Through the Open Door || Change My Mind Sequel || SP

If When

The Next Morning

Sam got home from her workout and turned on the oven to start her breakfast. Dale met her at the counter waiting for breakfast as Sam adjusted her pants. Her leggings were getting a bit tight, but still gave her some room to breathe. "What do you want for breakfast, little one?" Sam whispered. She gravitated towards the cabinet to start her pancakes and possibly some eggs. A knock on the door sounded. Sam dropped what she was doing and opened the door.

"Good morning," Matt smiled, bringing in some breakfast. "No. No. No wife of mine will be cooking breakfast," he said, setting the bag from her favorite breakfast place on the table.

"Did you get a new wife? Because I've been cooking breakfast for this family since we became a family," Sam said, turning off her appliance and sitting at the table.

"Wh-I- okay. I'm trying to be nice,"

"You're trying to kiss ass. It's working so far," Sam shrugged, taking her door out of the bag and opening the McDonald's breakfast container. "Thank you," Sam smiled. "You aren't working today?" She asked. Matt shook his head.

"Nope. I plan on picking the kids up early and taking them to the park and going to get lunch," he said, taking his food out. Sam nodded.

"That's fine. Umm, the girls have a math test at 11, so you can get them after 12," she informed. Matt dropped his head and took a deep breath.

"About the cheating and stuff," Matt started. Sam flinched hearing the word. "I don't have any words greater than I'm sorry. What I did was wrong and I know that. I want to make it better." The mom of three dropped her fork.

"Why did you do it? What made you decide that instead of talking to me about your issue, you run to someone else?" Sam asked.

"It was nothing you did. I swear,"

"Oh I know. I did what I was supposed to do," Sam replied. Matt dropped his fork and ran his hand over his face.

"Remember when we first met?" Sam nodded. "Well, a few months ago I started getting anxious again. That's when we were doing it like almost every night, and I was going in early to get out early. I was trying to use sex and our family to get out of dealing with it. But I couldn't, so..." Matt trailed off.

"You didn't," Sam whispered.

"I didn't know what else to do! I was scared. I didn't want to stress you even more, so I tried to handle it myself," Matt mumbled. Sam dropped her head and leaned back into her chair.

"You need help. Seriously. If you want this to go back to any type of normal, you have to go back to therapy. You know no one can help you when you're like this," Sam said, tears rushing down her cheeks. "I can't raise them by myself. These kids need their father and this baby needs to know you," Sam mumbled pulling her glasses up to push her hair back.

"I know. I will. I am. I start on Monday," Matt assured.

"Are you sober right now? You can't get the kids if you aren't," Sam asked.

"27 Hours." Sam nodded, cutting up her pancake.

"Tell me she wasn't better than me?" Sam said. Matt smirked and picked up his fork.

"No one can't touch you. You know that,"

12:06 PM

Sam stood at the door of Zeek's classroom, while Matt stood at the door of the girls room. "Mommy!" Zeek screamed, jumping up from his chair and running to his mother. Sam picked him up, placing the child on her hip. The teacher, knowing she was coming and seeing that reaction often, continued to teach.

"Zeekie, go get your stuff," Sam said, trying to keep her voice down.

-

On the other side of the school, Matt stood at the girls door, watching them play and interact with their friends. Elora was on one side of the class playing with Payton and Revalee, while Ellanie was surrounded by the boys. It was weird seeing them play without looking back to check on one another or even need to be right next to each other.

When enrolling them, the school wanted to separate them, but Sam insisted they stay together. She wanted to make sure Ellanie didn't have any issues adjusting to school. It was hard enough that the girls did everything together before school, she wanted to make sure they got a soft introduction to school and other kids.

"Sheehan's, you're leaving," Mrs. Cookie called. The twins looked back to see their father standing, waiting for them. They excitedly left their friends and grabbed their things.

"Daddy, look what I made!" Ellanie smiled, proudly holding up her painting. Matt grabbed the paper and his daughter's backpacks.

"Mommy has Zeekie," Matt said. "Let's go beat them to the car!" Matt enticed. The girls gave each other a look and ran down the hall.

-

In the car, Sam and Zeek waited for Matt and the girls. "Mommy, are you going to like the new baby more than me?" Zeek asked, kicking his legs in the car seat. Sam shook her head, looking back to see her daughter's seats in the third row and an empty captain's seat for the new baby.

"No, of course not. I love all of you equally," Sam replied. Zeek rolled his eyes.

"Yes, you will mommy! You don't make Ellanie and Elora pancakes for dinner! You make me pancakes for dinner. You love me more!" He called. Samantha did her best not to laugh.

"Zeekie, I made you pancakes, because you cried for them. Remember that?" Sam asked as the girls came to the car, yanking her door open. "Damn," Sam whispered.

"Mommy! I want pizza for dinner!" Zeekie yelled, as the girls jumped into the car.

"Yay! I want pizza," Elora added. Sam shook her head and glanced at her husband.

"Guys, let's do pizza for lunch and spaghetti for dinner," Matt said, since Sam had already prepared everything for spaghetti. The kids cheered only hearing that they were having pizza.

7:35 PM

Matt and Sam got redressed as their kids did their homework. Coming out of the bathroom, Sam flicked her hair out of her shirt. "Don't think I fully forgive you. I don't," the satisfied wife said. Matt nodded, pushing his shirt back into his pants.

"I know. And I will make it up to you," he said.

"Make it up to me by going to therapy,"

"Zeekie! Stop!" The parents heard before a crash. A cry rang out, forcing Sam and Matt to sprint to the living room. A broken vase on the ground and a four year old on the floor gave Sam all the context she needed.

"Elora!"

"Ellanie and Zeek were fighting over the uhmote! I told them to stop, but they wouldn't! Zeek got the uhmote and Ellanie hit him. He hit her back and she grabbed the uhmote. They fighted again and she pushed him off of the couch and he hit the table and the glass thingy fell off," Elora said. She could never lie or keep a secret. She wasn't good at it and broke very easily.

"Ellanie and Zeek. Bedrooms. Now," Sam scolded as Matt swept up the broken glass to make sure the kids and Dale didn't get cut.

"Elora, go play in your room," Matt said, turning off the TV.

7:47 PM

Matt and Sam sat across from one another at the kitchen table. "We've gotta do something about Zeek and Ellanie. Especially, because they will be on the same side of the house soon," Sam said. Matt dropped his head on the table.

"Can you deal with them? I'm tired," Matt mumbled.

"You're going through withdrawals. Got to bed. You and I both have work in the morning," Samantha replied, running her hand across his and slowly getting up from the table to do her motherly duty.

10:15 PM

"Am I doing the right thing?" Sam asked, looking at her reflection in the mirror. "He needs my help," she reminded. "He may have broken his vow, but you didn't. If, when he is healthy and in therapy, I choose to leave him. It's okay. It's okay,"

To Be Continued.