Chapter Text
It’s almost Christmas and, with less people buying houses around the holidays and Judy’s assisted living facility still needing her there, Jen is the one stuck at home with the boys during the day.
She’s really trying to relax and enjoy it, like Judy told her to, and not let Charlie’s typical attitude and Henry’s boundless energy get to her. She’s really, really trying. But honestly if Henry asks one more irritating question, she’s not going to be held responsible for her actions.
“Mom?” Oh, here we go…
“Yes Boop?”
“So are you and Judy like… a couple now?”
…
Jen just can’t stop the “what the fuck” that tears its way out of her.
She’d been bracing herself to hold back her frustration and half-heartedly answer whatever ridiculous thing Henry asked, but that? It was the very last thing she could have expected to come out of her youngest son's mouth in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon.
“What the… what… no of course… where the fuck… what??”
Henry’s eyebrows bunch together and even Charlie lifts his eyes from his computer screen at Jen’s reaction. Their mom is doing a perfect impression of a fish out of water.
Jen’s mind is completely frozen. The words ‘you’, ‘Judy’ and ‘couple’ are looping in her mind and time must be passing but she can’t do anything but stand there blankly, attempting to process.
“Erm, Mom?” Charlie eventually says, trying to get Jen back to the land of the living so she can answer Henry’s question. He’s actually pretty interested in what Jen might say, whether she will tell them the truth or not now that she’s been asked point blank.
Charlie’s interruption seems to work though, shaking Jen back to reality. Well, as real as this fucking ridiculous situation can be, she thinks.
“Sorry, I’m sorry boop, it’s just… where did that come from? Why would you think Judy and I are a couple?”
“Maybe because you fucking act like you are” Charlie responds before Henry gets a chance to speak.
“No, we’re not. And don’t curse.”
“Surrreee Mom. Totally believe you.”
“No seriously. We are not together” states Jen resolutely.
That has Charlie actually making eye contact for once. She must have been convincing, because next thing Jen knows Charlie is standing in front of her saying, “What the fuck, Mom, you’re not together? For real? You’re not just trying to hide stuff from us again?”
“I’m not hiding anything. Judy is my friend. Just my friend. What has gotten into you two? Where did this come from?”
“Judy’s part of our family now right? Judy is like our other mom, and so it just makes sense for both our Mom’s to be together, right?” Henry says innocently.
Jen looks confused again. Charlie realises he’s going to have to put this more simply or they’re going to be here forever because his mom just will not get it.
“He has a point, Mom. Think about what it looks like from the outside. Judy’s been living here for like an entire year. She cooks and cleans and helps with your kids. She's literally your wife.”
And Jen suddenly gets why maybe Henry would have asked.
“I’m sorry baby. I didn’t think about how confusing it must be for you to have someone here caring after you just like your Dad did. But you know that Judy isn’t the same as him right? Judy and I aren’t a couple like your Dad and I were. She’s just a friend.
"But… it’s okay that she’s here, right? You two want her here too, don’t you?”
“Of course! I love Judy!” Henry rushes to exclaim, and he goes back to his video game.
Jen looks pleased with herself. She feels satisfied that she figured out why the boys could have been confused and knows she set them straight. They really are just friends.
Charlie just sighs, grabs his laptop and walks away. This is so not his problem.