Chapter Sixty Nine

As we reached the yard again jess hugged me before he took off to join his brothers and sisters, but as he ran forward towards them, they came over to me. Jess stood in the middle of the lawn, spun round with his hands in the air in total disbelief, then walked back over towards me to join his siblings.
"Hey guys what's up?"
Jake spoke first, " with his hand cupped to his mouth he beckoned for me to bend so he could whisper in my ear, "who's Madison? "

Madison came over at the same time, and although she never heard what Jakey asked she knew it was about her.

I knelt beside him, as I cupped my hands and whispered back into this ear, "a friend"

he was happy with the explanation, but then said, speaking louder "well she's my team mate... we beat the other two cause were good, aint that right Maddi?"

she high fived him, "you bet your life buddy," " and where has the name Maddi come from?"

Jake spoke again, "She said it was ok, right?" he turned to look at her and Madison gave him the thumbs up...

Steph was next, "Pop can we talk?"

I knew this was gonna be a day of questions so took charge, it was not going to be easy but the kids needed to know what was going on. "Ok, look, I need to talk with you guys, I can see you all have questions right?, so go get some juice and meet me in the den ok?"

each nodded, including Jessie, who I'd already chatted with. As the kids took off,  Madison, looked anxious,

"what's wrong?"

"its clear they re gonna be asking questions about me, your wife and stuff..."

"yeah, course they will, its natural, this is a big thing for them, and there my kids babe, I have to be honest with them."

nervously she put her fingers to her lips and started to chew her nails,

"they will hate me."

"how can they hate you?" between chewing of her nails she moved her hand to speak,

"they will blame me for the splitting up of you and your wife...Oh Jon, I feel awful..."

"well don't, me and D have been done a real long time, I've been in denial that's all, you have nothing to do with my decision" then moving closer  " but you are a very welcome distraction that I am enjoying more and more."

I pulled into me and kissed her, while she tried struggling free...

"Jon, not in front of everyone.." her eyes were moving looking around to see who could be looking,

"there's no one out here just you and me..." she looked round, again to check what I said was right, then again pushed to prize my arms off her waist, "You know what I mean... stop already"

I submitted, "Ok, you win for now" I released her from my grasp, and

starting to walk away towards the house, so I  could go speak to the kids.  she called out, "you will tell me later right?"

"tell you what?"

"if they hate me or not?"

"look, they wont hate you, my kids have not been brought up that way, they have been brought up to respect their elders, and be honest and truthful and not pass judgement on stuff they know nothing about. both D and me have always encouraged asking when not sure.. so please, don't stress, everything will be ok? the kids want to know about me and their mom that's all..."

she shook her head, "ok." it was dawning on me, just how much of a task this day had been for Madison,

as I looked at her, I asked "this has been a big day for you hasn't it?"

she shook her head, "Yeah in so many ways.."

I stopped in my tracks and headed back towards Madison, reaching her I brought her into my arms, I kissed her forehead, " trust me, It will only get better... you'll see."

she studied my face, "are you always so self assured?"

"in my line of work, you have to be... " letting go of her I asked.. "you'll be good right?,"

 she shook her head, "ok, well I'm gonna go talk to the kids, look, the guys are in the studio if you wanna join them..."

she stood looking at me as she answered  " Its ok, I don't really no them that well yet, I'll just go hang out by the pool till your done,  You'll come get me right?" shaking my head I went off to talk to the kids.

Walking through the house, as I neared the den, I could hear them all chattering together,

"but pop is gonna talk about that" I heard stephs voice, as I opened the door and walked in to the den.

"I'm gonna talk about what Steph?"

"About why you and mom have split"

I sat my butt on the edge of the desk, and the kids had sat themselves in the seats the guys had used only an hour or so before, in many ways I felt like a teacher with his class, but instead it was my kids.

this was not gonna be easy but it had to be done.

starting gently I began explaining, " let me say firstly, because your mom and I are separating it in no way means either of us love you guys any less, or wont still be there for you, we both love you so much, and your needs come way before our own ok?"

"so why you splitting then pop?" Romeo asked, "there's no one reason we are not going to be together, ok, your mom and me have been together since we were kids, what starts out as forever, sometimes fades, through no fault of any person."

"so you don't love mommy any more?"

"Romeo, let dad finish"

"Its ok Steph, look guys, let me explain and then you can ask questions ok?"

all four heads shook in agreement, " Romy, its not just about love, its about respect for each other too, and the truth is, at the start your mom supported my job, she was great about me being away on tour, she was everything I could want in a wife and mother and more, but as we get older, our needs change, both mine and your moms are now going in different directions... I'll always love your mom, she gave me all of you, but I cant stay with your mom and carry on my job, which makes her unhappy..."

Jake raised his hand, "Jake no need for that bud, " he smiled, "can I ask something pop?"

I shook my head, "why is your job making mom unhappy, when it was fine before?"

"I don't know son, I cant answer that, you will have to ask your mom buddy"

Steph looked at me and asked direct, "it's not because you are with someone else is it pop?"

"no Steph its not, but let me be clear here, if your mom wants to have new male friends, she can.. ok?"

this time Jessie spoke up interrupting me.." like your friends with Madison right?"

"yeah, like I'm friends with Madison."

"why are you friends with Madison?"

all four faces studied me and waited for my answer. "why are you guys friends with your friends?"

"because there our friends?"

"well same applies with me Steph.."

"look if your all thinking that I've split with your mom because of being friends with Madison. you are all wrong, ok?, I've explained, your mom and I have just drifted apart, but what you guys need to understand is the love we both have for you will never change, you are our first priority ok?"

four faces, shook their heads, then looked at each other, " are we done?"

all four said yes, "ok then how about a big family hug and one for your old man?"  all four stood and gathered around me so we could all wrap our arms around each other. It was a great feeling and I was enjoying our moment all together, when there was a knock on the door, as it swung open, there on the other side was D. "not interrupting you all am I?"

chorus of mom, from all four, while I stood in shock at seeing my soon to be ex wife standing there in front of me.