The Good Life

*Jack*

One month later

Alex and I were finally going to visit my mother tomorrow. We planned for us to stay four days, Thursday through Sunday. My mom had the whole weekend off so she wouldn’t have to work the entire time we were visiting. I’m kind of worried that we would run into Zack while we were there, but Baltimore is a big city so the chances should be pretty slim.

I was currently do some last minute packing while Alex was at the bank. He finally finished working so we’ve been spending all summer moving his belongings here. The only thing left at his old apartment are his bed and other furniture, which he’s going to sell to someone on Craigslist. Since I have a master’s bedroom I had two closets, so all I had move my clothes from one closet to another and let Alex have the second one. I also had two sinks and medicine cabinets so he had one side of the bathroom and I had the other. I still can’t believe I’m sharing a house with the love of my life. It just felt so surreal.

Alex wanted to split the house bills right down the middle, but I didn’t think it was necessary. The house was already paid off and the only bills left were the water bill, electricity, home owners insurance, and property taxes. Alex wouldn’t take no for an answer, of course, I gave him the electricity bill which usually ranges from $250 to $300 a month. He decided that wasn’t enough and said he wanted to pay for our groceries every month and our entertainment and food whenever we went out. I agreed to it since it made him happy.

Speaking of bills, I needed to check the mailbox one last time before we left, just in case. When I walked outside I saw Vicki wrestling with Mike and Vic trying to put them in their car seats. She looked so stressed out, I guess she wasn’t lying about being a stay at home mom being a full time job.

“Michael Christopher Fuentes!! Get over here right now!!” She scolded at the four year old who was running away from her as she tried to buckle Vic in, who was kicking his legs and whining.

“Hey Vicki!” I walked over to see if she could use some help. “How’s work coming along?” I asked and she chuckled.

“I need a vacation. I have to take Emilio some paper work he left at home today and these two are making this very complicated for me.” She sighed.

“I can watch them for you.” I told her. I don’t mind watching the boys for her, I love kids.

“I don’t want to take away from your free time, Jack.” She said.

“No I don’t mind at all. I’ll watch them like they’re my own.” I tried to assure her that nothing would happen with her kids while I watched them. We’ve only known them for two months so I would understand if she didn’t feel comfortable leaving them with me.

“Are you sure you’re okay with watching them?” She asked one last time.

“Yep!” I said.

“Okay! Emilio’s job is twenty minutes away and I have to drive there and back so I should be back in forty-five minutes.” She informed me. “Mike and Vic you guys be on your best behavior for Mr. Jack okay?” She told them. Mike nodded his head and waved to me while Vic was in his own little world. She took Vic out of his car seat and handed him to me and I grabbed Mike’s hand. She handed me a diaper bag that had a Sippy cup and diapers for Vic.

“Bye Mommy!” Mike said happier than you would expect him to be. I guess he wanted a break from her too. She kissed him and Vic good-bye.

“Mama.” Vic babbled and started to cry. I tried to sooth him by rubbing his back and Vicki kissed his cheek before getting into her car. I looked both ways and crossed the street back to my house, waving at Vicki as she drove off.

“What do you want to do?” I asked Mike as I rocked Vic trying to calm him down.

“SpongeBob!” Mike screeched, obviously more comfortable with me than when we first met.

“Okay let’s go!” he followed me to the living room and I turned on the TV, turning to Nickelodeon.

“Tank You.” Mike sat on the couch and I placed an upset Vic next to him.

“You’re welcome.” I said. I walked to the kitchen to look for snacks and juice to give the boys. I poured apple juice into a cup for Mike and into Vic’s Sippy cup. There were two Ziploc bags in the diaper bag filled with snacks for the boys. One had baby biscuits, which was for Vic since he barely had any teeth, and the other Ziploc bag had Goldfish for Mike. I brought the snacks to them and received another thanks from Mike and more sobs from Vic.

I heard the front door open up. “Hey!” Alex said as he walked into the living room. “Are you babysitting for Vicki?” He asked.

“Yeah she had to drop off some paper work to Emilio. And she seemed so stressed out so I told her I would watch them for her.” I told him.

“Aw why is Mike crying?” Alex asked getting the two of them mixed up.

“I Mike, he’s Vic!” Mike stressed and I laughed.

“Oh yeah I forgot.” Alex chuckled.

“Vic, stop crying. Eat this.” Mike put one of Vic’s treats to his mouth. Vic calmed down and started to nibble on it. I wiped away the tears from his eyes and he smiled at me; still sniffling. They were both so cute, I never wanted to give them back.

“Can you watch them while I go to the bathroom real quick?” I asked Alex. SpongeBob was on a commercial break and Mike and Vic were getting restless waiting.

“How am I supposed to entertain them?” He asked.

“You’ll figure it out!” I told him as I ran to the bathroom.

I used the bathroom, washed my hands, and hurried back out to see Alex showing them a magic trick. He had a quarter in his hands and he was making it seem like he was pulling it from behind their ears.

“Again! Again!” Mike squeaked and Vic giggled.

“Okay I’ll do it one more time.” Alex chuckled and did the trick again.

“Again!” Mike laughed.

“Okay one last time.” Alex did the trick again. They didn’t notice me standing there until I laughed.

“Let’s give the magician a break. We don’t want his magic to run out.” I said when they asked Alex to the trick again. I sat down with the kids and watch SpongeBob until Vicki rung the doorbell.

“Thank you so much for watching them. I hope they didn’t cause you any two any trouble.” Vicki said to Alex and me. She picked Vic up off the couch because he was slowly falling asleep.

“It was no problem at all. If you ever need us to baby sit for you just ask and we’ll be more than happy to.” I told her and she nodded.

“Tell Mr. Jack and Mr. Alex bye boys.” She told them.

“Bye!” Mike said and hugged Alex and I’s legs. Vic was slowly dosing off in Vicki’s arms. Vicki tried to pay me for watching her children, but of course I refused. I enjoyed the boys company.

“That was better than I thought it would be.” Alex said when they left. “All you have to do is entertain them…It’s like having a pet.”

“Can you stop comparing children to animals?” I laughed.

“You have to admit they’re kind of the same thing.” He said and I rolled my eyes at him.

“Just make sure you have everything packed for our flight tomorrow.”

Notes

Sorry for the short chapter! I know in real life, Vic is older than Mike but I need Mike to be older for reasons. Thanks for reading!!