“That lady sure is something else!”
Travis was currently doubled over with laughter. After I'd come back to the office, I filled him in on what had happened on the way home including the full story of what Betty had done to Rob when she paid him a visit.
“Yeah, I wouldn't ever want to cross her. Now I'm hoping Willow comes through for me and manages to get her nan to hold off making me any thank you presents. Thank you cookies to be more precise.”
“Were those the cookies that you used to prop up the wonky table at your Aunt's before you fixed it?” Travis inquired. I could still hear laughter in his voice. I'm glad he found this whole situation funny.
“Got it in one. Least they came in useful for something, right?”
They'd indeed come in useful; stopping that end table of my aunt’s from rocking every time I put a drink down on it.
“I can't wait to tell her how useful you found her baking,” he baited me.
I looked him square in the eye. “You tell her anything of the sort and I'll tell her that you want to take private baking lessons. I saw her look you over. I can guarantee Betty would be more than happy to show you her skills,” I threatened him. I could see him gulp nervously. I'd gotten to him, there would be no more teasing coming from him about Betty again. Score one for me.
“So, Willow is a hottie.” Travis changed the subject quickly obviously wanting to direct the flow of conversation away from Betty.
“Can't say I've really noticed.” I tried to bluff him but the look he threw me said more than his words ever could. He knew I was bullshitting him. Willow was an absolute stunner. Wavy dark brown almost black hair that just reached her shoulders and framed a heart shaped face but it was her eyes that got me. Right from the first time I met her. I could get lost in those beautiful big green eyes. You could see her emotions play through them, they were that expressive.
Her body was banging too, small in height but all woman everywhere else. She's a man’s walking, talking, breathing wet dream. If she wasn't going through so much shit with her husband I'd have definitely made a move on her. As it stood, I was just going to have to admire her from afar. She'd far too much baggage to deal with without me getting involved, but damn her eyes, her body and her take no shit attitude had me going hard every time I thought of her.
“Not even going there, Trav. You saw what went down today. Yeah I ain't stepping into that drama.” Again I tried to bluff him. Again he saw straight through me.
“Whatever, man. All I'm saying is a woman like that won't be single for long.”
The thought of another man going near her made my blood boil. No man would be good enough for her. If and when she decided to date, the only man she ever would be dating would be me. She also better stick to her word and save me from more of those horrendous cookies her nan had baked for me. Those things would kill a man.
“Move in with me! There's enough room here. Be nice to have some noise in this house after all the years of silence.” Nan was trying her best to talk me into spending some time here while Rob and I sold the house. I couldn't live there anymore, not after I'd witnessed him having sex on the table. Last night was bad enough and that was only the one time, eventually living there would throw me over the edge. I needed a fresh start, somewhere he hadn't tainted with his infidelity.
“Nan, are you sure? Once I find somewhere else, then the kids and I will be out of your hair.”
“Willow, you, Nate, and Kaylee are always welcome here. This is just as much your home as it is mine. Why don't you go home, pack some things for you all to last a few days, and we can take it from there. If after that time you decide this isn't what you want, then we can look into other options but I think this is the best scenario for now. I agree that you need to leave that house. New you, new life, new house, new start.” Nan took my hand in hers and wiped a stray tear that had fallen with her free hand.
We were both still standing in her hallway, the conversation about my future started as soon as I had walked back in.
“What will I tell the kids, Nan? This is going to break their hearts.” My watery gaze met her strong determined one.
“Then we will get them through this rough patch together, as an unbreakable, unstoppable team. You and those great grandchildren of mine will come out of this stronger and happier than ever, you will see. Now go pack, you have a little time before having to pick them from school. I’ll see you all in a little while.”
Nodding my head in agreement, she let go of my hands and all but shoved me out of the door.
“Ok, I won't be long. I’ll make you a nice dinner to say thank you. You cannot even imagine how much this means to me today and everything you have ever done for me over the years. I don't know how I will ever repay you.” I started to get emotional again but Nan quickly stopped that.
“Actually, there is a way you could repay me, Wills.”
I notice the mischievous look on her face and I dread asking the next question. “What do you have in mind?”
“Can you make cookies? I can't cook for shit and I owe Jesse a batch. Last time I made such a mess I honestly don't know why he said he liked them, personally I thought they were god damn awful.”
I honestly have no words for her so I pulled the door shut on my crazy nan and got into my car, headed back in the direction of my house. Part one of my new life was just about to start.
“Kaylee, grab your blankie, please,” I asked her as I pulled the suitcases out of the trunk of my car. I had quickly rushed around the house packing the essentials for now, but I knew I'd have to go back soon though.
Once Rob had a few days to get over what Nan had done to him today, I'd give him a call to discuss putting the house up for sale. Hopefully like me, he would think that was a good idea.
“Why are we staying with Nana, Mom?” Nate asked as he came around the car to help me. Handing him his small suitcase I tried my best to give him a smile. I knew these questions were going to come eventually but it still didn't make it any easier.
“Once we are inside and settled I will answer any questions, Nate, but for now will you just help me get these things inside?”
Nate didn't say anything else instead grabbing the handle to one of the larger suitcases and started pulling it toward the front door of Nan’s house, his smaller suitcase still in his other hand. Kaylee started running beside him, her smaller legs trying to keep up with his longer ones.
“Here goes everything,” I muttered to myself as I followed behind them.
Asking the kids to come upstairs to unpack with me, I explained to them that Nate would have the smaller room for himself but Kaylee would share the twin room with me for now. I tried to make it sound like we were on one big adventure.
Kaylee had been excited but Nate kept quiet, knowing that obviously something had gone on for us to be staying with Nan.
After throwing together a quick meal of pasta and garlic bread which was eaten in relative silence, I decided that now was as good a time as any to explain the situation to them. Getting up from the table I called both of them into the living room with me, asking them to sit down so we could all talk.
“So, your Dad and I have decided that for now we need some time away from each other. He still loves you as much as I do and will see you both, but us adults just need some time apart. We won't be living at our house for awhile. Instead we will be keeping your nana company.”
I looked over to Nan sitting in her usual reclining chair to see if what I'd been saying was good enough. She gave me a slight smile and a small nod of her head in encouragement.
“You two getting a divorce?” Nate asked me seriously. He was sitting with his sister, his arm slung around her shoulders in a protective way. I loved how he always tried to shield his sister from anything that might upset her but it broke my heart that he was doing it because of something I was telling them.
“Not for the time being, honey.” I smiled, hoping that answer would satisfy him for now.
“What about after, mama? Do you and daddy not love each other anymore?” Kaylee piped up. “Are you going to be like Jenna's mama and daddy? She says they fight all the time and her daddy doesn't come to see her much anymore. I want to always see my Daddy, Mama. I love him.” Her green eyes started to fill with tears. I went to move off the sofa to comfort her but Nate pulled her closer to him, throwing me a look that upset me more than walking in on Rob had.
I looked over to my nan again, my heart in pieces. My cheating husband had caused all this but I was the one that the kids were going to hate. I was the one they were going to blame for splitting up their family.
“Your Daddy still loves you, baby. You’ll still see him all the time. I promise you,” I implored, trying to make her believe what I was saying. I just hoped that Rob wouldn't make me look like a liar, causing our little girl's heart to break even more.
“Come on, Kay. Let's go watch some cartoons in my room.” Nate helped her up off the sofa, her little body still quietly shaking with her sobs.
“Nate.” I tried to get him to look at me but he just carried on walking and both of them left the room.
“They blame me, Nan. I’ve broken their hearts and changed their lives. They’re going to hate me forever for this.” My voice sounded strangled as the sobs tore free from my mouth.
Nan was up out of her chair and had me in her embrace within moments. “Nonsense, child. They have just been told something upsetting. Let them have some time alone and we will go from there. Please don't ever think that they will hate you. You're their mother, they will always love you, remember that. You didn't ask for any of this to happen, you are as innocent in all this as those children are.”
Although her words did bring me some comfort, I still couldn't help but feel guilty about the whole situation.