Second Chances Five

In the weeks that followed I worked hard during the day, picking the boys up from Susan's in the evenings and then driving home to fix a meal for them. I wasn't use to cooking after working all day and burned many of our meals. How did Julie manage to keep everything from burning?

There were always dirty dishes in the sink now. The stove needed cleaning and there was dirt on the floor. As the weeks past and I got further and further behind I gained a new appreciation of all that she did to keep the house running smoothly.

I was tired of quick foods. Hot dogs three times a week, Julie would have been mortified. Everything I cooked was from boxes or cans. The boys were tired of soup. I was tired of cereal and macaroni and cheese.

When Susan invited us to eat with them late in the month I hastily accepted. It had been so long since I had eaten a meal that wasn't burnt or from a box. I was desperate for some real food.

It wasn't until I was sitting at the table with the family that I was reminded of my promise to Julie. The meal was wonderful, not a burnt spot anywhere and I hungrily woofed it down unaware of the desperation in which I was eating until the boys started giggling.

Intent on my meal I raised up to see what they were giggling at. Everyone was watching me. Looking around the table I realized that my plate was the only one that was empty and it started out the fullest. My face felt as hot as a molten piece of iron.

Matthias chuckled, “Someone else's cooking is always better then our own.”

Only partially relieved I nodded. Funny thing is, as good as the food was I can't remember what I was eating. Maybe if I hadn't eaten it like one starved I would remember more.

I was more than aware of Susan watching me. It was awkward. I knew Julie was right and I did need help, but to give in to her so soon, when the boys stilled cried for her in their sleep every night was a nightmare I just couldn't shake.

I knew our boys loved Susan, as they dressed in excitement each morning and chattered insistently about her on the drive over, but they missed their mom. I missed her. Who was I kidding? I wasn't ready to date again. I wasn't ready to love deeply again and a relationship based on convenience just seemed all wrong, promise or not.

Add to all this the knowing look Matthias kept giving me and its no wonder I don't remember what I ate. What I do remember is the excitement about halfway through the meal when Matthew's dog opened the door and came flying down the hall into the kitchen hunting the voices he heard from outside.

Those voices, now shrill, and excited, cut through my head like a ax. Stunned I watched Mark and Jason knock their chairs over in a rush to get to him. Before they could reach the dog he turned to run back down the hallway, tail wildly wagging and knocking over a broom and potted plant. The boys followed in his destruction, slipping and sliding through the mess of potting soil leaving a smeared and muddy mess from the kitchen to the outside door. The door slammed and the house was silent.

In the sudden quiet the ticking of the clock from another room sounded abnormally loud, then it was drowned out by William's wails from his highchair.

“Want down, down, down, down!”

His voice grew louder and louder as he struggled to get down. Before I could reach him he had knocked his plate from the table. It hit the floor and green peas rolled to the wall. Then I slipped, grabbing the nearest thing to me, the tablecloth. You can guess the rest. I'm sure that I won't get another meal invitation from the family.

Thinking back if it hadn't been such a disaster it would have been funny. I'm sure I went down like a ton of bricks. I know I hit the floor hard enough to make William stop crying. His eyes were huge in his tear splotched face and he stuck his hand in his mouth. It was such a look of surprise that I started to laugh. I was laughing so hard that I neglected to hear the screen door slam so it was a shock to have the dog crash across me on his way around the table.

He gave a yelp then hit the floor nose first, landing in Williams plate. His yelp turned into a greedy slurping as he vacuumed up the spilled food, tracking down each and every pea. When not a bite was left he turned and gave me a most pitiful look. That was when I became aware of the raised voices. Then the dog was grabbed by the collar and drug, protesting all the way, back outside. It was definitely a night to be remembered.

Author's Note

Probably a little more due on this, but it's close to complete. Does the transition in this work so far?

Reviews

[A.Lee]

Haha, I like this chapter! I think it's working great, you're doing an excellent job. You portray your emotions so vividly. I really like the fact that you were able to bring me near tears in the beginning and give me hope in the middle and make me laugh in this chapter. Great work. I like the way the progression is going. Can't wait to see more.