Broken Lives Read Online Free PDF Page A

this.” 
    “ This is
nice.” 
    Raelynn and James run past the kitchen,
yelling, “Yuk, they have cooties.”
    I lean forward and turn
around and smile. “They must be talking about you. If you are going
to be staying here, we’ll need to take care of your cootie problem,” I say, trying to hide my smile. Alec is standing
there barefoot, wearing jeans and a tee shirt. His hair is wet and
unruly.
    “ Sorry, Emma, but they said,
‘Yuk, they have
cooties,’ not ‘ He has cooties.”’
    “ They did, didn’t they? I
guess we’ll just have cooties together.” I lean in and kiss
him. 
    “ I like that
plan.” 
    I remove the lasagna from the oven and set it
on the stove. “Salad is already on the table if you want to find
our kids and start eating.” 
    “ They are probably hiding
under the beds or something.” 
    “ Probably, just keep your
cooties to yourself.” 
    “ I’ll try and that really
does smell delicious.” He smiles and walks to the table. “Come on,
kids, dinner’s ready, and don’t forget to wash the nasty lil’ germs
from your hands first.” 
    I follow Alec into the dining room and place
the lasagna on the table. “That’s how you get our kids ready for
dinner?” I smile. 
    Raelynn and James both come skipping down the
hallway.
    “ It worked, didn’t
it?” 
    Alec pulls out a chair and lifts James into
it, then he pulls out Raelynn’s chair, and then he pulls out my
chair before taking a seat himself. We have salads first and then
the lasagna. We talk about what the kids did at school today, how
Alec’s night went at the hospital, and James’ birthday party on
Saturday. When I mention it’ll be at Max’s parents’ house, Alec
doesn’t seem to mind. 
    “ Do you think your parents,
brothers, and sister will want to come with their
kids?” 
    “ Do you think that’s a good
idea? Maybe you should check with James’ grandparents first. It may
be a problem for them. You know: Their daughter-in-law moving on
with another guy and his family.” 
    “ I didn’t think about that,
but really, I can’t imagine they would mind.” 
    “ I would double check with
Danny and Cheryl first, and then I’ll call my family and invite
them. I’m sure they would love to come.” 
    “ It’s gonna be a ninja
party, huh, momma?” 
    “ It sure is, James, and
there’ll be a jump house there, too. Raelynn, I think you’ll have
fun in the jump house.” 
    “ I like jump
houses.” 
    Once the kitchen is cleaned
up, Alec and I bathe the kids and tuck them in bed. James takes the
bottom bunk and Rae takes the top bunk. I am surprised that Alec
and I have the same bedtime rituals for the
kids. Bath, brush teeth, prayers and then bedtime.
    Once we are sure both kids are asleep, we
talk about Molly showing up at the house and everything the
attorney said. I tell him that I would like for him and Rae to stay
with us until we figure out what to do. I also confess I don’t like
the thought that Molly can show up at his house whenever she
wants. 
    “ I’ll need to go by the
house and get some clothes for Raelynn and me.” 
    “ She’ll also need some of
her toys and things. I want her to feel at home while she is
here.” 
    “ Emma, you don’t need to do
all this. My parents’ house is big enough for us. We can go
there.” 
    I think about what he says and I wonder about
that. We have never made love and I wonder if this will be weird.
Will we sleep in the same bed? Will we make love for the first time
with the kids in the next room? What will James think of seeing a
man in my bed? 
    “ Emma?” 
    “ I’m sorry,
what?” 
    “ What are you
thinking?” 
    I take a deep breath as he watches me
closely. I’m not sure how to voice my concerns to him. 
    “ Are you thinking about
sleeping arrangements for us?” 
    I nod and swallow, without taking my eyes off
his. 
    “ Emma, if Raelynn and I stay
here, I think you and I need to remain in separate bedrooms.
Legally I am