Chapter Nine: The Best Day

AJ stormed into the house pissed, today had been completely and utterly horrible. John trailed behind her, holding Natalie. "Are you going to say something?" She answered his question by not saying anything and just huffed upstairs to her bed room, slamming her door shut.

John jumped slightly at the noise and Natalie begun to fuss. "Shh! Its okay, Natty. Mommy's just a little upset. She'll get over it."

Anita came out of the kitchen at the sound and raised an eyebrow at John. "Everything okay here?"

John sighed and shook his head. "Something happened at school today and AJ is trippin'. I tried to talk to her but she won't let me in. Miz and Morrison tried to."

AJ's mother looked thoughtful for a moment, but nodding. "I'm going to talk to her. Would you mind feeling Natalie a bottle? I have one in the frig, you just have to heat it up."

"Yeah, no problem." He spoke, heading to the kitchen as Anita headed upstairs to AJ's room.

She knocked on the door. AJ was curled up in bed with her back to the wall. Anita could hear sniffles coming from her daughter. "Ashden what happened?" she asked taking a seat next to her daughter on the bed.

"Nothing" AJ sniffled again and wiped her eyes. "Everything is fine".

"You know you used to love talking to me when you were younger." Anita sighed.

"There is nothing wrong!" AJ insisted.

"Come on we are going out." Anita announced swatting her only daughter on the behind. AJ looked at her like she had seven heads.

"Did you just touch my butt?" AJ sat up, so was so focused on the utter awkwardness that had settled over them now to be upset at the moment.

"Yes I did and if you don't grab your shoes and head out to the car in 5 minutes I will do it again." The older woman threatened.

"Fine!" AJ huffed. She got up and slid her feet into her shoes. She turned around to look at her mother and placed her hands on her hips. "Satisfied?"

"It's kinda chilly out so put of your coat." With that one piece of parental advice being said Anita left the room.

--

"Did she tell you what was wrong?" John asked. He had Natalie on his shoulder burping her. "I'm really starting to worry about her."

"Me too." Anita admitted. "But I understand how hard this must be on her. I was only 2 years older than her when I found out I was pregnant with Ethan."

"Ms. Williams can I ask you a question?" it was something that he had wondered about from time to time.

"Sure John." She agreed, but she already knew what he was going to ask.

"Where is Ethan and AJ's dad?"

"He's in jail believe it or not." She confided in him. "AJ doesn't know that but right after I found out I was pregnant with her he was busted for assault with a deadly weapon." She shook her head sadly. "He always did have a temper."

"So both AJ and Natalie's dads are in jail?" John found the irony rather amusing.

"Yes, but please don't tell her or Ethan they think their father died. Ethan was only 2 when he was put away." She begged him.

"So why tell me?" He asked.

"Because you asked. To change the subject for a minute do you know what made me know that Steve was the man for me?" She asked. "He's no saint by any stretch of the imagination but I remember one time when AJ was 3 years old and she broke her arm and she was so scared of the cast so Steve let them put a cast on his arm too. Even though it itched him like crazy he kept it on as long as she did. Then when AJ was 6 and he would have tea parties with her and let her paint his nails. I guess what I am trying to say is that he loves both my kids even though they aren't his. But that doesn't seem to matter because to him they are. That is a real measure of a father."

"Thanks." He stood up and handed her the baby. Before he left he kissed her cheek. She smiled knowing he had gotten her secret message.

"He's a good boy isn't he sweetie?" She kissed her granddaughter's cheek.

AJ bounded down the stairs a few minutes later. "Ok I'm here." She was still in her mood. She took the baby from her mother and put her coat on her. "Where are we going?"

Anita just smiled at her. "It's a surprise."

"Gee fun." AJ remarked once her mother had gone outside. She unwillingly followed along behind. She sighed as she put the baby into the car and got into the front seat.

Anita watched as AJ leaned against the window. The windows steamed up against her warm breath. She drew little pictures with her finger. Anita smiled, AJ used to do that when she was a little girl.

--

"Ashden smile for the camera" Anita chirped at her 5 year old daughter. Steve had taken them pumpkin picking. It was a little chilly and Anita had bundled both kids up. AJ smiled broadly and began to giggle as her mom snapped the picture.

"Steve!" she exclaimed as she ran over to him and hugged his legs. "There's my girl." He scooped the little girl up and showered her with kisses.

"Steve when can we go on the tractor ride?" Ethan asked.

"Right now buddy" Steve wrapped his free arm around the young boy's shoulders and walked with both kids over to the tractor. He placed AJ into the tractor and then picked Ethan up and placed him in too.

It was later that night. AJ had passed out in the car. Ethan was almost out himself. Anita kissed Steve on the cheek. "Thank you for making this a great day for us."

--

AJ sighed. Breaking Anita out of her memory. The mother of two frowned. Why was her daughter so unhappy?

--

"Mom! You don't understand with these stupid braces nobody wants to be my friend anymore." 13 year old AJ was making a big deal out of the braces she was now wearing. She placed her head in her hands. "Nobody is gonna want to talk to me."

"Come on baby we are going shopping." Anita suggested linking arms with her still sulking daughter.

"What do you think of this dress?" AJ asked modeling a cute little spaghetti strapped black dress that came to her knees.

"I think John will like it." AJ blushed furiously.

"Mom … he's my best friend. It isn't like that at all."

They sipped their milkshakes and laughed and shared crazy thoughts about sleeping in the Buckingham Palace. By the end of the trip AJ couldn't remember any of her ex friends names.

--

"I don't know if things are ever going to be ok again." AJ sighed. "I just want to go through one day without being the school's resident whore."

"They are the whores." The way Anita said it made AJ laugh. It was music to Anita's ears. "Baby you are so much better than all those kids who like to kick you when you are down. You have so much more reserve and grace. It takes a lot of inner strength to make the decisions you did."

"You and Steve have been so supportive of me since I have been back and I want to thank you for that. I have the best mom and dad in the world."

"Ashden remember the time when you convinced yourself that Sean was your little brother?" Anita laughed at the memory. "You wouldn't call him by his name it was always little brother. You'd go around introducing him to people as your little brother. Which is strange because he is a year older than you and not your brother."

--

"Whatcha painting Ashden?" Anita asked her 3 year old as she played with her finger paints.

"Pwincess mama" was the girl's reply.

"You are doing a good job baby."

"Tank you"

"What a pretty princess"

"You pwttier mama."

"Thank you my baby."

--

"So people are giving you a hard time in school and that is what got you upset?" Anita asked.

"Yea" AJ replied.

"Let them talk baby. You are so much better than them. They are shallow little bitches. You wanna know what they are really jealous of? Huh? Do Ya? They want to be Natalie's mother. As screwed up as it is Randy Orton was popular and all the girls want the popular boy's baby."

"Good for them. Let them see how hard being a parent is."

"I'm so proud of you Ashden. That's why I brought you out here so I could tell you that."

"Where are we?" AJ asked. She got out of the car and gasped. "This is the old carousel you used to bring me and Ethan to when we were little." There was genuine excitement in her voice.

"They are tearing is down Ashden. But I wanted you to have one more moment as a child. I wanted to share this moment with you and Natalie." She brought the baby closer. She reached out to touch one of the ancient horses. Natalie let out an excited squeal. Both her mother and grandmother smiled.

"Thanks mom this has been the best worst day I have ever had." AJ hugged her mother as tightly as she could without hurting Natalie.

"Climb up on one of the horses and I will get a picture of you and Natty." Anita suggested.

AJ climbed onto a horse and held her hands out for Natalie. Anita handed her the baby and AJ sat her in front of her. Both girls were smiling as Anita took the picture.