culpables years later

Nick

When Noah and Jenna explained their plan to me, I almost fell off my chair. Of course, I'd send my vulnerable pregnant wife to a bar so they could go partying. I didn't! I understood why they both did that. It was for Jenna to cheer them up. But I couldn't just let them both go. Of course, if Steve came along or I would. But they were both stubborn and I couldn't stop them anyway.

Noah stood in front of me, waiting for an answer. I appreciated her asking me first, or letting me know. ,,I couldn't stop you guys, could I? Steve is definitely with you. And every hour you text me saying you're okay. I trust you, Noah. Have a nice night. Don't drink and take care of our baby." Noah hugged me and laughed. ,,Thank you. Have a great night with Andrew. I love you both so much. And Nick? Maybe write Lion. He's not feeling well right now. He needs his best friend." Lion was like a brother to me. He's family. I had to forgive him, no matter what. He needs someone to be there for him, and that's who I am. I nodded to her, gave her a kiss and she went upstairs. I ran my hand over my face and went to the fridge. Noah had made her famous pasta. Even though Noah didn't cook that much, I loved it even more when she did.

While I was warming up the food, there was laughter upstairs. I loved the laughter of my wife and son. I always wanted that. When I was younger, I often ate dinner alone. My mum was away and my dad was at work. I ate in the kitchen with our staff, who became like family to me. They listened to me and gave me a sense of love and belonging.

They cared about me. As I got older, I realised that they often stayed at our home longer than necessary because of me. I didn't like my nanny and they knew it. They never left me alone. They were always there. They are loyal and loving. Once, on their day off, they came to a football match with me. They cheered and cheered with me. That's what I wanted for my future. A wife and kids that I can be there for and cheer them on. Even if I can't get to all of Andy's stuff or Noah's stuff sometimes, I do my best. After dinner I went upstairs to check on everyone. Noah got ready for the evening and Jenna was playing Lego with Andy in his room. I leaned against the door frame and smiled at the two of them. ,,Daddy are you playing? Or are you going to dance with Mum and Auntie?" I sat down with them on the floor and started building with them. ,,No. I'm staying with you, Mum and Aunt have earned a nice evening alone."

He nodded and continued. ,,How are you, Jenna? You know you're always welcome." Jenna tried to crack a smile but failed. ,,It's got to be somehow. But thank you. I appreciate your support." I felt sorry for her. Jenna was my longest friend and one of the most important people in my life. It was hard to see how people you care about suffer and you can't do anything about it. I never liked it. You could tell she didn't want to talk about it, she just wanted to enjoy the time with Andy, who she was petting on the head.

A few minutes later, Noah stood in the doorway wearing a beautiful figure-hugging black dress. It highlighted her belly and breasts. She looked hot. Her hair fell open past her shoulders. ,,You look beautiful, Mommy." Before I could say it, Andy had come before me. But he was definitely right.

Noah smiled proudly and embarrassed. ,,Jenna, can we go?" Jenna kissed Andy goodbye and patted me on the shoulder. Finally, Noah came down to me and Andy on the floor and kissed us both goodbye. ,,Have a great night, guys." I pulled her over to taste her lips. ,,You too, freckles." When they left, I was left alone with Andy. ,,What do we want to do, mate? You've got tomorrow off. Wishes?" He thought about it and got up to go to his DvDs. He was apparently looking for a specific one. When he found one, he brought it to me. ,,Can we watch "The Lion King"? With popcorn?"

I grinned and took him on my shoulders. His laughter filled the house. He ended up on the sofa while I took care of the snacks. At the end, we sat on the couch, arm in arm, watching a movie. But as usual, Andrew fell asleep in the middle of the movie. When I wasn't allowed to wake him, I kept checking my phone. Steve and Noah had texted me that everything was OK. That made me very relieved, but I was always worried. My gaze went from my phone to Andy, who was asleep. Noah was right. He was my exact likeness. From day one, I was in love with him. He and Noah were my life. Since he wasn't supposed to be sleeping downstairs in the living room, I carried him into his bed. I covered him up and turned on his little star light, and just as I was about to leave the room, Andy stopped me. ,,Dad? Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?" How could I say no to that? I nodded, took off my shoes and lay down next to him. ,,Goodnight, sweetheart." He cuddled me and yawned. ,,Goodnight, Dad." Even though I didn't want to fall asleep in his bed, I still fell asleep deep and hard. And I slept through until the next morning. I didn't even wake up when Noah and Jenna came back. Totally drunk.

When I woke up at about eight o'clock in the morning, I got up to make myself a coffee. But Noah came to my mind first, so I went into our bedroom. Noah was sleeping peacefully and Jenna had an arm wrapped around her and snored. I was supposed to be in her place. Tired, I went into the kitchen to wake up. Steve was gone. He had the day off. I almost tripped over clothes on the floor. Interesting. Jenna's skirt and Noah's shoes. Jenna's shoes and Noah's jacket. You'd think the two had a passionate night and left a trail of love. I put everything aside and went to the coffee machine.

Nick

When Noah and Jenna explained their plan to me, I almost fell off my chair. Of course, I'd send my vulnerable pregnant wife to a bar so they could go partying. I didn't! I understood why they both did that. It was for Jenna to cheer them up. But I couldn't just let them both go. Of course, if Steve came along or I would. But they were both stubborn and I couldn't stop them anyway.

Noah stood in front of me, waiting for an answer. I appreciated her asking me first, or letting me know. ,,I couldn't stop you guys, could I? Steve is definitely with you. And every hour you text me saying you're okay. I trust you, Noah. Have a nice night. Don't drink and take care of our baby." Noah hugged me and laughed. ,,Thank you. Have a great night with Andrew. I love you both so much. And Nick? Maybe write Lion. He's not feeling well right now. He needs his best friend." Lion was like a brother to me. He's family. I had to forgive him, no matter what. He needs someone to be there for him, and that's who I am. I nodded to her, gave her a kiss and she went upstairs. I ran my hand over my face and went to the fridge. Noah had made her famous pasta. Even though Noah didn't cook that much, I loved it even more when she did.

While I was warming up the food, there was laughter upstairs. I loved the laughter of my wife and son. I always wanted that. When I was younger, I often ate dinner alone. My mum was away and my dad was at work. I ate in the kitchen with our staff, who became like family to me. They listened to me and gave me a sense of love and belonging.

They cared about me. As I got older, I realised that they often stayed at our home longer than necessary because of me. I didn't like my nanny and they knew it. They never left me alone. They were always there. They are loyal and loving. Once, on their day off, they came to a football match with me. They cheered and cheered with me. That's what I wanted for my future. A wife and kids that I can be there for and cheer them on. Even if I can't get to all of Andy's stuff or Noah's stuff sometimes, I do my best. After dinner I went upstairs to check on everyone. Noah got ready for the evening and Jenna was playing Lego with Andy in his room. I leaned against the door frame and smiled at the two of them. ,,Daddy are you playing? Or are you going to dance with Mum and Auntie?" I sat down with them on the floor and started building with them. ,,No. I'm staying with you, Mum and Aunt have earned a nice evening alone."

He nodded and continued. ,,How are you, Jenna? You know you're always welcome." Jenna tried to crack a smile but failed. ,,It's got to be somehow. But thank you. I appreciate your support." I felt sorry for her. Jenna was my longest friend and one of the most important people in my life. It was hard to see how people you care about suffer and you can't do anything about it. I never liked it. You could tell she didn't want to talk about it, she just wanted to enjoy the time with Andy, who she was petting on the head.

A few minutes later, Noah stood in the doorway wearing a beautiful figure-hugging black dress. It highlighted her belly and breasts. She looked hot. Her hair fell open past her shoulders. ,,You look beautiful, Mommy." Before I could say it, Andy had come before me. But he was definitely right.

Noah smiled proudly and embarrassed. ,,Jenna, can we go?" Jenna kissed Andy goodbye and patted me on the shoulder. Finally, Noah came down to me and Andy on the floor and kissed us both goodbye. ,,Have a great night, guys." I pulled her over to taste her lips. ,,You too, freckles." When they left, I was left alone with Andy. ,,What do we want to do, mate? You've got tomorrow off. Wishes?" He thought about it and got up to go to his DvDs. He was apparently looking for a specific one. When he found one, he brought it to me. ,,Can we watch "The Lion King"? With popcorn?"

I grinned and took him on my shoulders. His laughter filled the house. He ended up on the sofa while I took care of the snacks. At the end, we sat on the couch, arm in arm, watching a movie. But as usual, Andrew fell asleep in the middle of the movie. When I wasn't allowed to wake him, I kept checking my phone. Steve and Noah had texted me that everything was OK. That made me very relieved, but I was always worried. My gaze went from my phone to Andy, who was asleep. Noah was right. He was my exact likeness. From day one, I was in love with him. He and Noah were my life. Since he wasn't supposed to be sleeping downstairs in the living room, I carried him into his bed. I covered him up and turned on his little star light, and just as I was about to leave the room, Andy stopped me. ,,Dad? Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?" How could I say no to that? I nodded, took off my shoes and lay down next to him. ,,Goodnight, sweetheart." He cuddled me and yawned. ,,Goodnight, Dad." Even though I didn't want to fall asleep in his bed, I still fell asleep deep and hard. And I slept through until the next morning. I didn't even wake up when Noah and Jenna came back. Totally drunk.

When I woke up at about eight o'clock in the morning, I got up to make myself a coffee. But Noah came to my mind first, so I went into our bedroom. Noah was sleeping peacefully and Jenna had an arm wrapped around her and snored. I was supposed to be in her place. Tired, I went into the kitchen to wake up. Steve was gone. He had the day off. I almost tripped over clothes on the floor. Interesting. Jenna's skirt and Noah's shoes. Jenna's shoes and Noah's jacket. You'd think the two had a passionate night and left a trail of love. I put everything aside and went to the coffee machine.