Everlasting

①⑨

Everly's POV
I walk downstairs to the kitchen and Ari is sat on the couch with Mom while dad makes coffee.

"Oh, hi. I didn't know you were coming or I would have put on some real pyjamas." I laugh, looking down at the mismatched tank top and plaid bottoms I'm wearing.

"You're fine, Ev." Ari chuckles and I see she's been crying.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Ari, you don't have to say." Dad says softly.

"No, I'd rather everyone hears it from me than Page Six." Ari starts.

"Why? What's going on?" I ask confused.

"Dalton and I are getting a divorce." Ari smiles weakly.

"Oh- what... why?" I ask, starting to tear up.

"It's nothing awful, sweetie. We've just drifted apart recently and it's not working out for us. We're keeping it civil because he's the father of our kids and they're the most important in all of this." Ari explains with a sniffle, taking the tissue Mom offers her.

"Oh. I'm really sorry to hear that, Ari." I hug her.

"You don't need to be sorry, Everly. We're still going to be around, especially for big family events." Ari says.

"Like for Christmas?" I ask.

"Definitely for Christmas." Ari says and I smile.

"Who else knows so far?" I ask.

"Your parents told the boys this morning and I told Carrie last night. It's okay to talk about, but sensitively. It's not quite as raw as it was a few weeks ago but we're still coming through it." Ari says.

"Of course. I won't bring it up." I say.

"Carrie and Matt are coming over in an hour so have some food and get ready please." Mom kisses my head.

"Bacon?" Dad offers with a smile, holding up a frying pan.

Timeskip

Mom is showing the boys her new Dollhouse and dad is rocking Maisy to sleep.

"How's the homework going?" Dad asks.

"It's alright. Carrie's copying my answers and she's not even being discreet about it." I laugh.

"Nope." Carrie grins, taking a sip of my soda.

"Maybe if you spent more time listening in class instead of passing notes to Riley, you'd know the answers yourself." I stick my tongue out.

"Riley and I had a lot to talk about, actually." Carrie says.

"About that kid?" I ask and Carrie nods.

"What kid?" Dad asks.

"There was a kid sat alone at lunch yesterday." I say.

"Yeah we felt bad." Carrie says.

"Aw, bless. What did you do about it?" Ariana asks.

"Nothing?" Carrie laughs.

"What were we supposed to do?" I ask.

"Go over to to them!" Ariana exclaims.

"That would have been so awkward." I say shaking my head.

"You know that's how I met your mom, right?" Ariana says.

"What, mom was sat alone?" I ask and Carrie bursts out laughing.

"Mommy was a loner?" Jake asks.

"Yes." Ari nods.