Every Other Weekend—
Wildfire Songfic to Reba McEntire & Kenny Chesney's : Every Other Weekend.
Every other Friday
Its toys and clothes and backpacks
It seems to take a million years to fit everything in those tiny suitcases. But it's only for a week, right? So I try to ignore the shattered pieces of my heart that scatter across the tattered leather. Pick up the bags, open the door… "Is everybody in? Okay, let's go see dad."
Same time in the same spot
Corner of the same old parking lot
The SUV we traded the Porsche in for…I see it… and my heart clenches. It hurts to see you. But yet I'm still here. Pick up the bags, open the door…
Half the hugs and kisses there are always sad
I cry…I always do. But sometimes I don't know why. Mostly for the kids…but my heart doesn't hurt for them. It hurts for me…for you.
We trade a couple words and looks and kids again
Every Other weekend
Take them in your arms…into the void I used to fill. Open the door, look one last time…and smile. "See you next weekend, Junior…I mean, Ken."
… (Switch POV) …
Every other weekend
Very few exceptions,
"Next weekend, right…See you then, Kris."
I pick up the love we made in both my arms
Tousled black hair, sweet freckled faces, faded blue jean cutoffs, and tank-tops with words and designs—the little pieces of the love I left behind.
"Hi Daddy," they chime.
"Hi, guys. Ready to go?"
Its movies on the sofa, grilled cheese and cut the crust off
"Dinner's ready," I call, looking at their sleepy-eyed faces. Dinner's late…again. I was at work too long…again. I can't seem to shake the habit. You used to call me home. I'm hopeless now.
"That's not the way mom makes it, daddy," they whine—and it breaks my heart. They look so much like you. Two girls—I guess its good punishment. I made so many mistakes.
I miss everything I use to have with her again
I see you in everything. And, as I tuck them into bed, my heart weeps for what I lost. I had never cried before you left. Now the tears don't seem to stop.
Every other weekend
It's like losing you all over again.
…
"I can't tell her I love her."
"I can't tell him I love him"
"'Cause there are too many questions and years in the car."
"So I don't tell him I miss him."
"I don't tell her I need her."
"She's (He's) over me, that's where we are."
"So we're as close as we may ever be again."
"Every other weekend."
… (Switch POV) …
Every other Saturday
First thing in the morning
I don't see you curled in the sheets and I ache all over—I never want to wake up. There's no breath in my ear, no hand on my chest—not even a coffee pot gurgling. It's all silence now. How could I have let your resonance leave?
I turn the TV on to make the quiet go away
News on the television, but I can't watch. I see your face. So you're still in the business? Horses and wind-tunnels? Just like when we were young…so passionate. "Oh, Junior…"
I know why, but I don't know why
We ever let this happen
They said we were perfect. We tried so hard. How did it fall apart? What did we do wrong? I'm sure it was both of us. But how did I let you leave? I loved…love…you so much. Everything's so empty now.
Fallin' for forever was a big mistake
There's so much not to do and all day not to do with him
We promised forever—don't you wish they'd hold us to that promise? Divorce…how could we have been so stupid…
Every other weekend
Pick up the keys, open the door, start the car—I'm coming to take my children back; but I'm praying for my love back.
… (Switch POV) …
Every other Sunday
I empty out my backseat
Scattered toys, fast-food bags, and a forgotten pacifier—trivial items that mean so much. "Vi," I call, and the child in your arms turns and looks at me. She's shaky on her new legs. "You forgot this." She runs but falls and you have to bring her to me. I try not to look at you.
While my children hug their mother
In the parking lot
Rachel and tiny Vianne are encased in your loving embrace… and the loneliness creeps up like bile. I'm not part of that anymore.
We don't touch,
We don't talk much,
Pointedly ignoring each other, we hug and kiss our children.
Maybe goodbye to each other
"See you next weekend, Kris."
"Yea, next weekend… Ken."
As she drives away with every piece of heart I got,
I reconvince myself we did the right thing,
We did the right thing; we weren't right for each other. I'm sure…some of the time. Most of the time…I know it's the biggest mistake I've ever made. You drive away, my heart goes with you.
Every other weekend
And it won't come back till next weekend.
"I can't tell her I love her."
"I can't tell him I love him"
"'Cause there are too many questions and years in the car."
"So I don't tell him I miss him."
"I don't tell her I need her."
"She's (He's) over me, that's where we are."
"So we're as close as we may ever be again."
"Every other weekend."
"Yeah, for fifteen minutes, we're a family again."
"God, I wish that he was still with me again."
"Every other weekend."