Destined To Collide

The Collision Expands - Chapter 40 - Janine

Some time later; Chad and Janine's residence;

Morning; 

Janine- Waaaaaaaa! Waaaaaaaaaaa! Here we go again. Our baby, Lillian, is wailing away, again, through the baby monitor.

"It's your turn, babe," I say, tiredly, to Chad, "I went last time, hot shot."

It's been about two weeks since we brought her home and, as can be expected, we've had no sleep. Chad insisted on taking paternity leave so he can be here to help me. I tried to argue that he should focus on the upcoming trial and let me and Carmen and some relatives that've come in to help.

But in the end, I am forever grateful that he is here. He's been doing work with Spencer and Madilyn remotely while me and Lillian are resting. I'm sorry I ever took him for granted. He is and has always been my rock and I just got so used to it that I lost sight of it.

"I think she needs her mommy to feed her," Chad says as he returns to the room with our crying baby, "I'll be here, right beside you, in case you need anything. Besides, it's only fair that I share in our insomnia." I giggle as I take Lillian.

"Y'know, Chad," I say, slowly, "I just want to say that you've been amazing throughout this whole thing, even when I was too complacent to see it. I know things haven't easy, I love and respect everything about you. I'm sorry for everything."

"There's no reason to apologize, babe," he says, "I didn't make things easy. I'm short tempered and jealous and insecure. Also, I wasn't around during the most important periods of your life. And I had the nerve to talk about separation. I'm the one that should apologize."

As I continue to feed our daughter, I reach out and caress his cheek with my hand and tears begin to well up. He looks at me

"I know we've avoided talking about that since Lillian's been born," Chad continues, "but understand, the second your water broke, all that crap went out the window. And now that she's here, I know I'm never leaving either one of my girls alone." He says sweetly. We kiss.

"Well, practically speaking, you won't be able to be around much once the trial is underway," I say, "but Carmen is taking care of me, plus my mom and Emily are here (Emily's my younger 17 year old sister)."

"Actually, I've been thinking about that," Chad says, "I want you and Lillian to come to New York and say at my apartment. I'm telling you, I won't be able to get through any of that without you around. Plus, it won't hurt to have another legal mind around."

"But they came all the way from Portland to help us," I protest, even though I don't hate the idea, "and what about the house? We literally just bought it. Then there's Carmen to consider. They're family needs income."

"Firstly," Chad says, "your mom and Emily have already agreed to come live with us. It's actually a pretty nice sized loft."

"Wow, you already spoke to them, huh?" I say. I should've figured he already had this all planned out.

"We're renting out the house," he says, "we actually already have a tenant. A nice couple from upstate, they're coming in about a week."

"Okay, I like that," I say, "but I assume you have a solution to the Carmen issue."

"Oh, that?" he says, "I've actually been speaking with Ricardo. He says he got a construction job in the city, so I got them a place near us. They're going back and forth since Liam and Mateo are still in school. Some of Carmen's siblings from her adopted family are coming to look after the house and the kids. Also, they want to get Noah out of here after everything that's happened."

Even after everything that happened with him and Krystal, I suddenly get the idea that Noah might be good for Emily, who just broke up with her boyfriend out west. He's really a good kid that got caught up in some teenage hijinks with an older woman. I won't bring it up to Chad now though as he's still bitter that they had their affair in our house but thinking this makes me remember something else,

"Y'know on that topic," I say, "I heard that Krystal and Craig are still together."

"Yeah," he says, "that was me that told you that, hot stuff." We both laugh. I still have pregnancy brain. Chad then tells me that Craig had long revealed to him that he (Craig) cheated on Krystal first and that now, Craig and Krystal are happier than ever. Really strange how thing turn out."

Yeah, it is strange.

"Well," I say, "I look forward to this new and unpredictable future...."

End of chapter. Please vote and comment.