June 15th, 1996
John pulled into the driveway, staring at the moving van in front of his house. He cursed silently under his breath. Claire was going to be pissed that he was late for helping the movers. He got out of the car and walked into his house.
"Daddy!" Tyler ran down the hallway. "All my stuff is gone!"
"I know." John chuckled giving his son a hug. "Where's your mother?"
"Helping Tiffany finish packing." Tyler said peering out the door.
"How many times have I told you and your sisters to not let your mother pack?" He couldn't help the frown upon his face, "She's pregnant and shouldn't do that."
"I dunno." Tyler said bolting out the house. John sighed climbing the stairs. Those children didn't listen. He walked into Courtney and Tiffany's room.
"I'm sorry I'm late." John said. Claire looked up from a box.
"I didn't expect you until about now." She said. "We have movers to help with the moving."
"Then don't lift the box." John said pulling it out of her hands.
"I'm pregnant. Not handicapped." Claire said putting her hands on her hips. John smiled gently. He loved it when Claire got that little crease in her forehead. "You need to talk to that daughter of yours."
"I have two." John said loosening his tie.
"Courtney is getting moody about the mood." Claire said. "She's in the back yard."
"I'll go talk with her. Don't lift any more boxes." John said.
"I won't." Claire chuckled. John walked back downstairs with a sigh. He hated having heart to hearts with his children. It wasn't bad talking with his children, it was just bad trying to come up with the words. In the courtroom, his speeches were easy, but looking into those eyes of his children made it harder. John stepped out onto the back porch and looked at Courtney who was moping on the old swing set.
"Hey, Courts." He said. She turned her dark eyes up to him.
"What do you want?" Courtney asked.
"Well, I just came home and I wanted to spend time with my oldest daughter." He said walking over to the swing set.
"Home? This isn't our home anymore." She told him.
"This will always be our home regardless of where we live. It's your childhood home." John said, "But our next house will be your teenage home."
"I'm going to miss all my friends." Courtney said to her father.
"I know, but they can come for a visit." John said as he began to push her, "But think of all the new friends you'll make. You're going to be so popular it'll be sickening." he heard a tiny chuckle from the redhead.
"That'd be cool." She said.
"You know what will be even more cool?" John asked.
"What?" Courtney peered over her shoulder.
"A new pair of shoes." John winked. Courtney's eyes sparkled. He could always bribe her with a pair of new shoes or a new shirt. She was exactly like her mother. Courtney jumped off of the swing.
"Can they be heels?" She asked.
"They can have some lift." John said.
"Heels?" Courtney batted her eyes. John laughed.
"They can have some lift." He repeated. Courtney sighed.
"Fine." She said. Claire stepped onto the porch.
"Guys, come on. The truck is ready to go with the last of our stuff." She said. John looked at Courtney.
"You ready?" He asked her. She nodded.
"It'll be cool having my own room I can decorate how I want it." Courtney said. John could swear he see dollar signs flash in her eyes. John chuckled leading his daughter out front. Tiffany and Tyler were jumping into the car. Claire walked up behind him.
"How is she?" Claire asked.
"Just fine." John said opening the car door for her.
"You bribed her with new stuff didn't you?" Claire asked, lowering her achy body down into the car. John made sure his children were buckled in before he pulled out of the driveway. It was hard leaving this home, but he was ready for a new chapter in his life. He wanted to raise his children in a more safe environment.
The house was huge. It still felt empty even though they were inside of it. It didn't feel like their home yet. John knew it'd take a while for everything to get unpacked and feeling like this was theirs.
"Come to bed, John." Claire said trying to get comfortable.
"Okay." He said crawling into bed, "how are you feeling?"
"I can't wait to unpack and get the kids situated in their new school." She said, "It'll be hard for them a little bit I think."
"How about for you?" John arched his eyebrow.
"I'm fine. You can't bribe me with new shoes." She said, "Just sleep."
"And chocolate." john pointed out.
"And chocolate." Claire laughed. John wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. He sighed with happiness. It was wild how happy he was. John couldn't have asked for a better life.
June 22nd, 1996
Allison stared at Audrey. She was almost two months old and already changing before Allison's eyes. It made her sad. She loved the baby stage.
"God, I love you." She picked the baby up.
"You love me too?" Adria stood in the doorway. Allison grinned brightly.
"I love you more than the moon and the stars." She said.
"And I love you more than the sun and the planets." Adria giggled walking into the living room, "Are you gonna do something this summer?" Allison shrugged.
"I think we're going to stay home, maybe lock you kids in some closets. That might be fun." She said. Adria frowned, "How celebrate someone's birthday in eight days."
"Oh!" Adria's face brightened up. "Like how?"
"It's like a surprise." She winked at her daughter, "but you're turning eight so it'll be a special one I promise."
"Can Tiffany come?" Adria asked, "I'm glad she moved in."
"If her mom says it's okay." She said, "Now go clean your room."
"What if I don't want to?" Adria asked.
"You won't live to be eight now go." Allison laughed, picking Audrey up. She walked over to the playpen and laid her in. She glanced out the back door and saw Asia ready to jump into a mud muddle, "Asia Belle Clark! Get your behind in her!"
"No!" Asia yelled.
"ASIA BELLE!" Allison snapped. Asia stopped and looked at her mother. She sighed deeply and walked dup the steps back to the house.
"You're no fun." She pouted.
"I know." Allison pushed her daughter into the house, "Go finish your room." Asia stomped down the hallway. Allison tuned back to Audrey. "Stay tiny. I like it when you're tiny."
"How do you like big thick things?" Andrew asked coming up behind her. Allison laughed loudly, turning around.
"I love them." She said, "But I hate how those things make creatures like Asia." Andrew chuckled.
"Is she giving you trouble?" He asked.
"I don't know where she came from." Allison said, "Adria wasn't like this and Audrey is already ten times better than Asia was."
"Well, We broke the mold with Asia." He said pulling his wife down to the couch with him.
"Thanks god for that." She said. Andrew nipped at her neck.
"So, I take it you don't want to try for another one?"
"NO!" Allison pushed him away, "Even if I did, the doctor didn't give me the okay to jump back in the sack." Andrew groaned.
"I'm going to burst." He said.
"Poor baby." Allison pouted, "You'll have to take care of it yourself." Andrew gave her a look.
"So, you're not pushing the thought of number four out of your head are you?" He asked. Allison shook her head.
"If the next one is a boy, I'll do it next month. If it's another girl, I'll do it in five years." She said. Andrew chuckled. His wife was so nuts sometimes.
"Okay, I'll see if I can handle that some how…" He said, "If I do, I'll be a millionaire." Allison's eyes twinkled.
"Hey, you should research that." She said, "I could use a million dollars. If we have a boy, we are we going to name him?"
"Something with an A of course." Andrew said, "Maybe Andrew Jr."
"No. No Juniors." She said. "Maybe Alonzo or Alfalfa."
"I like Alfalfa….Alfalfa Clark." Andrew kissed her neck. Okay, this really was torture. He knew Allison had to get the okay from her doctor before he even thought about having sex. It was just torture.