Christian
"I'm going out!"
"Where are you going now?"
"None of your business, don't wait up!" The front door slams with such force that I swear the windows shake as my wife hurries off dressed to party while I sit in the house with our two children.
I've never been against her having a night off or blowing off steam, I've always encouraged her to do it, nor have I ever minded the nights where she's been out so late that she ended up staying over at one of her friend's houses but lately it seems to be her only interest. I don't remember the last time that we went on a date night or even cuddled up and watched a film once the kids in are in bed.
"3... 2... 1" My brother Jack sings out and on cue, Sophie starts to wail, her mothers show of slamming the door once again waking her up. I let out a sigh and run my hands through my hair. She does this every time she leaves not giving a fuck that it wakes our daughter every goddam time!
"I've got her." Jack quickly gets up from the couch and heads for her room. Soon enough her cries stop and moments later he comes tiptoeing down the stairs as I head for the kitchen to grab a beer and start cleaning away the mess that I know Amy's left there from making the kids dinner, for once!
"I changed her diaper and she's gone back to sleep. I poked my head in on Brody too, he's snoring away catching flies as usual." A laugh passes my lips picturing his cute little face as he sleeps but then reality settles heavily on my shoulders as I let out a deep sigh while taking two beers out of the fridge and passing one to Jack.
"Talk to me, brother." I look up and all I see is concern on his face. I have four brothers, and one sister and even though we are a very close nit family I have to admit that I'm closer to Jack and my younger brother Tom than any of my other brothers.
As always thinking of Tom makes my heart tug. He spent 8 years in the army and after he left he decided to live in Florida with his best friends Archie and Molly. We speak all the time but still, I miss seeing his face every day.
I wasn't surprised when Tom told us that he would move to Florida with Archie and Molly. Tom and Archie have pretty much been best friends since kindergarten and after meeting Molly in high school he became inseparable from her too. I know Archie well but I've never met Molly. By the time she had made friends with the boys, I was spending more time away from the house than needed. trying to be a cool teenager and all that. It was a stupid time in my life but man, it was fun!
Six years ago my grandmother April sadly passed away after a long and brave battle with cancer and left her farm to my dad, he was her only child so we knew that it would happen. Mom and Dad spent the last six months of Grandma April's life in Texas caring for her and we were all absolutely devastated when she passed.
Growing up we used to visit her twice a year and she was the best woman that I've ever known. She lost her husband, our Grandad to a boating accident while he was out fishing one day when my dad was a teenager so we never got to meet him but she loved him more than life itself and never moved on from him so I'd like to think that they are finally back together now.
After my dad inherited the place he and my mom decided to move out here and have a fresh start. They asked all of their children to join them here and despite my brothers and I all being adults, we all decided to come here.
Well every one of us except our sister Mia that is. She's away at a university in California but she's considering moving here once she's done with uni. I think she will love living here, I know the rest of us do and despite the situation, I find myself in now, I still dont regret moving out here because if I hadn't off then I wouldn't have my son or daughter and I couldn't imagine my life without them.
"Christian... Chris!" I shake myself out of my lost thoughts and focus back in on my brother. "Where'd you go?" He looks concerned for me and I appreciate it but I just hate that I'm even in this situation, to begin with. "Sorry, brother was just thinking about Tom and Grandma April. What did you say?" I take a drink from my beer finding it empty so take out another two from the fridge and pass one to Jack as I start cleaning up the mess she left behind.
"I said talk to me, brother. What's going on? And I want the truth." He steps closer to me placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing tight. "What do you mean?" I foreign innocence not that I think he'll believe me. Jack is not dull and he spends a lot of time with me and at my house. He sees it all even if he does act discreetly which I appreciate especially in front of my kids.
"Don't do that not with me. You know what I'm talking about Chris. You guys aren't how you used to be. You argue more than ever, she's gone more than ever. And lately, all I ever see you do is cook, clean, care for the kids, and work. It's as if you have become a single dad Chris. We both know it's true so don't try and palm me off. I'm here for you, for my niece and my nephew you know that and I want to help but I can't if you don't talk to me!"
I stare at my half-empty bottle of beer while I try and figure out what to say. The truth is I have been avoiding reality for some months now and I know I need to face up to things but the result will be me out of this house and away from my 1-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son much more than I want.
"There's something you're not telling me," He grunts and all I can do is nod while the words burn the tip of my tongue. How do I tell my brother that my wife has already cheated on me twice? That I know of anyway. How do I tell him that I suspect that's what she's doing tonight?
I feel like I'm living in hell right now but maybe he's right, maybe it's time I talk to my brother. Maybe it's time to finally face reality and figure out my life. Hell, maybe it's time I started living my life again.
Christian1 year later"Where the fuck is Jack? It's almost 10!" My brother Callum grunts out, he's been in a shitty mood all morning and our youngest brother isn't helping things."I haven't got a clue but he wasn't in his room when I went to wake him at 7.""Been out getting his dick wet no doubt!" Callum grunts out while rolling his eyes.I chuckle at his response "Wouldn't be surprised!""Christian there's a phone call for you!" My mother Ruby shouts across the field to me. I love my mom with all I have but Jesus that woman has a bell in every tooth, then again raising 6 kids including 5 boys is bound to do that to you."Pull Star in and start washing her down and I'll be back to do her shoes." Callum nods before heading outside for one of the new additions to our horse family and I quickly run towards the house."Hello." I pant into the phone out of puff from running so fast."Hello is this Mr Bowen?""Yes, it is. Who is this?""This is Miss Thomas from Blossoms pre-school. I'm c
ChristianI swallow back my anger and focus my attention on the sight that's in front of me. The sink is full of dishes and I'm pretty sure I can see flies swarming around them. There are clothes scattered across the kitchen floor and empty food boxes are littered across the breakfast bar.I look around the living room but it's no better, there are clothes scattered across the cough and the floors are littered with toys and empty goldfish cracker wrappers. All the surfaces are caked in dust and I swear the carpet hasn't seen a vacuum in a good while.I knock on the window and Brody quickly turns to look at me his little face looks so relieved that it tugs at my heart. I knock on the window and point to the door but he shakes his head."Brody open the front door, son," I gently call out to him but Inside I'm starting to panic and get insanely angry once more. We have been here a good five minutes and while I'm at the window Jack is still knocking on the door but there's no sign of Amy
Christian"Hey princess!" Jack chuckles as he catches Sophie after she runs to him and he just about manages to stop himself from toppling over. He looks at me and he must see the anger on my face as he quickly sets her down before standing up."Hey, Buster why don't you show Sophie your dinosaurs, I'll just be in the kitchen with your dad ok?" Brody nods before gently pulling Sophie into his side and Jack's in front of me in seconds."What's going on?""I don't know but look at her!" I turn Katie around and open up the blanket so he can see her back and he now looks as angry as I feel."Fuck she must have been in that diaper for hours!" I nod before turning my attention back to my kids that are giggling away on the floor. What the fuck is going on here?"Brods where are Katie's diapers?""I don't know Daddy I tried to find some so I could change her but there wasn't any." He looks sad like he's done something wrong but I can't help but feel proud of him. I don't know what's going on
Christian1 hour later, all the kids are fed and dressed and Katie is now cleaned up and in a new diaper although I think I'll bathe her again when I get her home. Cal turned up with the horses just as the kids were finishing up their food and Brody got on Nemo with him while Jack and Sophie rode Elsa.And now I'm on my way to the school with Katie as Amy still hasn't turned up, not that I want her around any of the kids right now. I know I won't be able to control my mouth, and that's not what the kids need to witness right now including Katie. still, I have called her and messaged her but there's been no answer and the longer time goes on the less surprised I am becoming.I pull up outside the preschool and gently take a sleeping Katie out of the car seat, I lean her across my chest, and as she tucks her head into my neck and rests her arms on my chest my heart tugs. Fuck I love this little girl so much and I'd be lying if I said that there hadn't been moments where I wished she was
Molly"Welcome to Dallas/Fort Worth international airport the local time is 8.30 pm. For the safety of the passengers please remain seated with your seat belts on while the seat belt light remains on. Please take caution when removing any overhead luggage and please make sure to take all of your belongings with you. On behalf of myself and the cabin crew, we wish you a great time here in Texas and we hope to see you soon.""I am so tired!" Tom groans as we stand ready to get off the plane. After almost 16 hours of flying, I'm with the guy, it's been almost 19 since we left the hotel in China and I'm fucked but luckily Tom's home is only 30 minutes from the airport, and boy am I glad for that! "Food, shower, and sleep are all I'm doing as soon as I get home!" He groans again."Tom, are you sure that your parents don't mind me coming with you? I can find somewhere else to stay I don't mind.""I've told you before and I'll tell you again my parents are excited to see you again and more t
Christian "Unkle toms back!" Sophie calls out and before I can say a word both she and Brody are already running for the door. "Be careful!" I shout out to them but I doubt either of them is listening. I pick Katie up from the floor and head for the door to see my brother, I've barely seen him over the past 7 years since he joined the army. Even after he left the army he went to live in Florida with Archie and his wife Molly so I didn't see him much even then. Yes, we had the odd visits from him and spoke a few times a week over Facetime and whenever I had the kids but it still hasn't been the same. Sadly Archie died last year in a house fire and so Tom and Molly went on an around-the-world trip that was already planned, don't get me wrong I'm glad that Toms got to live his dreams of going in the army and travelling the world but I'll be glad to have him home I've missed him! Before they left for their trip Tom phoned my parents and told them that he wanted to ask Molly to move h
Molly "Molly wanta play a dollys?" I'm not sure if I'm still sleeping and dreaming or waking up but I swear I can hear the cutest little voice. "Molllly!" The voice gets louder and I open my eyes to see Sophie, Tom's niece sitting on the bed next to me smiling wide. It takes me a moment to remember where I am as I rub the sleep from my eyes and slowly sit up. "Good morning Miss Sophie." I smile, she smiles back and I have to admit she is a cute little thing. I pick my phone up from the bedside table and check the time 5.05 a.m. As usual, I've not slept much, It seems that whenever I'm in a bed alone the nightmares like to hunt me and it's fucking tiring. "Wanna play dollys?" She asks again smiling and as much as I'd like to go back to sleep I seem to find it impossible to say no to her. "Where's your daddy?" I ask. "He sleeping." She jumps off the bed and stands by the door as her Disney princess nightgown falls to her ankles. "I love your nightgown!" I say to her and this insta
Christian My 5 am alarm goes off and I quickly dive to turn it off before it wakes the kids. I did have all 3 of them in my bed last night and I was planning on sleeping on the floor next to the bed but then Jack came in on his way to bed and took Brody into his room with him so I slept in the bed with the girls. I switch the alarm off and sit up before looking over at the girls and my heart instantly stops. Where's Sophie? I quickly surround Katie with pillows so she can't roll off the bed and run out of the room to find my little girl however my panic soon turns to curiosity as I hear low giggles coming from downstairs. "Sophie!" I turn toward the stairs and call again "Sophie where are you, baby?" "Wivingroom Daddy!" She calls back and I instantly feel relief. "Sophie what Have I told you about coming down here by you- oh hi Molly!" She's sitting on the floor playing with Sophie and I don't like it. I don't know her and right now I don't trust her. "I wanted a play pwincess wi