"Good morning, Tracy," Edward said.
"Morning," Tracy said, reaching for the coffee. She sighed.
"You and Alice will work this out. She just needs time. It won't be too bad stay here for now, right?" Edward patted his daughter's hand.
"I suppose. "
Alan and Monica entered and started to fill their plates.
"You look horrible," Monica told Tracy.
"Thanks. I didn't sleep well," Tracy said.
"When do you get to see the kids?" Alan asked.
"I'm supposed to go over there after they get out of school. I need to call Brook. She's planning on coming in this weekend."
"How are you going to explain to them about the situation?" Monica asked.
"I don't know. They know I'm staying here for now." Tracy said, jumping when her cell phone went off. "Hello? Oh, hey, Brook." Tracy walked out to the patio.
"So I got like nine messages from you and when I called home, Alice told me to call your cell and Aidan told me you haven't come home yet. What's going on? I'm supposed to come home this weekend," Brook Lyn said.
"You can come home this weekend. But I won't be at the house. Right now, I'm staying at Monica's," Tracy explained.
"Oh. Are Alice and the kids there? I'm confused."
"Alice and I are….right now we are living apart for a while. She and the kids are staying at the house and I'm here."
"Granny, it sounds almost like you and Alice are breaking up. What happened?" Brook Lyn couldn't believe her grandmothers' relationship was that bad. They seemed so in love.
"I don't want to get into details but I'm hoping we'll work things out," Tracy said.
"Ah. Well, do you still want me to come home?"
"Alice and I talked and decided that you might be a good distraction for cubs."
"O.k. I'll see you later then."
"O.k. Burroughs. I love you."
"I love you, too, Granny."
"Mommy!" Aidan rushed into the room, with Morgan following.
"Hey. How are my cubs?" Tracy asked.
"We did painting yesterday. See?" Morgan showed his mother a picture of a moon.
"Wow! That's so cool. Hello, Alice," Tracy said awkwardly.
"Tracy. I guess we should talk."
With Aidan snuggled in Tracy's arms and Morgan lounging in an easy chair, Tracy took a deep breath.
"I want you to know your mother and I love you two no matter what."
"Of course, we know that," Aidan said.
"But right now, your mother and I need some time apart. We need…" Tracy choked on her words.
"So are you getting a divorce? I mean, isn't that what Mom does?" Morgan asked.
"We're not getting a divorce. And don't be wise to your mother;" Alice said sharply, "We're taking a time out."
"Do you still love each other?" Aidan asked.
"Of course," Alice said. This wouldn't be as hard if I wasn't so in love with her. I could leave her. Tracy didn't say anything but Alice noticed a tear ran down her face.
"I will always love your mother. But now, we need to figure things out. And we'll try to make it as easier as possible. You'll visit me at Auntie Monica's a couple times a week and I'll see you after school. Brook's coming in this weekend so that will be fun."
"Are you going to see other people? That's what Billy's dad did when he moved out," Morgan asked. Tracy and Alice looked surprise at the thought.
"I don't know. I haven't thought of dating other people," Tracy said.
"Probably not. Unless the therapist recommended it, I don't want to date other people," Alice said.
"Oh. O.k. Can we go play now?" Aidan asked.
"Of course. Just stay in the backyard," Alice said. The twins left and Tracy sighed.
"Do you want to see other people?" She asked heistantedly.
"Do you mean have I thought about cheating on you just for revenge?" Alice said, rolling her eyes, "Yeah, Tracy, I thought about it. But the thing is I still love you and me sleeping with a random woman isn't going to help that. I want my wife. I want to forgive you and move on. But now right I'm just so angry. Just give me time."
"O.k. I'll play with the kids for a while and then leave. For what it's worth, I miss you," Tracy said as she walked out the door.
"I miss you, too."
