The Secrets We Keep

December ?-drafts

Jay POV*

"Are you sure about this" Hailey says bouncing the baby as the door bell rings. "Hailey we need this date, they're our friends, all of them will be fine" I say opening the door. "Hey guy's" Adam says as he walks in with Kim, Vanessa, Val, and Kevin. "Uncle Adam look what I can do" Ry says as he burps the first four letters of the alphabet. "When did you teach him that" Kim says. "baby where are you pants Why is Amira's blanket around your neck?" Hailey says handing me the baby. "Superman doesn't where pants" he says running away. "Hailey! Have you seen my-, Ryder" Amira says running down the stairs chasing after him. "Give it back" Amira say trying to untie it, but Ryder's squirming. Hailey runs her hand through her hair. "Give it back and put on some pant" I say. "I spilt water on them" he say taking off the blanket. I hear Hailey say something in Greek but can't make it out, she takes Ryder's hand and walks upstairs.

"Is this a normal day" Kev asks. "Most days" Amira yells from the couch. "You guys want anything" I ask setting Rowan in the basinet. "Oh my god" I hear from the baby monitor. "Is everything okay Kim says now holding Val. "Can you" I ask looking down a Ro who's playing with her hands, as they nod. I run up stairs to the boys room. "Hailey what's wrong" I ask walking up behind her as Ryder runs back down stairs. "Auggie drew on the walk" she say pointing the the wall where they drew a family portrait in marker. "I can clean it" I say about to walk out the room but she grabs my hand. "What is it" I ask holding her close. "Look what he wrote" she says. I look closely at the light gray wall and written above mine and Hailey's stick figure is Mom and Dad. "wow" I says still staring at the picture. "You like my picture?" Auggie ask sneaking up behind us. We turn around and look at the six-year-old. "We love it" Hailey say hugging him. "Why's Hailey crying" he asks hugging her back. "She's really loves it" I say now hugging him. "Can I have a snack?" he asks. "Yeah go get one, buddy" she says fixing his hair.

Hailey POV*

We get back downstairs and Amira's watching us walk down the stairs. "What?" I say as walk past me to the kitchen. "He told me you cried" she says. "What wrong with that" I asks leaning on the couch. "he asked me if it was okay to call you guys Mom and Dad" she says. "What did you call your parents" I ask. "We called them Mami and Papi" she says. "What do you think about him calling us that?" I ask. "I fine with it" she say turning back around. "Really" I ask. "I don't want him to forget about them" she says. "He won't, they will always be his parent. We're going out. Be good and don't hit your brothers" I say. "I won't" she says smiling. "We leaving now" Jay says "He needs a break" I says putting on my shoes. "Hailey" Jay yells. "See" I say as she laughs.

"Are you sure you can handle the three of them" I say standing the door. "There's four of them" Vanessa says. "I know that. Amira is easy it's the boys mixed with a baby, it's a loud house" I say. "We'll divide and conquer." Kim says. "Go! You deserve a night out!" Amira yells. "She so mean" Jay say as he opens the front door. "I heard that!" she say as we shut the door behind us.

"Once we get to entrance of the Winter Festival, Jay parks the car and we walk to the main entrance. Jay hand the lady our house tickets as we walk into the fair. "What do you want to do first?" I ask. "I should be asking you that" he say taking my hand as we walk further in close to a heating station. "There's tubing, ice skating, games. Pick one" I say. "We could do ice skating first, fare warning it's been awhile since I was on the ice" he say as we walk over to rent skates. "Thanks" I say taking his hand as I walk on tot he ice with him.

We hold hands falling into a rhythm while skating around the rink. "I'm glad we're doing this". "See I was right by say it. Say my husband Jay was right" he say getting in front of me skating backwards. "Show off" I say. "I can show you a real show off" he whispers in my ear, his warm breath blanketing my cold skin.  He moves back a little to quick, tripping over his skates and falling flat on his ass. From my eyes it looked like the perfect slow motion fall. His dumb ass tried to reach up to grab air. I stand there laughing at him, leaning myself on the corner of the rink. "You know you could help me" he say trying to get up safely. I'm still laughing at the hilarious fall, as he gets up. "Are you done" he says as I stop laughing. "Are you okay" I says moving my hand to caress his face. "That hurt" h says pulling me closer to him. "You want hot chocolate" I ask. "Yeah" he say taking my hand as we make our way to exit the skating rink.

"You feeling any better" I say after he sips his hot. "Much better"