When The Smoke Has Cleared

Chapter Eight: Gabriella Carter

Chapter Eight- The Fight 

...

Gabriella Carter - Later That Night

"So we're all really just going to pretend that this is normal?" Stephanie questioned as she stood next to me as I was throwing a football to the boys and playing with them. I chose to ignore her knowing exactly where this was going. Ever since she got home and saw the boys, she was as shocked as I was, if not more, but her anger and hatred towards Reagan was clear and obvious. But I refused to address it at the moment. Then boys were home, and as much as I wanted to hate Reagan, I knew I couldn't...especially after talking to Kenna and hearing about the death of their little sister. 

There was a lot I still didn't know about them and I had no choice but to actually understand the way their past and childhood played a role in how everything was turning out for the two of them. It explained the bond and relationship that they had with each other because they were all they had. They've been through so much and Reagan got the worst of it. The woman I once viewed through rose colored lenses, now stood before me in all her flawed humanity, and I loved her more for it. I could tell she was nervous the way she moved around the house. It was as if she never lived here, but I wanted her to feel at home. Even in her imperfections she remained my perfect match. As I played with the boys, she was in the kitchen cooking and talking with Kenna. The happiness was pure, they kept laughing and goofing around and I understood it. But Stephanie was NOT having it.

"Listen...I'm trying to focus on what's important, and right now..."

"And right now it's beating her ass for everything she put you through." She said, her words dripped with venom; each syllable laced with a potent mixture of anger and determination.

"You will NOT put your hands on her, nor will you verbally disrespect her. I can understand your anger and I love and appreciate it, but respectfully Steph...This is MY wife. MY situation to figure out. MY kids that I need to know how to make sure they are comfortable in this. So I'm going to need you to take a couple steps back and allow me to handle it okay. My voice ringing with authority which I knew would piss her off. The command in my tone brooked no argument. I would always protect my family.

"Oh really...after all the mess that I cleaned up after you over the past two years, you're gonna stand here and say that shit to me? Do you know how bad you were??! Does she know about the countless bitches? Does she know how many whores you fucked in that bed? Does she know about your nasty little coping mechanisms?"

"Hey boys?" I called out with a smile on my face,

"Yes mama" They replied at the same time.

"Why don't you two go wash up before we have dinner with Mommy." They both ran to me first and hugged me. I kissed their heads and waited until they were out of sight before I turned to look at my best friend.

"So what? Because you were there for me, you're going to threaten me? What're you going to do Stephanie?"

"You think I won't tell her and ruin this little reunion?" She replied, getting in my face "After everything she put you through, I thought you'd have a bit more self respect Gabby. But I guess since day one you've been a little bitch when it comes to her." Before I could stop myself, My hands grabbed her shirt and slammed her into the wall knocking over the family portrait that was hanging on the wall, a growl escaped my throat as I peered into her eyes. The sound must've alerted Kenna and Reagan as they both came running into the room looking at us.

"Hey hey hey what's going on" Kenna asked, shocked at the scene unfolding in front of her. Reagan froze in her steps.

"I love you Steph, you know I do, but if you ever talk to me like this again I promise you I will hurt you. You don't have to like my decisions, nor do you have to agree with them, but you sure as hell will respect them...do I make myself clear? Those boys are your nephews...and they're home after being gone for two years...you don't even have the heart to say not one word to them since you got here. When it comes to my family I will fucking hurt you. Don't try me. You understand?"

"My nephews? Please... they're barely your kids. Why else would she be so comfortable running off with them? They're Robert's kids, but continue with your delusion" She started struggling to breathe as my grip on her neck got tighter, But I didn't realize it, all I saw was red.

"Stephanie what the fuck!" Kenna said and I could hear the anger in her tone, but I wasn't sure what was upsetting her more. I pulled her off the wall and slammed her into it again before throwing her on the ground. Reagan stepped in front of me holding me back as Stephanie got up and ran to me pushing me into the small coffee table. Kenna grabbed her, but not before I connected my first with her nose and her a satisfying CRACKKK!.

"Baby I need you to focus on me, okay" I heard Reagan talking to me but her voice was fading in the background as my fist started shaking, not being able to contain the anger building up in me. "Come on baby, come back to me it's okay" I felt her kisses on my cheeks, my forehead, and then finally my lips as her fingers were gently tracing circles on the side of my neck.

"Your eyes are red sweetheart, and your veins are about to pop out of your skin...my little angry bird I need you to calm down okay, It's alright...you know she didn't mean it... those boys are yours...we've been over this. It's okay sweetheart, come back to me." She walked into the kitchen with me and sat me down as she grabbed me some ice for my hands. Thankfully the boys were still upstairs, Kenna was in the bathroom downstairs with Stephanie and we could hear their muffled arguments.

"So you're gonna take her side?" Stephanie yelled.

"Keep your head down so the blood can get out. And this is my fucking sister you're talking about baby so whatever problems you may or may not have I need you to watch how you speak to and about her in my presence. And to be fair...none of this is your business. Let them figure out their family." Kenna responded sternly.

"That's my bestfriend Kenna, she deserves better."

"1- that's not your call to me. And 2- if those boys are not your family then what the fuck am I to you? Those are my nephews...yeah my sister fucked up...but you know what you'll never understand what it means to make a sacrifice for family. She did what she had to do to keep her wife safe."

"Really...because I said I didn't want to carry a kid now, this is about me not knowing how to make sacrifices for our family? And I'm sorry about what I said about the boys I know I shouldn't...."

"No, I'm not done talking. So you listen to me and you listen to me good...Family don't walk out on each other...in this family we believe in forgiveness. In this family we don't ignore little kids just because we don't like their mothers. I'm so fucking disappointed in you for the way you treated them since they got here. You have no idea how Reagan or any of them might be feeling..."

"Baby stop eavesdropping." Reagan brought my attention back to her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to lose my temper like that, I just..."

"I get it. You never need to apologize for standing up for me or our kids. I love you so fucking much Gabby, and I know she has a right to be upset because..."

"Nah she doesn't. At the end of the day...I was the one dealing with the emotions. she's my bestfriend, she's supposed to support me, but threaten to tell you about bitches I've fucked...Telling me the kids aren't mine...Bringing Robert into this after everything that's happened...It's fucked up." I said as I rested my hands on top of hers.

"So how many exactly were there?" Reagan questioned with an interested look in her eyes.

"You don't want to know." I answered shamefully.

"Hey, It's okay...It's completely understandable, trust me. I'm not upset at all. You were hurting and I caused it." I leaned in and pecked her lips as the kids came running down the stairs and into the kitchen. I looked at them and smiled as we both grabbed one and sat them on our laps. We looked at each other and smiled...yeah...we could definitely make this work...right?

This was going to be an interesting dinner.