come to games, it’s just that my friend’s kid is playing so I said I’d come and show some support.” The man explained, flashing the other a smile. “23? That’s Ladon, isn’t it?” he asked, a small laugh falling from his lips. “That’s actually who I’ve come to watch.”

“This is my first one, I didn’t expect it to be so entertaining, but I guess they’ve got to do something to break up monotony around here.”  Coyote exhaled, this man presented an opportunity, if he was a friend of Kamilah’s, then he might be able to get some information on her current situation and figure out his best plan of attack from there. “It is, I’ve never been entirely sold on that name, but it doesn’t seem to have slowed him down any.  You’re friends with his mother then, since I’ve never met you before...how’s she doing? I haven’t seen her yet, but I’m hoping to catch up with her again soon.”