(Lydia)Ruby was biting her nails and pacing rapidly around the corridor when I got home. She looked up when she heard the door open and darted towards me as soon as she saw me.“How did it go?” she gasped, clutching my arms.“I – he – they’re exactly the same as before, Ruby!” I garbled, “The old man threatened to go to Thomas and – and – I don’t think he knows that we’re already divorced and …”My face was flushed. I was sweating. I had been hold on to a pang of anxiety ever since I had left the hotel. I was struggling to keep my senses but my voice weakened and my head swayed dizzily as I exhaled, “I can’t let him get to the children, Ruby ... I don’t think he knows but – what if – and … I – I can’t let him know more, he just can’t … I won’t let it – he can’t …”Ruby flung her arms around me and started blubbering uncontrollably. We had been here before. We had spent our entire childhoods this way. And, now, this man had returned to refresh our memories with the horrors of the past
(Lydia)Seeing my mother in that state – still inside that very state, after all these years had gone – set off something inside of me. All of a sudden, I had had enough.“Come with me,” I said to my mother and grabbed her by the hand.“You too,” I shot at my father as I watched him saunter towards the door frame.I almost had to shove my father through the elevator door at the end of the corridor. He was trying his best to resist coming with me. My mother had broken into tears and was sobbing softly into a napkin.The elevator door glided open with a ding. “Well, move,” I rasped at my father as he stared at me in confusion. His shirt was thoroughly creased and its top buttons were undone. I caught a faint whiff of whiskey through my nose. The man could barely stand. “Where are you taking me?” he slurred.I pushed him through the door at the security office and he almost tripped and fell, catching the edge of a desk just in time.The security officer seated there shot up immediately.
(Lydia)I shot a glance at my wrist watch. 2:50 pm. I was not late. I was actually ten minutes early, in fact. What in God’s name was happening here?Margaret looked up at me, a surprisingly pleased-with-herself smile etched across her face. Her eyes glinted at some secret joy.Mabel and Miles squealed and jumped in glee. They both ran towards and hugged me at the knees. And let out a laugh.“Mommy, mommy! I drew a plane!” Miles exclaimed, excitedly waving a crayon drawing at me.“I drew a house, mommy! Look, it’s pink and it glitters!” Mabel chimed in, hopping up and down. They both held up their arms as their eyes sparkled with pride at their work.“That’s lovely, babies,” I smiled at them both, bending down and hugging them back. Their warmth instantly erased the coldness inside me from the strangeness of what had happened earlier this afternoon. I smacked a kiss across each of their cheeks.“Mabel,” I said to my daughter, “Why don’t you show Miles how you put glitter on your house
(Thomas)A few seconds ago, I still hadn’t known what my decision would be. I had only come here to talk to her because I knew that that was important. We needed to move forward together in as practical of a way as possible. I needed to be allowed to have a role in my children’s lives.But the second she opened the door and I caught sight of her angelic face, I knew that I could only ever want her.Lydia was the only woman for me.***When Sarah had sprung the news on us that night, I had been too shocked for words. Before I could have even fully understood the implications of Sarah’s announcement, Lydia had gotten up and left the table.I had not gone after her. How could I? Sarah was bearing my child.But I had been quiet when, fifteen minutes later, Sarah had sat strapped in the passenger seat of my car. Her eyebrows had been arched in expectation, as though she were waiting for an answer.I had no answer. I had been too baffled to respond.So, I had taken a deep breath and driven
(Lydia)I crossed my arms at him and gave him a hard look. This was the last thing that I needed to deal with right now.“Why are you here?” I said, “Shouldn’t you be with your fiancée, picking your wedding cake and all that?”I couldn’t help the bitterness in my tone. After all, it was not exactly pleasant to develop feelings for your ex-husband again and then have him leave you a second time. But I would not complain and protest this time. I would not allow myself to be weak. I would not beg for mercy for this man.“Lydia, I—“ he began.“I don’t want to hear it,” I snapped and quickly made to shut the door.He grabbed it.“Lydia, would you please at least give me a chance to speak?” his eyes pleaded me.I gazed into them for a moment, lost. Why was he here? What did he want?He told me. “I don’t want to marry Sarah,” he said, “I will be there for the baby, of course, but I want to spend my life with you.”I froze in my spot. And I felt my heart dance aflutter. Why was this making me
(Lydia)I can’t very well kick him out of the house until it’s time for the party, I thought. I pulled out my phone to text Ruby and let her know that Thomas would be helping her with decorations. Ruby was angry at Thomas for choosing Sarah all over again and she might not react well to finding him here without warning.But before I could tell Thomas, the twins began to drag him outside.“Will you push us on the swings?” Mabel asked, looking up at him.“What’s your favorite ice-cream flavor?” Miles asked and then added, “I like strawberry! And Mabel likes chocolate!”Thomas was smiling and chuckling.Ah well, I shrugged. It would be better if I didn’t leave him and Ruby alone. She would certainly pick a bone with him.The visit to the park was uneventful. It was delightful, in fact. I was surprised at how much the twins had missed Thomas and so very pleased that they were getting to spend time with their father.They laughed as Thomas pushed them on the swings. He held his daughter’s
(Lydia)“Let’s open the presents!” Adam exclaimed and the twins ran in his direction. They were jumping and clapping with glee and Adam laid out each one of their gifts and helped them unwrap it. Jack stood there commentating on every single present and recording a video of the unwrapping. And for once, Thomas was surprisingly calm despite Adam’s presence and involvement in his children’s lives.I was relieved. I was glad that everything was about my children right now – about their happiness, celebrating them, cheering them on their accomplishments, and about generally creating a loving and nurturing atmosphere for them to grow up in. I was glad that Thomas and Adam weren’t passing each other looks or otherwise making jabs at each other. And I was glad that the twins were too preoccupied with their presents to bother asking who my mother was.I was not prepared to have that conversation with them right now. I wanted to give things a bit more time before I brought their maternal gr
(Thomas)As the cartoon movie began to play, I felt the strangest sense of déjà vu. I felt as though I had read the book that this movie was adapted from. My mind flashed back to a little hardback in baby blue with golden stars. Yes, I definitely know this story.I leaned towards Jack, who was seated on my right. “Have we watched this movie before?” I whispered to him.He chuckled slightly before he responded, “Of course, Thomas. This is one of Lydia’s all-time favorites – book and movie both!”I turned my eyes towards Lydia. Her face was beaming with a childlike delight and wonder. Her eyes were shining as bright as stars.I smiled softly at my beautiful wife.***The further we dove into the movie, the more I started remembering things.Lydia brought the book up from the library. It was the morning after she had told me that I was going to be a father. The room was bright and sunny and the light caught fire on her red hair.Her angelic blue eyes shone through the pleased smile on he