Chapter 16
Jessica
Jessica enjoyed talking to Alexander. She’s hoping by showing him these pictures it would make up for some time he lost. It’s not the same, and she knows it. There’s nothing she could do about that. She told him things the twins would say or do.
“This is priceless!” Alexander burst out laughing. “Please tell me that’s chocolate.”
“Afraid not.” Jessica forgot that picture was in this album. “He managed to get his diaper off, and smeared it all over the place.”
She’s able to laugh now about the crappiest day to be a parent. It was horrible at the time, but she is glad she took the picture.
“I cried the whole time I was cleaning that mess up.” She laughed.
“I can’t even imagine having to clean that up.” Alexander said.
Jessica got quiet for a moment. She didn’t want to ruin everything by telling him they are leaving Friday. Jessica felt bad enough as it is. So, she decided to keep it to herself for right now.
“Now I know all about the twins.” Alexander turned towards her. “What about you?”
“I already told you about me.” She answered. “What else is there? I work then I’m with the children.”
“So, you don’t have anyone back home?”
“No one other than my mother. I’m not sure how I’m going to explain Michael’s condition to her.”
“That’s easy, you can’t.” He answered simply.
“Why not?” Jessica was taken aback by his response. “I think she will notice when her grandson turns all furry, and suddenly walks on all fours.”
“We aren’t supposed to tell humans. The only reason you know is because of him. It’s not something we advertise.” He said.
“People know there are shifters out there. Albeit I don’t know where, but still. My mother won’t cause him harm.” Jessica isn’t too sure that is true but he didn’t need to know that. “Besides who would know if I told her or not?”
“Exactly my point. Who would know?” He worded the question as if her mother were a blabber mouth. “I don’t need or want government or military out here looking for him.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Jessica, you don’t understand. There is a whole other world within yours. The government has known about shifters way longer than they admit. There are also things out there the government has no clue exist. There are compounds set up for shifters. They are tagged and thrown in like cattle.” He explained. “I don’t want our children risked like that.”
He made perfectly good sense. She hates to admit but with her mother’s dislike of all animals, she would be a wild card.
“You’re right.” She sighed.
“I don’t like being right but it is the safest thing for the children.” Alexander set the photo album on the table and turned her way.
“I don’t know what I’m doing.” She admitted.
“It’s alright.” Alexander took her hands in his. “You have done great so far. Of course, it’s going to get much harder now that Michael is shifting. He will need a lot of room to run around.”
“I plan on looking for a new place when we get back.”
“Why not look for a place here?” Alexander suggested. “It will help for them to be near their dad. Don’t you think?”
“Yes, of course they need you.”
“That’s not what I asked.” Alexander didn’t seem the one to take no for an answer.
“We will see.” She hopes that will satisfy for right now.
“I’ll take it.” His answer surprised her. What surprises her more is that he starts rubbing her hand with his thumb. “I don’t want to miss any more time with them. I’ve missed enough.”
Jessica felt a little deflated. She thought for sure that he would say that he likes spending time with her too. Maybe she imagined the spark between them. His rubbing her hand is only a way of being sincere. As long as he is a great dad, she will accept it. She looked at the clock, then the baby monitor. The children must have been exhausted to stay asleep this long.
“I should probably get going.” Alexander stood up. “You should get some rest. I’ll swing by around 11:00 to pick you and the children up.”
“Okay,” Jessica didn’t mean to run him off. “I’ll have the twins ready by the time you get here.”
“Good night, Jessica.” Alexander kissed her hand before leaving out the front door.
His departure was so sudden that Jessica didn’t know what had happened. Shrugging her shoulders, she went to the front door to lock it behind him. When she returned to get the mugs off the coffee table, she noticed he didn’t even take the photo album with him. Thinking she will give it to him tomorrow, she put the mugs in the sink. Wondering what tomorrow will bring she took a quick shower, and went to bed.