Hudson

"How would you like to go hang out with one of my friends today?" I asked Jake.

"Will Gage be there?" He was packing his hot wheel cars into his backpack.

"No, I'm afraid not, but we are going to Joey's house," I said.

"Okay, I guess, but there won't be any kids?" He asked.

"Mason and Serenity will be there today," I said.

"Dad, they're grown-ups too. Not like you and Mommy, but they don't play games."

"I guess we won't know for sure until we get there, will we?" I asked.

"I guess."

"Come on, let's go," I said to the kid who slept the morning away.

We drove up to the ranch, and Jake about jumped out of his seat. "Wow! Does the President live here?" He lit up.

"No, just the Lattire family," I said.

I am so nervous, my hands are shaking, but I have to keep my cool.

Joey stepped outside with Mason when we arrived, and Jake tried to play the shy kid, but we both know he's anything but shy.

"Mason." I shook his hand, and he shook it back.

"Joey." She actually hugged me, but quickly. It felt like a band-aid being ripped off me.

"Mason, why don't you show Jake the barn. We still have two horses left, if it's okay with you, Hudson." Joey said.

"Sure, have fun," I said.

Both of my sons' walked away.

"You're right, Mason knows. We had a chat a bit ago, and he knows everything. He even confirmed Jackson's involvement with the firearms. He said he's glad you're his father." she said.

I felt a weight lift off me.

I looked over, and saw Mason put Jake on his shoulders.

"Damn, they're brothers."

I looked back around, and saw that Joey wasn't looking too good. "What's wrong?"

She turned toward the house. "Hey, talk to me." She looked up at me with so much sorrow.

"Every moment of my pregnancy, I thought about you. How I wished we could have gone through that together, then being alone when they were born, was even worse.

Every second of every day, I wished for you to be at my side. You didn't even know our babies, but you experienced all of that with another woman." She cried.

"I don't know what to say." I really don't.

"Were you there when he was born? When he took his first breath, and they laid him in his mother's arms?" She asked.

"Joey, don't do this. It's not fair to make me answer that." I said.

"Did you cut the cord, and cry the first time you heard his cries?" she asked.

I'm thinking Joey might need more than I can give her at this point.

"Yes, but what you don't know, is that I never let you go. You were in my every thought, and when I married her, I was grieving for you. When I found out she was pregnant, I wished it was you, and when she gave birth, I imagined you holding our baby. It was unfair to Hannah, and I see that now. You can't take me to that place, Joey. I can't sit here and think about the what if's, or I'll go crazy. I missed your pregnancy, their birth, their first steps, and their first birthdays. We both were cheated, but we can't focus on that, we have to focus on what's happening right now." I said.

"I'm sorry, I just don't know how to do this, Hudson. Maybe this isn't a good idea." She starts crying harder, and I pulled her into my arms.

"There is no right way, but we don't have a choice." I held her tightly.

"While I was being raped, you were replacing me." She cried.

I pulled back. "What?"

"You married her that fall, meaning I was still pregnant. You moved on so fast, I feel replaceable."

"Joey, how could you think that or even say that to me? I have always wanted you." I said.

"I am so sorry, I shouldn't say those things, but it just hurts." She said.

"I know it hurts. Jesus, I just found out I have two kids that are almost grown. That man literally did replace me, and they don't even know me, but I am working through all those emotions. I'm not going to hold them against you. I left Hannah for war, Joey. I missed most of our marriage, and when Jake came, that didn't change. I'm trying to make it up to him now, and look what's happening. I'm trying really hard not to place blame, so don't you dare try to blame me. You made a huge mistake by not telling me, but I know you were trying to do the right thing." I am getting somewhat irritated.

"Can we start over, Hudson? Just pretend I didn't just break down?" She asked.

I looked into her eyes.

"Sure, let's just try to spend time with the kids." I said.

Maybe I should have left Jake with mom. I didn't think twice about bringing him, and the toll it put on Joey.

"Let's go inside and see what Serenity is doing. She wasn't happy with me this morning." She said.

"Why?" I asked.

"She doesn't approve of me spending time with a man other than her...Jackson." She corrected herself.

I hate that bastard.

"She's probably out by the pool, can I offer you a drink? We have water, beer, tea, and soda." She said.

"Water is fine."

She reached in the fridge and handed me one.

"All those years, and I never saw the inside of this place, other than the study." I said.

"It's ridiculous, it was actually my mom's parents home. Dad put on some additions, but its been in the family for generations." She said.

We walked out to the pool, and I saw my way too grown-up teenage daughter. "She loves the sun, we didn't see much of it in London." She said.

"I'm not sure you met Hudson last night?" She said to the girl.

Serenity stood and faced me. "Hello, you spoke with Mason, but we really didn't formally meet." She said.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Serenity." I said.

"I wish I could say the same." She said, while she stared me down then walked back toward the house.

"Serenity! I did not raise you to be so rude!" Joey yelled.

"Rude? Rude is moving in on another man's wife." She slammed the door behind her.

"I am so sorry, Hudson. I have no idea what has gotten into her lately. She's always been a spitfire, but not this bad. I'll have a talk with her." Joey said.