carrying Kinley. This one didn’t make her sick near as much, this one seemed to be growing faster¸ and this one sat right on her bladder. Alexis lived in the bathroom, but not from being sick. This one had to be a boy.
Cory continued his dick-wad personality, not talking to Alexis unless he had to. The girls were the resilient ones. They seemed to adjust to their new lives just fine. Alexis did okay too. Her dad was right. Slowly but surely, it was passing. She was even starting to fall asleep without the tears. As long as she kept her mind on something else she was fine, usually. The thought of having a little boy and Cory not being there weighed heavy on her mind. Thinking about the baby was the nights the tears seemed to come and so she did the only think she knew to do. She didn’t think about the baby. She focused on Riki’s surprise and her upcoming birthday instead.
The sofa had become a permanent part of her life. She didn’t want to sleep in the same bed she shared with Cory. Sometimes when the sofa hurt her back, she slept in the downstairs bedroom, but mostly stayed on the couch. That night was no different. The girls were both home where they belonged and Alexis was as content as she could be. Mr. Dog laid on the floor beside her and they watched a very suspenseful Life Time movie. The buzzing text message from her phone always made her heart stop. This time was no different, only it wasn’t him. It was hardly ever him.
Bernie—All set. Paige is working with the new girl tomorrow. Are you meeting me at the studio?
Alexis—I love this new girl. She’s so good with the kids.
Bernie—Yeah, next time we’ll just let Paige do the hiring. She’s way better at picking them. Oh, we have to pick the cake up from Katie by ten on Saturday. She’s going away.
Alexis—We can do that. Sam is keeping them while we go decorate. Just come here in the morning. I have to wait for the air-conditioning guy. You can stay here while I run the girls over to Sam.
Bernie—What’s wrong with your air?
Alexis—Nothing, it’s for the attic. I’ll show you tomorrow.
Bernie—Oh brother…
Alexis—LOL you’re going to love it.
Alexis frowned at the new text message. It said Cory, not Bernie. Her heart did that stopping thing and she sat up.
Cory—What time should I be at the farm?
Alexis—I’m surprised you’re coming at all. You might have to see me.
Cory—What time?
Alexis—The party with her friends is at two and then the family is coming at four. You can wait until four if you want. Up to you.
Cory—I will be there at four.
“Whatever,” Alexis said out loud while her phone clunked to the table behind her head. Her thumb twisted the ring on her finger and her eyes went to the diamond. It was stupid to keep wearing it. Her fingers snatched the round band and she made it just past the knuckle, before sliding it back on. GAH! She couldn’t do it. As stupid as it was, she wasn’t ready for that yet.
Bernie showed up right at breakfast. That may have been planned. Kinley reached her little hands up and Bernie took her from her seat.
“Bernie, I’m trying to get her to eat.”
“She wanted me.”
“She wants everyone, doesn’t she, Riki?”
“It’s my birthday today.” That was her answer. She didn’t care about Kinley. It was her birthday.
“I know. How old are you again, thirty-five?” Bernie teased.
“Noooo, just five.”
Bernie gasped and covered her mouth. “That means you have to go to school soon.”
“Uh-uh, and I’m going to ride the school bus with Emily.”
“That’s sounds like fun. Lex, you’re showing.”
“I am not!”
“You are. You need to tell him.”
“Showing what, Lexis?” Nosy Riki questioned.
“I’m going to show Aunt Bernie your surprise as soon as you eat your breakfast.”
“Show me too.”
“Nope, not until tomorrow. Eat up.”
Riki growled with an excited smile and took a bite of her oatmeal. “I bet it’s a pony.”
Alexis
Cory continued his dick-wad personality, not talking to Alexis unless he had to. The girls were the resilient ones. They seemed to adjust to their new lives just fine. Alexis did okay too. Her dad was right. Slowly but surely, it was passing. She was even starting to fall asleep without the tears. As long as she kept her mind on something else she was fine, usually. The thought of having a little boy and Cory not being there weighed heavy on her mind. Thinking about the baby was the nights the tears seemed to come and so she did the only think she knew to do. She didn’t think about the baby. She focused on Riki’s surprise and her upcoming birthday instead.
The sofa had become a permanent part of her life. She didn’t want to sleep in the same bed she shared with Cory. Sometimes when the sofa hurt her back, she slept in the downstairs bedroom, but mostly stayed on the couch. That night was no different. The girls were both home where they belonged and Alexis was as content as she could be. Mr. Dog laid on the floor beside her and they watched a very suspenseful Life Time movie. The buzzing text message from her phone always made her heart stop. This time was no different, only it wasn’t him. It was hardly ever him.
Bernie—All set. Paige is working with the new girl tomorrow. Are you meeting me at the studio?
Alexis—I love this new girl. She’s so good with the kids.
Bernie—Yeah, next time we’ll just let Paige do the hiring. She’s way better at picking them. Oh, we have to pick the cake up from Katie by ten on Saturday. She’s going away.
Alexis—We can do that. Sam is keeping them while we go decorate. Just come here in the morning. I have to wait for the air-conditioning guy. You can stay here while I run the girls over to Sam.
Bernie—What’s wrong with your air?
Alexis—Nothing, it’s for the attic. I’ll show you tomorrow.
Bernie—Oh brother…
Alexis—LOL you’re going to love it.
Alexis frowned at the new text message. It said Cory, not Bernie. Her heart did that stopping thing and she sat up.
Cory—What time should I be at the farm?
Alexis—I’m surprised you’re coming at all. You might have to see me.
Cory—What time?
Alexis—The party with her friends is at two and then the family is coming at four. You can wait until four if you want. Up to you.
Cory—I will be there at four.
“Whatever,” Alexis said out loud while her phone clunked to the table behind her head. Her thumb twisted the ring on her finger and her eyes went to the diamond. It was stupid to keep wearing it. Her fingers snatched the round band and she made it just past the knuckle, before sliding it back on. GAH! She couldn’t do it. As stupid as it was, she wasn’t ready for that yet.
Bernie showed up right at breakfast. That may have been planned. Kinley reached her little hands up and Bernie took her from her seat.
“Bernie, I’m trying to get her to eat.”
“She wanted me.”
“She wants everyone, doesn’t she, Riki?”
“It’s my birthday today.” That was her answer. She didn’t care about Kinley. It was her birthday.
“I know. How old are you again, thirty-five?” Bernie teased.
“Noooo, just five.”
Bernie gasped and covered her mouth. “That means you have to go to school soon.”
“Uh-uh, and I’m going to ride the school bus with Emily.”
“That’s sounds like fun. Lex, you’re showing.”
“I am not!”
“You are. You need to tell him.”
“Showing what, Lexis?” Nosy Riki questioned.
“I’m going to show Aunt Bernie your surprise as soon as you eat your breakfast.”
“Show me too.”
“Nope, not until tomorrow. Eat up.”
Riki growled with an excited smile and took a bite of her oatmeal. “I bet it’s a pony.”
Alexis
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