Chapter Seventeen
Shawn::
Since checkout was 11 and our flight was at 12:00 I was up and moving around 7. I
basically spent the morning getting everyone packed. I let the kids all sleep until
nine, even Autumn, Jade, Zaccy and Andy who I usually got up a little earlier. By
the time they were up I had gotten their clothes out and had a dirty clothes bag
waiting for their dirty clothes. They had cereal in the room while the toddlers had
grits which I must say ended more on the floor than in their tummies. While
Annie, Lorri, Stine and Autumn got them dressed, me and Jade mopped the spilled
grits up and cleaned out the dishes we had used.
As Jade put it, “This is how you measure your love. Mopping grody grits off the
ground after you way sloppy siblings.” Then Andy and Megan repeated that over
and over and over until Zachary finally told them to zip it and then proceeded to
chase them around the house. Jessica, Laurel, Gemma and Trisha stopped by and
helped get the toddlers dressed.
“Megan honey, show Grandma how you can get dressed by yourself,” I encouraged
her. She pulled her nightgown over her head and I laughed as the fabric made her
hair staticy. “Change your undies,” I handed her some clean ones. She put her old
ones into the dirty clothes bag and then slipped on her overalls and yellow shirt.
“Grandma! Yook, I did it!” Megan said proudly.
“Yes you did. Very good!” Trisha congratulated her as she did the snaps on the
overalls. Then Trisha talked to Megan in hopes of keeping her from screaming
while I braided her hair into two braids. It didn’t keep her from whimpering, but
atleast she didn’t scream her head off like she usually did.
The only toddler I got ready was Wyatt. He wasn’t that hard and I easily slipped
him into his frog outfit. All the boy toddlers had green plaid overalls with a giant
green frog on the bib. There was a lime green t. shirt to go underneath. The girl
toddlers had green plaid, sleeveless dresses with a frog on the bib and a lime green
shirt to go underneath. They each had little green plaid hats with green fringe
around the edge. Talk about cuties.
Me, Autumn, Zachary, Jessica, Laurel, Stine, Lorri, and Annie started carrying our
bags down to the cabs waiting. Jade stayed in the hall with the toddlers and
talked to Gemma while she held Madeleine who by now was awake and just looking
around curiously.
I saw Lorri stop and talk to Noah in the hall but I just continued to carry the bags
in my possession. Me and the others (excluding Lorri who was still talking to Noah)
deposited our bags into the taxi that was waiting and then ran back upstairs to get
the last few remaining ones. Lorri stopped me in the hall with a look of concern on
her face.
“Shawn, don’t like freak out on me or anything but they’re coming with.”
“What?” I asked her, not sure I completely understood.
“They’re gonna fly back to Tulsa, pack up and rent some house in Rockport to be
near you and the kids.” I froze. Was this what I wanted? I looked over to see
Jake and Autumn walking together.
“Hey Daddy? Do you think you could help me build a birdhouse?” I heard Autumn
ask Jake.
“Ofcourse Beauty, if that’s what you want,” he replied and I could almost see the
tears in his eyes.
“Yeah, that’s what I want.” I felt a tear run down my cheek and I looked at Lorri.
“Shawn? Are you okay?” she asked me. I looked at her and gave her a sad smile,
“He’s coming whether I want him to or not.” She wrapped an arm around my
shoulders and together we walked to the elevator to finish loading the taxis.
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After everything was packed we made a quick final look to make sure no
irreplaceable item was being left behind. Then we began the walk to the airport.
The DeArmonds were riding in the taxis with the luggage since I informed them
that I wanted the toddlers riding without car seats as little as possible. They
seemed to understand.
Jake walked with us though and the kids seemed to enjoy it. He pushed the
stroller with the toddlers in it with Megan on his back, Autumn to his right and
Andy to his left. Stine, Lorri and Annie had gone in the taxis and this all boiled
down to leaving me carrying Madeleine with Zachary by my side and Jade lagging
somewhat behind.
“Mom, I can hate him if you want,” Zachary said to me after a couple minutes.
Jade caught up to us and walked on my other side.
“Zaccy, don’t you understand? You are eleven years old. You deserve to have a dad
and if Jake is willing to stick it out then I want him to. I want you to do what your
heart tells you to do. Feel how you heart feels.”
He thought a moment and then said, “Mom. My heart says I should side with you.”
“Zachary, there aren’t sides. You liking, maybe even loving your dad, is not being a
traitor to me. Just like it isn’t traitoring for Autumn to like your dad. I want both
of you to decide this on your own.” He nodded and then took his hand in mine.
I smiled about my son. What a case. Jade rested her arm around my shoulder
since my other hand was full with Madeleine. The rest of the walk was pleasant
and we arrived at the airport in one piece.
“Aaaaggghhh!! Can I have your autograph?” a girl ran up to Jake. Since they
stopped it gave me, Jade, and Zaccy a chance to catch up. Jake signed the piece
of paper like it was no big deal, which I guess to him it wasn’t, and then continued
walking, just leaving the fan there. She looked like she was about to cry and I felt
I had to do something.
“Hi, my name’s Shawn,” I held my hand out.
Her tears disappeared and she shook it, “My name is Bella. Are you Jake’s kids’
mom?” I smiled and nodded, hoping she wouldn’t freak. She gave me a thumbs up
and then walked off. Me and Zachary gave each other a weird look and then ran
ahead to join the others.
It took a team effort to unload the luggage and get it checked, and this time there
was no nice employee to help us out. Instead it was just grab a bag and check it.
The DeArmonds had talked to me (or actually Trisha and Angie had) and it was
decided that they would go home, pack up, and fly out the next day. Our flight was
leaving first so they walked us to the gate.
“Bye Jenny,” I hugged her.
“Don’t get all worked up Shawn, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I nodded and hugged
everyone else, excluding Jake. The kids were gathered around him, except Jade
and Zachary. I knew exactly what they were thinking. What if he doesn’t come?
“Hey guys, cheer up. I’ll be in Rockport by dinner time tomorrow. I promise on my
life. Okay?” he asked. After he received many a hug, me, Annie, Stine and Lorri
herded the kids on board and waved from the plane windows as it pulled away from
the airport.
“Shawn, are you okay with this?” Annie asked me.
I smiled up at her, “Annie, things are going to change. Things are changing.
I’m not ready in the least but I guess I’ll just have to deal, huh?”
She nodded, “Yeah Shawn. But you’re good at dealing.”
She went back to her seat and I mumbled after her, “I hope.” Then I watched as
Zachary ran back to the bathroom, his face turning green, and I got out of my seat
to help.
“Atleast some things never change.”
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