I've Loved You Before

Chapter 31 - Photograph

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Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes

But it's the only thing that I know

When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes

It is the only thing that makes us feel alive

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John balanced the telephone between his shoulder and his ear, as he said, "Hello?" He lifted the pot boiling potatoes off the stove and turned towards the sink, tipping them into the colander. The steam rose up, coating his skin, as he repeated, "Hello?"

"John," came Rebecca's smooth voice. "How are you?"

He hadn't spoken to her since the night he'd abruptly sent her home. "Rebecca. What can I do for you?" Sami and Eric were sitting on the floor in front of the television with Brady. Their homework was done, and they were watching the Disney Channel. It felt so much like his old life, he slipped into it effortlessly, until he heard Rebecca's voice.

"Well, I was hoping that giving you some time to calm down would help you reconsider another date with me?" she asked him. "That you might give me another chance?"

Did she think he was a child? He'd told her to leave because she'd been eavesdropping on a private conversation. "Rebecca. I meant what I said that night. We are not going to work out. I haven't changed my mind."

Rebecca sighed, "Perhaps, if you–"

John was barely paying attention when he cut her off saying, " –Hey, Eric. Come over here and grab me the cream cheese and the butter for these mashed potatoes... the sour cream too." Eric stood up, and ran across the room.

"Marlena's children are there?" Rebecca asked him curiously. She laughed nervously, "Are you babysitting?"

"Babysitting? No, they're all staying with me right now while Marlena gets on her feet," John replied. "Look, Rebecca, I'm sorry. Things are really hectic right now, and I've got to finish dinner before Doc gets home."

Rebecca was furious and frustrated. Marlena was staying at his home. She wasn't sure what had happened, and she'd seen Roman at the police station. There hadn't been even a hint of scandal, so what was happening? She was about to reply when John said, "I'll talk to you later, Rebecca." The line disconnected and she stared at the telephone in her hand in surprise. Well, that was dismissive.

"Hey thanks, slugger," John told Eric when he slid the requested items on the kitchen island next to where John was working. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes!" Eric said excitedly. "We usually eat something Mom picks up from the pub or something premade from the grocery store, because Mom says she's not very good at cooking."

"Your mother is fine at cooking. What she doesn't have a lot of is time," John told him. After finishing the mashed potatoes, he checked the oven and took out the meatloaf. "Let's set the table. Your mom should be on the way home, and I bet she's hungry."

"Papa!" Sami cried loudly. "Brady just cough-sneezed and a whole buncha poop went up his back!" John couldn't help his chuckle of humor at the panic on her face. "I'll tell you what Eric, you and Sami set the table, while I take care of Brady."

Eric's face scrunched up in disgust, "Ugh, yeah. A cough-sneeze? What even is that?"

John crossed the room, picking up his smelly baby while laughing, "I guess he coughed and sneezed at the same time and blew out his diaper."

Sami nodded her head, "It sounded soooo gross, like poop bubbles."

Eric gagged, and John gave Sami a stern look, "Stop that." Eric had the most sensitive gag reflex, and Sami knew it. She would intentionally talk about gross things simply for Eric's reaction. "Set the table. I'll be back."