Damaged Souls (Broken Man) - By Christopher Scott Page 0,22

Sunday.”

“You guys talked about mulch,” Delaney shook her head. “Unbelievable.”

“Delaney,” he looked directly into her eyes as he tried again to explain. “What he was saying is that he will be back around once the prom is over. Don’t you understand.”

“You guys are ridiculous,” she reminded him of both Amanda and her mother with one simple sentence. “Communicating through mulch. What are you going to think of next.”

“I don’t know,” Jack replied as he knew she was feeling a little better. “But don’t worry. I know he is going to be back, okay. Just trust me on this one.”

* * *

“Mommy, I’m home,” Logan announced his arrival as he ran into the bedroom.

“Hi, baby,” Amanda smiled as she gave him a kiss. “Did you have fun.”

“I did, the movie was great.”

“That’s good,” she tempered his enthusiasm just a bit. “And did you behave for Delaney.”

“I was good,” Logan couldn’t look at her as he answered and she knew he was fibbing.

“Logan,” she stretched out his name. “What happened.”

“Well,” he looked down at his sneakers. “I didn’t listen one time and Delaney got me in trouble.”

“You mean you got in trouble,” Amanda corrected him as she tried not to smile. “Are you sure it was only one time.”

“I’m sure, Mom,” he looked straight at her and she knew he was telling the truth. “I promise.”

“That’s okay then,” she forgave him. “Do you want to lay down and watch cartoons with me.”

“Sure Mommy,” he climbed into bed and snuggled up next to her as she turned on the television.

He reminds me so much of Jack, Amanda smiled as Logan’s attention turned to the tv. He has taken on so many of his mannerisms at four years old it is scary. He even gets his hair cut like Jack’s, and that raised eye brow he tries to imitate drives me crazy.

Pretty soon he’ll be having logical discussions with me, Amanda wasn’t sure she was willing to negotiate with a four year old as she remembered her earlier conversation with Jack. I didn’t know he thought about having another baby that much, there is so much more to him than what is just on the surface. Are we ready to have another baby?

I’m not sure I can go through it again, Amanda remembered the morning sickness, all of the mood swings, and feeling just fat. And, it would delay my career for another five years. Do I really want to do that?

I love this boy so much, Amanda answered her question as she listened to Logan giggle and remembered all the wonderful things about being pregnant. And, I love that man in a way I can’t even describe, she reminisced about how he made her feel earlier that afternoon. Of course I want to have another baby with him.

Why wouldn’t I?

Chapter Eight

I am not going to think about him tonight, Delaney decided as the limo pulled away from her house and she watched Jack, Amanda, and Logan wave good bye. That wouldn’t be fair to Mitch.

It’s not his fault Greg didn’t ask me, she returned his smile as they pulled onto the main road. He has done nothing wrong, she thought about what a gentleman he was, arranging the limo, picking out a beautiful corsage, making the necessary small talk with Jack and Amanda. And he looks great, Delaney admired his black tuxedo and warm smile.

“What are you thinking about,” Delaney let him interrupt her thoughts and put his hand on her leg.

“Nothing really,” she smiled and tried to break the ice. “Just about what a great time we are going to have tonight.”

“We are going to have a great time,” he reassured her as he went over their plans. “We’re going to pick up Jeff and Nancy and then head over to the club. And, we’re having a small party at my house afterward, my folks are out of town. What time did you say you had to be home.”

“I can stay out until two tonight,” Delaney replied, pleased Jack and Amanda had extended her midnight curfew.

“Okay, we’ll try to get you home on time. We have the limo all night.”

“Sounds good, Mitch,” she tried to be accommodating. “I don’t think it’s a big deal if I’m a few minutes late.”

This will be fun, Delaney tried to convince herself as they pulled into Jeff’s development and she had second thoughts. Jeff is such a jerk, she remembered his crude comments at school and wondered why he and Mitch were friends. It’s probably just