Jeff held on to Dixie as they watched the children playing outside. "Dix, I am sorry for being a complete idiot," Jeff said as he watched Olivia playing with her cousins in the back garden.
"I'm still mad at you Jeff, what you said really upset me" Dixie pulled away from Jeff, took a step away from him, and looked out the window. Jeff looked at Dixie who would not look at him but stared out the window.
A few minutes later Maddie walked into the house looking for her mother and father. She finally found Dixie in the lounge with her auntie laughing.
"Mum, can I stay with you?" Maddie asked walking over to Dixie and sat down next to her as close as she could.
"Don't you want to go out and play sweetheart?" Dixie asked placing her arm round Maddie who snuggled closer to her mother.
"No I want to stay with you"
"Ok sweetheart"
"How is school going sweetie?" Maddie felt a pang in her stomach as soon as the word school was mentioned she felt her chest tighten and her hands felt all sweaty and clammy. Maddie forced a bright smile and hated herself for what she was going to say next.
"Everything is fine thank you" Maddie smiled sweetly at her aunt but she was beating herself up mentally for saying something she knew was a complete lie.
"I am glad that you're still enjoying it and enjoy every minute because it soon goes to quick and the next thing you know you're married and have children of your own"
"Ok I will keep that in mind aunty Sarah"
"Your father was not interested in school he just wanted to go out and have fun so often he would bunk off school to hang round the mall with friends scamming on girls"
"Really? dad?" Maddie said sounding rather surprised but now she could see he was not at all the studious type.
"Hmmm very true indeed but, look at him now he's married and has 2 beautiful girls who I know he loves very much" Sarah got up and gave her niece a cuddled before she excused herself to get another drink.
Meanwhile back in the kitchen Jeff stood with old classmates with a beer in one hand and occasionally nodded at them and standing there listening them to not really saying anything his mind was on his argument from earlier with the woman he loves so much.
"Jeff you alright mate? You've been rather quiet tonight," Rick said patting him on the back.
"I'm alright mate, just had an argument with my missus before we came out and well I don't really want to be here" Jeff took a sip of his beer and excused himself and walked round the kitchen look past people trying to find Dixie. Jeff walked past a crowd of people who all greeted him and he gave a polite hello back, walked out of the kitchen, and walked outside to get some fresh air. Jeff watched as Olivia played with her cousins screaming as they chased each other round the garden. Olivia rushed over to her dad, held on tight to his legs, and looked up at him with a bright smile.
"Alright princess?"
"Yeah, Holly's chasing me and she can't get me when I'm with you" Jeff chuckled at his daughter still clinging on to him for dear life. Jeff took a large sip of beer as he looked out into the night sky with was now covered in stars shining bright in the black velvet sky as he thought to himself he wished Dixie was in his arms right now and how much he wanted to wrap his arms round her as they looked at the night sky with the sound of children's laughter fill the air. Jeff felt Olivia let go and heard her screaming for Holly to stop chasing her. Jeff took one more look at Olivia to make sure she was all right before he went back into the party. Jeff walked through to the lounge and glanced round to see Dixie sitting there looking bored with Maddie by her side to look tired and bored like her mother. Jeff walked over and bent down to Dixie's level.
"Do you want to go home Dix?"
"No you stay it's your family, I'll drop the girl's home" Jeff got up just as Dixie decided to so they now were looking into each other's eyes.
"Come on let's go home" Jeff was the first to break the eye contact as he placed his arm round Maddie who look half asleep.
"I'll get Olivia," Dixie said turning away and walking outside.
"Olivia, we are going home come on sweetie" Olivia came walking over looking worn out and tired.
"Come on sweetie" Dixie bent down and lifted Olivia into her arms feeling Olivia lay her head on her shoulder and she knew Olivia would be a sleep on the journey home.
The Collier said their goodbyes, put both girls in the car, and headed home. The drive home was quiet, Dixie looked out the window and Jeff looked straight ahead, as he drove.
"I love you Dix" Jeff said breaking the silence and Dixie just stared out the window, as Jeff never said anything. Jeff glanced in her rear view mirror at Maddie and Olivia who was now sound asleep.
They pulled in to the drive way and Jeff carried Olivia out of the car and into her bedroom where he put her to bed and kissed her goodnight. Dixie woke Maddie up and told her to go straight to bed. Maddie said goodnight to her mum and kissed her dad on the cheek as he walked past. Dixie had already climbed into bed and turned away so she had her back to Jeff who walked into the bedroom. Jeff stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed and just laid there look up at the ceiling. Dixie laid awake feeling a tear slip down her cheek and she began to sob quietly. Jeff looked to his right at Dixie as her shoulders shook indicating that she was crying. Jeff stayed rooted to the spot as he listen to his wife who was sobbing. After a few minutes, Jeff could not take any more so, he moved over to Dixie and placed his arms round Dixie whispering "I love you Dix, princess I'm so sorry"
"I'm sorry to Jeff and I'm sorry we had to leave early tonight. I hate falling out because I love you"
"Don't be stupid Dix, I had enough too and I couldn't enjoy myself knowing that I hurt you and upset you and all I wanted was to have you there with me" Dixie turned over facing Jeff placing a kiss on his lips and snuggling closer to her husband who looked into her eyes and wiped away the tears. Jeff kissed Dixie on the nose, which made her squeal as it tickled. There it was that smile that Jeff loved so much and had missed today.
