For the Guy with Kids and a WW 23

[hopeful4her]

Wife called me at about 5, asking if the girls were ready to be picked up. I told her that we were still working on the piping and that the girls were all playing together. I really didn't want the wife to come over to the house.

I may have offered dinner or something.

"Well...I'm still at work."
"I'll take them back."
"Well, I'll be leaving. Just call me."
"Okay. S14 is at the apartment?"
"No, he went to the movies."
"Did he leave the Sprint phone?"
"Yes."
"I'll call when we're on the way."

We finished the job and watched a little football. At the end of the 3rd quarter of the Titans game, I called her and told her we were on our way. At the apartment, D11 asked if I was going to walk them in. I told her that I had to take their scooters in for them. We get inside D11 takes off to ride her Rip stick. Just a quick hello to her mom then off. D7 walks to her room. I gave a quick kiss and goodbye to D11 before she took off to the parking lot. I call D7 to come tell me goodbye. The wife starts to ask if its cold inside. I shake my head and then she says that she feels like having soup. I call out to D7 again. While waiting at the entry way, which is just behind her sofa, she sits down and asks,

"Hows work?"
"Scary."
She looks at me concerned, "Why?"
"Because its tough out there. A lot of people out there looking for a job. Management wants you to bust your hump and you have to perform or there is someone wanting your job."
She nods in agreement. D7 comes to me and we hug and then we play right where I'm standing. The phone rings and the wife answers it. Its S14 calling. I hear her ask him where he is, that he was supposed to be home by 6:30. Its sounded like he told her that he tried to call her at work. She asks him who he spoke to because no one told her.

"Why? I thought you had a ride....no, your taking advantage of me.....I just got home.....what?.....I can't hear you.....your breaking up.....look, give me a moment, let me finish cooking the chicken and then I'll go pick you up. Bye." She was frustrated.

D7 and I are still having fun with each other and laughing. When the wife hung up, she says "Sheesh, that kid", just TRYING to get me to ask the question, "What's the matter?"

I don't. I continue with D7. I start to tell her goodbye again. She tells D7 to put her jacket back on, that they have to leave.

"Oh, y'all are leaving?" I ask like I don't know.
"We have to pick up S14."
"I thought he had a ride."
"I thought so too, but he said that he was going to walk home, but it got too cold. Now he wants a ride."
"Where is he?"
"He's right here. The movies."
"I'll go get him and drop him off."
"You don't have to. Its just right here. You go the other way."
"I'll get him."
As I open the door, D11 comes in and I tell her goodbye again. I announce my goodbye and the girls and the wife tell me goodbye and then she tells me thanks you.

"bye" and I walk out. Pick up S14, get on his case a little about making his plans and that he shouldn't be walking such a long distance anyway. I drop him off and come home.

Gonna watch some more football and maybe make myself a steak.

I'm so glad I got to spend time with my girls. We had a really good time, especially D7 and I. My bud was outside doing all the work. I helped a little, but I would have been in the way more than not.

I shouldn't have picked up S14, but I just got the girls there and didn't want them going out again. D7 had already fallen asleep in my car on the way there. I didn't do it for the wife.

beej, I know what you were going to say. Believe me, B is not in the picture, just someone to talk to and pass the time.

What I do is not with saving my marriage in mind. Thats not my goal. I just want to save myself. At least, thats how I'm looking at it. I want her to realize that she made a mistake. I'm not going to say its out of the question, but I'm not looking at it as my goal anymore.

I was thinking yesterday and today. Back around July, we had a discussion. Basically, what it had come down to, she had reduced me down to "positives and negatives". She was piling up and naming the negatives on me. I'll never forget that. I think I'm going to frame that.

"It comes down to positives and negatives...."

If she calls me? Upset about something, or whatever. I don't know. What should I do? Blow her off? Tell her I don't want to hear it? Tell her to go talk to OM?

What would you suggest?