Chapter 47
"Thank God I could come to work today," Sandy groaned while sitting at her desk.
"Trouble in paradise?" Mary Ellen asked.
"I wouldn't call it that," Sandy shook her head. "But first, it was Tyler with his cold, then the baby's now kicking up a storm, and put on top of that, my charming husband has a sinus infection on top of the foot problem and has been a total pain in the ass all week. I had to come to work to regain my sanity."
"Men become children in adult bodies when they're ill," Mary Ellen said in agreement.
"He keeps this up, the next stop may be divorce court. I can name Spanky co-respondent and get a good settlement."
Mary Ellen laughed heartily. "Now I know you're kidding."
"I am. But most people take off work for mental health breaks. I think I actually come to work for one."
"That's a first," Mary Ellen nodded.
"Honestly. Tyler's home from school on spring break, so I was glad to see I was scheduled to come in. I figured he and Paul can kill each other and be worn out by the time I got home."
"Boys will be boys. But onto other things; how is the baby anyway? Outside of being active, that is?"
"So far, everything seems all right. I was concerned at both my age and being so long between having Tyler and this one, but I guess there really was no need for worry."
"That's a good sign."
"Yes, that and there's only one baby."
Sandy's phone then rung on her desk. "Well," she grinned, gesturing at it and the paperwork on her desk. "Duty calls."
She then picked up the phone as her supervisor left the office. "Sandy London," she announced herself.
"Requesting permission to kill your son," Paul said. Sandy could hear Tyler laughing in the background.
"Need I ask what happened now? And can it wait until I'm done with work?"
"Ty's been a pain in the ass all morning," he replied. "And don't get me started on how he thought putting James down my shirt and replacing the sugar with salt before I put it in my coffee was hilarious."
"I've put up with him for seventeen years; one day won't kill you," Sandy replied, trying not to break out laughing. It seemed Tyler never forgot the sugar-salt switched he'd always pulled with Mike as a child.
"But can I kill him?"
"No. And why are you telling me all of this? You're worse than he is sometimes. Why don't you just call Spanky and excite him with your whining?"
"That's another problem. I excite him with more than that, and I don't drive on that side of the road."
"Look, just go lay down. I don't want to hear another bitchfest about your sinus infection when I'm seven months pregnant. Put Tyler on for a minute."
"Hey, Mom," Tyler cheerfully greeted her.
"Tyler, the sugar switch was funny with your father when you were eight. It's not very nice with your stepfather when you're seventeen. And why did you put the ferret down his shirt?"
"He's been like a bear with a sore ass all morning. I thought some practical jokes would be fun. Besides, he stuck Howard in bed with you when you guys first got married and you screamed like a banshee. Payback time."
"Well, he's not doing well and he wasn't bothering you like that when you had your cold."
"San! I think I'm dying!" Paul yelled in the background.
"Tell him you'll make funeral arrangements. I need to get off of here and get some work done. Just make sure the house is intact when I get back there tonight and please stop tormenting Paul, will you?"
"Okay," Tyler replied. "But I can't guarantee I'll be alive before the day's over either."
"No more pranks, either of you," Sandy warned. "Or I'm going to have to do some killing, and there's nothing worse than a pissed off pregnant woman."