Chapter 18

Alex had gotten Meo down and was walking toward Steph's room. When she peeked in she saw Stephanie sitting on the bed, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. Stepping in she crossed the room and sat on the bed beside her.

"Honey, it's okay." She said as she wiped a tear off her cheek. "It's just one date. who knows I might end up liking the guy."

Stephanie shook her head, making a terrible face she tried not to cry harder.

"No Miss Alex, I never should have gone along with it in the first place." Stephanie took hold of Alex's hand. "It was wrong."

"yes it was, but I understand, it was important to Jessie and you wanted to help your brother." She leaned toward Steph and they put their foreheads together. "It I had a little brother I might have done the same thing. So no more tears? Your dad just got home and your off restrictions." She liked that Stephanie had started to smile. "Not go to bed we have loads to do tomorrow." She kissed her on the forehead.

Throwing her arms around Alex, Stephanie smiled.

"I'm gland you are here for us Miss Alex."

Hugging her back Alex sighed, "Me too Stephie, me too."

Getting Stephanie all tucked in she headed down the hall to Jessie's room. Not looking forward to this she peeked in. Jessie was laying on his bed tossing the ball in the air and catching it.

"Ten minutes and lights out Jess." She said. Jessie nearly hit himself in the face with the ball at the sound of her voice. "Careful, you don't want to break anything important." She laughed.

Jessie sat up and looked at her laughing.

"How can you laugh? You have to go out with Coach Davis?" he asked when she came into his room.

Taking the ball and putting it on the dresser, she went back and sat on the edge of his bed.

"Jess all you had to do was tell me the truth." She moved a lock of his hair out of his eyes and smiled. He had his dad's eyes and his mother's complexion. "You might be surprised I might have helped you out."

"Really?" Jessie asked sitting up "I was afraid you might not go out with him." He searched her face looking for an answer.

"NO but if you told me what was going on we could have sat down and figured a way out of this mess." She smiled; she really loved these kids and finally felt like they were jelling as a fragmented family.

"Daddy and Uncle Mookie will come up with a plan. They're really good at this." Jessie said smiling up at Alex.

"Get some sleep we have a big plans for tomorrow. You and Jake have chores for the morning. You were planning on cooking breakfast for your dad since he's going to miss Father's Day."

She helped him get under the covers and tucked him in. "Steph's is getting the juice and coffee and Meo and I are getting the flowers for the tray." Kissing him on his forehead she went to the door and turned off the light and left the room.

Leaning her head on the door she sighed. One day down a week to go. It felt really strange having Jon home. It was easy when it was just the kids. Now it was real. Going and checking on Jake she smiled to see him already asleep. He was the good kid, next to Meo. She was almost to her room when she heard them coming up the stairs. She turned and laid her finger on her lips to tell them to be quiet. She mouthed goodnight and headed into her room, shutting the door quietly.

Jon looked at Richie "Guess that means you're in the guest house unless you want to bunk with me?" Jon asked as they walked into the master suite.

Richie thought about walking across the lawn and thought about the room he usually stayed in when he was there. Turning he looked at Jon then back at the closed door.

"You don't snore do you?" He asked with a chuckle as he closed he door. "I could casually go into Miss Alex's room by mistake....seeing as how it was my room before she came." Ducking when Jon tossed his overnight bag at him, putting it on the floor he sat on the end of the bed. "It was just a thought." he smiled. "Did you see how Romeo had taken up with Alex? The way she plays with the back of his hair and strokes his back reminds me of how much I miss that kind of touching from a woman."

"Yeah I got the same feeling." Jon looked around the room he had shared his inner most feeling with the woman he thought he would grow old with.

Richie could tell the mood was shifting. they were both single men now. Once it came out the women would be all over them.

"How should I know, I'm asleep." He looked round the room; they had moved stuff around so that he didn't miss Dorothea's stuff. "Just stay on your side of the bed and no one will get hurt." he sat in the arm chair by the window; this is harder than I thought he said to himself.

Richie thought for a minute then turned to Jon.

"You just do man, you remember that you have someone waiting for you to be both parents." He looked down at the shirt in his hands thinking about when he came home the first time and Heather was gone. "It does get easier." he said finally "and you get on with your life." getting up and going over and putting his hand on Jon's shoulder giving it a pat he turned to the bathroom door. As he went in he heard Jon say thanks.

Getting undressed and pulling on sweatpants he laughed when Richie came out with the same sweatpants on. "Man we are like too old married farts." Richie wearing Soul sweatpants they started to get into bed.

Jon looked over at the clock. It was ten PM. throwing back the covers he headed to the door. "I got an idea get up we need to make some calls...I'm calling in a few favors! Get your ass out of bed Dean...I got a bottle of Pinot that is chilled we can get this worked out tonight!"

They headed back to the family room.

~~~~