"American Hangover"

Chapter Three




Jolene cooed with her child as she worked to feed her dinner. She made sound effects and made her best attempt to get the child to eat. The child looked at her and shook her head yet again. Jolene sighed and put the spoon down. “I will get you to eat Adyli. Mark my words you will be full by the time I get you into bed. If ever I get you into bed. Are you angry at mama? You definitely need to start going to bed early.” Jolene patted her daughter head and covered the plate of food.

She placed the food in the microwave and began cleaning up her kitchen. Adyli was in her high chair. She watched her mother and said not one word. Jolene cleaned her kitchen absentmindedly as she thought about her husband who had yet to arrive home or even called.

It was eight thirty and he usually would be home by six or seven at the latest. If ever he went out he’d call her but neither had happened. Jolene looked at her daughter and round innocent eyes stared back at her. “Are you guys protesting today? You’re going to drive me nuts my dear child.” Adyli blinked a bit and Jolene walked to her highchair.

Jolene picked her up and hugged her. Adyli did some squirming but eventually rested her head on her mothers shoulder. Jolene held her hug and said “I love you guys so much. I’d do anything for you darling.” As expected Adyli did not respond. She was a happy baby but even at the age of one she was quiet. She laughed and smiled and jumped around but she didn’t talk much.

Just then the phone rang and Jolene jumped. Adyli stood up and looked at the ringing phone then glanced at Jolene. “You’re right. I should answer that. Smart baby” Jolene put the child down and walked to the phone. She answered it hello and turned her attention to the child standing in front of her.

“Jolene Duggan where are you?!” yelled a voice that sounded some what like Kelly.

“I’m home… OBVIOUSLY” Jolene said smiling.

“Why aren’t you here? You promised you’d be here Jo! I need your help if I’m going to tell him I’m pregnant! I need you.” Kelly yelled.

“Take a deep breath! I’m so sorry I forgot but I’ll be there!” Jolene said ripping the phone from her ear and holding it against her chest. She mouthed the words “HOW COULD I FORGET!” to herself and returned the phone to her ear.

“Please.” Kelly said then hanging up the phone.

Jolene shook her head and rushed out of the kitchen. She ran into her hallway and grabbed her jacket and Adyli’s jacket. She slipped into her jacket and looked around. Realizing she had never grabbed her daughter she ran back to the kitchen and found her daughter still standing where she had left her. She picked her up and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry mommy is crazy.”

“Crazy...” Adyli said and smiled. Jolene shook her head and loaded her daughter into her baby sized jean jacket.


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Kiral licked his lips relishing the flavor of Lydia’s lips on his. Lydia stood just inches from him smiling. “What?” he said wondering just what that smile meant.

“I guess we are now officially dating.” Lydia said biting down on her lip.

“That’s great.” He said grabbing her face and tugging it closer to him. His lips were so close to hers he felt her breath and smelled her lips scent.

“Wait..” she said. “I want to do something… you can come with me if you want.”

Lydia then jumped up from the couch they were sitting on and began toward her bedroom. Kiral was confused but decided to follow her. He got up and walked behind her. They entered her bedroom and she went straight for her desk. Kiral studied her room and let it take him in. Her entire room smelled like her times four. The room was a calming shade of green that matched every last thing in the room. The lamp matched the bed sheet and the curtains while the closet, a darker shade of green, matched the doors outlining and her desk’s base color. Everything was matched and placed into its rightful place. It was peaceful.

Kiral refocused onto Lydia who was standing infront of her desk. She pulled open a draw and picked up a picture frame. Curious Kiral walked over to Lydia and looked at the picture. Her eyes were glowing with passion and pain. Her eyes showed a hint of something he couldn’t name. The picture was of her and another man. Birthday cake and smiles portrayed in the picture.

“Who is that?” Kiral asked almost not even realizing the words were coming out of his mouth. The question was more supposed to be a thought but he saw nothing wrong with asking.

“My last boyfriend. He kind of disappeared on me. Missing person no body cared to work hard enough to find. I’m over him now… I just thought that its time to get rid of this god awful picture.” She said as she worked with the frame to remove the picture. She slid the picture out and gave it one last look.

It was in that moment that Kiral recognized what remained in her eyes. Regret. Her eyes glowed with regret along with pain. The passion seemed to fade as the pain took over. Was she truly over him? Kiral watched as Lydia reached to insert the photo into a shredder. Just then the bell rang and both of them jumped.

Lydia laughed at herself and put the picture on her desk. “Let me just go answer the door.” Kiral nodded and let her leave the room. He stared at the picture that had yet to be shredded and grew a sense of envy. This man once had Lydia’s heart and shared memories with her. This man had the opportunities to look into her eyes and see the passion he saw. This man tasted her and smelled her more then Kiral could ever imagine. Only death could ever tear a man away from something as great as that.

Kiral wasn’t jealous though. Kiral envied the man for the time he had with Lydia... but he did not feel jealous. Kiral was the one who had Lydia now. Kiral had no reason to be jealous of a man who once had when Kiral was the one who has now. Kiral turned around and exited the green room. He stepped into the hall way and immediately spotted Jolene.

Jolene took one look at him exiting Lydia’s room and her eyes went wide. “Maybe now isn’t the time really Lyd!”

Kiral shook his head and imagined what could be going through Jolene’s mind at this moment.

“What? No! I love this little girl it really is fine Jo.” Lydia said. Walking down the short hall it wasn’t long till he spotted Lydia with the young girl on her hip.

“Yeah Jo, don’t worry about it.” Kiral actually had no idea what he was talking about but he decided it’d be best to support Lydia.

Jolene nodded her head and kissed her daughter some more. She hugged Lydia and gave Kiral a look that said “good bye and stay away from Lydia”. Kiral waved to her and the door shut.

“She was in a rush.” He said to Lydia.

“She had to go help a friend last minute. So we’re baby sitting.” She smiled at him.

“So that’s what I was talking about…” he said. He looked at Lydia and they shared a moment till he shrugged his shoulder and bobbed his head toward the living room. Lydia smiled at him and they walked to the living room. Once there Lydia reached for the remote. She turned on the T.V. and started scanning the channels.

“What are you doing?” Kiral asked her.

“Looking for something to watch…” she said not even looking at him. Young Adyli sat on her lap staring at the screen also. Kiral reached and took the remote from Lydia. He turned off the T.V. and both girls looked at him.

“We should play a game.” He said smiling.

*****************************************


Lydia sat her shoes off, her legs crossed, her niece on her lap, and Kiral across from her close to looking the same. His hair was ruffled and he was now in a t shirt. When he had arrived everything was intact and neat. He looked drop dead gorgeous and ready to present something at a board meeting. Now he had removed his dressy shirt and his nice shoes. He still looked drop dead gorgeous but he had more of a homey look to him. Lydia stared at him indulging herself to every look he made and every sexy attribute he bared.

In front of them was the ever and always entertaining board game of candy land! Lydia giggled a bit and watched as Kiral picked up a card. He frowned and moved his piece back a couple spaces. “Shame” he said. He sighed and said “Ok darling your turn to pick up a card.”

Lydia reached for the deck and he grabbed her hand. “Not you darling the other one.” Adyli did some giggling and reached for a card. She rose from Lydia’s lap and shockingly walked over to Kiral. She showed him the card and did some more giggling. Lydia stared open mouthed as she watched her own niece adapt to this man so easily.

“You’re good with kids huh?” she said not really intentionally saying it. He nodded his head and continued to pay attention to Adyli. “Plan to have any?”

His head snapped faster then ever as he looked up at her his eyes baring fear. It was then Lydia realized she had just broken an almost law about asking about children. “Sorry...” Lydia said as they stared at each other.

“No, don’t be. I do want children. I’m in no rush to have any but I do want them to happen sometime in my life.” He said honestly. Lydia stared at his gorgeous eyes as they were solemn. “What about you?” he asked.

“I don’t know…” she said. She honestly didn’t know.