Chapter 8
Rolling on her back and opening her eyes Kelly blinked a few times against the afternoon sun that was coming from their bedroom window. Stretching herself a little she realized quite quickly that she still felt as tired as when Brandon sent her to rest over an hour ago. This was certainly not the easy pregnancy she had with Grace four years ago.
Apart from moving across the country, all the issues that their relationships has been facing and feeling not that hot most of the time, there was enormous quilt she felt lately. Feeling tired, drained and emotional it was usually Brandon who took care of Caleb and Grace and now also her mother volunteered to help, which as it turned out, only complicated matters further and this afternoon was not going to be an exception.
"But grandma said I can!" She could hear Grace's whining and soon Caleb's voice as well through the closed door. That was the issue of the past few days. No one said that parenting should be easy, but with Jackie allowing the kids to do what they wanted and whenever they wanted; it just became increasingly difficult for her and Brandon to set any boundaries for them.
Pushing the sheets aside she got out of the bed, quickly tying her hair into a messy bun with an elastic band, she felt the baby kicking. "You're right little one, mamma has to stay calm." She said quietly rubbing her belly. Moving across the room she opened the bedroom door. Walking into the hallway she saw Brandon leaning against the wall his eyes closed as he was taking a few deep breaths.
"Hey!" Kelly said softly as she reached him.
"Hey, Kel." Brandon said opening his eyes. "Feeling any better?"
Kelly shook her head no. "But I'll survive. How about you?"
"I nearly lost it in there, had to give myself a time-out." Brandon admitted smiling weakly.
"It's getting out of hand." Kelly mumbled mostly to herself.
"You should talk to her, Kel. We can't go on like this much longer." Brandon pleaded with her.
"I know, I just have to figure out what to tell her."
"Umm, how about asking her to follow the parenting rules we have and not let our kids do as they please?" Brandon offered.
"She's really trying Brandon, and that's a big thing with my mom. I don't have the heart to tell her she's doing something wrong. Not after what I put her through." Kelly looked at him.
"Okay. Alright. So to keep your coincidence clear and not hurt Jackie's feelings we will just stand by and watch until she turns our kids into little bratty heartless demons." Brandon raised his brows.
"They won't turn into demons." Kelly rolled her eyes.
"Given all the sugar they had today until I picked them up and the new race track and doll house they received from their grandmother among other things, they are not so far away from it. Go and see for yourself, but don't say I haven't warned you." Brandon chuckled as the noise level rose again.
"Fine, I'll talk to her." Kelly gave in finally.
"Thanks babe!" Brandon leaned in kissing her softly.
So it happened that Kelly found herself on her mother's doorstep the very same evening. It wasn't the plan when she and Brandon talked about the issue hours earlier, but watching the kids it became clear that an intervention was needed, as soon as possible. Knocking on the door she still did not feel any wiser about how to handle this.
The door flew open seconds later and she saw her sister standing there looking less then pleased to see her. While Jackie was excited to have her daughter back, Erin did not share her sentiments and continuously avoided her.
"Is mom at home?" Kelly asked directly.
"Yes, in the living room." Erin replied in similar style stepping aside and letting Kelly in, it was clear she had no desire to talk to her sister.
"Thanks." She moved towards the living room, at one point she will have to set things straight with Erin as well, but this was not the day.
"Hi mom."
"Kelly!" Jackie stood up from the sofa where she had been lounging previously watching some TV show. "Is something wrong with Grace or Caleb?" She asked worriedly.
"No, they are fine. They were asleep when I was leaving." Kelly assured her. "We have to talk." She let out her eyes on her mother, there was no going back now.
"Alright." Jackie agreed taking her previous place and motioning to her daughter to do the same.
Kelly sat down, suddenly not able to hold her mother's glance she remained silent for a moment. "You've wanted to talk." Jackie reminded her.
"Yes, but I'm not sure how to say what I want to say." Kelly sighed finally looking at her mother again. "Mom, I know you mean well, but the excessive generosity towards the kids has to stop. Brandon and I want them to value things and not have everything they ask for and do whatever they please."
Jackie stared at her daughter, caught off guard for a moment. "I didn't know about my granddaughter for the first three years of her life. I don't think making up for it by a few gifts and more relaxed rules is going to turn her into a monster for life." She spoke briskly.
"Few gifts? In the last two weeks you have basically cleared the toy stores all around LA. Mom, it's already happening." Kelly said softly. "They are both becoming whiney and demanding, not listening to either of us. They are not the kids we used to have at home."
"Well, maybe that reflects on your parenting." Jackie spit out defensively. Kelly knew it was no longer going to be possible to discuss things calmly with her mother and whatever she was going to say in this moment was only going to anger her further and make things worse, yet she had no other choice.
Kelly breathed in and out again trying to stay calm. "You are right mom, I'm far away from a perfect parent, but Brandon and I are still their parents and right now we think that it would be for the best if you won't be seeing the kids until you are ready to respect our wishes."
"Is that your last word?" Jackie asked taken aback.
"Do I have another choice?"
"I thought I have raised you better." Jackie shook her head disappointed.
Kelly breathed in ready to tell her that she had basically had to raise herself alone, but decided in the last moment to not add fuel into the fire. "Bye, mom." She said heading out of her mother's apartment.
Once outside she leaned against the cold wall, closing her eyes for a moment. What happened inside was a complete disaster. She was hurting her mother again and no matter how complicated their relationship has been it was the least thing she wanted.
"How does it feel? Screwing up people's lives, Brandon's, our mothers, mine..." Opening her eyes Kelly saw Erin standing in front of her. She had not heard her coming.
"Erin, I never meant to hurt anyone." Kelly gulped down.
"But you did. You have no right to speak to mom the way you did today. You've no idea what she has been through after you left. You've no idea what we have been through..." The last words came out barely understandable as Erin was chocking on her tears.
Kelly felt her eyes burning, it was true she had no idea... "I'm sorry, Erin." She moved forward to comfort her sister but Erin took a step back.
"No. Just leave me. Just leave us alone!" She shrieked, brushing the tears away from her cheeks.
Turning around she felt the tears flowing down her cheeks freely as she hurried down the stairs and into her car. She messed everything up again. Her vision blurred she rested her head against the steering wheel when her cell phone started to ring. Seeing Brandon's name she quickly cancelled the call and turned the phone off. She needed to be alone for a while.
"Dylan can you please close this for me?" Brenda said walking into the bathroom, dressed in a beige knee length dress seeing Dylan standing in front of the mirror fighting with his tie.
"Sure, but you'll have to tie this for me." Dylan raised his right brow looking at her.
"I can't believe we're doing this." Brenda said turning her back to him as he closed the zipper of her dress. This was their last week in London before they'd move to New York.
"Why? I thought this was what you wanted." Dylan looked at her confused.
"I do, of course, but eloping without telling any of our family or friends was not exactly what I had in mind when I thought about marrying you. My father is so going to flip out." Brenda chuckled while working on his tie not really that bothered.
"Well, he finally stomached the two of us having a child together; he might get over this as well." Dylan winked at her.
"He is becoming mellow with age." Brenda wriggled her nose. "There all done." She straightened his tie, the palms of her hands resting on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Bren, if you don't want to get married here in London, we don't have to do it. We can wait, tell everyone and do it with all the whoopla that's expected from a wedding." Dylan said carefully.
"Of course I want to marry you here and today. It's just, I'm feeling so grown up and rebellious marrying you without anyone's knowledge." She chuckled.
"That's my bad influence on you." Dylan leaned down kissing her softly the typical smirk on his face.
"Yes, exactly what my father feared all those years ago." Brenda hit his chest playfully.
"He still couldn't stop it." Dylan chuckled. "But he won't be disappointed for long, I foresee a royal wedding any day now."
"True, although I don't expect them to marry until after the little one is born." Brenda shrugged.
"Speaking of little ones, is ours still asleep?" Dylan asked letting go off her.
"Out like a candle in his milk fueled sleep." Brenda confirmed. "Hopefully it'll stay that way during the ceremony."
"Well if he creates havoc it would sort of fit the occasion." Dylan grinned as he wrapped an arm around her waist guiding her out of the small bathroom.
