"What's Wrong, Honey?" (Photostory)

Rod and Nicole enter the house through the garage.  Nicole is all giddy.  She's excited to see the new house.

"Hand me your coat, so I can hang it up."  (Rod)

"Where is everyone?"  (Nicole)

"I'm sure they're upstairs."  (Rod)

Danielle puts her backpack down and takes off her coat.  She then spots the gingerbread house.

"Wow, look at the gingerbread house!"  (Nicole)

"Yeah, that's nice.  Grab your backpack and let's go upstairs."  (Rod, nonchalantly)

They head to the living room.  Nicole is taking it all in as she follows her dad.

"Hello Mom.  How you doing?"  (Rod to his mother-in-law)

"I'm doing well.  I love what you've done to the house."  (Roberta)

"Thanks."  (Rod)

"Honey, can you put Jacob in his bed?"  (Danielle)

"Yeah.  Where should I put Nicole's bag?" (Rod)

"She's going to have to sleep in the boy's room until she and I can get her room together."  (Danielle)

"Hello pretty lady.  Come give me a hug."  (Roberta)

"Hi grandma Roberta."  (Nicole)

Rod grabs Jacob.  Danielle can tell something isn't right.

"Are you feeling okay?"  (Danielle)

"I've been better, but I'll be okay."  (Rod)

"I swear you get taller every time I see you."  (Roberta)

"You just saw me at the picnic."  (Nicole)

Danielle watches as Rod leaves the room.  Something is definitely wrong.

"Nicole how about we go find Julian?  He's going to be excited to see you."  (Danielle)

"Where is he?"  (Nicole)

"He's either in the playroom or his bedroom."  (Danielle)

"Wow, he has a playroom?"  (Nicole)

Julian is quietly playing with the Lincoln Logs, and barely notices when Danielle and Nicole enter the room.

"Look who's here, Julian."  (Danielle)

"Nicole!  I didn't know you were coming today.  Want to help me build a house?"  (Julian)

"Sure."  (Nicole)

Danielle leaves them to go find Rod.

She finds him in their bedroom sitting on the side of the bed.

"I know you said you were okay, but you don't look okay."  (Danielle)

"I'll be fine.  I just needed a minute."  (Rod)

Danielle climbs on the bed to get closer to him.

She starts rubbing his shoulders hoping this will bring him some comfort.

He takes her hand in his and kisses her palm.

"Are you sure you won't tell me what's bothering you?  Talking it out may make you feel better."  (Danielle)

"I appreciate the offer, but I just need some time alone.  We'll talk about it later."  (Rod)

Danielle kisses him on the forehead and heads back downstairs.  She hates when he shuts down, but after three years of marriage, she knows that giving him his space is the best thing to do.

Remember the room with the fireplace?  I covered it with map paper thinking it would make a nice backdrop for a library.  Danielle still wanted to have a fireplace, so she and I came up with the following plan.

Divide the room into three equal sections and install a wet bar, fireplace, and a library.  Having a wet bar on this level will be perfect since the kitchen is on the lower level.  I'm hoping o get to this project soon, but it may be a couple of weeks.

Melanie Lashes Out (Photostory)

After Melanie gathered herself, she texted Rod and asked him to meet them at one of her friend's house.

Melanie is waiting in her car when Rod pulls into the driveway of  her friend's house.

"Hello.  Where's Nicole?"  (Rod)

"She's inside.  I wanted to speak to you for a few minutes."  (Melanie)

"Okay.  Go ahead."  (Rod)

"I'm not going to shout through car windows."  (Melanie)

Rod gets out of his car and gets into hers.

"So what's up?"  (Rod)

"So is it true, Danielle's pregnant?"  (Melanie)

Rod is totally caught off guard.  He was expecting a conversation about Nicole, not one about his pregnant wife.

"I take it from your silence that it is true.  You didn't think it was important for you to let me know this little bit of news?"  (Melanie)

"I wasn't aware that I needed to discuss me and my wife's affairs with you."  (Rod)

"We are raising a child together and I need to make sure our daughter is mentally and emotionally okay with you and your wife's affairs."  (Melanie)

"I had a talk with Nicole and she genuinely seems to be happy about having a new sibling."  (Rod)

"You mean half sibling."  (Melanie)

"I mean sibling!"  (Rod)

 

"I don't know what your problem is, but I'm getting real tired of this bullshit.  I am no longer your husband, and I don't have to discuss anything with you except Nicole.  It's not enough for you that I am a damn good father to our daughter.  You want my life to be as miserable as yours.  I refuse to give you that satisfaction."  (Rod) 

"I'm taking Nicole to see a psychiatrist, to make sure she is okay with everything that is going on.  If the doctor indicates there's a problem, I will be filing for primary custody."  (Melanie)

"You are a piece of work.  You want our daughter thinking she needs a shrink because she's not hateful like her mother.  Goodbye Melanie."  (Rod) 

 Back at the house...

After Rod left, Danielle went to sit in the newly wallpapered dining room.  She's trying to finalize some decorating decisions.  

Over in the corner sits one of her wedding pictures.  She plans to frame it and hang it either in this room or above the fireplace.

This center room still needs to be wallpapered.  Right now it's the fireplace room.  Danielle is thinking about turning it into a library.

Danielle hears the doorbell, and then she hears keys in the door.  She's sure it's her mom with the boys.  They have been with granny the past couple of days while Rod painted and wallpapered.

Roberta and the boys enter into the kitchen.

"Your mom must be upstairs."  (Roberta)

"I can't wait for her to see what we made for her."  (Julian)

"I'm sure she's going to love it."  (Roberta)

Danielle does make her way downstairs.

"Hi mom."  (Danielle)

"Hi dear.  You look a little tired."  (Roberta)

"I've just been in full decorating mode."  (Danielle)

"Hello my darlings.  I missed you."  (Danielle)

"Look what we made you Mom.  A gingerbread house!"  (Julian)

"It's beautiful.  I'll take a look right after I get my hugs and kisses."  (Danielle)

Danielle kisses and hugs both boys.

"Now let's take a look at this gingerbread house."  (Danielle)

"It's beautiful!  Did you help grandma make the house?"  (Danielle)

"Yes.  I helped make the door, the tree, and the roof."  (Julian)

"I used to make gingerbread houses with mom when I was a little girl."  (Danielle)

"You were a little girl?"  (Julian)

"Yes, a long time ago."  (Danielle)

"And look at you with your gingerbread sweater on.  That is cute.  Where did you get that one?"  (Danielle)

"Christopher and Banks.  They were having a sale and free shipping.  I thought it was only fitting that I should own a gingerbread sweater.  That being my specialty and all."  (Roberta)

"It's perfect.  Let's go upstairs so I can show you how much we got done.  It's also warmer up there.  I had Rod start a fire before he left."  (Danielle)

"Where is Rod?"  (Roberta)

"He went to pick up Nicole.  They should be back soon."  (Danielle)

"Mommy, I thought we were going to eat the gingerbread house."  (Julian)

"Not yet.  Don't you want daddy and Nicole to see your beautiful work?"  (Danielle)

"Okay."  (Julian)

After Danielle shows Roberta all the changes, they sink down into the sofa to rest.  Julian has disappeared to the play room, and Jacob is drifting off to sleep.

"Mom, you wore my little soldier out.  I guess I should go put him down."  (Danielle)

Just then she hears the garage door open.

"Ooh, that sounds like my husband.  I'll just wait and let him put him down."  (Danielle)