Nate casually walked up to Rick and gave him a quick hug. "Hi, Dad."

"How's it going, mate?"

"Yeah, all right." He dropped his head and went inside. Rick looked at me with a lost expression.

"What's wrong with him?"

"He crashed his bike again. He's not hurt, but the bike is. Dad is going to have a look at it during the week." Rick shook his head, and turned to go inside, still carrying Charlotte on his hip. "Don't shake your head, he's your son, he has no fear on that bike." I called out.

"You should talk, I think you have crashed more vehicles than me."

"I was supposed to back then, it was called aCrash and Bash Racing' remember?"

He opened the door and went in. "I rest my case, Alexis."

I called out after all three of them. "So I guess I'll bring in all the bags then?"

Rick came back out, minus Charlotte, and leaned up against the car as I started to unload it. "Did you get some time to think?"

Yes, but not enough time. "Yes, I did."

"And?"

"And what? Are you asking if I played aeeny, meeny, miny, moe' with the two of you?"

"No, Babe, have you made any decisions since Tuesday?"

"Yes, Rick, I have. The first one being, you cannot stay here. I want to be on my own." I lifted the suitcase up and went to drag it, but he intercepted and placed it on the ground gently.

"For how long?" He seemed to take over the unloading of the car now, not looking at me as he did it.

"For as long as I need to decide who I want to be with Rick. You might not like to hear this, but I am torn between you both, and I am not ready to commit to either one of you, so I'm becoming single again." This statement caught his attention, because he stopped grabbing bags and turned to look at me, his face displaying a little anger.

"You can't be serious?"

"Yes, I'm very serious. My wedding rings are off and staying off, I'm now officially single. So, if you want to ask me out on a date, go for it. If not, then I guess that is it. I'm not promising you anything, and I'm not promising Bryce anything either. I will continue to work and support myself, and if you don't like it Rick, well, you now have five million dollars. I'm sure you will figure something out."

"So, you want us to both fight it out for you?"

"No."

"Well that's what it sounds like."

"It can sound however you think it sounds, all I'm saying is, I'm no longer tied down to you. You untied me when you sold me, remember? If I want to go out with Bryce, I will, If you want to ask me out and I accept, then I accept. I'm starting fresh Rick, with a clean slate. I don't know how else to do it. It's either that, or we end this now."

He leaned back on the car. "Lexi, I don't want to end it now, but I don't want to share you with Bryce, either."

"He doesn't want to share me with you as well, so it works both ways. I'm not trying to play both of you, really I'm not. I'm just trying to a.s.sess who and what I want and I can't do that unless I'm free to do it."

"What have you told the kids?"

"Nothing yet, but you can stay here tonight in the spare room. Then, stay wherever you like tomorrow night and the night after that, and so on. Whether it is at your parent's house, or a nice, ritzy hotel room-part from City Precinct of course. Tomorrow night though, I think perhaps you should take the kids to see your parents. They haven't seen them in months, I'm sure they would appreciate it."

"And what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to go out with the girls."

"So, it's going to be like that is it?"

"Yes, I told you. I'm serious-you need to move out."

He shook his head again. "Fine, I'll take the kids to my Mum and Dad's house tomorrow night. You do realise you are going to have to tell the kids something soon though, Nate is not stupid."

"No, I'm not going to tell them anything, WE are going to talk to them together, and we can do it on Sunday when you bring them home." I grabbed a few of the bags and went inside.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.

After unpacking the kids suitcases and tackling aMt. Washmore', I was completely drained. I had dinner to cook, let alone determine what we were going to have, and I still had to ring Tash to find out if we were set for a night of dancing. I was actually looking forward to a day to myself tomorrow, and thought maybe I could just soak in the bath for most of it with my favourite book. Yes, you can....... But that is tomorrow, now is the time for dinner, ugh. I missed my smirky personal chef, especially right at that moment. What would he cook? Probably some delicious gourmet dish with something encrusted or infused with something else. Maybe I could conjure up something gourmet?

I went to the fridge, yep nothing in here, except for nearly expired milk, a half-eaten packet of Tim-Tams, the usual jars of condiments and a banana that looked like something that belonged flushed down the toilet. Well there goes that idea, guess what I'm doing tomorrow? Food shopping, how wonderful. I kept searching through the kitchen in the hope there would be at least one thing edible. Thankfully, I found a tray of lasagna in the freezer. I had made it weeks ago, so we ate that and all watched a movie together. The movie had been my idea, as a way to sit as a family without actually having to communicate with Rick. It was stupid, really, because if I was going to give him a fighting chance, I needed to communicate with him. I was just struggling though, it was different now, something had just died between us and I was not sure we could get that back.

Watching the movie had been slightly awkward for two reasons, one because; 50 First Dates was the only movie on TV, and two; Charli and Nate had both fallen asleep half way through the it, leaving Rick and I to watch it on our own. Rick carried Charli into bed, and we both tucked her in after moving the copious amounts of stuffed animals out of the way. Nate was next and I could see Rick strain as he lifted him.

"He's too old for this."

"You try and wake him up, it's next to impossible sometimes. He takes after you, Rick." I turned out the light. Rick closed the door behind us, and then he followed me to our room.

"You are sleeping in the spare room, remember?"

"Yes, I know. I'm just getting my pillow, is that okay?"

I felt like a b.i.t.c.h. "Sorry, of course it is." I pulled my hair tie out and noticed in the reflection of the vanity mirror that he had not yet left the room.

"What? Did you forget something else?" I smiled ever so slightly.

"You're worth fighting for, Alexis. If Henry could make Lucy fall in love with him every day in that movie we just watched, then surely I can make you fall in love with me again too." He walked over and slowly kissed me, at first I wanted to push him away, but there was something different in this kiss. It left me feeling strangely uneasy, like I was now cheating on Bryce. f.u.c.k! "Good night, Babe," he said as he left our room.

The next morning, Rick seemed different to me. He wasn't moping or s.h.i.tty, instead he seemed relieved and happy, which I found to be really strange. He explained to the kids that they were going for a sleep over at their other grandparent's house. Nate was not impressed that I would be missing the sleepover and asked why.

"I'm going out with friends, sweetheart."

"You always go out!" He had stormed off and sat in the car with his arms crossed. I blew him a kiss as Rick pulled away, but he turned his head which broke my heart. He was right, I had been going out a lot lately, and I felt terribly guilty but I had been cooped up at home for the past nine years, rarely going out at all. He'll get over it, he always does. I hoped so, I had a lot to deal with at the moment, and the last thing I needed was having to sort Nate's slight attachment issues out. I loved that he was a aMummy's Boy', but at times it got a little overbearing. Right, to-do list: grocery shopping, vacuuming, bath and defuzzing with a razor. I grabbed my bag and shopping list, and headed to the shops.

I hadn't planned on doing a full grocery shop as I was only going to get just the essentials, but before I knew it, I had piled in enough food to completely fill the trolley, and most of it was ingredients to attempt my own gourmet dishes, plus I had to stock up on back to school lunch box snacks too. I had been having a h.e.l.l of a time trying to manoeuvre the overly stacked trolley with a bung wheel, and at first I thought people were looking at me strangely because of that, but I soon realised the double looks and whispering as I pa.s.sed had absolutely nothing to do with the awkward trolley pushing. I swung the aggravating metal cart around the corner, and I nearly slammed into Lil.

"Coming through, coming through! Crazy lady with a trolley!" She stepped back against the shelves, as if to insinuate I needed the entire isle to get past.

"s.h.i.t, sorry, Lil."

"How are you doing Lex?" We gave each other a quick hug.

"Yeah, not bad, mind you I feel like I have a note stuck to my head or something. People keep giving me the weirdest looks and are whispering as I go by." I pointed out two whispering women near us.

"It's not a note, Hun, you are somewhat of a celebrity around here now. The thing is, rumours and judgments go hand in hand with stardom."

I looked at her strangely. "What the f.u.c.k are you talking about, Lil? In English, please?"

"The whole town thinks you are having an affair with your rich boss."

"What!" I shouted, then lowered my voice. "What do you mean-the whole town? Why? How?"

"You were on TV, looking very cozy with Mr. Hottie Clark, Lexi, plus you know how the aMummy Mafia' works at school."

"It's the school holidays, Lil!"

"Since when does that matter? Look, don't worry about them, Luv, it's all lies anyway." I looked at her sheepishly. "Oh, maybe it's not then?"

"Lil, so much has happened in the past fortnight, you have no idea."

"I reckon I could have some idea?"

"I doubt that. Anyway, I promise I'll fill you in tonight at dinner."

"You better." I gave her another quick hug, then took off to face the rest of the judgmental idiots that knew nothing of my life.

After putting the shopping away, a quick tidy up of the house, a complete top to toe wax session, a long soak in the bath, half a book read, and a nice cup of Chai, it was time to get ready for my night out. I flicked through my dresses and came across the navy sequined batwing dress I had nearly wished I'd worn last time we went to Opals. Perfect, that was easy. I stewed over which pair of shoes to match with it, and opted for the navy high heel Gucci's, I bought myself for my 30th birthday. I wished Carls were here because I wanted those beautiful curls back, instead, I went with my natural wavy locks and pinned some of it back.

Tash pulled up at 6 p.m. and let the entire neighbourhood know she was here with a rendition of aPop Goes the Weasel' from her car horn. I opened the front pa.s.senger door and got in.

"Do you freaking mind, you lunatic."

"What, would you prefer the Minion's Banana Song?"

"Actually I would."

"Fine." She started honking again while singing "Stop it," I laughed. She stopped the horn and we sat there and both finished the singing the song ourselves.

"Okay, glad we both got that out of our system. So, Lex, how are you?"

I leaned over and gave her a hug. "Good, Hun, much better now, Minions make everything better!" Tash and I absolutely adored the Minions in the movie Despicable Me. All four of our kids had been watching it one time when were away on holiday, and as soon as Tash and I heard the little high pitched voices coming from the TV, we were hooked. They were hilarious, and now I believe we have watched it together more times than the kids.

"Yes, that they do, Lex, but seriously, how are things going?"

"Tash, really, I'm fine. I've spoken to aBrick' and..."

"Brick?" She looked at me quizzically. I laughed at my own stupid collective name for them.

"It's my collective name for Rick and Bryce."

She laughed too. "I like it," but you're an idiot.

"Thanks, I think? Anyway, I've spoken to aBrick' and have told them that I'm Switzerland."

"You're Switz-a-what?"

"Switzerland, you know...neutral. I've kicked Rick out, and I am now single and available to date."

She glanced over at me, unsure of the concept. "What does aBrick' think about that?"

"It doesn't matter, Hun, it's not their choice. Let's just say they have both asked me out on a date."

She choked a little. "s.h.i.t, Lex, if it wasn't so f.u.c.ked up it would be funny."

"I hear ya. Oh, hey I got you a present while I was away" I reached into my bag and pulled out the spoon I had bought her. She took it from me and unwrapped the tissue paper. The look on her face at first glance was one of, aoh gee thanks, a spoon.', but when she figured out why I had bought it for her she smiled brightly and started laughing.

"It looks like b.o.o.bs, that's great! Thanks, Iall add it to my arude bits' cutlery collection."

I smiled. "You're welcome, Hun."

She happily placed it in her glove box and reversed out of my driveway.

We picked up Steph, Lil, and Jade and made our way into City Precinct for dinner. There were over twenty different restaurants in the complex, we all voted for Thai and made our way into The Green Pearl.

"A table for five, please." I glanced around the restaurant, it looked very busy.

"I'm terribly sorry, Ma'am, but we are fully booked tonight." I turned round and pulled a sad face at the girls.

"Do you fancy Italian?" They all screwed up their faces.

"You could always drop Bryce's name." Tash hinted.

"You're so funny, Tash." I said sarcastically.

"No, I'm serious." She ignored me and started to speak slowly, like talking to a baby. "Excuse me Sir, this is Mr. Bryce Clark's girlfriend. You know, Mr Clark, the owner of the hotel?" I was mortified. Steph, Jade, and Lil all giggled.