Linstead Family Life

Chapter 2

Jays POV

 "uh Allie" I say as I see my ex-girlfriend starting to sit down on the bench beside me, "it's been years, how have you been?" shes asks me, I'am kind of confused at this point because last time I saw her she was furious with me for breaking up with her, "uh..yeah I'm good, you?" I reply just being polite even though I was feeling very uncomfortable, "yeah I've been good, but I've missed you, how about you and me go for a drink later" she says, I cringe at this, she obviously hasn't realised my wedding ring, just as I'm about to open my mouth to reply to her and tell her that I'm married, Harper comes running over shouting "daddy" when she finally reaches me she stands beside me looking at Allie but then turning her attention on to me and saying "uncle Will said there is a skating rink here, can we go please daddy?" she asks me, "I don't see why not, but it's a bit late today, how about we go tomorrow" I reply, she holds out her pinky finger and says "pinky promise?", my giant pinky wraps around her tiny one and I repeat "pinky promise, now I thought you were playing with mommy, why don't you go back over" she turns around and starts walking of but turns round and says "will you come play to daddy", "I'll be right there princess" I respond, she runs back to the park and I turn to Allie and I swear I saw a hint of jealousy in her eyes, "you're married and have a daughter now then" she says bitterly, "yeah, I do so I gotta get going now" I say, standing up at the same time and walking away, I run up behind Harper, pick her up and spin her around in the air, she squeals and giggles out of happiness.

Erins POV

After dinner Harper and I went to get some Ice cream and were gonna meet everyone back at this outside bar place. We were looking in the window deciding what flavours we were going to get, that's when I heard the voice that I never wanted to hear ever again. "Well if it isn't the famous Erin lindsay" I hear Charlie say, I hoist Harper into my arms so I know that she's right beside, "what are you doing here Charlie, How did you know I was here" I hiss out at him, I feel Harper snuggle into my side more, obviously feeling the tension. "I was a good boy and I have my ways" he says, I put Harper down but she still clings onto my hand tightly, I look her in the eyes and say "the bar is just round the corner where daddy is do you think you can find your way there?"I ask, She nervously nods and turns and runs off, "awww why did you have to send her away I was just getting started" Charlie says.

Jays POV

I see Harper running over to us, but I don't see Erin behind her, when she gets to the table I say " hey princess, where's mommy?", "some creepy man started talking to her and she told me to come here,'' my mom could obviously tell that I'm worried, so she says "I'll watch her you go see what's going on", I nod and start walking towards the ice cream shop, once I've went round the corner my blood starts boiling when I see who is talking to Erin. Charlie. I take a deep breath to calm myself down and walk over, I snake my arm around Erins waist protectively, and say "there a problem here?", "No just catching up, right Lindsay?" Charlie replies, "no we're not just catching up" Erin says trying no to shout.

Erins POV

Charlie starts eyeing Jay up and down, and says "don't know what he sees in you Lindsay, but I guess I'll be seeing you around" while turning and walking away. Once he's out of sight I just breakdown crying and I feel Jay pull me into his body, he doesn't let go until he knows I've calmed down, he pulls back looks at me and then wipes away the tears away with his thumb and kisses my head, I don't know how but the smallest things he does calm down. I take a deep breath and say "alright I'm good now", "you sure?" he asks, I nod my head and he intertwined our fingers as we start walking back to where everyone else is. Once Harper spots us she runs over and just hugs my legs, I pick her up and she wraps her small arms round my neck and says "are you ok mommy?", "I'm fine sweetie" l say. It's probably around 11pm right now and we're only just leaving the bar, Harper fell asleep on one of the chairs so Jay gently picked her up and carried her to the car where he buckled her into her carseat, Jay hadn't drank much so he was fine to drive. When we get back to the cabin we all get into bed straight away, as always Jay has his arm around me protectively.

When I wake up in the morning Jay is no longer in bed but Harper is still fast asleep, I quietly and carefully get out of bed as I don't want to wake Harper up. As I walk into the living room I see Jay sitting at the island eating waffles with fruit on it. I walk over and plop myself on the seat beside him and steal some of the fruit of his waffle, "morning" he says wrapping his arm around my back and kissing me on the cheek. "How long have you been up?" I ask him, "not long" he replies. I've spent most of the morning hearing stories about Jay from his mom and siblings, "hey Jay what time is it?", "10:30 am, why?" he says, "Harpers not up yet, and that's not like her", "I'll go check on her" he says getting up and walking into the bedroom.

Jays POV

When I walk into our bedroom I see Harper still fast asleep, I know something must be wrong because she never sleeps late, as I sit on the bed she starts to stir a bit, I stroke her forehead realising she feels really warm, "hey princess it's time to get up", "I don't feel well daddy" she wines, "well let's get some breakfast in you then we can cuddle on the sofa how does that sound huh?", she weakly nods her head and puts her arms out for me to pick her up. I walk out of the bedroom with her in my arms, I walk over to the couch and sit her down next to Erin, "she doesn't feel well" I say to Erin,she instinctively puts her hand on her forehead and says "you are quite warm sweetie" Erin says. I come back with a bowl of fruit, and I put it on the coffee table in front of her but she just pushes it away, "princess you need to eat something," I say, "but I'm not hungry daddy"she says but her voice was croaky meaning she probably has a sore throat. Erin had taken Harper in our room to lay down in our room and watch some tv about an hour ago now, it's just me, my dad, Will and my cousin Ryan, my dad has been fiddling with his watch for the last ten minutes and when he does that it means he has something he wants to say, which is usually something you don't want to hear, "what do you wanna say dad" I say, "it's just you are even incapable of getting yourself a good family, like everything else you have done in your life, why can't you have a normal job like Will and have a normal wife or girlfriend like Will and your daughter can't even stay healthy" he says, "well I'm sorry that I didn't follow in your footprints like Will did, you can say anything you want about me but don't you say a word against Erin and Harper" I say shouting now, "Jay" Will warns me, I take a deep breath and say "now if you don't mind I'm going to make sure my daughter is okay", with that I turn around and walk back to the room we've been staying in. once I've got ready for bed I carefully get in trying not to wake them up, nut Erin sits up a bit, "what's up?" she asks, I swear she can see right through me, "just my dad said some things but it doesn't matter, How's she doing?" I say nodding to the sleeping little girl in between us, "she fell asleep 10 minutes after coming in here but it will do her good she just needs rest," she says, "I think I'm going to tell them tomorrow, but for now let's get some sleep" I say, "from what you told me about the last time your mom isn't going to be happy" Erin says, "yeah well it's better to get it over and done with, and we still need to tell Harper", after this we don't say anything just lie in silence until we both fall asleep.

The first thing I can hear when I wake is Harper just saying over and over again "daddy, daddy it's time to wake up,'' I sit up a little and pull her into my chest "someones feeling better than" I say to her, she just nods her head eagerly in response, Where's mommy?" I ask her, "in the bathroom, she said she didn't feel well" she says, "alright you stay here and I'll go check if mommy is okay". I walk into the bathroom and see Erin sitting on the floor with her head near the toilet, I sit in front of her and brush a strand of hair out of her face "you okay?" I ask even tough I know thats a stupid question giving she has just thrown up, "yeah dinner just didn't agree with me" she says, "come on lets go get you something to eat that you can keep down and then tell everyone the news" I say, she nods and I help her stand up. Luckily my mom had clementines which is the only thing Erin can keep down when she's ill. I decide it's now or never, "hey Harper why don't you go watch some TV in our room" I say, "okay daddy" she says before she turns and skips away to our bedroom, "so there is another reason as to why we came, of course I wanted to see you all but I also came to tell you that my unit in afghanistan needs me so I'm going back, I didn't want to but I didn't have a choice," I say, "how long will you be gone?" my mom asks, "for about 7-9 months my commander said" I tell my mom, "Erin and I have talked about it and we were hoping maybe that you and dad could come up and help out with Harper if she needs it" I ask my mom, "of course we will sweetie, but you will have to look after yourself okay" she tells, " of course I will".