During yet another very dry and bleak holiday season, Simone Evans, a high school English teacher, finds herself in the most unlikely friendship with Jordan Jackson- an ex con.
**Mature Content**
More mature chapters will be marked with a (⚠︎︎) bef...
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"Why do y'all have your bags packed?" Simone asked Tiffany's kids when her and Jordan finally made it over there.
Tiffany was just sitting at the kitchen counter, her arms crossed over her chest as she rolled her eyes.
"Because we're not coming back. We're staying with you Aunty," Tiana, the youngest one, spoke for the three of them.
"Tiff?" Simone looked over at her friend, who looked both tired and stressed out.
"At this point, just take them," she held her hands up. "I can't even deal with them right now. Cause everything is always mommy's fault. I can't seem to do nothing right. Even though Greg is the one who canceled on them, it's somehow still my fault."
"Because it is!" Rylan yelled at her. And usually Tiffany would never allow that type of behavior, but she looked like she didn't even have the energy in her to say anything to him. "It's your fault that daddy left us! You're the reason he's gone!"
"Rylan! Don't talk to your mother like that!" Simone snapped at the five year old. "Apologize to her right now."
"But it is her fault—"
"Your mother is trying her best. And guess what, she's the one that's still here everyday taking care of y'all. And you wanna know why?"
"Why?" Rylan whispered.
"Because she loves y'all— more than anything else in the whole world. Your mom is not the reason your daddy left."
"Then why did he leave?" Tiana asked now, her little voice coming out all sad. "Why does daddy live in a new house now?"
"Uhhh...?" Simone let out a deep breath, not really sure how to further navigate this conversation.
"Because," Jordan, who'd been standing there silent the whole time, spoke up for her. "Because sometimes things between adults don't always work out, and that's okay. It's perfectly normal for that to happen. The only thing that matters is that they both love you, which they do. And your mom is not the reason your dad's not around anymore. Your dad makes his own decisions. So if you wanna know why he isn't around as much anymore, why don't you ask him for yourself?"
Simone was shocked at how well he seemed to handle that question. He didn't lie to them because 'they're just kids'. He spoke to them as if they understood what he was saying, because they do. And he not only answered their question, but offered them a solution to another one as well.
"Thank you," Tiffany silently mouthed, looking like she was trying real hard to hold back tears.
It was obvious Tiffany and her three kids had a very long morning as thick tension filled the air between them.
"No problem," he nodded his head towards her.
"What time you want them back tonight?" Simone asked when Jordan went to go get the kids buckled in the car.
