The Good Life

*Alex*

“Don’t forget we have to pick up her cake tomorrow.” Jack reminded.

“I know I know and we have to go to Party City to pick up her balloons.” I whined. He had repeated this to me at least six times today. Jack rolled his eyes at me and went to go calm down a very cranky Izzy.

We we’re trying to get everything together for Izzy’s Halloween birthday party tomorrow. It was actually going to be the day before Halloween, her actual birthday, so we could take her trick-or-treating the next day. All her family and friends we’re coming over to celebrate with her which meant Rian, Cass, and Oli would be there too. I was going to try and have as little interaction with them as possible so I wouldn’t make anything obvious, but knowing me that would probably happen anyways.

Jack’s mom was flying here later on today so she could see Izzy turn two, but also because she finally heard from May, who said she needed to talk her and Jack. I felt bad for Jack because he was stressing over Izzy’s birthday party and stressing over talking to May. And to top it all off, Izzy was being difficult all day today. He needed a break.

“Izzy, come on it’s nap time.” Jack told her.

“No nap Papa!” She whined and continued to play with her Barbie dolls. Jack sighed and looked to me for help.

“You won’t like the way I do it.” I said truthfully and Jack turned away from me and looked back at Izzy.

“Come on, baby you need to take a nap.” He tried and walked over to pick her up.

“NO!!” She yelled and ran away from him.

I decided I’d seen enough and got up to go after her. Since she was so little I didn’t have to run after her I just walked and caught up to her. I picked her up and she kicked, screamed, and cried all the way to her room.

“You’re taking a nap and that’s final, Izzy.” I told her as I laid her in her bed.

“Daddy.” She protested and cried with giant tears rolling down her face. I was going to argue back with her, but I couldn’t do it with those tears running down my Angels face. So instead I sat down on her bed and ran my fingers through her hair until she slowly calmed down and stopped crying. I looked down at her a few minutes later and she was sound asleep. I kissed her on the forehead and got up to go find Jack.

When I walked downstairs I saw Jack laying on the couch rubbing his temples. I went over and he lifted his head so I could sit down and he could lay his head in my lap. “What did you do to my daughter?” Jack asked with a small smile.

“I just laid her down and rubbed her hair until she fell asleep.” I said not looking at him cause I knew what he was going to say.

“You mean you didn’t have to yell at her to make her do something.” He said amusedly.

“Okay yes this one time I didn’t have to yell. But you have to admit most of the time she doesn’t listen unless I do.” I said.

“I don’t have to do anything.” He laughed.

We watched TV for a little while unit I spoke. “Do you know how awkward it’s going to be with Oli, Cass, and Rian in the house tomorrow?” I asked.

“ugh fuck yes. It’s going to be horrible. I don’t even know how to act around them.” He said.

“We just have to act normal, but I don’t know how long I can keep this up because I don’t like lying to Rian.” I sighed.

“Yeah I don’t like it either. But I would rather deal with this then go have dinner with May tonight.” Jack said.

“What? Why?” I asked.

“Because it’s going to be weird. I haven’t talked to her in almost four years, Alex. Like she knows nothing about my life and I know nothing about hers. She doesn’t even know about Izzy.” He stopped speaking because he was on the verge of tears.

“It’s going to be okay, babe.” I said, but I wasn’t entirely sure about that. I can’t even imagine the pain he felt, May and him use to be so close.

***

“Nana!!” Izzy exclaimed running over to Joyce. Jack went to pick her up from the airport and brought her here, but now they were about to leave to go meet up with May.

“Hi Izzy! Oh I’ve missed you so much.” Joyce picked her up and kissed her on the cheek. “When are you two going to bring her to Baltimore?” she asked.

“I’ve been thinking about that, but I don’t think she’s ready for the long airplane ride.” Jack answered.

“Yeah she would drive us crazy on that plane.” I laughed.

“I hungree” Izzy grabbed pulled on Jack’s shirt to get his attention.

“Okay Daddy’s going to feed you cause Nana and I have to go.” Jack told her. Joyce grabbed her purse and Jack grabbed his keys as they made their way to the door.

“Bye bye!” Izzy told me and walked to the door with Jack and Joyce, I guess she thought she was going with them.

“No Izzy tell Papa Bye not me.” I told her and she looked at me confused.

“I’ll see you in a few hours, mama” Jack picked her up and kissed her on the cheek.

“I go too.” She whined.

“No not this time, baby.” Jack said. Her face scrunched up and the tears started to fall.

“You get to stay here with me!” I told her, but she continued to cry after Jack.

“Oh my poor baby.” Jack said. “I’m used to her crying when you leave, not me.” He said to me.

“Yeah this is weird.” I agreed.

“Izzy look what I have.” Joyce said as she pulled a small bag of m&m’s out of her purse. She started to hand it to Izzy, but stop before Izzy could grab it. “You have to stop crying first, honey.” She told her. Izzy quickly stopped crying, but she was still sniffling. Jack and I looked at Joyce shocked that that actually worked.

“That’s how I got Jack and May to stop crying, but it doesn’t work all the time.” She laughed.

Izzy turned to me and handed me the candy. “Peas” She begged wanting me to open it for her, which I did.

“Try to have fun.” I told Jack and Joyce.

“We will.” Joyce smiled and they went out the door.

I remembered that Izzy said she was hungry and I went to go make Macaroni and Cheese; she loved that stuff. She followed me around the kitchen while she ate her candy much calmer now.

“Can I have some?” I stuck my hand out. I didn’t really want any I just wanted to see if she would share with me.

“No.” She said and moved the bag away from me.

“You are so selfish.” I giggled.

I turned on the stove and grabbed a pot to fill with water but when I turned back to the stove it didn’t look like the burner was on. So I went over and placed my hand on it, which now I know was a very stupid thing to do because that thing burned the hell out of my hand.

“Ow Shit!” I yelled and quickly moved my hand back. Izzy jumped as if I yelled at her. “Sorry, baby, I hurt my hand” I said and went to the sink to run my hand under cold water. Once the pain went away I went back to the stove and finished, carefully, cooking Izzy’s Macaroni.

***

*Jack*

My mom and I walked into the restaurant we were supposed to be meeting May in. I felt nervous about seeing May again it felt like I was meeting her for the first time. My mom didn’t seem so nervous though she was just acting like we were going to have a normal family dinner. I envy how calm and relaxed she could be in certain situations.

We went up to the hostess stand and asked her if May had be seated yet and she told us yes. She had us follow her to the table May was at. We saw May before she saw us because she was sitting down looking down at her phone. When we stopped at the table that’s when she finally looked up and gave us a small smile.

“Hi mom!” She said and got up to hug her. I stood there awkwardly waiting for my turn.

When she let go of her she moved closer to me. “Jack” She said sounding apologetic and opened her arms to hug me. I stood there for a second thinking about being petty and not hugging her because I was still hurt with all the stress she put my mother and I through, but I let that go for now and hugged my sister.

May sat down on one side of the table and our mom and I sat on the other side across from May. We were quiet for a little bit until my mom spoke first.

“How have you been, baby?” She asked May.

“Um I’ve been okay, what about you two?” May asked.

“We’ve been fine.” Mom answered for both of us. This was way different then what I was used to. Usually we would, be laughing and joking with each other at this time, but now we weren’t even looking at each other.

“How’s Alex, Jack?” May asked.

“He’s great.” I quickly answered still not looking up at her.

“Um Jack and Alex actually adopted a baby two years ago, they have a baby girl.” My mom said what I should have been excited to tell May.

“Oh my god!” May brought her hand up to cover her mouth. “I have a niece?” She asked quietly and I nodded.

“That’s so-I’m so happy.” She exclaimed. “And I’m so sorry, Jack” She apologized.

“Sorry for what? Sorry that you haven’t talked to me in so long and that we know nothing about each other?” I snapped and finally looked at her.

“Jack!” My mom scolded me, but I still tear away from the glare I was giving May.

“No it’s okay mom. Um He’s right.” May said. “I chose Adam over you guys, my family, and that was a horrible mistake that I have to live with. I guess I was blinded by what I thought was love.”

“What happened?” Mom asked.

“I caught Adam cheating on me with one of his coworkers. And the sad thing is I knew he was cheating on me, I was just in denial until I actually walked in on him and her in our house. That’s when I finally woke up and realized he didn’t really love me.” She looked down.

“I’m sorry, May.” I said and she looked shocked to hear me say that. But I really felt bad for her, no one deserves to go through that.

“It’s not your fault. I should have listened to you the first time you said Adam was no good, but I was too stubborn.” She slightly chuckled to herself.

“Where are you staying?” Mom asked.

“With a friend. She said I can stay as long as I need, but I don’t want to be a burden on her. I’ve been looking for a job everywhere so I can get back on my feet.” May said. My mom hit my leg under the table and I knew what she wanted me to do.

“How about you come work for me.” I tried not to sound like our mom was making me do this.

“Oh no I wasn’t trying to guilt you into giving me a job.” May laughed and I realized how much I missed hearing that.

“No I want you to. I need a new assistant because Cindy, my current one, is being promoted.” I told her.

“As long as it’s not too much trouble, I would love to work with you.” She smiled.

“I missed this.” Our mom sighed and laid her head on my shoulder. I grabbed her hand, happy that we could start to put our family back together.

“So tell me more about my niece Jack.” May grinned.

“Well her name is Isabella, but we call her Izzy. She’s the silliest little girl you’ll ever meet except when she’s being a drama queen. She has the curliest, and thickest hair and beautiful brown eyes.” I told her.

“Aw I can’t wait to meet her!” May said.

“Her birthday is on Halloween but we’re having her birthday party tomorrow, you can come to meet her.” I said.

“I’ll be there.”

Notes

I missed May!