Triton's Bay

Daycare and Drama

Chapter 10

Tessa left the kitchen so the boys could work on finding Mulan and went into the master bedroom. Sitting on the bed with a huge grin on her face, she watched Lonnie get ready. Lonnie blushed and laughed at her friend.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Lonnie asked as she put on her socks.

"Where did Jay sleep last night?" Tessa asked, looking at the unmade bed and the boxers on the floor.

"Here," Lonnie said slowly.

"And where did you sleep?"

"Here," Lonnie muttered.

"In the same bed?" Tessa added and Lonnie nodded in response, biting down on her lip. "Did you actually sleep, or did you -"

"Tessa!" Lonnie exclaimed.

Tessa giggled and rolled back on the bed. "Forget Hercules, Lonnie, you've got your own demigod making house calls!"

Lonnie laughed and sat next to Tessa. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "I'm scared. Everything I felt for Jay came flooding back the moment I saw him. I can't go through that pain again."

"Then don't. Tell him he has to fully commit to you and to Jaylian this time." Tessa advised.

"He swears Riley faked everything. He says nothing ever happened between them." Lonnie said softly, still unsure about what to believe. "There were a lot of pictures over the years. Do you think she really went to all that trouble to keep us apart?"

Tessa sat up and looked her friend in the eye "Do you trust him?" Tessa was getting to the real question at hand. "If you trust him, then delete the bitch from your life and trust him. Unfortunately, honey, the truth is that you two weren't together and haven't been together for a long time. I know it's hard, but even if any of those pictures were true, it doesn't matter and it shouldn't matter now. Jay wasn't a part of your life then. He is now, so trust him."

"Are you telling me this as a friend, or as a family therapist?"

"I'm telling you this as your friend."

Lonnie nodded as Tessa hugged her tight. "If he goes back to her now that you're back together, we cut off his balls!"

Tessa went off to work while Lonnie drove Jay and Jaylian to the daycare. Walking in the door, Jaylian immediately bounced to the other girls at the front desk and hugged her friends, loudly announcing "My daddy's home to stay!"

Lonnie and Jay looked at each other for a long moment. They hadn't talked about it yet, and could see that they couldn't put this conversation off much longer. "Baby, you need to get to class. Love you!" Lonnie shooed her daughter towards the teacher standing by the cubbies.

"I'm sorry Ms. Li, but you still owe us from last week. She can't stay until you pay for both weeks. I'm really sorry." The lady behind the desk said softly, trying not to let the other parents overhear.

Jay frowned. He didn't realize that Lonnie was struggling financially. Pulling out his wallet, Jay handed his credit card over. "Here, I got it."

"No, Jay -" Lonnie started, but was quickly cut off.

"She's my daughter, too. I'll take care of it... and you from now on." Jay softened his voice, answering her unasked question. He knew that he needed to step up fast and earn Lonnie's trust all over again.

Lonnie nodded and sighed. She was going to need to learn to accept his help. Lonnie had relied on only herself for several years now. Now, she needed to let go and let Jay help. She stepped back and let Jay move to the counter.