Chapter Twelve: Getting Away
A/N: To Chica de la Spastic: Yeah, my English teacher was always correcting me last year with the tenses…sorry about that. I'll try to get better with that, but it's just a habit so I prolly won't be able to fix it much lol.
"DAD!" Jonathan yelled from his bedroom.
"What is it Jon?" Jimmy asked, running up the stairs. He felt bad that Jon had a hard time getting around the house because there were no wheelchair ramps. They were planning on having some built in, but were preoccupied with helping Paige and Jake find a new house.
"A little help please! I want to go downstairs," he said.
"Sure thing son," Jimmy told him.
"Sorry if I sound a little spoiled. I just want to hurry up and get ready to go to therapy. I'm so excited to go and start walking again."
"It's not going to be that easy Jon. I went through two long years of therapy before I could walk. The doctor said…" but Jonathan cut him off.
"I know what the doctor said! I probably won't walk again, even with extensive therapy. I have ears Dad. I want to prove him wrong. I can do this; I know I can."
"I know you can too. Now, are you ready to go downstairs?" Jon nodded his head and Jimmy lifted him up out of his wheelchair. He carefully carried his son down the stairs and placed him in another one. They always kept one wheelchair upstairs and one downstairs so Jimmy didn't have to carry it up and down the stairs. Jonathan instantly zoomed away, hurrying to put his shoes on; a task he insisted on doing by himself. Jimmy went into the office to see Manny and Paige who were sitting on the computer.
"How about this one?" Manny asked, pointing at the screen.
"Too big. We don't need seven bedrooms when we'll only use three," Paige reasoned.
"What if you have more kids?"
"We've already talked about it and agree that two girls is perfect for us. I like this one," she said, changing the subject.
"I see you're not having much luck," Jimmy stated from behind them.
"I think you and Jake need to do this together," Manny told Paige.
"We have to get going anyways. Jon will be ready to go any second. Are you sure you two can watch the twins and your girls? Do you want me to call Emma?" Jimmy asked Paige.
"They'll be fine. We won't stay on the computer right now. We can look later when you guys get home. We were actually thinking of taking the kids outside to play soccer or football or something. That was obviously Jake's idea," she laughed. "Where has he gotten to anyway?"
"Probably still sleeping. I walked by the guest room a while ago and he was sprawled across the bed," Jimmy told her.
"Mom, Dad! I'm ready!" Jonathan called from the living room.
"Okay, we'll see you later. The twins will love to play sports but if it gets too hot, they can go in the pool. I don't want them getting overheated," Manny told her. Paige shot her an uncomfortable look. "What happened to Jonathan was an accident. We can't go around keeping the kids from doing certain things because they're brother got hurt. Don't worry. If you're that uncomfortable, it's fine. We'll see you later."
"How was your day with Paige and Jake?" Manny asked the twins when they got home.
"Great! We went swimming for a long time," Lily said.
"And Uncle Jake played video games with me," Lucas added.
"How was therapy?" Paige asked Jonathan.
"It was ok. Nothing too exciting happened. I can't really stand up yet, but I'll get the hang of it," he said cheerfully before wheeling himself into the living room.
"And how was packing?" Jake asked after the rest of the kids went upstairs. None of them knew yet.
"We almost finished it all. There are a few more boxes to fill," Jimmy told him.
"Thanks for all of your help guys. We're all going to miss you so much," Paige said, on the brink of tears.
"Don't worry! We'll keep in touch and make sure we come and visit all the time!" Manny said, hugging her. She looked at her watch. "I'm gonna go put Isabella to bed and then we can all go into the office to look for a house. You have less than a week to find one and move." Manny went upstairs and but the baby in her crib, singing to her for a few minutes until she fell asleep. When she went back downstairs and into the office, Paige, Jake, and Jimmy were huddled around the tiny computer.
"This is it!" Paige squealed. She pointed at the house and Jake clicked on it.
"Beautiful Victorian with wrap around porch, four bedroom, two and a half bath, fireplace, in ground pool in large backyard, swing set included," Jake read out loud as they all looked at the photos. "Perfect neighborhood to raise a family, many children close by."
"Honey, do you like it?" Paige asked him.
"I love it. It's the perfect price too," he replied.
"Call them now! This is our chance to get away," she said excitedly. Jake quickly dialed the phone and spoke with someone for about fifteen minutes. Paige waited by eagerly. When he finally hung up, they waited to hear what he would say.
"We're buying the house," he told her. Paige jumped into his lap and began kissing him. When she finally stopped, he spoke again. "I told the woman that we just wanted a new start in a new place. I also told her that we'd be paying in cash, the minute we get there. She's going to put the 'SOLD' sign up right now."
"Thank you so much!" she squealed. She ran out of the room and yelled up the stairs. "Avery, Maia! Can you come down here please?" The girls ran down as fast as they could and Paige motioned for them to sit on the couch. Jake came out of the office and stood next to her.
"Girls, we have something to tell you," Jake said.
"And we don't want to hear any complaining okay? What we're about to tell you is something that we have to do," Paige added.
"We're moving," Jake announced.
"To New York," Paige said. Their daughters were completely silent for a few minutes. Then Avery burst out crying.
"This is so unfair!" she yelled. "I don't want to leave all of my friends and family. You guys suck!" She stood up to leave but Jake stopped her.
"You just sit back down young lady," he said angrily. Avery knew she was in trouble when her father called her 'young lady.' "We are doing this for you. You may not think so right now, but someday you'll understand. You have no choice to make here. You better apologize to us for saying something like that."
"I'm sorry okay? But it's still not fair." She stood up and stomped up the stairs to Lily's room. Paige turned to Maia to see that she was crying too.
"I know you'll miss everyone, but you'll make new friends. And all of our family will visit us," Paige said, trying to comfort her.
"I know that Mom. I just hate it when everyone yells," she cried. Jake sat down and pulled her into his lap.
"No more yelling honey. I'm sorry," he said.
"Promise?" she asked.
"Of course."
"Now, you need to go to bed little missy," Paige said, ruffling Maia's hair. "We're leaving tomorrow." Maia stood up, kissed Jake and Paige on their cheeks, and went upstairs to bed. Jake got back online and bought plane tickets to Columbus, Ohio, to arrive at 5:30 pm. They decided not to get tickets directly to New York so that Matt couldn't find out where they went. They would drive into New York from Ohio, which would probably take about eighthours.Jimmy got on the phone and called the movers to inform them of the time that they would be needed the next morning.
"This is it then," Paige said, sighing. "I can't believe it has come to this. I'm gonna miss you guys so much." She hugged Manny, then Jimmy, and then all of the kids goodbye. Jake did the same.
"Make sure you visit us okay?" he said to the kids.
"We will Uncle Jake!" Lily said.
"Yeah, really soon," Jonathan said. "And I'll send you a home video of my second first steps," he said.
"I'll be looking forward to that." By that time, Paige was crying hysterically.
"I can't believe I'm leaving Toronto forever. I always thought Avery and Maia would be going to Degrassi."
"Don't worry Paige. I'm sure that you can come back soon enough. Matt won't stick around forever," Manny said, hugging her again.
"Sorry the girls aren't awake to say goodbye," Jake told them all.
"That's okay, we said bye to them last night," Lucas said.
"Okay guys, we have to leave now," Paige said, wiping her eyes. "I want some more hugs," she said, sniffling. Lily, Lucas, and Jonathan all gave her one more hug and then she kissed Bella on the cheek.
"Call us as soon as you get there," Jimmy added.
"Bye guys," Jake and Paige said in unison.
"Bye!" Everyone said, waving to their friends one last time.
A/N: Okay, I don't even know if you can pay in cash for a house, but I wanted to make it that way.
