I look around the waiting room, shoving my wallet back in my pocket after paying the obligatory twenty-dollar co-pay. It's not a lot, but it adds up when you have a weekly therapy appointment.With my knee shaking up and down, I recognize I'm nervous. Really nervous.Mariana has never asked for us to go see Justin together, but she did this time and wouldn't tell me why. Just said there are things we need to discuss. It worries me that she wants to cut the amount of time I've been spending with the kids. I know I've been at her apartment a lot lately, but it didn't seem like she minded. I can't believe I read the situation wrong and I don't understand why she can't just tell me this outside of therapy.The door flies open and Justin stands there with his normal relaxed look on his face. "Hey guys. Come on in."Mari smiles and greets him like everything is normal. I just mumble a hello as I walk past him."How's school going, Santos?" he asks before we even sit down on the couch. So muc

"The house was built in 2001, which is really young for the neighborhood. Now, I know the lots are a little smaller, but that really cuts down on the cost and it means less yard maintenance for you." I look through the pantry and kitchen cabinets as my realtor, Alice, continues to drone on about the benefits of the home. I'm already sold on it, though. But she doesn't need to know that yet.The house is perfect. Four decent-sized bedrooms and two full bathrooms are upstairs, which means I can be close to the kids at night. It also has a game room that will come in handy as the kids get older and more independent. Downstairs boasts a small open-concept kitchen and den area with a small dining room just off the kitchen. Perfect for keeping an eye on the kids while I cook. There's also a half bathroom and a laundry room. And a small room that's supposed to be a formal living room, but I'd rather turn it into an office area.Despite how open and spacious it is inside, from the outside, it

"As you can see, there are five groups. Each group has four stars in it. Let's count the stars. Ready?" I use my dry erase marker to count how many stars are on the board. "There's twenty. So five times four equals twenty."I look up at Kimberly who has a grimace on her face."I'm doing a terrible job at this, aren't I?"She turns off the camera we're using to tape our lessons while trying really hard to give me an encouraging look, but finally gives up. "Well, it's not good."I toss the dry erase marker down on the table of the small library work room and drop myself into the chair. "Why do I have to present a third-grade lesson?" "Do you want the real answer or a sarcastic answer?""Let's start with sarcastic.""Because Professor Johnston randomly chose third grade for your project."I make a "hrmph" and cross my arms. "And the real answer?""Because in order to be certified to teach middle school, you have to know both the kindergarten through seventh grade and eighth through high

"Mari, look at me," I hear him say through the fog I seem to have fallen into. He grabs my hand. "Mariana, I already went to my professor and asked to be assigned to another study partner.""What?" The fog starts to lift enough to hear what he's saying."I didn't appreciate her proposition, so I went to my professor and asked to be reassigned to another partner.""What… what did she say?"He continues to rub my hand gently with his thumb. "She said she didn't like doing it. That the whole point of it was to learn how to get along with a teaching partner. So I explained a little bit about what happened and she agreed to reassign me. Said that I did the right thing telling her, because in a school environment the first person I should tell is my principal to keep something like this from getting out of hand."I nod, still shocked by this turn of events. "So who is your new partner?""Her name is Jerry.""Her?""Her. She's fifty-seven years old and has always wanted to be a teacher but ju

"EEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!" Myra's scream can be heard from at least a block away. But who can blame her? When Santos launches her into the air, he doesn't hold back. She lands in the water with a splash and comes back up giggling.Lina's up next. She's even more funny because she's the exact opposite of Myra. When Santos throws Lina into the air, her eyes get huge and her mouth opens wide, but no sound comes out. At all. She's literally scared silent. It's hilarious.Theo's turn. Santos doesn't throw him nearly as high, thank goodness. But that doesn't keep Theo thinking he's just as cool as his sisters. His deep voice comes out more like a "Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh" than a scream. My boy still hasn't figured out how to baby giggle. Being almost two, I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed.The whistles sound and the lifeguards all yell, "Adult swim!" to the chagrin of all the kids in the pool. Not that there are many. Just ours and a few others.Santos quickly plucks our brood out of the water, and