Krystina.

Oh no. This shirt is definitely going back to the store. I was planning on wearing it to dinner on Friday, but I guess that won't be happening.

I glance at myself again in the full length mirror in my closet, shaking my head.

This is what I get for buying it without trying it on.

The blouse is a gorgeous periwinkle color, and unfortunately, way too big for me. The tag says medium, but it's obvious that this shirt does not fit into that category.

"I guess I'll take it back tomorrow when I take Bry to school.", I huff to myself.

If I can find the receipt.

With that thought, I leave the my bedroom and make my way to the trashcan in the kitchen.

Taking the lid off, I quickly start my search for the receipt.

Taco Bell wrappers...

Victoria's Secret ad...

Publix coupons...

Cable bill...

Field Day...

Ooh. A field day flyer? We love going to community events like that. Why would someone throw it away?

My curiosity gets the better of me and I grab the paper and pull it out. It's crumpled up and torn in a few places, but the words 'field day' are easily read.

Unravelling it, the title momentarily stills my movements.

Father and son field day.

A part of me, a very foolish part, hopes that the flyer belonged to Kyle and that he subconsciously threw it out because he doesn't yet have children of his own. Kyle has taken Bry to a few similar events before. Maybe this time it slipped his mind? But when I read the bottom of the page and see that the event is hosted by and will be held at Bry's preschool, my heart sinks in realization.

Lord give me strength.

I grab the note, disregarding the trash on the kitchen floor, and head upstairs to Bryan's room.

He is, ironically enough, running around his room in the business man costume that came with the S&S action figure he got for his birthday.

"Hey, muffin." I walk in and sat on the bed. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

He quickly obliges, dropping his toy and climbing onto the bed next to me.

I pull the flyer from my back pocket. "I found this in the trash today." I hold it up in front of him. "What was it doing there?"

"I put it there." He tells me quietly, holding his head down.

"Why?"

"Because." He pauses, fidgeting. "Because what, baby?" I probe, rubbing his back gently.

"Because, you have to have a daddy to go. And I don't got one." He says, sniffling.

"Oh baby." I pick him up and sit him on my lap facing me.
"What about uncle Kyle? You know he'd go with you if you wanted him to."

"I don't wanna go with uncle Ky!" He wails suddenly, covering his crying eyes with his fists. "I wanna go with m-my daddy, but I c-can't cause I don't h-have one." He stutters through his tears

"Don't say that. Of course you have a daddy, honey!"

"I d-do?" He asks looking up at me.

"Absolutely!" I beam at him. "I'm going to tell you something, okay? It's about me and your daddy."

He wipes his eyes and readjust himself on my lap.

I take in his small, soft face. "You look just like him." I smile slightly. "You have the same face, the same nose, same mouth, same smile. You remind me of him all the time. You're so very much alike. He was a great guy. Funny, smart, kind, caring, and we loved each other very much. One day though, things just went wrong, and we put our faith and trust into people we shouldn't have. After that we broke up, and because it happened so fast, I never even got to tell him that I was pregnant with you. He doesn't know about you, baby." His expression quickly morphs from curiosity to confusion and hopelessness. "But, a few weeks ago you're daddy moved into town, and he and I are actually friends now."

"Really?"

"Yeah. We were actually working together at my job for a little while." I answer back.

"Am I gonna meet him?" He jumps up with excitement.

"Well, first I have to talk to him about a few things. Then, after everything's settled, I'll bring him over for you two to meet!" I join in on his excitement, even though the mere idea of telling Stephen he has a 4 yr old son terrifies me.

"OHMYGOODNESS!" He screams."I'M GONNA MEET MY DADDY! I'm gonna go tell Auntie Sav and Uncle Ky." He zips out of the room and down the stairs.

____________

"Since you're all together," I walk into the living room where Savannah, Kyle, and Bryan are all seated, "Now's probably a good time to tell you that we won't be able to have movie night on Friday."

"Why not?" Kyle asks me.

"Uhhh. I have a...............business dinner? Yeah. A business dinner here at the house. So I'll need all of you to make yourselves scarce that day."

"Can I come?" Bryan stands on the couch and turns to face me.

"No."

"Please?" He grino, thinking that his dimples will sway me.

"You're such a cutie." I coo. "But the answer is still no."

"I love you Mommy." Bry says sweetly, grabbing onto my hand.

"I love you too. And you're still not coming."

"Pleeeaaaaseee?" Bryan whines for the fifteenth time.

"Enough! I said no the first time, and that's exactly what I meant. If I have to tell you again, you're going to be in big trouble. Understand?" I squat down to his level. "Now, I told you. This isn't a dinner for kids, honey. This is grown up stuff, and when it's over I'll come over and get you from Aunt Sav, okay?"

"Okay." He mumbles to me surly.

When I arranged dinner with Stephen on Saturday, it had momentarily skipped my mind that friday nights were 'movie night' for the family. Almost every friday, Bryan, Sav, Kyle and I would either head to the theater to catch the latest family movie, or we'd stay in and rent one.

When I made the announcement that I had other plans for friday, I single handedly murdered everyone's hope of finally seeing Finding Dory.

Whoops.

But in my defense, this talk with Stephen is way more important. Besides, Bryan wasn't even alive when Finding Nemo came out. I'm pretty sure Savannah and Kyle are more bummed out about my cancellation than anyone.

"Hey." I knock on the wall in Savannah's living room. "I'm about to go grocery shopping. Do you need anything?"

"Not that I can think of right now. I'll call you if something pops up though."

"Alright." I reply. "C'mon babe." I grab Bryan's hand as we walk out of the house. "If you're good, I'll let you pick out dessert."

Bry's a naturally energetic kid, so if I want him to be calm for a bit, an edible incentive is always the way to go. Not that there's anything wrong with him being energetic. It can just be overwhelming at times.

"Pick your poison." I tell him once I collected everything else on the list.

"I want ice cream."

"Fine by me." I push the cart towards the frozen goods isle.

Oooh. Pizza's on sale.

And pie crust?

Oh yes.

"Here." I lift Bryan out of the cart. "Go ahead and pick your ice cream. It's at the end of this isle, and come right back. Got it?"

"Got it."

Now, DiGiorno or Red Baron? Tombstone or Home Run Inn?

I'm so engrossed in my pizza picking, that I don't notice the figure standing behind me until they speak.

"Hello, Krystina."

____________________________________________________________________

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN

Quick question: Have I ever specified where they live?

Wherever it is, I'm changing it.

They live in Chicago. Downtown, Museum of Science and Industry, Hyde Park area.

So..................who's behind her???????

Hehehe

Don't forget to COMMENT and vote.

120 votes (go big or go home!) For next week's chapter.