1975 | m.h [completed]

Chapter 22

"Sweetie? Please don't eat the cake now!" I yell after Layla. "I'll get her, babe" Jacob kisses my cheek and goes after Layla. They chase each other around until Jacob catches her and places her in her high chair. "Daddy" she whines as she kicks her legs around.

"You can get out when your friends come" he tries to act stern but that fails when he breaks out into laughs. "Daddy!" Matthew calls out. "Yes?" he turns around to see Matthew coming at him like a bull. "Come on! Now my kids are coming after me?" he laughs.

I hear some laughs and screams from the front yard. "They're here!" Layla tries to get out, looking like a maniac. But my maniac.

Matthew runs for the front yard with me. "Calum! Brandon!" he yells his friends' names and runs to backyard with them. I greet all of the mothers and fathers.

I look around for the two people I actually wanted to invite. I guess they aren't here yet. "Hi Candice!" I smile widely as I see her.

"Hi!" Fran runs into the house and outside with everyone else. When I turn back to Candice, they are approaching us. "Adam! Ross! So happy you two can make it!" I hug them both. "Long time no see" Adam says with a smile.

Their children say hi to me and I instruct them where to go. "Adam?" we hear Candice say behind me. "Candice?" he seems a little shocked. "You know each other?" I asked. "Yeah. We...we used to date" she says. "It's been a long time since we've seen each other" Adam says.

"Hi, Candice" Ross waves a little. She walks over to him and gives him a tight hug.

"Let's go to the party" I suggest. They all nod.

"So how's life? What's new?" Adam asks as we head to the backyard. "Um, well...nothing much really. Life's good. My daughter Fran and my husband are my world so there's always something to look forward to. What about you? Have any kids? A wife?" she asks.

"I have my son...his name is Andrew. And my girlfriend passed away a couple months ago from cancer" he keeps his head low. She turns to him and says sorry for his loss and hugs him. When he looks up I could tell that he had a few tears escape his eyes.

They walk away from Ross and I and share their own conversation. "So what's new with you?" I ask. "Nothing really. My wife is pregnant with our second child" he smiles at the ground kidishly. "Congrats!" I tell him.

"Thanks"

"Hey, babe. We need more plates and cups. Is there any more?" Jacob asks. I nod and head for the closet.

I come back to Jacob talking with Ross. I hand him the supplies and they walk out together, talking about who knows what.

I'm all alone so maybe I can go watch the kids for a little bit.

***

An hour into the party and everyone's having a good time, which is great. Finally, Adam and Candice ended their conversation so I can talk to her. "After the party I'm gonna go out with Matthew and Layla to see their grandparents. My parents" I explain to Candice while I pour myself some juice. "That's great!" she gleams. "But that's only what I'm telling Jacob. I am going to see my parents but I'm going to see Matthew too" I take a sip.

"Are you crazy?" she asks with shock in her voice. "Are you taking the kids to see him?" she asks. "Of course not!" I lie.

"Hey, can I steal you for a bit?" Adam asks me. I nod and walk away with him. He leads me into the house. "What's the matter?" I ask. He's staring out the window and out where the kids are. "Are your kids Matty's kids?" he asks as he turns around. "What? No! How could that even happen? He's in prison" I cross my arms over my chest. "There are visits, you know" he says. "How about guards?" I question.