Tree Huggers, Children and Broken Decoys

about raising children and you are too old to learn now, and don't give me any shit about not being quite forty yet. You know oil, Junior, not diapers.

'We need to make a run to the grocery before we run out of diapers and baby formula. You want to make the list or do you want me to do it?'

'Um…' Junior noticed that the kid she was holding had just spit up on her jeans.

'I'll do it and stop bouncing her like that, it's what makes her spit up.'

'Ok. Could you hold her a minute while I use the phone?'

'Sure but don't take too long, we have to go to the store.'

Junior handed Kristen over and walked out of the room in a daze. That kid, Bailey had been calling the shots since she had walked into her house and Junior needed to take a break. Sitting behind the desk in her study, Junior dialed Maria's number.

'Hello, Junior, how's it going?'

'I hate caller id. Listen to me Maria, I know this is some sort of joke you are pulling on me and I would like it to stop now. I have baby spit up on my pants, and some weirdly mature kid making me a grocery list. There isn't anyone else that wants them?'

'Do you really want Susan's sister taking them? The last I heard she had five of her own and they were all living in a trailer.'

'You are full of shit and your pool will be full of frogs before week's end for getting me into this hell.'

'Junior, I did not leave you three children.'

'No, you didn't, but I have a sinking feeling you talked her into this. Didn't you?'

'My doorbells ringing, Junior, I have to hang up.' Junior looked at the phone like it was going to come alive and tell her what to do next. But it wasn't the phone talking; it was Bailey at the door telling her it was time to go to the grocery store.

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'How did it go today?'

'I am so not cut out for this.'

'Avery, honey, you are going to be great. Just give yourself a chance. When it gets bad just think about what those children are going through and the fact you are all they have left.' Jillian had waited until nine before calling. It was either call or drive over to the address Junior had given her.

'I missed you today.' For some strange reason Junior wanted more than anything to start crying. Good lord, it's worse than I thought. Junior, you usually make other people cry.

'That's why I'm calling you.' Jillian's voice sounded so soothing after listening to crying and baby talk all day.

'Because I missed you?' Junior didn't see the eye roll at her question from Jillian. On her end Jillian was thinking that Junior, for as good-looking and confident as she looked, was really just a nerd.

'No, silly, because I missed you too.'

'That's sweet of you to say. I changed a diaper today.' Jillian wanted to hold the laugh in but couldn't quite manage. 'There's something I thought I would never tell a woman I'm trying to date.'

'You are already dating me, Avery. It's time to move into the wooing and courting stage, honey.'

'I wouldn't call an afternoon of listening to my father and rowing, a date.'

'That was our second date. The first was you telling me about the stars. You did such an admirable job, it's what made me want to see you again.'

'And the reason you kissed me, is?'

'Marking my territory, Avery. I wouldn't want some other girl fining you big bucks and having it turn your head. Could I call you back in about ten minutes?'

'Sure, I'm just lying here trying to recover from today. I'm not sure how it happened but I have three other people under my roof and they are planning to stay.'

'Hang up, Avery, and I'll call you right back.'

True to her word the phone rang ten minutes later waking Junior out of a light sleep. When she picked up the receiver Jillian instructed her to go to the front door.

'Hi, I didn't want to ring the bell and wake anyone up.' Junior found Jillian standing on her doorstep wearing a robe and slippers.

'Don't take this as a complaint, but what are you doing here?'

'I thought you could use this.' Jillian stepped in and wrapped her arms around her tired looking friend and just held on. Bailey walked in and found them in front of the door just holding each other.

'Junior?'

'Hey, Bailey, this is my friend Jillian. Jillian, this is Bailey. Is there something wrong?'

'Would it be ok if I left the light on in the hall? You turned it off and my little sister's afraid of the dark.' Junior was about to answer her when Jillian took over.

'How about you and me go turn it back on and then get you back to bed?' When the child nodded her head and held up her hand, Jillian followed her to the back of the house. Junior stood in the doorway of the room she had put all the kids in, listening to Jillian tell the child a story. The sun going down had not only brought out the stars, but also the fears Bailey had held at bay all day. The businesswoman watched as Bailey's eyes fluttered shut to the soothing tones of Jillian's voice. Be careful, Junior, you could fall in love with a woman like this.

The little girl relaxed to the fingers combing through her hair making her think of her mother. Junior was nice, but she was so different than her mom but this woman sitting with her wasn't. 'Do you think Junior will make us go away because my daddy didn't like her?'

'No, sweetheart, I don't. Avery is going to make sure the three of you are taken care of. Do you miss your daddy?'

'He didn't come home very often, and he and my mom fought a lot. His joke was that they had made up three times and that's where we came from. I'm not sure what that meant, but it made him laugh. My mom told me about Junior though.'

'Yeah, what did she say?'

'I always thought Junior was a fish, cause she would say Junior was the one that got away.' Jillian laughed at the child's recounting of her conversations with her mother. 'Do you like Junior?'

'I like Avery very much.'

'Why do you call her that?'

'Because Avery is Junior's name. I'll tell you a funny story about how she got her name.' Jillian recounted the story Junior had told her minus the drinking Avery Sr. had done. When she was done her audience that had been afraid of the dark was fast asleep.

'Thanks.' Both Avery and Jillian stood in the doorway of the guest bedroom and looked at the three peaceful children sleeping inside.

'That is one beautiful little girl in there, Avery.'

'It would seem that my brother and his wife did at least three things right before they had to depart.'

'And your dad and mom did one that I know of.' Jillian curled up next to Junior on the couch and kissed her. It felt great after the day she had experienced in the office to have the big body pull her in and just hold her. Her partner Tony had given her nothing but grief all day when he found out what company Jillian was going to work for. Jillian found the strong heartbeat under her ear so relaxing, she closed her eyes promising herself it was only for a moment.

There were two things that pulled Junior out of a sound sleep. One was lying on top of her on the couch and the other one was the small finger that was poking her on the forehead. When she tried to turn her head away, the little finger moved to her ear and that's when she discovered it was wet.

'Gooba.' Gray eyes were right by hers when Junior opened her eyes and it startled her until she could remember where she was.

'Good morning to you, Emmett. I can see I'll have to go shopping today to buy you some sort of pen.' Jillian laughed from her spot turning her head to look at one of the other of Junior's inheritance. 'Don't laugh, he broke three of my prized antique duck decoys yesterday.'

'Tell me you didn't threaten to take it out of his allowance?' Jillian picked up the chubby little boy and walked back into the room she had gone to with Bailey the night before. She picked up a diaper and put the little boy on the bed to change him. Below her on the floor, Bailey and her little sister were still sleeping but the sun streaming in from the window would soon change that.

'You want me to take over?' Junior walked in once everyone's diaper had been changed and Jillian was pulling out something for Bailey to wear. I wonder if my eyes will just roll back into my head permanently if we end up together? Jillian brought her eyes back front and center and looked at Bailey.

'No, honey, I think we have it under control. Don't we, Bailey?' The little girl smiled up at her and nodded thinking the day was starting out better than the one before it.

'I brought you some coffee.' Junior held up a mug for Jillian to take a sip. I wonder if it's too early in the relationship to ask her to move in? 'Don't you have to go to work?'

'Not unless you need me to go in and do something. My boss said