Chapter Four-Hundred-Nineteen
“Isabel will you do me a favor?” Kori asked as she came down the stairs after coming out of Spencer’s bedroom. Isabel and AJ looked at her to find that she had showered and blow-dried her hair, straightened it, and she has on her typical black eyeliner and mascara. She changed into an oversized red high school sweatshirt that AJ has a very strong belonged to Scott from way back in the day. She has on a pair of jeans, and of course…being very much like her sister…or vise versa, she is wearing black converse shoes.
“You know I will, what’s up?” Isabel asked curiously when she reached the bottom of the stairs. Kori handed her a Ninja Turtles backpack and matching pillow over to her.
“Take that to Scott for me please. I want Spencer to sleep over there tonight incase this thing with Wiley ends up being a late event. Tell him I packed everything that he will need and he should be all set.”
“Okay,” Isabel nodded and Kori turned her attention on AJ who she noticed was eyeing her.
“What?”
“Nice sweatshirt.”
“Thanks, I think so too” Kori replied unashamed. She noticed him arch his eyebrow.
“Yes it belonged to Scott,” She confirmed his unspoken question.
“And it doesn’t bother Wi when you wear it?”
“He doesn’t know that it was his…I told him that it’s mine, that I just preferred a bigger size. I stole it from Scott when I left Florida five years ago and couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it…it still smells like him even after all this time.”
“I guess this confirms your decision, then?” Kori eyed him for a moment, and then shrugged her shoulders and looked away just as the door to the diner opened and Wiley walked in.
“Ready?” he asked curiously, and she nodded quietly. He held out his hand to her and she accepted it causing him to lightly tug her near. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek affectionately and she looked at Isabel.
“Close up for me?”
“Mhm.”
“Where are you taking me Wi?” she asked conversationally as he opened the door and stepped to the side for her to go out first like the gentlemen that he is, and Kori felt a lump in her throat as she fought with her emotions. I suck…I really suck….
“Red Robin,” Wiley answered while walking out behind her. He took her hand lacing their fingers together and they headed in the direction of Red Robin. AJ followed Isabel out then, she locked up, and he walked with her in the direction of the motel until he saw Wiley and Kori turn a corner.
“See ya later Isabel. He might be in my room – 343. If not there then down the hall in his own room, which is 347.”
“Kay, thanks” Isabel replied and AJ set off in the direction Wiley took his sister in, glad that she had pointedly asked where they were going in front of him.
“So…what did you do all day?” Kori asked conversationally as they walked along the sidewalk with their hands intertwined together. It was all she could do to keep from silently drowning in her guilt.
“Chris and I played video games and watched TV,” Wiley answered before sliding his arm around her and kissing the top of her forehead. Kori leaned into him comfortably, not being able to resist. She feels secure with his arms around her. She loved it when he would hold her and make her feel ten times better then she was before and forget all about her troubles – which was usually thoughts of Scott. He had been such a great comfort to her, he had taken such good care of her, and she loves him so much. She just can’t believe she is about to break his heart by telling him what she’s been doing behind his back. God shoot me now…
When they arrived at Red Robin, the hostess took them to a nice private table where they could be alone and Kori and Wiley sat down and the two of them began looking through the menus, Wiley managing to keep up light conversation as they did.
~*~*~*~*~
“Isabel, hi!” Spencer exclaimed happily upon seeing one of his favorite people walk through the opened door to AJ’s room where she found everybody – the Carter Twins now included, sitting in there. Spencer was sitting on one of the beds with the girls and they were playing board games and such, while all of the grownups – plus the Carter Twins, sat in a circle on the floor on the other side of the room where they could talk.
“Hi buddy,” She greeted him with a small smile.
“Is my momma okay?” he asked, the excitement in his eyes suddenly turning to concern.
“Yeah, she’s going to be just fine. Don’t you worry about it okay?” Isabel reassured gently, and Spencer nodded quietly. Isabel looked over at Scott then who was eyeing the stuff in her hands curiously. She went over and crouched down beside him before handing the things over.
“Kori wanted me to bring you this. She wants Spencer to spend the night with you tonight incase things with Wiley end up being a late event. She says that she packed everything he will need so he should be fine.”
“Things with Wiley…a late event? What’s going on?” Scott wanted to know, talking quietly so the kids wouldn’t possibly be able to over hear.
“Wiley asked her to go out to dinner with him.”
“And she agreed to it?” Scott asked, the hurt evident in his eyes. He thought that after their afternoon together, her answer was pretty clear. Isabel not missing a thing reached over and gently squeezed his shoulder.
“I don’t know myself of what exactly is going through my best friend’s mind as she refuses to confide in me or AJ at the moment…but if you want my honest opinion, I think the odds are in your favor right now.”
“Really?” Scott asked softly. “How can you be so sure?”
“I’m not sure,” Isabel shrugged. “But despite the circumstances…she was a lot happier when she got home then she was when she left,” She informed, and then with that she got up, turned around, and walked out of the room.
~*~*~*~*~
“Oh, Miss Julieeee...” Brandon called out while he and Peyton walked down the stairs and entered the living room causing Julie, Annabelle, and Doctor Johnson to look at them curiously. Her whole face lit up at the sight of Brandon.
“Oh, Mr. Brandon…” she repeated and Annabelle giggled a little as she snuggled with Doctor Johnson on the couch.
“Would you come on up to my art room with me for a moment honey? Id like to show you something.” Julie beamed happily at this request, as she absolutely loves it when she gets permission to accompany Brandon in his cool art room. She dropped the puzzle in her hand and got to her feet and she closed the distance between her and the man she secretly crushes on. He gathered her up into his arms and carried her back up the stairs with him as a curious Doctor Johnson and Annabelle was up and following right behind them. When they got up the stairs, Brandon led the way into his art room and he carried Julie over to the only easel board uncovered.
“Id like to introduce you to the beginning of my next big series,” he informed her and as soon as they were standing in front of it, she took a look at his newest painting and gasped, her little hand flying to her mouth as it hung open in surprise. There in front of her was a painting of her in the backyard just outside. She’s wearing a long white gown with a black ribbon that ties around her waist and a little white daisy pinned to the side of it. She is running with her arms spread apart as if she were pretending to be an airplane and her naturally curly brown hair that touches just to a bit past her shoulders flowed behind her in the wind. She’s barefooted, and her dress poofs out as she runs – just like little girls like to make it do. In the background are his mothers beautiful flowers that he managed to keep alive after all this time – he had made it so both her and the flowers were the most important part of the painting.
“That’s me!” she exclaimed excitedly once she had found her voice to speak. “Mommy look! Brandon painted a pretty picture of me!” Annabelle smiled some and moved so she was standing beside Brandon and could see the painting for herself and Doctor Johnson moved behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and peering over her shoulder.
“Aww…Brandon that’s…wow!” Annabelle insisted as she too marveled over his latest work and Brandon grinned. “It’s really, really amazing…I heard you were an artist but Steve didn’t say how wonderful your work is.”
“I never really got around to it, but I definitely would have if the topic came up” Doctor Johnson replied. “It’s all I do, is brag about my brother’s work. You should see the ones he has in the museum…he has an entire series of Peyton on the walls there – they won first prize in an art show and everything.”
“Wow…I’m really impressed. Steve you’ll have to take me to see those.”
“I will,” Doctor Johnson smiled. “When we get back to Florida I’ll take you.” They gazed at the painting of Julie for a couple of moments, and then Doctor Johnson spoke up, suddenly grasping something his brother had said earlier.
“Did you say the beginning of your new series Bran?” he asked curiously.
“Yeah,” Brandon smiled. “I enjoy watching Julie run around here…she gives me so many great ideas. So I thought as a side project from my never-ending Peyton series, I would start painting Julie too. I hope to get some of those on the museum wall too some day,” he explained while looking down at the six-year-old in his arms who looked beyond thrilled at this idea.
“Can I see another painting of me, Brandon please?” She asked eagerly and Brandon chuckled.
“The one other painting that I’ve started isn’t finished yet babe. I’m a little indecisive about what I’m doing with that one…but I promise you that as soon as its finished you will be the first to see it okay?” Julie nodded eagerly and he leaned down and kissed her cheek softly causing her to melt instantly.
“But for now, certain little muses need to get in bed” Annabelle informed after a moment.
“Aww…but mommy” Julie whined.
“I mean it Julie. Give Brandon a hug and a kiss and then we’re going to get you in bed. Hop to it.”
“I want Stevie to tucks me in.”
“I’ll be right there angel,” Doctor Johnson promised gently. “But you have to let mommy take you to your room to get you into your pajamas and ready okay?”
“Kay,” Julie sighed and she slid her arms around Brandon’s neck and hugged him close to her, before kissing his nose as he hugged her back affectionately. After a long moment, he reluctantly handed her over to Annabelle and Annabelle turned and walked out of the art room with her.
~*~*~*~*~
“Brian Thomas Littrells!” Ellie exclaimed, upon walking into the playroom and seeing the man she adores next to Kevin and Jerald standing there. Brian arched his eyebrow and turned his head to look at the five-year-old who had said his name in such a scornful way and saw her standing at the door with her hands on her hips and giving him a scowl.
“Elenore Richardson!” he mocked her tone, but in a much more playful way and she narrowed her eyes at him.
“I am nots very happy with you!”
“And why may I ask is Miss Ellie not happy with me?” he questioned her, his hands on his hips the way she had hers on her own.
“You’ve been keeping my Joshy from me long enough mister!” she informed in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Oh you think so huh?” Brian asked in slight amusement.
“I knows so! An I will nots allow it anymore!”
“Is that a fact?”
“Yes – it is. I will gets my Joshy back Brian I swears it! Even if I have to take drastic measures!” Brian cringed upon hearing this threat. He doesn’t even want to know what drastic measures the small five-year-old would take. He knows her well enough that they would be big – she would go above and beyond to get her cousin back. He closed the distance between the two of them and knelt down in front of her.
“I’m afraid Josh is still grounded honey and that’s not about to change until the time I’ve given him is up. I’m sorry.”
“You promised me he wasn’t grounded from me! ” Ellie reminded angrily. “You promised me we’d still gets bedtime! You broke your own rule an’ lied to me mister!” By now, tears were forming in her eyes – all sense of playfulness in her gone.
“I would never lie to you Ellie and you know that,” Brian told her calmly and he slid his arms around her as she stood in front of him and he pulled her close to him. “You know Brian doesn’t like it when you, Josh, or anyone else lie to me. I’m not going to turn around and do it myself – I promise.”
“Then why have I nots been getting bedtime with my Joshy?” Ellie demanded tearfully.
“Because you chose to sleep with Kevin the past few nights remember?” Brian asked gently. “You’ve just got him back and all to yourself after Summer and you’ve both been very clingy and wanting to be alone. I was just giving you your space. I was not intentionally depriving you of Josh. If you had wanted him, all you had to do was say so.”
“I wants him,” Ellie repeated tearfully and Brian gently brushed her tears away with his finger.
“I’ve already arranged with Kevin for a sleepover,” he reassured. “And tomorrow you get to hang around my house all day – inside and play.”
“Really?” Ellie asked, cheering up some.
“I must stress inside Ellie. He is still grounded and not allowed outside for awhile but I think it will be okay for you alone to visit. Do we have a deal?” Ellie nodded eagerly. She’ll do anything he asks her too, just so long as she gets to have her Joshy back.
“Okay then,” Brian replied gently. “Kevin is going to take you home with him later tonight to get you in your pajamas and such and then he will be dropping you off at my house.” Ellie looked to Kevin then, who was standing there along side Kristin – who Brian hasn’t really gotten a chance to talk with seeing as Kevin was in the middle of introductions when Ellie came in, and Jerald was also there with Lil’ Rok too.
“Drops me off?” she asked softly.
“You aren’t really going to be missing me much honey, I promise” Kevin told her gently. “Once you see Josh he is all you are going to care about. I will tuck you in and sing you to sleep and do our bedtime routine, but would it be okay if I went home tonight?”
“What are you gonna do ats home?” she asked, her eyes falling on Kristin. The one thing she will never forget, is Kevin leaving her with baby-sitter after baby-sitter so that he could be with Summer. She loves Kristin…and she’s the one who pushed them together after all…but still. How long will it take her to let go of that pain?
“Well, for starters, I thought maybe I would do a little cleaning up” Kevin explained not missing her fear at all. “Your bedroom door has a dent in it…I thought maybe your Uncle Jerry, Grandma Ann, and I could replace it with a new one.”
“Withs the same pretty paint job that Uncle Jerry, Uncle Tim, an’ Gramma Ann had done withs the old one?”
“The very one,” Kevin promised and Ellie beamed approvingly. “Go have fun with Josh and by the time you come home tomorrow afternoon your room – the house – and everything will be as good as new.” And myself… he thought inwardly. He has every intention of spending the evening putting Summer behind them.
“Okay,” Elenore replied and she looked at Kristin happy to hear that he hadn’t mentioned her in his plans. As much as she adores her and likes her with her Kevy, she isn’t ready for her to have slumber parties with him right now. She looked up at Brian who sat there silently watching her expressions as she talked with Kevin and looked at Kristin. He knows exactly what she is thinking and he doesn't blame her in the least bit. Kevin is lucky that she is even allowing him to leave her with him for the evening – and all of tomorrow morning and early afternoon.
“Brian did you meets my Kristin yet?” She asked, all signs of her fear disappearing and her whole face lighting up. Brian chuckled and slid his arms around her again before standing up with her and rejoining his cousins and the woman who despite the small fear he had seen, seems to make his baby cousin happy.
“Kevin was just introducing me to her when you walked in,” Brian answered while glancing at Kristin with a warm gaze.
“Right. Brian – Kristin - Kristin, my cousin Brian.”
“Its nice to meet you,” Brian insisted with a polite grin. He had just been listening to Jerald and his fear for his brother fifteen minutes before he had arrived with the very woman. “Jerald says you met Kevin at Denny’s?” he asked conversationally.
“That’s right. He, Ann, and Ellie showed up and I was their server.”
“You should tries the Kristin Special sometime Brian, they’re wonderfuls,” Ellie insisted happily.
“The Kristin Special huh?” Brian asked while looking at Kristin curiously and she laughed, her face turning a light shade of red. Kevin, who had been watching her and her facial expressions and reactions to everything for quite sometime now, smirked upon seeing this. He’s decided that she is very adorable when she blushes.
“Ellie wasn’t very happy with Kevin because she wanted chocolate milk but he wanted her to have hot chocolate instead because it would be better for her cold. She was in mid-tantrum mode, so I managed to coax her into trying some hot chocolate if I threw on some Dino-sprinkles and whipped cream and I named it the Kristin Special.”
“Smooth move on your part,” Brian praised, looking deeply impressed and he casually made eye contact with Jerald who he knows is trying his very hardest to find something wrong with her in fear of his brother going psycho on them again. “There aren’t very many people – if any, who can get through to Ellie when she is in mid tantrum mode.”
“Kristin handled it like a pro” Kevin bragged while never taking his eyes off of her. “She was even more brilliant this morning, wasn’t she Jer?” he added while turning his attention on his brother, catching him completely off guard and he nearly jumped out of his skin at the attention he wasn’t expecting.
“Mhm, brilliant” Jerald agreed while smiling some even though he was just caught in mid-thought. He is just thankful his brother can’t read his mind, though he knows he is highly suspicious of him right now. The tone he had used when he abruptly turned his attention on him like that. Had he seen him looking at Kristin with his mind full of doubt? Was there some kind of expression on his face that betrayed what he was thinking? But how could he have noticed when he himself can barely take his eyes off of her? Kevin swung his arm around Jerald and leaned over and gave him a wet slobbery kiss upon his cheek the way Nick often does and Jerald made a face.
“Cut it out Kev…have you and Nick momentarily switched bodies? Ugh!” He complained, though secretly liking the affection his younger brother was showing. At least Kristin doesn’t seem to be standing in the way of that the way Summer had. That’s a plus…
“How are things with Hope, huh big brother? I was hoping I would see her here with you.”
“Things are fine – we spent the afternoon talking but she had to go to work afterwards.”
“Fine?” Kevin pressed while swinging his other arm around him and looking him in the eyes quizzically. “I hope fine means you’ve kissed and made up or I am seriously going to have my work cut out for me.” Jerald rolled his eyes in playful annoyance and shoved his brother off.
“We’ve made up and you should stay out of it – and stop hanging all over me while you are at it, sheesh. What are you five years old again?”
“And kissed?” Kevin asked, not letting up on his pestering. “You can’t officially make up unless there is kissing involved! And if you haven’t officially made up, I will make another date for you Jerald, and you know it.”
“There will be no need for that,” Jerald rolled his eyes. “I am taking her to the movies tomorrow. Satisfied?”
“Immensely,” Kevin beamed, deciding he is just going to have to assume there was a make up kiss involved and his brother just isn’t going to let him in on it. He moved closer to his brother then and hung on him all over again, purposely putting all of his weight into him. Jerald made a face but otherwise didn’t protest – knowing from childhood experience that it only makes things worse. Plus, he has a feeling that this is his way of making up for being a jerk to him lately. Ellie giggled amusedly and Jerald arched his eyebrow at her.
“You think this is funny do you?” he asked her teasingly and she giggled some more.
“You might as well gets used to it Uncle Jerry. Its what younger siblings do – I watch Kota drive Sarah nuts all the times.”
“Well, I have news for Sarah – the antagonizing never ends” Jerald informed while bringing his foot up and kicking Kevin in the arse making Ellie giggle even more. Kevin arched his eyebrow, shoved Jerald backward onto the floor going while going with him, and the next thing they knew it, the brothers were wrestling the way Ellie and Josh often does. Ellie highly amused, sat there watching them, giggling, and cheering each of them on and Brian just chuckled, shook his head, and looked at Kristin who looked as though she was enjoying the scene as well.
“You’ll have to excuse them – they haven’t exactly been getting along lately…and this is their way of making up – acting like children.”
“I think its hilarious actually” Kristin smirked. “I know all about the joy of wrestling with siblings.”
“So you have siblings yourself then?” Brian questioned curiously.
“Two of them – a brother and a sister both of them older then I am.”
“Ah, so you are the baby in the family huh? Me too. My brother drives me crazy.” Kristin laughed.
“Mine can be a pain in the butt sometimes too, believe me. But I seriously don’t know what I would do without either one of them all the same.”
“So your family is pretty close then?”
“About as close as siblings can get without someone accusing us of incest,” Kristin joked and Brian chuckled amusedly.
“I’m afraid we can’t say the same for those two,” Brian joined in on her joke, indicating toward Kevin and Jerald who now lay exhausted on the floor. Jerald is lying flat on his back and Kevin lay sideways with the back of his head rested comfortably on Jerald’s stomach. Kristin laughed and Kevin and Jerald both flashed Brian warning looks.
“Careful cuz, we will pull you down here and wrestle with you too,” Jerald informed.
“And you’ve never been very good at beating us, so you’d best not challenge us. Just because Harry isn’t here it doesn’t mean we can’t keep childhood memories alive,” Kevin added and he got up and joined Kristin at her side. “Speaking of you and your siblings Kris, I couldn’t help but notice how you pass your niece and nephew around amongst the three of you through out the day for baby sitting. Is this routine?” he added while sliding his hand into hers and squeezing her hand gently as if to prove he is into women – one in particular, and not at all into men let alone his brother.
“Yes it is. My sister, brother, and I all share a house together. We all three have jobs and when the kids aren’t in school we ‘take shifts’ so to speak when it comes to child care.”
“What happens when all three of you have to work on days that the kids aren’t in school?” Brian asked curiously.
“It hasn’t happened yet. Between the three of us someone is always home for them. We work our schedules around each other.”
“That’s really interesting. You weren’t kidding when you said you were close,” Brian informed her, feeling highly intrigued.
“Family is my life pretty much.”
“What about your parents?”
“They live in New York. I have a very good relationship with both of them but I’ve always been a daddy’s girl,” She admitted sheepishly and Jerald wondered to himself how close she is with her father. Would he be the protective type? How would he take to Kevin if he and his little girl become serious? Maybe he won’t have to always be the only protective one in the bunch – maybe he’ll have someone on his side very soon. Either way, just because she seems to be charming everybody else that she meets he isn’t about to let her off the hook. If she wants his little brother, she’ll have to make him see that she isn’t a fraud.
“Kristin?” Ellie suddenly spoke up, rejoining them after she had run off to tackle Chris who had been playing with some other kids and annoying him immensely.
“Yeah sweetie?” Kristin asked while looking over at her curiously.
“Chris said Brookie put cookies out in the cafeteria – will you takes me to go gets some please?” Kristin looked to Kevin then, double-checking that its okay with him that she has some and he smiled at her.
“Go ahead,” he urged gently.
“Are you going to come with me?”
“I’ll wait here. I have to talk to Brian – Ellie will show you where to go though okay?” he asked, deciding that he would trust her with the most important thing in his life – he has to know if he can and this will be her test. He will be checking her for new bruises later though and he trusts that Q and Laney will be keeping watch as well on their cameras.
“Mhm,” Kristin replied, looking rather surprised that she is being trusted and she gathered Ellie into her arms and headed toward the door.
“I’ll show you where to go too,” Jerald added and started to hurry after her when Brian casually grabbed a handful of the back of his cousin’s shirt forcing him to stop.
“You’ll do no such thing. Ellie is capable of doing that herself.”
“But—“
“—Jer, chill” Brian whispered quietly in his cousin’s ear. Jerald scowled quietly and bitterly watched as Kristin walked out of the playroom with his niece. When the door was closed, he whirled around and narrowed his eyes at his brother.
“How could you let her do that?”
“I didn’t see anything wrong with her taking Ellie to get cookies. You’re always nagging at me to lighten up and let the kids have sweets every now and then and here you are bitching at me when I do. I can’t please you can I?” Kevin asked completely ignoring the real meaning behind his question.
“You know perfectly well what I mean Kevin Scott Richardson. You just stood here and let her walk out of here with your daughter after what Ellie has been through with your last relationship gone wrong!”
“I need to know that I can trust her, Jer.”
“So supervise her then, don’t let her go off alone with her though!”
“How am I supposed to know if I can trust her not to hurt my kid when I’m not there if I’m there keeping watch on her? Summer did it behind my back.”
“And how do you know Kristin isn’t going to do the same thing huh? It just amazes me how you can so easily trust her like this!”
“Kristin is nothing like Summer, Jerald” Brian spoke up finally, suddenly pushing himself between the two brothers like the mediator that he’s become in the past month. “I know what you went through with Summer was hard and you feel like it’s your responsibility to make sure it doesn’t happen again but I don’t think we’ll have that problem with Kristin.”
“And you know this after spending ten minutes with her?”
“Brian has a pretty good judge of character,” Kevin insisted. “She’s a sweet person Jerald, she’s kind, easy going, fun…and I’m…really beginning to like her Jer.”
“You told me you were going to take it slow.”
“I know what I told you but that doesn’t change how I feel.”
“He can hardly take his eyes off of her cuz,” Brian added softly. “I was watching him – and the way his whole face lights up when she’s around…I’ve never seen him like that before.” Jerald crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. “I know you’re having a really hard time with the Summer situation, but that doesn’t mean we need to punish Kristin for another woman’s betrayal. That’s not fair. At least give her a chance.”
“I just don’t understand how you can trust her to be alone with Ellie,” Jerald insisted softly and he rubbed at his watery eyes.
“She’s not alone – not really. There are cameras everywhere bro…if she hurts her we’ll see it – if not on cameras then there will be new bruises on her body.”
“And you are willing to put her in that kind of danger again in order to see if you can trust her?”
“I want to believe that she is different. I want to be able to put Summer behind me and move on Jerald…I don’t want to constantly be worried all the time. I haven’t been able to let my little girl out of my sight for days without being terrified. I checked on her five times during the night last night…I can’t live like that. I need to move on.” When Jerald didn’t reply, Kevin went on. “Tonight while Ellie is spending the night at Brian’s I want to go through all of my stuff and make sure every last memory of Summer is gone – even if I have to burn every last bit of it. I want that mistake to be put behind me and I want to move on and be happy – to create a new beginning for Ellie and me.”
“And this new beginning…just so we’re on the same page here…is going to involve Kristin?” Jerald questioned and Kevin shrugged.
“Maybe, I don’t know…I just want to see where this relationship of ours takes me. But I need your blessing Jerald because I don’t want to fight with you anymore. I miss my brother and want a clean slate with him too. Is there any possibility that this might happen?” Jerald shrugged.
“That all depends on how Kristin feels, doesn’t it? Your last girlfriend didn’t like it very much when I was around you.”
“Kristin isn’t going to be like that,” Brian spoke up again. “She has a brother and sister herself, I have a feeling she’ll be very understanding.” Jerald shrugged and Kevin wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into a hug.
“I will make sure Kristin knows just how important spending time with my brother is, even though I have a feeling she already does. Okay? I promise Jer…I’m not going to shut you out again.”
“Kay,” Jerald replied softly and he returned the hug. After a long moment, Kristin walked in with Ellie and Jerald whispered in his brother’s ear. “But she’s not sleeping over at our house this soon, that’s where I’m drawing the line Kevin.”
“I haven’t even kissed her yet Jerald, what makes you think I’m even near ready to let her move in?”
“I’m just setting the ground rules now. I live in that house too, I feel I deserve the right.”
“Hope doesn’t sleep over either then.”
“She never did in the first place. I don’t think it’s appropriate with a five year old living under the same roof unless you are Nick and Ashley and are bound to be married some day.” When Kevin pulled away from the very much-needed hug he was sharing with his brother he turned and glanced over at Kristin who had been lingering over by the door. When she saw that the brotherly moment was over she rejoined them, Ellie with her arm wrapped around her and her head rested upon her shoulder and she is eating a chocolate chip cookie. Kevin studied his little girl and when he saw that nothing was out of the ordinary and she looked happier then ever he turned his gaze on Kristin and smiled at her some. She held out a cookie toward him.
“Here, I thought you might like one.”
“Oh, thank you” Kevin replied with surprise written all over his face and he took the cookie and took a bite.
“Is that cookie good Ellie?” he questioned after a moment.
“Mhm – very,” Ellie replied happily. “I asked Kris if she’d bake chocolate chip cookies withs me some day an’ she said that she would.”
“Ooh well that will be fun. Maybe she’ll have to come over tomorrow afternoon to do that while your grandmother runs wedding errands with Jackie and Jerald and I play basketball.” Kristin once again looked surprised at the trust.
“While you two play basketball?” she asked curiously.
“We have a basketball hoop hanging over our garage,” Jerald answered. And cameras all over the house too, he thought inwardly to himself.
“Well that would be cool,” Kristin replied, not missing the threat in Jerald’s tone. “I would love to come over and bake cookies.”
“Wear comfortable clothes and shoes” Kevin replied. “I might end up challenging you to a match while the cookies are in the oven.” Kristin smirked.
“Are you sure you want to do that? I’ve been playing basketball with my brother since I could walk. I’ve gotten to the point where I am better at it then him.”
“Oh really is that a challenge then?” Kevin questioned, arching his eyebrows playfully.
“You bet it is.”
“Well, I’ll have you know that I’ve been playing basketball ever since Brian could walk.”
“And ever since then I’ve clobbered his arse, so you should have no trouble at all,” Brian smirked and Kevin gaped at him, as if not believing his cousin would betray him like that. Kristin just laughed amusedly.
“All right, bring it on. After you and Jerald spend some time together its you and I mister.”
“Care to make a little wager, Jer?” Brian asked amusedly.
“You bet I do,” Jerald replied readily and the two cousins began discussing how much money they were putting on whom.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
