We've Got A Lot Of Catching Up To Do ~ Chapter 6

I told everyone that night about Shawn being Chris's father, and to my surprise everyone took it pretty good. They were a little upset that I hadn't told them sooner, but I talked to them and they understood why.

A Year Later...

My relationship with Shawn has grown over the last year. We've become more than just friends, and Chelsey knows that Shawn is Chris's father. At first she didn't understand, but I told her she would understand when she got older, and for the first time, she didn't ask any questions.

"Shawn, we're home," I yelled as I walked into the penthouse carrying Chris.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Chelsey exclaimed, coming from the kitchen with grape jelly all over her hands and clothes.

"Chelsey! You've ruined your clothes! Where is Shawn?" I asked, annoyed.

"I'm right here," Shawn said as he entered the room with grape jelly all over his white T-shirt.

"What in the world have you two been up to?" I asked, trying to keep from laughing at the sight in front of me.

"She was hungry when I picked her up from her school and she wanted to show me how she could make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but before I could get into the kitchen, she already had the jelly," Shawn explained.

"Chelsey, get upstairs. I'll be right behind you, and don't touch anything," I said as I placed my shopping bags and purse on the floor. "You," I said, pointing to Shawn, "take off that shirt before you get jelly all over my house."

"Yes, ma'am," Shawn laughed.

I gave him an annoyed glare and headed up the stairs with Chris still in my arms.

"Down," Chris said as he began to squirm in my arms. "Daddy," he said, pointing to Shawn.

"Shawn, watch your son until I get back," I said, placing Chris on the floor. He immediately ran to Shawn who had taken off his shirt and was holding out his arms.

I walked upstairs to find Chelsey in her bedroom, my old bedroom. I grabbed a clean outfit from her closet and took her into the bathroom. I ran the water in the bathtub and turned around to see her puppy dog eyes starring at me.

"What's the matter?" I asked as I bent down so I was eye level with her.

"You're mad at me," Chelsey replied.

"No, of course I'm not mad. I'm just a little upset that you didn't wait until Shawn came into the kitchen."

"I'm sorry, Mommy," she said, walking over to me and giving me a hug with her jelly covered hands and clothes. I gave her a hug and a kiss, forgetting about the jelly that now covered my clothes and hair.

"Let's get you cleaned up, and then we'll head downstairs to check on the boys, you know how much trouble they can get into when they're by themselves."

Chelsey smiled at me and then climbed into the bathtub. After I had helped her get cleaned up, she went into her room while I washed the jelly out of my hair. I went into Chelsey's room and found her sitting on her bed playing with her dolls.

"You ready to go downstairs and help me cook dinner?" I asked as I walked over to her bed.

"Can I really cook?" Chelsey asked with wide eyes.

"Yes, but only if you'll let me help."

"Okay," she replied as she got off of her bed and headed downstairs.

"Hungry!" I heard Chris say as I came down the stairs behind Chelsey.

"Mommy's going to go cook now," I said as I walked over to where Shawn and Chris sat on the couch. "Are you staying for dinner?"

"No, I've got to go home," Shawn said as he looked over at me.

"You can at least stay for dinner," I begged him as I put my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.

"Daddy stay!" Chris said, giving Shawn a hug.

"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to leave," Shawn said, looking over at Chelsey.

Chelsey immediately ran over and climbed onto the couch to give Shawn a hug. Although Shawn wasn't her father, Chelsey had grown close to him. She had spent endless hours with him over the past few months, growing closer to him everyday.

"Okay, but only because Chelsey talked me into it," Shawn said as Chelsey and I removed our arms from around his neck and Chris still hung on.

"Let's go cook, Mommy. Can we have macaroni and cheese?"

"Sure, but don't you want anything else with it?"

"Nope."

"How about some chicken and green beans?"

"Yum! Yum!" Chris smiled.

Chelsey and I headed to the kitchen and prepared dinner. Soon, we were all sitting at the table eating.

Beep! Beep!

"That's my beeper," Shawn said as he put down his fork and pulled his beeper from his pocket. He looked at it and then put it back in his pocket. "I've got to go. That was the hospital."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow," I said as I stood from my seat to give him a kiss as he stood and walked over to my seat. He kissed me and then bent down and kissed Chris and Chelsey on their heads.

"I'll see you guys later!" Shawn said as he left the room.

At eight o'clock, Chelsey and Chris were both in the bed asleep. I was sitting in the living room watching t.v. when the doorbell rang. I got up and walked over to the door and opened it.

"Oh my goodness! What are you doing here?" I said as I looked at the person in front of me.

TO BE CONTINUED...