The week flew by and before they knew it the time had come to leave for Jeremy's. Denise and Robert were the first to arrive, she was a nervous wreck and just wanted to go back home.
"Nobody will notice," he soothed. "You take the pills on time, soak in the tub, if someone says we can say it's arthritis."
She sighed and nodded "Let's go." They walked up to the door and knocked.
Tanya answered the door with a big bright smile. "Hi, come on in. Jake's sleeping." She gave them each a hug.
"Hey, there's my favorite daughter-in-law," she said smiling.
"I better be since I'm your only daughter-in-law," Tanya laughed as Jeremy came out of the bedroom. "Hey, Mom." He hugged her all smiles.
"Hey honey," Denise replied returned his hug and his bright smile.
"Dad and Jordana are almost here, he took a shortcut again," Jeremy laughed. "I can hear her screaming at him in the passenger seat, it's pretty funny."
"I hated when he did that," she said laughing.
"I don't think you yelled like that though," Jeremy replied. "Let's get your things put away, Jake should be up in about half an hour or so."
"Okay, I can't wait to see him!" she said beaming.
"Have a seat," he offered then their bell rang. Denise could hear the squabbling on the other side of the door. "If you learned how to read a map..."
Tanya opened the door to her father-in-law and his wife arguing, well her screaming and him trying not to get hit.
"Whoa, guys enough, tis the season to be peaceful," Tanya laughed. "Come on in, you're here, it's all good."
Jordana walked in and hugged Jeremy and Tanya.
Frank was loaded down with presents Jeremy's eyes just bulged, "Okay, taking the Grandpa thing a little too seriously."
"It's his first Christmas," he defended.
"Go easy on your Dad," Denise spike up from the sofa. "He's never had a first Christmas before."
Jeremy laughed but nodded.
Denise got up and went to hug her former husband, they did still maintain a friendship and they did share a son.
Frank knew something was wrong but he let it go for now and hugged her.
He couldn't help but pull her a little closer than usual.
She only smiled and let him, neither of the other spouses was comfortable with this but they let it go.
Tanya broke it up by bring the baby out, "Look who's awake!"
Denise pulled away from Frank and went and took her grandson.
He was cute as a button he looked just like Jeremy did.
"He's getting so big!" Denise exclaimed.
"I know it," Tanya replied. "He eats like no kid I've ever seen." Denise laughed along with Frank, "So did Jeremy."
They said in perfect unison.
Jeremy laughed, "You all scare me when you do that."
"After you're married as long as we were you'll do it too," Frank warned. "Why don't you show Mom to her room, she's tired."
Denise looked at him like he had two heads.
"Dee, you're tired," Frank told her. "I can tell go on and rest."
"I'm fine," she said laughing at him.
"No, you're not," Frank replied. "Go to bed or I'll take you myself."
"Yeah, I don't think so," she said sitting down with the baby.
He kept watching her, he saw her misstep and wince a little and lost his temper. "That is it, Denise, I warned you, you don't take care of yourself, him I'll deal with later, Jeremy where's your mother's room?"
"Second door on the left," he replied knowing not to defy his father.
Frank had Denise by the arms and led her to the bedroom, "Denise," he said leading her to the room. "Now what is going on?"
"Nothing Frank!" she said. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You are pale, you're sore, and totally exhausted," he snapped. "Why is he not tending to you?"
"Because it's not his job or yours."
"Yes it is," Frank replied. "We have a son and a grandson, you are stuck with me."
"Frank, we're divorced," she reminded him.
"We're parents and we're friends," he reminded her spreading a blanket over her. "Just close your eyes, you were up all night excited, I know you. Want me to stay?"
She didn't know why but she did, she nodded her head.
"All right, now, just rest up and you'll feel better," he sighed and smiled. He ran his hand over her hair and back gently, he always put her to sleep like that.
She curled into a ball and went to sleep in minutes.
He waited until she was out before going back to the living room.
"She okay?"Jeremy asked.
No," Frank snapped fixed on Robert. "How in the Hell can you let her get like that?"
" She's just tired," he corrected.
"She's more than that! She's exhausted, she's way too thin, and she doesn't have enough energy to argue with me and she perfected that skill twenty years ago! If you don't know what you're doing, ask!"
He sighed and just ignored Frank and went to his wife.
Jordana was not happy at all with her husband.
He knew right away too, she had that look and he hated it.
"Jordy," he sighed. "Come here, honey."
She didn't move, she didn't want him near her right now.
He went instead as Jeremy ushered Tanya out of the room. "Jordana, there's something wrong?"
She didn't say anything, she was afraid she's end up saying too much.
He just held her to him, "I'm sorry, it's hard to...for twenty years I gave her all I am, it's hard to break that."
"I know," she said. "It's okay."
He kissed her cheek, "Where's my grandson?"
"Tanya has him; he was hungry."
He kissed her again, "How about a walk?"
"Okay," she said smiling. "Let's go."