My Son My Conqueror Pt. 01 by Estcher,Estcher

Desmond’s face shifted, and I recognised the look. The honest, sincere, and serious man that dwelled inside his head and made rare appearances and usually only to me. I knew every expression on his face and how his mind worked. He would say one thing and I would know what he really meant. “I’m happiest when I’m with you, mom. Why would I ever leave that?”

I had no words to say. He was being sincere. He rose and poured another cup of coffee and disappeared around the corner to bring Leanne her cup.

I fought off the tears. I was ruining my son’s life. Trapping him in a false utopia. I was a horrible selfish mother.

A little while later, Desmond and Leanne appeared together. She had showered and looked fresh. I heated up the meat and started to make pancakes when I first heard the shower shut off and when they entered the kitchen, I had the first pancakes off the griddle.

Leanne smiled at me and wished me a good morning. I watched her sit at the table and saw the slight wince on her face as she sat. I smiled to myself, proud of my son.

I served breakfast and sat with them as they ate.

Leanne kept looking at me. “Aren’t you going to eat, Miss Smith?”

“Jessica. Please. No. I never eat in the morning.”

Desmond nodded while chewing. “It’s true. Never. Makes me eat though.”

“The way to a man’s heart is through their stomach,” I quoted and then realised what that truly meant and blushed.

Leanne looked at me and then Desmond. She kept eating putting away a remarkable amount of food for someone so slim. She must have noticed me staring because she stopped eating.

“I’m sorry, I never get breakfast at home. Not like this! Usually my mom just gets pop-tarts.”

“Oh dear,” I said. “Well eat up! There’s lots. Desmond can eat a whole pound of bacon by himself.”

“Pig,” mumbled Leanne around a mouthful of pancakes.

Desmond smiled and stole a piece of bacon off her plate and shoved it into his mouth, grinning and flashing his greasy teeth at her.

“Oh, you’re gonna get it!” she said, her eyes aglow.

“Promises, promises,” muttered Desmond, swallowing.

“Next time you want a blow job see where that gets you!” she cackled and then threw a hand over her mouth and snapped her head to stare at me in shock. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!”

Desmond had his mouth open in surprise and then turned his head slowly to look at me.

I laughed. “See? I always told you there were consequences, Desmond.”

Leanne looked sideways at Desmond and then back to me.

“Relax, you two. I was your age once. Based on last night I would suspect its nothing new between you.”

Right away I was mortified. I shouldn’t have said anything. Now they knew I had heard them last night. With Leanne pretending to be me with my son. I faked a smile and sipped my barely warm coffee.

Desmond and she shared a look. I pretended not to notice and rose to get more coffee. My hands were shaking.

“You heard us last night, mom?” asked Desmond quietly to my back.

I refilled my cup and turned around, calming my face. I sipped the coffee. “I got a glass of water. I could kind of hear you. Don’t worry about it. Like I said, I was your age once. Just use protection, okay? I don’t want grandchildren.”

Leanne and Desmond shared another look before Desmond spoke again. “I’m sorry, mom. I hope you didn’t hear anything you didn’t want to hear.”

“Nope.”

“Okay. Sorry. We’ll be quieter.”

“Thanks.”

I could see through the kitchen table that Leanne was gripping Desmond’s thigh tightly, her knuckles white. People always forgot the table was see through. She was warning him.

“You kids have any plans today?”

They shook their heads.

“I’m going into the market, I think. I want to pick up some tomatoes to make sauces. Can I trust you two alone? Leanne, your mother was quite concerned with you sleeping over at a boy’s place, as she put it. It was only having me around that relaxed her. Can I trust you two?”

Leanne let go of Desmond’s leg. “Yeah, sure Miss Smith.”

“Jessica, please.”

“Jessica, sorry. You’re pretty cool, Jessica. Thank you.”

“My pleasure. Desmond, can you clean up?”

He nodded.

* * *

An hour later I pulled into the market, finding a parking spot up close. I grabbed my shopping bag and locked up my car out of habit. In small towns like these you don’t need to lock anything up other than the stores.