In Between The Good and Bad

BONUS CHAPTER PART ONE

Penelope's POV

"Hey... sorry I am late." I say walking into the kitchen. "It seemed like Riley's game was going on forever."

"Thats fine. Dinner is ready." Rachel says. "Your guests are in the living room."

"Thanks... you are a star." I say. "Has James appeared?"

"Eh. Yes.. he is here. Evelyn is here too." She says giving me a look. "Stop it. You cannot be mean to a 16 year old?"

"She is a brat." Rachel says rolling her eyes as she wiped her hands. I love Rachel. She was my rock and by far the best nanny I have ever had. Atleast she did not try to sleep with my husband or me? Granted, she was a Russian middle aged woman who would sometimes have a bigger opinion than life itself but she was my family.

"She's my stepdaughter." I say and she just puts on a fake smile. I walk out the kitchen fixing my dress, ironing out my skirt. I had a long day in the office and then being a soccer mom.

"Hey." I say walking into the living room. Stassie jumps up and screams hugging me. I wrap my arms around my best friend who lived a million miles away.

"I missed you soooo much." I tell her as I kiss her cheek. "I missed you more." She says.

"Okay calm down guys. Swear we seen each other 3 months ago for a birthday?" William asks and I chuckle hugging my best friend's husband aka my ex brother in law and the uncle of my children.

"Shut up I missed you too." I say and he chuckles. The kids had ran straight from the car to the living room knowing their aunt and uncle arrived. I hug Christopher and Chelsea who were growing insanely fast. They were the same ages as my kids and there is nothing better than seeing cousin relationship even though they were morphing into mopey pre teens.

"Its like a Young family reunion." I say and William chuckles. I was officially now Penelope Stone.. not Young anymore which was crazy. "Were so happy to be here for Ash's 18th." Stassie says

"Do I get such a warm greeting?" James asks me and I look at my husband's silly smirk. "Hey babe." I say as he put his arm around me leaning down kissing my lips. I had anxious butterflies in my stomach. James and I had been married now for 3 months. I fell in love without noticing because we were good friends for a while. He was tall handsome and dark... not sure why it took me that long?

"Hey." He says. "Im just going to quickly freshen up." I say and he nods. "And so should you all." I tell the kids who ignore me too excited with their reunion.

James stops Azaiah picking him up throwing him in the air as he laughs screaming out. "Your mom's talking to you little guy." He says. "Out of these clothes quickly." I say as he still wore his school uniform. The rest follow and I run upstairs.

I walk into my bedroom and get out of my dress and heels. I freshen up and put on more comfortable clothes; a grey two piece pants and top.

James walks into the room and looks at me.

"Hey. I am going to take Evelyn to her mother." James says and I raise my eyebrows. "Why? I thought it was your week?"

"Yeah but she is overwhelmed with the amount of people." He says. "Its a lot."

"Its 4 extra people?" I say and he just shrugs. "She had to adjust to 4 step siblings and a step mother. I dont want to push her."

"You made the choice James to marry me and my 4 kids." I say. "Exactly she did not." He says

"So.. you didn't take her into consideration?" I ask him annoyed. It wasnt the first time he made comments about the busy house.

"Don't take it there... Did you take her into consideration? You barely talk to her. We were supposed to have dinner last night and you stood us up."