A/N: Thanks for all who have taken the time to review! I appreciate your thoughts!
Chapter 6
The girls were playing in the yard and Neil was making supper when Simon came home from school.
"Where's Mama?" he asked, straight-away, not mincing his words.
Neil turned to look at him. "Delivering Miss Opal's baby. She'll be gone for a while"
He frowned. "I want to go back and stay with Aunt Christy. She won't mind"
"No, I don't think so" Neil said, "Sit down and start your homework"
"I don't have any"
Neil paused. It was clearly a blatant lie- he could tell right away. Lying was one thing he wouldn't tolerate from his children, but he knew if he came down harshly right now, it would escalate beyond what he wanted right now.
"Don't you?" Neil questioned. "You have had homework every day for the past week"
"I can do it later"
"No, you can do it now" Neil countered. "Is this really worth the argument, Simon? Start your homework. That's the rule"
"I want Mama here" Simon insisted. "I can go to Miss Opal's"
"No" Neil told him, firmly, "Start your homework. At the table here or in your room, but I will check it like Mama does"
Simon scowled at him and crossed his arms. "I don't want to be here without Mama"
Neil took a breath. "Well, I'm not sure what we can do about that. But I would watch your attitude if I were you"
"Or what?" Simon challenged him and Neil paused again, trying to choose his words.
"Do your homework Simon. If you don't, then you will get in trouble with both Mama and Teacher and I don't think you want to be in trouble with either of them"
"Okay" Simon said as he went to his room, "because I like them"
Neil forced himself to keep his temper in check before continuing with supper. Julia and Annie came inside.
"When is it time to eat, Papa?" Julia asked. "I'm oh so hungry"
"In a few minutes" Neil said.
"Mama gives us a snack when we are hungry" Julia said.
"I remember" Neil said, "But supper is a few minutes away. You'll be fine until then"
Julia pouted. "But, Mama..."
"Mama isn't here right now" Neil retorted. "Why don't you set the table?"
Julia's frown increased. "But I want to go back out and play. Mama always lets us play"
"Annie set the table the other day" Neil said, "And she did a really good job of it"
"I'll set it for her, Papa" Annie offered.
"That's really kind of you, Annie-lass, but I asked Julia"
"But if she wants to" Julia protested, "then you should let her. Mama says whoever wants to"
"Does she?" Neil inquired, his eyebrow raised. "Set the table, Julia"
Julia glared at him. "But I want to play" she stamped her foot. "And I'm going to"
"Very well" Neil told her. "Then no supper and you are oh, so hungry" he turned to her and looked at her sternly. "Set the table"
Julia huffed and puffed but ended up setting the table. Neil counted it as a victory, but it clearly had put Julia in a mood, so maybe he was a bit premature in his assessment of the situation.
Supper was ready and then kids ate it quickly and silently- Simon and Julia both sulking and Annie looking between her siblings and her father and wondering when she could escape to her room. Afterwards, Neil asked Simon to bring him his homework and the girls ran off to play.
He quickly cleared the table and Simon came with his homework.
Neil looked over it. "You have two mistakes. See if you can find them"
"But I don't" Simon insisted. "You don't know anything"
"When you go to college and medical school, then you can tell me I don't know anything. Until then, you would do well to remember that you are a child and I am your father and you need to be respectful" Neil told him, sternly.
"I don't care" Simon said, his voice strained.
"Okay" Neil handed him his homework. "Bedtime"
"NO!" Simon protested. "It's not time for bed yet. We just ate supper. Mama always lets us play after supper"
"Mama isn't here" Neil pointed out yet again.
"Mama's in charge" Simon told him. "I only listen to her"
Annie and Julia came out of their room.
"What's going on?" Julia demanded.
"Papa wants me to go to bed" Simon told his sisters.
"What?" Julia's eyes were wide. "It's not bedtime. Don't you know?"
"I get to pick bedtime especially when my children are misbehaving"
"I didn't do anything!" Simon protested.
"I don't think you get to pick bedtime" Julia said, seriously. "Mama does. You are supposed to follow her rules"
"I get to help Mama make the rules now" Neil explained. "Your brother is being disrespectful to me so he needs to go to bed"
"I didn't think you could punish us" Annie said, softly. "Can you?"
Simon frowned. Julia scowled. Annie looked contemplative.
"Does Uncle David punish Catherine and Davey?" he asked, quietly.
"Yes" Annie acknowledged, "but he's always been there"
"Annie's right" Simon said. "Uncle David was always here. I'm not going to bed. I'm going to see Uncle David. He's a least nice to us"
Neil tried to maintain his temper. "Simon, I guarantee you that when Mama gets home if she knows that you were disobedient, you will be punished"
Julia glared at him. "You are tattling on us"
"Papas don't tattle, Julia" Neil retorted. "And you need to stop glaring at me or you will go to bed too"
"I will not" Julia said, her hand on her hip, her scowl intensifying tenfold. "And you won't make me. It is not my bedtime. I won't change into my pajamas. I won't go potty. I won't brush my teeth. I won't go to bed"
Neil crossed his arms. "Yes, you will, lass"
Julia pouted and crossed her own arms. "Simon won't either. Two against one. We win"
"Oh wee one" Neil shook his head seriously, "Papas always win"
"I'm gonna tell Mama on you" Julia said. "You need to go back to Scotland"
"I'm really sorry you feel that way" Neil retorted. "Go changed into your nightclothes now. You too Simon"
Simon stalked off to his room when he saw Neil's face. Something flashed in his mind- he didn't really remember Papa, but at times he thought he did almost. And these were one of those times. He knew not to push him. Julia, on the other hand, had no recollection of that. Neil's command led to a full out temper tantrum- when Adelaide warned him of them- she wasn't exaggerating. Screams, tears, stomping, flailing, loudly telling him just what she thought of the situation...
Annie frowned and went to sit on the couch, knowing to get out of her sister's way.
Neil looked at her display, sternly and then went to pick her up. "Stop that now. You are too old for these"
She rewarded him with kicks and scratches.
"Stop that now" Neil smacked her leg. "Or I'm spanking you"
"You can't spank me!" Julia scratched him again. "I'll hate you forever"
"I'm sure" Neil smacked her leg again. "Stop scratching me, Julia. You are sorely testing my patience. Hitting and scratching should definitely lead to spanking"
"You can't spank me. Only Mama can!"
"Calm down now"
"NO!' Julia wiggled and Neil grunted, "You need to calm down now"
"No, No, No" Julia continued with her tantrum and Neil put her down, which made Julia think she had gotten the victory until Neil dumped the contents of the full water pitcher on her, getting her soaked.
She stilled.
"Next time, I'm dunking you in the creek" Neil told her evenly. "That's not how we behave"
Julia started to whimper and Neil inclined his head.
"Did I get your attention, lassie?" he asked, quietly. "You need to calm down and go to bed now"
Julia began to cry hysterically now- from being soaked and having Papa mad at her. Neil, sensing the change, scooped her up and Julia snuggled right into his chest.
"I'll help you change, Julia" he told her, "and if you are a good lassie and go to the outhouse and brush your teeth, then I'll read you and Annie a story"
"But does Annie have to go to bed?" Julia asked.
"She will go in a few minutes" Neil said, "She's been a very good girl and deserves to stay up a bit longer"
Julia nodded. "I try to be a good girl" she pouted as she lifted her head to look at him as he carried her to her room. "I get in a temper sometimes"
"I know" Neil unbuttoned her dressed and Julia went to get her nightgown. "I have a temper too"
"Do you?" Julia asked seriously as she changed into her nightgown. "My dress is all wet. It's my favoritest dress in the world and now it's completely soaked!"
"We'll dry it" Neil said. "It will be fine in the morning"
"Okay, good. Did you have tantrums?" Julia asked as she climbed onto his lap and he reached for her hair brush.
"No" Neil shook his head, beginning to brush out her tangles. "I don't think so. My Mama and Papa would have spanked me right away the minute I stomped my foot. We weren't allowed to talk back or give any attitude or they would get a switch or a strap"
Julia frowned. "Mama never uses either. Only her hand. Simon says his schoolmates talk about how their papa will do that. Mama sometimes uses a spoon when we are really bad. That hurts!"
"Aye" Neil nodded. "But I learned quickly not to be so out of control and disrespectful"
"Mama understands us" Julia told him, seriously, "did your mama and Papa not understand?"
"They understood" Neil said, "They just had different beliefs than Mama does"
"Are you going to spank us when we do that?" Julia asked, wincing as Neil worked through a knot.
"Sorry, sweetheart, you also inherited Papa's hair as well"
Julia turned and looked at him. "I did. Do you not like my hair?"
"I love your hair" Neil assured her. "It's just a mess to brush through at times"
"Mama says that too" Julia said. "I wish I had Annie's hair. It's so pretty! Just like Mama's"
"Annie probably wants your hair" Neil told her, putting the brush down on the dresser.
"So are you going to spank us?" Julia asked, seriously.
"Mama and I are going to talk to you about it soon" Neil patted her hip. "What you did back then was very naughty. Hitting and scratching an adult is very bad, Julia even when you are in a temper"
"Are you going to spank me now?" she looked worried and a little fearful.
"No lass. Not this time" Neil kissed her head. "Go to the outhouse and tell your sissy to come back in for a story. I'm going to check on your brother"
"Simon doesn't like you very much" Julia told him, frankly.
"I'm aware of that" Neil said. "He doesn't have to like me"
"Does that make you sad?" Julia asked, curiously.
"He's my son and I love him whether he likes me or not" he patted her hip. "Just like I love you even when you are so naughty"
"Do you?" Julia asked, surprised.
"Of course, sweetness" Neil kissed her again, "I'm your Papa and even if you don't remember how it was before I was away, I do. I loved you the minute you were born"
Julia smiled. "Good. I think all Papas should love their children, don't you?"
"I do" Neil nodded, solemnly. "Now, go on now, love"
Julia left him and Neil went to Simon's room.
"Are you ready for bed?" he asked.
Simon nodded.
"Would you like to come while I read to Julia and Annie?" he asked, his voice even.
He shook his head.
"Alright, good night, lad" Neil said. He shut the door to his room and leaned against it, taking a breath. The lad was breaking his heart these days. He had to convince Adelaide to let him talk to the children and set guidelines- if he had already, all of this could have been prevented. He didn't know why she was holding on to parenting the wee ones herself, but he would find out tonight.
He read Annie and Julia from their book, as the thunder began to rumble. He thought to take Annie out to the outhouse in case it got worse remembering what Adelaide said about accidents. Then, he tucked Julia into bed, the storm getting worse as Annie snuggled on the couch. By the time he finished, the thunder was shaking the cabin and he came back out with Annie's dollie as well as her nightclothes and hair brush. He handed Emma to her. Her face was pale and she was shaking and starting to cry.
"Sweetheart" Neil picked her up and put his arms around her, settling her on his lap. "Are ye scared?"
"I don't like storms, Papa" she told him.
"Shhh" Neil held her tight. "It's nothing to be fearful of lass. I have you. Papa isn't going to let anything hurt you"
The thunder clapped again and Annie buried her head in his chest, her arm clutching her doll.
"I want my mama" Annie whimpered.
Neil squeezed her again. "I know. Mama will be home soon"
"Is she out in the storm?" Annie looked up at him panicked.
Neil paused and studied her. "No, lass, she's with Miss Opal, remember? I'm sure she is still there. Birthin babies takes a while"
"I don't want her to get hurt" Annie whimpered.
"Mama will be fine. She's a grown up. No worries, Annie" Neil kissed her.
"Do I have to go to bed?" Annie sniffled. "I'm scared"
"No, sweetheart, not until the storm is over" Neil assured her. "You are going to stay right here with me. Is that okay?"
She nodded. "Now, what can we do to make ye feeling better? How about Papa tell ye a story?"
Annie sniffled. "What kind of story?"
"Hum" Neil thought about it. "What would you like to hear?"
"About a prince and princess" Annie said. "Those are the best stories"
Neil chuckled, "Aye, okay, fairy tale it is, wee one"
He told her a story as he cuddled her. When he finished, the storm was still raging, but Annie was rubbing her eyes.
"Are you sleepy?" Neil asked.
Annie began to shake at the thought of having to go to her room with the storm still so bad.
"I'm not going to make you go to your room" Neil said. "I promised, remember?"
She nodded.
"Let's get you in your nightgown and brush your hair then you can lay on the couch beside me and see if you can fall asleep. Would that be alright?"
Annie nodded and he undid her braids and brushed it out for her. "Mama usually puts it in one braid right?"
Annie nodded. "Do you know how to braid hair?" she asked, innocently and then jumped as the thunder clapped loudly.
"Well, I've seen your mama braid her own hair plenty of times" Neil said.
"Make sure you do it right" Annie said, a bit sassily and Neil laughed.
"Yes, ma'am"
He braided it and tied the tie, before kissing her head. "All done"
"Thank you Papa" Annie said, sweetly.
"Ye are very welcome Annie Elizabeth" Neil said. He reached for the blanket. "Now, put your head down here and try to sleep"
"Sing me a song, Papa" Annie said. "Do you know any?"
"Do I know any?" Neil chuckled. "Of course I do. What kind of song?"
"A mountain song" Annie said, "Like Mr. Jeb or Aunt Hattie sings"
"Hum" Neil rubbed her head.
Down in the valley, valley so low
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow, dear, hear the wind blow
Hang your head over, hear the wind blow.
"That's so pretty" Annie said, "I love that one. Aunt Hattie sings that real well. Did she teach it to you?"
"I love it too, lass" Neil said, "and she did...a long time ago. Now close your eyes"
She did and as the storm died down, she fell asleep. Neil looked over at his daughter. She was so different than Julia, but each girl was special in their own wonderful way. He was blessed.
After making sure she was asleep, he carried her to the girls room and tucked her in her bed. Julia was snoring softly and he went over to give her a kiss on the head before closing their door.
He headed to the lab to retrieve articles for his research. While there he picked up a few patient files he had neglected to read yet and from that a slip of paper fell out. Neil retrieved it from the floor. It was an envelope. He frowned. It was addressed to Adelaide. He looked at the return postage. It was from Asheville, but not from her parents. ES. Edward Shaw
He carried everything to the table and began to look over the patient files, putting them aside when he finished reading them. He sighed and reached for the envelope and pulled out the letter. He knew he should just ask Adelaide about it, but something compelled him to read it. He knew they exchanged letters after Simon's death, but when they got married, they had stopped writing, especially after Edward confronted Adelaide about giving up nursing. He frowned as he read it and then tucked the letter away for safe keeping. Yes, Adelaide and he had a lot to discuss when she returned.
Adelaide swallowed hard at Neil's face when she walked in the door. The cabin was quiet and Neil was sitting at the table, working on his research. When he looked up at her, she could tell right away that he was perturbed.
"How's Opal?" he asked, his voice quiet.
"Wonderful" Adelaide said, "They had a beautiful little girl. Bird's Eye is besides himself with joy- he's so tender with the babe already. It really just warms my heart to see him melt over this tiny little life"
"She'll have him wrapped" he told her, matter-of fact.
Adelaide laughed, "You aren't one to talk, Doctor MacNeill. You are the tenderest man with our little ones. I loved watching you with our babies and with the girls now."
She took off her coat, hanging it up before sitting on the bench next to him.
"Thank you for that, lass" He smiled at her. "Did they come up with a name?" he asked her.
"They named her Fairlight" she replied, "she is a beautiful baby"
Adelaide didn't miss the tears that welled up in her husband's eyes. "That's sweet" he said, softly, "Fairlight would be honored"
"I thought so" Addie nodded. She sat beside him on the bench. "What are you working on?"
"I want to submit my experimental technique for peer review" Neil said.
"Wow" Adelaide put her hand on his forearm. "That's a big step"
"It is indeed" Neil said.
"Will you let me read it before you submit it?" she asked.
"Let you" Neil leaned over to kiss her head. "I need you to edit it for me and give me feedback"
"I can do that, of course, if you'd like" Adelaide said. "But I don't know how valuable my insight is"
"Quite valuable to me" Neil said. "Never doubt that. I went to Scotland by myself because of the war. I would have taken you with me if I had the choice"
"I know that" she replied. She paused, "Dare I ask how the children were?"
"We need to talk about them" he told her.
"Okay" she stood. "Let me make tea and we can talk now"
"There is already warm water on the stove for you" Neil told her.
"Are you angry?" she asked as she reached for a mug and began to steep her tea.
"No" Neil sighed. "Disheartened"
"Disheartened" Adelaide frowned as she brought her mug to the table. "Were the children that bad?"
"They don't see me as a father" Neil told him. "Simon gave me attitude about checking his homework. I threatened him with early bedtime, which he refused. Julia and Annie got involved and Julia was sassy"
"Oh no" Adelaide frowned, "Was she disrespectful?"
"Aye" Neil nodded. "Simon yielded on the early bedtime, but Julia threw the epic of all temper tantrums on me when I told her that because of her attitude, she had to go to bed. She told me that you make the rules and you would let her stay up"
"Well, that's wrong" Adelaide said, "She knows I make her obey you"
"Aye" Neil told her, "but she didn't think I could punish her. She was out of control"
"I told you that Julia throws those tantrums"
"You did" Neil rubbed his face, "but you also have made it impossible for me to deal with those tantrums"
"Me?" Adelaide put her mug down. "What did I do?"
"I told you days ago that we needed to have this conversation with the children and you kept putting me off"
"Neil" she sighed.
"No, don't argue with me" he countered. "You know I'm right. You have been putting me off"
"They weren't ready"
"You weren't ready"
"That's completely unfair" the look of hurt was so evident on her face that Neil almost back down immediately. But still, maybe they needed to get it out in the open with them.
"Is it?" he challenged. "Is it truly, Adelaide?"
Adelaide looked at him and they met each other's gaze before Adelaide tore her eyes away.
"Addie" Neil's tone was gentler. "I'm sorry I was away for such a long time. I know the burden on you was huge between the children and my practice"
Adelaide put her head in her hands. "I would never try to punish you for being away when it was both of our decisions. That's not what I was doing"
"I don't think it was intentional if that's what you mean" he responded. "I think you don't know how to let go of the children and parent with me again and I'm not sure you want to"
"You don't think I want to" She removed her hands from her face. "I have dealt with every tantrum, every fight, every poor attitude, every cold, every fever, every stomach bug for the past two years. On my own" She swallowed hard. "That's not what I wanted. If I wanted to be a single parent, I could have had it years ago, when Simon died. I married you. I wanted to raise a family with you. And you left me. It was two years. Two years alone. Two years without my best friend. It was both of our decisions and I don't fault you, but one week can't magically erase two years of separation. It simply can't, especially for the children" She stood, but Neil's hand shot up and gripped her wrist, pulling her gently back down.
"No, you don't get to walk away, now" he told her. "You have to let me have the chance to respond to that"
"What could you possibly say?" she said, softly, "I know I'm being ridi..."
"No, don't do that either"
"Do what?"
"Dismiss your feelings" Neil retorted, "You've done it all our marriage. I want you real with me, Adelaide"
"Okay" she sighed, "What do you want to know?"
"Why did you let me leave?"
She pondered it for a few minutes as she stared at her hands, before she looked back up.
"I believe in your work, Neil. I have since the day I met you...even before I met you" She reached to place her hand on his arm, "The last thing I would ever want to do is hold you back. That's why I let you go" She stopped for a minute and then continued, "but while you were gone, it was harder to see that at times...because the truth of the matter is, you could have chosen to stay here with me"
"I see" He waited a few moments before saying quietly, "I also wanted to help the war effort"
"And that is admirable" she countered, "but we have a battle going on here too...these people needed you too and doctoring them isn't any less admirable than doctoring wounded soldiers"
He stared at her, "This place sucks my soul"
Her eyes widened. "Neil...how can you say that?"
"It's always been that way" Neil said. "Always, Adelaide. I begged those doctors to choose me to send off to medical college. You know that. It gets too much sometimes. All the superstition, all the disease that is completely preventable...sometimes, I just want to be done fighting the fight here"
"I understand that" she responded, "truly I do, but the reason why you keep coming back to the Cove is because you care. These are your people, Neil. Your friends, Your family..."
"And they need me"
"And they need you" She took a breath, "Do you want to leave?"
He paused, "If the right opportunity comes, I do. Not for a while. The children can't handle another adjustment right now especially the lad, but in a few years"
"Okay" she nodded. "as long as you take me with you this time"
"Of course" Neil paused, "what I said earlier remains true. I would have taken you with me"
"I know" she paused, "I just..."
"What?"
"I just can't help but feeling that you chose your research over me" she swallowed hard. "You wanted to do it. I know you gave me veto rights, but I wouldn't ever tell you no"
He frowned. "Do you really feel like I chose my work over you?"
"Part of me" she admitted. "And it is true"
"I didn't mean it like that" Neil countered. "I really didn't. If you had told me to stay, I would have. You are more important than my work"
"I guess I know that" Adelaide said, tapping her fingers on the table, "but at times it doesn't feel that way"
"That's fair" Neil reached for her hand and squeezed it once before letting go. "I hate asking you this, but I feel like I have to"
"What is it, Neil?"
He pulled a letter from a stack of journal articles. "I found this tonight. I shouldn't have read it when I knew it was yours, but I did"
She looked at the letter and frowned. "Where did you find this?"
"In a stack of patient records" Neil said, "Did you misplace it?"
She nodded. "I guess I did" she handed him back the letter. "You are my husband" she said, "I would have shared it with you if you asked me if you could read it"
"So?"
Adelaide shrugged. "Ed and I still exchange letters. You know we did before we married and after he came to examine me after we lost the baby, we resumed exchanging notes. They are harmless. Mostly about patients and such, you know..."
Neil nodded. "I know you would never do anything inappropriate knowingly, Adelaide, but you are naïve at times. This says he stayed a few months after the baby"
"Less naïve then you think" Adelaide said, looking at him. "You know Edward and I are friends. You knew it for all this time and I told you that he came after the baby"
"You did" Neil said, sighing, "I didn't realize he stayed for two months"
"Well, I didn't think I needed to tell you that"
"Hum" Neil looked at her. "How could he leave his practice for two months?"
"He had taken on a partner" Adelaide said, "and he saw that I needed help and I don't know...he wanted to help. It's admirable, not unlike you with the war"
"I didn't have a pretty woman enticing me to stay in Scotland"
"Enticing?" Adelaide squeaked.
"Not knowingly"
"Oh please" Adelaide rolled her eyes. "You and Bird's Eye are just alike. We are friends. He doesn't care for me more than that. See this" She held up her hand, "I'm married to you. If I wanted to marry Edward, I would have married him after Simon's death"
"Ah hah" Neil pointed to her, "so you admit that he would have married you"
"Well..." Adelaide paused, "I didn't think so at the time. I mean..."
"So, you do think he could be interested in you" Neil commented. "You just said..."
"We are friends" Adelaide reemphasized, "and besides all that, he would have driven me to insanity. He was never a viable option"
"Do you realize how beautiful you are?" Neil asked, "And how smart and sweet?"
"I'm telling you- his staying in the Cove wasn't like that"
"And Bird's Eye drove him away according to this...so apparently, it was"
"Bird's Eye thought it might be, but it wasn't" Adelaide took a breath. "Listen, you were gone. I just lost the baby. I needed help. The kids enjoyed him being around and he helped me with your medical practice. You should be thanking him"
"For having designs on my wife?" Neil snorted, "Unlikely"
"No, for taking care of my medical needs while you were away, Doctor MacNeill" Adelaide rose and slid out of the bench. "And for helping me care for your patients in your absence. Don't be a jerk, Neil" She turned her back on him to go upstairs, but Neil rose quickly and caught her by the waist.
"Adelaide" he pulled her against him. "Don't get your temper up" he whispered.
Adelaide's lip trembled. "You are acting like you don't trust me. I didn't do anything wrong, not even in my heart. I'm your wife. How could you think that? Do you not know me at all?"
"I know you" he said in her ear. "I just don't trust him"
"Why are we even talking about this?"
He turned her around to face him. "Because I want to know what happened while I was away. Edward staying two months in the Cove seems like something you should have told me about"
"That is fair" she looked in his eyes. "What's not fair is you thinking I would ever want a man that is not you or entertain the notion that I would ever open myself up for something inappropriate to happen. If I thought he felt that way, I would have sent him away myself even if he was providing me invaluable help here. It's being blown out of proportion"
He kissed her forehead. "Okay"
"Okay?"
He nodded. "Okay"
"Good" Her lip trembled.
"Don't cry" he entreated.
"I'm trying" Tears flooded her eyes. "Do you realize how much you just hurt me now?"
"Adelaide" his voice was strained. "I'm sorry, lass"
"You should be" Adelaide retorted, hotly.
"Adelaide, please" he reached to finger her hair, "I told you that I never doubted you, only his intentions. I know that you will always be faithful to me, but perhaps I was wrong to bring it up in the first place"
"No, you had a right to know. I should have told you that he was here longer than a medical visit"
"Aye" Neil nodded.
"And when I tell you that he doesn't see me more than a friend, will you take my word for it?"
Neil frowned, "You are..."
"I've been around. Married twice. I'm a mother of three. I know how things work. Take my word for it"
"Alright then" he twisted her stray piece of hair around his finger.
"You were right about one thing though" She closed her eyes. "There are parts of me that I want to tuck away from you. The parts where I'm frustrated that you were gone for so long, the parts that I wonder if I did something to make you chose your research over me. Those parts of me where I'm completely angry that you left me with so much to deal with at home. I want to pretend those feelings aren't here so I can focus on loving you"
"I understand that" Neil held her face in his hand, "but one doesn't preclude the other. You see even when you feel those things, I know you still love me. I understand that you feel this way and why. I understand what the lad is feeling. But for us to try to ignore our issues doesn't help Simon or the girls or ourselves"
"So what do you want to do?" she asked, softly.
"Sit the children down tomorrow before Simon heads to school and have a discussion with them. I am their father and we both make the rules and enforce them. And then when they act out, you have to allow me to take control of their discipline so they understand that we aren't just talking about it"
"Okay" Adelaide said. "We'll do that. Were they that terrible?"
"We had our moments" Neil admitted. "Annie was generally fine except for the storm. Poor child is terrified of them"
Adelaide gripped his arms. "It's because I was gone during that major one. She was young, but ever since then..."
"The storm you lost the baby in?"
She nodded.
"Oh poor lass" Neil frowned. "I suspected it was something like that. She kept asking if you were okay. She was really concerned"
"My sweet Annie" Adelaide sighed, "Did she let you hold her?"
Neil nodded. "Snuggled right into me" he smiled, "she is darling"
Adelaide smiled. "She is a precious gift to me- they all are. I'm going to go check on them"
"You do that" Neil said, "I'll clean this up and meet you upstairs"
Later, Adelaide and Neil were in bed, trying to go to sleep.
"Good job braiding Annie's hair by the way"
Neil chuckled. "She told me to do it right"
"Sassy Annie coming out"
He reached for her hand in the dark. "Adelaide, love of mine..."
She rolled towards him. "Yes?"
"You and the children...you are my life" Neil told her, softly. "I don't want you to doubt that for a moment. You do know how much I adore you, right?"
She swallowed hard. "I love you too, Neil."
He released her hand to grip her waist and pull her into his side, his arms around her. "And I love our lad and lasses...even if they are making it their mission to give me a hard time"
Adelaide grinned. "They'll figure it out that giving you a hard time only leads to harder times for them"
Neil chuckled. "So, now we come to it. It's going to get worse before it gets better"
"I know" Adelaide said, softly. "But it will lead to better. We're a team, right?"
"Absolutely" Neil agreed. "And I have the best partner in the world"
"So tomorrow we talk to them?"
"Tomorrow we talk to them"
A/N: Would love thoughts!
Up next: The talk and Simon continues to rebel.