Chapter Three

Susan pulled in front of the house just as the movers arrived. Laura wasn't far behind. The women met the driver and unlocked the door for them to start loading the furniture and boxes. They stood in the front yard while the movers worked, "How much longer do you think David and Phillip will be?" Laura asked.

"Not long," Susan said. "I saw Phillip running out of the hotel in my rear view mirror as we pulled out of the parking lot. It was all I could do not to stop, but that would have not been as effective for David."

"Are you sure it will be?" Laura asked.

"Always is, well, nearly always," Susan answered.

"Well it was with me, but I was only six," Laura said.

"I think every parent has had to call that bluff in some form at one point or another with every child. It may seem cruel, but sometimes it's the only way to get their attention. When you pulled that stunt, I was right around the corner waiting for you to come out of the house which took all of about two seconds. If Phillip hadn't come racing out of the hotel at that moment, David would have given him a couple of minutes and then gone back inside to get him."

"How do you know when it's ok to call the bluff or when just to pick up the kid and go?" Laura asked.

"Every situation is different and every child is different, you just have to go with your gut. There is no manual that comes with a baby; it's all on the job training and what works with one child may not work with another," Susan explained. As if to emphasize the point, Billy reached out and grabbed Susan's nose and tried to pull it to his mouth. Susan let him pull her face towards his, but detoured at the last minute and landed a raspberry on his neck instead. Billy giggled in response. "You were pretty stubborn, but your dad was a disciplinarian, so you didn't act out that much - and you were a girl. I've no idea what this little guy has in store for me. I just hope I can guide him in the right direction."

"I wouldn't worry about it that much; you did fine with me and you're doing great with Phillip. And it's not like you're raising him alone. David is a good dad. He's not the disciplinarian that my dad was, but I've decided that's a good thing. Certainly he treats you a lot better than dad did." Susan looked over at Laura, "Don't look like that mom; I wasn't blind, no matter how hard you tried to hide it. I saw how dad treated you, but I didn't realize how bad it was until I saw the difference in how David treats you. I know that when I finally decide to pursue a relationship, I'm going to find a man like David, not a man like my dad. I loved dad very much, but even though he was good to me, he wasn't good to you."

Susan fought the tear that was trying to form in her eye, "I loved your father, but yes he was a hard man to please. I didn't realize you saw as much as you did."

"A strong power of observation runs in our family," Laura replied.

"So it does," Susan said, her thoughts moving toward that other family member also known for his keen powers of observation.

Both women turned around at the sound of a familiar vehicle coming down the street. David pulled in behind Laura and both he and Phillip got out of the car. Phillip went over to his mom and put his arms around her in a hug, "I'm sorry," he said into her neck. Billy, not happy with the sudden intrusion into his space with his mom, wailed out unhappily and grabbed Phillip's hair and pulled hard. "Ow! I said I was sorry."

"William Gregory, that behavior will not be tolerated," David said with a smirk as he walked up. He removed Phillip's hair from his hand and took him from his mother. "No," he said more seriously while looking Billy directly in his eyes and then stepped away with Billy in his arms. Billy wailed out his displeasure loud enough that it drew the attention of the men loading the moving truck who glanced in that direction to see what the issue was, and then seeing nothing of concern turned their attention back to their work. David turned his body so that Billy couldn't see his mother which caused Billy to wail louder. He reached to pull his dad's hair, but David caught his hand and gently forced it down to his side, "No," he said. Billy started crying and David held him until he calmed down, "Shhh," he said patting his back. Finally Billy started settling down and laid his head down on David's shoulder. Soon he had his thumb in his mouth and had fallen asleep.

Phillip had long since released Susan and was watching his dad, "But he's just a baby, he didn't know what he was doing."

"He knew exactly what he was doing. He didn't want you hugging mom and retaliated in the only way he knew how; same with me when I took him away. Just because he's a baby doesn't mean he doesn't need corrected for bad behavior," David explained, "It just has to be done differently."

"Do you want me to take him now?" Susan asked.

"Not yet," David said. He walked over to talk to the movers with Billy asleep in his arms.

"Phillip, get in the trunk of your dad's car and pull out some clothes to wear. You're not staying barefooted and in your pajamas all day," Susan said. Phillip moved to do what he was told when Bonnie Wilson arrived.

She got out of her car and came over to Susan, "Mrs. James," she said reaching out her hand. Susan returned her handshake. "I've had some interesting prospects on the house," she said. "I think we may have it sold before the month is over."

"That would be great," Susan said. "I'm not relishing having to make two mortgage payments."

"Well, you've priced it to sell, so that helps," Bonnie said. David came back over to where Susan was standing, "What a beautiful baby," Bonnie said. "Your grandson?" she said glancing over at Laura assuming the child was hers.

"No, he's mine and Susan's," David explained as he looked over at Susan who had a rather forlorn look on her face.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Bonnie said. "I just thought..."

"Don't worry about it," Susan said. "I'm sure that's the first of many similar first impressions we will get as he grows up." Susan stepped away for a minute.

"I'm really sorry," Bonnie said to David.

"It's okay," David said again.

Susan came back holding the house keys and handed them to Bonnie, "Here's the other set of keys."

"Well that's what I came for," she said. "I guess I should be getting along then."

She started toward her car when Susan asked, "Have you heard anything from Wilson?"

Bonnie shook her head. "His parents told me he was enjoying life while he could, but they wouldn't tell me anything else. If that bastard House was still alive, I'd bet anything that he was behind James' disappearance. He did the world a favor when he burned in that building."

David quickly stepped in before the shock of what she just heard turned to steam and Susan blew her top, "I tell you what, why don't you skip on out of here before you choke on that foot you keep sticking in your mouth."

"I don't understand," Bonnie said as David ushered her to her car.

"House was Susan's brother. Now please go."

Bonnie had a surprised look on her face, "I didn't know," she said as she got in her car, "I'm so sorry, I really didn't know." She started up her car and backed out to leave.

David walked back over to Susan, "Sweetheart?"

Susan was struggling to contain her emotions, but finally just calmly said, "Call her office manager and tell them we want a different realtor, give the commission to somebody else."

David nodded, "Okay." Billy woke up and lifted his head, "Hey little man," David said as he moved Billy to where they were looking at each other face to face, "I love you." David kissed him on the cheek and buzzed him for good measure getting a giggle in return. Billy looked around until his eyes landed on his mother. He reached his arms out and David handed him over to Susan, "Now you can go over to your mama."

Phillip came out of the house fully dressed and carrying his pajamas in his hands. As he put them in his dad's car, Laura spoke up, "Well, personally I've had enough drama for the day, can we please hit the road?"

"Absolutely," David said. "Let's get going." Susan put Billy in his car seat and got in the jeep. David and Phillip got in David's car and Laura went to hers. The convoy took off with David in the lead and Laura bringing up the rear.

At the end of the street, a dark car pulled out behind Laura and followed for several minutes before the driver made a phone call, "They're on their way," he said and hung up the phone before turning away from the family.