Chapter 21—The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree

A/N: Special thanks to GHOST303, ASTRID, and KDANIELS270 for reviewing! I really appreciate it!

Over the next two days, Randy stayed the night at Liz's house to make Reby feel better. Today was a day the Michael and Reby's school set aside for teachers to touch up on their skills, so school was canceled. Michael and Reby got to stay home and spend the day with Randy.

Since it was the first Friday of the month, the PTA meeting was being held at Liz's house as usual. Liz was in the middle of organizing a platter of cubed cheese, crackers, and fruit for the other parents when Randy came down the stairs; he had Reby and Michael with him, too.

He held Reby in his arms and Michael was on his back. It was like a piggy back ride. Liz saw Randy go towards the playroom and smiled; he was so good with Michael. Liz had been worried about how Michael would accept Randy spending so much time with Reby, but he seemed to be handling it well; mostly because Randy treated Michael like his son instead of like his daughter's brother.

Liz was still thinking about her boyfriend and children when Randy walked into the kitchen to the kitchen to see what Liz was up to; when he saw she was preparing snack food, he stealthily took several cubes of cheese.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Liz smiled as he pecked her cheek. "I'm putting the snacks together for the PTA meeting. Since I'm the president we have to have the meetings here," she said.

Randy nodded. "Cool. Reby and Michael are in the playroom, and I'm going out for a run; but I should be back in an hour," he said.

"Okay. Are you staying for dinner?" she asked.

He thought for a minute. "I guess I could if you really don't mind," he said.

Liz smiled. "Of course I don't mind, babe," she said.

"Alright. I'll be back soon," he said. Liz leaned up and kissed him deeply.

He smiled. "What was that for?" he asked.

"I love you, so much Randy. Thank you for forgiving me after I walked out on you. You're an amazing man, father, and boyfriend. I really don't know what I did to deserve you," she said.

Randy hugged her and held her close. "I love you too, babe. I was never upset with you for leaving. You had to do what was best for you, Michael, and Reby. At the time, being with me wasn't best and I'm okay with that. I've told you that already," he said.

Liz nodded. "I know," she said as she pulled away. She let her hands sneak up Randy's shirt; she rubbed his toned abs. "but I want to make sure you know how much I love you. So, maybe we could put the kids down to sleep early tonight and take a little time for ourselves," she let her lips ghost over his neck.

He chuckled. "I think I like the sound of that idea," he said seductively.

"Yeah?" she asked erotically. Before Randy could say anything more, Liz bit down on a sweet spot on his neck.

He moaned loudly. "Hell yeah," he grabbed her ass but he let Liz have her way until the doorbell rang. Randy groaned. "Fuck. Now, I really need a run; you got me all hyped up," he said.

Liz smirked and went to answer the door; it was a parent from the PTA. "Come on in. Make yourself comfortable and I'll go get the refreshments," Liz said.

Randy was guzzling a bottle of water when Liz went back to the kitchen.

"Can you make me another protein shake for me when I get back?" Randy asked after he took the last sip.

Liz nodded. "Sure. Enjoy your run," she said. He nodded and headed out the door. Liz took the tray of cheese, crackers, and fruit to the lounge where the meeting would be held. Soon enough, all the parents showed up and the meeting was underway. Towards the end of the meeting, Liz heard Reby screaming at the top of her lungs. She excused herself from the meeting and jumped up to check on Reby.

She found Reby sitting on the floor crying and holding her hand up to her mouth.

"What happened, sweetie?" Liz asked as she picked Reby up from the floor; she moved Reby's hand and saw her lip was bleeding.

Reby continued to sob as she tried to answer. "Michael hitted me!" she said as she pointed to Michael who was playing with a toy.

Liz had a flashback of her entire relationship with Wade; she had started to hyperventilate. She had to put Reby back down so she could catch her breath. When her breathing was even again, she turned to Reby and walked her to the bathroom so she could clean up the blemish on Reby's lip.

The 4-year-old winced and cried when the antibacterial wipe touched the wound. "It's okay, sweetie. I know it hurts but it won't hurt forever, I promise," Liz said to calm her daughter. When the wound was cleaned and protected, Liz walked back to the lounge with Reby in tow.

"Can you sit here with me and keep quiet for a few minutes?" Liz asked. Reby nodded and sat next to Liz; she cuddled into her mother's side and fell asleep for the rest of meeting. Eventually, the meeting was over and everyone left. Only minutes after the other parents left, Randy came back to Liz's house. He had gone to his house for a shower and changed clothes.

"How was the meeting, babe?" he asked when he went to the kitchen where Liz was making his protein.

She sighed. "Michael hit Reby; busted her lip," she said. Randy was shocked. "What did you say to him?" he asked.

Liz sniffled and started to cry. "I couldn't say anything. I had a flashback; I just left him in the playroom," she said.

Randy rushed to Liz and hugged her tightly; she cried into his chest. "Do you want me to talk to him?" he asked.

Liz looked up at him. "You would do that?" she asked.

He nodded. "Of course, Liz," he said. Liz nodded and stepped away from Randy and watched him walk to the playroom. She followed him to listen in on what he would say to Michael. Randy closed the door; Liz put her ear to the door.

"Come and sit down, Michael. I want to talk to you for a minute. Why did you hit Reby today?" Randy asked.

He shrugged. "She took my toy," he said.

Randy sighed. "It's not nice to hit people, Michael, for any reason. You should protect your little sister; you should never hit her,"

"But—"

"But nothing, Michael. You really hurt her lip and her feelings; she's sad now. Right now, she's sleeping, but when she wakes up, I want you to go apologize to her, okay?" he said.

Michael nodded. "Okay," he said sadly.

Just then, Liz's office phone rang; she left the door and went into her office where she closed the door behind her.

Back in the playroom, Randy offered a warm smile. "I want you to apologize to your mom, too," he said.

"Why come?" Michael whined.

Randy sighed. "You hurt her feelings, too, buddy. Can you apologize to the both of them for me?" he asked.

Michael nodded. "I will," he said. Randy opened his arms for a hug; Michael accepted.

"I love you, buddy, but if you hit your sister again, your mom or I will have to take away some of your toys, okay?" he said.

"Okay. I'm sorry I hit Reby, daddy," he said.

Randy stuttered, but he didn't come up with anything to say. So he just stood to walk out. "Can I have a snack?" Michael asked before Randy could leave.

Still stunned by Michael's declaration of Randy being his father, Randy didn't answer immediately. "Uh, yeah. Come on," he said eventually. Michael followed Randy to the kitchen and waited patiently while Randy found some left over fruit from the PTA meeting. Randy handed Michael a bowl of fruit and watched the curly haired boy trot off to the lounge to watch TV.

While keeping an ear out for Michael, Randy went to Liz's office and knocked before opening the door.

Liz was still on the phone, so Randy was quiet. "We need to talk," he mouthed. Liz nodded and waved him off. "Like, now," Randy whispered harshly. Liz pressed the mute button on the phone. "I can't talk right now. My biggest client just called; she saw another wedding dress she wants so she trying to pull out of our deal. You and I can talk later," she said.

"But—"

Liz spoke into the phone. "I'm here, Miss Miller. I completely understand your hesitation, but this is a custom made gown. There isn't a single dress like it," she said as she shooed Randy off with her hands.

"What's so important about one measly client?" Randy asked.

Liz muted the phone again. "Tiffany Miller is one of the biggest socialites in Tennessee. If word gets out that she's wearing my dress in her wedding, that would mean all of her other rich friends would come to me for their dressed, too!" she said. "Now, go!" she said playfully; she continued to shoo Randy away with her hands.

Randy shook his head and disappeared; he closed the office door and went to check on Reby. Up in her room, Reby was still sleeping; Randy snuck inside and sat next to her in her bed. He gently rubbed her back to wake her up. Reby stretched and rubbed her eyes as she woke up. Randy got a good look at her injury and felt a pain in his heart.

"Hey, baby girl," Randy said softly.

Reby crawled into Randy's lap and rested on him. "Hey, daddy," she said. Randy smiled and hugged her tightly.

"I heard what happened to you today," he said.

"Michael hitted me," she said.

Randy nodded. "I know. Your mommy told me. Are you okay?" he asked.

Reby looked up at him with sad eyes. "It hurts," she said.

"I know, baby girl, but I promise it won't hurt forever," he said.

She gasped. "That's what Mommy said!" she said almost excitedly.

Randy chuckled. "How about we go downstairs and get a snack?" he suggested.

Reby nodded and pushed herself from Randy; she grabbed his hand and went down stairs to the kitchen. Again, Randy made a bowl of fruit and gave it to Reby. He followed Reby to the lounge where she sat as far away from Michael as she could.

Randy sighed and tried to get Reby to sit closer to her brother, but she was terrified. He didn't force her, but he reminded Michael to apologize.

"Do you have something to say to Reby, Michael?" he asked.

Michael nodded. "I'm sorry, Reby," he said.

"What are you sorry for?" Randy asked.

Michael looked at Randy. "For hitting her,"

Randy chuckled and shook his head. "Don't tell me; tell her," he said pointing to the still terrified Reby.

"I'm sorry for hitting you and hurting your lip and hurting your feelings," Michael said.

Reby looked at Randy for support. "Do you forgive him?" he asked.

She frowned. "What does that mean?" she asked.

"Forgiving someone means that you aren't mad at them anymore," Randy said; he tried his best to come up with a definition Reby could understand. The four year old nodded.

"I forgive you, Michael," she said.

Michael smiled and hugged his little sister. Just then, Liz walked into the room. Michael saw her and gasped. "Mommy! I drawed you a picture! Can I go get it?" he asked.

Randy stopped him. "Hold on. Don't you have something you're supposed to say to her first?" he asked.

"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, Mommy," Michael said to Liz. She smiled as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She knelt down to Michael's level and hugged him.

"Thank you, sweetie, for apologizing. That was a very big boy thing to do," she said.

Michael smiled. "Can I go get the picture, now?" he asked.

Liz nodded and watched him run off to the playroom. When Michael was out of sight, Liz turned her attention to Reby who was still eating her fruit.

"Hey, Reby. Does your lip still hurt?" she asked. Reby nodded. "It hurts but not a lot," she said.

Michael returned. "Here it is!" he said handing it to Liz. With the picture in hand, Liz sat next to Randy; she made a space for Michael to sit between her and Randy. Reby was on the other side of Randy.

"This is really nice, Michael. Who are those people?" Liz asked.

Michael smiled at the compliment and started pointing to the people in the picture. "That's me. That's Reby. That's you, Mommy. And that's Daddy," he said.

Liz gasped; she immediately tried to figure out how Michael even knew what Wade looked like. Then she realized Michael didn't draw Wade; he drew Randy.

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