“Hello?” I asked picking up the phone and trying to balance it on my shoulder and finish the dishes at the same time.
“Hey babe, it's me,” AJ said yelling over the noise in the background.
“Where the hell are you?”
“Huh, what did you say?”
“I said where are you?” I raised my voice so he could hear me over all the noise.
“I stopped by a club with Howie, we're checking on this band we might try getting as our opening act,” he said practically shouting into the phone. “Anyways…”
“Arrianna Marie McLean, if you don't stop that this instant!” I yelled as I saw her shake the swing that Tyler was sleeping contently in. “What were you about to say?”
“I'm going to be late tonight.”
“Again? How late are you going to be this time? Shit!” I said as Tyler began to cry having been awaken by Arrianna's shaking. I picked him up and tried to hear AJ over the cries.
“Ummmm, I don't know. Just don't wait up for me ok.”
“Arrianna…”
“Listen I gotta go ok. I'll see you later baby. Love you.” With that AJ hung up the phone and I was left once again to deal with our family by myself.

“Ohh, there are my darling grandchildren,” Denise said scooping the kids up into a hug. She put Arrianna down and she ran off to play with the cabinet full of toys. Denise looked around. “Where's Alex?”
“I have no clue…I'd like to know the same thing,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Well didn't he tell you where he was going this morning?”
My face fell and I looked away. “He…he…I don't think he came home last night,” I finally blurted out.
Denise's mouth dropped open with shock and then quickly turned to sadness. “Are you two having problems?” “I don't know what happened to us. I think he's been feeling trapped…I don't know maybe we rushed things a little. It's just ever since Tyler was born…” my voice faded not wanting Denise to find out about Amanda. “And maybe it's me too…I mean all of a sudden I'm married with two kids…but at least I'm there everyday with them…he…he…”

Denise took me into her arms and led me to the couch. I dried my eyes conscious that my daughter was in the room and didn't want her to become upset. “He what dear?”
“He just doesn't seem able to deal with any of this anymore. Ty is almost 2 months now and he's barely even held his son…it's like he's scared to get close to him.”
Denise sighed. “I think it was the way he was born but he needs to realize that you and these kids are his family whether he can deal with it or not. I just can't believe my son would do something like that.” I wanted to snap back that he had but I wisely kept my mouth shut knowing that I would just be responding to my anger. “Do you want me to talk to him?” she asked.

“No,” I said standing up. “I think this is something we have to deal with ourselves.”
“Well, if you need me I'm here for the both of you.”
“I know,” I said hugging her. “You watching them right now is a bigger blessing than you know.”
“Anytime,” she said as I walked to the door to leave. “Anytime.”