So, here's the next installment of Barrington Family Matters. I am working out the ending and I am not sure how many more chapters there will be. This is kinda a filler chapter to get us to the end. Sorry for how long it took. I hope you enjoy.
Read/Review
It was CJs birthday. Her 30th birthday. And for the first time she didn't have anything planned. Her first birthday working for Abby she had gone home to spend time with her family. The last three years she had invited her friends over or gone out with them. But this time Abby had told her not to make plans. She wanted to plan their day. So, here she sat at 4:30 am wondering why Abby had made her get up this early.
She shook off the last vestiges of sleep and pulled on her jeans and a t-shirt. She only had about 5 minutes before she needed to be out front. She headed to the refrigerator in hopes that there was more in there than had been the previous night. Unfortunately there wasn't; and she didn't have the time to go the main house and scrounge in there. So instead, she slipped on her flip flops and walked out the door. She hoped that she could convince Abby to stop somewhere for coffee. Was anything even open this early?
Abby's car and chauffeur were waiting. "Hey CJ. You ready?"
"Sure Tom. Abby in the car."
"No she already left. You're on your own." CJ got in the car. Tom started it and began to drive away. CJ put her head back on the seat and contemplated asking Tom to stop. He rolled down the partition, "there's coffee and pastries in the compartment."
"Bless you." He laughed. CJ opened the compartment and surely there was a pot of hot coffee and Danishes. "You want some?" She asked Tom.
"Sure, its kinda early." Tom had worked for a lot of people before coming to work for Abby and Jed. Most didn't bother to learn his name or acknowledge that he was there. Abby and Jed treated each of their staff members like they were family. The only thing required was discretion and giving Tom's position he learned a lot of things that required it. Over the past few years he had gotten to know CJ pretty well and they chatted often.
"How's Lil?" CJ asked
"Good. Working too hard. Jimmy starts college next year. She's picked up a few extra shifts to pay for all the senior year stuff and tuition extras. We got that bill in the mail yesterday."
"I remember that, my parents spent hours trying to figure out how to put four of us through college at the same time."
"Yeah. Mrs. Bartlett was nice, she said if I needed any extra time off just let her know. And then she said the Governor wasn't happy with the college loan rates so if I needed to take out a loan, the Whitfield Bank and Trust would be more than happy to help. And if Jimmy came in to work over the summer they would use his pay to help pay it off. Lil and I have a meeting this afternoon with the head loan officer."
"Education is important to the Barrington's and the Whitfield's. It doesn't surprise me."
"I just can't believe a numbnuts like me has a kid on his way to college. And my Jackie is sitting for the SATs next week. She wants to go to Reed."
"Well, if she needs a letter of recommendation tell her to give me a call, I'll be happy to write one. Though in all fairness her shoe in rec would be from Abby. They love the Barrington's. You're meeting with Yvette this afternoon?"
"Yeah. Yvette Carlson. Any tips?" He had found that CJ made it her business to know everyone that worked for the Barringtons or the Whitfields.
"Come with all your paper work: W2s for the last few years, tax returns and any type of collateral. I'm sure she'll have all types of payment plan options for you, but she appreciates preparedness."
"Lil got all that together. Been driving me crazy about it for a month. I told her everything is gonna be fine. We'll mortgage the house if we have to. I'll get a second job."
"I can't imagine you'll have a problem. They set up this program as an appreciation for their employees. In this market the Barrington Company and Whitfield Bank have a huge interest in educating people. So, if they can educate the children of loyal employees then maybe it will create more loyal employees. Give and take. Congratulations on your kids. I know what an accomplishment that is."
"Thanks CJ."
They rode in silence for a while. CJ began to realize that they had long ago left the city. "Where are we going?"
"I'm not allowed to tell you, but we're almost there." Moments later they arrived at a big empty field with hot air balloon in the middle. Abby stood in front of the balloon talking to a person CJ assumed was the operator. CJ slipped on her sunglasses and approached them.
"Happy Birthday, baby." Abby said low enough for only CJ to hear.
"Is this my present?"
"Part of it, Claudia this is Garvin. He is the operator. You ready?" CJ nodded and they climbed in the balloon. They went up in the air and flying over the houses. They flew over the flat lands and by the mountains. They stood close enough to each other to touch, but not so close that anyone would assume they were more than just friends. Abby turned to the operator. "Garvin can you show her the surprise?"
Slowly, the balloon turned in the direction of the marina. CJ pointed, "Hey look the warehouse." She looked at Abby with a huge grin on her face. The workers were already at work making the architectural changes she had approved to the property. However, CJ noticed that some of them were cutting a whole in her roof. "What the hell, they are cutting a whole in my roof." Abby gave her a small smile. CJ looked at the operator in panic. "Garvin, set us down. They are putting a whole in my roof. Abby, Stop them!"
"Its ok, Claudia. I requisitioned a change to the property. They are cutting threw the roof so you will have access to the roof. I had a landscaper out to discuss the possibilities of a rooftop garden and we drew up a plan.
"Oh my God!" CJ covered her mouth with her hands. Abby began to panic. What if she had made the wrong move? What if Claudia didn't like the change, or didn't want her to be a part of this.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I wanted it to be a surprise. Claudia please say something?"
"You love gardens." Her face broke out in a huge smile. "I was planning to put one out back, but I never considered putting it on the roof. That's perfect. Absolutely, perfect." CJ looked over Abby's shoulder to see Garvin not looking. She leaned into Abby and placed a kiss on her cheek. "You're like the best girlfriend ever."
"I'm glad you like it. It's the first in a very long list of surprises I have planned for the day." Now, Abby felt apart of what CJ was building. Not only had the younger woman appreciated the surprise, but she had considered building something similar for Abby. Simply because it was something Abby loved. They spent the rest of the morning together in and out of bed. Finally, Abby held a huge dinner with CJs friends and family. It was one of the best birthdays CJ could remember.
XXXX
"Is having children a deal breaker for you?" It was after 4:30am. Millicent couldn't sleep. This conversation had been weighing on her mind for a while. She wasn't the type of woman to be silent, and she figured if she couldn't sleep neither would Jamie.
"Huh?" Jamie sat-up in the bed. He had just finished a conference call with a few overseas representatives. When he crawled into bed he thought she was asleep - guess not.
He and Millicent were at his apartment in the city. Recently he had let the kids decorate the other two rooms to their taste. He wanted them to feel like this was their home as well. On the weekends they spent a lot of time here. Today, Millicent had to work, so Jamie took Brynn and the boys to the office to product test a few of the new video games that were being presented to Barrington Company for release. He wanted them to see what a pitch looked like. After a long day, they had come back here cooked dinner and spent time together as a family. At least that's what Jamie thought. Once Millicent arrived, he had retreated to his office to get some work done. Now she was awake asking questions.
"You want children. If we don't have any are you going to leave?"
"Where is this coming from?"
"I see you with my children. And I know you want kids of your own. And I know why Monica didn't want to have them. I just want to know if…"
"If you tell me you don't want children am I going to leave?" She nodded. "I don't know how to answer that question. I've falling in love with Luke, Dillon and Brynn. I can't imagine not being a part of their lives. I would hope that I'm not the kind of guy that walks away when he doesn't get what he wants." They sat in silence for a minute. "Do you not want more kids?"
"I don't know. When I had Luke and Dillon I thought I was done. Two kids, that's it, I'm perfect. Then one night of trying to make my marriage work I got pregnant with Brynn. I didn't mean too, and as ashamed as I am to say I considered terminating the pregnancy. I was just getting ahead at work, my marriage was falling apart and I didn't think it was fair to bring a baby into that."
"Obviously, you decided not to."
"I did. I was sitting on my mother's couch. I had just told her and my sister I was pregnant. And Lexy in her infinite wisdom said, you don't have to be married to have a baby. I thought mom was going to have a coronary. But she was right. I was unhappy in my marriage, but I knew I could and did love Brynn. And when I thought about it I wanted her. But I didn't plan to have more children. I didn't even want more children. And I'm not sure I want more now. And I don't want to have a baby to hold on to you. I don't want to be that girl."
"You don't have to be. I would love a child I can pass the Barrington name onto. Considering I am the last in the line. It's important to me. It's important to my parents. The hardest part of me and Monica was that she lied about wanting children. You're not lying. So, I guess I have to decide if it's a deal breaker."
"Ok." She slid down in the bed. She didn't know what she was hoping to accomplish by starting this conversation. But here she was having it anyway.
"I love you. I feel like we're a family. I feel like I could be happy with you and the kids," Jamie said. They sat in silence for a minute, both trying to digest the gravity of the conversation. "You wanna know what I loved the best about being a kid?"
"What?"
"Playing on the floor of my father's office while he and my grandfather brokered deals. Having my first summer job at 14, working in the mail room. Mother, suggested it. Its how her father started at Whitfield's, its how my Aunt Buggy started. I learned so much from people that worked on the ground floor; that used the products we were selling or dealt with the systems management had put in place. It was fun. One summer I would work at Barrington another summer at Whitfield. I learned both companies. I thought for sure that I would end up at Whitfield and Abby would run Barrington. But when I finished college and my dad asked me to join the company I was so thrilled. I want to pass that sense of pride and history on to my children. I want them to know what its like to be a part of something that spans generations. I want them to contribute. Abby got that early. It took me forever to learn it."
"You don't talk about your dad a lot even though I know y'all work together all the time."
"I was just always closer to Mother. I could say things to her that I could never say to him. Our house was pretty strained growing up. And as Abby and I got older it became more strained. I always felt like I had something to prove to him, that I wasn't as good as Abby. I always felt like the son you know that a family has, but they only bring out for special occasions. So, I worked hard and spent a lot of hours trying to show him that I was the right man for the job. About two years ago he decided to cut back. I was sitting in that board meeting with him and waiting for him to say the board was going to look for an outsider as CEO. Instead he offered me the job. Told me that he had such pride in calling me his son. That I had surpassed any expectations he had of me and he was resting the company in my capable hands. Now we exist in this comfortable silence. I don't think we will ever share each other's confidence, but I no longer feel that I am not good enough. So, I've relaxed."
"But Abby still acts as the face of the company."
"She's good at it. She has the quick wit and people love to look at her. She travels with my father because she's shrewd and stellar at negotiations. She's gotten the company deals that most of us could never have negotiated. I also think that now that CJ is running the foundation, when my Aunt Buggy decides to retire Abby will begin to run Whitfields."
"So, it was divided. You and your mother. Abby and your father."
"Basically. My mother wasn't very happy. I know she wanted to be a librarian. She loves books. And has assembled quite a collection of rare books. But that's not what was appropriate. She was supposed to grow up and marry well. She did, and then she had Abby. She needed to raise a daughter that would marry as well, that was her job. They fought a lot, rarely saw eye to eye and that was apparent in how each of them treated us. Where Abby was outgoing, I wasn't so I spent a lot of time with Mother in her library reading. She let me read the bawdy stuff and shared the classics with me. She wasn't being judged on how well I turned out, so there was and is an ease that she has with me and not with Abby. I think like most little girls Abby just had my Dad wrapped around her finger. It was like we grew up in two different households."
"You have a good relationship now?"
"Its new. I think we've both began to realize we're adults and what happened before doesn't need to continue to happen. She's found someone to love and so have I."
"I thought Abby and Governor Bartlett have been married for 20 years."
Jamie looked at her. It seemed that she had been there forever so he forgot briefly that Millicent wouldn't know that Abby and CJ we're together. "Abby's a lesbian."
"So, the rumors are true?"
"Yeah. Mother outed her."
"But the Governor defended her."
"He loves her. And I guess she loves him as much as she can. I don't know. But its kinda a family secret."
"Wow. I didn't even see it. I'm gonna have to get my gaydar repaired. So she is with CJ?"
"Yeah."
"I guess it explains why they were sharing a room in London."
"The one bed didn't tip you off." Jamie said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes.
"It was a suite. Is that normal?"
"What sharing a room with an employee?"
"No, having an affair. Keeping a mistress, because there are rumors that the Governor has affairs."
"No, as far as I know neither of my parents cheated. And I think I would know if my mother did. My Aunt Buggy's assistant is her girlfriend/lover whatever you call it, which may be the worse kept secret ever. Laura has worked for her for close to 20 years. Abby had always been faithful until CJ. And I think Jed likes women and I think Abby doesn't care. Why is that a deal breaker for you?"
"Yes. It's not something I could forgive."
"Good to know. I didn't cheat on Monica though I had plenty opportunity and some would even say reason. And I don't have a mistress in an apartment somewhere. And as far as I know Jed doesn't have a girlfriend in an apartment somewhere. Though I guess now Abby does."
"Is that why y'all brokered a truce between Abby and your mother?"
"It was series of things, but it all boiled down to Mother believing that CJ was going to ruin Abby's image. Also, Mother feeling like she was backed into a corner. A lot of things changed in a short period of time. Mother reacted instead of thinking things threw."
"And it strained you and Abby's relationship because you took your Mother's side."
"I took Mother's side because that's what I've always done. But my choice wasn't Mother's fault. I didn't help Abby when she was a teenager and told Mother she was in her room kissing some girl. I can't even remember who the girl was. It was such a big deal at the time and now, not so much."
"Do you have a problem with your sister's orientation?"
"No." He paused as he considered. "No. I think it was just a chink in Abby's armor that I could expose and I did. Now, I'm not proud of it. It ruined my relationship with her and even my grandmother." He looked at the clock. "Its 5am. Are we done with the deep conversation for now?"
"Yeah. I guess." She scooted down in bed and rolled onto her side. Jamie spooned her. "I thought you wanted to go to sleep."
"No all this talk of keeping a girl on the side woke me up."
"So, why don't you wake her up?" She said teasingly. He trailed his hand up her thigh and rested on her lower stomach.
"I could but she's not nearly as sexy as you."
XXXX
A few weeks later
Jamie had to swing by Millicent's to pick up some paper work he had left before he headed to work. He briefly thought to himself how much easier it would be when they all lived together. It wasn't the first time he thought about marriage. So, far everything was good. Everything was really good.
He parked his car in her driveway seeing Lexy's minivan. He let himself in and went immediately to Millicent's office which he now used as his office. He immediately found the papers he was looking for and came back into the living room.
"FUCK FUCK FUCK!" He heard someone scream from upstairs. For the briefest of moments he considered ducking out the house, instead he walked up the stairs.
"Lexy!" he called out. She didn't answer. He heard the water running in the hall bathroom. The door was open and Lexy was kneeling on the floor holding a screaming baby and Brynn's hair as the little girl bent over the toilet to vomit. "Lexy you ok?"
She looked up at him. Her eyes were bloodshot, she was covered in vomit and she looked on the verge of tears. "Hey Jamie," she said. "I'm fine. Just, you know, chilling." He always liked Lexy, she was cheeky.
"She sick?" He moved forward to hold Brynn's head.
"Don't move, what she didn't get on me she got on the floor. And I'm pretty sure those shoes cost entirely too much money."
He looked carefully at her. She didn't look well despite being covered in vomit. "Are you ok?" He leaned over to feel her forehead. "You're burning up." He stuck out his hands. "Here, give me Aiden." She handed him the baby and Brynn sat back leaning against her aunt.
"You feel better." Brynn answered by vaulting forward. "She's been doing this all morning. She can't keep anything down."
"I'm gonna put him down. Then you are going to get in bed and I'm going to take care of this and her."
"Jamie you have to go to work."
"Don't worry about that." He disappeared into another room. He put the baby down in the basinet that Lexy always set-up in Millicent's bedroom when she came over to watch the kids. He called his office. His secretary answered. "Hey, Diane you're going to have to cancel my morning something's come up."
"That shouldn't be a problem, but your father has been looking for you."
"Put me through to him." While Jamie waited for his father, he went into Millicent's bathroom and ran a warm bath.
"Jamie, where are you? We were supposed to go over the new account and the prospects for networking the Dian offices."
"I'm at Millicent's; her daughter's sick and so is her sister who is supposed to be watching Brynn. Millicent is working. I can't just abandon them."
"I leave for Hong Kong in the morning."
"As soon as I get them settled I'll grab my laptop and we'll video conference. I can work from here just as easily from anywhere else."
"Fine have Diane set it up. I'll tell Kim that we're doing it through conference." They hung up and Jamie turned off the water and sent Diane a text message. When he made it back to the hallway bathroom, Brynn and Lexy were leaning against door. "Hey, Lexy. Why don't you go get in the tub and I'll take care of her." He reached down and took Brynn in his arms.
"Jamie, I can really take care of this." She said as she got to her feet and promptly swooned into the door.
"No doubt in my mind. But you'll take care of it when you get out of the tub." She nodded and slowly made her way into the Master bedroom. He walked all the way in the bathroom and ran the water in that tub. "You still feel sick." Brynn nodded. "Well, if you feel like you need to throw-up you let me know. Ok."
"Ok, Jamie." She said. He put bubbles in the tub and stripped the vomit soaked clothes off the little girl. He took a bath-tub pillow and propped it in the back of the tub. He put her in.
"Don't slip down ok." He looked down at his clothes and shoes. Lexy was right they were most definitely ruined. He took off his shoes to walk around in the house. He checked on Lexy to see that she had falling asleep in the tub. He pulled some clothes that he kept at Millicent's out and put them in boys' bedroom. He then set about cleaning the bathroom while he kept an eye on Brynn. When he was done, and sure she wasn't going to throw up anymore. He changed. Then he took her out of the tub, dried her off and put her in bed.
"Thank you."
"Sure sweetheart." He went and checked on Lexy. She was still asleep. "Hey you I think its time for you to get out of there."
She opened her eyes and looked at Jamie. "It has gotten pretty cold. I just couldn't move."
"You need help." He grabbed a towel and held it out as he kneeled down. He turned his head and Lexy would have laughed at how cute he was if she wasn't so tired.
"You can look now I'm all covered up." He looked back at her and smiled a little at his own embarrassment. He helped her up and led her out to Millicent's bed and rummaged around in Millicent's drawers for clothes and came out with scrubs. He handed them to her. "I'll put these on and you can go. We'll be fine."
"You are going to bed. A few hours sleep and you'll be fine. I cancelled my morning."
"You can't miss work."
"Hey whats the point of owning your own company if you can't play hookie. Put the scrubs on and get in bed. I'll bring some broth or something around lunch."
"Sure, can you call my mom and tell her we're sick? She's in Atlanta, but she can tell you what to do. And can you call Millicent? She was concerned and I told her I would call when Brynn stopped throwing up." He grabbed the baby in the basinet as he left. When he got downstairs, he went outside and got his work bag and laptop out of the car. He put the basinet down on the couch and set next to it. He called Dora first and got a list. Then he called Millicent while he waited for her to answer he scrolled threw his emails. She came on the line.
"Jamie, I'm kinda busy can I call you later."
"Sure, but Lexy told me to call you. She's fine and Brynn's fine. She wanted you to know."
"What are you doing there? Why isn't she calling me?"
"She's kinda sick. I put her to bed."
"Oh God! I'll be home as soon as I can." There was a short pause. "Damn! We're slammed, but I'll call in some relief. I didn't know she was sick. She should have told me."
"You don't have to rush home. I got everything covered."
"You don't know how to take care of a sick child."
"You're right, but I called your mother and she gave me a list. I'm sure all the things she said they would need is in your kitchen. I'll check on them every half hour. I took Brynn's temperature its 99 and your mother assured me it was no cause for alarm. No need to rush here I'm working from the couch."
"Ok. I don't get off until four, but I'll be home as soon as I can. I'll have my Dad meet the boys at the bus stop and you can call him if you need anything." They said good-bye and hung up. He loaded his laptop and began to work.
With hour intervals and a brief lunch Jamie and his father worked most of the afternoon.
"So, you and Abby will meet with the clients in Hong Kong and I will work with the development team to complete the software specifications. Then I will head to their offices after I finish in Japan next month."
"Sounds like a plan. How are your patients?"
"At last look in sleeping pretty soundly. No more throwing up and they were both able to keep lunch down so I think they are on the road to recovery." He reached over and picked up Aiden who was getting fussy in his basinet.
"Fatherhood looks good on you." His father said.
"Yeah. Well, I'm sure Jack will be by to collect his wife and son soon."
"Your mother says you are thinking about asking Millicent to marry you."
"Yeah. It's heading in that direction. It seems natural."
"It seems like you're getting everything you wanted."
"Any advice sir?"
"Make sure you marry for love. You of all people understand how important that is. Look at me and your sister. A great love only comes around once and when it does you should hold onto it because it may slip away before you can get a firm grip."
"I'm sorry you didn't get that. That you weren't happy."
"I had it briefly son once a long time ago. And since it didn't last I'm glad I could become friends with the woman that has shared my life for all these years." He paused briefly as someone came in. He gave a brief instruction. And turned back to Jamie. "Your mother and I both put ourselves in our marriage. We aren't the loves of each other's lives, but I guess we love each other in our own way. Either way. You married the woman that was good on paper the first time. This time look up from the paper and if you close your eyes and can't imagine your life without her propose immediately." Someone came in the office again. "Son, I need to go. I'll call you from the plane tomorrow."
Jamie never talked to his father about marrying Monica or divorcing her or anything about his personal life with her. He knew James didn't like her, so he had just avoided broaching the subject. He always assumed that his father hated his mother and his mother stayed in the marriage because that's what you did. It never occurred to him that maybe they did have affection for one another; even if it was the affection that came with being with someone for over 40 years.
He headed upstairs to check on his patients. Brynn was asleep and when he cracked the door to the master bedroom Lexy was standing over an empty basinet holder. "Lexy you ok?"
"Yeah, where's Aiden?" Jamie held the baby out to her. And she waived him off. "I thought I heard him crying, but I don't want to get him sick. My head is throbbing." She laid down in bed and closed her eyes.
"Want me to grab you some aspirin?"
"No, its better when I close my eyes." She went to sleep. As he headed back downstairs, Millicent walked in the door.
"How is everyone?" She kissed Aiden's forhead checking his temperature and then kissed Jamie's lips. "He's cool."
"Good. Lexy says her head hurts, but they were both able to keep down lunch and Brynn is drifting in and out of sleep as she watches TV."
"I'll go check on her. Jack's on his way to get Lexy and Aiden, he should be here in 10." Millicent headed upstairs and Jamie put Aiden in his basinet. He began to clean up his work mess, when Jack walked through the front door. The men gathered all the baby items and Lexy's clothes that Jamie washed. Millicent came downstairs with Lexy. Jack wrapped his arm around his wife for support and grabbed the carseat.
"Thanks Jamie. You were a life saver." They left. Jamie and Millicent headed into the kitchen. She sat down at the table while Jamie looked for some dinner.
"How about we order in?" Jamie said.
"Sure, I'm tired and I need to go change the sheets on my bed."
"Don't worry about that. I'll take care of it and order dinner."
"You're good at the taking care of people thing."
"Just call me Florence nightingale."
He pulled open the drawer with the menus and held up the one for her favorite Italian restaurant. She nodded. "Lexy told me you gave her a bath."
He turned around and looked at her to try and explain. "She was sick and couldn't get out of the tub. I didn't see anything I swear."
She laughed as she approached him. "I know I was just giving you a hard time. She told me you turned your head away. She said that you were the best boyfriend ever and very sweet for saving a distressed woman. And I have to agree. You were very sweet." She pulled him close to her. And pulled his head down to her face. "You are definitely the best boyfriend ever. I'll change the sheets. You order dinner." She gave him a soft kiss and headed up stairs.
XXXXX
Several Weeks later
"Mom, I don't know if he even wants to get married again. He hasn't been divorced for more than a year." Millicent Lexy, and Dora sat in Dora's kitchen on a early Saturday morning. This was a ritual of theirs having coffee and breakfast just the three of them. Luckily, this weekend Jamie had taken George, Jack, Luke and Dillon fishing and Abby and Jed were taking Cullen to a science exposition at the museum and had agreed to Brynn with them. Now, Millicent was here answering the questions that she had not worked up the courage to talk about with Jamie.
"You two spend all your time together. During the week he commutes from your house, on the weekends you commute from his. He even put his calendar on your refrigerator."
"He did that so the kids would know if he was in the country before calling him."
"What kind of man concerns himself with whether his girlfriend's children can get in touch with him, unless he is thinking marriage." Dora retorted.
"You two sound married," Lexy said.
"I am his first relationship since his divorce. For all I know this could be a rebound. He could get bored and move on. We have kinda domesticated him."
"You're an instant family just mix with water. Besides I don't think he's going anywhere. When you worked that double shift and Brynn got sick then Aiden was crying and I was sick. I told him I could handle it, he told me to go to bed. Sent a message on his cell phone and spent the rest of the day cleaning up vomit and taking care of a sick child and a very sick adult. Even when you came home he didn't run screaming for the hills. He acted like a father. He acted like he had been doing it forever. A man only does that if he's in love."
"Besides," Dora interjected. "Every time he talks about you he lights up."
"He has to carry on the family name. He wants children," Millicent said flatly.
"And you don't?" Lexy asked surprised.
"I don't know. Remember how David was so unengaged when I was pregnant. He never attended an appointment and barely showed up for the boys' birth. He never even showed up for Brynn."
"Jamie is not David." Lexy said.
"I know. He would be so into having a baby. I'm just not sure I am." Millicent sat down at her mother's kitchen table.
"What's your concern?"
"Can I do it all? Most of the time I can barely keep all the balls in the air. And if y'all weren't here I wouldn't be even be able to pick them up once they fell. I work all the time and I swear if Jamie wasn't willing to spend time with the kids and at the house we wouldn't even be having a relationship right now."
Dora wasn't surprised that Millicent was having this problem. From the time she was a little girl she wanted to be a doctor. They had saved and saved to send both girls to school. She had clipped more than her fair share of coupons and had done side jobs just so they could put a little extra away. Luckily, Millicent and Alexa worked really hard in school.
When Millicent met David he seemed nice enough, but eventually it became apparent that he could not handle a woman that was more accomplished than he was. He didn't want Millicent to have any ambition and when they ended their marriage she took a lot of the failure on herself.
"Jamie is not David. And you have to keep saying that to yourself over and over until you get it. Marriage is hard work and I don't know why his failed, but yours did because you were the only one working." Dora said. "And sweetheart you can't have it all without help. There is nothing wrong with asking for it. You're sister and I will always be there for you."
"I'm just nervous that when we get married Jamie is going to get busier than he is right now. Though I do get the since that he spent a lot of time with his father at work. He just wants to pass on his name."
"It's a hell of a name. I have to tell you when Jack found out who you were dating he was pretty impressed. Extremely impressed, in fact. The Barrington's are well respected and so are the Whitfield's. They are both impressive names to pass on. But don't marry him unless you love him. And be honest with him," Lexy said.
"I do love him. I love him so much."
"Then just wait and see."
XXXXX
"Mother what do you think of this one?" Jamie and Elizabeth were out shopping for engagement rings. He was having trouble finding the one that he wanted.
"I think it's rather boring." They had rejected more than a dozen so far.
"I don't think I am going to find anything. Also, I need to keep in mind that she can't wear the ring in surgery. So, maybe not something with a stone." He shook his head in frustration. "I don't remember it being this hard the last time."
"I believe Monica picked out her own ring. If you can call that monstrosity a ring."
"You like her though Mother right. Not like you liked Monica but really like her."
"I do. She seems to treat you well. She's not very young though. Is she willing to have children right away?"
"I don't think she wants anymore children."
"You don't think?"
"We talked about it. She has three."
"Jamie you have to carry on the family name. You have to produce a child with the last name Barrington."
"I know. But I want her. I think I can live without producing a Barrington as long as I have her." Elizabeth had always been adamant that it was necessary for Jamie to carry on the family name. To solidify his right to what the Barringtons had to offer. Now, she realized that a lot of that was her fear that the family would try to push in son aside like they had done her. Like everyone had done her. However, in the last two years a lot had changed including James making Jamie his prodeccessor in name and actuality. She considered whether he actually needed to carry on his name.
"Its not an easy decision to make. I'll support whatever you decide."
"Will Dad?"
"I think so. I won't pretend to know what your father is thinking all the time. But I don't think he would want you to be unhappy just so the company will stay in the family. I mean my father produced two girls. The only reason there is a Whitfield at the head of that company is Buggy refuses to marry."
"She may marry Laura."
"Please." Elizabeth rolled her eyes. They left the store and walked outside.
"Why does Abby's relationship with CJ bother you and Aunt Buggy's relationship with Laura doesn't?" Jamie and Elizabeth relationship had always been closer to friends than mother and son. He never felt guarded when asking her a question.
"Buggy isn't my child. She's always been who she's been. The men were always a sham. Buggy slept with every woman she could get her hands on from the time she was 16."
"For all intents and purposes Abby's marriage to Jed is a sham."
"Her marriage is better than most. She has children she needs to worry about. Traipsing around with some woman is not relationship. It's a fling."
"Mother I don't think it is. Abby loves her. I've seen them together, it looks like love."
Elizabeth didn't respond. She never had what her children were experiencing. She had never gone all loopy over someone. She didn't know it was a possibility in marriage. She had set her daughter up to have what she had. It didn't surprise her that Abby wanted different. Abby always wanted different.
Elizabeth changed the subject. "I have an idea; on the wedding ring. My grandmother gave me her mother's ring before she died. Its small virtually no adornments, just a small ruby chip. Nothing particularly special, but your great-great-grandfather worked really hard to buy it for her. I figured that one day I would give it to your child, but maybe you could give to Millicent. Its perfectly washable. She will have to wear another one in public. We can't have people thinking that you skimped on the second wife. But you can let her pick that one."
"I like that idea."
"Is her ex-husband still causing problems?"
"Same old same old. Not picking the kids up when he is supposed to, dropping them off early."
"That doesn't leave much time for the two of you."
"Its not that bad. She comes with kids Mom. If she says yes they will be our children. We make time for each other." She believed him. He had a light when he talked about Millicent and her children.
"This is really what you want to do?"
"Yes, mother. I've never ever felt this way about anyone."
"Then, lets go get my great-grandmother's ring."
XXX
Jamie was nervous. He stood at George and Dora Monroe's front door. He had been here many times, family dinners and picking up the kids. Any other time he would have knocked once and let himself in – it was always open. However, this time he rang the bell. George came to the door with a paper in his hand his glasses on perched on his nose.
"Jamie, why are you ringing the bell?" George noticed that the usually confident man looked rather nervous.
"George, I wondered if you and Dora had a moment. I need to talk to you about something."
"Sure, son. Come on in."
"Is Dora around?" George walked into the kitchen and called his wife. She came out wiping her hands on her apron.
"Jamie, I didn't know you were coming by. You hungry? We just finished lunch, but it won't take me a moment to fix you something."
"No, I need to talk to both of you. I'm sorry, I had this prepared."
"Jamie is everything ok?" Dora asked.
"Yes, I think so." Jamie took a deep breath. "I know Millicent and I haven't been together long, however, she and the children mean more to me than I expected them to. I want to make a home with her and take care of her. Be there for Luke, Dillon, and Brynn for whatever they need. I would like to ask your permission to propose to Millicent.
Dora gave a squeal of delight. George placed his hand on Dora's leg. "Well son, I have some concerns. You are recently divorced. What are you going to do differently this time?"
"George, that is between Jamie and Millicent," Dora chastised.
"No, Dora it's a fair question. Sir I don't have a really good answer to that question. All I can say is I think we have better communication. I don't want to trash Monica because it was both our faults our marriage failed. However, I want to make my life work with Millicent. I want to make her happy. I want to work at making our marriage work. You know your daughter, she is very straight forward. Even when I try to brush something aside she drags whatever the problem is from me."
"She gets the pigheadedness from her mother." George said. Dora swatted him. "Ok, son. Well, its obvious you can provide for her, but you work a fair amount and so does she. The children aren't going to go away and they are going to require more and more time. How do you plan to accommodate them?"
"I've known from the beginning that Millicent is a package set. I plan on asking Brynn, Dillon and Luke whether I can become a part of their family as well. All I can say is my Dad worked a lot when my sister and I were young. He always made time for us. Attended our games and recitals. I plan to follow his and Jed's examples."
"You know she will have your head if she ever finds out that you came and asked for her hand, right?"
"Yeah, well the kids are next. I want it to be Millicent's decision, but I want the people that mean the most to her to have a say."
"What about your family how are they going to feel about this?" Dora asked.
"I think they will be happy."
"Even your mother?"
"My mother has a reputation of being a bit hard on people. However, she likes Millicent and she wants me to happy. So, she's happy."
"Good. When are you going to do it?"
"Tonight. I'm taking this kids from the bus and if they say yes, I'll be asking Millicent tonight."
"Well, son good luck. You have our blessings." He stood to shake Jamie's hand and Dora moved into give him a hug. "I'll reserve welcoming you to the family after she says 'yes.'"
The conversation with the boys was a bit more difficult. They remembered their parents' divorce and Jamie was struck by how open their questions were about taking care of their mother. He had ordered in burgers and fries after school. Millicent would be coming home soon and he had arranged for wine and dinner for her to be delivered. The conversation as going good until Brynn looked at him and asked,
"Are you going to send us to boarding school?"
Jamie was completely taken aback. Never had the thought crossed his mind. "No, sweetheart I would never do that, unless you wanted to go. Then that's something we would all talk about as a family. Why would you ask that?"
"Because in the movies when the father gets married the means stepmother doesn't want the kids any more they get sent to boarding school. And since Daddy doesn't want us, if you don't want us then Mommy will have to send us away."
"Sweetheart, nothing would ever make your mother send you away." Jamie looked at Luke and Dillon for help. First he thought the boys were going to let him twist in the wind, but Dillon came to his rescue.
"Jamie is asking us if its ok to marry Mom because he wants around. Does the wicked stepmother ever ask the princesses permission in movies?" Brynn shook her head.
"See. Don't worry kid you'll be here for us to torture you for ever." Luke teased his sister. The boys did a fair amount of teasing the little girl, but they were the first to jump to her defense and made sure they took care of her.
"So, if Mom says yes, we'll move to your apartment?" Luke asked.
"That's something we'll decide as a family." Jamie said.
"But your apartment is closer to your work and mom's work."
"I don't want to leave Grandma and Grampie," Brynn interjected.
"It's not something either your mother or I have discussed. Though its more likely that I will move in here. Is that ok?" All of them gave their approval. Jamie looked at his watch to check the time. Millicent would be home in an hour. "Remember this is a secret so if you talk to your Mom before she tells you then you can't say anything." They all promised.
Before Millicent arrived home Dora came and picked them up. She would be preparing them for school in the morning. Depending on how tonight went he was sure Millicent would be telling them in the morning. Millicent walked through the door an hour after Dora left. She looked tired, but had a spring to her step.
He was sitting on the couch, completely unable to read his book when she walked in. "Hey you," she said. She stopped and listened for a moment. "Where are the kids?"
"Your mother came by and got them."
"Oh!" she said. She didn't think much about it considering that it wasn't uncommon for Dora to come and get the children when she worked late or knew she wasn't working the next day. She walked over to him and took the book out of his hands. "This book doesn't seem very interesting? What are you doing here tonight?"
"I ordered dinner." Jamie stood up abruptly. Now, she noticed something was different about him. Jamie usually maintained a calmness about him that soothed her. When he was worried he paced and when something was on his mind he fidgeted. He was fidgeting now. "I had Dora pick up the kids." She felt a sinking feeling. Was it over and she hadn't seen it? Everything had been going to well, but if it was over she wanted to get it over with now.
"Why did you do that?"
"I wanted to talk to you." He looked at her. She returned his look. "We've been together for 10 months. And that's not really along time by some people's standards, and my life has changed dramatically." Her face became stone. He couldn't read her and it made him fidget and pace.
"Jamie if you're going to break up with me just do it and leave?"
"Break up with you. Why would I do that? I want you to marry me."
"What?" She sat back hard in the couch. She'd imagined this, but she thought it was a while off even a year or two.
"I had a speech prepared. My life has changed dramatically. I feel more at home with you and the children here than I do anywhere else. You make me happy, I feel like I can tell you anything and you never judge just listen. I love you more than anything. When I close my eyes I imagine that we will grow old together. And I promise to love you for the rest of my life." Jamie reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. It was a platinum band with ruby and diamond chips. He got down on one knee in front of her holding the ring out. "On our first date you told me you came as a package deal. I want you and the children to be apart of my life forever. Millicent Griffiths will you consent to becoming my wife?" She looked at him and the ring.
She wanted to say yes. More than anything, however her head beat her heart to the answer, "Jamie we have to talk."