Reason

Chapter 10:

I finished cooking up the last of the scrambled eggs. Tony, Allie, Claire and Brodie were all at the table. Well, Brodie was in Tony's arms.

Allie looked horrible. She had large bags under her eyes and her make-up was halfway down her cheeks. I knew she didn't get any sleep last night due to the fact that I heard her sobbing from the guest bedroom done the hall.

I plopped the scrambled eggs on everyone's plates and they all gave me smiles. I sat down and squeezed Tony's leg. He looked up at me and raised his eyebrows.

I picked up a piece of scrambled egg and put it into my mouth, smiling down at Claire. Claire did the same and clapped her hands afterwards.

"How about a shopping day?" I asked.

"That's sounds fun but I'm not one for shopping." Tony said. I shook my head and put my arm around his waist.

"I would love that." Allie said finally speaking for the first time that morning. I looked at her in shock and nodded my head.

"Do you have your purse or?" I asked, taking another bite of my eggs. Allie told me last night that she didn't want me to act like she had just lost someone. She didn't want me to pity her and say "I'm sorry" a million times. To her all the comfort she needed was to be treated normally.

"Yeah." Allie said, carefully eating her breakfast. She took small bites and I watched as she twitched.

"Ok. Then shopping it is." I said, smiling.

"Do you want to keep the kids home?" Tony asked, taking a drink of his orange juice.

"Nah. I can bring them along. I'm sure you won't mind, Allie?" I asked.

"No, of course not. I love those two little ones." Allie said.

"I like you." Claire blurted. Her face turned pink and she hid under the table.

"I like you too, Claire." Allie said, getting under the table with Claire. I smiled as they both popped their heads up.

"Can I call you Aunt Allie?" Claire asked, looking at Allie. Allie looked at me. Her face began to regain color and I could tell that it truly meant a lot to her.

"Of course!" Allie said. She took Claire's hand in hers and squeezed it. Claire giggled.

I finished up my plate of eggs and brought it into the kitchen. I set it in the dishwasher and walked back out. Claire was talking to Allie and Tony was standing up.

He walked into the kitchen and I followed him. I watched as he set his plate in the dishwasher while holding Brodie. I held out my hands for him and he set Brodie into my arms. I kissed Brodie's forehead and caught Tony looking at me.

"What?" I asked, smiling. Tony walked towards me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He smiled at me and leaned in for a kiss. He kissed my lips and pulled back. "What was that for?"

"For being my wife." Tony simply said. I smiled at him and snuck a kiss to his cheek before I left the kitchen. He followed me and grabbed Claire and Allie's plates.

"Allie, do you want to take a shower or anything?" I asked. Allie nodded and mouthed a thank you. I nodded back and lead her into the guest bathroom. I took out a white towel from the linen closet and handed it to her. "Let me go get some of my old clothes for you. I will be right back."

I walked out of the bathroom and made my way to my closet. I pulled out an old sweatshirt from college and some old jeans and brought them to Allie.

"Thank you so much, Aubrey." Allie stated.

"Of course. It's the least I can do." I told her. She nodded and shut the door to the bathroom.