#4
You know that moment when everything in your life seems to be going perfectly and when you realize it a pit of dread just forms in your stomach?
Well that's where I was right now. Before we left Vegas Vic had a hard time saying good bye to his Grandma and Grandpa, but by the time we had gotten off the plane he was more excited than anything.
It was two days of bliss when we got back to the house. Vic was surprised and a little afraid of how close we were to the ocean, never going further than the little waves that came on the sand.
Sunday night Lucky, Vic and I were sitting around the coffee table eating pizza and watching Lilo and Stitch when the doorbell rang. I looked at Lucky who looked equally confused and shrugged his shoulders.
"I'll get the door, you guys keep eating," I said standing up.
When I opened the door I saw the last person I wanted to see on what would have been the perfect weekend, Jason.
"What are you doing here?" I asked before looking back over at Lucky and Vic.
"I saw that your car was in the driveway and I came to see if you got the pictures for Tuesday's shoot?" he asked.
Sighing I motioned for him to step back and walked on to the porch.
"What shoot? I got everything done by Friday so that I could have the week off. The last thing I looked at was the emails Spinelli sent about this month's site design," I said getting annoyed.
"Well we decided that we needed another option for the swimsuit looks. Did you not get the emails I sent you?"
"No, as a rule I don't look at work things when I'm on vacation. That's the whole point of a vacation."
"Well start, I need a new concept by Monday morning."
"I'm on vacation. Talk to Carly she's co-creative director of the magazine, she helped create the idea for the last shoot and she can come up with this one. Now if you'll excuse me I am going to get back to my vacation."
"Carly's not doing this shoot, you are. You are the creative director so do your job or I will find someone else who will," he threatened.
"God were you this big of a dick in high school or did you just become a dickhead frat boy in college after you left?" I asked getting angry.
Before he could answer me the door opened and we both turned to see Vic standing there in his pajamas with pizza sauce on his face.
"Mama Can we have ice cream?" he asked looking up at me.
"Sure baby, we can have some after dinner," I said smiling at him as I walked towards the door.
"Who's he?" Vic asked pointing at Jason.
"He's Mama's boss. He just came to tell me that I have a big project to do in a couple days and guess what you get to come with me and be my assistant," I told him knowing that would make him happy.
"Really?" he asked with big eyes.
"Yes, now go back inside and finish your pizza," I said turning him around and kissing the back of his head before I closed the door behind him.
"Is that your kid?" Jason asked in a quiet low voice.
Taking a breath I closed my eyes and nodded.
"Yes his name is Victor. He's with me for spring break," I said facing him.
As I said the world I saw the hurt flash across his face before he quickly recovered.
"I guess I wasn't the only one that knew you wouldn't make a good mom."
"Don't you dare bring up that up? Go home and don't talk to me outside of work. After this project you work with Carly," I told him before walking back into the house.
Walking back into the living room I saw Lucky looking at me with worried eyes and Vic was standing as he ate his pizza and watched the movie.
"Everything okay?" Lucky asked.
"Just peachy babe, just peachy."
"Can I have ice cream now?" Vic asked turning to face me.
"After the movie little man," I told him as I sat on the couch behind him and Lucky.
"What'd the new guy want?" Lucky asked when Vic went back to the movie.
"I have to come up with a new concept by tomorrow and then Tuesday we are reshooting," I told him.
"I thought that you were on vacation?" he questioned.
"Yeah I did too," I replied getting up and going into the kitchen.
After I found a beer and opened it Vic walked in the kitchen with his paper plate in hand.
"All done," he said proudly.
"Very good baby. Would you like a popsicle?" I asked as I picked him up.
"Yes please," he said giving me a smile as big as his dad's.
Setting him on the counter I got him a Popsicle from the freezer.
"So are you mad that I have to work during our vacation?" I asked him handing him the popsicle.
"Is Aunty Carly there?" he asked licking the hunk of purple ice.
"I'm not sure but I can see if she will be, but I know Sonny will be there," I told him before taking a sip of beer.
"Where is it?"
"On the beach. After we can go play in the water and I'm sure if you ask Lucky and Sonny will be happy to go with us," I said sneaking a bite of his Popsicle.
"Mama," he yelled smiling at me.
"What baby?' I asked smiling with a mouthful of Popsicle.
"Lucky Mama ate my popsicle!" Vic yelled as I laughed.
"No I didn't!" I yelled back still laughing.
"It's not nice to lie Sam!" Lucky yelled as he walked into the kitchen.
When he walked in I handed him the rest of my beer and went to the sink.
"Okay little man lets wash up and get ready for bed," I said turning on the water.
"But it's still light out," Vic said looking at me with big eyes.
"I know baby but it still doesn't change that it's almost bed time. Now come on time to wash the purple sugar off your hands and then we will brush your teeth and you will go to bed."
"Can I get a story?" he asked as Lucky helped him off the counter.
"I got you covered bud," Lucky replied as he carried him over to the sink by his armpits.
"Really?" I questioned.
"Yeah, we have bonded and now I am his official story teller," Lucky said with a dead serious look.
"Well good for you. You finally got a promotion," I said laughing at him.
"Don't be mad that I beat you out of it," he said holding Vic so that he could reach the water.
"Mama can I have two stories tonight?" Vic asked as I pumped the soap into his hands.
"Yes you can."
While Lucky put Vic to bed I got out my laptop to look at the pictures that were taken Friday. Looking at each one I began taking notes on how we could another direction with each swim suit.
"Have you been working this entire time?" Lucky asked walking over to me.
"What?" I asked looking away from the screen.
"Have you been working this entire time?" he asked again as he walked to the fridge and got two beers out.
"Uh yeah I guess. I'm trying to figure out what we can do differently for each look. How'd he go down?" I asked taking one of the beers.
"He was good. He's a really good kid Sam."
"I know. I got real lucky with him. Do you think you can watch him tomorrow while I talk to Carly about this stuff?"
"Sorry babe I can't. My day manager just quit so I have to fill in till I can find someone to replace him," he said taking a pull from his beer.
"Okay. Well she said Sonny had new toys and she was excited to see Vic, so hopefully Sonny is home for the day," I said turning back to the computer.
"Don't stress you have this. You've worked with assholes before and you've always been amazing at this job," he said squeezing my shoulder before he got up and went into the living room.