The next day Tim takes Maddie to school but has trouble trying to pick her up at the end of the day
Teacher:im sorry who are you
Tim:oh right haven't done paperwork uh im her father
Teacher:im sorry i can't let you leave with her
Tim:uh alright let me call her mom
Teacher:alright
He steps away and calls Lucy
Lucy:hello
Tim:hey did you not add me to Maddie's pick up list at school
Lucy:crap i knew i was forgetting something im sorry
Tim:its fine but they won't let me pick her up so im gonna need your help
Lucy:im on my way im really sorry
Tim:its fine really
She gets the 5 minutes later
Lucy:hey again im really sorry
Tim:stop apologizing
Lucy:hi mrs.April is there anyway we can add her dad onto the pick up drop off and emergency
Teacher:of course we just needed you to confirm
Lucy:yeah we share custody so
Teacher:thats fine
Tim fills out the paperwork at Maddie's school and they finally get to leave
Tim:ok you ready munchkin
M:yeah bye mommy
Lucy:bye baby
Tim walks out with Maddie and puts her in the truck as their driving home she talks to him
M:show and tell is tomorrow and i don't have anything daddy
Tim:im sure we can find something baby
M:what if we don't
Tim:we will why are you being cranky baby
M:not cranky
Tim:are too
He texts Lucy
Tim:what does it mean when she starts getting cranky
Lucy:shes either hungry or tired
Tim:thanks
Back with Maddie
Tim:you hungry munchkin
M:yeah
Tim:alright how about we stop and get you some nuggets yeah
M:ok
He takes her to get food and hands it to her
In the backseat
M:where my toy
Tim:you can have it after you eat sweetie
M:ok
She sits back watching out the window as she eats Tim glances back smiling he all of a sudden
Gets a phone call and takes it he ends up having to go fill out paperwork at the station for something
Tim:how about you go see where mommy and daddy work yeah
Maddie:yeah
Tim:alright
He drives them to the station and when he gets there she finishes her nuggets
Tim:done
M:no my fries silly
Tim:oh how could i forget here ill carry you and you can eat while we go in
He carries her inside while she chews on fries
Lucy:hey what are yall doing here
Tim:i got called about some paperwork misunderstanding i don't know but i didn't have anywhere to take her so i just brought her with
Lucy:someone enjoying those fries
M:i ate my nuggets already
Lucy:i bet you did
Tim:do you mind while i figure this out im sorry
Lucy:its fine come sit with mama a few minutes baby then you will go back with dad ok
M:ok
She sits with her for 20 minutes when Tim comes back out
Lucy:all good
Tim:yeah just Smitty messing up paperwork as usual
Lucy:of course um hey Ang can you watch her a minute so i can talk to Tim
Angela:of course come here sweetie
Tim:i feel like im in trouble for something
Lucy:no your not not really anyway
Tim:so i am
Lucy:will you hush and listen
Tim:sorry
Lucy:i know we didn't have a choice at the school or just now but we really need to keep it one parent at a time we can't confuse her
Tim:no i know won't happen again
Lucy:alright
They walk back over to Angela and Maddie
Tim:come on Mads he lifts her off Angela
Maddie:wait i have to tell mommy bye Tim
Puts her back down and she hugs Lucy then runs
Back to Tim who takes her hand and walks out
They get back to the truck and he puts her in
M:daddy are you sad
Tim:no baby daddy's ok
M:you look sad
Tim:im fine baby i promise ok
M:ok he shuts her door and walks around he is a little upset he wishes him Lucy and Maddie could
Be a family together as he drives he plays the radio for Maddie and listens to her hum thankful she is to young to pick up on his and Lucys feelings they get home and he turns on the tv for her and lets her play around when he hears his door he sees Angela Wesley Jack and Zoey
Tim:hey what are yall doing here
Angela:thought we could have a friends night and
The kids can play
Tim:sure Maddie is in the living room watching the tv
Angela:screen time Tim really
Tim:don't judge my parenting
Angela:fair enough Jack Zoey go play
Tim:so whats the real reason for this visit
Angela:your sad face when you left earlier
Tim:im fine
Angela:i thought you over the lying about your feelings thing
Tim:ok your right
Angela:i know
Wesley:babe support not intimidate
Tim:he's right
Angela:sorry
Wesley:im gonna go play with the kids let yall talk
Tim:i guess i just wish Me and Lucy could give Maddie what you and Wesley and Nyla and James give yalls kids
Angela:im confused
Tim: two parent household a happy family
Angela:i mean have you talked to her
Tim:no i don't plan too
Angela:why not
Tim:i can't risk us not working again it broke me the first time and now we have Maddie if things end this time there is much more on the line then just our feelings what about her feelings he says pointing at Maddie
Angela:i get it your scared i can't even begin to imagine what this is like for you guys but what brought this up
Tim:Maddie saw another Family at school the other day and asked Lucy why we aren't always together like the other mommy's and daddy's
Angela:oh i can see how that would bring up some emotions
Tim:mhm its fine though really it was a stupid feeling and its gone now so
Angela:don't ignore your feelings Tim you know what happens when you do
Tim:im not gonna self destruct again ok
Angela:when is your next therapy session
Tim:why
Angela:cause i think you meed to bump those up from once a month to atleast every two weeks
Tim:so your saying im going under again
Angela:a little
Tim:i appreciate your honesty
Angela:sorry i didn't mean to come off rude
Tim:no you didn't your right
Angela:you guys are gonna figure it out
