Chapter 32

Glancing around the table, Jon was pleased to see the kids were making an effort to include Cilla in their chatter. The only one who wasn’t talking was Romeo. He was picking at his plate and scowling at Cilla every chance he got. Cilla glanced over and caught one of his glares and Jon saw her frown slightly.

When dinner was through the kids all took their plates and put them in the sink before disappearing. Jon took Romeo to help him wash up and then led him into his room. “Romeo, what’s going on? Why don’t you like Cilla?” Romeo sat on his bed next to his father, “why does she have to be here?” Jon looked down at his son, “I like her. She’s my friend.”

Romeo looked down at the floor, he didn’t understand why his parents couldn’t live in the same house anymore, why there was a different man at his mom’s house and now there was this Cilla person at his dad’s. “Do I have to like her?” Jon pulled Romeo onto his lap, “I can’t make you like anyone, but you do need to be nice to her.” Romeo lifted his head and blue eyes met blue and Jon hugged his son, “I know this is a lot of change for you bud.” Romeo wrapped his arms around his father’s neck, “I wish you would come home dad. Then everything could be like it used to be.”

Jon tightened his hold on his son, how do you explain to a four-year old that mommy and daddy didn’t love each other anymore, not like a mommy and daddy should anyway. He and Dot had tried to explain it to him and Jake and they thought they had done a fairly good job. Obviously they had been mistaken.

Jon cleared his throat, swallowing back the emotion that Romeo’s troubled questions had raised, “you know mommy and I both love you, right?” Romeo nodded his head, “yeah.” Jon rubbed his hand up and down his son’s back, “mommy and I just can’t be together anymore bud. I know you and your brothers and sister wish we could, but we just can’t. But we’ll always love you guys and be there for you. Okay?” Again Romeo nodded, “okay.”

Jon stood, setting Romeo on his feet, “do you think you could try to be nice to Cilla, for me?” Romeo looked up at his dad, “I guess.” He stopped and thought for a minute, “she’s the cookie lady, right?” Jon’s lips twitched as he tried not to smile, “yes, she is. Why?” Romeo took his dad’s hand, “did she bring any tonight?” Together they walked down the hall, “she did.” Romeo smiled, “did she bring enough?” Jon laughed and swung his son up onto his hip as walked down the stairs, “let’s go see bud.”

Cilla was in the kitchen finishing the dishes when Jon and Romeo walked in. “You didn’t have to do the dishes” Jon told her as he reached for the pink box. “I would have taken care of them later.” Cilla turned to wave him off and stopped when she noticed Romeo on his hip, “you cooked, the least I could do was clean up. Hi Romeo.” She was surprised when he smiled at her, “dad said you brought cookies.” She nodded and reached to take the box from Jon, “I did. Would you like one?” He nodded his head, “yes. Please.”

Cilla put the box on the table, “why don’t you pick out the one you want?” Jon set Romeo down and he climbed up on the chair next to Cilla. He peered into the box and then glanced over at Cilla, “is there enough?” Confused, Cilla looked over at Jon. He smiled, “there was a bit of an argument the last time one of those pink boxes was in the house. Romeo and Jake ended up having to share a cookie.” Cilla nodded in understanding and turned back to Romeo, “there are two cookies for each of you. You won’t have to share yours with Jake.” Romeo grinned at Cilla and then reached for his two cookies.

After the kids had all gotten their share of cookies Jon shooed Stephanie and Jesse off to their rooms and he got Jake and Romeo settled in bed. When he got back the living room was empty. He looked in the kitchen and the cookie mess had been cleaned up, but again, no Cilla. Where is she? Glancing out the window he found her standing at the edge of the roof leaning on the wide ledge. Slipping out the sliding glass door he crept up behind her, “hey.” She turned, “everyone settled?”

Jon nodded and wrapped his arms around her, “Jake and Romeo are in bed and Steph and Jesse are doing Lord only knows what in their rooms.” Cilla rested her cheek against his chest, “I should go Jon. I don’t want to, but I should.” He knew it was getting late for her but he didn’t relax his hold. “I know you need your sleep” he said as he brushed his lips against her head, “but can you stick around for a little bit longer. We’re finally alone.” She tilted her head up and met his lips with hers, “I’ll stay for a few more minutes.”

Taking her hands in his, Jon led Cilla to one of the lounge chairs. Sitting with one leg stretched along the length of the chair Jon tugged Cilla down to sit with him, cuddling her against his chest. “Thanks for coming tonight and being so patient with Romeo.” Cilla’s fingers caressed the soft denim of his shirt, “I had a nice time tonight Jon. You’ve got great kids.” With his fingers under her chin Jon tilted her head up and his mouth met hers in a soft whisper of a kiss, “thank you.”