The Fling

60

I woke up early on Saturday, did a quick spin, showered, and went down to the kitchen for coffee. I'd gone grocery shopping the day before, so I had everything I needed to cook a hearty breakfast. I made a cinnamon coffee cake first, and while it baked I prepared a skillet casserole with eggs, sausage, and cheese.

Everything was almost done when Lizzie came downstairs. "What smells so good?" she asked. "I thought I was dreaming about yummy food and then I realized it was real."

I told her what we were having and she got to setting the breakfast room table. When that task was complete, she went up to wake everyone else.

Bert was the last to arrive and went straight for the coffee. Once he had a large mug, he joined us at the table. "I have to pick up the rental truck in an hour."

"I'll go with you so that we can go straight to the house."

Hannah frowned. "The gas leak isn't fixed? Is that why you're getting all the stuff out?"

I raised an eyebrow at Bert since this was the perfect opportunity to talk to our younger children about what was happening. He let out a sigh before saying, "There wasn't actually a gas leak. I'm really sorry I lied, but I didn't want you getting upset. The people who own the house have asked us to move out, so that's what we're doing. Lizzie will live here, and I'll get an apartment. I'll come see you at your mom's since my place will be too small. Eventually I'll have a house, and we'll go back to regular visits."

The day before, I had a quick phone session with our family therapist and received sound advice on what to tell the children. She said there was no reason to go into their dad's financial problems or his estrangement from their grandparents during the initial conversation. Down the road it could be one relevant, but given that they were eight and six, it was too much to lay on them all at once.

"What about Reagan?" Bertie asked.

"She's staying in Florida," he hesitated briefly, "and we might get divorced."

My two younger children's faces fell and Hannah's bottom lip started quivering. "But you just got married."

The kids weren't crazy about their stepmom, but she'd been in their lives long enough that losing her was a shock. Considering how they reacted to change, I knew this would be the harder part of the conversation.

"Sometimes marriages don't work out, but it's okay. I'll be fine. We'll all be fine," Bert replied.

"You get divorced a lot," Bertie said with furrowed brows.

"Three times isn't a lot," my ex snapped.

I kicked him under the table and then held up the coffee cake. "Who wants seconds?"

Bertie and Hannah had a few more questions, which we answered the best we could. After breakfast, everyone got dressed, and then I went over some things with Lizzie since this was the longest she was babysitting. When I was done, Hannah and Bertie joined us, and she smiled at them. "You two get to spend the day with me! Should we get out a puzzle and try to finish it in one day? We could have a Mario Party marathon, too!"

They nodded but didn't seem very enthusiastic. Hannah clung to my arm. "Why can't we go with you?"

"Your dad and I are going to be super busy packing and moving things, and you'll get bored quickly. This is better for everyone."

"I don't feel good," Bertie whined.

"Are you going to puke?" Lizzie asked in horror.

"I don't know."

"Bertie, if you feel even the tiniest bit nauseated, you need to go to the bathroom. Remember how we talked about feelings making you sick? This is one of those times. I know that hearing about your dad's house and Reagan was a lot, but I promise you everything is going to be okay. You are going to have a great day with Lizzie and then tonight we can have fast food for dinner as a treat!"