Starting Over

Chapter 86- On the Road Again

"Momma!" Kenzie yelled as she came running down the stairs.

"She's not here," I told my eldest daughter while still sitting at the kitchen table.

"Where's she at?" Kenzie asked me.

"She has a doctor's appointment this morning. What do you need?" I asked.

"Til took my phone and won't give it back," Kenzie tattled.

"Did the grounding that you both got not teach you anything?" I questioned her.

"I didn't do anything!" Kenzie defended herself.

"Tilden Cheshire, get your butt down here now!" I shouted as Kenzie sat down at the table across from me.

"What?" Til asked as he ran into the kitchen.

"Where's Kenzie's phone?" I asked him.

"I don't have her phone," I told him.

"Liar!" Kenzie shouted as she stood up and got in his face.

"I don't have your phone!" Til shouted back.

"I know you have my phone! Just tell me where it is!" Kenzie screamed at him throwing her arms up.

"I'm telling you I don't have it!" Til screamed at her.

"Sit down and be quiet!" I yelled over top of both as I stood up from the table abruptly.

Both of them sat down immediately.I was fuming mad.  It wasn't often that I yelled at them for any reason, but for the past two and a half months all they have done is fight. God help me when these two actually are teenagers. Something has got to give with these two and it has to happen soon or Bridget will leave them on the side of the road somewhere without me here to help since I'm leaving tonight. I finally looked up and there was a look of fear in their eyes.

"I am so sick and tired of you two acting this way all the time. You are both twelve years old and until you lived under the same roof, I thought you were the most mature I had ever met. Something has got to give. I've had enough, your mother has had enough, and your grandmother has had enough. You have to learn how to get along. No if, ands, or buts about it. You have to. The bickering and fighting all the time has got to stop right now cause if it don't and your mother has to call me, so help me God," I scolded Kenzie and Til.

"Bridget's not my mother," Til grinned matter of factly.

"You know what I mean, Til. You don't want to push my buttons today. Especially over a formality," I informed him.

"Daddy," Kenzie said in that voice that melts my heart every time I hear it.

"What do you want, Kenzie?" I asked trying to not let it affect me.

"I'm sorry," Kenzie apologized.

"I'm sorry, too," Til apologized.

"Quit copying me!" Kenzie shouted at him.

"Both of you, stop! NOW! Were you not listening at all? Go to your rooms now! And leave your phones on the table!" I screamed as they both scrambled to their feet, "GO NOW!"

"Luke, what the hell is going on?" Bridget asked as she walked into the door and the kids went running up the stairs.

"I'm sick and tired of these kids acting like they do. I can't handle it. It's went on long enough. It's time for it to stop," I answered her.

"We need to do this together. Right now, you need to calm down before you do or say something you will regret," Bridget informed me, "I'm not in the best mood. I'm not dealing with your shit too."