Not Us 3: Odette & Ford

Chapter 21

Odette's POV

We had to deal with his parents and how they reacted to Archie and Asher. There was no way they could continue to stay in Briggs and Jac's guesthouse, even if it was six days before Christmas. I really didn't care. I rolled over and looked at him, just waking up. He pulled me into a kiss and I kissed him back. Things were starting to heat up when the bedroom door burst open three tiny terrors burst in. Things cooled off pretty quickly after that. Mom came in and wrangled them while we were hiding under the covers, saying she'd keep them busy because she could tell by the hushed tones downstairs last night that we had important things to talk about.

And we did.

We needed to talk about the elephant in the room.

"Alright," he said, scooting up and leaning on the headboard. He turned his head and looked at me, "Let's talk about it."

I just looked at him.

"My parents. Let's talk about it. Because there's a lot, I want to say and I know there's a lot you want to say."

"I think we should call Briggs and Jac and fill them in. Same with my parents." He nodded.

"I walked them back to the pool house, and after I showed them around, they started in on how they know I think I love you and how I think I want to 'play dad' to the boys. I shut it down right away, cutting her off and telling her you and the kids are my family. Blood or not. Those are my sons; you are the woman I love and Sutton is my little girl." I nodded, waiting to see if there was more. He looked at me. And he looked sad. Really sad.

"You know, when I invited them here, I thought I'd be inviting to couple that raised me; and that I looked up to as role models for what love is. Or was. It's like they think you're not good enough, or something. Just the way she said, 'I know you think you love her', and the way she talked about me claiming the boys as mine...they are. They're my sons." He was quiet for a moment, so I just reached out and grabbed his hand in mine, and gave it a little squeeze.

"I think I want to cut them out if they haven't changed. And if they have, I want to keep a close eye on them and the kids at all times. I still agree we need to tell Briggs and Jac and your parents. We need as many eyes on this as we can if that's what we decide to do." I was about to say something when he continued, "And that's a really big IF." He looked at me, hurt, sad, vulnerable.

"If that's what you want, I'll support it." That's all I could say. It was his parents, and he'd already agreed to talk to our friends and my parents.

"That's it? You don't want to add anything? I knew you were waiting outside to go in and talk to them after me," I looked at him confused like I didn't know what he was talking about, "You gasped when she opened her mouth and let that shit spew."

I giggled, nodding, "She caught me off guard. I had the tree topper Archie made to ask them to be his grandparents." He nodded, looking really sad. "I promised to keep the kids from them if they ever said one more negative thing about our kids."

He smiled at me and leaned over, kissing the top of my head. "Let's call Briggs and Jac. Make them aware that we might need them to call the police to remove a certain couple of rude people from the property if the talk with those two today doesn't go well." I nodded, grabbing my phone off the nightstand.

"I'll text my mom about it too. Let her know to keep the kids away from your parents until you give the okay." After I sent the text, I grabbed his shirt off the floor and slipped it on, heading to the bathroom to do my morning business. When I came out, he went in and did his routine. We both met back up on the bed and he called Briggs.

"Hey, man! What's up?"

"Hey, so we know Jac isn't feeling the best, but we wanted you to know we're going to talk with my folks today and if it doesn't go well, I need you to call the cops to have them removed if they won't leave peacefully."

"I'm sorry. What?"

"Last night didn't go well. They were weird with the boys and Odette at dinner. Then when I walked them to the pool house and showed them around, they started telling me I don't need to burden myself with my own fucking sons. I shut it down fast. That Odette and the kids are my family."

"Woah. I'm sorry...these fucking asshats stayed? In my pool house last night?"

"I told them the only way they stay is if they have a change of heart, and then we're watching them like hawks."

"Fucking right we are! All the time! They are never to be alone with my nephews!" Briggs was shouting by now. Clearly pissed, "Honey! I'm going to my sisters. Be back soon." It was quiet and then we heard the door shut.

"I picked up my phone at the table. Where they are. Thank fuck you contact name is "BIL" or your mom would have known I was talking about her. Though Jac looked like she was going to murder someone or something. I don't have long."

"All good. Just letting you know. I'll be texting her soon. Let me know what happens."

"Easy day." 

"Easy day." They said to each other and hung up the phone.

Briggs' POV

Walking back through the front door after a few minutes, Jac looked up from the table at me, an eyebrow raised. She knew Odette was the one I considered my sister. Not Ruth.

"Sorry about that. My little sister and brother-in-law are having some difficulties with his parents."

"We understand. Family can be...difficult," She smiled at me so phony that I thought she was wearing a mask. I wanted to rip that phony bologna look right off her face. She fucked with my family.

"Well, they adopted and his parents aren't exactly accepting of the kids. He's struggling on what to do and what was right."

"I see," his mom said. I noticed his dad sat there, very quietly. Hardly ever saying anything.

"What do you think, honey?" I asked Jac. She smiled at me.

"It's their life and their kids. We'll support them however we can. That's what family does." She smiled at me and then a fake smile at them. His mother nodded her head, and his dad's face paled a little bit. I think he was catching on. I think he was catching on quickly.

He looked up from his plate for the first time the whole meal and looked at me. I let the mischief play in my eyes that way he knew. So, he knew I knew what had been said about my nephews. We got up after we'd all finished eating. Ford's mom made her way to the back patio. Jac looked at me in that, 'take fucking care of it' way that she has. I love it because I know I get rewarded for handling this kind of shit so she doesn't have to and can just relax.

I nodded to her, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. My Queen. She'd always be too good for me. But she still loved me. I turned to start clearing the table while she went back upstairs, I noticed Ford's Dad hadn't moved. On my final trip back to the dining room, he spoke.

"I don't agree with my wife," he kept his gaze on his plate in front of him, but you could tell he was crying. He was red in the face, his eyes were glassy. "She thinks she knows what's best for Ford, and that's that girl's sister! My son is happy. He smiles. He laughs. I haven't heard that in years. I haven't seen his smile since high school."

"So what are you going to do?" I asked. The decision was his. I wasn't going to influence the man in any way. "I'm not going to bother swaying you. But your son wants to have lunch with you and his mother and Odette. That's my wife's sister, therefore my sister. We will be waiting to hear if you stay or go."

"Okay," was all he said, sounding angry. At what I didn't know. Whether it be the short notice that they may be getting kicked out, or being talked down to by a 'child' like myself, I wasn't sure. Either way, he was angry. I just hoped he was wise enough to point it in the right direction.