Generation 2, Chapter 31

Throwing her pencil across the room Jennifer moaned loudly.  The kids laughing from the other room was distracting her.  As soon as her mom turned her back Jennifer was out of her seat and sneaking ... "Jennifer where do you think you're going?" her mother's severe voice reprimanded her.

Slouching back into her chair, Jennifer put her head down mumbling "why can't I go to school live everyone else?"

Patricia came up behind her ruffling her hair.  "Don't you like staying home with me?"

Lifting her head Jennifer rolled her eyes "why does it always come back to you?  If I have to stay home, can't dad teach me?"

Hurt despite herself Patricia didn't know what to say.  She could understand her daughters frustrations.  She was tired of looking a the same walls all the time.  At least Robert was able to go out, go to work, see other people.  While she was locked away with the kids.  They were as sick of her as she was of them.  Not to say she didn't love them, it was just always the same.  "I'll talk to your father," she said kissing the top of Jennifer's head.

She was rewarded with a brilliant smile "thanks mom.  Can  go play now?"

Sighing Patricia knew there was no point in making her daughter sit any longer, she wasn't going to accomplish anything.  She nodded, watching Jennifer bolt for the door. She couldn't blame her for hating school, she hated it herself.  She hated teaching.  Detested it when she was a substitute teacher in Barnacle Bay.  What possessed her to to say she would home school the kids?  She should have agreed and let them go to school. But no she insisted on home schooling, siting she had all the credintials to teach them.  Robert tried to talk her out of it but she wouldn't listen.  She didn't think it would be so difficult to teach her own daughter.  Cleaning up the school supplies, sighing how much longer would she have to endure this exile?  She just wanted to go home. Get one with her life.

Robert came into the room rubbing his eyes.  He had worked late the night before and had slept in. Looking around him he asked "school done for the day?"  Looking at the clock "already?" Turning to look at Patricia.

Shrugging under his scrutiny "Jennifer was restless and not cooperative."

"Honey how many times do I have to tell you not to give in to her.  The more you do the harder it'll be," he walked over to her.

"I know," she said walking away "but how can I expect her to do something I don't even want to do?"

"I don't understand" Robert said looking at her in confusion.  "You're the one who insisted on home schooling."  Coming up and wrapping his arms around her "I gave in to your request.  I'm the one who wanted to put her into school."

Turning away from him she walked a few steps away before crossing her arms "I know but I thought .... I thought I could teach my own daughter.  I forgot how much I hate teaching."

Rubbing his chin "until we can enroll her in school I'll take over for now."  Patricia nodded acceptance.  Tentatively he approached her "honey is there something else bothering you?"

Sighing Patricia let her head hang "I'm so tired of living in exile.  I want ...." Her shoulders shook as she began to cry.

Turning her around he held her tight letting her cry on his shoulder.  "Honey maybe if you'd come out with me every once in awhile it'd help ...."

Shaking her head "no I can't .... what if someone recognizes me."  Crying harder she mumbled "I just want things to go back to normal."

Kissing her forehead "honey you know that's not going to happen.  Our life is never going to be normal."

"That's why I should have gone with the mystery man," she yelled at him pushing away from him. "You and the kids would have a had a chance at normal.  In time you would have forgotten all about me."

"How can you even think that?" Robert replied as a pit in his stomach widened "I couldn't just let you go.  What would have happened to Mandi and Alex?"

"I would have figured out something.  I would have taken care of them ...."

"You don't know that," he shouted back at her.  Every agruement always came back to this, her belief that if he had just let her go both their lives and hers would be so much better.  She could have changed things and it was his fault for moving them into exile.  She was the one who was making it so much worse than it had to be.  She's the one refusing to leave the house.  He had to fight to keep his job as her irrational fears prompted her to want to lock everyone up inside this house with her.  He had to argue every time he took the kids to the park because of her fears that they wouldn't come back.  Something snapped inside of him and he was done.  "Fine have it  your way.  I'm the asshole for wanting to keep you safe for wanting to keep my family together."  He walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Patricia asked from her position by the window.

"Out," he said slamming the door behind him.  Racing down the stairs he was confronted by four little faces.

"Daddy where you going?" Diana asked

"Don't go," Amanda and Alex cried together

"Dad please take us with you," Jennifer entreated him.

Sighing he smiled at them.  It was evident that they had heard the argument between him and their mother.  Looking up towards the stairs he wondered if he should try and put things right, apologize. Shaking his head he didn't see where apologizing would do any good, he's done it before and the same shit keeps coming up.  Why couldn't she just except that this was the way things had to be and make the best of it?  She seemed to think it was only a hardship on her but what about him?  He missed his family too but he wouldn't exchange his kid's safety for a chance to go home until this was all over.  Why couldn't she understand that?  Why couldn't she look at these four little faces and realize that all the hardships and changes were worth it for them?  Why did she insist on living in the past and dwelling on what might have been?  Coming to a decision "get your shoes, we're going to the park."

"Mama come?" Mandi asked.

"No mama's not coming," Robert told her his little girl.  Briefly he wondered if she'd want to come but he knew it would be pointless to ask.  As much as she complained about being cooped up inside the house she refused any suggestions to go out.  It had gotten so bad she could hardly make it out to the mailbox.

While the kids were getting their shoes Robert decided to give it one more try.  "Patricia I'm taking the kids to the park.  Why don't you come with us?" he asked.  Coming into the room he found Patricia on the bed.  For a moment it looked like she hid something under her pillow but he dismissed the idea as being rediculous. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," she said smiling up at him.

Observing her a moment a feeling of unease coming over him.  He felt she was hiding something from him.  He was about to pursue it when Jennifer yelled from downstairs "Dad we're ready, let's go."

Smiling he turned to Patricia "would you like to join us?"  She shook her head.  Kneeling in front of her grabbing her hands "I know somthing's not right.  Tell me."

Jennifer yelled from below "Dad hurry up, we're tired of waiting."

"I'll be there in a minute," Rob yelled back.  "Our daughter is not long on patience."

"No she's not," Patricia agreed.  "You better go.  Have fun."

Leaning over, he kissed her goodbye before turning to join his children. He had an awful sinking feeling that something awful was about to happen. Stopping at the door he looked back "I love you."

She smiled "I know you do," she said quietly.

"You're sure you're alight?"  he asked turning from the door.  She nodded.

"Honey please come with us," he held his hand out to her.

Looking at him eyes shimmering she smiled taking his hand thinking 'one last time with the man I love and the children I adore'.  Walking down the stairs together Robert announced to the waiting children "look who decided to join us."

Everyone cheered in excitement, everyone except Jennifer.  She rolled her eyes mumbling "oh yay."

Seeing his daughter's less than enthusiastic attitude Robert went over to her "penny for your thoughts."

Looking up at him "I wanted it to just be us.  You know without her."  She pointed at her mom who was busy with the other kids. "I had an adventure all planned out for us to go on."

Kneeling he smiled "Jen I love the adventures we go on together. Just this one time can't we let your mom come with us?"  He pretended to pout "you know she'd have fun."

Giggling Jennifer said "for you daddy she can come on one condition.  She has to do exactly as I say."

Trying not to smile Robert got up and turned to Patricia "Our tour guide has graciously agreed to let you join us on our expedition.  On one condition. You must be do exactly as she says."

Eyes twinkling with mischief Patricia bent down "so your the tour guide.  What's on the agenda today?"

"Today we're visiting the mermaids that live in the lake.  They share the lake only with those who have pure love for one another.  We have to be nice to each other or they won't show themselves to us."  Looking at her mom she added "that means no yelling at Daddy."

"I promise to be on my best behavior," she looked at Robert adding "no yelling at daddy."  Walking over to him she held his hand.

Clearing his throat he said "are we ready to get this show on the road?" "Yeah" the kids chorused together.  Rob smiled content with his family and the life he had chose to lead to keep them together. Looking at Patricia overwhelmed with the love he felt for her, he couldn't help but wonder why he had the feeling that she was saying goodbye.

Generation 2, Chapter 30

Robert met with the contractor to review the blueprints of the work they wanted done to the house. Basically the house needed to be gutted and started over.  It was going to be a lot of work, updating the kitchen, adding an upstairs bathroom and four more bedrooms.  Grateful for the cash his father gave him.  He didn't have to worry about the expense or needing to find a job right away.  However Robert fretted over where they were going to live while the house was being worked on.

"Why don't we camp out.  The weather is beautiful and the yard is large," Patricia suggested.

"Wouldn't you be more comfortable in a hotel?" Robert asked concerned about her sleeping outside on the ground.  "You're not exactly the camping type."

"It'll be fun," she said batting her lashes at him, "please."

"Alright you win," he smiled at her giving in.  "Just don't come to me complaining.  I'm the one who wanted to stay in a hotel."  He was relieved with her decision.  The less they were in the public eye the better.  Anyone looking for them or a family of four would be checking hotels.

***

"Mrs Parrott you can come back now," the nurse called for the next patient.

"Honey that's you," Robert whispered in her ear as he got up and followed the nurse.  Patricia followed disconcerted she had forgotten her name.

"Congratulations Mrs Parrott your having twins."

"Twins?" Both Robert and Patricia said in unison.

Nodding the doctor hid his smile "I'd estimate your about 6 weeks along."

Stunned Patricia grabbed Robert's hand while the doctor spoke.  Twins .... she couldn't believe it. There was no history in her family of twins.  How were they going to manage twins on top of everything else?

Robert gripped Patricia's hand as he attempted to listen to what the doctor was saying.  Twins. Maybe they would be boys.  Good thing they had built what they thought was an extra room. Patricia had been adamant that each child have their own room. Robert didn't see the need as he had fond memories of sharing a room with his brothers.  He was from a large family and he was used to cramped quarters where Patricia was not.  His concern was how they were going to manage four kids all under the age of five.

Picking up the kids from the babysitter.  They drove home, each deep in thought.  Sitting around the camp fire Robert asked "are you sure you wouldn't be more comfortable in a hotel?"

"I'm fine," she smiled enjoying how the flames danced in his brown eyes  "The money isn't going to last forever Rob.  What are we going to do?"  She blurted her thoughts out loud ruining the mood.

"I've been thinking of that," Robert stared into the flames "I'll get a job at the local restaurant.  They're looking for an executive chef."

"I could go back to work," Patricia suggested.

"No," Robert shook his head "it's too risky.  Besides you're not used to your new alias yet."

"I know but we can't survive on what you make as a chef," Patricia chewed on her lower lip.

"Maybe we could sell our artwork at the consignment shop for extra cash," he suggested.

"That might work," Patricia sighed giving in.

***

The contractor called Robert to inform him the house was done.  Smiling in anticipation Robert couldn't wait to tell Patricia they could move in.  After four long months of sleeping in a tent on the cold hard ground he was looking forward to living in a house again not to mention the luxury of sleeping in a bed again.  Not to have the constant worry that the girls would stumble and fall into the fire.

"Honey I've got something to show you," Robert said coming to their now familiar campsite.

Eyes lighting up "where? what?" she bombarded him with questions.

Taking her hands she led her towards the house.  "Can we come too?" Jennifer asked toddling behind with Diana in tow beside her.

"Yes," Robert laughed "this surprise is for the whole family." Stopping in front of the door "Jennifer would you like to open the door?" She nodded grinning "Go on girls go inside."  Giggling the girls ran inside happily chattering to each other.

"Oh Rob it's finally done," she looked up at him smiling.

Looking deeply in her eyes he brought her close and swiftly picked her up.

"Rob what are you doing?  Put me down." She demanded while wrapping her arms around his neck.  "Put me down I'm as big as a house."

They turned towards the sound of giggles where the girls were standing watching them.  Diana giggled "mama funny."

Turning to her sister Jennifer told her with an air of superiority "Mama's not as big as a house," she looked at her parents then said "maybe as big as a tent."

Nodding in agreement the girls giggled again.  "Rob I mean it put me down," she frowned at him.

Eyes sparkling in the moonlight, a mischievous grin plastered across his face "you heard them, you're only as big as a tent."

Smacking him "Rob ...."

Shaking his head "no I'm going to carry my bride across the threshold of our new home."

"Oh Rob your so ..."

"I'm so romantic? Debonair? Gallant?"  He teased carrying her into the house.

"No sappy," she grinned as he put her down.  Looking around she gasped "you had them bring in the furniture too."

Nodding "we can rearrange it any way you want but I didn't want to spend another night sleeping on the ground.  I miss my bed."

"Rob your so ..."

"Lazy? Weak? Sappy?" he grinned at her.

"No you're so wonderful," she hugged him tight.  "Your the best husband and I'm so glad your mine.  I love you."

"I love you too," he kissed her holding her tight against his body.  "More than words can say," he mumbled as he came up for air.

***

The next few months flew by.  Jennifer turned four.  Then a couple months later Diana turned three.  During the quiet family celebration Diana asked "mama where's the baby?"

The baby is in my tummy," she explained holding Diana's hand to her stomach.

Eyes growing large she asked "does it hurt?"

"No sweetheart," Patricia told her turning to look at Jennifer who had placed  her hand alongside Diana's.

Looking up Jennifer said "how did the baby get in there?"

Choking Patricia looked over towards her husband then back at the girls.  Their faces turned up waiting for an answer.  "Love put the babies in there."

"Oh" they gasped together satisfied with the answer.  Walking away Patricia and Robert overheard them say "we must have babies in our tummies too," Jennifer told her little sister.  Nodding Diana said "cuz love put them there."

"Oh boy," Robert said eyes dancing holding back his merriment over their conversation. "Try and explain that one mama."

Slapping his arm she laughed "I didn't know what else to say.  You didn't exactly help."

Putting his hand on her stomach Robert smiled up at her "don't worry about it  Your explanation was somewhat accurate, love did put them there." 

Suddenly serious she turned to clean up the debris from the party "Are you disappointed that the twins are girls?"

"Don't be silly.  I love all my girls." Robert told her picking up dishes and carrying them to the dishwasher.  "Besides," he grabbed her pulling her close "we can always try again."

Pushing him away, she tried not to drop the dishes she was holding.  She nodded agreement although she had no intention of having any more children.  The future was too uncertain to bring another baby into it.  "What? What's wrong?" Robert asked seeing her withdraw from him.  "You always do this if I mention having another baby."

She heard the frustration in his voice "I'm sorry.  I can't help it.  Life is so uncertain right now.  I can't knowingly bring another child into this mess."

Staring straight ahead shoulders rigid "you're right," he muttered. "Some days I forget how precarious our situation is."  He turned to her "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," she told him burying her head on his shoulder.  "If things were different I'd have as many of your babies as I could."

Chuckling into her hair "don't say things like that.  I just had a vision of us twenty years from now with a houseful of kids."

"Heaven forbid I'm still popping out babies in my forties," she shuddered at the thought.  Catching her breath as a sudden pain went through her stomach.

"What is it?" Robert asked noticing the flash of pain.

"Nothing.  I'm alright," she tried to reassure him as a another contraction made her double over. "It's too soon," she cried.

"Ready or not the twins are coming," Robert grabbed her bag.  He called the babysitter and when she arrived he rushed Patricia to the hospital.

Twelve hours later the twins were born, Amanda Violet and Alexander Sage." Looking down at them Patricia smiled "I guess the doctor was wrong about them both being girls."

Returning her smile "the important thing is they're both healthy despite being six weeks early." Kissing her he stood up "I better get home and tell the girls."

The following year went by fast and it was soon the twins birthday.  They had a small family celebration as neither of them had felt comfortable developing any close friendships.  It was too difficult to know who they could trust and one mistake could cost them more than they could spare.  

Side Stories - (Evelyn & Casey)

You can read it here Chapter 5 - Hit and Run Part 1 and Part 2

This is the continuing story of Evelyn and Shon in Bridgeport.  What adventures await them?  Will they finally be safe?  Will Shon's father find them?  Will another dark secret break them apart?

You can read it here, Chapter 4 - The Complaint and Chapter 5 - Where's Robert?

This is the continuing story of Casey after his fiancé Hannah ran off leaving behind their infant son with only a note.  Will he be able to pull himself together to care for his son?  Will he ever find love?  Will he allow Hannah's dumping him keep him from putting himself out there again?

Generation 2, Chapter 29 Part 2

 

By the time Robert made it home it was dark. He found Patricia scrambling around packing things she thought they would need. Looking up as he entered the room she ran to him throwing herself into his arms. "He called ... the man .... he said it was time. No excuses or we'd pay the consequences.

Clutching her tight Robert felt is heart constrict. Nodding Robert figured the man would expect them in the morning. "Is everything packed?" She nodded "good we leave tonight." Framing her face with his hands he kissed her "everything is going to be alright. We'll carry the suitcases out first then the girls." Pulling her close "we need to appear calm and presume we're being watched.  Do you think you can do that?" he asked cupping her face in his hands looking deep into her tear filled eyes.

Turning she kissed his hands nodding "I'll try," she murmured.

***

Robert kept checking the rear view mirror hoping he'd spot if someone was following them or not. Would he know it if they were? It's not like he had any idea what to do if someone was following them. Should he shake them off? Would it be wise even to do so? The worry and fear gnawed at his stomach making him feel nauseous.

They had been on the road for a couple of hours when Patricia stirred beside him. "Where are we going?" she asked as they passed the city limit sign for Aurora Skies. He could hear the fear in her voice and the tension in the van increased.

Looking over at her "we need to appear to be complying with the man's demands. I'm working on the assumption that we're being followed. I'm not sure if I'd recognize a tail or not. I'm hoping that if we are they'll report to their boss that we're here, giving us the opportunity to switch vans."

He felt her eyes poring into him "you planned this."

Nodding Robert stared at the road ahead then glanced into the rear view mirror before answering "yes".

"But you promised ..."

"I did," he admitted taking his eyes from the road to look over at her. "I also hoped I'd be able to convince you to run if I had a well thought out plan. I never imagined that circumstances would make it the only option we'd have."

"Next you'll be telling me we'll have to change our identities ..." her voice trailed off as she noticed Robert's hands gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.

"I'm sorry," he said as he turned off the road into a park. "If there was another way I'd do it." Coming to a stop beside another van he started to get out. "We need to hurry."

After transferring everything from one van to the other Robert turned to Patricia "I need everything we have with our names and identity on it." Pausing at her look of confusion he explained "from here on out we're Mr. and Mrs. Parrot our existence ends here." Robert bagged up their licenses , credit cards, library cards, checks anything that had their names on it. Last of all he threw in their smart phones. Tossing the bag and keys into the van he locked the doors.

Driving out of the park he sighed in relief as he turned in the direction of Hidden Springs. The sky was just beginning to lighten as the night turned to dawn. "So why Parrot," Patricia asked intruding upon his thoughts.

Smiling he reached out his hand which she took in hers. "Dad's friend from Appaloosa Plains bought my grandparents house in Hidden Springs as a favor. The story is he bought the house for his daughter and her family." Pointing towards the glove compartment "our new identity, keys, phones are in there."

Opening it she pulled out the bundle looking through it she murmured "you seem to have thought of everything."

"I hope so," Robert acknowledged "our lives may depend upon it." He was grateful he had decided to take this course of action and for the help he received from Shon and his dad. It was Shon who had arranged the new identities for them and Shon was still trying to identify the mystery man. Once the man had an identity it would be easier to  know how to stop him, in theory at least. He hoped that one day Shon would contact him to tell him the coast was clear and they could go home. His one concern  was that Shon would put himself out on a limb and bring himself into the line of fire. 

Driving on for another hour in silence when Patricia spoke "so the family won't be looking for us, will they?"

Shaking his head he looked sideways at her "hopefully not. Only Shon and Dad know where we are and how to contact us." Sighing loudly "it has to be this way at least until we figure out who this man is and how to stop him. We won't be safe otherwise."

Looking out the window watching the scenery whiz by, she wiped a tear from her eye. "I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my dad or brother. They won't know what happened."

"Honey I'm sorry," Robert said as he slowed down to turn. "The fewer people I involved in this the better. If I was sure your mother wouldn't have found out I would have told him."

"I know," she leaned back in the seat closing her eyes "I just wish things could have been different."

After several more hours of driving nonstop Robert was fighting exhaustion as he turned onto the driveway of their new home. Coming to a stop outside a small house he yawned as he rested his head on the steering wheel. He forced himself to move before he fell asleep, shaking Patricia's shoulder "honey we're here." Blinking she yawned as she scrambled out of the van. Taking the keys from him "I'll bring in our things and let the girls run around while you get some sleep." Nodding to exhausted to argue Robert tried to smile only to find he was too tired to expend the energy. Eyes drooping as he waited for Patricia to unlock the door, it barely registered how small and rundown the house was as he made his way to a musty old couch. Flopping down onto he was asleep before his head hit the armrest.

***

 



Robert woke up to the sounds of high pitched giggles and Patricia's voice "girls what did I tell you?"

"Let daddy sleep," Diana answered.

"That's right," Patricia came closer "you need to play quietly."

A small hand patted his arm "daddy wake up." He couldn't help but smile at the pitiful sounding plea.

"Jennifer what did I just tell you?" Robert cracked an eye open wide enough to see Patricia standing over him, arms on hips as she tried to coax their daughter to be quiet.

"Daddy not sleeping," Jennifer pointed at him.

Groaning "not any more," he yawned sitting up stretching "some little girls I know woke me up."

At the sound of his voice the girls came tumbling over to him. "We go home now?" Jennifer asked followed by Diana who mimicked everything her older sister said and did.

"This is home," he told them.

"We want to go to the other home," Jennifer told him sticking her lip out pouting.

"Don't like it here," Diana chimed in backing up her sister.

"Listen girls I know it's different here," he looked towards Patricia for help.

She shrugged "they've been like this all afternoon."

He looked down at his little girls and tried to explain "this is our new home now. You'll learn to like it." His attempt was drowned out by Jennifer screaming "no, no, no I want to go home." Soon Diana was screaming in chorus with her sister. Stomping their feet in protest, Robert watched in horror as they launched themselves in to a full blown tantrum. Watching them for a moment he said firmly "Girls that's enough. I know you don't like it here but this is home." His raised voice got through to them as they fell silent, stunned as their father had never raised his voice to them before.

"Sorry daddy," Diana was the first one to give in while Jennifer just stared defiantly at them. Locked between getting her way or giving in. She watched Diana go to Robert for a hug, she tugged on her sister's hand "no Di," she protested. Crossing her arms she announced once more "I want to go home." She sat on the bottom step of the staircase sulking.

Patricia moved to comfort her as Robert said "leave her be. She'll come around. She needs time to adjust to the change." Looking over at his daughter he added "her world has fallen apart."

Patricia nodded her head murmuring "I know the feeling."

"So do I," Robert admitted with a sigh. He decided to inspect the house they were to live in and as he roamed through the small one bedroom house he grew more and more depressed. He couldn't imagine leaving there, it was just ugly. The wall paper was garish and hurt the eyes, no wonder his little angel wanted to go home.

Coming down the stairs he sat beside his sulking daughter. "It's not very pretty is it?"

Jennifer shook her head "daddy it's ugly."

Chucking a little he had to agree. Leaning down he whispered in her ear "do you want help mommy and me make it pretty?"

She stared at him with her dark blue eyes nodding. She wrapped her arms around him whispering "ok". Hugging her, Robert picked her up to join Patricia who was playing with Diana. "Honey why don't you tell mommy what we're going to do to the house."

"We make ugly house pretty," she announced. Kissing her cheek Robert put down beside Diana.

"Can we afford to renovate the house?" Patricia asked in concern.

Shrugging "we have to do something. It's not big enough as it is and let's face it the place is ugly."

"But can we afford it?" Patricia insisted.

Smiling Robert handed her the envelope and watched as she opened it. Her eyes bulged as she withdrew the large wad of cash "where did you get this?" she gasped.

"From dad," he smiled at her "he thought we might need it. Now I know why."

Patricia looked down at the girls playing quietly together then up at her husband. She pulled him tight whispering "I'm glad we're here and we're together."

"So am I," he kissed her as the girls played by their feet.