The next morning 11 year old Finlee woke up with a fever, so while her siblings went to school, she was stuck at home. Addison and Meredith, both had important surgeries today and had to go to work, but Amelia was able to come over and stay with Finlee.

Sometime around lunch, Finlee woke up from her nap feeling groggy, but not still sleepy or even hungry. She was a little bored, so she went snooping in her big sister's room. That was where she found her father's diary in the top dresser drawer.

Elodie had moved it that morning before going to school. She planned on moving it everyday to decrease the chances of either her siblings or her moms finding it. She didn't want anyone, especially her mother to know that she had the journal. She figured that her mother had hidden it in the attic for a reason.

Finlee opened the diary to the bookmarked page four, reading the entry.

Meredith moved in with Addison.

My mistress and my ex-wife are living together. I don't even know how to process that.

Elodie hasn't talked to me in weeks, but Meredith told me they had a major breakthrough today. Elodie doesn't hate her anymore and she's accepted the baby as her brother. Well, she said half-brother, but still, she's accepted him nonetheless.

At this point, Finlee is still kind of neutral about the baby. She doesn't hate the baby, but she's not too interested in the baby either. I don't think she understands yet.

Quinten is obsessed with his baby brother. He loves talking to his brother and feeling him kick. Elodie thinks the kicking feels weird. Truthfully, I agree with her. I remember each time when Addison was pregnant and feeling the baby kicks. It felt like a little alien was inside the woman I loved.

Elodie had the lightest, softest little kicks. Quinten's were a bit harder, but nothing compared to Finlee. She had the strongest kicks I'd ever felt. It was almost like she was trying to bust out from the inside.

I think I'll sign her up for soccer camp this summer. She'll be four by then.

Anyway, that's not important. I love that the people I love are all getting along. However, it only makes me feel more alone. More isolated. Like I'm loosing everything. I've already lost Addison and Elodie. Soon I'll lose Quinten and Finlee. Then Meredith, and she'll take my baby from me before I even get the chance to really know him. My life started spiraling out of control when Elodie got her bipolar disorder diagnosis and it hasn't stopped yet. I wonder if it ever will.

Finlee felt a little overwhelmed by her father's written words and closed the diary, placing it back where she had found it before returning to her room. She hardly remembers her father now. She's always been told that he loved her, but reading the words of his troubled mind was too much for her to handle.

Finlee climbed back in her bed, getting in under the covers. She turned onto her stomach, trying to go back to sleep and forget everything that she had learned about her father.

Meredith arrived home from work first after picking up Quinten and Christopher from school. Elodie had gone to the library to do some research for the written portion of her senior project. She did know a lot about the brain already, but her teacher require at least three cited sources.

Upon walking into her house, Meredith checked in with Amelia on how Finlee was doing.

"Good. She was quiet most of the day. I heard her walking around a few hours ago. I checked on her a little while ago. She's asleep."

Meredith gave a nod, "Okay."

Quinten and Christopher have already sat down at the dining room table to do their homework.

Meredith goes upstairs to change out of her scrubs and then she pokes her head in on Finlee, who is very much not asleep.

Stepping into the room, she said, "Hey kiddo, Auntie Amelia thought you were asleep."

"I was faking." Finlee said simply

"I realise that. Why?"

The eleven year old shrugged, "Don't wanna talk about."

"Come on, Fi. Talk to me."

Finlee let out a breath, "Ellie's gonna kill me."

"Why?"

"I was snooping in her room and found dad's diary."

Meredith furrowed her eyebrows, "Dad's diary?"

Finlee nods, "Yeah. He wrote his thoughts and feelings. I only read one page. Page four."

"Where'd you find it?"

"Top dresser drawer."

Meredith gave a smile, "Okay. Thank you. Now do you want to talk about what you read?"

Finlee pursed her lips together, "It was sad. He was sad. Was that why he killed himself?"

"I don't know, baby. Perhaps. But no one can know for sure. No matter what the reason, know the he loved you and your siblings very much."

"I know. You and Mommy tell me all the time."

Meredith pulled Finlee into a hug, "And don't forget that I love you just as much."

"I love you too, Mama." Finlee replied as she hugged Meredith back.

Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.

What would you like to see happen next?