“Little angels as usual, Mrs. Littrell.” The teenager replied, standing up off the floor, with Joseph in her arms.
Shannon chuckled as Tamra handed her the baby. “Aren’t you lucky that they show you their best side? You should see them at three in the morning when all three decide they’re hungry at once.”
Tamra smiled back. “I can imagine!”
Shannon paid Tamra, who left soon after, then went to put the triplets down for their nap. Once she was satisfied that they were settled, she went down to her computer. As usual, there was a letter from Drew.
“Well, Nick’s home. He’s home for a few days, and we’re going to try to work things out. So far it’s been really awkward. I’m trying to be nice to him, but some times he just makes me want to scream. We can’t say anything nice to each other, and all we do is fight. What am I going to do?”
Shannon thought for a moment before writing back. “Don't just try to "be nice" to Nick. Treat him as you did when you were first married: with love and respect, and like a good person. Don't try to put on an act -- he'll see right through it. Remember, you still love each other, you're just having some difficulty showing it properly.”
She sent the message and went to grab a glass of orange juice. While she was there, the phone rang, It was her mother-in-law, Jackie, and the two of them ended up talking for an hour or so. When she finally got off the phone, she went back to the computer and sure enough, there was a response from Drew.
“Okay, I have to tell you what has happened. After I wrote you I went to the kitchen to make coffee, and guess who was in there. Nick. I was going to just ignore him but then I remembered what you said. I have to treat him like I did when we first got married. So I really am trying.
He was standing by the fridge, leaning against the counter. I of course had to go over there to get a cup from the cupboard. When I started towards him he shifted out of my way. But I had to brush against him to reach my mug. When I did he looked down at me and I of course looked up. I was surprised to see that he really had no emotion in his features so I got pissed. So what did I do? I kissed him. It really did shock him but I’m tired of having him not care. He tried to deepen it but I'm not letting it go that easily so I pulled away and whispered "good morning" to him. He smiled and sat down at the table and motioned me to sit down with him. He told me that we needed to talk. I agreed. And Shannon I believe your husband is keeping something from you. It turns out this morning before I came down and went to the kitchen, Nick and Bri had an hour long phone conversation. Bri is more concerned about this then he lets on. I think it's because he really does care about me and nick. And I know that he loves the girls.
Well we sat down and I really didn’t know what he was going to say. Well it turns out that you and your husband are on the same wave link. Nick told him that I was leaving town and Brian told him not to let me. He said that we should send the girls somewhere but we really need to talk.
Nick told me he didn’t want me to go to my mothers. And that he had arranged to have the girls stay with you and Bri for a few days. So congrats. You’ve adopted two girls for two days. Yeah for you.”
Shannon shook her head ruefully and chuckled as she picked up the phone and pressed speed-dial.
“Hey, talk dirty to me!” the voice who answered growled in her ear.
“Alex, what the hell are you doing with my husband’s cell?” Shannon said, laughing at the same time she heard a voice in the background saying, “Bone! What the hell are you doing? It could be my mother!!!”
AJ laughed. “Don’t worry, it’s not your mother, it’s just your wife.”
“Alex, give Brian the phone, or I’ll personally kick your butt when I see you next.” Shannon said in a half-joking tone.
“You know, it’s really scary how alike the two of you are.” AJ said in a conversational tone. “Just as you said that, Bri-boy said the very same thing… well close enough…” the last part of AJ’s sentence as distant, as if the phone were taken away from his mouth.
“Hi love.” Brian’s voice came across the line.
“Hey sweetie.” Shannon answered, laughing. “Why do you let AJ take your phone?”
She could tell that he rolled his eyes. “I didn’t. I put it on the table because I was changing, and when it rang, he grabbed it before I could.”
“It’s okay. Just be glad that it was me and not your mum, who I just recently got off the phone with.” She said.
“I know, I know.” He chuckled. “So what’s up, love?”
“I hear along the grapevine that one of us agreed to take on two more children for a few days.” She said mildly.
“Yes…” he answered hesitantly.
“Now, at first, I didn’t know who could have agreed. Then I used my incredible powers of detection to figure it out.”
“Oh? And what did you figure out?”
“Well, I used the elimination method. And I thought, well… if I didn’t agree to it, then… it must have been my overly communicative husband.” Shannon finished.
“Really? Why would he do something like that?” Brian asked, playing along.
Shannon faked a sigh. “I guess it’s just because he’s concerned about his best friend’s marriage. He’s a pretty sweet guy.”
“Yeah, he sounds like it.” Brian chuckled. “So, if he’s such a sweet guy, why are you with me?”
“I honestly don’t know.” Shannon gave another sigh, then the two of them laughed.
“So are you upset that I offered?” Brian asked a moment later.
“Of course not, sweetie. I would have done the same thing. But it would have been nice if you had let me know before Drew told me.”
“Sorry.”
“That’s okay. When are you coming home?”
“Tomorrow night, I think.”
“Alright then, I’m counting the minutes…” Shannon said, repeating their standard parting phrase.
“And I the seconds.” He finished. A moment later, they hung up and Shannon went back to her computer.
The afternoon, Drew arrived with Shay in one arm, a bag of supplies in another, and Asia holding onto her leg. Shannon opened the front door, and when she saw her friend, she laughed. “You’re sure in a hurry, aren’t you? Come on in.”
Drew entered, put Shay in the playpen with Thomas and Joseph, gave Anne a kiss on the nose as she sat in the jolly-jumper, dropped the bags on the couch, then turned to Shannon. “Thanks for doing this…”
“No problem. I know you’d do it for me if I needed it.” She replied.
“Yeah, of course I would. Anyway, I’ve got to go. Sorry to dump and run, but I’m going to make dinner for Nick.”
Shannon shook her head. “Okay hon. Write or call me soon and let me know how everything is going.”
“Definitely!” Drew said goodbye to her daughters, then to Shannon and left the house.
A few hours later, Brian walked into his house and saw his wife in the kitchen, surrounded by children, and trying to make dinner at the same time. He stood in the doorway for a moment, unnoticed, before he chuckled and Shannon looked up in surprise. “Oh, you think this is funny, do you?” she asked.
He walked over to her and kissed her lingeringly. “No, of course not. It would be unforgivable of me if I did.”
“You’re damn straight!” she retorted. “You do know that because you offered that we do this, and I still have to go to work and school that you’ll be taking care of all five of them, right?”
Brian froze and looked at her for a long moment. “Right… I knew that…”
It was Shannon’s turn to chuckle at her husband’s stricken expression. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.” She said as she kissed him again.