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Katie
I was feeling edgy and had no idea why. Dex and I were taking all the kids out to dinner, along with my mother, and the prospect was making my stomach churn.
It’d been a week since our relationship had progressed and Dex had decided we needed to all go out together so he could get to know the kids better.
It wasn’t that he didn’t know them, because he’d met them all, albeit Annie only fleetingly, but he wanted them all together, so that in his words ‘I can show them I’m serious about you Katie Cat.’ This made me a little nervous, because add my mother into the mix and anything could happen.
“You ready to go, darlin’?” he asked
“Hmm and you’re sure you don’t mind taking the boys while Annie and I go and pick up my mum?”
“Nope.” Dex leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. “Boys are in the car, so I’ll get going and see you at the restaurant.”
I nodded and followed him out.
* * *
“Okay, so when Harry said I looked pretty, Penny Watson gave me the dirtiest look,” Annie said, regaling us all with tales of her new boyfriend.
“Are you sure he said pretty and not shitty?” Isaac quipped, grinning over the rim of his glass.
Annie glared at him and then turned to me. “Why does he still live with us?” she asked.
“Because he’s my baby and I love him. You still live with me because I promised your dad I wouldn’t throw you out, not until you could fend for yourself. Seeing as you still can’t make your bed properly, or manage to get dirty clothes into the washing basket, you have to stay a little longer.”
Dex grinned, Isaac and Charlie laughed, and my mum pulled Annie into a hug, kissing her temple.
“Take no notice of the horrible woman,” Mum soothed. “She doesn’t mean it Princess.”
“And that is exactly why she is a princess,” I replied.
So far so good, as far as the big family dinner was concerned. Mum had preened and flirted with Dex and he had flirted back. Even Annie seemed enamored with him, telling him all about her plans to do business at University.
“Mum’s always being mean to me, Nana,” Annie announced. “She much prefers the boys – her little princes.”
“I don’t,” I cried. “I find you all equally annoying.”
Charlie grinned. “Except for me, hey Mum.”
He looked up through his fringe with big, expressive, brown pools and it melted my heart. He was the most loveable kid, who was always trying to do the right thing by both me and his dad. My sweet natured boy.
“Yeah, Mummy’s favorite,” Annie grunted.
I looked at Isaac, who was sitting quietly, watching us all and our conversation on the night that he was arrested came back to haunt me.
“I love you all,” I stated, ruffling Charlie’s hair. “I couldn’t imagine, for one minute, what my life would be like without any of you. You’re my life; all three of you.”
Dex reached for my hand and squeezed it, understanding where my emotion was coming from.
“They’re still your favorites,” Annie stated, pretty forcefully.
“Oh Annie, they’re not and you know it. I don’t have a favorite.”
“Yes you do, and it’s not me.” Her voice rose, causing me to rear back. “You always take their side,” she continued.
I looked at her and saw consternation on her face. She actually believed what she was saying.
“You can’t really think that,” I protested.
