Page 21 of We Thought We Knew It All
I didn’t need to outline because this time I’d lived it. I knew what happened next. The words streamed from my fingertips as I typed rapidly. The night was halfway gone by the time I came to a stopping point, 6,000 words in. When I wroteEmma,it’d been about my mom. This was different because it was about me, about us.
I powered down my computer and peeked in at my boys. Leaning down to kiss the top of Jackson’s sleeping head, I hoped to God his childhood would hold less tragedy than mine had.
* * *
It was earlywhen the giggling broke through my dreams seconds before three boys jumped onto my bed. A chorus of “Mommy” and “Mom” rang out as Liam leaned down to look into my slowly opening eyes.
“Are you sleeping?” he asked.
I grabbed an extra pillow and chucked it at him. He ducked out of the way laughing.
“Now, Mom,” Jacks started. “That wasn’t very nice.”
I chuckled at his serious expression, then sat up and snatched Declan who’d been shimmying from the bed. “Hey!” he yelled as indignant as a two-year-old could get.
“Morning, boys.” I smiled, sleepy, but content. I’d only gotten to sleep a few hours ago, but writing was always a tonic for the mood. It was Saturday, and I wanted to do something they’d never forget.
“Who wants to go to the beach today?”
The excited chatter grew as they talked about everything they’d do. The beach wasn’t anything new, but today would be different. Jackson had been asking for years to surf and we’d never gotten around to lessons. Dylan was too wrapped up in his own life and I hadn’t spent time in the water in ages.
I threw back the covers and climbed out.
Jackson took his brothers to the kitchen for cereal while I jumped in the shower.
Afterwards, I found my wet-suit and pulled it on over my bathing suit, leaving it unzipped with the top half folded down around my waist. I looked in the mirror for a long moment before tying my hair in a braid. It was much shorter than the ones I used to wear, but the familiarity felt good.
I felt good.
Voices drifted out of the kitchen, the boys going on about something. When they were joined by a low belly-laugh, I sped up.
Jamie was sitting with them at the table, a bowl of captain crunch in front of him. I leaned against the door-frame, watching as Jackson explained something to him and Liam stared in wide-eyed fascination. Declan said something loudly, just wanting to be heard, causing Jamie to lean toward him across the table and respond with a laugh.
A smile found its way to my lips, and I cleared my throat. All four boys looked at me as if they’d been caught with their collective hand in the cookie jar.
“Mommy,” Liam was the first to speak. “It’s the soldier!”
“Yeah,” Jacks added. “You know, the one you punched. Do you remember?”
Jamie was doing his best to hold in a laugh.
“I remember.” I smirked at him. “Did this soldier just stop by for a free breakfast?”
“Of course not, Mom,” Jackson stage-whispered. “He’s in the army. His Uncle Sam feeds him.”
“His Uncle Sam, huh?”
“Yeah, they told us about him at school. He’s a scary looking dude.”
I raised an eyebrow, still waiting for Jamie to explain his presence.
“I figured you guys would be up early.” Jamie shrugged. “And as I’m staying in town a little longer, I wanted to see you.”
“You’re staying in town?” My voice was breathless, but I didn’t care.
“Duh, Mom,” Liam butted in. “He just said that. We invited him to the beach. He can’t leave before that. His uncle will just have to eat shit.”
“Liam!” I yelled. “Where on earth did you hear something like that?”
