"It's Thanksgiving!" I whispered to Summer as I dressed her in a pink dress and a gray sweater. She smiled slightly as I picked her up and sat her in the highchair for lunch.
Lucy placed a tower of casserole dishes on the counter.
"Happy Thanksgiving!" She cheered as I smiled in return.
"How's the turkey?" She asked.
"It's fantastic, it's almost ready in like five minutes. I have to turn it down so it doesn't burn." I smiled checking it.
"The kids are coming in behind me."
"Great, I have cartoons in the living room for them and I got a couple of games and toys for them." I assured her.
"What about for the guys?" She asked.
"Football in the loft."
"Look at you, you're a superstar, a super mom..."She teased.
"Please don't call me that." I begged as I occupied myself.
"There's my girl." Luke cheered, taking Summer from her high chair.
"Can you let her finish eating please?" I begged Luke.
"She has all day to eat, it's Turkey day." He smiled and played with her.
"Jane, can we talk about last night?" He pleaded as I ignored him.
"C'mon you guys today isn't the day for this, be thankful."Lucy chimed.
"Today will be okay, there's nothing to talk about." I shrugged it off as I began to search for my mothers old recipes.
"C'mon Jane." Luke pleaded.
"Have you seen my mom's old recipes?" I tried to scan the cabinets and drawers.
"It's fine we have plenty of food." Lucy shrugged.
"Jane."
"What?" I asked.
"Please we need to talk."
"No." I shouted.
"Jane, be happy, be thankful." Lucy reminded me.
"No, you know what, I'm not thankful!" I shouted. "I'm not thankful for anything!" I shouted in frustration.
"Jane I..." Luke began.
"No Luke, you don't get to speak to me." I glared. " I'm not thankful... Rachel leaving me, you know some people leave their friends with a box of memories, not a newborn kid. I'm not thankful for this mess, and you." A tear escaped my eye. "You came back and we agreed to do this together but I can't do it anymore... I don't know what you want from me."
Lucy and Luke stood silently in the kitchen.
"I'm not thankful that you're an ass and you make me feel like this...this chaotic mess. I'm not thankful that they left that everyone left. I'm not thankful to be alone.
"You're not alone." Luke stepped closer.
"Yes I am." I answered. "I can't do it anymore. I don't know what anyone wants from me. I can't... I can't... Not anymore." I sobbed.
Luke stared at the ground.
"I'm going to check on the kids." Lucy took Summer from Luke and left to go to the living room.
"I'm leaving." Luke glared as he comprehended the words I spoke.
"What?" He asked.
"I'm moving... and I'm taking Summer with me."
"Like hell you are!" Luke shouted.
"You can stay here if you want to and I can find a place..."
"No!" He yelled.
"Yes I am."
"You can't." He argued.
"Yes I can."
"No I won't let you." He threatened.
"I'm her legal guardian." I reminded him.
"She's my niece." He shouted
"She is mine too."
"I am her family."
"She is just as much my family as she is yours." I stared.
"You can't take her!" Luke shouted.
"What else am I supposed to do?" I asked.
"We will work this out." Luke pleaded as he tried to push back tears.
"Work what out?" I asked.
"We'll be better." Luke compromised.
"There is no we, there never has been."
Luke glared silently
"We tried to do this but it's not working, it's not healthy for Summer and us." I explained.
"I'll change." Luke pleaded.
"Luke, we have been walking on eggshells around each other for weeks."
"Jane."
"I'm giving you an out, you never signed up for this."
"I don't want an out." Luke confessed.
"Luke this never should have happened." I explained.
An intense burning smell came from the oven.
"Jane the Turkey!" Lucy ran into the kitchen pulling the oven open and taking out the charred turkey.
"Great the turkey is burned, thanksgiving is over." I sobbed, ripping off my apron and walking out as before I stepped in a puddle of water.
"Great, someone spilled water too!" I sobbed.
"Jane."
"What?!"
"I think that's my water."
"Seriously Lucy you spilled your water on the floor." I whined.
"No."
"Then what is it?"
"My water...it just broke."
"Your water just broke?" I shouted.
"Yeah you know... Pop... Wahhhh." She imitated a popping sound and a baby crying.
"Not again."
YOU ARE READING
RAISING SUMMER
ChickLit(EDITING) Rachel and Jane have been best friends forever. But When Rachel dies tragically after childbirth. She leaves her newborn daughter, Summer, in the hands of Jane. Can Jane handle the new found responsibility that has been pushed upon her or...
