Part Three
Kelly rings Ted's doorbell. She hasn't seen him since Monday. After talking to him yesterday, she learned that Shea was still sick, so he'd talked the boys into letting him stay and watch her. When the door opens, she looks up expecting to see Ted. Instead, she sees one of the sons; she just can't remember which one this is.
"Hi," Kelly says.
"Hi."
"Is Ted here?"
"Yes, come on in."
"Thank you." Kelly steps in. "Am I coming at a bad time?"
"No. You won't even know we're here." It's said with a slight eye roll. "Two boys will be running around more than likely."
Kelly smiles; this one is Mike. "Are you staying here?"
Mike nods. "We lost power and they said it could be a few days before we get it back. There was a break in something. I don't know. Not really anything I know about. So here we are. If it were just me and Johnny, we'd be at least sleeping at home. But with the kids, we need to be somewhere. Dad should be down in a minute. Come on into the living room."
"Thank you." Kelly follows him. "Is this the house you grew up in?"
"Depends on how you look at it. I'm from Daddy's first marriage. So I didn't see much of him, especially when he married Melanie."
Kelly frowns at that. She hadn't pictured Ted to be the kind of man to not see his own son. Maybe she had him all wrong.
"It wasn't just my Dad. My Mom kept me from him too. They argued a lot and when Daddy pissed Mom off, I didn't get to see him or my brothers. I moved in with Daddy when I was thirteen. So from then on, I was here."
Kelly nods. "It must have been hard."
"It was. Daddy and I had our battles. But we worked past them."
"He also got away with a lot more than Teddy and Brett did for a while," Ted says walking in.
Kelly looks over and smiles. "Yeah?"
Ted nods. "I didn't mean to keep you waiting."
Kelly shakes her head. "It's okay. Mike and I were talking."
"Giving her my sob story," Mike says with a smile.
"Of course you were. Your daughter is waiting for you."
Mike nods. "It was nice seeing you again, Kelly."
"You too."
Ted squeezes Mike's shoulder before his oldest son walks out. "I'm not perfect and I made mistakes. But I love my boys."
Kelly nods. "I know you do."
"I wasn't expecting them to be here. It wasn't until I got home that I even knew."
"It's okay. I think it's great that you're letting them stay here."
"Have a seat." He gestures to the couch.
Kelly sits down and sets her bag on the floor. "Are you lost on the assignment from yesterday?"
"Yes. Are you getting it?"
Kelly shakes her head. "I was there and it doesn't make sense. Maybe we can figure it out together."
"I sure hope so." Ted lets out a soft breath as he grabs his book from the table.
"Galloway Michael, get back here."
Ted looks over to see Galloway running in. "Hey, what are you doing?"
"I want to play a video game," Galloway answers.
"And I told you no," John says walking in. "Sorry, Dad."
"It's okay."
"Upstairs, Galloway."
"Big Daddy lets me play!"
"Not on a school night when you still have homework to finish. Go."
"Big Daddy, tell him…"
"Galloway, you're so close to losing your trip coming up."
"If Galloway is playing, so am I!" Grayson says running down the stairs.
"He's not playing. Upstairs, now. Both of you. Big Daddy and Kelly are trying to study." John looks a Ted and Kelly. "I'm sorry."
"John, it's okay. Boys…"
"But…"
"Upstairs, now," Mike says walking in. "Dad has told you no, I have told you no. Neither of you have your homework done, which you lied about. Not only did you lie to Dad and I about that, but you lied to Big Daddy. So guess what? no video games for a week."
"But…"
"Do you want to make it more?" Mike gestures behind him. "Go, finish your homework and then you're going to bed."
"We didn't have snack."
"Should have thought about that before you lied to all of us. Let's go." Mike looks at Ted after the boys leave. "Sorry, Daddy."
"It's okay. I've been there."
Mike nods and slides his arm around John's waist as they walk out. Kelly looks at Ted who smiles at her.
"They're good boys," Ted says. "But they're seven, so they get wild."
"You don't have to explain. Mike seems to be the one to do the disciplining of the two."
Ted nods. "Yeah, John does. But when it gets like this? Mike's a lot like me."
"Intimidating?"
Ted laughs but nods a little. "Yeah, exactly." He looks over when he hears soft footsteps to see Shea. "I thought you were in bed."
"I didn't get to say goodnight to you," she says.
"Well, Big Daddy is slacking, isn't he? Come here." Ted hugs Shea tight. "Although, your Daddy hasn't let you go long enough for me to."
Shea giggles. "Goodnight, Big Daddy." She kisses his cheek.
"Goodnight, Sunshine. I love you."
"I love you, too." Shea waves as she runs back upstairs.
Ted looks at Kelly. "Okay, where were we?"
Kelly smiles as she pulls her legs up underneath her. "We hadn't started anything."
"Right, sorry. I'm sorry about all of this."
"No, you don't have to apologize, Ted. It's nice to see this side of a family. I never had this."
Ted nods. "Well, you'll see it a lot in this family." He opens his book. "So can we work with yesterday's issue?"
"Yes, that sounds like a good place to start."
"Great." He grabs his pencil. "Okay, so I got the first part, I think."
Kelly laughs softly. "That's all I got. So let's start with seeing if we're on the same path."
Ted runs a hand through his hair a little while later. He looks at Kelly. "Would you like something to drink?" he asks.
"Sure," she answers. "I need to stand up anyways. I need to stretch."
Ted nods. "Me too. Come on. We can grab a bite to eat too."
"Sounds good." She stands up and follows Ted into the kitchen. She can't help but smile as she looks around. The kitchen has a country type style. "Wow. Beautiful kitchen."
Ted looks at her and smiles. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." She watches as he opens the fridge. "Do you cook a lot?"
"Not as much as I used to. Since the boys have all moved out and onto their own families, I've only been cooking for myself for the most part. Luckily, they come over still so I get to cook for them. Do you cook?"
"Not really. I can do a few things, but nothing special."
"Pepsi?"
"Sure." She takes the can of pop Ted hands her.
"Do you want a glass?"
"No, this is fine."
Ted nods. "I have some veggies left. How about those?"
"Sounds perfect." She smiles as he pulls out a container.
"Ranch dressing?"
Kelly nods. "Yes, please." She smiles again. It's what she seems to always do when she's around Ted. It's nice to have someone she feels so comfortable with. She doesn't know if she's ever felt this before.
They walk back to the living room after getting everything. Kelly smiles at Ted as they settle on the couch again. She doesn't have a chance to say anything else as Mike walks in.
"Dad," he says.
Ted looks over. "Mike, is everything okay?" he asks.
Mike nods. "Yeah, it's fine. I just wanted to apologize for earlier."
Ted shakes his head. "You don't need to apologize, son."
"No, I do. I don't know what their problem was tonight. They're not usually like this, especially here. So I'm sorry. Kelly didn't need to see it."
"It's okay," Kelly says. "They're kids."
Mike nods. "I know. They are good boys."
"I know."
Mike nods again. "Okay, I'll let you two get back to studying. And you're going to class tomorrow, Daddy. I made arrangements at work and I'm staying home."
"Okay," Ted says.
"Goodnight."
"Night, Michael." Ted looks at Kelly after Mike walks out.
"You should be proud," Kelly says. "I have never met anyone like anyone in your family, Ted. So polite and sincere." She shrugs. "You don't see it often anymore. You've done that with your boys."
"Thank you. I appreciate that." He smiles a little. "It's nice to hear that my boys are good ones."
"They are. And so are you." She chews on her bottom lip. "I think they're lucky to have you as their dad."
"I'm not perfect. Mike can tell you all about that."
"But you've made up for it. I haven't talked to my parents in a while and I doubt they miss me." She shakes her head before shrugging.
"I'm sure they do. And if they don't, then that's their loss."
Kelly grins. "I'm not worried about it to be honest." She looks at her paper again. "Okay, so let's switch papers and proof read."
"Sounds good." Ted hands her his paper as he takes her. "Is this the one I can write on?"
Kelly nods. "Go for it. I expect tons of red marks. Or whatever color you're using."
Ted laughs softly. "Right back at you." He takes his pen from the drawer in the side table before he settles in and starts reading over the paper. He frowns when his phone rings. "Sorry."
"It's okay."
Ted knows it's Teddy by the ringtone it's playing. "Hello?"
"Daddy, we have a problem," Teddy says.
Ted frowns. "What do you mean? What kind of problem? Are you guys okay?"
"We're fine. We just don't have a place to sleep tonight."
Ted raises an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Gas leak down the street from us." Teddy sighs. "Any way we can stay there tonight? Hopefully it'll only be tonight."
Ted grins. "Well, Michael and John are here. But you can take your old room. It'll be the three of you. Grayson, Galloway, and Shea are in Brett's room."
"You're sure it's okay?"
"Yes. Come on over. I'm studying with Kelly right now, so don't hate me if I don't jump up and help when you get here."
"That's fine. Sorry about this, Daddy."
"It's okay. You know I love having all of you here."
"We'll see you soon then."
Ted hangs up and smiles at Kelly. "Well, son number two will be here with his family too."
"Is everything okay?" Kelly asks.
"There was a gas leak down the street from them so they had to leave. I'm going to run up and let Mike know."
Kelly nods. "Okay." She watches Ted walk upstairs and can't help but smile. It's nice to see that Ted is the kind of father who will willingly let his kids stay here when they need someplace.
Ted knocks on Mike's bedroom door. He hears movement inside before the door opens. John looks at him surprised. Ted smiles at him.
"Got a minute?" Ted asks.
"Yeah," John says. "Come in. Mike, it's your dad."
Ted steps inside and watches as Mike sits up in bed. "Sorry to bother you guys. Your brother just called me. Apparently there was a gas leak down the street from them, so he and Maryse are on their way here. So you might want to talk to him about the morning routine with the kids."
Mike nods. "Okay. Are you getting cozy with Kelly?" Mike flashes his best smile.
John laughs softly as he goes through a bag in the corner. "Mike, do you really want to hear about your dad's sex life?"
"Not really."
Ted grins. "Keep it that way, Michael. I'll make sure Teddy stops in here when they get here."
"Okay, sounds good. I won't shower until they're all gone. We're going to keep Shea home again. So I'll shower after everyone has left. So that'll help. Johnny will be out of the shower by six-thirty."
John nods. "I have a meeting tomorrow at eight. So I need to leave here around seven-fifteen. What time do you have school?"
"Eight. But the showers can be running at the same time, so that's not a problem."
"Okay, good."
"I'm going to back down. Behave in here you two."
"Daddy," Mike groans.
Ted laughs softly as he walks out. He heads downstairs and sits down on the couch again. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Kelly says.
Ted looks over a short time later when he hears the front door open. First he sees Maryse in the living room doorway with Emily in her arms. Maryse looks over and smiles at him.
"Hi, Dad," she says. "Thank you for letting us stay."
"Not a problem," Ted says. He watches Teddy come into view. "You remember Kelly?"
"Of course." Maryse smiles at her.
"You two need to talk to Michael and John about the morning routine."
Teddy nods. "We will. I think the issue will be John and Maryse doing their hair."
Maryse smacks Teddy's stomach. "Go get Emily's stuff set up so I can put her to bed."
"Yes, dear." Teddy kisses her cheek before heading upstairs.
"Goodnight Dad, Kelly."
"Goodnight." Ted smiles at Kelly. "Hopefully we're done with the interruptions."
"It's okay," Kelly says. "Your family is more important than school." She shrugs. "If my parents were half the parent you are, I'd be happy. Your boys are lucky to have you." She shrugs again before looking back at Ted's paper.
They switch their papers back a few minutes later after they finish proofreading. That's when Ted sees the wet marks on his paper. He looks over at Kelly as she's wiping her eyes.
"Kelly…"
Kelly shakes her head. "I'm sorry." She shoves her things into her bag. "I should go."
"What? Kelly…"
"I'm fine." She stands up. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Kelly is gone before Ted can say anything else. He stares after her, baffled as to what had just happened. What did just happen?
Teddy walks in and frowns a little. "Where'd Kelly go?" he asks.
"She left."
"Left? What happened?"
Ted shrugs. "I don't know." He looks at Teddy. "Did you need something?"
"Just wanted to see what time you'll be up and showered in the morning."
"I'm usually up by six. I'll shower right away tomorrow."
"Okay. So I can use you shower?"
Ted nods. "Of course."
"Great. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Are you okay, Daddy?"
Ted nods as he shrugs. "I just don't know what I did or said to make her bolt."
"Maybe nothing." Teddy shrugs. "Talk to her the next time you see her."
"I will. I think I'll head up to do some reading before bed." Ted stands up and they both head upstairs.
******
Kelly curls around her extra pillow as she lets the tears fall. She hadn't meant to break down in front of Ted. But after seeing him so caring of his boys, it hit her hard. She doesn't have that with her parents. She doesn't have much with them.
Now Ted is never going to talk to her again. She ran out on him. Who does that? Ted has been nothing but amazing and she bolts. On top of it all, she didn't sleep well because of it and has to go deal with school.
Kelly walks into class, not surprised to see Ted already there. She walks up and sits down beside him. When he looks over, she smiles sadly. "Hi."
"Hi," Ted says softly. "Are you okay?"
Kelly shrugs. "I just… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have run out like that."
"Did I do something or say something?"
"No, you didn't do anything." She licks her lips, knowing she'll have to tell him something. "We'll talk between classes and I'll try to explain."
"Okay." Ted watches her closely. "I don't need to be worried, do I?"
Kelly shrugs. "I don't think so."
"Okay."
After class ends, they head out to the bench. Ted watches as Kelly stares straight ahead, avoiding looking at him.
"You're so good to your boys," Kelly says.
"Kelly…"
"No, just let me talk."
Ted nods. "Okay."
"The way you interact with them is amazing. I didn't know a parent could be like that. It made me realize what I didn't have growing up. I still don't have it. When I graduated high school, I moved in with my best friends and his parents. I was eighteen, so I could take care of myself according to my parents."
Ted frowns. "Sounds to me like they shouldn't have been parents."
Kelly laughs softly through her tears. "I've said that my whole life. It was different with my half-sister. My dad dotes on her. But me?" She looks at Ted. "Not so much. So I freaked out a little and I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"You know, I'm twenty-five and I've never been on any kind of vacation."
Ted frowns. "Really?"
"Really." She shrugs.
"Would you like to go on one?"
"I'd love to, but I wouldn't know where to begin."
Ted nods. "Over Labor Day weekend, we go out to a cabin that we own. Would you want to come out with us for that? We ride our bikes… motorcycles… out there and cook out. Well, Teddy and Maryse will drive with all the kids this year."
Kelly stares at Ted, shocked at the fact that he's invited her. "Really?"
Ted nods. "If you don't work and want to come out. We'll go out on the boat and just hang out really."
Kelly grins. She can't believe he'd invite her when they still don't know each other all that well. But it sounds like it would be an amazing time. "Let me see what my schedule is at work and then I'll let you know. If that's okay?"
Ted nods. "Absolutely. And you can ride with Teddy and Maryse if you don't want to be on a bike."
"I wouldn't be driving the bike, would I?"
"No." Ted grins. "You'd ride with me."
Kelly nods. "I'm working tomorrow night, so I'll see what's going on."
Ted nods. "Okay." He hopes she'll come with. He knows despite still not knowing her all that well, that she'd have a good time.
Kelly grins. She wants to go. She may have to talk her managers into letting her have the weekend off. She's never asked for time off and she's only called off once. Other than that, she's been at work when she's supposed to be, plus she'll pick up extra shifts when people call off and she's available. "Maybe I'll stop in tonight to see. Might be better if I go tonight because tomorrow will likely be busy."
"More than likely. You know, we've probably seen you in there before. For a while, that's the only place we went to when we went out."
Kelly smiles at him. "I've been there for a while, so it's probable." She glances at her watch. "I suppose we should head in for class."
"Probably a good idea." Ted lets out a soft breath as he stands up. He waits for Kelly to stand as well before they head back to the building. He holds the door open for her.
Kelly smiles up at him as she walks inside. "Thank you," she says.
"You're welcome," Ted says. They head to the elevators, walking in a comfortable silence.
******
Kelly practically bounces out of the restaurant that night. She hadn't honestly believed she'd be able to get Labor Day weekend off. But they willingly gave it to her. Jake even went as far as saying "it's about time" for asking for time off. Kelly pulls her phone out of her purse to call Ted. But she stops herself. She should just go over to Ted's. She smiles to herself; that's exactly what she'll do.
Kelly pulls into Ted's driveway and stops behind the Durango. Ted's kids must still be here. She climbs out and heads up to the front porch. She's about to ring the doorbell when the door opens quickly.
"Go to hell, Mike," John yells. He looks at Kelly. "Sorry, Kelly." He steps past her and storms down the steps.
"You might want to come over here where you're out of the way," Ted says from the porch swing.
Kelly looks over. "I didn't see you there." She walks over and sits down beside him. "Is everything okay here?"
Ted chuckles. "The boys are just frustrated and taking it out on each other."
"Mike and Teddy are still here?"
Ted nods. "Yeah. Teddy and Maryse should be getting back in tomorrow though. Michael and John? Well, they're having issues with getting any answers about when they can go home." Ted shrugs. "They'll be fine. Give them both about five minutes and Mike will be out that door calling John back in."
"Really? Just like that?"
Ted laughs softly. "Just like that." He looks at Kelly. "So was I expecting you?"
"No. But I thought it would be better for me to come talk to you face to face instead of over the phone."
"Should I be worried?"
"No." Kelly grins. "Were you serious when you invited me with you guys?"
Ted nods. "I absolutely was. Still thinking about it?"
"No. I talked to work and they gave me the weekend off. So I'll go."
Ted smiles at her. "Great! I'm glad." He looks up when he hears the front door open. "Here's Mike."
Kelly looks over to see Mike step onto the porch. He walks down and heads to the driveway where John is sitting. Kelly chews on her bottom lip. She wouldn't be surprised if this turned out badly, because that's what she's always seen. Instead, John is standing up and wrapping his arms around Mike's neck.
"You seem surprised," Ted says.
"I am," she replies honestly. "After my family's issues, I thought that was normal."
Ted nods. "I don't know what happened with your family, but it's normal to fight. Everyone does. Then after a few minutes it blows over. Well, usually a few minutes. Sometimes it takes overnight. But most people move on from it. Look at them. They're fine now."
Mike and John walk up the steps. "Should we set up the tent tonight?" Mike asks with a snort.
Ted points at him. "You may be an adult, but I am still your father and I will beat your ass."
Mike chuckles. "Sorry, Daddy." He closes the door behind him and John.
Kelly looks at him. "What was that about?"
Ted shakes his head. "My sons are all looking to get hit." He grins. "No worrying, okay?"
"You're really going to hit them?"
Ted shrugs. "May have to." He nudges her. "Your family must have been really bad."
Kelly nods. "Yeah." She shrugs. "I just need to get used to this I suppose, huh?"
Ted nods. "Just know that while I have disciplined my boys, I didn't hurt them. I spanked them, but not hard."
Kelly nods. "It obviously wasn't bad because they're still around. It's just weird to see this after what I've seen."
"I can understand that. Want to come in for a bit?"
"No, I should head home. I have to finish up my homework for tomorrow."
Ted nods. "Okay. We can talk tomorrow about next weekend too."
"Sounds good." Kelly smiles at Ted. "Goodnight, Ted."
"Night, Kelly."
