Chapter 37

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.:Author's Note:.

Please excuse any mistakes.

***

Jonathan's POV:

"I don't like this, Bugsy."

"You don't have to be here, Pebbles."

Macy grumbled childishly beside me before taking a sip of her coffee as we waited anxiously for Amanda and Marilyn to arrive. They were expected to reach by noon, but it was already a quarter past that time.

The day had finally come for the court-appointed visitations with them, Alyssa, and April, and everyone in the Russell household was unsurprisingly on edge. Macy was more annoyed about the entire situation than anyone else since her relationship with Amanda was on a hate-hate basis.

"I'm not going anywhere. How many times do they have to come over again?"

"Judge said three times a week, two hours each time, for the next year," I sighed.

"Too much if you ask me," my sister rolled her eyes as she scoffed. "It should've been one hour, once a week."

"You said the same thing on the day of the hearing," I chuckled.

"And I'm still not wrong! When you think about it, our schedules are just going to be based on hers."

"We can work something out. Maybe set designated days and times going forward."

"Why are you so easygoing about this?" Macy questioned with a raised brow. "You were hellbent on keeping the girls away from Amanda when she initially popped back into our lives."

"Yeah," I answered while scratching the back of my neck and laughed uneasily. "I've had a change of heart."

"Of course, you did. Why?" Before I could respond, she continued speaking, seeming to have a lightbulb flick on over her head. "It's because she can't have kids, isn't it?"

I didn't have to respond verbally for Macy to know that that was the exact reason, yet I still nodded my head. Guilt like never before had consumed me when I learned of the fact at the court hearing, and with each passing day, I just felt even more awful for putting her through something like this when all she wanted was to see the twins.

"You always see the good in people," Macy muttered as if it was a major issue. "Honestly, all I could think about when I heard the news was that she's beyond selfish. If she or her wife could have kids, neither of them would be interested in April and Alyssa. Also, why didn't they adopt if she was so determined to be a mother? Blood doesn't make you family, and it sure as hell doesn't give her a right to come and go into my nieces' lives as she so pleases."

I guess Macy had a valid argument. It had never crossed my mind to question beyond being unable to have kids being the reason Amanda wanted to see my girls. All I could think about was Miranda's cancer and how Amanda had fulfilled her dream for her. Was it unfair to want to return that favor? With my sister's argument now in mind, I was skeptically starting to believe so.

Unfortunately, before I could respond, the doorbell rang.

"Be nice," I said simply as I went to go let whoever it was in.

"No promises!" Macy shouted back in response, making me sigh.

I looked through the glass of the door, finding two familiar female figures standing on the other side of it. A nervous feeling settled in the pit of my stomach, but I pushed it aside as I opened the door while stretching my lips into a friendly smile.

"Welcome, ladies," I greeted politely.

"Hello, Jonathan," Marilyn was the first to reply with a friendly smile of her own. I gave her a simple nod before my eyes flickered over to her other half.

"Jonathan," Amanda acknowledged me tensely.

"Amanda," I replied in the same tone before returning my gaze to Marilyn. "Please come in. Winston is just finishing bath time with our girls and they should be out soon."

"You let your boyfriend bathe them?" Amanda questioned in an accusatory tone, which wiped the smile completely off of my face.

"Excuse me?"

"Mandy!" Marilyn gritted through her teeth as her eyes widened.

"I meant nothing by it," Amanda raised her hands in defense. "It was just a question."

"Well, think before you ask something like that again," Marilyn berated her for me. I was grateful for the gesture because I was sure that my words wouldn't have been as nice.

I closed the front door once they were inside and led them to the living room. Macy didn't even bother with a greeting once she saw them, choosing to roll her eyes in annoyance instead before turning back to her cup of coffee and a gossip magazine.

"Would you two like anything to drink?" I offered once they were seated.

"May I have some water, please?" Marilyn grinned nervously. "I'm so anxious to meet them that my tongue has gone dry."

"Coming right up. You, Amanda?"

"No. No. I'm fine. Thank you."

I nodded before letting them be. Sparing Macy another glance, I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and one from the cupboard, unsure if Marilyn preferred her drink cold or room temperature. Returning to the living room, I smiled when she took the cold one, leaving me to drink from the slightly warm bottle since sudden apprehension had taken over me as well.

"Bubba!" One of the girls screamed with a laugh as she and her sister ran down the hallway before skidding at my sides. "Daddy, protect us from Bubba!"

"What'd you two do?" I asked before receiving my answer in the form of my boyfriend covered in makeup. I laughed heartily as Winston stomped with playful anger into the living room, seeming to resemble a clown rather than a model. "Oh, sweetness."

"Don't you dare," Winston gritted, trying his hardest to contain his own laughter before his eyes settled on the two women watching the scene with wide eyes. "Marilyn, Amanda, hello!"

I could tell that my boyfriend was embarrassed despite the makeup caking his likely rosy cheeks.

"It's nice to see you again, Winston," Marilyn laughed softly while Amanda gave him a simple wave.

"Likewise," my boyfriend grinned before turning to our daughters who sat oh so innocently on the opposing sofa. "I'm so getting you two back for this!"

"Bubba, you look so pretty," April teased, making Winston point an unamused – yet still amused – finger at her. "We love you, Bubba."

"I love you both too," Winston almost swooned, mock anger completely forgotten. "I'm going to wash my face off now."

I couldn't resist pulling him quickly into a short peck before letting him go on his way. After, I faced April and Alyssa with a content smile, my good mood returning just a bit.

"Girls, do you remember Amanda and Marilyn?" I asked as I went to sit between them.

"Yes, Daddy," they replied simultaneously, making Marilyn almost squeal.

"They're here to spend some time with you two."

"But I want to play with Bubba," Alyssa pouted, barely giving the couple a glance. "We have a fashion show to put on."

"I'm sure we can help with the fashion show," Amanda tried to intervene.

"No, thank you," Alyssa replied uninterestedly with a shake of her head.

Without a word, April stood from the sofa before leaving the living room altogether. Before I could question her motives, she returned at lightning speed with a familiar small terrarium, setting it on the center table.

"Do you like spiders?" She asked cutely as she reached into the tank to take out Demon. Almost immediately, Amanda curled up into herself despite trying to show bravery. From memory, I knew she was absolutely terrified of spiders.

"I don't," Amanda answered uneasily. Her eyes never strayed from the large tarantula. "Why do you have one?"

"He's my pet," April grinned as she held him up to her face and kissed his back. "His name is Demon."

"Fitting," Amanda mumbled lowly although I don't believe April heard her.

"Do you like spiders, Marilyn?"

"I love spiders!" Marilyn cheered. She set her things aside before making herself comfortable on the floor and holding her hands out so that April could give him to her. She did so without complaints. "He's gorgeous."

"Issa and Bubba don't really like spiders. Daddy and Aunty Macy are okay with them," April told her animatedly. It was obvious to everyone that they were hitting it off.

"He's so placid."

"What does placid mean?"

"It means he's calm. Cool. Chill," Marilyn answered with a grin.

"Oh, then yes, he is placid. Do you want to see his bigger home?"

"You mean you have an even bigger terrarium?" Marilyn's eyes widened considerably. I silently questioned if it was just for show or if she was actually excited about my daughter's pet spider. "I would love to see it!"

Turning to me, April bounced on her toes excitedly, and I was only partly surprised that her head hadn't popped off as yet. "Daddy, can I show Demon's tank to Marilyn?"

"Sure, you can," I replied, making her squeal. I watched in amusement as she quickly packed up Demon's portable terrarium and grabbed Marilyn's empty hand before happily dragging her to her room. We could hear their lively chatter even when they were out of sight.

Beside me, Alyssa stewed angrily at being separated from her twin. However, that displeasure was quickly forgotten once Winston returned.

"Someone to play with Demon alongside April is a win in my book," he joked as he took a seat on Alyssa's other side before noticing that she wasn't in the best of moods. "What's wrong, angel?"

"I wanted to have a fashion show with you," Alyssa whined.

"I'm sure we can still have our fashion show later," he told her encouragingly. "We'll raid your dad and Macy's closets for the best outfits."

"No, you will not!" Macy called from the kitchen, making us laugh.

"Okay, we'll just raid your dad's closet later then."

"I wanted to do it now," Alyssa pouted. "Not play with mommy's ex-wife."

Amanda flinched where she sat, rightfully so. While I was going to intervene, Winston continued speaking, doing an amazing job of taking care of this uncomfortable topic for me.

"Her name is Amanda, angel," he began gently. "And while I know that this isn't something you want to do, can you try to be nice? She wants to get to know you."

"Mommy is very mad at her."

"I underst-"

"What does she mean by that?" Amanda cut him off.

"Mommy is here and she's not happy," Alyssa responded coolly. "You left her."

"Is this some kind of joke?" Amanda gritted as she looked at me. "Did you tell her to say this?"

"What would I possibly gain from doing that?" I asked in annoyance. "If anything, I was the only person here actually trying to give you the benefit of the doubt."

"Cut the crap. You more than anyone want me to disappear."

"Mommy wants it more," Alyssa shrugged. Macy's snort of laughter could be heard from where she stayed in the kitchen.

"Why is she talking about Miranda as if she isn't gone?!" Amanda quipped.

"She's not gone," I stated simply.

"Miranda is dead!"

"Yes, but her spirit has apparently stayed with us for the last few years."

"That's ludicrous! Ghosts aren't real."

Before I could respond to her, picture frames and glass knickknacks began to fall off the shelves. Shortly after, the lights in the house chipped out. I flinched when a sudden cold breeze filled the air as Macy, April, and Marilyn all hurried into the living room.

"What the hell is going on?" Macy asked the question I'm sure we all were thinking.

"Mommy is angry," Alyssa and April spoke at the same time before a deafening scream rang throughout the house, causing us all to cover our ears. However, as quick as it began, it stopped, but the silence that came afterward was not at all peaceful.

I looked around in confusion before glancing at my girls who seemed completely unfazed by what was going on. Suddenly, a bright light flashed, momentarily blinding us before a glowing familiar figure materialized on top of the center table.

"Miranda?" Macy, Amanda, and I all questioned in surprised hushed tones, staring in shock at the angry woman whose eyes never once strayed from her ex-wife's own. She seemed to float as she moved from over the tabletop to hover above her ex's scared and quivering body.

"Is this real enough for you, Amanda?"

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