Tales From Another Broken Home, chapter 13
Joey's POV
Tomorrow, Jakob and I have to go back to Mom. I really do not want to go but we have to. Dad decided to do the whole 'leave on a lighter note' thing so we are eating at a restaurant tonight and then we have to leave tomorrow morning.
I am going to miss them a lot.
"So, what do ya wanna eat, Joey?" asked Dad.
"Ummm... steak?"
"Sounds good. So he'll have the steak... "
I cannot believe how much one day can change someone. In my entire life, all thirteen years of it, I have never seen him this happy. He is always smiling and laughing and cracking jokes. He is practically glowing. I can tell how much he loves Adiana.
I hope that when I am older I will find someone that loves me a fraction of how much they love each other. They really are the perfect example of true love. I want them to be our parents. Dad and Adi. She is so nice. I feel like she has been more of a mother to Jake and I in the last month than Mom has our entire lives. I hate having to leave but I understand. They even postponed their honeymoon an entire week just to spend more time with us.
"Food is served. Eat up, boys," said Dad.
"Yeah, just don't choke," said Adi as Dad started shovelling food in his mouth.
"I'll eat slower, Adi."
"You better, setting a bad example for these boys. That's where they get their appetite from."
"Yeah, yeah."
"I'm gonna miss you a lot. All month," said Jake.
"Awww. I'm going to miss my boy's everyday too. You're both so sweet," said Adi.
"You okay, Joe?" asked Dad.
"Huh? Yeah."
"Look, don't worry little dude. I'm gonna fight to the death for you and your brother, okay?"
"You mean that?"
"On my life."
"Okay. Thanks, Dad."
Next morning. Armstrong house.
Jakob's POV
We had to wake up pretty early today because our Mom is going to pick us up around ten. We were staying at her friend's house in Minnesota but she said she found a place in Berkeley.
I am glad because we are closer to our friends and Daddy.
I walked downstairs to find Daddy and Adiana making waffles and toast. Joey was sitting at the bar and everyone was talking and having fun.
"Morning, Jakey," said Dad.
"Hey, Dad."
"I can't believe this month has gone by so fast," said Adi.
"Yeah, I'm gonna miss being with you guys," said Joey.
"Don't worry. The next month will go by really fast. Okay?" said Dad.
"I hope so," I said.
"Okay, breakfast is served," said Adi.
"I'm definitely gonna miss this," I said.
After we all sat down at the dining table, we had a normal breakfast. I could not believe that our family could have anything normal.
"So, are all your things packed?" asked Dad.
"Yeah. Jake and I both left some stuff over here. Clothes, posters, games, movies and stuff. That way we don't have to bring so much next month," said Joey.
"Good thinking. Billie, remind me when we go to the store today to buy the boys toothbrushes and toothpaste for them to keep here," said Adi.
"Yeah, I will," said Dad.
"So, where are ya'll going on your honeymoon?" asked Joey.
"We're going to Hawaii. I know that a lot of people have been there but Adi hasn't yet and she has always wanted to go," said Dad.
"Oh, go see the dolphins!" I said.
I remembered how much fun it was when we went last year.
"I will definitely do that first thing we get there, Jake. I've always like dolphins," said Adi.
"Me too!" I said.
"Fag!" said Joey.
"Shut the fuck up, Joe!" I yelled.
"Joey! Jake! What did I say about you two cursing in my house?" yelled Dad.
"Not until we're old enough to pay the bills," Joey and I said in unison.
"Good. Now when I see you next month you're grounded for the weekend."
"What?" asked Joey.
"No! " I yelled.
"I'm serious. Joey, no girlfriend, and Jake, no videogames. Now go upstairs and get your stuff."
Adi's POV
"Jeez, Billie. You don't have to be so tough on them."
"No, they know better. I don't want them to curse as much as I do."
"Fine, fine."
I wrapped my arms around him and rubbed my hand up and down his back. He was pissed, again. His breathing steadied and I looked back up at him.
"God, you're beautiful."
He touched my cheek and kissed me. Joey and Jake filed down the stairs with their luggage.
"Ew! Gross! Save it for the honeymoon," said Joey.
"Don't make me ground you for two weeks," said Billie.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
There was a knock at the door. I checked the clock on the wall, nine fifty-five. It must be Adrienne.
"I'll get it," I said.
I walked to the door and opened it. There, right before my eyes, is the woman who had Billie as a husband for fourteen years while I was stuck in Hell with Rick. She was beautiful. She had brown and blonde dreads that actually looked good on her. She was shorter than me, about five feet. She had Brown eyes, not that ugly, shit brown, but the pretty deep brown.
"Hello, I'm Adiana."
I opened the door wider to let her in. She took my hand and shook it weakly. She never once looked me in the eye but I could feel the hate she felt for me. It gave me shivers so I walked over to Billie.
"Hey, boys."
"Mom!" screamed Joey and Jake.
She knelt down and they ran to her. She held them in a tight embrace for about a minute. She stood up again and looked at them, as if inspecting them to make sure no damage was done.
"Well, they're both in one piece."
"Of course, Adrienne. I can take care of them well," said Billie.
I also got the feeling that Billie was very uncomfortable around her. That makes two of us.
"Well, you boys put those bags in the car and I'll show you our new house."
They seemed happy and both went outside to load up the car. Adrienne walked towards Billie and I.
"So, this is your new wife, huh?"
She finally looked at me. She gave me a death glare and looked me over. Billie's arms wrapped around my waist, both to comfort me and make her jealous.
"Yes, this is Adi."
"She looks young."
"I'm thirty-six."
"Oh,"
"Do you want some coffee or something?" I asked trying to be nice.
"No, I have to get going. See you, Billie."
She opened her arms to give him a hug when Billie just extended his hand.
"Bye, Adrienne."
She shook his hand and gave me the most venomous look I have ever seen and closed the door.
"So, that's Adrienne?"
"Yup."
"She, well to be honest, scared me a bit."
"Yeah, she hates you. I don't know why."
"Me neither. I tried to be nice. I even offered her coffee."
"Just forget about her. She's probably still pissed about the divorce."
"But she divorced you. Shouldn't you be the one pissed?"
"Nope, I'm happily married to the woman of my dreams, she isn't."
"Oh."
"Cheer up, Adi."
He wrapped his arms around me and gave me another kiss. This time it was long and passionate.
"Well, I can see someone wants to go to Hawaii."
"As soon as humanly possible."
"Do we have someone watching the house?"
"Yeah, Tre' said he would."
"Okay. Now we just have to go to the store."
"Awww. I don't wanna."
"Billie, you're worst than the kids."
He gave me that innocent look.
"Fine, on the way we can stop for ice cream."
"Yay!"
He gave me a huge hug, grabbed his car keys and we left to go to the store.
Tomorrow, Jakob and I have to go back to Mom. I really do not want to go but we have to. Dad decided to do the whole 'leave on a lighter note' thing so we are eating at a restaurant tonight and then we have to leave tomorrow morning.
I am going to miss them a lot.
"So, what do ya wanna eat, Joey?" asked Dad.
"Ummm... steak?"
"Sounds good. So he'll have the steak... "
I cannot believe how much one day can change someone. In my entire life, all thirteen years of it, I have never seen him this happy. He is always smiling and laughing and cracking jokes. He is practically glowing. I can tell how much he loves Adiana.
I hope that when I am older I will find someone that loves me a fraction of how much they love each other. They really are the perfect example of true love. I want them to be our parents. Dad and Adi. She is so nice. I feel like she has been more of a mother to Jake and I in the last month than Mom has our entire lives. I hate having to leave but I understand. They even postponed their honeymoon an entire week just to spend more time with us.
"Food is served. Eat up, boys," said Dad.
"Yeah, just don't choke," said Adi as Dad started shovelling food in his mouth.
"I'll eat slower, Adi."
"You better, setting a bad example for these boys. That's where they get their appetite from."
"Yeah, yeah."
"I'm gonna miss you a lot. All month," said Jake.
"Awww. I'm going to miss my boy's everyday too. You're both so sweet," said Adi.
"You okay, Joe?" asked Dad.
"Huh? Yeah."
"Look, don't worry little dude. I'm gonna fight to the death for you and your brother, okay?"
"You mean that?"
"On my life."
"Okay. Thanks, Dad."
Next morning. Armstrong house.
Jakob's POV
We had to wake up pretty early today because our Mom is going to pick us up around ten. We were staying at her friend's house in Minnesota but she said she found a place in Berkeley.
I am glad because we are closer to our friends and Daddy.
I walked downstairs to find Daddy and Adiana making waffles and toast. Joey was sitting at the bar and everyone was talking and having fun.
"Morning, Jakey," said Dad.
"Hey, Dad."
"I can't believe this month has gone by so fast," said Adi.
"Yeah, I'm gonna miss being with you guys," said Joey.
"Don't worry. The next month will go by really fast. Okay?" said Dad.
"I hope so," I said.
"Okay, breakfast is served," said Adi.
"I'm definitely gonna miss this," I said.
After we all sat down at the dining table, we had a normal breakfast. I could not believe that our family could have anything normal.
"So, are all your things packed?" asked Dad.
"Yeah. Jake and I both left some stuff over here. Clothes, posters, games, movies and stuff. That way we don't have to bring so much next month," said Joey.
"Good thinking. Billie, remind me when we go to the store today to buy the boys toothbrushes and toothpaste for them to keep here," said Adi.
"Yeah, I will," said Dad.
"So, where are ya'll going on your honeymoon?" asked Joey.
"We're going to Hawaii. I know that a lot of people have been there but Adi hasn't yet and she has always wanted to go," said Dad.
"Oh, go see the dolphins!" I said.
I remembered how much fun it was when we went last year.
"I will definitely do that first thing we get there, Jake. I've always like dolphins," said Adi.
"Me too!" I said.
"Fag!" said Joey.
"Shut the fuck up, Joe!" I yelled.
"Joey! Jake! What did I say about you two cursing in my house?" yelled Dad.
"Not until we're old enough to pay the bills," Joey and I said in unison.
"Good. Now when I see you next month you're grounded for the weekend."
"What?" asked Joey.
"No! " I yelled.
"I'm serious. Joey, no girlfriend, and Jake, no videogames. Now go upstairs and get your stuff."
Adi's POV
"Jeez, Billie. You don't have to be so tough on them."
"No, they know better. I don't want them to curse as much as I do."
"Fine, fine."
I wrapped my arms around him and rubbed my hand up and down his back. He was pissed, again. His breathing steadied and I looked back up at him.
"God, you're beautiful."
He touched my cheek and kissed me. Joey and Jake filed down the stairs with their luggage.
"Ew! Gross! Save it for the honeymoon," said Joey.
"Don't make me ground you for two weeks," said Billie.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
There was a knock at the door. I checked the clock on the wall, nine fifty-five. It must be Adrienne.
"I'll get it," I said.
I walked to the door and opened it. There, right before my eyes, is the woman who had Billie as a husband for fourteen years while I was stuck in Hell with Rick. She was beautiful. She had brown and blonde dreads that actually looked good on her. She was shorter than me, about five feet. She had Brown eyes, not that ugly, shit brown, but the pretty deep brown.
"Hello, I'm Adiana."
I opened the door wider to let her in. She took my hand and shook it weakly. She never once looked me in the eye but I could feel the hate she felt for me. It gave me shivers so I walked over to Billie.
"Hey, boys."
"Mom!" screamed Joey and Jake.
She knelt down and they ran to her. She held them in a tight embrace for about a minute. She stood up again and looked at them, as if inspecting them to make sure no damage was done.
"Well, they're both in one piece."
"Of course, Adrienne. I can take care of them well," said Billie.
I also got the feeling that Billie was very uncomfortable around her. That makes two of us.
"Well, you boys put those bags in the car and I'll show you our new house."
They seemed happy and both went outside to load up the car. Adrienne walked towards Billie and I.
"So, this is your new wife, huh?"
She finally looked at me. She gave me a death glare and looked me over. Billie's arms wrapped around my waist, both to comfort me and make her jealous.
"Yes, this is Adi."
"She looks young."
"I'm thirty-six."
"Oh,"
"Do you want some coffee or something?" I asked trying to be nice.
"No, I have to get going. See you, Billie."
She opened her arms to give him a hug when Billie just extended his hand.
"Bye, Adrienne."
She shook his hand and gave me the most venomous look I have ever seen and closed the door.
"So, that's Adrienne?"
"Yup."
"She, well to be honest, scared me a bit."
"Yeah, she hates you. I don't know why."
"Me neither. I tried to be nice. I even offered her coffee."
"Just forget about her. She's probably still pissed about the divorce."
"But she divorced you. Shouldn't you be the one pissed?"
"Nope, I'm happily married to the woman of my dreams, she isn't."
"Oh."
"Cheer up, Adi."
He wrapped his arms around me and gave me another kiss. This time it was long and passionate.
"Well, I can see someone wants to go to Hawaii."
"As soon as humanly possible."
"Do we have someone watching the house?"
"Yeah, Tre' said he would."
"Okay. Now we just have to go to the store."
"Awww. I don't wanna."
"Billie, you're worst than the kids."
He gave me that innocent look.
"Fine, on the way we can stop for ice cream."
"Yay!"
He gave me a huge hug, grabbed his car keys and we left to go to the store.
