co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo
Annie woke up the next morning and walked downstairs shocked to see John making breakfast. "You're cooking?"
"Yeah. I thought it would be a nice surprise."
"Well I'm definitely surprised." She said walking in. "Are the kids up?"
"They are in the TV room watching cartoons."
"How's Jacob?"
"Had his first round of pain meds and is being taken care of otherwise by Nurse Payton."
She smiled. "That's great."
"I was thinking we could all spend the day together. The four of us. Maybe go to the zoo or something."
She looked at him. She wanted him and Jacob to have the relationship they used to have but she also knew how much Jacob loved to see Randy. This was so complicated. "If Jacob feels up to it, then it sounds like a great idea."
"Great." John said as Payton came back into the room.
"Daddy, Jacob wants some apple juice."
"Alright. One apple juice coming up. And why don't you make sure you and Jacob have clean hands for breakfast."
"Okay." She smiled as she took the sippy cup of apple juice with her.
John finished up breakfast and put it on the table. He turned to Annie. "Annie, I'm sorry about yesterday and letting Jacob get hurt. I should have been focused on him not other things and I'm sorry."
She looked at her husband. He was trying very hard with her and the kids. But it seemed a little forced and she couldn't shake the bad the feeling she had. "Let's just forget it and enjoy breakfast okay?"
"Alright." He said as Payton and Jacob walked in. He smiled when he saw them. "Breakfast guys."
"Did you make my favorite daddy?" Payton asked him as she sat down at the breakfast table and John put Jacob in the high chair.
"I made chocolate chip pancakes with smiley faces."
"That is my favorite." Payton said.
"Great. And I made special peanut butter banana for Jacob." John smiled and placed them in front of him.
"Thanx daddy." Jacob replied.
"You're welcome buddy." John smiled and sat down. Annie smiled at him and he winked at her. She was glad he was making an effort. "So, kids, mom and I were thinking about all of us going to zoo today. Just spend the day together as a family."
"Awesome." Payton replied. "I love the zoo."
Jacob looked at Annie. "But I want to see my frwend."
Annie stopped eating and looked at him. She hoped he wouldn't say more. "Jacob, we can go tomorrow. I'm sure they wont mind."
"What friend?" John asked.
"Oh, just a kid he met at playgroup. Remember I told you he was going to a play group now."
"Right. Well, maybe you can go see him tomorrow buddy."
"Okay." Jacob replied.
"Does he go to playgroup everyday?" John asked her.
"He does. Everyone says it's good for him to socialize with kids his own age. So I found a good play group and he loves to go there. He has a friend who loves to play blocks. And you know that's Jacob 's favorite."
"That's true it is. Alright. Well maybe you guys could go tomorrow while I swing by the office. I won't be long. Just filing some paperwork." Annie looked at him. "I promise it's just paperwork for the new deal. I'll be two hours tops."
"Alright." She replied. "Well, once everyone is finished, we can head to the zoo."
She headed upstairs after breakfast to get Jacob ready. She sent a text to Careena and told her that they would be over tomorrow. She put Jacob on the changing table and quickly changed his clothes.
"Mommy, I want to see Wandy."
"I know baby. But today we're spending time with daddy. Tomorrow you can go." Annie looked at him as he made the puppy face. "Jacob, daddy wants to spend time with us. Don't you want to spend time with daddy?"
"I guess so."
"Jacob, daddy loves you."
"No, he don't." Jacob said to her. "He luvs siswer."
"He loves you too baby."
"No mama. Wandy luvs me."
Annie sighed and pulled Jacob into a hug. She knew that was true. No matter how much she wanted it not to be. John loved Payton more. And it was hurting Jacob and their family. "I know he loves you." She said to him. "But for today, daddy wants to spend time with you. So let's make the effort to have a good time. Okay? And leave Randy out of things. You can go see him for a little bit tomorrow."
"Ok mama."
"Okay." She smiled and picked him up from the changing table and they headed downstairs. "Are we all ready for some zoo fun?"
"I'm so ready mommy." Payton smiled.
"I'm ready too." John added.
"Great. Then since everyone is here, let's head out." They got in the car and headed toward the zoo.
The day went pretty good as they looked around the zoo. Annie had to admit that John seemed to be trying with Jacob. He was talking to him and showing him all the animals. Payton was enjoying the animals too. It was true family outing. She hoped it was a step in the right direction but she still couldn't shake the bad feeling. That this new found fondness for his family was a front and John was hiding something from them. And Annie had a feeling that it was he was cheating on her.
"Today was a great day." John said as they arrived home after the zoo and a trip to Chuck E. Cheese.
"It was." She said as she carried a sleeping Jacob into the house. "I'm going to put Jacob down for his nap."
"Alright. I'll put Payton down." He said as he carried his sleeping daughter upstairs too.
Once Jacob and Payton were down, both John and Annie came down stairs. She walked into the kitchen to put up the picnic stuff. John followed her into it.
"So, tomorrow Payton has school and you're taking Jacob to playgroup?"
"Yeah and you said you had some work to do at the office?"
"I do. I need to do some quick paperwork and make sure my assistant is doing the work I need her to do while I'm spending time with you guys."
Annie nodded. "How is Alyssa?"
"She's been great. She gets the job done and she does it just like I want. I'm lucky I found her. She really knows the job."
"I bet she does." Annie replied.
"She's my assistant, Annie. Nothing more."
"I didn't say anything."
"You had that tone. She's just my assistant. I'm not cheating on you."
"I never said you were. But now that you bring it up, you have been acting like you did when you were cheating with Monica. Although I had no idea you were. But I noticed the behavior is the same."
"So every time I go out of town on business, I'm cheating on you?!" He asked. "Unfuckingbelieveable! I'm trying here Annie. I bust my ass at a job that makes most people cringe and I hear that I'm not here. So I try to be here and you pick a fucking fight with me."
"I'm not trying to pick a fight. And your job doesn't make most people cringe. You work in an office and you make deals to buy other oil companies. It's not like you're on the rig drilling the oil or anything." She sighed. "I worked at that company at one time. I know exactly what your job entails. And I also know how assistants like to sleep with their bosses. So if you say you aren't sleeping with her, then I believe you."
"Sure you do. I can tell by the tone of accusation in your voice."
She sighed. "I'm not trying to accuse you of anything. You're the one who brought up that you weren't sleeping with her. And you said weren't so I believe you." She looked at him. "John, you're my husband and I love you. I just am worried about us. We aren't like we use to be and it worries me."
"I know it does. And I'm trying to fix it. But you can't keep picking fights with me every time I turn around." He said as he walked over to where she was.
"I don't mean to. I'm just so concerned about us and Jacob and Payton." She looked at him. "I'm sorry."
"Annie, I love you and our family. We're just going through a rough spot right now. It will all be fine. I promise." He said hugging her.
She hoped they would be but she wasn't sure. Something had changed over the last six months and she had no idea how to fix it or what would happened.
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