Missing

Today is Going to Be a Good Day

  "WAKE UP DADDY!!!"

Smiling I opened one eye to see Sierra about to pounce on me. I sat up and quickly grabbed her and tickled her. She laughed hysterically and squirmed away. Jenn pulled the blankets over her and got comfortable continuing to sleep. I smiled and got up carefully putting on a pair of sweat pants and walked out to the kitchen. I chuckled seeing JJ walk in half asleep with his chestnut brown hair in a thousand directions. He plopped down in a chair at the table and sat watching Sierra try to pester me. I walked over to the table and sat down next to him and smiled

"Want to talk now?"

He shrugged watching me.

"Jon....talk....what's bothering you?"

"She spit on me."

"I know. I saw her do it. I saw you push her. I know she's your sister and she bugs you. But she's smaller than you. She doesn't know there's instructions and certain places that Lego pieces go. All she wants to do is play with you. Is it acceptable to push people?"

"No" he muttered quietly

"Then don't push your sister. Alright? I'm sorry for making it seem like you were the only one in trouble. Sierra was in trouble too. But I can't talk to her the same way I can talk to you because you're older. And it's not ok to slam doors around here let alone in my face. You know that right?"

"Yeah"

"Please don't do it again. Are you still mad?"

"No"

I smiled and nodded at him. He smiled back and I stood up and gave him a hug

"Guys...lets give mommy a break and make breakfast."

I pulled up a couple of chairs and the ingredients to make pancakes. A few minutes in and flour was flying and making breakfast somewhat turned into a food fight. JJ jumped on my back as Sierra squealed loudly and tackled me at the knees. I carefully fell to the floor laughing when I looked up and saw Jenn watching

"Uh...oh....mom's awake!"

"Mom! We made breakfast for you"

"Yeah....I see. Jonathan can I talk to you in here?"

Confused I stood up and left the kids in the kitchen as I followed her into the family room.

"What? We were just having fun. What's the problem?"

She grinned and threw herself against me and hugged me tight. I relaxed and sighed. She made it seem like she was about to kick me out or yell at me for playing with the kids. I hated when she did this.

"Nothing. I just wanted to say good morning without them around."

"Jesus, Jenn."

"What?"

"Don't do that. I thought you were mad or something."

I pulled away slightly irritated and went back to the kitchen to clean up the mess before getting ready to leave for the mall. I needed some supplies for going back on the road and I knew it would be fun for Jenn to shop more for the baby. Part of me was glad we decided this was our last...a boy. Part of me felt bad for Sierra, but I knew she'd always be protected. I sank into the couch waiting for everyone to finish getting ready. That's how it worked around here. I finished long before everyone else and had to sit here waiting. I guess I shouldn't complain too much since it does give me a few extra minutes to relax. I closed my eyes and put my head bad. I'll just rest my eyes for a few minutes. The silence was nice and I slowly drifted off to sleep.

"SIERRA STOP!!"

I could hear Jenn yelling in the distance and Sierra scream.

I woke with a start and looked around only to realize that Jenn and Sierra were "fighting" and it wasn't actually a dream I was having. Slowly standing up I made my way down the hall to the bathroom to find Jenn trying desperately to do something to Sierra's hair and she wasn't having any of it.

"Jennifer just leave her alone. If she doesn't want you to do her hair then don't bother with it. We're not going anywhere fancy. It's just the mall."

"She's wearing a dress. I want a small ponytail with a bow" she grunted with the clip in her mouth

"NO!! I DON'T WANT IT!!!!"

The bickering continued and at this point Jenn was just egging her on and irritating her. There was no way she was going to win. I took the bow from her and backed away

"Honestly Jenn pick your battles. Leave her alone. Just finish getting ready. We're all waiting on you"

She stood up and walked by me annoyed as I knelt in front of Sierra and shook my head.

"Want me to do it?"

She grinned and nodded and I pushed her hair back slightly to the side and clipped the pink bow into place. I had become an expert at clips and bows and hair ties as of late. She smiled seeming satisfied with what I'd done and ran out of the bathroom

"Dad?"

"What do you need Jon?"

"Can you tie my shoes?"

I grunted in annoyance and walked out to the living room to tie JJ's shoes. He knew how to do it, but he was being lazy. Actually I was pretty certain he was doing it for attention because he saw me doing Sierra's hair. I tied his shoes and out of no where he tackled me. I hadn't really let on just how much pain I was in. I always just tried to ignore it when I was home. The kids liked to play and they couldn't do that with me shuffling around and lying in bed all day. It soon turned into a wrestling match and it wasn't long before Sierra jumped in the middle of it.

"Jonathaaaaannnnnn!"

I closed my eyes and then looked up at Jenn. I hated that nagging, whiny voice that came out when she wasn't getting her way

"What's the problem?"

"Sierra's in a dress. She's a little girl. She shouldn't be wrestling around."

Playtime quickly ended with both kids disappointed and me grabbing the keys off the coffee table irritated. They walked out to the car and stood by the back door waiting for us to buckle them in their car seats. Jennifer looked at me from across the back seat and I ignored her as I finished buckling Jon in his seat and closed the door.

"What's the problem?" She asked climbing in the passenger seat of the SUV.

"Why can't you ever just let them have fun with me? No one was getting hurt. I'm not going to do anything to hurt them. Lighten up." I scoffed backing out of the garage

We drove in silence the 10 minutes to the mall. I loved where we lived. It was right in the middle of everything so it was only a 10 minute drive to the Vegas strip, or the airport or the mall. I pulled into a space and put on my ball cap I used to try to stay incognito.

"Ok you two" I said looking in the back seat "Stay close to your mom and I. No running off. That means you Sierra. Please. Think you can do that?"

They nodded smiling as we got out of the car. I laughed watching Sierra fix her lime green and hot pink flowered dress.

"Daddy! Fix it!" She whined handing me the pink bow

"Stop messing with it and it won't fall out." I laughed kneeling down and replacing the bow in her hair.

"Dad!!"

I smiled as JJ tugged on my shirt and I turned and looked at him

"What?"

"Um...can I get a new Lego set? Please?!?! I'll clean my room"

I made a face and smiled "Maybe. Do you think you can behave?"

He nodded quickly smiling and I ruffled his hair before playfully pushing him towards the mall. He laughed and pushed back as I pretended to stumble off balance. I held open the door and waited as they walked in. Today is going to be a good day. I thought to myself as the door closed behind me.