Chapter 14: Family Time

Kimberly sighed as she woke up. She walked over to her closet and pulled out the outfit she was going to wear to teach today. She pulled on her jeans, her sneakers, a white blouse, she pulled her hair in a half-ponytail, and placed a ribbon around the ponytail part. Hannah then came in. "Hey mom," she greeted.

"Hey, baby," Kimberly answered.

Hannah smiled as she sat down on her mom's bed. "Which school are you teaching at today?" She asked.

"Silver Hills High School," Kimberly replied with a smile.

Hannah laughed nervously at the name. "Mom….are you by any chance teaching in the History department are you?" She asked.

"Yep," Kimberly replied.

Hannah groaned slightly and Kimberly smiled at her. "Don't worry, sweet heart, I won't embarrass you," she assured her.

"Thanks, mom," Hannah answered with a sigh of relief.

Kimberly laughed as she kissed her daughter's forehead. "Now go get your bag, we have to get to the school," she instructed. Hannah nodded before running off to get her bag. Kylie then came in.

"Mommy, can I ask you something?" Kylie asked.

"Sure, sweetie," Kimberly replied.

Kimberly picked Kylie up and set her up on the dresser. "Mommy, is Lucas going to be my daddy?" She asked. Kimberly smiled as she touched her daughter's face.

"I don't think so, sweet heart,' she replied.

"Why not? Don't you like Lucas?"

"Yeah. I like Lucas, but I love your daddy."

"Who's my daddy?"

Kimberly placed her hands on Kylie's knees and looked her daughter straight in the eye. "Your daddy is Tommy Oliver and he's a very good man," Kimberly replied.

"Does my daddy love me?" Kylie asked.

Kimberly bit her lip and touched Kylie's face. "If he knew you, he'd love you," she replied.

"Why isn't my daddy around?" Kylie asked.

Kimberly sighed as she picked Kylie up again and set her down on her bed. "Your daddy's very busy, sweet heart, but if your daddy was here, he'd love you," Kimberly replied. Kylie smiled and Kimberly kissed her forehead. "But remember this, munchkin, I love you more than anything in the whole wide world," Kimberly informed. Kylie smiled as she hugged her mother tight.

"I love you, mommy," Kylie told her.

"I love you too, munchkin."

She kissed Kylie's nose and sent her off to get her bag together so she could drop her off at kindergarten.

(That Evening)

Kimberly was walking down the beach while Kylie was asleep on the beach blanket with her head in Kimberly's lap. "Mom, do you think Hunter and Blake are you okay?" Hannah asked. Kimberly stroked her daughter's hair with a smile before answering.

"I'm sure they're doing just fine. They better after all that happened before they left," Kimberly replied.

Hannah nodded with a smile before looking at her sleeping sister. "Thanks, mom," she stated.

"For what, baby?" Kimberly asked.

"For everything. I mean, you took my brother and me in when you could barely raise your daughter. You gave Hunter and me a life that we could ever imagine. Despite the fact things are said because of you raising three teenagers and a five-year-old, I'm just glad I got you as my mom," Hannah replied.

Kimberly smiled as she touched Hannah's cheek. "It was my pleasure, Hannah. I wouldn't trade you, your brothers, or your sister in for anything," Kimberly informed. Hannah smiled as she held onto Kimberly's hand.

"Mom, I know how much it hurts you when Kylie looks at Tommy's picture," Hannah commented.

Kimberly bit her lip as she looked out at the ocean. "It's not that it hurts me. It's just that I miss him. I regret never telling him about Kylie. I'm sad that I can't find him. It doesn't hurt me when Kylie looks at his picture. What hurts me is that Kylie hasn't been able to know who her father is," Kimberly explained.

"Tommy was a good man, wasn't he?" She asked.

"Yes, a very good man. But, what really hurts me, Hannah, is that he believed everything that was said in a letter I didn't even write. Tommy's smarter than that. He shouldn't have thought I'd replace him with another man after all we went through."

"Mom, you're dating Lucas. What is he? Just a fling?"

Kimberly thought about it and let out a sigh. "It can't be anymore than what we have now, Hannah. It's impossible," Kimberly informed.

"Why is that?" Hannah asked.

"Jen told me that I have a future with someone else that will shape Kylie's future and it'll have it be so Jen would live."

Hannah nodded her head and Kimberly placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sweet heart, you have to understand that you should never put your personal feelings in the way of things like this. Even though Lucas and I are taking a big, big chance at this relationship. If I did end up in love with him, it would jeopardize everything. I like Lucas, he makes me happy, but I just can't fall in love with him. I won't allow myself to get emotionally attached to someone again," Kimberly explained. She then saw a look on Hannah's face. "What?" She asked.

"Then, I guess Wes and Jen are taking a bigger leap than you and Lucas," Hannah replied.

"What do you mean?"

"Mom, don't you see it? Jen's in love with Wes and Wes is in love with Jen. Don't tell me you don't see it."

Kimberly though back on it and nodded. She noticed the looks Wes and Jen give each other if the other isn't looking though. "Maybe, but look, they're not acting on their feelings. No matter how they felt about each other, they refuse to let their feelings get in the way," Kimberly explained.

"Do you think that's why Eric refuses to get close to anyone?" Hannah asked.

Kimberly thought back on that one too and nodded her head slowly. "Yeah, I think that's why Eric won't allow himself to get close to anybody," Kimberly replied.

"He still hasn't told you why he rescued you?" She asked.

"No, that's still a big mystery."

Hannah nodded before watching Kimberly stand up with Kylie in her arms. "Come on, Hannah, let's head home," Kimberly insisted. Hannah nodded before picking up the beach blanket and they head back home.