Chapter 56

"Mommy, can I have a puppy?" Cameron blurted out at dinner.

Elizabeth's eyes bulged out of their sockets. "What was that Cameron?"

"I want a puppy, like Billy. Daddy said that we need to ask you."

Elizabeth's gaze moved from Cameron to Jason. The gaze turned into a glare. "He said it was up to me huh?" She said in an annoyed tone.

"Yep." Cameron stated.

"How about we eat our dinner and talk about it after dinner Cameron, ok?"

Cameron sighed and went back to eating his dinner. The rest of the meal was quiet although Jason would disagree. He could feel Elizabeth yelling at him although he could not hear it, he felt it every time his eyes met hers. Once Cameron left the room and Elizabeth began cleaning the dishes Jason finally asked what he did wrong.

"You are going to make me the bad guy. Leave it up to me to say no!" she shot at him.

He held his hands up in defeat, "Look, I didn't know what to say. I didn't think it was a big deal. Would you rather I just said yes, that was my first impulse."

"Yes? No, I wouldn't rather you said yes. A puppy is a big responsibility. Walking it, feeding it… we aren't home enough to have to take care of a puppy."

Jason's hands dug into his pockets and his voice lowered to just over a whisper, "I didn't think about that."

"Well how about the fact that in seven months there is going to be a baby too. So I am supposed to just add a puppy to the list?"

He wasn't sure if she wanted him to answer. He really didn't think this was a big deal and actually thought it would be fun for Cameron to have a dog to play with outside in the summer. He stood listening to her slam the dishes around in the sink. He decided that she was overreacting. "Elizabeth, you are overreacting. I will tell him no, that will still make me the bad guy. Don't be mad at me." He walked up behind her, "I know that you are stressed with the wedding and the pregnancy… your hormones are probably…"

Before he could finish she pushed him away and turned bright red, "HORMONES! You might as well ask me if I have PMS! This is not hormones! A dog is a big responsibility, one that I would have to bear… something you didn't think about. What… I can walk a dog now… between feedings and baths and diapers and working and cooking and cleaning!"

Before he could respond she pushed past him and stomped out of the kitchen. He sighed, unsure of what to do. She was right, it was a burden that she would feel. He only though about the fun side, the excitement it would bring to Cameron. He heard her upstairs and decided to finish the dishes and let her cool off.

Jason picked Jake up from his playpen and sat on the couch. He let out a sigh as he watched Cameron put together a puzzle. "Hey Cam, come over here for a minute."

"Hold on, lemme…" He place the piece in his hand in its correct location, causing a smile to appear on Jason's face. "Ok." Cameron said and walked over to Jason and Jake on the couch.

Jason pulled him onto his lap. "Listen Cameron, I was thinking about the dog. How about we make a deal."

Cameron nodded his head.

"Ok, when Jake is a little older and you are both able to help mommy walk and feed the dog then you can get one."

Cameron shrugged and sighed, "I can't have one now?"

Jason shook his head, "Not yet buddy."

"When is Jake going to be big enough to help?" he asked as he looked at Jakes small form.

Jason smiled, "That is a good question, I don't know. When you think Jake is big enough to walk a dog how about you ask me again?'

"Ok, deal."

For the next few hours Jason went about his evening as it was any other night. Elizabeth reappeared but did not speak to him. They played with the boys and Jason would try to catch her eyes but she would not meet his stare.

"Ok Cam, time for bed." Elizabeth said standing from the floor. She bent over and picked up Jake. Jason stood from the couch but before he could say anything his cell phone rang.

"I'll take care of the boys." Elizabeth mumbled. "You get that."

She quickly ushered Cameron up the steps. When she got to Cameron's room she sighed, "Cam, tomorrow you are going to help me clean this room. You need to start cleaning up your toys when you are done playing with them."

"Ok." Cameron murmured.

Once the boys were in bed Elizabeth walked in their bedroom to find Jason sitting on the bench at the end of the bed. He was hunched over with his elbow resting on his knee and his forehead resting in his hand. She knew that she was hard on him and definitely overreacted… maybe he was even right about the hormones, but she was trying to make a point. The next few months were going to be hectic and adding a puppy to that would not be good. He should have realized that instead of just jumping on the idea. Sure he did have the thought to ask her before saying yes but he should have known the answer without having to.

Elizabeth walked past Jason and pulled a tank top and shorts from her dresser. Jason was now aware that she was in the room and had lifted his head. He followed her movements, watching her change in silence, walk in the bathroom to wash up and brush her teeth, finally taking a seat next to him on the bench.

She sucked in a deep breath, "Ok, my point earlier is that you should have known what the burden of a puppy is and how it would effect us, especially with the baby coming."

Jason nodded but stayed silent. Elizabeth picked up his hand and sandwiched it between her much smaller ones, her eyes caught his apologetic azure ones.

"I know that you are not accustomed to the whole family thing and that you are new to it. For that reason I am sorry for freaking out on you… and I did overreact, probably partially because of my hormones."

"I'm sorry." Jason whispered.

"Jason, don't apologize. We are both adjusting to all of these changes, this is just part of the adjustment."

"Well, I'm still sorry." He said.

She rolled her eyes and stood from the bench. He pulled her back down to sit next to him. "There is more." He said.

She looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"

"Umm, I have to go out of town for a couple days." He instantly saw the sadness in her eyes. "I have been putting it off and trying to get out of it but I cannot avoid it anymore."

"When?" she asked.

"Tomorrow." He whispered regretfully.

"Can you tell me where?" she asked.

He looked at her and nodded, "I just have to go down to the island and take care of a few things."

"You said this was just for a few days?" she asked as she stood from the bench.

"Yeah."

"And you have to leave tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah."

"Then we need to get started."

He looked at her unsure of what she meant. "Started?" he asked.

"Well we have to have makeup sex then we have to have goodbye sex… and I need to get some sleep tonight so…" she tugged on his arm and he stood, wrapping his arm around her waist. "…so we…" she kissed his neck "…need to get…" she kissed his chin "…star…"

He cut her off before she could finish and kissed her.

---------

Elizabeth woke up the next morning and found Jason sitting on the side of the bed. He was trailing his fingertips up and down her arm.

"Good morning beautiful."

"Good morning handsome."

"Cameron is downstairs watching cartoons. I told him I would be gone for a couple days and to watch out for his mommy… Jake is still sleeping… I have to go." He sighed.

"Ohhhhhh." She whined as she stretched her arms over her head, her naked breasts appearing from beneath the sheets.

He groaned "If I wasn't already late…" he bent his head and kissed her, "God, I don't want to go." He whispered against her lips.

She smiled and pushed him away, "Go before I handcuff you to the bed and keep you here."

His eyebrows raised, "Maybe when I get back." She instantly blushed at the thought. He turned toward the door, "I love you."

"I love you too. Hurry home."