Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight. Stephanie Meyers does. Hope I don't piss her off with what I have done with the characters.
Yet another Monday. I looked at the clock for at least the 10th time and sadly realized that only 20 minutes had passed.
"Stop looking at me!" was shouted followed by the sound of a hand meeting a cheek.
"Dammit!" I muttered under my breath. "They so do not pay me enough for this!"
I ran over to where the 2 boys are fighting and pull them apart from each other. "Alright. Carter, Justin that is enough. What happened this time? Carter you talk first since James is the one with the hand print on his cheek"
"I WAS DIGGING FOR ….."
"Carter, stop yelling in my face. I am not yelling at you, so please show me the same respect and don't yell in mine"
After 5 minutes of figuring out what was wrong and sorting it all out the boys ran off as fast friends forgetting that they hated each other.
"I am telling you Bella you have more patience for these kids than a saint would!" my co-teacher Angela said. "I don't know how you do it. You have a kid at home and yet you can come and work at a daycare for 40 hours a week. When was the last time you went out with a guy? And by that I mean on a date without your daughter?"
I looked at Angela and wondered the same thing. I thought back and I can't honestly remember the last time it happened. "Depressing as it sounds, I can't remember! I don't feel like I can ask Charlie to watch Beth. He already is doing so much for us by letting us live with him again. I don't want to burden him anymore than I have to."
"Burden him? Bella, you cook a meal every night. Not to mention cleaning the house and doing all of the laundry. It's like you have 2 full time jobs. You are here with Beth by 6:15 every morning and I am guessing with everything you do, you are not in bed by 11. You need to take some time for yourself! Look me, Ben, Jessica, and Mike are going to a club in PA on Friday. Ask Charlie if he can watch Beth overnight so you can come with us. You need this!"
"We'll see Angela. It sounds like fun. I used to love going out I just never felt okay doing it after I had Beth."
"Well now is the time to live a little bit Ms. Swan! You are coming with us if I have to beg Charlie myself! Come on, let's get these guys inside for lunch. I don't know about you but I am hoping that they fall asleep quick!"
I laugh along with Angela while rounding up our class of 4 and 5 year olds. Today is one of the rare sunny days here in Forks so we were making the most of it getting the kids outside. We got them inside and lunch in them in a quick manner and got settled in for nap. During my break, I sat with my computer and made sure all my bills were paid and started planning the menu at home for the week.
Monday's were Beth's favorite. When I got off work, I would pick here up from her class and she and I would go to the grocery store. At 3, she thought she was a big girl by being able to push her own little cart around the store and putting things in it. Usually it is slow enough in the store where I can giver her money and she can "buy" her own food.
Charlie and I had this unspoken agreement. He would pay for all of the food as long as I cooked some good meals with it. Before Beth and I moved in with him, all he would do was eat at the smalle Diner here in town or have some cereal. After his doctor told him that he needed to eat healthier he tried to cook, but failed horribly. We have scorch marks over the stove to prove it and a brand new microwave. He was more than happy to hand over the cooking to me when we moved in.
Finally 3:30 came around and I said goodbye to Angela after she reminded me again to talk to Charlie about Friday night. I went to Beth's classroom to pick her up and she ran over to me carrying a picture the she had colored.
"Mommy, Mommy look! I drew a picture of our family! There's you. There's me. And there's Papa!" she exclaimed. "Is it time to go home? Are we going to the store? I wanna get fruit snacks!"
Beth was talking a mile a minute and it took me a minute to catch up with what she was saying and asking. "Peanut that is a beautiful picture! You colored it so nicely. It is time to leave here and yes, we are going to the store. We need to stock up on our food for the week. As for the fruit snacks, we will see. I am not sure we have enough for them today, but I will try to get them for you." I waved to her teacher and we walked out to the parking lot to my car. When I first lived with Charlie in high school, I had this beat up red truck, but when I had Beth I had to trade it in for a used Honda. When I got it I missed my truck. I loved that thing so much, but when you have a baby and no back seat it causes a few issues.
Beth climbed in and started to buckle herself in. Independence has really kicked in with her the past month or so. It started with buckling herself in the car seat and its evolved to picking out her own clothes, brushing her own hair, brushing her own teeth, even picking out my clothes for the day. Amazingly enough what she picks out matches and works perfectly for the day that we will have. I have no clue where this fashion side of her came from considering I am a jean and a t-shirt girl.
We pull into the supermarket parking lot and climb out of the car. "I'm sorry Peanut. It looks like it is busy today. You are going to have to ride in the cart with Mommy. But I will still let you grab some of the stuff. That would be a big help."
"Okay Mommy. I like being your helper!" Beth bounced up and down looking forward to being my helper. We walk in, grab our cart and start heading for the fruit and veggies. I am lucky that I don't have a picky eater for a child. She seems to always be growing and will eat anything in front of her.
"Alright sweetie. Let's have a look at our list. It says that we need some oranges, apples, and a pineapple. We are going to make a fruit salad for Papa to take to work to snack on." I let her out of the cart and tell her to grab 5 of each of the apples and the oranges. After that she climbs back into the cart to continue our shopping. After 30 minutes we have enough food for the week plus a little extra for some snacks. Once we pay, we head back home and begin to unload and put everything away.
I start gathering the things that I need for our fish bake. It's Charlie's favorite and I want to butter him up for asking about Friday night. While I am chopping away at the veggies that go with it Beth walks into the kitchen looking puzzled.
"What's up buttercup?"
"Mommy, is Papa your Daddy?"
"Yes sweetie. He is. Why do you ask?"
"Well, while we were coloring pictures of our families Jenny started talking about how her and her daddy going to the zoo on Saturday. Mommy, where is my Daddy?"
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Flashes of James came flooding in and I quickly pushed them away. "Sweetie, sometimes Mommies and Daddies just can't be together. Your daddy and I found that we were happy when we were apart. I didn't want you to be sad, so you and me came to live with Papa. I wanted us to be happy and we are here. This is the best place for us. Besides, you have your Papa. Does Jenny's daddy ever take her and her mommy fishing? Your Papa loves you sooooooooooooooooo much! And so do I!" I silently prayed that that explanation would be enough for her. I really didn't want to get into that conversation right now. Or ever if I have to.
"Okay Mommy. I am going to go color a picture for Papa to take to work!" and off she ran to her little desk in the living room.
"Crisis averted!" I muttered to myself getting back to getting dinner ready.
By the time Charlie came home, dinner was just coming out of the oven. He waked in, took off his gun belt making sure his gun was unloaded and locking it up in the gun case in the hall closet. That was the first thing that he bought when he found out Beth and I were going to move home. He was so scared that a little 4 month old baby could get a gun and shoot herself that he went out and bought it. I remember laughing at the time, but became extremely happy when she started crawling.
"Smells good Bells. What are we having tonight?"
"Fish bake with steamed veggies. I also make a chocolate cake for dessert. I figured you could afford to splurge. You have behaved yourself lately.
"Hardy har har! Beth, your mom is a regular joker." Beth then climbed up in his lap and told him about her day. She was talking so fast I don't think Charlie caught half of it. He just sat there with a grin, nodding his head and smiling. Charlie is a man of few words and he does not show affection very often, but Beth managed to inch past that tough shell that no one else managed to. Charlie loves Beth, it's plain to see. The guys at the station rib him about it whenever we visit, but Charlie just brushes it off.
After dinner it's bath and bed time for Beth. That is always an adventure. Bath time can last up to an hour if I let her. Then it is pajama time and running down for Charlie to brush her hair and read her a story. Thankfully she does not fight bedtime. Have I mention how awesome my kid is?
When Beth is in bed, I clean up the kitchen and make my way into the living room with a Vitamin R for Charlie. He is watching some sports game and hardly looks up when I walk in. I give him the beer and sit down on the couch and act like I am enjoying the game. Sometime later I am shaken awake by Charlie and I sit up quickly.
"Actually Charlie I have a question for you. What is your schedule for Friday night and Saturday morning?"
"Well I get off at 4 on Friday and I don't have to go in until noon on Saturday. What's up?"
"Angela has asked if I want to go out on Friday night with her and Ben and Jessica and Mike. The only problem is it's in Port Angeles and we would end up staying the night there. I was wondering if it would be alright if I went. If I did, I was wondering if you could watch Beth for me. I know it's a lot of work. I would have dinner ready for you and her pajamas all ready to go along with her clothes for Saturday. Shoot, I forgot about breakfast. Maybe I shouldn't go. I have never been away from Beth. You don't need the added stress of her. I know she can be a handful. You know what. Never mind. Forget I asked. It's a stupid idea anyway. Who has ever heard of a mom going out dancing. I have other things I can do with my time. The yard needs mowed and I think the flower pots need weeding. Not to mention the laundry that needs to get done. You are going to be almost out of uniform shirts by then. I will just stay." I spat out all in one breath.
"Whoa. Slow down there Bells. You are going to give yourself a heart attack. Bella I want you to listen to me. You are 24 years old. You have a 3 year old daughter. You have been an adult for the past 4 years. Even when you were in high school you really didn't go out and party and hang out with friends. You have always acted older than your age. And for awhile I was thankful about that. But now, you are living with me, basically taking care of me and Beth. Go have fun. It's about damn time you asked for it anyway. Leave the kiddo with me. Don't worry about us. We get to have a night with out mom! It's going to be alright."
My mouth hung open by the time Charlie was done talking. I can't believe he just told me to go. I thought I was going to have to fight some more.
"Thanks Dad. I love you."
"Love you too, Bells. Now go to bed. Early morning tomorrow!"
So this is my first FF. I don't know if anyone is actually going to be interested in it. This is loosely based on my life. I don't know when I will post again. I guess if I have people interested, I will try to get more out. Please let me know what you think.