The Beginning of the End

The Start of the Downfall

"Hello? James? Do you have a moment?" He looked up from the papers on his desk, various sheets of music and notes from his student's lesson's all littering the wooden surface. "Of course, come in, have a seat!" He smiled, straightening his tie and turning to face his coworker, "What can I do for you? Need something?" The woman gave a small smile, "actually, James. I need you to check your news app. It's about your father, I don't know how to tell you so I think it's just going to be better for you to see for yourself." The smile James had on his face fell, and he reached for his phone. "What do you mean 'don't know how to tell me' is he dead or something?" He mused, looking for his news app and opening it up, he read the first headline and raised his eyebrows, "oh, OH. I was right? He died? Oh well, good for him I guess. He wasn't the best father so oh well."

His coworker stared, "you don't care? Wow. I know you said you didn't care for him, but I guess I didn't realize you meant it." James placed his hands on his desk, and stood up, "well Laney. When you do the things he did to us as a child, you tend to resent them or not care for them after that." Laney gave a tight-lipped smile and she stood up, smoothing her blouse out and adjusting her skirt, "I guess you're right James. Well, I'm giving you the next two weeks off anyways, so spend it with your babies, or if you have to go back to and deal with family then, use it for that. We're going to have you're classes and lessons covered by Andrea, it'll give her the experience she needs teaching anyways without you taking the reigns. I'm sure the general music teacher won't mind helping her either if she needs it. But I'm sure she won't, your class is made up of great kids." She tucked her chair back from where she took it and walked out of James' office. "I hope you enjoy your time off, and let me know if you need more time before you come back."

James nodded, "of course. Thank you, Laney. I do appreciate that, I should head home anyways it's getting late, and I still need to get the kiddos picked up and all that fun stuff. But thank you again for telling me and giving me the time off. I will probably bring the new music and weekly plans up tomorrow, and I guess I will see you when I come back then." Looking at the clock, the male sighed, pulling his hair out of its bun, and began packing up his things to take them home. He pulled his phone out and called the babysitter to let them know he was on his way before he turned the lights off and shut his office and classroom doors shut. He silently walked out the doors and to his vehicle and climbed in, setting his bag and computer case on the passenger seat. Once he knew everything was situated he started the car and drove off. The drive to the nanny's house was a quick one, so the white-haired man didn't have much time to get lost thinking. He pulled into the driveway and parked, he walked up to the door and knocked.

Parker his babysitter and old student opened the door and smiled, "ah, Mr. James it's so good to see you! I just finished getting the kids ready to go, they're each in their car seats and their bags are right by the couch. We had a bit of an incident where Colette got her fingers smashed, and Leighton had a slight issue with having to do lunch a bit later than usual, but other than that today was good, they were walking around a bit more, and Colette kept repeating the phrase, 'Comment allez vouz?' and playing with the kitten a lot. I took some pictures I can send if you'd like?" James nodded, "of course. Can never have too many pictures of mes amours. I would like to let you know that some family stuff is going on so I will be returning to Hamilton to deal with that. We're probably going to be leaving tonight or tomorrow morning, we're going to be gone for two weeks or so. I'll let you know when we get back. I do appreciate you watching the babes, so enjoy your two-week break from them." James laughed, putting the twin's bags on his back and bending down to pick up each of their car seats. "Oh, well then, I hope you have fun with that, and I guess I will see you when you guys get back from that then." James nodded, thanked Parker, and walked to his car, one of his students affectionately named 'the mom car' and despite telling them he's not a mom, all his students proceed to call him Mr. Mom.