This feels like it has been the longest day of my life and it's only nine in the morning. Luke tossed and turned all night. Every time I woke up he was whining about the pain he was in. I swear if they would just sedate him for the next few days I don't think I would complain at all. He's acted like a big baby since I put him in bed last night. I can't get him to take his pain medicine for the life of me.
"My arm hurts," Luke complained for the fiftieth time in the past thirty minutes.
"Then take your meds and go lay down," I told him.
"I don't want to sleep all day. You know just as well as I do that those meds will knock me flat on my ass. How am I supposed to help you with the kids when I'm in bed asleep?" Luke asked rhetorically.
"Right now I really don't care if you sleep all day. I can handle the kids by myself. You have done nothing but complain since you've been out of bed. I'm tired of it already," I informed him.
"Well, aren't you just a loving, caring wife right now?" Luke questioned me.
"Luke, I love you to death. You know that, but when you whine and cry because you are hurt it drives me insane. You act worse than the kids," I told him.
"I'm sorry," Luke apologized.
"Just take your meds so you can be better," I urged him as he finished his coffee.
"Can I have another cup of coffee first?" Luke asked me.
"Yes, bring me your cup," I answered.
"Did you go into Nashville yet?" Luke asked me.
"No. I'm waiting for the kids to get up. Well, actually just Jordan," I told him.
"Why Jordan?" Luke questioned me as I sat down at the table next to him giving him his coffee with a cup of coffee of my own.
"Because she can help Tia keep an eye on the kids," I told him.
"Momma, I don't feel good," Bo said as he came walking into the kitchen.
"What's the matter, baby?" I asked him as I pulled him onto my lap.
"My belly hurts," Bo said as he laid his head down on my shoulder.
"I've got to go to Nashville here in a bit. Let me see if I can get you in the doctor," I told him, "Go sit on daddy's lap for a minute."
Bo got up and I helped him into Luke's lap before going into the other room to call the doctor's office. Luckily they had an opening in an hour, but we needed to leave soon. By the time I made it back to the kitchen Jordan, Til, and Kenzie were all sitting at the table with Luke and Bo.
"Come on, Bo. Let's get you dressed so you can go to the doctor," I said as I picked him up off of Luke and started packing him to his room to find some clothes.
"I'm going with you," Luke said as he followed me.
"No, you stay here. I've got this," I assured him.
"No, I want to go. I don't want to be here by myself," Luke insisted.
"Fine, but if you start whining I swear I will leave you there. You can whine to them," I informed him.
Luke didn't say another word, he just went to our room to find some clothes and get dressed himself. I found some clothes for Bo and got him dressed and sent him downstairs to wait. As I was on my way to the bedroom to check on Luke I heard him yell.
"Bridget!" Luke screamed as if he was in sudden, excruciating pain.
"What is it? Are you okay?" I asked as I ran into the bathroom.
"I can't get my jeans on," Luke said looking at me like someone had just killed his childhood dog.
"Wear sweats or track pants. You don't have to wear jeans," I informed him as I turned to go into our bedroom.
"I want to wear jeans. Please just help me," Luke begged.
I obliged. It took everything I had to get him into them jeans. And once he had them on he couldn't even get them zipped. I rolled my eyes as I buttoned and zipped his jeans.
"Why did you roll your eyes at me?" Luke asked me.
"Because you won't wear something that is easy for you to get into or out of. If you don't straighten up I'll zip it up in the zipper next time," I informed him as I went to our room, "Come here so I can help you get a shirt on."
"I want to wear a hoodie," Luke said as he followed behind me.
"I'm telling you now, chose wisely. Whichever you chose will be ruined because of your cast. Don't pick your favorite," I told him as I grabbed a gray Under Armor t-shirt from the dresser and helped him in it.
"Just any of them except that one Under Armor one I wear all the time," Luke told me as I rummaged through the closet.
"How about this one?" I asked him holding up his orange Under Armor hoodie.
"Not that one. That's my second favorite," Luke told me.
I continued to go through the closet until I found a grey one he finally settled on. We headed downstairs and out the door with Bo. The drive to the doctor's office wasn't too bad and sure enough when we got there everyone and their brother was in there. It seemed like we were there forever before we saw a doctor. Turns out Bo has a virus that has been going around and all we could do was let it run its course, give him Tylenol to ease the fever, and lots of fluids. We picked up all of our bags in Nashville and headed back to the house. Luke has started whining more than Bo has all morning and once again it's driving me crazy.
"Would you just shut up already?" I asked as I pulled into the driveway.
"It hurts," Luke said.
"And Bo is sick and hasn't complained as much as you and he's only six," I informed him as I put the truck in park.
"But it hurts," Luke complained again.
"I'm getting our son in the house. If you aren't out of the truck when I'm done, I'll come back and help you," I told him as I picked up Bo and started packing him into the house.
"Why is Daddy acting like a baby?" Bo asked me.
"Because that's what your Daddy does when he's hurt," I told our son honestly as I laid him down on the couch covering him up, "I'm going to help Daddy. I'll be back in a minute."
I walked out of the door and Luke was trying to get out of the truck not very gracefully at all. How it is that a grown man can't manage to get out of a truck by himself when he is hurt is beyond me. I really think he was doing a much better job when he had that damn boot on his foot than he is with his arm in a cast.
"Are you going to help me or are you going to just stand there?" Luke asked me curiously.
"I guess I can help you, but you know I really think you are milking this broken arm," I told him as I helped him down out of the truck.
"Will you stay with Bo for a while so I can find the rest of the kids?" I asked him as we walked into the house.
"Yeah. That's fine. What's for lunch?" Luke asked me as I started towards the basement and Luke plopped down on the couch next to Bo.
"I'll figure that out in a bit. Finding the kids is more important right now. Besides you aren't completely helpless," I said as I finally started descending the stairs into the basement.
"Hey! Aunt B! How's Bo?" Jordan asked as she turned the music down.
"He's going to be fine, but he has a virus that just has to run its course," I told her, "Where's Kenzie?"
"She went out to the barn about an hour ago. I don't know what she's doing out there though," Kris answered as she walked over to Jordan and I.
"I do. She's practicing," I explained to Jordan and Kris, "Archery. She's been practicing since she shot your Uncle Luke in the butt back when we were on the Farm Tour. She wants to make him proud at how much better she's got. She's loving it so much that I've considered letting her join some kind of archery team. I'm going to make something for lunch. If ya'll need anything let me know."
I went back upstairs and straight to the kitchen. As soon as I get the kids settled with lunch Luke started complaining again. His arm hurt and his back hurt and he couldn't do anything because he was right handed. I was so sick of hearing him complain it wasn't funny. You would think he would make the best out of the situation and do what he could, but not at all.
"Bridget," Luke hollered from our bedroom. I didn't respond at all. I just started walking up the stairs.
"What do you need?" I asked as I walked into our bedroom expecting to see him, but didn't, "Luke?"
"I'm in the bathroom!" Luke shouted.
"What's your problem now?" I questioned him as I opened the door watching him jumping around.
"My boxers got caught in my zipper and I can't get them undone. I'm about to piss all over myself," Luke informed me as I just looked at him.
"And? What am I supposed to do about this?" I asked him while watching him squirm.
"Will you please help me?" Luke practically begged.
"I suppose I can," I said as I slowly walked over to him.
"You don't have to act scared. I am your husband you know," Luke said.
"I'm not scared of you. I'm just giving you ample time to think about your wardrobe choices," I smiled.
Luke wasn't thrilled at all while he was still jumping around trying to not pee all over himself. I helped him get his boxers unstuck and then unbuttoned his jeans for him. While he took care of business I went to find him a pair of sweats that would not only be more comfortable, but easier for him to get up and down. As I laid a pair on the bed Luke came out of the bathroom needing help with his jeans yet again.
"Just put these on. I don't have time to help you every time you have to go to the bathroom," I informed him, "We have eight kids in the house. I don't need a ninth."
"Babe," Luke said to get my attention as I started to walk towards the door, "What do I do if I have to go to the bathroom?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked as I turned around seeing that he looked somewhat embarrassed and realizing what he meant, "I'm not wiping your ass! There's baby wipes!"
"But they are in the nursery!" Luke exclaimed.
"I'll get some and put them under the sink," I said as I turned towards the door again, "Or better yet, you can!"
I swear I don't know how much of his helplessness I can handle. I'm about at the end of my rope. Don't get me wrong I love Luke, but he's not completely unable to do anything. Hell, when Kenzie couldn't see she did more for herself than Luke is right now. I stormed down the stairs and into the kitchen. All of the kids were sitting down around the kitchen eating their lunch when I entered the room and silence filled the room. These kids are up to something.
"Alright, what are ya'll up to?" I asked as I grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge before grabbing my jacket.
"We kind of heard Uncle Luke's predicament," Jordan answered.
"What predicament are you talking about?" I questioned curious as to what they heard.
"About him getting his boxers stuck in his zipper," Kris told me.
"Yeah, he won't wear something other than jeans," I told them as they continued eating, "I'm going outside for a bit. Let me know if the twins wake up."
I grabbed my jacket and went out on the back porch. The blast of cold air in my face was the refresher that I needed. I stuck my hands in my pockets and felt something. I realized it was a pack of cigarettes as I pulled it out. One won't hurt I thought to myself as I lite one. The relief that one cigarette washed over me was so much that I knew instantly I was going to pick up smoking again. Luke's going to kill me when he finds out. I finished and pulled the small bottle of body spray out of the other pocket spritzing myself before walking back inside.
"Where did all the kids go?" Luke asked as soon as I came into the kitchen.
"I don't know. They were here when I stepped outside," I answered him, "Is Bo still on the couch?"
"Yeah. He's sleeping," Luke told me, "What's for lunch?"
"You can have exactly what the kids had. Chicken salad or turkey," I told him as I sat down at the table across from him.
"How am I supposed to be able to make a sandwich?" Luke asked as he held up his casted arm.
"I guess you'll just have to figure it out," I said as I laid my head down on the table.
"What's wrong with you?" Luke questioned me.
"Your helplessness," I said as I lifted my head.
With that comment Luke got up and started to make him a sandwich by himself. He was did a worse job than Keegan and Kinley would have. He had mayo on the counter, crumbs were all over the floor, and to put icing on the cake he spilled the entire bag of Lay's on the table. I was so fit to be tied it wasn't funny. Luke had done everything he could to make a mess. I got up and cleaned up his mess then left him to his lunch. The rest of the day I was busy with wrapping presents and taking care of the kids. There was a million things I needed to do before Christmas in just a few days. Before I knew it the kids were all in bed and Mr. Complaining All Day needed a bath.
"Will you help me get a bath?" Luke asked me just before I crawled into bed.
"Why are you waiting until this late to ask me to help you get a bath? Luke, it's almost midnight," I questioned.
"Because you've been busy all day," Luke explained.
"Fine. Come on," I said as I went into the bathroom and started running water in the bathtub.
I helped Luke get undressed and into the bathtub. And low and behold he couldn't manage to wash his hair, which is completely understandable, so I helped him. After that it was will you do this and will you do that. That was it I was done.
"Luke, you are going to have to grow up and act like a 38 year old man and not an infant. Keegan and Kinley can do more for themselves than you have been able to do today. I'm so done with you acting like this. You are going to have to start doing more for yourself. I can't tend to the eight kids in this house and you too. I didn't marry you just for another child. If I wanted another child, the Lord knows I could have figured that out on my own. Please just grow the fuck up," I screamed at him.
"I'm sorry," Luke apologized.
"I don't want to hear your apologies. If you don't start at least trying to do things for yourself I will pack up the kids and leave until you decide you can be a man. I'm fucking done," I shouted as I got up and walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind me.
I crawled into bed and pulled the covers over my head. I tossed and turned as I heard Luke from the bathroom mumbling something to himself. I need a cigarette. I jumped up out of the bed and headed downstairs. I grabbed my jacket next to the door and went out to the back porch. No more than I sat down and started my cigarette Luke appeared.
"What the hell are you doing? I thought you quit!" Luke scolded me.
"I don't want to hear it! If you would have dealt with the bullshit I have today you would be smoking too!" I shouted at him.
"Bridget, please. Just put it out. You've come so far. Don't start again," Luke begged me.
"It's too late for that. It's either this or something harder," I enlightened him.
"Baby, please," Luke continued to beg, but I just ignored him and went back to our room as soon as I finished.
I crawled into bed still completely ignoring Luke as he followed behind me.
"Please talk to me," Luke said.
"Luke, I'm over talking. You haven't heard a word I've said all day. I just want to go to bed and get some sleep," I told him as I rolled over so my back was facing him.
I love Luke to death, but when he is like this it's just unbearable. I laid there and after about twenty minutes Luke started pestering me again trying to talk. I just wasn't feeling talking so I pretended to be asleep, but that didn't stop him from talking.
"Bridget, I'm so sorry for acting like I did today. You didn't deserve to be treated the way that I was treating you. You've done nothing except be amazing towards me and I have acted like a child. You were right. I was being a baby. I didn't try to do anything for myself. I guess I just wanted to see how far I could go before you went off the deep end. I never dreamed you would just leave me in the bathtub. I love you. I promise to be better tomorrow. I promise to try before I ask for help. And I mean honestly try. I promise. I love you," Luke finished his apology as he leaned over and kissed my forehead before he laid down and went to sleep.
**Author's Note**
What do you think of whiney, complaining Luke? Was Bridget wrong going off on her the way she did? Will Luke convince Bridget to quit smoking again? Will Luke put his big boy boots on and act like a man or will he keep acting like a helpless child?