Change In Plans

“It’s about time!” Harriet exclaimed when Jordan and I slowly made our way into the living room where she was sitting with John. “Now if you’ll just get your shoes on, we can all go out for breakfast.” She elbowed her husband in the side before standing up and straightening her shirt out. Looking around, she frowned. “Jordan, where’s Jenna?”

Jordan shot me a confused look. “She’s still sleeping mom,” he said slowly.

There was a hint of frustration in her voice when she told him to go wake Jenna up and get her ready.

“No mom,” he replied firmly. “I’m not waking Jenna up. We didn’t put her to bed at her usual time last night and I really don’t want to risk her being cranky or whiney all day.”

Harriet told him that it wouldn’t hurt Jenna or him if he woke her up now.

“It’ll have to wait mom, I’m not waking her up.” He tugged on my hand as he spoke. When I looked up at him, he motioned towards the unoccupied arm charm before continuing to ‘lecture’ his parents. “If you wanted to take us out for breakfast this morning, you should’ve called or even told me about it last night. Anna and I already have plans for today you know.”

“Well,” his mom huffed. “I didn’t think that taking a few minutes to enjoy a meal with your parents was asking too much.”

“It’s not mom -” he started but Harriet was already on her way towards the kitchen mumbling something along the lines ‘inconsiderate children’. “Mom!” He dropped my hand and went after her saying that he wasn’t inconsiderate. “I’m just trying to do what’s best for my daughter. She’s sleeping and I’m not going to wake her, I would think you would understand that.”

His mother spun around, “Oh I understand alright!” She snapped as she waved her finger in front of his face. “You don’t think I know anything about having babies? I had three! And two of them were at the same time! I know all about babies and what happens when they don’t get their sleep Jordan! But that didn’t stop me from going out to breakfast with my parents or John’s parents!”

“Stop it Harriet!” John shoved off the couch and came around to stand with his back towards me as he spoke to his wife. “It’s not a big deal; we’ll just make plans for another day. Now,” he reached out his hand and slipped it around Harriet’s shoulder. “Let’s go and give Jordan and Anna some time alone.”

“Mom, Dad,” Jordan looked upset when he turned towards me as they walked into the kitchen and out of sight.

“Do you want to go have breakfast with them?” I asked him quietly.

“Well…” he shrugged and nodded at the same time. “I don’t recall the last time my parents came to visit me Anna.”

“Jordy,” I sighed, he looked so sad, I had to hug him. “It’ll be ok,” I told him as I moved from the couch to where he was in no time and wrapped my arms around him.

“We’ll see you later,” his dad called from the porch.

“Tell them to hold on,” I told him as an idea struck me. He did as I asked and then gave me a puzzled look. “Why don’t you make breakfast?” I asked him. “That’s what we were planning on this morning,” I reminded him. “You were going to cook breakfast before I had to run to take the kids to the lake.”

“Great idea!” He kissed my forehead before turning to disappear into the kitchen to talk to his parents.

I had started to follow him, to help him convince his parents to stay here for breakfast instead, but started to think about it and I figured that maybe it was best for me to let him handle it himself. I turned around and went back to sit down.

Not even five minutes later I was joined by Harriet - she looked shell shocked. “Harriet?” I placed my hand on her shoulder gently and gave her a questioning look. “What’s wrong?”

“I -” she looked over her shoulder and then back at me. “Go peek into the kitchen and tell me what you see.”

I hesitated.

“Go,” she said. “Please tell me I’m not imagining things.”

That aroused my curiosity.

As I made my way towards the entrance to the kitchen, Harriet turned around and watched me. As I turned the corner, my eyes scanned the kitchen and I froze. I swear to God nothing - and I mean absolutely nothing - could’ve prepared me for what I saw.

“I’m not imagining it, am I?”

I blinked a couple times and shook my head in disbelief. Harriet came over and watched along with me as Jordan and John stood together in the kitchen working on making breakfast for us. I looked to her for some explanation - John never did anything with Jordan. Never.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “One minute we are leaving and then Jordan is telling us he was going to cook breakfast for you and he really wanted us to stay. The next thing I know, John is telling me to join you in the living room, he was going to help Jordan.”

As I stood there frozen in spot, listening to his mom, Jordan glanced over his shoulder, caught my eye and smiled. For the first time in his life, Jordan was actually happy to be in the same room with his dad.

It was all so overwhelming. Knowing how long Jordan wanted his father to want to do something with him. I had to walk away before I cried.