SWNOVELS Chapter My CEO 301
301 Kids One, Winona Zero
(Winona)
"Ummm, Winona? I'm kinda hungry still."
"Wow. Okay. Look I'll make some sandwiches, okay?"
"PB and J?"
"That's not much of a dinner..." But I'm really too tired to argue.
I guess it's Kids one, Winona zero, on the dinner scale.
I go make enough sandwiches for them all and distribute them. So much for discipline. Now I'm letting them eat in their beds.
Another glance at the clock. Two hours late now. My patience is wearing thin. But I'm going to finish this evening on a happy note. I tidy the kitchen and put the dishes in the sink to soak.
I don't want to use the dishwasher all the time. We make things way too easy for ourselves. Once it's in the drainer, I go and empty the bath and get the clothes and towels into the hamper.
Then I go back past the girls' rooms and take their plates and kiss them goodnight. I tuck them in and lower their lights.
I suppose they should clean their teeth. Well, once won't hurt. I'm not getting them up again.
I go and pour myself a glass of wine and flop onto the couch. The elevator dings and Jayden comes in two and a half hours late.
"Looks like you have it all under control," he says as he places his briefcase down.
"Bobby's waiting for you," I say, sipping my wine. "You're late, and he wanted to talk."
Jayden's face falls. "Damn, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be this late." He drops his keys on the counter, running a hand through his hair. "Where is he?"
"In bed," I reply, trying not to sound too annoyed. "The girls are asleep already."
Jayden doesn't waste any time, heading to Bobby's room. I follow him quietly, leaning against the doorframe as he steps into the room. Sure enough, Bobby's curled up under the blankets. He's fast asleep. Jayden sits on the edge of the bed, guilt written all over his face. "I'll catch him tomorrow," he whispers, brushing Bobby's hair back. He looks over at me, his voice soft. "I feel like shit."
"This is what I was worried would happen," I say, keeping my voice low.
He nods, standing up and walking toward me. "I know. It's just... everything's been crazy. I didn't want to be this late tonight. It was unavoidable."
I sigh, crossing my arms. "I get it, Jayden. But you need to show up. Especially for the kids."
"I know," he says again, his eyes meeting mine. "I'll make it up to him. To you all I promise."
I just nod, not wanting to push the issue further right now. An argument won't make this night any easier.
301 Kids One, Winona Zero
+25 BONUS
"There's noodles Anne left for dinner."
"Awesome. I'm starved."
"In the microwave."
"Come sit with me while I eat."
"Sure. You can tell me all about this meeting that was so important."
We head for the kitchen. And I sit at the breakfast bar. Jayden heats his food and once it's done he sits beside me with his pate and fork. "Actually, I can't tell you much." ""What? Why?"
"Ah well, there's just a lot of confidential stuff. It's crazy. But it did all go well." He puts a large forkful he's twirled up into his mouth and chews.
"It's not like I'm going to tell anyone." I think his keeping stuff from me is ridiculous.
"Mmm." He swallows quickly and looks at the plate.
"What?" I can see he thinks the food is wrong. Why did I use that damn sauce?
"Did A
Anne change something?" Jayden pokes the noodles around his plate.
"No. Why?"
These taste. weird." He pulls a face.
"Don't you start." I've had enough of this conversation tonight.
"What?"
"The kids wouldn't eat them either. They were really acting up at dinner time. Then the bath overflowed with a whole bottle of bubble bath in it. It was tough tonight, Jayden. Anne's night off, remember?" I gush out.
He pushes his plate away. "Wow, that is really a lot. I actually did forget that. You should have text me."
"It's not like you could come home anyway." I point out.
"I guess.
T
"I added in some other sauce, I thought it would taste okay." I confess. "I really suck at this. You always seem to be able to get it all to flow better than me. I struggled tonight." "Don't be hard on yourself. Kids are challenging. You did great."
"No. Not really. But we got there I guess." I still feel like a failure. I should be able to do this.
"That's all that matters. I'll try not to have any more dinner time meetings."
Try not to? I was hoping he'd say he'd not plan meetings for dinner time again.
"Henry settled well for the night. I'm going in before the office tomorrow." I tell him.
"I can spend the whole day with him tomorrow."
2/3
301 Kids One, Wena Zero
I
"And be home for dinner?" I ask, feeling hopeful.
"Definitely. Ah...what did the kids actually eat for dinner?"
I sigh feeling super inadequate again. "Pb and J in bed,
He grins. "That sounds perfect."
"I'm not feeding you in bed."
He stands up and pulls me up into his arms. "Okay then Let's save dessert for bed."
I smile. "I suppose that can be arranged."
Maybe next time I have the kids alone things will flow better.
I'm not sure they could get much worse.
+25 BONUS
+25 BONUS
302 Old Times, New Questions