Thanks everyone for reading!
I decided to go ahead and post both chapters in one to save space. Here's 10 (again) and 11.
Chapter Ten: The Change
Parker finally got moved in completely after a couple of days, he didn’t have much stuff to bring with him, but I also started to notice Holly who creeped around the house a couple of times. I paid no attention to it, and besides, I had a good reason to break them up. These babies needed their father as much as I did and Parker turned out to be twice the help than I had expected.
We had our own schedule, Asclepius usually slept until morning, but Apollo seemed to be much more of a night owl. Once we got situated into our new circadian rhythms, life became a little easier, and quieter. Parker would play with Apollo, feed him, and change his diaper; if Asclepius happened to wake up and needed his diaper changed or be fed, then Parker would tend to him as well. I did the same thing and soon, we found it easier to rotate too. Sometimes I would watch after Apollo who awoke in the night, that way Parker could get more sleep, and sometimes he’d watch after Asclepius so I slept sometimes in the day.
The morning after Parker moved in, Ares’ 2nd birthday finally arrived. I couldn’t believe that my son would start school soon. Ares’ had already gotten too smart for his own good. Parker went out and bought birthday balloons and a cake for the celebration. I bought a little baker’s oven and building block table as birthday presents for my little boy.
At night, we waited until the twins had gone to bed to celebrate Ares’ birthday. He had gotten so much taller and grown into an intelligent young man. I still had to hold him up slightly so he could reach the birthday cake, and he blew out the candles. He didn’t look like Stiles or me; he had black hair and dark eyes. Stiles had brown hair and brownish eyes, while I had blonde hair with blue highlights and blue eyes. Either way, I loved Ares for who he had grown into; I could tell he had turned out to be quite athletic and brave, even for a child. I handed him his first present, and he guessed what the large box hid inside (a little baker’s oven.)
“Thanks Mom!” he hugged me.
“Alright, this one is from me, champ.” Parker pushed another large box into the living room. Ares ripped apart the wrapping paper that revealed a building blocks table.
“Wow! Thanks Parker!” He beamed up at both of us. I had already explained to Ares that Parker wasn’t his dad, he didn’t sound disappointed when I told him, but he wanted to know where his real father had gone off to; I decided to save the story for a rainy day.
We moved the new toys into Ares’ room where he played with them most of the day. Parker and I returned to the birthday cake on the counter.
“So listen. I’ve been thinking…” he eyed me.
“Thinking about what?” I asked taking a bite of the cake.
“How would you feel if we started dating?”
I practically choked my cake.
“Dating?” I strained as my eyes started to water.
“Yeah...I mean, we’ve gotten caught up, and I know we haven’t been living together for a long time, but I’ve grown close to Ares.” He stared at me.
“Well, this is true…I guess we can see how it works out.” He reached across the table and kissed me, “But one slip up and you’re out of here.”
He laughed and we both finished our cake then went to bed.
Ares started his first day of school in the morning, he woke up ecstatic as if it were Christmas day. I fed the twins, changed their diapers while Parker slept, and helped Ares get ready for school.
“Now you be good, and mind your teachers. Don’t back talk, and always say ‘yes ma’am’, ‘no ma’am’, or ‘no sir’, ‘yes sir’. Okay?” I ordered as I handed him his lunch sack.
“Yes, ma’am. I will.” He smiled.
“Good boy. Now hurry up, there’s the school bus. I love you!” I called as he raced out the door.
“Love you too, Mom!” he called back.
Parker arrived from the master bedroom, rubbed his eyes and still in his pajamas.
“Did he make it on the school bus?” he yawned.
“Yes, I’m not worried about him. He’s so obedient.” One of the twins started crying at that moment, “Don’t worry. I’ve got it.”
I knew the twins’ birthday would arrive soon and then they could do things, for the most part, for themselves. It would be easier to teach them the necessities of life though, with Parker.
Chapter Eleven: The Birthdays
“Alright, I’m heading out.” Parker walked up to me as I held Apollo in my arms one morning.
“Where are you going?”
“To get a job at City Hall; I’m tired of working at that diner. What I really want to do is hold a place in office. I heard City Hall needed a new ballot counter, so I figured it’s just the entry I need to show them I’m the one for the job.”
“Well, okay, good luck.” I kissed him back. I played my guitar most of the day and occasionally checked on Asclepius and Apollo.
Parker returned home after a few hours.
“I’m home!” I saw him place the house bills on the table.
“Hey, what took you so long?” I rocked Asclepius up and down in my arms.
“I went to the school afterwards to sign Ares up for scouting.” He tossed his tie into the bedroom, “Oh, and I got the job!” he raised his hands in the air.
“That’s great, hon! It’ll be nice having a little bit of extra money coming in. Oh, did you keep the balloons from Ares’ birthday? I wanted to reuse them for the twins’ birthdays. Also, sometime during this week, will you head to the market to buy a couple of birthday cakes?” I talked to him as if he were my husband.
“Um, yeah, they’re in the supply closet. I can head to the market now and get them.” He said paying off the bills as he spoke.
“Great! Thanks Parker!” I placed Asclepius back in his crib as Ares walked in from school, “Hey Ares! How was your first day of school, sweetie?” The twins’ cribs had been moved into his room to increase space in the living room. He handed me his backpack which I placed at the foot of his bed.
“We’re taking a field trip tomorrow to the science facility. I need you to sign some papers.” He handed me some stapled pieces of papers, “It was fun! I love my teacher, Mom!” he grabbed some more paper out of his backpack, which I took to be his homework and we both headed into the kitchen.
“That’s great, baby.” I kissed him on his head as he worked on his homework and I signed the permission slips so he could attend the field trip.
We contently stayed this way in our small house for a year. Parker went to work in the mornings as Ares went to school and scouting. I stayed home and played my guitar and became a full-time mom, at least until the twins’ birthday arrived.
There were going to be some toddlers walking and babbling in the house again. Parker had bought two birthday cakes, as promised, and I got out the party balloons. We celebrated on a Saturday, so we wouldn’t have to wait for Ares or Parker to get home from school and work.
Asclepius went first, and then Apollo, I had to blow out the candles for both of them and we ate birthday cake. Asclepius and Apollo both had blonde hair, the only distinct difference in looks were their eyes: Asclepius had black eyes and Apollo had bluish eyes. I decided to make them wear matching clothes; Asclepius wore an orange shirt with white trim and dark orange pants with white shoes. Apollo wore the same outfit, but the shirt and pants were blue. Those were their favorite colors.
Soon after we ate birthday cake, Parker and I sprung right into teaching them how to use the potty, how to walk, and how to talk. Asclepius seemed to learn the skills faster than his younger brother, but Apollo had an advantage elsewhere: reading the children books. Even though Asclepius stayed a book ahead, Apollo often times caught up to him and they would rotate books. I started back at work and earned a promotion after a couple of days.
Everything had been going well. Ares made it on the honor roll and Parker earned a promotion at his new job as well. I continued my guitar skill, which I had gotten close to mastering, and I only needed one more promotion at work before I joined the rock branch of music. The twins had finished half of the children’s books and rarely cried.
I couldn’t see how life could get any better.
It didn’t though, and one Wednesday, while I stayed home (Wednesdays and Thursdays were the only time during the business week I had off), Parker had left the house to work, or so I thought.
After a couple of hours I received a phone call.
“Hello?” I placed my guitar on its stand.
“Is this the Rocker residence?” the voice on the other line sounded harsh.
“Yes. You’re speaking to Miss Rocker.”
“You’re husband didn’t come into work today.” I stared as my boys read their books.
“He’s not my husband, and what do you mean he’s not at work? He left this morning.” My face started to get hot with anger.
“I don’t know, ma’am, but tell him if he keeps this up, then he’s fired.”
“Oh, believe me, I will.” I slammed the phone back on the receiver. I pulled out my cell phone and called him.
“Hello?” he laughed as if he were drunk.
“Parker, where are you? Your boss called telling me that you aren’t at work--” then I heard giggling on the other end of the line, “Parker…?” realization hit me.
“Babe, chill out, I’m just at a friend’s house. I’ll be home in a little bit, don’t worry.”
Then he hung up.
My heart had a sinking feeling. I knew exactly where he had gone to and it wasn’t a friend’s house.
