“Do you think you can handle all of the kids? I mean Maddy’s five but DJ and Craig Junior are only two and one.”
“Yes! I’m a pretty good hands on dad you know. Just ask Karen.”
“Ask me what?” Karen walked into the kitchen too.
“It seems I’ve got to prove to my baby sister that I can handle all of the kids. You can go ahead and tell her right now what a fantastic father I am.”
Karen giggled and thought to herself that Jenny always seemed to know how to rattle Craig and he fell for it every time.
“Um…he’s…” Her voice trailed off.
Craig grabbed his wife by the waist and kissed her hard on the lips.
Breathlessly she responded, “He’s fantastic.”
Jenny rolled her eyes, “Alright already with all of that. Take them. Take them out and have a great time.”
Karen smiled, “I’ll go with them too just to make sure they don’t bury him in the sand.”
“How come nobody told us the party was in the kitchen.” Tim and Tasha walked into the kitchen hand in hand.
Craig spoke jokingly, “We tried but we can’t seem to get you both out of your room long enough to tell you.”
Everybody laughed because it was partially true.
“Well, I have to make sure my wife is getting her proper rest.”
Jenny spoke, “Rest…right. When I was five months pregnant that was right around the stage I couldn’t get enough of…..” Jenny looked down at the kids who were watching intently “rest. You’re absolutely right.”
Everybody laughed again. Karen chimed in “Me either. Craig and I rested a lot!”
Tasha was so embarrassed but she joined in on the laughter too.
Tim absently rubbed her stomach. He’d hoped this day would come. However, there were times he wasn’t so sure that it would but he was going to be a father with the woman he loved.And, finally, he’d be able to contribute to Jenny’s kids having more cousins to play with.
Maddy pulled Craig’s leg, “Uncle Craig let’s go.”
Craig, Karen, and the kids headed outside for some fun.
Jenny sat down at the kitchen table not knowing what to do with herself. A little bit of sadness crept into her eyes.
Tim noticed it immediately. So, did Tasha. He’d already explained to Tasha that he wanted to talk to Jenny alone to see how she was really handling the divorce. She thought it best to give them a minute.
“I left something upstairs. I’ll be right back.”
Once Tasha had gone, Tim sat down at the table with Jenny.
“How are you doing? I mean really?”
Jenny exhaled, “I’m taking it one day at a time. But, everyday I’m getting stronger. Daniel definitely doesn’t try to make things any easier though.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I’ll take care of that.”
“No. Don’t. He’s still the father of my children. You know after all he’s put me through I still hate to see him struggling. You know he’d blown through his inheritance and was never really able to hold onto a job. So, it’s a big adjustment for him.”
“Good. I don’t care if he’s homeless on the street and you shouldn’t either.”
“Hmm…well Maddy and DJ adore him. I’m not to the point yet that I don’t care and not sure I ever really will be. But, I’m moving on. I don’t deserve what he dished out. I’ve been talking to a therapist trying to figure out why I allowed him to treat me like shit. But, if I ever see that slut-bucket Sabrina in the streets, I can’t be responsible for my actions.”
“I’m just glad we’re divorced. She ended up taking the two million dollar settlement. What she didn’t know was I would have paid ten times that much to protect Tasha. Anyway, have you found any answers?”
She shrugged “Not yet. The only thing I can think of is Daniel tapped into something I was missing. Something I need. But, I promise you, before I enter into my next relationship, I’ll figure it out. I don’t ever want to go through what I went through with him again.”
Tim reached out and held her hand “We won’t let you. You and the kids mean too much to us for that.”
“Thank you for always being here for me and Craig and for always supporting us. Mostly, thank you for making sure I wasn’t the only woman on these family vacations anymore. Tasha is good for you. I can see the love in her eyes. Take care of each other. I love you.”
He kissed his baby sister on the cheek, “I will and I love you too.
*****
Tasha decided to come back upstairs to rest for a bit while Jenny and Tim talked. A smile crept upon her face because lately with Tim, all she did was eat, sleep, and make love. But, she’d never been happier.
She received a ping on her cell phone. Someone sent her a text message. After grabbing her phone she read the message.
I know your birthday is tomorrow but I just wanted to make sure I said happy birthday. And, congratulations on the baby.
Sabrina
It was the first communication she’d had with Sabrina in almost two years. Even with everything they’d gone through…it warmed her heart to hear from her.
Tim came upstairs into the bedroom.
“That’s a pretty big smile on your face Mrs. Horne.”
“It’s not nearly big enough to express how happy I am Mr. Horne.”
Tim pulled her into a loving embrace and kissed her breathless.
