And Now, Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

“Hi, Johnny, nice to see you.”

“Don, I have great news! Remember how you took Dina out to cheer her up a while ago?”

“Uh, yeah, of course…?”

“Well, turns out the reason she was so emotional is that she’s pregnant again! We just found out, so she didn’t even know yet when you went out.”

“Johnny, that’s great news! Brie and Quentin will be so excited, I bet.”

Dina’s mood, however, doesn’t seem to have improved much. She still barges in angrily despite not having a key to the house.

“Hi, Dina! Guess what happened at school today!”

“Sorry, I don’t have time, Johnny is here, right?”

“I thought so.”

Pregnancy does not agree with Dina.

Brie is doing her best not to let Dina’s cold attitude bother her.

She spends lots of time with Cora and tries not to think about the fact that she has barely met her brother Quentin, because Johnny always comes over. Brie never goes to visit her dad and Dina.

She is also keeping busy making friends with her classmates. This is Shawn Talla, son of Duane Talla and Darling Walsh.

I suspect she has a bit of a crush on Shawn.

Johnny also took her to Mt. Komorebi for some quality father/daughter time.

Johnny isn’t the greatest skier.

And neither is Brie, but at least they’re having fun.

Brie also gets to taste new and exciting food.

And watch the fireworks.

Her attitude is still not great, though. She is struggling with her feelings about her father’s family and acting out at home.

And on top of that, she no longer has daddy Don’s undivided attention since Cora arrived.

Still, Don does his best to treat the girls equally.

Today, however, is a very special day.

Just keep walking, Dina. You are not crashing this party.

Alex, did you just fart directly in your daughter’s face?

“Can you blame me, she’s the perfect height!”

Happy birthday, Cora!

Cora is a little genius who is obsessed with space and aliens.

As a birthday present, we redecorated her room, just the way she wanted it.

Brie is still being defiant and difficult. The tension with Johnny’s family is not good, and Alex has to be strict with her.

The situation reaches a breaking point one day. Johnny comes over to help Brie with a school project.

A little later, Dina barges in and heads straight for Brie’s room.

“Johnny, what is taking you so long? I’m starving, let’s go home.”

Alex pulls Dina aside.

“Dina, we need to talk. This is getting out of hand. What is your problem?”

“My problem? I’ll tell you about my problem. I’m pregnant, I’m starving, my husband promised to bring home dinner, and I find him here, messing around on the computer instead of coming home.”

“Sit down, Dina, let’s talk. I’ll get you some food.”

Johnny and Alex are still close friends and get along great. Johnny tries out some of his new material on Alex.

Dina really does not like that.

“Dina, I know you don’t like me and that you have some issues about my past with Johnny, but you are causing Brie immense pain.”

“I don’t care how you feel about me, but you are making Brie feel unwelcome in what should be her second home. She is as much Johnny’s child as Quentin and your unborn baby is, but you are making her feel like you’re trying to take her father away from her.”

“… I’m sorry, Alex, you’re right. I was so immersed in my own feelings that I didn’t consider Brie’s. I never meant to take it out on her. Is she in her room?”

“Brie, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise how terrible I was being. Can we start over?”

“Do you wanna feel the baby? We think it’s a girl but we’re not sure yet.”

“Dina, I felt something! I felt a kick!”

“I’ll try to do better, Brie. Do you want to go discuss names for your new sister or brother?”

Later that evening, Don stays up late to wait for Alex to come home from work, just so he can compliment her on how she handled the situation.

Aaand we’ve reached the end of chapter 6, where we will leave Don to his “complimenting”.