The Story of Us

Chapter 6

--not edited--

In the middle of the afternoon, Jade was cleaning up all the garbage on the floor of the apartment -- tissue paper, shopping bags, tags, and hangers. She was so excited that she spent the last week buying all sorts of baby clothes, which was much easier now that she knew she was having a little girl.

Out of nowhere, an unexpected knock on the door was heard. Pushing the bags to the corner, she opened the door. A look of surprise was painted on her face when she saw Jed on the other side. "Jed, what are you doing here?"

He smiled and invited himself in, carrying a large package box. "Well, I was walking during my lunch break yesterday, and passed by this amazing crib and immediately thought of you."

"So you bought it." He nodded. "Without calling me, or asking me?"

His smile faded when he realized she wasn't excited as he was. "I didn't know that I needed to call you when I wanted to do a good deed."

Jade walked over to the couch and took a seat, "You should've called me first, Jed."

"A month ago, Perrie told me that you didn't even have the nursery done. So I thought I'd help you get started. Is it because it's white? I mean, I think white's a good neutral color for a crib." Jed said with a little bit of resentment in his voice.

"That was a month ago. Perrie and I finished the nursery last week. We have everything ready for Ysabelle. That's why you should've called us." She answered him.

Jed had an expression like he couldn't comprehend what she was saying. "And why didn't you call me?"

She scoffed, "Because you were away...with your wife. I didn't want to disrupt your little romantic vacation because of a decision to get the nursery ready."

"I want to be involved in everything about this pregnancy. This is my daughter, so stop acting like this has anything to do with my wife."

Having enough, Jade stood up, raging hormones ready to pounce. "Really? Because this has everything to do with your wife!" She snapped. "Why do you think I only see you once a month -- on a good month? Because of your wife. Why haven't you been to any of the doctor's appointments? Because of your wife. And what about not coming to my defense whenever your wife criticizes me? Oh, wait, I know. Because your wife's reputation is much more important than the pregnant mistress, whose child's life you'd like to be a part of. Let's face it, Jed. No matter what happens, you're always gonna choose your family over ours."

"Ysabelle will be my child as much as they are." He shot back.

Jade scoffed, "Are you serious? Okay, let's see, if our Ysa's piano recital lands on the same day as Jake's soccer tournament, who'd you choose?"

"Don't make me choose..."

"Between your children?" Jade asked. "That's funny, I though she was your child as much as they are." She quoted.

Jed shook his head. "Don't do that. Don't make me into the bad guy."

"Right. Because you're such a saint?"

Hearing the argument from the hallway, Perrie opened the door to see Jade looking exasperated and Jed looking tired. "What's going on here? Are you okay?" Jade nodded, looking away. "Are you guys arguing about the baby?"

Jed looked at the blonde. "This isn't your family, Perrie."

Closing the door, Perrie said, "I never claimed it to be, Jed. But Jade and her baby will be living here, and therefore, I have the responsibility to take care of them."