Wednesday: October 9, 2013 12:37 P.M.

I was finishing up my paperwork for the day in silence when I heard the door open. I look up. Randy stands in the doorway of my office, holding our baby boy in his arms.

"Let me know when you have a few." Randy quietly says.

"I'm pretty much done, and I'm not on a video call or anything." I tell Randy. "What's going on?"

Randy sits down in the chair across from me. "Well, a certain relative decided to call me a little bit ago for the first time in ages and left a nasty voicemail. I wanted to know if you were interested in hearing it."

I finished the paperwork. "Tyler?"

"You'd be surprised if it was anyone else."

I roll my eyes. "Let me listen to it."

Randy pulls out his phone and does a few things before setting it on my desk to let the voicemail play.

Tyler: "I hope you're happy knowing that you're keeping the family split up. You're keeping me from meeting my own nephew and haven't once tried to take time to meet your niece. I honestly used to think this whole drama and refusing to be around me was Marissa's doing, but I realize the truth is that it's actually your doing, Randy. You're the one keeping the family split. I realized it as soon as I found out you were the one who was adamant that I didn't come see Marissa in the hospital after she had the baby. You're a bastard for keeping this family split up and for manipulating my sister against me. I can't wait for the day she leaves your sorry ass."

Randy and I look at each other without saying a word for a few minutes.

"The next time he calls, I'm answering, and I'm not being nice. If he calls you and I'm not busy, hand me the phone. I'll answer it and give him a piece of my mind." I tell Randy.

"So it's still agreed we're not letting him near the kids?" Randy asks.

"Without a doubt."

"Good. How did we tolerate him for so long?"

I shrug. "I have no idea."

"I mean I do feel a little bad about not meeting their baby, but that would also require us letting him near our kids, which I think would be awful at the moment."

"I agree."

Randy sighs. "I'm so sick of him."

"Me too. Nothing he said in that call was true except you making sure he didn't come see me in the hospital, and you knew that would've been what I wanted."

"All he would've brought you was added stress, which was the last thing you needed at the moment."

"Exactly. You did nothing wrong."

"Glad we agree on that. So what are you going to do now that you're done with paperwork?"

"Well, I was probably gonna eat something for lunch before calling Shane. He texted me this morning and said to call him when I had time. Plus, I could probably use his advice on a couple things."

"Oh."

"Everything alright?"

"Well, I was going to train soon and was kinda hoping I could get you in the ring with me."

"Oh, well, I'd have more time to do that tomorrow. Is that okay? I do have a therapy appointment in the afternoon though."

Randy kisses my forehead. "Okay. That's fine with me. Let me take Junior and get out of your hair while you do what you gotta do."

"I can take him. He's about to be hungry too, so I can feed him. Plus, I'll be calling Shane, so it's not a big deal if the baby interrupts a little."

"You sure?"

"I'm certain. I know you're trying to do a lot to keep me from having a lot on my plate, but I can still do some things. I appreciate you trying to do a bunch, but you can take a break. I can feed him and watch him while you train. Plus, you'll have the kids all by yourself for a while tomorrow while I'm at therapy."

Randy nods as Junior reaches out to me. "Alright. Looks like he wants you anyway, Rissa."

I take Junior from Randy. "How's my baby boy? You're the cutest little thing, you know."

Junior laughs.

Randy smiles. "Let me know if you do need me for anything."

"I will." I tell Randy as he kisses me again.

"Thanks." Randy kisses Junior's cheek. "And you, don't drive your mom nuts."

I laugh. "I love you, Randy."

"Love you too. See you in a little while." Randy leaves my office to head to train in our gym.

I look at Junior. "I guess Mommy should feed you before we call Uncle Shane."

As I sit on the couch, holding the baby, I grab my phone and call Shane. I listen to the phone ring.

Shane: "Hey."

Me: "Hey, what's up? You wanted me to call when I had time."

Shane: "Yeah, I did…how's everything going at work?"

Me: "Are you worried about everything with Stephanie and Paul?"

Shane: "Well, yes, though their power trip doesn't surprise me, but I also know that you have been put in a complicated spot. I'm sure you're stressed out, and that's what I'm more concerned about."

Me: "Stressed is an understatement."

Shane: "How bad?"

Me: "I'm constantly stressed. When you decided to cut off the rest of the family except me, how'd you know it was the right thing to do?"

Shane sighs.

Shane: "I was tired of Stephanie's shit and Dad allowing her to do it. I felt like things were never going to change, so I cut off contact with them."

Me: "I see. I feel like I will need to cut them off too after I get Randy out of this situation with Stephanie and Paul. Plus, there's another sibling I think I'm cutting off."

Shane: "Sometimes, you just know what you got to do."

Me: "I think you're right. And this does put me in a weird place. I'm just supporting Randy and going along with whatever for now, but it won't be like that forever."

Shane: "Randy shouldn't be making you go along with things."

Me: "He's actually not. It's me who's behind all that. He offered to turn on them for me, but I don't think that's a safe option. I told him to wait, so we could figure this out."

Shane: "I see. However, I have doubts that you and Randy are going to be able to split from Stephanie and Paul without having big issues."

Me: "I see your point, and I could see that being the case too. I think I want to try though."

Shane: "Fair enough. How are things between you and Randy if you don't mind me asking?"

Me: "We've had a little bit of issues. I'll admit to that, but they were mostly work related. We've agreed to work on things and go to couple's therapy together though."

Shane: "At least you're both willing to work on things. You're going to need to be on the same page to handle Stephanie and Paul."

Me: "I know, Shane."

Shane: "I'm just making sure. We may not have grown up together, but I'm still your older brother. I want to look out for you."

Me: "I appreciate that."

Shane: "Of course. Anyway, how's the kids?"

Me: "They're good. They're both doing really well. How are yours?"

Shane: "Mine are good as well. How have you been dealing with the baby?"

Me: "It's been stressful at times. But I feel like I've figured it out. And Randy is good at this whole parenting thing. Sometimes, I feel like he's better than I am at it."

Shane: "I'm willing to bet you're just as good at it. I actually need to go, but feel free to call if you need to talk."

Me: "Alright. Thanks for the talk."

Shane: "Of course. Talk soon. Bye."

Me: "Bye."

The call ends. I put my phone down and hold my son as I stand up. I hold him as I walk to go see Randy as he trained.

Randy smiled as he spotted us. "Hey, are you done talking to Shane?"

I nod. "Yes, I am done talking to him."

"How'd it go?"

"It was alright. He warned me that you and I need to be on the same side to take Stephanie and Paul on and then we asked about each other's children. That's about it."

"I see. He's right about that."

"He also told me that sometimes you just know when you gotta do something. I needed to hear that honestly."

"Maybe it's good he told you that."

"I think it was. I didn't know you were training shirtless today."

"Do you have a problem with me training shirtless?"

"Quite the opposite actually. I'm enjoying the view."

"Are you? I'm usually the one who makes those kinds of comments."

I shrug. "Just because I don't make those kinds of comments like you do a lot doesn't mean I don't have those thoughts."

"Well, if you're nice enough to train with me, maybe I'll be nice enough to train shirtless then too."

"I told you that I should be able to do it tomorrow before my therapy."

"I know. I'm just holding you to it."

"Of course you are. I'm not planning on going back on my word. Just so you know, I'm gonna ask my therapist for a recommendation for someone to do our couple's therapy."

Randy nods. "Alright. Let me know who we get recommended to and how soon we can start."

"I will. I'm gonna go here in a few, so I can pick up our other child from school."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too."