Jealousy and Sticky Fingers

Renee tossed and turned, yet another bad dream. This time Leo not only hurt her, but he hurt the kids, the second he struck the boys in her dream she sat up screaming. Nate came running into his mom's room, " mom, are you okay? it was just a bad dream." worried he helped her sit up on the bed. "Mom talk to me, I know you're hiding something from us about dad, I know he wasn't that good to you, I know there is more to it." he asked, waiting patiently, he knew his mom did not want to talk about it, but he thought she needed to. "Nate, I do not want to talk about it, especially with you. It is not because I do not think you are old enough to handle it, but I do not want to take away some good times and tarnish what memories you have left. I promise I will go see someone about it, that I can do." Renee did not want him to hate his dad, even if he deserved it. Shaking her head, "dude what time is it?" she asked rubbing his head, standing up. Nate got up and followed her to the kitchen, "it is close to 6 in the morning, why?" Renee started a pot of coffee, the cheap stuff she did not like much, "today is the day, we need to go get boxes and get the rest of the stuff ready to go, Jake is supposed to call today to let us know when to be ready, so better to be done before then so we can enjoy some things in Virginia one last time." she turned with a smile, "should we go get pancakes from the diner when LJ wakes up?" she asked, not wanting to cook. Nate smiled, how he loved their triple berry pancakes, " I think that sounds good, I can taste them from here" they both laughed. Renee was excited but she was also worried, she had not heard from Jake since he texted her yesterday morning, he said he would come by but never did. Was he backing out finally? Oklahoma is a long drive away, but she could not afford a truck at the last minute. She decided it was time to bite it and call him, as the phone was ringing, she grabbed her cup and made her coffee when the phone picked up, "Hello?" only it was not Jake, it was a woman. Not knowing what to say she just hung up, "that was embarrassing, he better not be married after...." her thoughts interrupted by Nate, "Mom, LJ is up, I will get him ready and let him know you have a surprise for us."



Now that the boys were awake, and both dressed, Renee got herself together, still thinking about who answered his phone. She could not help it, she did not think she was jealous, but her thoughts told her differently. She grabbed her keys, phone, and wallet and hollered for the kids, " come on guys, we got to get there as soon as they open to get the best ones." They were heading out the door when Renee's phone rang, it was Jake. She sent it to voicemail and locked her door, she did not want to talk to him, not right now. They reached the diner, and found their usual booth, "y'all go ahead and write down what you want and give it to Mr. Rob, I will be back okay?" she said as she put a pen on the counter, she kept one in her wallet. Renee decided on the walk over she would call him back so he would not think she was jealous, she was not. Renee walked towards the bathroom and as soon as she turned the corner, she ran into someone. "Oh my god I am so sorr-" she stopped as she looked up, it was Jake. "Hey you, I was just ordering coffee and breakfast, about to go to your place." Jake awkwardly grinned and rubbed his head. Trying to not act different about who answered his phone almost 30 minutes ago she spoke up, "Oh yeah? Why this early? I figured you would be asleep or dealing with some office stuff?" Renee had to finally admit to herself, " I am jealous, knowing I should not be, and that this is all for fun." She pointed to the kids that were throwing sugar packs at each other, " We are on the same page, I was going to the store after to get boxes and get ready for the day." she smiled. Renee chose to invite him to join them so it would not be weird, he had to know what she was thinking about, how could he not, "come join us?" she asked him. Jake agreed and let her lead the way, "of course, would be weird to take coffee and food there when you're here" he laughed, "let me buy whatever you're getting Renee" and she did not argue him on that. Was he playing the guilt card on himself, or is he trying to be a gentleman, regardless she was not saying no to free food. They sat down and waited on their food, the food they ordered, and the food Jake ordered, "WOAHHHHH" LJ yelled. "Thats a lot of pancakes mom, what are we going to do with the extra?", Jake laughed, " ever hear of an eating competition? let do it, first one to reach 10 wins this" Jake held up a twenty-dollar bill. "Jake, that's not a goo-" before she could stop him, Nate blurted, "you got yourself a deal Mr. Jake" picking up his fork Nate started.



Renee wanted to warn him that her kid loved these things and would survive off them if he had the choice, but she was enjoying them laugh and race without scarfing it down. "Boys y'all better save room for whatever Mr. Rob gives you later, the route you're going you'll be full all day." she said laughing. Jake with a full mouth waved his hand in her direction, struggling to swallow his bite he said, " Listen we are growing boys, you will be surprised how hungry we will be later, plus when we load the truck and hit the road, we will have full bellies until we stop." Jake laughed shoving another bite in his mouth. Renee forgot about this morning just from watching them have fun, "Oh my assistant had said you called my phone before I came to the office to get it, I left it last night" Jake said mid chew. Renee was not ready to talk about that, having the jealous fit earlier, " I did, I did not know who it was and panicked, I thought I dialed the wrong number. I was just checking on you since I did not hear from you last night." She hoped he would buy that. Jake looked at her finishing his bite, " I left my phone and could not call, I had to go to a client who got arrested a couple counties over and it was late by time I got back over this way." Not buying anything he said, she decided to ignore it, they were not a couple so why be jealous and question him. They continued their breakfast, watching them have the time of their lives; she chose to sneak out to call Beth. She rang her and it rang until the voicemail played, she left one letting her know she was hitting the road in just a few hours and could wait to meet her. Turning around to go back in she once again bumped into Jake, "you have got to look before turning around" he said with a laugh. Jake put his arms around her, "what's wrong babe, something is bothering you?" He kissed her head and held her hand, leading her back to the table.



Reluctant to tell him she found some excuses, " I just don't know if I can handle starting over again, I know I can but I don't want to have to move again because they don't like it." she stopped approaching the table, "boys, who won, Nate I bet it was you" she asked sitting down. "It was a tie mom, I have never seen someone almost beat Nate before" LJ yelled, clearly feeling the sugar rush. Renee in shock turned to Jake, "you almost beat this one in a pancake competition, you are a winner in his eyes for sure" She laughed, Nate still finishing his last one, nodded in agreement. They all went outside after Jake paid the bill and got everyone an extra drink to go, "well everyone, let go get boxes and get you guys packed, boys want to see what we will be driving there?" Jake asked, pulling out his keys. They jumped all excited, and followed Jake, Renee followed behind them. "This guy is the best thing I have ever traveled in; it has everything you need." He turned the corner and led them to a car parking deck; they went in, and they saw a huge RV. "This guy took me everywhere for a long time until I became a lawyer." Jake said opening the door to let the kids in to check out. Once the kids were inside, he turned to Renee who was smiling at the kid's excitement, "do you like it?" he asked, walking towards her. Renee nodded her head, checking out the back, looking for a trailer, where the boxes were going, while looking at the back she felt hands wrapped around her waist. "I got someone following with a truck do not worry, I just wanted us to have fun on the drive, I hope that is not too much" he said kissing her neck. How could she stay mad at him, even when she knew she had no reason to be?