16. Chapter 15
Richard
The bathroom door flew open, and three naked boys ran in, ripped the shower curtain back, and climbed into the tub with me.
I managed to get my junk covered with my washcloth. “Guys?”
“Mama said we need to shower.” Tyler offered.
“With me?” My voice cracked.
“Come to think of it, nope, just shower.” Harrison added.
“Ummm, well … do you all have a washcloth?” I glanced over my shoulder and saw each arm up with a washcloth in hand.
They’re already in here now. May as well teach a lesson.
“Okay.” I handed Harrison the bar of soap. “Rub the soap in your cloth until you see suds, then hand it back to the next brother. Eyes forward.”
“Will my butt get that hairy?” Grady leaned to the side, staring at my ass.
“We won’t know until after puberty.” I shrugged. “And even then, you could just get more hair everywhere.”
“I want my chest to be hairy like yours, Richdad.” Tyler’s voice came from the back.
“Well, here’s hoping.” I rolled my eyes and held up my washcloth. “Everyone got soap?”
“Done.”
“Got it.”
“Now what?”
“Boys!” Jo opened the door and stuck her head inside. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You said shower, Mama.” Grady’s voice sounded confused.
“I know what I said. I didn’t say with Richard.”
“You didn’t say not to.” Harrison offered.
“He don’t mind. Do ya?” Grady leaned over again.
Glancing back over my shoulder, I noted the boys lined up by age. “Well, I wasn’t expecting this. But here we are.”
“You can go, Mama.” Tyler waved back. “Richdad teached us to shower like men.”
“I know how to shower myself.” Harrison frowned. “But mama says I’m not so good at it.”
“Well, boys, let’s learn you how to be good at it then. Can’t have ya stinkin’ you’ll scare the fish away.”
“Yay!” All three cheered.
“Richie?”
“I got it, Jo.” I waved back behind me. “Tyler, set the soap down and now we’ll start with our left arms, scrub with your rag, not too hard, and then get your armpit.”
“Scrubba scrubba scrubba.” Tyler singsongs and I couldn’t stop the chuckle that bubbled up.
“That’s right. Now do your right arm.”
“Pit too?” Grady asked.
“Yep. Pit too.”
“Then what?”
“Now we’re gonna do our chests and neck. After that, try to get as much of your back as you can. Then face the wall.”
We all faced the side wall. “One leg up, scrub it. Then do your other leg.”
“Now what?”
“Now, you boys wait your turn for a moment. Let’s all turn and face the back wall.”
The boys turned and while they’re faced away; I washed my junk, ass, hair, and face. Reaching out, I grabbed a towel and stepped out.
“Alrighty, Harrison, you’re up.”
He moved toward the water.
“You need to wash and rinse your face.”
“Like this?”
“Yep, now rinse.”
He seemed to have trouble, so I stuck a hand in and helped move the soap off with water.
“Now you need to scrub up your privates, including your bum.”
“Got it.”
“Rinse well, then do your hair.”
“Um, Richdad?”
“Yes, son?”
“I need help with my hair.”
“Me too.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“I can do that.” I got the shampoo and scrubbed up Harrison’s head, then helped him rinse. “You’re out.” I held up a towel for him. “Go dry off.”
“My turn?”
“Yep. C’mon, Grady.”
I took him through the steps, got him out, and then took Tyler through. The boys all stood at the sink brushing their teeth and I joined them.
Once we have that done, I grabbed my deodorant, and all three boys held up their arms.
“We don’t wanna stink.”
Laughing, I rubbed a tiny bit on each pit and then we exited the bathroom to get dressed. I went back over to the other bedroom, grabbed my clothes, and used that bathroom.
This time, I remembered to lock the damn door.
After showers, we loaded up the van and ran through a McDonald’s drive-thru for breakfast before heading back to our campsite.
The boys were trying hard to stay on task and I noticed the more confident Grady got, the less he misspoke.
“Grady, Tyler, hold your pole. I’m coming over to you.”
I finished pounding the stake in for the corner Harrison held.
“Hey, Richard?”
“Yeah, buddy?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Teaching us stuff.”
“No problem, kiddo.” I ruffled his hair and walked around to his brothers to secure that pole.
“Now we do this again with the other poles.” Grady slowed himself down to speak.
“Sure do, Grady.” I winked at him, and he beamed with pride.
The boys continued to help me with things and as much as it slowed me down; it made me appreciate them more.
I want to be Jo’s husband and their father.
Once we finished, we wandered over to where Jo sat talking with another woman and toddler. “How’s it going?”
“Good, this is Trish. Her family is catty-wampus from us.”
“Cool.” I held out my hand. “I’m Richard. And these fine fellows are Harrison, Grady, and Tyler.”
“My husband, Jacob, is taking our twins fishing.” She thumbed over her should as a man walked up with a boy and girl that appear to be about Grady’s age.
“Jake.” He held out his hand.
“Richard.”
“We’re heading down to fish. You and your boys are welcome to join us.”
Looking at the kids, the five have already made friends. “Sounds like a plan.” Turning to Jo, I smiled. “You and the girls’ll be ok?”
“Yeah, they’ve got a camper. We’re gonna go have some coffee and let the little ones play.”
Nodding, I leaned in and kissed her. “We’ll see you later.”
Her cheeks turned pink, and she smiled. “See you later. Boys, be good.”
“We will, mama!” Harrison said as he waved.
I grabbed my fishing gear and went off with the boys on another adventure. Conversation was easy, the kids are happy, and we found a brilliant spot to settle in and teach them all.
Every time one kid caught a fish, we all got excited, but nobody wanted to keep them to eat.
Which ended up being a good thing, because I didn’t think I was up for a teaching session on gutting and skinning.
Jake focused on his two, leaving me to focus on my three.
At this moment, they are mine.
While we fished, I worked with Grady on his speech. We practiced speaking slower to let the thought form. Harrison and I practiced his addition and subtraction, and Tyler just kept looking at me, smiling.
The boys also learned the fine art of peeing behind a tree, and Tyler informed me he enjoys peeing outside.
Might need to watch and make sure he’s not pissing off the back porch at home.
“Dad, I’m hungry.” One twin yelled.
“I am too.” Harrison nodded in agreement.
“Me three, guys. Let’s pack it up, go find mom and the girls and then we can do lunch and maybe go swimming?”
“Yeah!”
The boys helped clean up, and we walked back to our campsite with all three talking over each other.
Jolynn
Sitting in the camper with air conditioning didn’t really feel like camping. It’s nice, but I missed the gentle breeze blowing and my rocking chair in plenty of shade.
I finished my iced tea and noticed Emma was falling asleep. “I should get back and get something ready for lunch.”
“Oh.” Trish looked surprised. “I hate camping, and I’m always in here, so if you need a break, come on back.”
“I will. Thank you.” I got my girls, and we went back across to our campsite.
Briar seemed much happier running around outside than she did inside playing. I watched as she chased a grasshopper while I settled into the rocker camping chair.
The last twenty-four hours have been the best of my life. Richard didn’t forget anything. He brought toys for the girls, small toddler camping chairs and a thick blanket he spread out for Emma to play on as well.
Over on one picnic table, he had everything we needed to make s’mores and campfire pies. Along with a first aid kit and a fat stack of towels.
Emma occupied herself with the toys, and soon I heard my boys’ excited voices. Before I could stop Briar, she ran towards the sound. My heart jumped into my throat as I watched her unsteadily make her way towards them.
Looking up, I saw them coming our way, so I let her run. Then I felt tears wetting my face as I noticed my baby girl wasn’t running to her brothers.
She ran straight to Richard.
He handed a small tackle box to Harrison, and with one arm, scooped her up. When they get to me, she was patting his chest repeating, “Da Da Da Da Da Da.”
Pressing my lips together, I cringed. “Sorry.”
“I’m not.” He leaned over and handed me the girl. “We’re going to put our gear up and then we need to clean up. We’re hungry.”
“I’ll get some sandwiches made.”
The boys helped put the gear away in the van and then ran over to the bathhouse. I set the table, made the sandwiches, got the girls ready, and then stood back to appreciate my work when I heard a frantic scream from the bathhouse.
“There’s a tick on my nuts!”
When I looked over, I saw Harrison completely naked, except for water shoes, running towards me, yelling. “Mom! Mom! There’s a tick on my nuts! Mom! Tick! On! My! Nuts!”
I caught my son in my arms and looked down at him. “What are you yelling about?”
“Mom, look!” He jumped away, showing me his private area. “It’s a tick!” He pointed to the spot where a tick was attached. “On my nuts!”
“I see it now. Let’s get in the tent, please? No one else needs to see you naked.”
He panted hard. “Mom. There’s a tick on my nuts.”
“Harrison. Stop saying that.”
“But mom. There’s a tick.”
“On your nuts. I know.”
I got into the diaper bag, digging out the small manicure kit I kept in there to get the tweezers and a small alcohol pad. “This might sting. Hold still.”
The tick didn’t look completely imbedded, so I grabbed on to the body of it and gave it a tug, pulling it off.
“Owwww.” He howled, bouncing up and down. “It burns.”
“I know, sweetheart. How on earth did you get a tick on your nuts?” Confusion filled me.
“Maybe when he peed behind the tree.” Grady spoke from outside the tent.
“You peed on a tree?”
“Well, yeah, Richdad said it’s okay.”
I rolled my eyes as I shook my head. “Richard, if any of my boys pee in the backyard, I’m blaming you.”
“I’ll take the blame.” He chuckled.
“Please get dressed for lunch?” I turned to leave the tent.
“Okay, mom. Thanks for getting the tick off my nuts.”
I swear if I hear tick on my nuts one more time.
“Sure, baby.”
When I got outside the tent, I looked over at Richard, who was holding Emma, and saw his shoulders shaking. He had the two smaller boys and Briar eating. He walked over to me, pulled me into his free arm.
I couldn’t stop the laughter, and together we laughed and shook while we hugged.
“I swear. If this trip gets any more adventurous …”
“Right?” He laughed and lowered his voice. “Wanna check my nuts for ticks?”
“Richard Garrett.” I joked and pinched his nipple. “C’mon, let’s eat.”
Walking to the table with our arms around each other, we joined the kids and had a great lunch. After we’re done eating, we went to the pool and spent the day making memories.
There wasn’t time to think about anything but the next activity, and it felt like we were a family.
The kids crashed out after they ate their weight in s’mores and pies. Emma refused to give in to sleep until she ate one last bite, and I tucked her in with her siblings in the tent.
As I stepped from it, I saw Richard stoking the fire, waiting for me.
“All tucked in?”
“Try knocked out.”
His laughter was rich, and he opened his arms for me to join him. I got down on the blanket and snuggled close.
“It’s been a helluva day.” He sighed.
“I’m …”
“If you even say sorry next, I will tickle you until you piss yourself.”
“I’m having a great time.”
“Me too.”
“Even though you have blue balls, and my sons decided joining you to shower was the way to go?”
“Jesus. They scared the hell outta’ me.” He laughed. “It taught me to lock the door next time.”
“Don’t forget the naked child with a tick on his nuts.”
Richard laughed so hard I’m pushed aside as he curled up, howling. I joined him and before long I was in tears from laughing so hard.
Once we calmed down, we snuggled back together, and he stroked my back. “Did you have fun with Trish?”
“No. I wanted to be outside and take advantage of the effort you put into this trip for me and the girls. Plus, the girls just enjoyed being outside in the shade until you guys came back. Did you have fun with the boys?”
“I did. They’re great boys.”
“I kinda’ like ‘em,”
“I was thinkin’… what if we look for a place for all of us?” He shrugged. “It’s not like we don’t know each other.”
“You mean move in together?”
“Yeah. Like a family.”
“Johnny is always going to be a part of their lives.”
“I know.” He looked down at me. “Wanna tell me what happened to the sixth baby?”
I sat up as fear pooled in my stomach and I tried to look at him. “Right now?”
“Whenever.” He brushed some stray hair from my face. “I promise not to kill him.”
“Him?”
“Yeah. Johnny.”
I bit my lip and tried to find the words. “It wasn’t his baby.”
“Oh.” He sat up straighter, facing me. “I’m still here to listen.”
“I need to talk about it.” My voice broke on a sob.
“We used to be best friends, Jojo.”
“It feels like we still are.” I wiped snot on my sleeve.
“Okay.” He took my hands in his. “Instead of baby six. Tell me why you really left?”
“Shit.” I wiped the tears away. “Are you sure you want to know?”
“Jolynn, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I never got over you. But before we make big plans, I need to know why you left. I can’t fix what I don’t know is broken. And before you get all nervous about the kids and the last ten years. I know those aren’t my kids, but damn if I’m not in love with them as much as I am you. I know it’s a package deal. So those are my kids.”
“You might hate me.” I whispered and tightened my grip on his hands.
“Baby. Talk to me.”
“You remember when we found out Vivi was pregnant?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you remember what you said?”
I watched him sit back and think. “That I was glad it wasn’t us?”
“And?”
“And I didn’t want to have kids because I would probably be a shit dad.” He tilted his head. “I just wanted to get out of that house and away from the violence.”
“Do you remember me being sick?”
“Yeah. We all thought you, Vivi and Miranda had a sto …” His mouth fell open. “ We were pregnant?”
I nodded and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see disgust for me on his face.
“Fuck my life.” He muttered, lifting my face to look at him. “Open your eyes, Jo.” I willed my eyes open, shocked to see sadness in his. “I looked at you and said thank god it’s not us.”
I nodded. “My parents were so pissed off. Dad wanted to talk to your parents and have you make an honest woman of me.” I looked down at my hands. “I begged them to wait. To give me a chance to talk to you first. And I wanted to, so bad. But then it came out that Vivi was.”
He scoffed and shook his head in disgust. “You broke up with me not even two weeks later.”
Oh fuck. He hates me.
“I made a deal with my mom. I would stay at my grandma’s until I figured out what I wanted to do. When I chubbed up, grandma figured it out and told me if I loved you, I should have faith in you to stand by me.”
“Oh hell, Jo, I was a dumb motherfucker.” He cupped my face with both hands.
“I … I got in my car and was driving home. Driving to you.”
Richard’s face went slack, and in the bonfire’s light he looked pale. “Oh, no.” His grip on my face tightened. “Jo, no. Please tell me that wasn’t the night of your accident.”
I nodded, sobbing harder. “I was twenty-four weeks. The accident wasn’t massive, but it put me into early labor. When they did the ultrasound, there was no heartbeat.” I choked back a sob. “They don’t know if one thing had to do with another. The baby could’ve died before that. Or it could’ve been from the accident. At any rate, I had to give birth, and name her, and bury her.” My tears are falling on our hands.
“Her?” His voice was a whisper. “We had a little girl?”
I nodded.
“What did you name her?”
“Layla Marie Parks.”
“Layla.” Tears fell down his cheeks. “That’s beautiful.” He let go of my face and grabbed my hands, kissing my wrists. “You went through all that? Alone?”
“I’m so sorry,”
He reached out and pulled me into his lap, rocking us. “Baby, Why?”
I wish he would just get mad and be over it.
“Why what?” I snapped, feeling confused and hurt.
“Why didn’t you let me be there for you?”
“I didn’t want to ruin your life. And you said you never wanted kids.”
“Aw, hell. I’m a dick.” He kissed my head. “Jo, nothing. And I mean that. Nothing I shared or will share with you would ruin my life. Nothing .” I feel his tears hitting my hair and when I looked into his eyes, I saw the pain he felt. The pain matched mine. “I’m sorry I failed you. I didn’t know, and that you faced that alone.”
“Don’t.” I choked back another sob. “Why are you being so fucking nice?”
His hands grabbed my head, forcing me to look back into his eyes. “Jolynn Rose. Ten years ago, I was a punk kid who didn’t know shit. Right here. Right now, I’m a man. I fucked up saying something to make you think you couldn’t tell me.”
“Richie, I should’ve told you. I wish I had never left. I wish so much was different.” I broke down sobbing with him.
He doesn’t hate me. And he doesn’t blame me.
“Damn it.” His arms were the lifesavers I had been missing. “I have no fucking clue what to do with a man who isn’t yelling at me.”
“Baby, we’re gonna fight sometimes, but I’ll never hurt you the way he did.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.” He pressed a kiss to my head. “But this is what we have.” He brushed my hair from my face. “Honey, we have a chance now. And who knows? Without that fuckwad, you wouldn’t have the five amazing kids you do.”
“I love you. I never stopped.” The words tumble from my lips.
He brushed my tears away with his thumbs and looked me in the eye. “I never stopped loving you, either. It’s always been you, Jo.”
When he kissed me, I felt it in my toes, and I felt horrible because I could feel the snot dripping from my nose. I pulled back and wiped my nose on my sleeve again. “Ugh, I hate when the boys do this and here I am.”
“Snot or not. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
There, with the cool of the night and the warmth of the fire, we made out like teenagers catching up on the time we’ve missed.