I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

XLIX.

Walking through the front door of her house, just to see that Nicholas' backpack was on the dining room table, Jeffrey's backpack was on the counter, while there was no sign of her daughter or husband, but she assumed they were there.

Soon, she heard the sound of a splash, realizing they all must have gone to the pool since it was still warm; it was August in Santa Monica.

Sighing, she made her way through the living room and to get to the sliding door with her arms hugging herself.

"Oh, hey, mom!" Nicholas smiled at her.

"Hi, baby... How was school?" she replied, her tone soft and comforting as a small grin danced across her lips.

As usual, things between her and Robert were tense, but neither of them really interacted.

"Good... Got this new girl in my class, she's gorgeous," he beamed. 

"Yeah..." she smirked. "And so it begins, huh?" She began making her way to the pool, kicking her shoes off and hiking her skirt just slightly in order to settle her feet in. 

But as she was about to sit, her oldest came running to her.

"Be careful," he took her hand, guiding her down slowly. "Wanna pillow to sit on?" he then asked, gesturing back to the couch. 

She chuckled, "My sweet boy, I'm pregnant, not disabled," she smirked. 

He shrugged, making his way back to the grill he was making hot dogs and burgers on.

"Do you really wanna talk about being disabled?" Robert asked.

"Poor words," she blinked once.

He noticed she still wasn't in the best mood, but he was trying hard to atone by lightening it a little.

"Anyways, what this new girl's name, lovey?" she wondered, swishing her feet in the water.

"Grace," he replied.

"We are one wild bunch, aren't we?" Shannon said sarcastically as she flipped the page of her book. "Dad's in a wheelchair, mom's pregnant, I have a dislocated shoulder, older brother's in the Army and there's the lovesick teenager who's head over heels in love with the new girl in class... Might as well be paid actors in this soap brought to you by Drama Central," she smarted off.

The boys smirked. 

Shaking her head, Stevie looked over to see her daughter in a black bikini, resting on a lounge chair with her book. "How are you, my love, how's that shoulder of yours?" she asked.

"It hurts," she rose a brow and then smirked. "I mean... I don't feel the Tylenol or Ibuprofen are working anymore, not even to take the edge off... It's gonna be a hell-ish few months..." 

"I'm sorry, honey," Stevie tisked.

"But keep taking it, sis," Nicholas added, coming up from the deep end of the water. "Even if you don't feel it working as far as pain goes, it's still bringing down the inflammation..."

She pulled her sunglasses down to the edge of her nose and looked over the frames. 

"Since when are you like a doctor?"

"What is it that everybody thinks I do in my spare time? I read or play video games... I keep telling you all that I'm gonna be a doctor."

"And we believe in you so much, honey, I always did," Stevie assured. "But seeing your knowledge so early on, I'm impressed and I can't wait to see you succeed."

"Thanks, mom," he grinned.

"Me too, son..." Robert smiled. "You've really been helping me and teaching me a lot these last couple days and I appreciate it."