Tubba- You were right Jocelyn did want Ryland and he will find all that out in New York
Harry B Jackson- Of course you can lol
Sadie's Pov
The kids were eating breakfast I still haven't found the right way to tell Max I wanted this to be special for him considering what that fucking bitch did to him I want this no I need it to be special I just need to figure out what that special way would be. "Mommy? Can I watch daddy?" DJ asked.
"You want to what?"
"Watch daddy on this." He pointed to my phone.
"Here baby." He loved watching random videos on YouTube of Max because anyone could tell he was a little daddy's boy hell they both liked Max more than me but I didn't mind it was about time they had a father who loved them unconditionally and maybe in the future I'd get jealous but for right now I was happy.
"Mommy," Rosie said softly. "I don't ike it." She pointed at her toast.
"It's just bread."
"I don't ike."
"Don't eat it then baby."
"Mommy?" DJ said and when I didn't answer he started yelling. "MOMMY! MAMA!"
"What DJ?"
"Are you- um are you one of um daddy's hoes?" He asked his little brows knitted together.
"What….?"
"Daddy says he's get lot of hoes."
"Okay, that's enough YouTube for today." I took the phone from him he whined.
"I just want to watch daddy."
"I know you do but it's time for school."
"I don't want go."
"You have to."
"I stay home with daddy."
"Daddy isn't here he's working."
"When he come home?" Rosie asked poking her toast.
"Not for awhile but we are going to go see him soon we're gonna get on a plane."
"A plane! I love planes." DJ did his little happy dance where he shook side to side.
I was late getting to work because DJ put up yet another fight about school and traffic so by the time I got there everyone was doing their own thing I noticed Rylie looking miserable. "Hey you okay?"
"I hate her."
"Who?"
"That new girl Cambry she's a total bitch!"
"What happened?"
"So you know how we have the designs for the launch?"
"Yeah."
"Well apparently to her it's not good enough, she is driving me insane she called my designs 'eh' what are we in fifth grade? She's lucky I didn't punch her and then she calls me a bitch when I yelled at her."
"All this happened in the twenty minutes I missed?"
"Yes! And you don't even want to know about yesterday…."
"Well does everyone else like her?"
"No one likes her she made poor Cindy cry and Alley and Faith called in fake sick today because mega bitch is here."
"You let them call in sick?"
"Of course not I told them if they didn't come in i'd call Max so know they are mad at me she's so lucky I can't fire people but even if I did have that power I wouldn't do it."
"Why not? You hate her."
"Yeah but the kid i'm sure she needs the job."
"T-the kid?"
"Samantha is the only one that gets along with her because they are both evil and I guess Cambry has a kid but the kid lives with the grandmother or something I dunno Sammy was telling us about it at lunch but Cindy asked about the kid because you know Cindy loves those little things."
"Children?"
"Yes those."
"And?"
"Well she told her to mind her own business and a few other choice words."
"Weird… Anytime someone wants to talk about my kids I gush unless I don't know them then it's kind of awkward."
"But it wasn't the whole oh we aren't friends so i'm not gonna say anything to you about my kids all Cindy asked was what the things name was and she got her head bitten off."
"So what do you think?"
"Brownie points."
"What?"
"Think about it," Rylie said looking around to make sure no one could hear her. "She wants people to like her but no one does and what's everyones weakness? An adorable little kid- well unless you hate children- but anyway, she didn't bring up the whole kid thing until she saw that most of everyone working here has children."
What the hell was she playing at here? Was it because of our conversation or was Rylie right she just wanted people to like her? Everything was so confusing but I will get down to the bottom of it because Max deserves to know the truth. "Maybe you can infiltrate and become her 'friend' and then we can-"
"Never gonna happen, i'm sure we've hated each other before today."
"What?" I assume she's never met Cambry before since Max did say I was the first girl his family ever did meet.
"If I tell you this stays between us."
"Okay… Tell me, tell me."
"She's Max's ex."
"I'm sorry, come again?"
"She's Max's ex."
"Ewwww. Her? Yuck."
"Geez I hate to see what you say about me if Max and I ever-"
"You aren't allowed to break up with Max because you guys are adorable and I love DJ and Rosie they call me auntie Rywie it's the cutest thing ever."
"I don't plan on letting him go anytime soon."
I moved my hand to my stomach for a split second ever since I found out doing that makes me calm down, Cambry might of been Max's past but he's different down and i'm not going to let her hurt him anymore.
Kayla's Pov
"Boo!" Willow giggled. "Ahhh, boo!" She giggled again.
"You feeling better?" Rowan didn't answer just kept on playing with Willow. "Row?"
"I don't get why I just can't stay with you for a little while."
"I'm trying to talk to mom to get her to listen to me and if she does you can stay as long as you want between Sadie and I we don't mind keeping you."
"If I go back there i'm gonna shoot myself in the fucking face."
"Stop talking like that."
"I'm serious being dead is better than being in that house. I can't do anything Kayla she locked the fucking pantry, who does that? And dad is too busy worried about stupid work to pay any kind of attention to me, I am so sick of both of them."
"But-"
"You and Sadie raised me you guys gave me baths and always fed me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, you guys put me to bed every night for god knows how long? I can't even remember when it started because it has always been you guys, I don't remember mom or dad around when I was growing up."
"Your dad was sure around…" I said bitterly.
"What does that mean?"
"N-nothing.."
"My point is-"
"Sometimes it was Ham."
"What?"
"Well neither of us knew how to work a stove so we always had to make you sandwiches so we always made peanut butter and jelly but sometimes we'd make you a ham sandwich when you were extra good."
"Did mom ever care about me?"
"Don't do that…."
"Did she?"
"For awhile yeah but when Sadie turned eleven it was kind of like mom dumped all the responsibility on her I was nine, you were maybe seven or eight months old, we would take turns changing your diapers and feeding you."
"I don't think i've ever thanked you or Sadie for raising me."
"You don't need to thank us baby brother."
"Do you think that's why Sadie got a nanny for her kids? I mean she didn't have time to do anything fun growing up she had me to look after so maybe when she got away from mom and had her own kids she wanted freedom?"
"It was mom's idea for the nanny and Daniel."
"I never liked him."
"Me either."
"I never liked Tanner either." Tanner's named pulled at my heart to the point where I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry but I needed to be strong.
"I know."
"And I do not approve of you getting married."
"What? Why?"
"Well i've never met this guy have I? So what if he doesn't pass my inspection?"
"You've met him before."
"I have?"
"He came over once to the house, you were four you demanded that he give you a ride on his shoulders."
"Well that's embarrassing…. Anyway I need to meet him again and question him."
"Well i'm sure you will meet him one day." The doorbell rang and before I could get up it rang four more times.
"Well if that isn't mom I don't know who it is."
Harlan's Pov
Stephanie was yelling my name but I kept running no one cared about me everyone I love leaves me maybe that's how it suppose to happen. "Harlan!" Stephanie yelled again there were too many cars but Stephanie was going to catch me and I have to find Kayla so I ran but I got pulled back. "What were you thinking?"
"Let go! Let go! I want Kayla!"
"Harlan I know you do but you can't."
"She promised she wouldn't leave me."
"Harlan, we have to go back now."
"She promised….." And just like that my words were lost again.
Ryland's Pov
"One drink?"
"Ryland i've said no twenty five times."
"Daaaaadddd!"
"What is up with you?" If I tell him I lose if I don't tell him I lose, curse you mother.
"I just want to hang out with you, is that too much to ask for?"
"Well no but i'm not going out with you. If you'd like to go get dinner sure let's go but otherwise no."
"Why not?"
"Because I said so Ryland."
"Ugh I hate when people say that."
"Well your father so prepare to say it to Willow."
"I think i'll come up with a better phrase."
"Why do you want me to go out with you so bad? Why don't you go out with Max?"
"Max isn't here he's back home."
"Since when?"
"He has his appointment today to check his heart make sure everythings good."
"Wow he's actually going?"
"Uncle Alec threatened him."
"Have you and Kayla made a decision yet? About Harlan?"
"I want to adopt him, I haven't talked to Kayla about it her brother is visiting right now she doesn't get to see him much so i'm trying to give her some space."
"We should celebrate."
"Drinks?"
"No."
"Fuck my life…." I might as well give up and tell mom that she's won i'm getting nowhere with him, I have until I see her in New York to try and get him to come out with me but he won't budge on it.
"I'm not about that life anymore JJ."
"I know you like to sit down and watch tv now sipping mimosa and having girl talk." I joked dad leaned forward and punched me in the arm.
"Dick."
"OWW! Child abuse!"
"You're an adult."
"I'm still your child, that hurt what the fuck."
"Keep talking shit."
"I'm telling mom when I see her."
"In a month and a half i'm sure you'll forget."
"I won't because you bruised me."
"I did not stop being a baby, Logan could of taken that hit."
"Damn…."
"What's up guys?" Simon plopped down beside dad. "What are we talking about?"
"Nothing my father is abusing me."
"Can I take a turn?" He asked dad laughed and nodded.
"Leave me alone! You all are mean and I use to like coming on tour with you guys."
Max's Pov
No one was at home so I took a quick shower and called Sadie to find out where she was. "Hey baby." She answered almost immediately.
"Hey, how you feeling? Stomach ache go away?"
"Yeah i'm okay now went to the doctor and did all that."
"And what did the doctor say?"
"The normal doctor stuff."
"What are you doing?"
"I am at Kayla's my mom is over and causing a scene because my little brother ran away from home and he doesn't want to go back home."
"Did you pick the kids up from school?"
"No not yet after I leave from here I am going to run and get them."
"Well-"
"Shit I have to stop at the store we need milk and I can't take them into the store without coming out with twenty things I don't need." She groaned.
"Don't worry about the kids."
"What do you mean don't-"
"Well it's not like a real school where they have to be out of there by a certain time right?"
"Yeah." She yawned.
"What's the latest they can stay?"
"Six."
"Alright go shopping and then get them."
"And then home and nap."
"You're tired?"
"Yeah I didn't sleep last night a lot on my mind."
"Well I have a few things to do so i'll call you back soon."
"Alright, I love you."
"I love you too baby."
I drove to the school and sat outside for a few minutes hoping that Sadie put me on the list to pick them up or else they'd think a big tattooed man is just trying to pick up random children. "May I help you?"
"I'm uh here to pick up my kids."
"Have you picked them up before?"
"No."
"Okay just sign this and I'll need you I.D." It was like trying to break out of Fort Knox just to get the damn kids but luckily I was on the list which I know realize I'm the one who pays for them to go here so I should be on the stupid list.
I went into the preschool classroom first, DJ was sitting in a little chair eating something he looked up and then jumped up. "DADDY!"
"Hey player."
"We aren't going on a plane?"
"No we're still going on the plane in a few weeks."
"Oh…."
"Let's go get Rosie."
"Yeah!" He ran out of the classroom and down the hall opening the door to another classroom i'm glad he knew where he was going because I sure don't.
"Rosie! Daddy's here." She put the block she was holding down and ran to me.
"Daddy."
"Hey pretty little lady." I picked her up as her tiny little arms went around my neck squeezing me tight.
"Daddy I hungry." Rosie said letting her head rest on my shoulder.
"What do you want?"
"Pudding."
"How about a hamburger?"
"Okay!"
Kayla's Pov
"Mom you are being ridiculous." Sadie grumbled.
"I'm being ridiculous? Your brother ran away from home and you think he should be rewarded?"
"He said if you take him back he's just gonna leave or again or do something more permanent do you understand? Stop trying to be so fucking controlling all the time it must be hard when none of your kids can stand you." I said Sadie pulled me back.
"Kayla."
"I'm sick and tired of pretending like you were a great mother you weren't! You were shitty because any mother who would let a man touch their child is no mother."
"You had nightmares Kayla he never-"
"Stop it! I'm your daughter why can't you take my side? Why can't you just for once trust me." I broke down like I did when I was young and tried to tell her what he'd done to me but just like back then she didn't believe me.
"Kayla, Sadie." We both turned to see our step father standing by the entryway Sadie pulled me into a hug.
"Everything's alright… It's okay."
"Where is Rowan?"
"He's upstairs." I forced Rowan to take Willow up stairs I didn't want my mother around either of them and I sure in hell do not want him anywhere near my baby.
"Can you give us a moment with our mother, please?"
"I'll be waiting outside."
"Fucking douche." I muttered Sadie laughed.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Can someone-"
"I'm right here."
"Row-"
"Don't worry about me guys… I'm sorry I caused so much trouble, it was really nice seeing you guys again." He started to walk towards the door I pulled him into a hug.
"Please don't do anything stupid Rollie Pollie." He kissed my cheek.
"I love you." He hugged me again and went to hug Sadie she whispered something to him he smiled brightly. "I'll see you guys later." And they walked out while mom was yelling at him.
"I'm worried about him…"
"He's strong we raised him to be." Sadie said softly I hoped she was right. "If you want I can stay I have a little time."
"No I want to be alone right now i'm gonna call Ryland see what he's doing take my mind off of everything."
"If you need me I am just a phone call away."
"I know."
I went to Willow's room carefully picked her up and laid her down with me even though I didn't want Sadie to stay I didn't want to be alone and right now my little girl was the only thing keeping me sane. "Hello?"
"...Hi."
"What's wrong? You sound like your crying." His voice was so soft and full of concern that I started to cry again which really freaked him out. "Kayla is everything okay?" I told him what happened he tried to get me to open up but I just wanted to push everything away I didn't want to talk about things that made me sad I wanted to be happy.
"Tell me something?" I asked sniffling.
"Like what?"
"Something good, I need some good news… Tell me about your concert tonight."
"No I don't want to talk about that."
"Why?"
"There's something important I want to talk to you about."
"Okay."
"Let's do it."
"Do what? And if you mean phone sex your daughter is in bed with me so-"
"No, no, no. I meant let's adopt Harlan."
"Ryland right now isn't the time to play with my emotions."
"I'm not playing baby i've been thinking about it constantly I can't think of anything else."
"You really want to adopt him?"
"Yeah I do."
"But it will take months maybe years."
"Max has this friend who works for something that does something for someone but she owes him a favor he's going to call her for me."
"Her?"
"Yeah Max use to-"
"He's dating my sister i'd be careful what words come out of your mouth."
"He uh use to go to church with her to pray and stuff."
"I'm sure they prayed a lot." He burst out laughing his laugh made me feel ten times better, Willow started to stir against me.
"Did you have a nice nap? Huh you little chunky monkey?"
"My baby is not chucky, she's got muscles she's training for the baby olympics."
"The baby olympics? I'm afraid to ask."
"Max and I made it up when Cecily and Rafe were babies we made them do all these competitions to see who was the gold medal baby."
"And who won?"
"My mom caught us and she yelled at me so I got disqualified."
"No gold?"
"No gold sadly." He stayed on the phone until he had to go on stage and even then he didn't want to hang up the phone, at least I have Willow to keep me company that and I started looking up the adoption process.
Sadie's Pov
Right when I got into the car Max Facetimed me I looked like a big pile of ugly. "What are you doing baby?" Max as soon as I answered.
"I just got into the car."
"Oh sorry not you."
"Oh- who are you calling baby?" Max smirked as I glared at him.
"I'm calling my daughter baby."
"Your-"
"Hi mommy!" DJ's little voice rang out.
"Daddy took us eat." Rosie said.
"You're home?"
"I will be in like ten minutes the kid are finishing up eating and we will be home."
"I'll see you there." I hung up before he could say anything and drove home I still haven't figured out how to tell him maybe it would just be best if I blurted it out to him, or maybe baked a cake? I could be overthinking everything and I could just say hey i'm pregnant and that would be that.
"Mommy!" DJ ran in to hug me and then ran off towards the stairs.
"Hey baby." Max winked he was carrying Rosie her head was down against his neck. "Go see where DJ went." Max said and Rosie ran off after him. "You look beautiful today." He said and I felt it even though I looked like horse shit, I jumped into his arms and kissed him he groaned against my lips.
"How long are you here for?"
"Just a few hours I have to leave and drive up to LA I have a doctor's appointment there at nine in the morning so i'm just gonna crash at my parents place."
"Why do you have to go all the way to LA to see a doctor?"
"It's my heart doctor."
"Your heart doctor? Why do you need a heart doctor?"
"I have a not so good ticker."
"What-"
"There not sure if it's genetic or if was just because my mom did drugs when she was pregnant with me but i've had a crappy heart since I was a kid, I had surgery on it twice once when I was a baby after my parents brought me to the hospital and another when I was three and then I had one last surgery and got an artificial heart valve when I was ten."
"So you did drugs even when you knew you had a bad heart?"
"Yeah… I didn't really care if I died or not." I slapped his shoulder really hard. "What was that for."
"For what you said."
"I'm all for slapping but save it for the bedroom." His arms went around me and I felt dizzy I hated that he had this kind of effect on me.
"If we put a movie on we can we just need to be quick." His lips traveled down my neck hot wet kisses. "Max…"
"We can't."
"W-why?"
"I don't have a condom," Perfect time to tell him? No, what if he freaks out i'd at least like to have sex before I tell him. "And I need to get going soon."
"But-" His phone rang he sighed pulling away.
"Yes dad?" He rolled his eyes. "I am going to go." He groaned. "I know I didn't go last year but hey it's still beating right?" I could hear him getting yelled at. "Right not funny… Sorry…"
"What was that about?"
"About three years ago I overdosed on cocaine and before that I hadn't gone to my yearly appointments in like two years once again I didn't really care but when my parents found out they freaked out on me and while my heart has gotten worse thanks to the drugs it's fine so I didn't go to my appointment last year I went to LA and I stayed with a friend told my dad I went to the appointment."
"And your really going to this one?"
"Haven't decided my little brother wants to go to this new comic book store but my pops is working a lot and he's too young to drive so maybe i'll-"
"Give me your phone."
"Why?"
"Do I need a reason?"
"No." He shrugged and handed it over, I called Rylie hoping she'd say yes.
"Hello my ugly brother."
"It's actually Sadie."
"Oh wow I am so thankful I didn't go with the other greeting what's up?"
"I was wondering if you'd be able to watch the kids over night, I have to go with Max to a doctor's appointment because he's not going to go if he does it by himself."
"Oh his cardiologist?"
"Yeah."
"Make sure he tells them he's been having a lot of chest pain."
"I will thank you."
"And if you don't mind i'm gonna come over because I have no food in my house and i'm hungry."
"I'll see you when you get here."
"Who were you talking too?"
"How come you've never told me you've been having a lot of chest pain?"
"Last time I ever tell Rylie something."
"Max."
"I don't care about the stupid cardiologist."
"So if you die it's fine?"
"I wasn't saying that."
"You're implying it Max."
"I'm sorry."
"Just let me come with okay? I have some questions."
"Like?"
"The percentage of it being genetic." There a little hint he didn't seem to get it.
"Why would you care if it was genetic?"
"Because I want to know."
"Fine you can come but when he looks at me and says alright see you next year stay off drugs we'll be coming home."
"How long has it been?"
"Since what? I've had sex? Forever but you would know."
"Drugs."
"Ten months and eighteen days."
"I'm proud of you."
"Thanks."
"Even if it should be a few years clean."
"Knew that was coming."
"I'm gonna pack an overnight bag."
"You never did tell me who you called."
"Your sister." I said as I went up stairs, my hand automatically went to my stomach what if it is a genetic condition? Does that mean our baby will have it or it has a higher chance? I hope the doctor will have some answers for me.
