Chapter Text
"Mommy! Mommy! Get up! You said we would make breakfast!" Her daughter yells enthusiastically. She was just seven years old but was so smart for her age. Spitting image of her mommy, but has the personality of her mama.
Josie mumbled "five more minutes."
"No mommy come on!" Amy pushes on her mom’s shoulders wanting her to turn around.
Josie moved around a bit and then opens her eyes slowly. She starts to smirk slowly and begins to tickle her daughter.
"I've got you now!" Josie says excitedly continuing to tickle her daughter as she hears her laughter, until she hears Ryan calling for her in the next room.
Ryan is about three years old and was really starting to talk and make full sentences. He has Josie’s caring personality always worried about making sure everyone is okay.
Josie stops tickling Amy and makes her way out of the bed.
"Okay let's go check on your brother and make breakfast." Josie tells Amy as she starts to head towards the kitchen to help her mom.
Before Josie gets fully out of bed, she sighs trying to prepare herself to take care of her two children. Her and her wife are "taking a break" for the time being.
Josie thought back to the day that they separated, and she could remember it perfectly……
Flashback
It was a Wednesday night, Penelope said that she would be home from work to have dinner with her family. Josie was preparing dinner hoping that this would be there new beginning to get things right.
As Josie was getting dinner ready, she kept looking at the clock seeing as how it was starting to get closer and closer to the time that Penelope should be home. After getting the table set, she went to go check on Amy and Ryan who were in the living room. Amy was watching TV and Ryan was playing with his trucks.
After checking on them she decided to just text Penelope asking her when she thought she would be home.
After about an hour of waiting Josie started to get worried so she tried calling her. Her attempts to reach her wife failed when the calls went straight to voicemail.
Penelope had her own law firm and she had just signed a few new clients that she has been dealing with for the past few months.
Once Josie sets her phone on the counter, she shook her head trying to keep herself composed. She didn't want to keep her kids waiting any longer for dinner, so she went to get Amy and Ryan and have them come to the kitchen.
"Amy come sit at the table while I get Ryan so we can eat." Josie said trying not to sound upset about Penelope.
"Okay mommy, but where is mama?" Amy asks. Josie wipes her eyes and picks up Ryan as she thinks of how to explain this to her daughter once again.
"She is just working late, but she will be home in just a little bit okay sweetie." Josie says hoping that will be enough. When she sees Amy nod, she feels relieved that she doesn't have to explain anything more.
Amy sat at the table and started eating while Josie fed Ryan and made small talk with her children.
After eating for a bit Josie looks at her phone one more time picking it up and looking at the screen that shows she has no new messages. She sets the phone down looking back at her daughter who continues to talk animatedly about her day.
After a few more minutes Josie knows she needs to get her kids ready for bed.
"Alright baby go get ready for bed while I get Ryan ready and then I'll come tuck you in okay?" Josie says to her daughter as she starts to gather their plates and puts them in the sink.
"Okay mommy." Amy starts to get up and head to the bathroom to start brushing her teeth.
Josie goes over to Ryan and takes his plate and puts it in the sick. “Come on big guy time for bed.” Josie says as she lifts him out of his booster seat and sets him on the floor.
“You help me mommy.” Ryan says as he puts his hand out.
“Of course.” Josie smiles as she takes his hand and takes him to his room.
“Let’s get your pjs on sweetie.” Josie undresses him and puts his pajamas on.
“Alright jump in.” Josie smiles as Ryan jumps into bed and tucks him in.
“You read to me mommy?” Ryan asks as she sees his eyes starting to glass over from how tired he is.
“How about I rub back for a bit because your sister needs me to tuck her in too.” Josie tells her son as he just nods already falling asleep.
She sits next to his bed rubbing his back for a few minutes before she sees his breathing steady. She leans over and gives him a kiss. “Love you buddy.” She says as she goes to check on her daughter. She walks into her bedroom to see Amy putting on her pajamas that she left on her bed.
"Hey honey, you are such a big girl brushing your teeth and getting ready for bed." Josie smiles as she makes her way over to Amy to finish helping her get her shirt over her head.
"Alright lay down and I will read you a story before saying goodnight." Josie goes to sit next to the bed.
After Josie tucks Amy in she reads her a story. Josie goes to give Amy a kiss on her forehead when she calls her name.
"Mommy" Amy whispers.
"Yes sweetie?" Josie asks her daughter while stroking her hair.
"Why is mama gone all of the time?" Amy asks sadly.
Josie thinks about how to explain this to her daughter in the best way possible.
"Well honey, sometimes your mama has to work a lot so that we can have nice things, like this house and the tv that we watch every night. So, she isn't home as much as she wants to be." Josie says not knowing what else to say.
"I want to spend more time with her." Amy says looking sadly at her mom. The look Amy is giving Josie is breaking her heart.
"I know baby, and I will tell your mama that you want too okay. Why don't you and your mama just go to the park on Saturday and spend some time together?" Josie suggests.
When she sees the smile on her daughter’s face, she knows she's said the right thing.
"That would be fun." Amy replies content with Josie’s answer.
"Okay well I'll tell her when she gets home, but you just go to sleep and I'll see you in the morning." Josie says as she gives her daughter one last kiss.
"I love you mommy." Amy says as she starts to close her eyes.
"I love you too sweetie." Josie says as she gets off the floor and makes her way to the kitchen.
Josie is beyond upset at this point knowing that her wife is disappointing not only her but her children, which makes her even more frustrated.
As Josie starts to clean up the kitchen, she hears the front door open. When she sees Penelope walking in it makes Josie's blood boil.
"Hey Josie, I'm sorry I'm so late, things got kind of hectic at work." Penelope says dropping her bag on the kitchen counter.
Josie doesn’t respond right away as she finishes the dishes she has in front of her.
“What did you guys have for dinner?” Penelope continues to walk into the kitchen opening up the refrigerator.
Josie walks over to the refrigerator and shuts it looking at Penelope in the process not able to control her emotions. Penelope takes a step back surprised by Josie’s reaction.
"I tried calling you and left you three voicemails, you couldn't check your phone just once?!" Josie says with anger staring right at her wife.
Penelope looked at Josie and moved closer after her initial reaction starting to apologize. Josie stood there for a second thinking about forgiving her wife right there, but when she smelt alcohol on her breath she pulled away.
"Have you been drinking?" Josie asked pushing Penelope back.
"Well we just signed a huge client so we decided to go out for a few drinks; I couldn't say no, they all wanted to celebrate." Penelope says nonchalantly not thinking it was that big of a deal.
"Really Penelope! All the problems that we've been having and you're going to go out for drinks instead of trying to fix the relationship with your wife and two children!" Josie said pacing back and forth.
Penelope moved towards Josie grabbing her hands trying to calm her down. "No Josie it's not like that! Of course I wanted to come home and be with my family, but I couldn't just leave!"
"Yes, you could have!" Josie yells while pulling away sighing in the process.
“I have to work Josie; I can’t just leave my clients. I’m trying my best.” Penelope starts to argue.
“Really Penelope? I told you to hire another lawyer to help your firm months ago, and it’s always I don’t need help, I don’t want anyone else taking on my cases. It’s like our family comes second and I’m tired of it. I work too, and you don’t see me making excuses as to why I can’t be with our family.” Josie lays it out there knowing this conversation was a long time coming.
Josie pauses for a second composing herself before she finishes.
"The thing is, it's not so much me that I'm worried about, it’s Amy and Ryan. You know tonight Amy asked me where you were, it's the first time she sounded worried, and I hate having to act like everything's okay." Josie said with tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry Josie.” Penelope starts to say not knowing what else to do.
This happens all the time and Josie always forgives Penelope right away, but there is something different about tonight.
“Sorry won’t work this time. If it was once or twice, I would understand, but you’ve missed so many moments in our kids’ lives, so many dinners, so much of everything. If it was just me then fine, but you won't do that to our kids. They are getting older and know when you aren’t home.” Josie pauses before saying the next line. “I think maybe you should stay with your sister for a few days."
Penelope looks confused. “What? No. We can work this out, I'm not just leaving my family." Penelope says starting to get a little angry.
Josie looks at Penelope with sad eyes "Look Penelope it would just be for a few days, I think we need some time apart and maybe that's what you need to see how your life would be without us in it." Josie says sadly.
All Penelope can do is look at Josie not knowing nothing is going to change her mind. Clearly, she has thought about her decision and arguing about it won’t make things different.
"I will bring you a blanket and pillow to sleep on." Josie looks to Penelope one more time before she starts to walk into their bedroom.
Penelope isn’t believing what is happening and just goes to sit on the couch still thinking about everything that just happened in the last five minutes.
Josie comes back out with a blanket and pillow and sets it on the couch.
“Josie.” Penelope says as she turns towards Josie one more time. “Just a few days right?” Penelope asks timidly, completely opposite of how she is at work every single day.
“Yes, just a few days.” Josie smiles weakly, hoping that’s true, before going back to their bedroom.
Thank night Penelope tossed and turned thinking about all the nights she wasn’t with her family and trying to understand how it got to this point. She doesn’t know what to do, but she will think of something.
The next morning Josie comes out first before she wakes up the kids. She walks over to Penelope and shakes her shoulder gently. “Penelope, Penelope.” Josie whispers as Penelope begins to stir.
“Hey.” Penelope smiles up at Josie, but then remembers last night and sits up.
“I need to get the kids up for school and I would rather they not see you sleeping on the couch, that would just confuse them more.” Josie says as Penelope nods.
“Maybe I can help you?” Penelope asks as she sits up a bit more looking to Josie.
Josie looks to Penelope and looks at the time. “Do you have time?” Josie asks knowing Penelope always has something for work every morning.
“What time is it?” Penelope asks as she starts to stand.
“7.” Josie responds.
“Already? I need to go get a shower.” Penelope says as she starts to make her way into their bedroom before turning back to Josie. “I’m sorry.” Penelope whispers back.
“It’s always I’m sorry, I’ll take care of them.” Josie responds as Penelope turns towards the bedroom.
Josie shakes her head and in that moment, realizes she is making the right decision. By the time Penelope gets out of the shower Josie is already gone with the kids leaving a note telling her that she wanted her out of the house by the time she got off work. Penelope shakes her head telling herself this is only temporary.
"Mommy? Mommy?" Amy says while shaking her shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Amy asks as she’s been trying to get her moms attention for the past five minutes.
Josie shakes her head and looks at her daughter. "Nothing sweetie just thinking about some things. You ready to help me make some pancakes?!" Josie asks trying to show some excitement.
"Yes!" Amy yells running into the kitchen ready to cook.
It has been almost a month since Penelope has been gone, she didn't think it would have lasted this long.