Reason

Chapter 5:

"Let's see that new baby boy, Aubrey!" Lauryn State cried from the front door. Her kids, Simon and Isabel, ran into the house and into Claire's room who was playing with her dolls.

"He is in the rocking chair thing over there. It's good to see you, Lauryn!" I replied, giving her a hug. Tony's parents had left two days ago so I decided that showing the baby off to my friends would be a good idea.

"You too, Aub. Sorry that Eric and I couldn't make it to the hospital. We really tried." Lauryn said, closing the door. She set down a blue present next to her shoes and walked into the living room.

"That's totally fine." I replied, walking into the living room with her. Her mouth opened when she saw Brodie, bundled up in cute blue pajamas.

"He is so adorable!" Lauryn commented, bringing her finger to Brodie's closed fist. He wrapped his little hand around her finger and cooed.

"He is, isn't he?" I said, sitting down on the floor next to his portable rocker.

"Yes. So proud of you, Aubrey!" Lauryn exclaimed. I laughed and sat back on my hands.

"I've done it before." I told Lauryn. She nodded and unhooked Brodie from the rocker. She picked him up.

"He's so little! Was Claire this little?" Lauryn asked. I shook my head and cradled Brodie's head.

"She was a big, chubby baby just like Simon." I said.

"Simon was chubby but so was Isabel." Lauryn commented, just as the doorbell ran. I stood up and walked to the front door, wiping my hands on my jeans.

I opened the door and Iris Carter stood on the other side with her 3 kids.

"Hey, Aubrey! I brought Qdobas." Iris said, giving me a hug. Her twins Harper and Ryan were holding onto her legs. I waved to them.

"I can take the food." I offered. Iris nodded and handed me all four plastic bags and a present wrapped in green wrapping paper.

"Harper and Ryan go to Claire's room. Don't be scared, you have been here a lot." Iris directed. Ryan grabbed Harper's hand and led her to Claire's room. Iris shook her head and adjusted her third, Nolan, on her hip.

"Come on in." I said, closing the door behind her. Iris took off her shoes and laid her coat on the seat next to the stairs.

"Hey, Lauryn." Iris greeted, sitting Nolan down on the couch. I brought the food into the kitchen and set it on the table. I could hear Lauryn and Iris boasting about Brodie. I smiled and walked back into the living room. Iris was holding Brodie and Lauryn had Nolan in her lap.

"So, what's new with you ladies?" I asked, sitting down.

"Nothing really. Colton got a new job and work is the same as always." Iris stated. "Oh and I feel like paying for Ariel's isn't worth it anymore ever since my parents moved here."

"Claire is going to be upset that Harper won't be there anymore." I replied, looking at Brodie who was staring at Iris' long, blonde hair. "But I understand. What about you, Lauryn?"

"I have been putting together the women's forum for our group and teaching a healthy food diet at the gym." Lauryn replied.

"Sounds exciting." I said and then heard a blood-piercing scream. My heart stopped. I've heard that scream before in the past and it was so familiar, I almost thought it was actually her.

I stood up and ran into Claire's room. Claire was standing up and blood was dripping from her eyebrow. I ran over to her and picked her up.

"What happened, Claire?" I asked, bringing her into the bathroom across from her room. I grabbed a wash cloth and wet it.

"Simon hit me with one of his trucks." Claire cried; tears streaming down her face. I started to dab the cloth on her eyebrow and she winced.

"Why, baby?" I questioned, looking at the little cut above her eyebrow. She cried harder. I grabbed her in a hug and rubbed circles onto her back. I waited until she calmed down and then found a band-aid and put it over the cut. "Why did he hit you, Claire?"

"I called him mean." Claire said.

"Why did you call him mean?" I asked, playing with her curls.

"Because he wouldn't give me back Leah." Claire replied, putting her head down. I sighed in relief. Leah was Claire's bitty baby doll and she did not like people to touch her. It was her favorite toy that she had ever gotten and she was protective of it.

My mind took me back to when I was super protective of someone and I got hurt. My heart started to ache, thinking of that person. I loved that person so much and no matter how hard I tried to keep that person safe, I still couldn't save them. I felt a tear escape my eye and I quickly wiped it away.

"You're not in trouble, Claire. But I want you to apologize to Simon for calling him mean. You know better. I know Simon is a good friend of yours." I explained. Claire nodded and ran out of the bathroom. I heard her apologize to Simon and Simon said he was sorry as well. I smiled and walked out.

"What happened in there?" Iris asked. "It sounded like someone was dying."

"Nothing. I figured it all out." I replied, throwing the wash cloth into the laundry room.

"Was it Simon or Isabel screaming because we have had to talk to them about it. It really is awful. I think they picked it up from one of the kids at Ariel's." Lauryn commented, holding a toy in front of Nolan's eyes. He tried to grab it but he couldn't.

"No. It was Claire." I said, sitting back down on the floor. I held out my hands for Brodie and Iris placed him there. "She just got hurt."

"Oh my gosh. Is she ok?" Iris asked, crossing her arms.

"Yeah. Just a little scrape." I replied, rocking Brodie.

"Nothing too deep?" Lauryn asked, handing Nolan over and reaching for Brodie. I set him in her arms.

"No but we do have Ellie down the street." I said.

"That's true." Iris said. She made a face and bent down to smell Nolan's pants. "Time for a change." She picked him and went to change him.

I checked my watch and it read 12:05.

"We should probably eat. The kids are probably getting restless." I said, getting up and walking into the kitchen. Lauryn followed me into the kitchen with Brodie in her arms.

I looked through the bags of Qdobas and sorted through them. Each family had a spot on the table. Lauryn found hers and arranged them in her own way.

"Kids! Time to eat!" I yelled. I heard squeals from Claire's bedroom and they all rushed out. Claire came first, then Simon, then Isabel, then Harper and then Ryan. They all ran to the table and sat down. I walked over to Claire and put her cheese quesadillas in front of her. Lauryn handed me Brodie and I put him in the rocker while she helped her kids. I walked back into the kitchen and helped Harper and Ryan. They all dug in, occasionally letting out a noise of approval.

I sat down next to Claire and ate my naked burrito. I usually had black beans, white rice, chicken, lettuce and cheese in my naked burrito. I wasn't pushed as a child to try new things and it hurt me to think that I was an adult not being able to eat most of the foods that other adults did.

"It smells yummy in here." Iris exclaimed, sitting down next to me. She had Nolan on her lap and she started to eat.

"Mamma, this is so good!" Harper shouted. We all laughed.

"I'm glad you like it, Harper." Iris laughed.

"Claire, do you want to show your friends Big Hero 6?" I asked, hugging her from the side.

"Yes!" Simon yelled.

"Simon, pipe down, buddy." Lauryn scolded.

"Sorry." Simon said, stuffing his face with chicken. I giggled. Lauryn shot me a look and shook her head.

We all finished our lunch and walked into the living room. We sat and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon, watching Big Hero 6 and laughing at Brodie when Claire played peek-a-boo with him.