I am on the look out for a BETA reader for my work as I feel my writing isn't quite up to scratch. If you are interested then please PM me and I am sure I would love to have you. thank you :-). there is some swearing-in this chapter I am sorry if it offends you.
Dixie's brief shift had now ended and she was heading back home to what she hoped would be a tidy house but little did she know that it was a complete mess.
Jeff had not bothered to clean the kitchen, which had cake mix, flour, and icing sugar on the work surfaces and the washing up sink covered with dirty dishes piled up and over flowing. Maddie had disappeared back in her bedroom picking something to wear to her uncle's 50thparty later on that afternoon.
Dixie opened the front door, chucked her keys on the table, and shut the door behind her. Dixie walked into the lounge to see Olivia sitting on the floor playing with one of her Barbie's whilst Jeff was fast asleep in his chair. Dixie looked round the lounge to see the sofa covered in some white stick stuff and the stuff from earlier still sat where she saw them a couple of hours ago. Dixie headed into the kitchen to see dishes piled up and the same white sticky stuff on the work surfaces.
"I'm going to kill him," Dixie muttered under her breath
"JEFFREY" Dixie shouted as loud as she could.
"Olivia sweetheart can you go and play in your room for a minute. I just need to speak to your father for a few minutes" Olivia picked up her Barbie nodded and rushed up stairs to her room. Once Dixie heard Olivia's door shut she stormed into the kitchen and over to Jeff.
"OH FOR FUCK SAKE JEFF, I ASKED YOU TO DO ONE THING FOR ME AND INSTEAD YOU SIT ON YOUR FAT ARSE AND DO NOTHING. WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO IN THE KITCHEN? IT HAD TAKEN ME ALL WEEKEND TO CLEAN THIS HOUSE AND YOU RUIN IT IN A MATTER OF SECONDS"
"OH DIX, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SHUT UP MOANING. THAT'S ALL YOU'VE DONE TODAY IS MOAN, MOAN, MOAN"
"YOU JEFFERY COLLIER ARE ONE SELFSIH SOD. WHY DID I MARRY A LAZY SOD LIKE YOU? I'VE HAD ENOUGH JEFF"
"I DON'T REMEMBER MARRYING A MISERABLE COW SO I GUESS WE ARE EVEN" Jeff knew he had gone too far.
"Dix, I'm sorry" Jeff got up and walked over to Dixie who had tears in her eyes.
"No Jeff, you've done it now. I will come to this party today but after that I am taking the kids and we are gone. You've gone way to far Jeff. I hope you are happy you and your shit hole of a house" Dixie rushed up stairs to her bedroom and slammed the door.
"Well done Jeff you bloody idiot" he muttered to himself. Jeff had really done it now, how was he going to get Dixie back?
Dixie got ready for the party that she really did not want to go to but she had to go for the kid's sake. Once Dixie was ready, she checked on Maddie who looked like she had been crying.
"Maddie, what's the matter sweet heart?"
"Are you and dad getting a divorce? I heard your argument earlier" Maddie looked at her mother with tears in her eyes.
"No, I'm just angry and said something I didn't mean that's all" Dixie placed her arm round Maddie and brought her into a cuddle.
"Will you forgive dad?"
"Yes I will in time but, I am just not happy with him at the moment" Dixie kissed the top of Maddie's head.
Meanwhile down stairs Jeff got up off the sofa, grabbed a black sack, and started tidying up trying to get into Dixie's good books again. It took Jeff around 20 minutes to clean the lounge and the kitchen until it was spotless from floor to work surface. He then went upstairs and got changed hearing Dixie was in Maddie's room he changed into a t-shirt and jeans. Olivia came down stairs and sat on the sofa waiting for her parents and Maddie. Maddie and Dixie came down stairs to see the lounge was now spotless and the kitchen shone from floor to ceiling. Dixie felt a pang in her heart as she thought about what she said to Jeff but she was still mad but she had secretly forgiven Jeff but she wanted to keep the act up a bit longer to make him realise he can't get out of doing his fair share of the house work. Jeff came down stairs ready to go. The Colliers left the house and made their way to the party, which was at Jeff's sister's house. The drive there was a silent one because nothing was said between them. They pulled up outside the house and got out of the car. Both girls rushed up the steps whilst Jeff tried to hold Dixie's hand but she pulled her hand away from him and climbed the steps. Jeff watched as Dixie climbed the steps and stood at the top with the girls. Jeff sighed to himself as he climbed the stairs and rang the doorbell.
Jeff's sister opened the door and greeted them warmly "thank you for coming, oh look at my gorgeous nieces. Please come in" Sarah smiled at nieces who smiled back. She hugged her brother who hugged her back and then gave Dixie an arm hug.
"It's good to see you Jeff, how are you all everything alright," Sarah asked as she closed the door behind them.
"It's good to see you too sis, everything is alright thank you. So where is the old man then?"
"He's in the kitchen come on I'll take you to him"
"Mum can we go and play" Maddie asked and Dixie nodded.
Jeff placed his hand on the small of Dixie's back and to his surprise; Dixie did not push him away until they reached his brother.
"Happy birthday mate" Jeff said hugging his brother and patting him on the back.
"Cheers Jeff" Steve hugged his brother back and then let go. Jeff placed his arm round Dixie's waist but Dixie pushed his arm away and this did not go unnoticed by Steve. Dixie excused herself and walked round the house smiling at everyone. Jeff on the other hand stayed with his brother who handed him a beer.
"What have you done baby brother to make Dixie mad at you?"
"I was just being an idiot and well we had a bit of an argument before we came out and I am pretty sure she won't speak to me again" Jeff took a mouthful of beer.
"Oh Jeffery, go and make it right mate. You will never find another Dixie" Jeff nodded and then took a much-needed sip of beer before he apologised to Dixie again. Dixie on the other hand walked round the house lost without Jeff by her side. She never really liked Jeff's family much as they never really agreed to hers and Jeff's marriage saying she was not good enough for him. Dixie stood looking out into the garden through the lounge patio doors at the kids playing as she took a sip of her lemonade smiling at them playing together.
"Dix" Jeff said making her jump. Dixie turned round to look at Jeff who would not look her in the eye.
"I want to apologise for everything I said earlier and I know I was a complete arrogant prat and well I Want to make it up to you"
"Well your too late Jeff, what you said really upset me and now I am not so sure I want to stay married to you Jeff" Jeff stepped closer to Dixie before he grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. Dixie never tried to free herself from Jeff's grasp but she hugged Jeff back feeling tears slip down her cheeks.
"I love you Dix"