The Perfect Family

Chapter 7: Jack

When I wake up the next morning dazed and confused, I have no recollection whatsoever about what happened. Maddox and Emilie's faces come into focus as I rub my eyes and run my fingers through my greasy hair.

"Good morning" Emilie smiles.

"Morning. Do I look as bad as I feel?" I ask.

"Kind of" Emilie laughs.

"Oh god" I respond.

"On top of it you smell like Listerine and beer" Emilie says as she places a stray hair back in its place on the side of my forehead.

"Its like prom all over again. What even happened last night?" I yawn. 

"You were really stressed about work and Michael took you out for a couple drinks" Emilie answers.

"Shit. That can't be good" I said.

"Jack, watch it. Maddox may not speak much, but he's got ears like a hawk" Emilie says.

"Sorry, buddy" I say as I look at Maddox with the blanket in his mouth.

"Where are the other kids?" I ask.

"The girls are down stairs watching a movie and Kyson is still over their to your left sleeping" Emilie giggles.

"Okay, I'll go freshen up then" I respond as I drag myself out of bed and head into the bathroom.

"Shit" I whisper to myself as I look in the mirror. My eyes are bloodshot and my hair is like a tumble weed. My shirt has countless stains and pants have a rip on the legs. 

When I get down to the living room after freshening up, the twins jump up into my arms as soon as they see me.

"Papa! Come and watch with us!" Lucy says as she and Julia drag me towards the television as it shows 101 Dalmatians clutching her dalmatian blanket.

"I'm coming, don't worry" I laugh.

As Julia demands that I scoop her up into my arms, she looks at my cheek and notices the scar.

"What's that, Papa? Who did that to you?" Julia asks.

"That's just a little scratch. It was an accident. Nothing major, baby" I respond.

"I know. But who did it?" Julia persists.

Knowing my daughter, she will not rest until she gets the answer she is looking for, especially when she sees that someone is hurt.

As I ponder an answer that would be simple yet explanitory enough for a 4 year old, without completely exposing the truth, Julia begins widening her eyes and her bottom lip pops out, indicating that she is now begging for an answer.

"Okay, sweetie. Papa and uncle Michael were just having a little fun and he scratched me. That's all" I respond.

"Are you sure?" Julia continues.

"Yes, I'm sure" I reply.

"Well, tell uncle Michael to say sorry. That will make it all better. That's what Mama tells Lucy to do when she hurts me" Julia says.

"Don't worry, Jewel bug, I'm fine and uncle Michael did say he was sorry. Now, lets go finish that movie. I really want to know what happens" I say, even though I have seen the  movie countless times.

"Okay! Let's go!" Julia responds.

When we get to back to the movie, I find Emilie in the dinning room feeding Kyson while Lucy and Maddox are completely fixated on the movie.

"Hey, you look a little better" Emilie smiles.

"Thanks" I respond, then I lean into Emilie's ear  and tell her about the conversation with Julia.