Author's Note: Sorry for the extra, extra, extra long delay. I've been blocked and busy, but mostly blocked and unmotivated but now I'm ready! Enjoy!

Eight Weeks

Bad Day

With one daughter nestled close in a seemingly fitful slumber and the other chomping down on her breast, Allison finally nestled herself into the soft, cloud-like pillows that she strategically placed on her side of the bed. Jack, like Jenna, was knocked out cold—thanks to the soothing pain pill he was prescribed after his little incident. She admitted, only to herself, that the pill was mostly her doing. As Jack's wife, she definitely knew how juvenile he could become when faced with only the slightest bit of pain. Every now and then, when he'd be in the midst of listing his grievances, she'd think how he'd probably die if he knew the excruciating, unbearable agony of childbirth—which she just experienced less than a month ago.

It goes without saying that the past week for her had been something akin to a tornado and hurricane amidst a world of natural disasters. With Jack out of commission—atleast with the big things—she'd been on supermom status. She'd have little Sophia strapped to her while chasing after Jenna, who'd been relentlessly annoying Kevin all week while he worked on his science project; in the kitchen of all places. She'd urged him to do it in his room, but he insisted that the kitchen was a much better environment for him. Jack, bless his soul, tried his very best to stay as out of her way and invisible as possible. And he did help the best way he could which consisted of holding the baby once she got too tired of toting her around, feeding her, keeping Jenna occupied, or whatever else he could do while sitting around.

Zzzz-Zzzzz

Allison opened her eyes and turned her head toward the offending object.

Zzzz-Zzzzz

Jack's phone was lit up and vibrating on her bedside table. Careful not to disturb the baby, Allison picked it up and brought it to her ear.

"Zoe?"

"Allison," she answered, surprised. "I thought I called dad, I'm—"

"You did, Zoe. What's going on?"

She could hear what sounded like wind blowing into the phone.

"I'm sorry to wake you . . . I'll just call Jo—"

"Zoe," Allison called sternly. "What is going on?"

"No-nothing, really."

Allison sat up a little straighter, her eyes full of concern.

"I hear it in your voice. Something is wrong and you're going to tell me."

Sniff. "I . . . I've been in an accident—"

"WHAT?"

"It's not bad, I'm not hurt. It's just—I skidded off the road into a huge pile of snow and my car won't start, or move."

"Where are you?" she asked kicking herself into gear.

"No, don't come, Allison, please. I'm gonna call Jo."

"Where are you?" she asked again, ignoring her previous statement.

"About half an hour outside of Eureka."

"I'll be there in a little bit. Stay in your car, lock the doors, and don't move."

"Okay."

Zoe released a shaky breath of relief as her step-mother's SUV pulled up in front of her car, the headlights almost blinding her. Wrapped up in a heavy coat, Zoe opened the door and stepped out the car as Allison did the same.

"Are you okay?" Allison asked as she embraced the trembling young girl.

"Yea, I'm fine. Freezing, though."

"Let's get you into the car."

"Just let me get my bags—"

"I've got them. You just get in the car."

"Allison—"

"Zoe, go."

Doing as she was told, Zoe climbed into the warm car and put the heat up as high as it could go. Moments later, after placing her bags in the back, Allison climbed into the driver's seat and pulled off.

"I'll get Henry to tow it tomorrow morning."

Zoe's only response was a barely noticeable nod.

". . . What were you doing traveling this late at night, Zoe? I thought you were leaving Portland tomorrow morning."

"I decided to come back sooner."

"And put yourself in danger? Not only is it freezing cold outside, but it's snowing like crazy. The roads are—"

"I know, Allison," she snapped. ". . .I'm sorry—"

"It's okay. But I think I have a right to know what's going on. I mean what's really going on. And if you say 'nothing' let me remind you that I've known you for a very pretty long time. Long enough to know that when you say 'nothing' it's usually something."

". . . I've just had a really shi—bad day—that's all."

"Care to elaborate?"

"I got into a fight with my mom and her fiancé. He's a real ass and I strongly dislike him. I think she can do ten times better than that jerk. She wanted me to be her maid of honor and I said no and she was so disappointed and sad for like the remainder of the weekend so he took it upon himself to confront me. Well, I don't really like being confronted—and the way he did it was just so rude. Long story short, the argument escalated, I punched him in his nose, then left."

"You punched him in his nose?"

"He deserved it. He called me a bitch and went on to insult my father, who, I might add, has nothing to do with him or my mother and was not there to defend himself."

"Zoe—"

"I'm not apologizing. He got what he deserved and I feel much better because of it."

"You know your father's going to strongly suggest that you apologize."

"Yea, but I'm not doing it. I don't want anything to do with him or her."

"You don't mean that."

"Of course I do. As long as he's in her life, she can consider me out of hers."

"I think you'll see it differently after a good night's rest."

"I hope not," she mumbled. ". . . Do you want me to drive? You look exhausted."

Allison gave her a small smile. "No, I think I've got it under control."

TBC

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