Paul stuffed all his clothes back in his duffel bag, it was finally time to go back to his house for some peace an quiet, "hey, Steph, you want me to take your bag out to the truck?"
"Sure, if you want," she smiled, seeing he was excited to be going home, "when you come back, can you help me pack up Madison's stuff?"
"Yeah," he nodded and walked away. He threw the bags in the bed of his truck, then opened the door. He reached in the center console and grabbed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Making sure no one could see him, he put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it, sighing in relief.
"Paul," His mother came walking towards him, "what are you doing? I thought you quit smoking a few years ago."
He stared at her, wide-eyed, "mom, I don't want to talk about it right now. I never quit, I tried but it never worked," he turned away from her and exhaled, "sorry I lied."
"What's going on with you?" She leaned on the truck beside him, "you've become a completely different person now you're married, and I'm not sure I like it."
"I'm confused now, I don't know what to do anymore," he paused, "is it normal to feel weird and confused after you get married?"
"When are you going to admit to me what's really going on between you and Stephanie? You tell me that, and I'll give you my advice," she crossed her arms.
"What are you talking about? Stephanie and I got married, and now everything's weird and confusing."
"Do you not love her like you thought you did? Maybe everything happened too fast, faster than you should've gone. I mean, you two did get married quickly."
"I do love her," he cringed hearing that come out of his mouth. Saying those lovey things about her seemed to come easier and more naturally, almost like he meant them, "but now that we're married, things are different. Like the honeymoon stage is already over." He put the cigarette out and turned to her, "what did you mean by what's really going on between us?"
"It just seems weird, like you guys just got married for nothing. Like, I can see there's that little spark between you, but it doesn't look like you got married because you love each other. I don't get it."
"I don't get it either," he put his lighter and cigarettes back in the truck, "what's the real reason you came out here? I know you didn't see me smoking."
She nodded, "I want you and Stephanie to take the kids back to your house for Laurie and Kevin."
"Are you serious?" He put his head back and sighed, "for what?"
"They need some time alone, and I think you and Stephanie need some time with the kids. You used to always want to be with them, now all of a sudden you don't?"
"No, I love seeing them, I just don't know if I have the space right now. How long are they staying with us?"
"Maybe a couple weeks, but your father and I are going home. I ended up bringing all my stuff because I talked Laurie into it before you got here. Maybe you can slip in a good word for Kevin while they're with you? Trevor and Joey still aren't too fond of him, especially Trevor. I'm sure he just wants his dad back."
"Where the hell has Jim been? I've barely heard his name since they got divorced. Did he fall off the edge of the planet or what?"
"Trevor and Samantha still see him when they want, but it seems he doesn't care to be with his kids at all. I don't understand how you can just leave and never want to see your children again. Why would someone put their own kids through that?"
He shook his head, thinking about how Madison would feel when him and Stephanie got divorced, "I don't know," he looked over at his truck, "so if I take the kids, how am I supposed to get them to my house in my truck?"
"Laurie's letting you borrow the minivan. Here's what's going to happen, Laurie's taking us to the airport to drop us off, then she's going to her house to pack clothes for all the kids. She's going to drive the van to your house while Kevin follows her in his car, you keep the van and they'll leave in his car. All you have to do is go home with Stephanie and Madison and relax until they get there."
"Okay, easy enough," he smiled, "you're really going home today? You already have a flight and everything?" He followed her back in the house.
"Your father arranged our flight for us already, we're really going home today," she turned around and put her arms around him, "I'm gonna miss you, like always," she smiled and kissed his cheek, "we're coming back for Thanksgiving next month though, I think we're planning a big dinner with Laurie and the kids too."
"Well my house isn't very big, it doesn't accommodate very many people, you know that, maybe we can have it Laurie's house for once."
Kevin came out of the third bedroom juggling almost a half-dozen bags, "excuse me, sorry, Laurie asked me to get the kids' suitcases in the van, I'm trying to get them all at once."
"She finally found a man who does something," Paul smirked, getting a playful slap in the chest from his mother, "what? Jim wouldn't have done that, Jim wouldn't even wash a dish, remember?"
"Paul, come take Madison so I can pack her diaper bag up," Stephanie yelled out, waiting for him to come back, "so do you like the news? Your mom told me last night," she handed Madison to him, "I thought it was a good idea, what do you think?"
He closed the door and sighed, "my mom just interrogated me."
"About what?" She looked up at him, "she thinks something's up with us. She already asked me."
"I was outside smoking a cigarette and she came up to me asking why I was smoking. I was supposed to have quit a couple years ago, I told everyone, especially her, that I did, but I didn't. She says I've been acting weird ever since we got married. I don't really know what she means."
"You're all quiet, and kind of depressed-looking, she says she's just worried about you, she wants her son back the way he was. I want you back the way you were, remember when you first started working for me, you were goofy, you always joked around and you made it fun to be at work."
He sat down on the edge of the bed, silent, not knowing what to say. He nodded and stared up at her, "I don't think I changed that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She narrowed her eyes, "are you trying to say I did that to you?"
"No, I'm not saying anything," he watched as she turned bright red, "I just know I used to be funny, then I started working for you."
"Oh fuck you," she shook her head, "I don't even know what to say to that. This is what I mean, all you ever want to do is pick a fight with me."
He smirked, "so now you know how it feels. All the fights you started with me, over stupid shit."
She snatched Madison from his arms and threw the diaper bag at him, "don't start with me right now, just don't."
"Ooh, are we upset about something?" He picked up the bag and smiled, "what's stuck up your butt?"
She reached up and smacked him across his cheek, "just leave me alone. You came in here and started talking to me, and it was just to start a fight, just get out."
He stood up, holding his face, still grinning. He leaned in towards her ear, "if you wanted it like that, all you had to do was tell me. You're pretty sexy when you're angry," he let out a slight laugh before turning away and walking out the door, leaving her in a whirl of emotions.