Kim was sitting on the couch with Joey waiting for Jimmy to arrive. It was Kim's weekend with Ellie and Jimmy's with Joey. "Mom, is daddy going to be here soon?" Joey asked impatiently. He was tired of waiting so long all the time.
"He should be here soon," Kim replied. Jimmy was already two hours late. She didn't know why he was always late.
"That's what you said hours ago," Joey replied.
Kim saw his hopeful eyes fill with sadness. "Hw said he'd be here. He wouldn't let you down. He's just running a little late," Kim assured Joey and hugged him.
Joey smiled at his mom. She always made him feel better. "Why don't you go get your stuff out of your room," Kim said.
"Okay," Joey said and ran into his room.
Kim closed her eyes slowly and let out a sigh. She hoped Jimmy wouldn't let Joey down. Kim heard a knock on the door. She opened the door and was relieved to see Jimmy there. "What took so long? You're over to hours late," Kim said. She hoped he had a good reason.
"I got tied up with Ellie. There was another incodent," Jimmy said.
"What happened?" Kim asked. She was going to talk to Ellie about this stuff today.
"She took Emily's barrettes. She kept on saying they were hers and Connie insited that they were Emily's. Connie wouldn't lie about something like this," Jimmy said. He didn't know why Ellie was acting up. She never acted like this before.
"What did they look like?" Kim asked. She didn't think Ellie would do something like that.
Jimmy pulled the barrettes out of his pocket and showed them to Kim. "Jimmy, these were the barrettes I bought Ellie last weekend at the mall. She had class pictures and wanted her hair done nice," Kim said. She knew Ellie wasn't like that.
"Maybe Emily has the same type. Connie could've made a mistake," Jimmy said. "Yeah whatever," Kim said.
Ellie sat on the couch. Kim hugged Joey good-bye and waited till she was sure they were gone. Once she was sure she sat down next to Ellie. "Ellie, I heard you've been acting up, lying, and being mean to Emily," Kim said carefully. She didn't want to upset Ellie.
"It's not true. Connie's only saying that because I'm a bad girl and Emily's a good girl. I'm sorry mom. I don't know how I'm being bad. All I do is sit in my room, then...," Ellie stopped there. She was scared to say the rest. Scared that Kim wouldn't believe her.
"The what sweetie?" Kim asked gently. She saw the fear in her daughter's eyes.
"Then she hits me and says that soon she'll get rid of me," Ellie said.
Kim held Ellie in her arms. She didn't want Connie near Ellie anymore. She knew she had to stop Connie from hurting her daughter any worse.
"Go into the bedroom okay. I'll come in and tuck you in to bed soon," Kim said.
"Okay," Ellie agreed and went into her bedroom.
Kim went over to her phone and dialed Jimmy's cell. "Hello," Jimmy said. She heard Connie yelling in the background.
"Jimmy, it's Kim," Kim said. She wanted to let Jimmy know what Ellie told her.
"Kim what's wrong?" Jimmy asked concerned. He hoped she wasn't in danger. Connie looked at Jimmy. He wasn't over Kim yet. She could tell. She knew she would have to do something fast, before Jimmy went back to Kim.
"It's Ellie. I don't want her near Connie," Kim said.
"Why not?" Jimmy asked. He knew Kim wouldn't do something like this for no reason.
"Ellie said that Connie has been hitting her and that she doesn't let Ellie out of her room. Jimmy, I don't want Ellie to be treated like that," Kim said seriously.
"Kim are you sure Ellie was telling the truth. She told Connie that you were hitting her," Jimmy said confused. He didn't know what to believe.
"Yes I'm sure. Maybe Connie said that just to cover up her tracks," Kim said. She just hoped Jimmy would listen to her and keep Ellie away from Connie.
"Kim don't do this. I know you're mad at me for moving on, and that you don't like Connie. But don't use our child to get me and Connie to split up. That's low Kim," Jimmy said. He knew Connie would never hurt Ellie. Connie loved Ellie.
"Jimmy I am over you, and I'm happy that you moved on. And yes I hate Connie, because she is hurting my child. Jimmy can't you just see what Connie is doing. Don't you want Ellie safe?" Kim said. She couldn't believe that Jimmy was making this out to be about her.
"I have to go," Jimmy said and hung up. He didn't feel like dealing with Kim's lies right now.
"What was that about?" Connie asked coming back into the bedroom.
"Ellie told Kim that you have been hitting her. Kim doesn't want you around Ellie," Jimmy said. He saw the look of confusion in Connie's eyes.
"I would never hurt Ellie. I love that child. Jimmy I'm not trying to be mean, but I think Ellie would be better off away from Kim. I also think we should get Ellie some counseling. I know the perfect person. He's good with kids. Kids play with toys or color while he talks to them. What do you think?" Connie asked.
"I think counseling is a good idea for Ellie. But I don't think Kim is the problem. I think me and Kim not being together is just to hard on her. Ellie adores Kim, more than anything in this world," Jimmy said. He didn't want to hurt Ellie, or Kim like that.
"Well all kids adore their mothers. But if you want Ellie to continue seeing Kim, I'm fine with it," Connie lied. She knew her plan would be harder to do now that Ellie was still going to see Kim. Or it could work out better. Connie had a new plan, that she knew would work better than the old one would. She kissed Jimmy good night and fell asleep. She had work to do tomorrow.
TBC...