I sat in the driveway looking at AJ and Amber's house. I noticed Arrianna peeking out of the front window. AJ was soon standing behind her. Howie opened the door and came out to the car.
"Do you want to come inside?" he asked.
"I will when I'm ready to," I snapped.
"Do you want me to join you in the car?"
"Not really."
Howie stood outside of the car for a few minutes. I realized that he wasn't going to leave so I might as well get this over with. I got out of the car and Howie tried to take my hand but I pulled away from him.

"Aunt Rhonna!" Arrianna shouted as she ran over to me.
"Hey sweetheart. How's my big girl?"
"Fine...where's the babies?"
"They are at home with Uncle Nick."
"Oh," Arrianna said looking upset. "I wanted to play with them."
"Maybe another day honey," Amber said. "We're going to go see grandma for a little bit, remember? Now let's get your jacket on."
After a bit of struggling, Arrianna was ready to go to grandma's house.
"I'll be back in a little bit," Amber whispered as she walked by me.

AJ lead Howie and I into the living room where we sat quietly. "Okay..." AJ said "...where do we start?"
"We?" I asked. "I thought this was between me and Howie and of course, all of the girls at the club."
"AJ...she's right. This is between us," Howie said.
AJ reluctantly got up and headed out of the room. "If you guys need anything, like a referee or something, just yell."
Howie and I sat there in silence, neither of us looking at each other. Howie moved over next to me on the couch and took my hand in his. "Baby...whatever happened, I know that I was wrong."
"Whatever happened? If I'm this pissed off, you better damn well know what I'm mad about."
"I'm sorry...I know what I did...I don't know why I let it happen and I don't know how I could make it up to you."
"How long has this been going on?"
"How long?"
"Howie...how long?"
"Is that really important?" he asked pulling away from me.
"Okay - if you won't tell me how long this is going on, then can you tell me why?"
"I don't know why...I really don't even remember when it first happened. I know that I swore it wouldn't happen again...but...I'm so sorry," Howie hung his head in shame. "I'm sorry I did this to us and our family. Please tell me how I can fix this."
I looked away from him trying not to cry. "I don't know what will fix this. But I know it will take a long time for me to trust you again."
"I will do anything to get us back. I know things haven't been the same for awhile now...but I want to be a good husband and a good father to our kids. I want to give you everything I promised you - I will make this up to you. Just give me one more chance." Howie looked up into my eyes and we both cried. "Please just let me try."
"It will take awhile..."
"I know it will," Howie said, "but I will wait until you are ready to take me back."

Amber's View

I flew home not knowing what I would find. I ran as well as I could up the driveway and flung open the door. AJ was sitting on the stairs drumming his fingers and constantly glancing over to the room Howie and Rhonda were in.
“What's happening in there?”“I don't know they've been in there for awhile and it's been quiet.”“Do you think she killed him?” I asked half seriously.
“I don't know. I don't know if the quiet is a good sign or a bad sign.”
Just then the door opened up and Rhonda and Howie came walking out. It was impossible to tell the mood from the looks on their faces. AJ and I glanced at each other and headed over to our perspective friends, AJ to Howie and I to Rhon.
“So what happened?” I asked pulling her into the kitchen. “Are you guys getting back together?”
Rhonda was quiet for awhile. Finally she took a deep breath and said, “I don't know if I'll ever be able to trust him again…but I've agreed to give him a second chance.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” I asked knowing how much what Howie had done had hurt her.
“I have to try,” she said. “We have two little babies at home. I just can't not try to make things work with their father.”
“Yeah, but you can't stay with their father if it's going to destroy you. You've had a hard enough life Rhon, make your choices wisely.”
“I know…but I have to at least try.”
“Well then I'll stand behind you no matter what.”
“I know that, and you don't know how much I appreciate it.”
“Well what are you gonna do now?” I asked.
“Howie and I have agreed to start with a dinner at home. It will be awkward but it's a step that needs to be taken, if we can't even sit down at a table civilly then there's no chance for us working.”
“That's a good place to start,” I agreed. “I hope it all works out for you.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you ready to go?” Howie asked popping his head in the doorway. He looked nervous.
“Yeah,” Rhonda said. She walked over and gave me a quick hug goodbye. “I'll call you,” she whispered. Howie took her hand and they walked over to the cars. They climbed into their separate cars and headed off in the direction of their home.
“I'm happy they're working it out,” AJ said coming to stand behind me in the doorway.
“I hope it works for them,” I said leaning back against him.
“Yeah see he may be moving back sooner than we thought.”
I turned around. '”I want him out of my house.”
“What do you mean,” AJ said. “ I thought we agreed he could stay here.”
“No,” I reminded him, “that was your idea. I had no say in it, and I think that now that they are in the process of working things out it would be better if he weren't here. Besides this is supposed to be our time as a family, we don't always get those.”
AJ looked at me for a moment. “You're right, I'll tell him when he gets back.”
“Thank you!” I said as I leaned over and kissed him hard.
“Where did that come from?” he asked. “Not that I mind,” he added with a smile.
“I was just thinking that as of now we finally have the house to ourselves for a while.” AJ raised one eyebrow, grabbed my hand and led me up to the bedroom.