"Mom!" JJ yells, running to me as soon as I set foot in the house. I smile, hugging him tightly. "I missed you" he whispers, his eyes sparkling. "Missed you too sunshine" I say quietly, picking him up and carrying him into the kitchen. I sit him on the counter as I grab us both a drink. "Where's my dad?" he asks suddenly. "Dad always comes home. Where is he?" "Uh JJ" I say. "Dad will be a bit late this time. He's got a few appearances to do before he can come home. So we get some mom and JJ time, what do you say we go to the movies after school tomorrow?" "Yes!" he yells, high fiving me. "What's all the yelling?" mom asks walking in, smiling when she sees me. "Hey you" she says, hugging me. "How's things?" "Dad has appearances so he can't come home right now" JJ says quickly. Mom looks at me and I nod slowly. "Go tidy your room JJ" she says. "Mom can't tuck you in if she's gonna be standing all over your figures." I help him down and he runs off quickly.
"Well?" mom asks. I nod. "It's done" I say quietly. "We're done. He didn't even argue mom. Just accepted it straight away. He's coming back tomorrow, I need to sort the spare room." She watches me as I walk out of the kitchen, grabbing spare linen on my way to the spare room. I make the bed quickly so it's all ready for him, then move his stuff out of our room. I hear JJ talking so I head for his room. "Yeah dad, I'm good" he says cheerfully. "Mom is taking me to the movies tomorrow. Will you be here when we get back? I miss you." He listens carefully as Jon talks to him. "Oh" he says, quietly. I frown. Surely Jon hasn't told him. JJ catches sight of me and smiles. "Mom" he says, holding out the phone. "It's dad. Says he needs to talk to you." I take the phone from him and take a deep breath before talking. "Jon" I say. "What's wrong?" "What have you told him?" he asks bitterly. "Did you tell him you don't want me around you anymore? That you're more cosy with his uncle Colby than with his dad?" "Don't be stupid" I hiss. "I told him you've got appearances and that's why you couldn't come straight home. I'm not doing this now Jon. If you want to talk, you know where we live." I end the call and look at the phone, turning it off before JJ realises. "Battery died, sunshine" I say, waving the phone at him. "I'm gonna go charge it in the kitchen. Hurry up and get this tidied, I'll be in soon for the story." He nods and carries on with the tidying while I hurry to mom.
"Woah" I groan, leaning on the kitchen doorframe. "Head rush." "You ok Morg?" mom asks, rushing over to me. I nod, making my way to a stool at the breakfast bar. "Rushing around on an empty stomach" I say, grabbing an apple and taking a bite. "Too much arguing and not enough eating. I'll be ok. JJ just spoke to Jon. I think Jon's drunk again. I can't do this mom. It's not fair on JJ." She nods. "I know" she says quietly. "But right at this moment it's you I'm worried about. You look peaky, Morg. You sure you're ok?" I nod. "It's just stress mom" I say, smiling at her. "I'll be ok after a good sleep." She nods warily. "Go to bed now" she orders. "I'll sort JJ. He can have his story in your room. Morganna, I know I kinda pushed you into taking this job, but if it's going to have this effect on your health, maybe you should have a rethink." I nod. I know she's right. "It's just all this crap with Jon" I say. "I'll be fine mom. Once everything is sorted, and he's out of here, I can concentrate on my job again, not worrying about how drunk my ex fiancé is going to be in his next interview." I slide off the stool and make my way slowly to my room. I lie on the bed as the room starts to spin. "No" I whisper. "Not now. Not here. I'm not going to pass out." I close my eyes and wait for the sensation to pass. When I open my eyes again, JJ is standing next to me. "Mommy" he whispers. "Are you sick?" I smile, nodding slightly. "A little" I whisper. "I just need my little boy to give me hugs." He climbs on the bed with me and hugs me softly. Soon we're both asleep.
I wake up alone in the bed the next morning. Mom is sat in the chair next to the bed, looking at me worried. "What's wrong?" I ask hoarsely. "Where's JJ?" "He's in school Morg" she says softly. "It's lunchtime. Morg, you don't look too good, sweetie. I've called the doctor. He should be here soon." "What?" I ask, sitting up quickly. Too quickly. "No mom, I can make it to the doctors." "I don't think you can, sunshine" she says softly. "You can't even sit up without the room spinning, can you?" I shake my head, tears in my eyes. I don't get a chance to answer her though, the sound of the front door slamming makes us both jump. "Jon" I whisper. Mom nods, standing up. "Leave him to me" she says. "You rest up until the doctor turns up. Jon and I have some talking to do."