Free Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) by Jamie Hill

a little quicker these days.”
    H e pulled Catlin down on his lap. Jetta followed suit, and sat on Jim’s lap on the sofa. With music playing in the background, they talked quietly for a long time.
    Jetta looked at the portraits of the kids on the wall. “You do have beautiful children, Steve.” She looked at her husband, and nodded toward Steve and Catlin. “Can you imagine if those two had kids? They’d be little Greek Gods or something.”
    “ I don’t think so.” Steve shook his head. “I’m too old for diaper changes and colic.”
    “ Oh,” Catlin nuzzled his cheek and said in a little voice, “but babies smell so good!”
    “ Not all the time!” he reminded her, and they laughed.
    Jetta sighed, and leaned her head sideways against Jim ’s. “It’s just not fair.”
    He jostled his knees, and tried to cheer her up. “Give it time, baby. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.”
    Steve asked quietly , “How long have you been trying?”
    “ Six months,” Jim answered. “I guess it’s time to get the old plumbing checked out. I should have done it sooner, but I really didn’t want to hear it might be me.”
    Jetta looked at him . “So you’d rather it was me?”
    “ Well,” Jim hesitated. “Yeah, I would!”
    They all chuckled softly, and Jetta replied , “The waiting is just so tough.”
    Catlin picked up a little pillow and tossed it at Jetta. “Try not to think about it so much.”
    Jetta tossed the pillow back. “Easier said than done, I’m afraid.”
    “ Okay, okay,” Jim scooted his wife off and stood up. “If you two are going to start throwing things, then it’s time for us to go. I won’t have you breaking something in this nice man’s house.”
    They straightened the room up before the Crafts left.
    “ It’s been great.” Jetta kissed Steve on the cheek, and then Catlin. “Thank you for everything.”
    Steve shook Jim ’s hand. “We had a great time, too. We’ll do this again, soon.”
    “ Goodnight, folks. See you later.” Jim put his arm around his wife, and led her out.
    Steve slipped his arm around Catlin, and they watched their friends drive off.
    He shut and locked the front door, and turned to face her.
    She slipped into his arms. “This was so nice. Thank you, Steve. I’m so happy right now.”
    “ Come upstairs with me.” He flipped off the lights, and they headed to the stairs in the darkness. “I bet I can make you happier.”
    “ I don’t know if that’s possible.” Catlin held his hand, and they climbed the stairs. “But I’ll let you try.”

 
    Chapter Six
     
     
    T he next morning, Catlin packed every trace of herself, and put her suitcases in the trunk of her car. “I’m ready to go, I guess,” she told him sadly. She wished she didn’t have to, but she couldn’t tell him that.
    “ Don’t go yet. I’m going to be out of town all week, and I’ll miss you. I’m not sure what time the kids are coming home. Let’s find a movie, and we’ll make some popcorn.”
    She looked down, then at him. “But what if they do come home? I shouldn’t be here.”
    He swung her hands back and forth. “We’ll be watching a movie . No big deal.” He kissed her. “Stay with me. I want you to.”
    “ Okay,” she agreed. They picked out ‘The Hangover’ from Steve’s movie collection, and made some popcorn. They sat on the sofa in the family room, and Catlin started to cheer up. They were about halfway through the movie when the front door opened, and they heard Dana call “Daddy? We’re home!”
    Catlin jumped. “Relax.” Steve touched her arm. “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
    He headed into the living room .
    She couldn ’t help herself, and peeked around the corner.
    “ Hi!” Dana threw her arms around her father, and he hugged her. “I’m so glad to see you!”
    “ Me too, kiddo. Hey Dave.” He smiled at both kids.
    “ Hey Dad.” David gave Steve a little half hug, and pulled away quickly.
    “ Have a good