The Perfect Family

Chapter 5: Jack

Em is still pretty mad at herself for what happened with Maddox. She's been really depressed lately. But I continue to assure her that it wasn't her fault. All it means is that we have to do a better job of looking out for him.

"Hey", I say as I knock on the door with Kyson in my arms, the rest of the kids still asleep on a Saturday morning.

"Jack?" Emilie says groggily.

"Someone wanted to come in and help cheer up his Mama" I say as I hand Kyson over to his mother.

"Oh, thats so sweet. Come here, sweetie" Emilie says as she wipes away several dried tears and take Kyson.

"Are you feeling any better?" I ask as I place one of Emilie's lush strands of brown hair back behind her left ear.

"A little. But I still feel so horrible about it" Emilie responds.

"Hey, it already happened. There's nothing we can do to change it now. Technology hasn't come that far yet. We just have to put it behind us and think about all the good things we have" I advised, while throwing in some humor.

"I know" Emilie replies.

"What do you say we take the kids out for lunch or dinner to lift your spirits?" I offer.

"Sure, where did you have in mind?" Emilie asks.

"I thought maybe you could choose" I smile.

"Okay" Emilie says, staring adoringly at Kyson and pondering where to go.

"Take your time", I say.

"The Olive Garden. We'll just be really careful with Maddox" Emilie decides.

"Alright. If its the Olive Garden you want, its the Olive Garden you shall have" I reply.

At approximately 10am, the twins wake up looking for us. Both of them holding their favourite plushes. "Good morning" they both yawn.

"Good morning, angels" Emilie and I greet them as they jump into the bed and pile on top of me.

"Watch out for Mama and Kyson" I warn them.

"Maddox was crying when we woke up" Julia says as she gently rubs Kyson's hand.

"I'll go check on him" I say as I head to Maddox's room.

When I get to Maddox's room, his head is turning while he rocks back and forth in the corner. I can tell a part of him is kind of frustrated.

"Hey, buddy. What's wrong?" I ask.

"Ba ba" Maddox responds in his way of asking for his milk, which he learned during a reccent session with Todd. Then he points to a picture of his blanket on his communication poster that hangs on his wall. This, I assume, indicates that he has misplaced it.

"Oh, don't we'll get your milk and then search for your blanket while you eat" I say as he looks up at me with such innocent eyes.

Maddox just nods in response and holds out his hand for me to take as we walk across the hall to our bedroom to join the rest of the family.

"Hey, handsome" Emilie says to Maddox as we enter the bedroom.

"Say good morning, mama" I say, prompting Maddox.

"I'm going to go get him some milk. Be right back" I say.

When I head to the kitchen and grab Maddox's sippy cup of milk, I can still hear him crying in frustration. I cross the living room and spot a green cloth with monkeys under the couch.