Married and Trying to Keep it Together

Chapter Twelve

The whole drive home was quiet except for the constant snacking to be heard from the back seat. I also had to deal with the laughs from the twins as they messed with Sapphire. Being the only child I was kind of jealous of them. No matter how mad they got with each other they would always have each other, they were family.

I looked over at the boy next to me and he was sitting close to the window trying his best to separate himself from the rest of us. I wished he could see that we meant no harm but I also knew he needed to see that for himself. I didn't know how Cordell would act to me bringing another child into the house. I hoped he was the man I married and welcomed him in with no problem. I hoped he would understand that I couldn't leave this boy out there on the streets when there was something I could do. I had all the resources in the world to help him, so why wouldn't I?

When we got home I was relieved because my children were driving me crazy. Sapphire had started yelling at them and the twins started yelling back. I was going to kill them.

"Okay all of you go clean up your rooms and do your homework. I don't want to hear anything that sounds like yelling from you and don't mess with your sister," I yelled at them as they went up the stairs.

"When is dinner going to be," Kaden asked turning around holding his stomach like he was starving.

"Dinner is whenever I get through so that homework better be done." He sighed pouting and stomping upstairs. That boy would do anything to get out of doing homework. One time he poured juice all over his math homework saying it slipped thinking I would say not to worry about it, but I told him to copy the problems on some notebook paper and do his homework. His face was priceless. He thought he could be scientist without doing any math.

I turned around to find the boy standing by the door just looking around lost. He kept his hands in his pockets. He finally looked at me. I smiled. "Follow me." I led him to the guest bedroom and waited for him to come all the way in. "You can take a shower in the bathroom in here and I will leave some clean clothes on the bed for you." He didn't say anything but just nodded.

I went upstairs and changed out of my work clothes. I made up the bed so I wouldn't have to do it later and I could just jump right in. I then went and checked on the kids to make sure they were doing what they were supposed to. Sapphire was listening to music bobbing her head up and down. Kaden had his head in his hands glaring at the paper in front of him while Jaden played some video game on the computer.

I finally made it to the kitchen and took out some chicken breast and seasoned them to put in the oven. I was going to make Cajun baked chicken breast with brown rice and green beans. I knew Cordell would be home soon and he would be starving. He was worse than the children sometimes.

I was preparing the green beans when the boy came back out now wearing the clothes I had given him. He didn't say anything but just sat at the kitchen table. I waited a few minutes to see if he would say anything but it never came. I thought getting a shower would make more trusting towards me.

I turned to him watching him as he played with his fingers. "Are you ever going to tell me your name?" he continued to play with his fingers like I didn't say anything but then stopped. He stared at them then looked up at me. I couldn't read his expression clearly.

"My name is Noah." He said it like he didn't know if he was doing the right thing.

"Well it's nice to meet you Noah." I smiled but he just went back to playing with his fingers. I needed time and I would give it to him.

I finished up getting dinner cooking and was cleaning up the kitchen so I wouldn't have to later. Man was I tired. I didn't know how Cordell could think about having another child with three already driving me crazy. I couldn't wait until the twins could do things by themselves. Or when they got to the point messing with their sister wasn't fun anymore. I laughed knowing what I was thinking of was impossible. The twins would always love messing with their sister.