Back Again

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"I don't wanna go!" Finley wailed as I buckled her into her carseat. This had been going on for fifteen minutes as I had to practically drag her outside. She was quite obviously upset about having to leave her friends house.

"Darling, you will get to see Greta again another day. If you stop throwing a fit I will get you a happy meal. Okay?" I said soothingly to the four year old as I got into the drivers seat of the van.

Her mood quickly lightened as she cheered. "Chicken nuggets! Chicken nuggets!"

I smiled at her goofiness and turned on a movie to distract my four children on the drive to get food. My phone started ringing and I looked at the screen as we took off. It was my baby sister. After I graduated high school, she was probably the only person I kept in touch with.

"Hello?" I answered the phone.

"Hey, Hadley!" My sister exclaimed. "I just got done with class and now I'm heading home and I thought I'd give you a ring. How have you been lately?"

I knew the real reason she was calling me. She has been doing this lately, ever since the divorce between Walker and I was finalized. "Kylie, I am fine. Honestly. The kids are doing great." I said exhausted. I work full time, I am pregnant, and I have four children. It's very difficult. I left Maine to go to college and I haven't been back home since. I'm not even sure if my parents know all the things that have happened in the past six years. If they do, I didn't tell them.

"You say that every time, Hads. I'm just looking out for you." She sighed dramatically. "When will I ever meet my gorgeous nieces and nephews, by the way?"

I smiled a little at her. I felt bad for keeping my little family from everyone. "I've actually been considering moving back into town!" I said excitedly. "I got a job offer, and the main office is in Maine so it would be perfect." I went to culinary school to be a chef, that didn't really go as planned when I ended up pregnant with Finley. Ever since then, I've been working at an office job. I'd consider myself a less proper Pam. I just have yet to find my Jim considering dating my boss ended in five kids and a heartbreak.

"That's awesome." Kylie exclaimed. "Should I tell mom yet or not so much?"

I burst out laughing. My mother would have a BF (Bitch Fit) if she found out she had more grandkids. I can just imagine her screeching and then complaining about how I'm making her feel older than she needs to be. "As much as I want her to meet the kiddos, I think we will wait until last minute. It just seems better for everyone!" I joked into the phone. "I gotta go though, they are getting hangry and whining."

"Okay, bye! Love you, sis!" She said excitedly before the call ended.

I sighed remembering my life in Maine. Then remembered why I left and everything felt a little less sad.

I walked into the diner with Caden on one hip and Olive on the other. Finley and Wesley trailing behind me. Yes, I had two boys and two girls, how cliche. When I walked in the door I immediately saw my friends all sitting in the corner booth. Figures, they are always here. It is like the hangout. Mostly because of the cheap beer.

"Auntie Quinn!" Wesley squealed as he ran over to her. The three year old was adorable and he had striking blue eyes like mine.

"Hey, guys!" Paul said next to Quinn. "Just getting some dinner or what?"

I rolled my eyes, giving a tight lipped smile. "As per usual the little monsters were whining from hunger." I said laughing a little. Being a mom could be stressful. Just thinking about the moody teenager stage yet to come makes me ecstatic. Note the sarcasm.

I sit down next to Quinn after buckling Olive into a high chair. She's still too little to sit at the table like the other three. Quinn smiled and put Wesley on her lap. "So Hadley, how's my little peanut doing?" She asked, referring to the little one growing inside of me.