"Cain!! Will you please pick up your car?" I shout towards the boys room.
"Coming mama!" He shouts back and I hear four pairs of footsteps running into the living room.
"There you four are! Your grandma is gonna be here any second to take you to her place." I say as I ruffle Carstens hair.
"Mom coming too?" Rowan asks while they pick up the cars.
"No babies moms gonna paint the apartment." As soon as I say that I see tears start to form, "Now don't be like that babies you love grandma and grandpa and I'm pretty sure Auntie Sylvia and Uncle Edward will be there too."
"Alright mommy," Lillie says bringing me in for a hug. With that the doorbell rings and off goes my children with their grandma.
"You sure you'll be fine mom?" I ask handing over the quads things.
"Yes darling I did raise 4 kids at one point." She laughs and takes the bags and leaves before I can change my mind.
I bring out the paint and get started on covering the floors.
The knock at the door interrupts my dance party.
"I'm coming!" I yell while putting down the tape and running to the door. At the door are my old friends Lily comes in first and whistles looking at the place. Rick and Mark put down some food they've brought. Anna and Jacklin huddle together by the couch and Nate stands there looking at me. I look down and see my pajamas. A bright pink tank top and some black booty shorts.
"Hey guys welcome to my home! Are you guys ready to paint?" I say walking over to the paint brushes.
"Uh yeah we are!" Lily says smiling and grabs a paint brush.
"So what color is this wall going to be?" Mark asks.
"White!" At the look I get I say "I know it's already white but it's faded it needs a nice clean coat of white. Trust me it'll look much better."
"Well your the boss Rose so we will do it!" Jacklin says smiling.
As the night goes on I see Nate glancing over at me. With a shy smile I wave at him across the room.
"Ooh is something going on there?" Jacklin whispers to me.
I giggle and shove her a bit, "I'm not sure Jacklin. I still get those butterflies but I don't want to be hurt again."
"We we're trying to help you," Jacklin says, "I know now we definitely should have done it in a different way. Leaving you all alone wasn't fair and I'm sorry for doing that Rose."
Not expecting that I stare at her. "Thanks Jacklin that... that's nice of you to admit and I know it was my fault to I had a problem."
"But we should have been there for you not shoved you away." She repeats while painting
"Thanks Jacklin I appreciate that." I say nudging her again. "So Jacklin hows the whole Mark situation."
"It's going?" She whispers stealing a glance at Mark who's painting by Nate and Rick. "It's just awkward because we've dating for so long that I don't know how to act anymore."
"But do you agree with his decision to stop seeing each other?" I whisper
"Yeah.... I think it was time. I'll always love him but there's something refreshing about being out of that relationship. I'm ready to explore the world a bit." She smiles
"Well if you ever need to get out of this town I'm always down for a road trip," I smile at her.
"Thanks that would be fun!" She laughs and we both continue painting making small talk here and there.
"Hey Rosie are these your kids?" Nate asks from the kitchen. Turning around I see him holding a framed photograph of the quads.
Smiling I walk over there. "Yeah those are my quads."
"They are so cute!" Anna fishes looking at the photo. Laughing I bring out the box of photos I put in the kitchen drawer.
"Awww! Look at them!" Lily smiles while looking at the quads in their Halloween costumes last year.
"Look at mama Rose!" Mark says pulling out a picture of pregnant me.
We laugh and talk about the photos. Some are of the quads and me. Some are just me; some have even have Rachel in them. When we reach the bottom Lily pulls some pictures out of a envelope.
"Oh is that the quads father?" Rick asks looking at a picture Lily is holding. It's of me and Shawn at a party a month before I became pregnant.
Nodding I look through the envelope of pictures. They are all of Shawn and I. Most are of us at parties but one stands out to me.
I frown looking at the picture not remembering him ever taking photos of us.
"You okay Rosie?" Nate asks putting a hand on my arm. I nod.
"I just don't remember taking this photo." I sign and put the photo down. I walk away and start painting again while getting lost in my memories
Flash back (a week after Rosie moved to California)
The thumping of music is all I can feel as the alcohol in my system numbs the rest of my pain.
I spin around in the house of a stranger I met earlier today. She had a fake personality where she acted sweet but I could tell it was an act, but I didn't really care. Any excuse to party and drink free alcohol.
"Suddenly a pair of hands spins me around and into their arms.
"Hey cutie, I've never seen you around before." The man says smirking at me.
"Probably because I'm from Oregon. Just moved here a couple of weeks ago." I say
"Well can I get a name Oregon girl?" He asks
"My names Rosalinda but you can call me Rosie," I half say half shout. The music is loud and the lights are bright.
"The names Shawn!" He shouts back. I watch as he grabs my hand and kisses the back of it like princes do in movies.
Back to the present
"This side of the room is done!" Nate shouts from the kitchen.
"Well come over here and help me!" I shout back. Nate wanders over grabbing some water as he does.
"Hey Rosie," Nate asks quietly
"Yeah Nate?" I whisper back
"Would you maybe wanna hang out with me sometime?"
"I'm hanging out with you right now?" I question.
"No I mean like alone like a date?" He whispers back while looking at his shoes and rubbing his neck.
"Nate Id love..." I start to say before a knock at the door cuts me off. Nate swears quietly and tries to grab my hand. Brushing him off gently I go and open the door.
"Hey there baby mama," a voice says as a hand reaches out for mine and lips kiss my knuckles.
"It's been a while," Shawn says while he laces our hands together.