First TIme For Every Thing

Did I ever mention that I love Madeline? Despite the fact that Reed's father is one of her offspring, I believe she is by far the greatest woman alive. She was probably the only one in Reed's family who didn't blame me for becoming pregnant and she never tried to deny that Alexis was her great granddaughter.

But the best part about her? She could put Reed's father in his place and there was nothing he could do about it. He wouldn't dare talk back to his mother.

We were sitting around the table talking. Both of our fathers were talking about work and our mothers were talking about some social event that was coming up. Madeline was asking me when we were moving back to town and I told her it would be soon. "And you are going to be moving into the house?"

I hesitated, I didn't want to talk about that when I haven't even told Reed that we wouldn't be. I still wanted to go ahead with the plan we already spoke about.

"I take your hesitation to mean that you aren't?" She gave me a smile, "Where are you going to be living dear?"

"Of course she's moving into the house!" Reed's father snapped, "My son didn't waste all that money just so the house will sit empty!"

"Father, I-" Reed started but his father cut him off.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to waste money on a lost cause?"

Lost cause? I glared at Roger and held Alexis tighter.

"Now Roger!" Madeline cut in before anyone could say anything. "There is no need of being so rude, I didn't raise you that way! As for you," she turned to Reed. "I love you Reed but you really shouldn't have gone ahead and planned Amber's future without even thinking to see if she was even interested in it."

"Now Amber," she turned to me. "Tell me what you are going to do when you move back here."

I told her I wasn't sure but she didn't believe me, "I'm sure you've thought about it dear. Are you thinking about working? Or going to school?" When I told her I was exploring options, she smiled at me. "I'm sure you will figure it out. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me."

"It's ok Grandma, I can help Amber with any thing she needs," Reed slipped his hand over mine as it rested on the table.

Not long after, our starters arrived at the table and everyone seemed to be focused on the food. Me, I was thinking that I should've spoke to Reed about my plans before we came to the club.

I really thought I should've talked to him about it a few minutes later when I spotted Devon as he walked in with his parents and a woman I could only assume was Annette. They sat down at a table just off to our left. I saw his father motion towards us, Devon stood and made his way over to us.

"Oh my," Madeline jumped up and gave him a hug when he greeted everyone. "Come and join us," she told him.

"I wish I could but," he glanced back at his table and sighed. "I just came over to say hello." He started to walk away when he stopped, turned around. He stopped beside my chair and leaned down, with one hand on the table and the other on the back of my chair."I'm sorry about yesterday," he whispered so that no one could hear him. "I know I said I'd call you tomorrow but I was thinking it would be better if we met at my office on Tuesday, what do you think?"

"Ummm...that shouldn't be a problem," I half turned to look up at him, "What time?"
"Well, I have meetings for most of the morning..." He looked upwards for a moment then he smiled at me. "Around 2? Does that work for you?" I told him that sounded good to me and he stood up and went back to his table.

Devon wasn't even sitting before Reed leaned in and asked me what he wanted. I glanced at him, "Can we talk about it later? I don't think this is the right place." He nodded and sat back in his chair but I saw the look he shot Devon's way.

We managed to make it to desert without any thing major happening, which shocked me. But the nice, pleasant meal wasn't meant to last. I'm not sure how it happened but some how it came out that I was job hunting the last couple days.

"Why didn't you tell me?" My father asked, "I have a few friends who could use some help, I'll give them a call when I get home and let you know."

I told him that I didn't want him to ask his friends, "I might have found some thing already."

Reed's father mumbled something about me not being qualified to get a job without someone pulling the strings.

"Roger, really!" Madeline threw her napkin on the table, "I'm tired of hearing you uttering nothing but negative comments against Amber. She is a lovely young woman and the mother of your granddaughter. If she says she has found something, then you should be happy for her." She turned to me and smiled, "You have spoken to someone?"

I hesitated, "Well I have a meeting with someone who seems to be interested in helping me out."

Beside me Reed stiffened, "Come with me," he said as he grabbed my arm and pulled me from my chair.

"Reed what are you doing? We were talking!" He didn't answer he as he led me from the dining room and down the hallway. "Oh!" I gasped as I walked into him when he stopped suddenly.

"Who is helping you?" He asked me.

"Reed this isn't the time to talk about this," I went to walk away from him but he stopped me. "We have to get back," I told him.

"No, I want to know who is helping you."

"I'm not talking about this here."

"Why is that?" Reed pulled me close, "Because you went running to my best friend and asked him for help?"

"I didn't go running to anyone!" I snapped at him. "I was out looking for a job when I ran into Devon and he started talking about a conversation we had before I got pregnant with Alexis. He said he might have a way for me to get my dream job."

"And you believed him?" Reed laughed, "Amber do you honestly think that Devon wants to help you?"

"Well I don't know Reed. But I want to know what he was thinking."

"You aren't meeting with him," Reed looked down at me. "If you want help getting your 'dream job' then tell me what it is and I"ll help you. But you aren't going to accept Devon's help."

I couldn't believe this. "Why wouldn't I accept Devon's help? He's your friend, don't you trust him?"

"That's not the point Amber. You are my girlfriend and I'll be the one to help you, not Devon or any one else."

I steeped back from him, "Excuse me?" I scoffed, "Who the hell do you think you are? You don't own me! And newsflash Reed, you haven't been my 'boyfriend' for a long time now!" I turned to walk away from him but stopped. "If you wanted to help me because you really wanted me to achieve my dreams, then maybe I would've come to you. But you only seem to be interested in having me do whatever you want me to do."

"Amber that's not..."

"I don't want to hear it Reed. I will accept Devon's help. I will be living at my parents house and I will be working so I can go to school in the fall. And I will do all that without your help!"

I got as far as the dining room doors when he caught up to me, "Why can't you just be happy being a mother to our daughter?"

"Because I'm more than that Reed," I shook my head. "I thought you knew that but I guess I was wrong."

We went back into the dining room, "Once we leave here. Alexis and I are going to my parents house."

"No you aren't," he told me.

Once brunch was over, Reed's mother invited everyone to go out on the lake with them. I wanted to do anything but that. I went to tell her I couldn't when Reed told her we would love to join them.

I was thankful that Madeline went along too, I don't think I would've enjoyed it if she wasn't there. We were sitting on the deck, I was holding Alexis in my arms.

"You and Reed had a fight, didn't you?" She asked and I nodded. "He's not happy you aren't falling into that perfect little spot that he had slotted for you, is he?" Again I nodded, "Good!"

I looked up at her and she laughed, "Reed's grandfather tried to pin me into that tidy little role too until he finally accepted that I would never be that woman for him. We were still very much in love the day he died Amber and I miss the old bugger everyday."

"I just thought Reed understood that life wasn't what I wanted," I kissed the top of Alexis' hat covered head. "I love our daughter and I love Reed but I don't want to be just a mother and wife. I want to run my own business, I want to be able to contribute to the life we have, even if Reed doesn't need my contribution."

"You want his respect as well as his love."

I nodded, "Yes. Am I crazy for that?" I sighed, "Everyone thinks I'm crazy for not letting him take care of me, for not moving into the house he built for me. It's not that I don't want to, I'm just afraid of losing myself if I do."

"AmberLynn, you have to do what you need to make you happy. I would love it if you and Reed were together, giving me more great grand babies - after you get married that is."

I smiled, "Mrs. AmberLynn Johnson. How does that sound?"

"Sounds like a woman who knows who she is and couldn't be happier being that person." Madeline sat back in her chair, "She sounds like the person you'll be when you find yourself."

We got home late Sunday, Alexis was pretty much out when we walked through the door. So we stayed that night.

I was in his room picking up my stuff to bring it down to the guest room when he came out of the bathroom and sat on the bed. "I don't want you to leave," he said as he played with the edge of his pillow.

"We already talked about it, we agreed I would stay at my parents house and we would start over again."

"I know," he slipped over to where I was standing. "Amber," he held out his hands to me. I looked down at them for a moment before slipping mine into them. He ran his thumbs over the back of them, "I'm trying to understand, I really am. I know that you are doing what you feel is best for you but I can't help but hate it."

I sat on the bed next to him, "I know you hate it but it'll all work out. I'm sure if it Reed."

"Yeah, I guess so." He gave me a kiss on the forehead and then mentioned that he should get to bed.

I could feel his eyes on me as I finished gathering up all my things.

I was walking towards the door when I started to wonder what the hell I was doing.

Dropping my stuff on the floor, I walked over to his side of the bed. "Can I join you?"

Quicker than you could say just about anything, Reed turned on his side and held out the blankets so I could crawl in.

I spent most of the night wide wake listening to him sleep.

Yesterday passed with nothing too exciting happening.

Today I have a meeting with Devon, which hopefully isn't a waste of my time.

And tomorrow, I think I'm going back to my apartment for the last time.