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.