Tempest in a Teacup Chapter Three
Unpacking the last of my boxes at the house I used to share with Taylor, the house he had originally offered to give me had I agreed to stay in Tulsa before I sigh feeling exhausted. The kids had been helping me all this week, a fucking week to get everything moved back up here from Georgia and then unpack it.
They probably would have helped me today as well but it was a school day for all of them except Willa who was in the playroom. I had decided to send them back once I knew for sure I was divorcing Taylor. I could raise five kids on my own but I wasn't sure about homeschooling them all anymore, especially not with a sixth being added to the mix in just eight months now.
Putting a hand on my stomach I smile to myself. A part of me is glad that Zac showed up in Georgia when he did otherwise I probably would have aborted the baby. I would have aborted our baby. "Mommy is wore out little man," I speak to my stomach. I am half convinced that I am having another son. "I should have called daddy to come help me but he promised he would tell that evil witch about you today."
Before I can say anything else though there is a knock at the door which causes me to raise an eyebrow. I wasn't expecting company. At least not yet. Has Zac told Bethany early and she dumped him? I kind of really hope she has dumped him. I could comfort him if she has. I could make him feel better like I always do.
When the knock comes again I stand from the couch and walk to the door which I open without even checking the peephole. I should have checked the peephole though because I am shocked to see Taylor standing on the porch next to River who has his head down as if he is ashamed.
"What's going on?" I ask moving aside so Taylor can come in with our son who he tells to go to his room while he has a talk with me. River obeys him of course though he still doesn't look up.
Once River isn't within earshot Taylor looks at me shaking his head, "He was acting out at school," he informs me before going into the kitchen like he still lives here.
I follow behind him putting a hand on my hip, "Acting out how?" I ask curiously knowing that it's unlike River to do that. He isn't our stubborn child. Okay well maybe he is but he has never acted out before.
"Apparently he kept mouthing off to the teacher," Taylor rolls his eyes as he walks over to the coffeemaker, turning it on. "Telling her he wasn't going to listen and you know the typical bratty shit kids do," Taylor said clearly sounding annoyed now. "They finally sent him to the office where he kept it up and eventually got himself suspended for three weeks. I'm sure if you had the phone plugged back in they would have called you instead of having to call the office."
Going silent I blush knowing I had forgot to do something, "Sorry," I tell him as I go to sit down at the kitchen table. "Did you ask River why he did that today?"
Taylor nods turning to me once he has a cup of coffee in his hands, "He says he wants to move in with me. That you and his uncle Zac are in love and he thinks that is wrong because how can mommy love uncle Zac."
I look down at his next words feeling horrible that River acted out because of that. "The kids saw us kiss in Georgia," I admit to Taylor. "Zac threw me in the pool and as payback I kissed him, pulling him in as well. I..I shouldn't have done it until we had decided how to tell the kids that we had both moved on."
"I knew about the kiss," Taylor reveals in between sips of his coffee. "River confessed that as well in the car. He says he hates his uncle Zac now."
Frowning when Taylor tells me River hates Zac I run a hand through my hair, "I'm sure in a few months River will be fine and back to admiring his uncle like he always has," I nod knowing that out of all of our kids it was River who had been closest to Zac but maybe that was bound to happen. Maybe it was fate stepping in where others had tampered with it.
"Maybe he won't," Taylor snaps back. "I mean it's not like Zac is his father," he said as he put an emphasis on the word father making me glare at him.
"He could be River's father," I note as I stand from the table. "Now if you excuse me I am going to go talk to my son," I snap back leaving Taylor sitting in the kitchen as I make my way down to the room that River shares with Ezra. "River?" I ask as I knock on the door.
Not getting a response from him I open the door shaking my head as I see River sitting on the bottom bunk, looking at a blank tv screen.
"You can't ignore me forever," I tell him as I go to sit down beside him. "Nor can you act out just because stuff at home makes you mad."
River looks up at me offering me a glare that I just offered Taylor though his glare reminds me so much of his father's that it's scary. "I want live with dad," he blurts out making me feel like I have been hit with a ton of bricks. "I don't want to be around you if you love uncle Zac."
"No one said I love uncle Zac," I frown though we both know Penny did and I can't deny that she was wrong. I do love Zac.
River continues to glare at me, his arms crossing on his chest, "Penny did after you kissed him," he threw in my face making me blush. "You used to kiss daddy and you loved him. Why wouldn't you kiss uncle Zac if you didn't love him?" he asked his glare fading just a bit to show the child underneath it.
"I did love your daddy when I kissed him," I lie before shrugging. "But sometimes people kiss without being in love," I sigh as I chew my lip. Maybe now isn't the time to tell him I love Zac. I should tell him once I know for sure that Zac is mine and not Bethany's. "Just because I kissed him doesn't mean I love him."
At that River goes silent, chewing on his bottom lip as if he is contemplating things. It's a habit I have noticed a lot in his father. "Promise?" he finally asks his expression softening even more. "Promise you don't love uncle Zac?"
"I promise," I lie again before pulling River into my side. I know it's not the first lie I have told but it hurts. It hurts to lie about not loving Zac to my own child, especially River. I hope when the truth does come out that he understands and can come to accept it. "Now I am going to have to ground you for what you did at school. That means no tv, video games or going to friend's houses," I warn him as I move away standing up from the bed. "Do you understand me?"
River nods his head in response to my words looking happier than he did when I first came in here. "I understand mom," he smiles before laying back on the bed.
I smile as well though it's nowhere near as big as his. Without saying another word I leave his room, heading back to the kitchen where I find Taylor now washing his cup at the sink. "I told him I don't love Zac. That should keep him happy for awhile."
"But you lied," Taylor reminds me as he turns to face me. "You do love Zac."
"I know," I smile feeling guilty for the lie. "But I had to do what was best for River right now," I shake my head not expecting Taylor to understand. He has never been able to understand what is best for anyone except himself. "Does Zac know about what happened today?"
Taylor crosses his arms leaning against the sink, "He would if he were in town," he smirks at me as I look at him curiously prompting him to go on. "He called Isaac and I in the middle of the night. Apparently he and Bethany are taking an impromptu trip to Kentucky."
Going silent at the revelation that Zac was with Bethany in Kentucky I shake my head, "He promised he was going to tell her about the baby tonight," I mutter feeling like I have been slapped hard.
"That's my brother for you," Taylor tells me as he moves away from the sink. "Always letting you down when you need him the most. Guess he got that from all his time with you," he chuckles which makes me turn and glare at the back of his head. If I had something to throw at it I would.
"It's my weekend with the kids this week," he replies not even looking back. "I want them at my place Friday at nine. I need to spend time with Kate and the baby but I should have them both gone at nine."
Not saying anything as Taylor left I just leaned against the sink still feeling upset that Zac had left town with Bethany. Reaching for the phone I quickly dialed Zac's cell phone knowing the thoughts crossing my mind were wrong but I had to do them. I had to do this to get Zac back here to Tulsa.
When I got his voice mail I rolled my eyes but started talking, "Hey babe it's me. I was just calling to say that I could really use you here right now. Morning sickness or should I say all day sickness has me tired and I just...I need help and I need you. C..could you please come over," I smiled knowing I couldn't let slip that I knew he was out of town. "I love you," I added hoping that would work.
After saying all of that I hung up smirking as I went into the living room again, sitting on the couch. Maybe I could use having Zac's baby to help me get him back as mine. To realize that Bethany was wrong for him.
Unpacking the last of my boxes at the house I used to share with Taylor, the house he had originally offered to give me had I agreed to stay in Tulsa before I sigh feeling exhausted. The kids had been helping me all this week, a fucking week to get everything moved back up here from Georgia and then unpack it.
They probably would have helped me today as well but it was a school day for all of them except Willa who was in the playroom. I had decided to send them back once I knew for sure I was divorcing Taylor. I could raise five kids on my own but I wasn't sure about homeschooling them all anymore, especially not with a sixth being added to the mix in just eight months now.
Putting a hand on my stomach I smile to myself. A part of me is glad that Zac showed up in Georgia when he did otherwise I probably would have aborted the baby. I would have aborted our baby. "Mommy is wore out little man," I speak to my stomach. I am half convinced that I am having another son. "I should have called daddy to come help me but he promised he would tell that evil witch about you today."
Before I can say anything else though there is a knock at the door which causes me to raise an eyebrow. I wasn't expecting company. At least not yet. Has Zac told Bethany early and she dumped him? I kind of really hope she has dumped him. I could comfort him if she has. I could make him feel better like I always do.
When the knock comes again I stand from the couch and walk to the door which I open without even checking the peephole. I should have checked the peephole though because I am shocked to see Taylor standing on the porch next to River who has his head down as if he is ashamed.
"What's going on?" I ask moving aside so Taylor can come in with our son who he tells to go to his room while he has a talk with me. River obeys him of course though he still doesn't look up.
Once River isn't within earshot Taylor looks at me shaking his head, "He was acting out at school," he informs me before going into the kitchen like he still lives here.
I follow behind him putting a hand on my hip, "Acting out how?" I ask curiously knowing that it's unlike River to do that. He isn't our stubborn child. Okay well maybe he is but he has never acted out before.
"Apparently he kept mouthing off to the teacher," Taylor rolls his eyes as he walks over to the coffeemaker, turning it on. "Telling her he wasn't going to listen and you know the typical bratty shit kids do," Taylor said clearly sounding annoyed now. "They finally sent him to the office where he kept it up and eventually got himself suspended for three weeks. I'm sure if you had the phone plugged back in they would have called you instead of having to call the office."
Going silent I blush knowing I had forgot to do something, "Sorry," I tell him as I go to sit down at the kitchen table. "Did you ask River why he did that today?"
Taylor nods turning to me once he has a cup of coffee in his hands, "He says he wants to move in with me. That you and his uncle Zac are in love and he thinks that is wrong because how can mommy love uncle Zac."
I look down at his next words feeling horrible that River acted out because of that. "The kids saw us kiss in Georgia," I admit to Taylor. "Zac threw me in the pool and as payback I kissed him, pulling him in as well. I..I shouldn't have done it until we had decided how to tell the kids that we had both moved on."
"I knew about the kiss," Taylor reveals in between sips of his coffee. "River confessed that as well in the car. He says he hates his uncle Zac now."
Frowning when Taylor tells me River hates Zac I run a hand through my hair, "I'm sure in a few months River will be fine and back to admiring his uncle like he always has," I nod knowing that out of all of our kids it was River who had been closest to Zac but maybe that was bound to happen. Maybe it was fate stepping in where others had tampered with it.
"Maybe he won't," Taylor snaps back. "I mean it's not like Zac is his father," he said as he put an emphasis on the word father making me glare at him.
"He could be River's father," I note as I stand from the table. "Now if you excuse me I am going to go talk to my son," I snap back leaving Taylor sitting in the kitchen as I make my way down to the room that River shares with Ezra. "River?" I ask as I knock on the door.
Not getting a response from him I open the door shaking my head as I see River sitting on the bottom bunk, looking at a blank tv screen.
"You can't ignore me forever," I tell him as I go to sit down beside him. "Nor can you act out just because stuff at home makes you mad."
River looks up at me offering me a glare that I just offered Taylor though his glare reminds me so much of his father's that it's scary. "I want live with dad," he blurts out making me feel like I have been hit with a ton of bricks. "I don't want to be around you if you love uncle Zac."
"No one said I love uncle Zac," I frown though we both know Penny did and I can't deny that she was wrong. I do love Zac.
River continues to glare at me, his arms crossing on his chest, "Penny did after you kissed him," he threw in my face making me blush. "You used to kiss daddy and you loved him. Why wouldn't you kiss uncle Zac if you didn't love him?" he asked his glare fading just a bit to show the child underneath it.
"I did love your daddy when I kissed him," I lie before shrugging. "But sometimes people kiss without being in love," I sigh as I chew my lip. Maybe now isn't the time to tell him I love Zac. I should tell him once I know for sure that Zac is mine and not Bethany's. "Just because I kissed him doesn't mean I love him."
At that River goes silent, chewing on his bottom lip as if he is contemplating things. It's a habit I have noticed a lot in his father. "Promise?" he finally asks his expression softening even more. "Promise you don't love uncle Zac?"
"I promise," I lie again before pulling River into my side. I know it's not the first lie I have told but it hurts. It hurts to lie about not loving Zac to my own child, especially River. I hope when the truth does come out that he understands and can come to accept it. "Now I am going to have to ground you for what you did at school. That means no tv, video games or going to friend's houses," I warn him as I move away standing up from the bed. "Do you understand me?"
River nods his head in response to my words looking happier than he did when I first came in here. "I understand mom," he smiles before laying back on the bed.
I smile as well though it's nowhere near as big as his. Without saying another word I leave his room, heading back to the kitchen where I find Taylor now washing his cup at the sink. "I told him I don't love Zac. That should keep him happy for awhile."
"But you lied," Taylor reminds me as he turns to face me. "You do love Zac."
"I know," I smile feeling guilty for the lie. "But I had to do what was best for River right now," I shake my head not expecting Taylor to understand. He has never been able to understand what is best for anyone except himself. "Does Zac know about what happened today?"
Taylor crosses his arms leaning against the sink, "He would if he were in town," he smirks at me as I look at him curiously prompting him to go on. "He called Isaac and I in the middle of the night. Apparently he and Bethany are taking an impromptu trip to Kentucky."
Going silent at the revelation that Zac was with Bethany in Kentucky I shake my head, "He promised he was going to tell her about the baby tonight," I mutter feeling like I have been slapped hard.
"That's my brother for you," Taylor tells me as he moves away from the sink. "Always letting you down when you need him the most. Guess he got that from all his time with you," he chuckles which makes me turn and glare at the back of his head. If I had something to throw at it I would.
"It's my weekend with the kids this week," he replies not even looking back. "I want them at my place Friday at nine. I need to spend time with Kate and the baby but I should have them both gone at nine."
Not saying anything as Taylor left I just leaned against the sink still feeling upset that Zac had left town with Bethany. Reaching for the phone I quickly dialed Zac's cell phone knowing the thoughts crossing my mind were wrong but I had to do them. I had to do this to get Zac back here to Tulsa.
When I got his voice mail I rolled my eyes but started talking, "Hey babe it's me. I was just calling to say that I could really use you here right now. Morning sickness or should I say all day sickness has me tired and I just...I need help and I need you. C..could you please come over," I smiled knowing I couldn't let slip that I knew he was out of town. "I love you," I added hoping that would work.
After saying all of that I hung up smirking as I went into the living room again, sitting on the couch. Maybe I could use having Zac's baby to help me get him back as mine. To realize that Bethany was wrong for him.
