What About Us

CONSOLATION | SEVEN

"Ready to go see grandma?" I kiss Camryn's head as I lift her out of her car seat, I place her in my arms and shut the door, London walks beside me towards the bungalow styled home. Today is Saturday and I don't have to work, Eric needed to get a few things done around the house that needed repair and most likely was going to the bar afterwards so I didn't even try and ask him did he want to visit his in-law's.

My mom was more than willing for me to visit her and dad. My brother, Caleb, lives in Springfield which is more upstate than Chicago. He went there to go to college to become a O.B.G.Y.N, his girlfriend at the time, Susan, followed him there. Susan is a family friend, and neighbor. They always used to talk and share glances, even flirt! So, we weren't surprised when he proposed to her after college and she soon fell pregnant with their first kid, Dallas, Caleb birthed him at home. Then, she got pregnant again with another boy, Grayson.

He visits time to time with the 5 and 6 year old, but his life is up there. That leaves my mom quite lonely that she doesn't get to see her grandchildren a lot, so I visit her from time-to-time so the girls can see their grandparents who love them very much. Eric parent's are dead, I remember when they died. They passed away from old age and not so good health from previous altercations throughout their life like falls, and brain damage. Basically, family is nonexistent on his side, except for his brother, Barron. He lives in Chicago, but more in the city with his wife, Lola.

"I-I ready to see G-G and Gramps!" London stutters and I laugh at her, she knocks on the door and within a few seconds, my mom opens the door with a big smile on her face. Her brunette hair is pulled back into a slick ponytail, her big, green eyes have a twinkle that shows when she see's myself and the kids. She smiles widely, dimples appearing on her cheeks that she passed down the line; myself, Caleb, and her grand-kids, "G-G!" London throws herself into my mother's arm who gives her a big hug and kiss on the forehead.

"Lo-Lo! You are getting so big!" She kisses her on the head, London instantly dashes out of her arms into Dad's arms when he appears from around the corner, "I'm not going to leave you out Camy!" Camryn smiles at her grandma who takes her out of my arms, kissing all over her face. I come inside and shut the door behind me.

"Hi mom, hi dad." I press a kiss to my mothers cheek, I do the same to my fathers and we all make our way to the familiar living room. The floor has a low-cut carpet that is tan, a caramel color coats the wall with matching leather couches, a fireplace, and television accompanies the room. I lay Camryn's play mat on the floor with a few of her teething rings and squishy toys, "Thanks for letting me come here! How are you?" We watch as Camryn tries her best to crawl towards her toys, but settles on her tummy.

"I'm great, I have to finish a few things upstairs. I'll be back." Dad presses a kiss to my forehead and returns up the steps where my old bedroom is. My parent's owned this house for as long as I remember, with renovation and a down-payment, it looks good-as-new.

"I got back to exercising in the sun-room, I'm trying to soak up this new weather before October comes and we freeze over." Mom gives a slight chuckle as London starts to color from one of her many books, "How are you? Where is Eric?" My stomach drops in an endless pit, I don't know if I'm going to tell my mother the problems we're going through, divorce has run through my head plenty of times, but the other side of me tells me to not give up and keep trying.

"I'm okay, finally got a day off of work. I got tomorrow until I'm back, other than tending for the girls nothing really interesting comes up. Eric," I bite my lip and my mom gives me a look of worry, "He's. . . been acting differently lately. We got into a few arguments, but, he told me that he doesn't really like the lifestyle he's got now. For lack of better words, he's not ready for all of this. Marriage, kids, responsibilities." I shake my head, feeling my heart sink to my toes as realization hits, now that I'm admitting it, it's going to come true.

"I'm so sorry, sweetie." She gives me pity and I sigh as she rubs my back, "What are you going to do?" I shrug my shoulders at her, leaning into her warm embrace. We sit there together until I start to work on lunch with my mother. As I am making the chicken for the chicken sandwiches, my phone dings. I look down at my phone and my heart skips a beat, Four has just texted me.

Hi, sorry if I'm bothering you, just wanted to check up on you and the girls- Four

My heart melts and I instantly text back the caring man.

You're not bothering me, thanks for checking up on me and the girls. We're fine- Tris

After minutes of texting, it obviously grabs the attention of mom, "Tell Christina I said hello." I chuckle at my mom, that was her subtle way of asking me who I'm texting.

"It's not Christina, it's one of my co-workers just checking up on me to see how I'm doing," I bite my lip before glancing at the bowl my mother is holding while she mixes the chicken salad together, "He invited me to go to the park." My mother stops mixing.

"I can watch the girls for you." She says and I furrow my eyebrows at her.

"Mom, how do you know I want to go there?"

"I can tell on your face, you are 24, who are having complications with her marriage. Not saying you're going to do something you regret, but I know you are watching the girls a lot and rarely have time for yourself. I understand you need some time to yourself, if it's by yourself or with friends. Go ahead." I give my mother a grateful smile before standing to my feet, "They can even spend the night if you want to go and talk things out with Eric." I nod my head before kissing my babies goodbye and leave the house.

I'm going to take you up on your offer, let me get ready. I'll meet you at Douglas park in 20 minutes- Tris