Chapter Thirty Seven
The days were turning cooler as September changed into October. The leaves were falling off the trees and a light jacket was required for the early morning trips to school, even in warm, sunny Florida. The girls were quickly settling into a routine with school, making life a little easier on Jen. A LITTLE easier, as she still had the five month old baby boy to contend with!
It was the middle of October, and the Chasez’s had just sat down to a nice family meal when JC had brought up Abbi’s favorite holiday: Halloween!
“So what are you going to be this year?” He asked his daughter as he cut into the steak his wife had prepared. He smiled at the way Abbi’s eyes lit up when she mentioned the holiday. She had perked up immediately.
“I think I’mma be a ball player,” she told him with a grin. “Or maybe I’ll be a police man!” She said, squealing with delight. From his seat, JC could see the scowl on his wife’s face and he couldn’t help but laugh. For years, she’d been trying to get Abbi dressed in cutesy girl costumes, such as a princess, or a fairy, but the youngest female Chasez was just not having it.
“That’s cool,” he said. “You know what? Grandma might have one of my old baseball uniforms. I’ll bet if we called her, she could send it down here and you could wear it for Halloween,” he suggested. He then turned to his oldest daughter.
“And what about you, missy? What are your plans for Halloween this year?” He asked. Even though Julie was far too old to go trick or treating at this point, she usually dressed up to stay home and help Jen pass out candy.
“I think I’m going to go to this party,” she said casually. “You know the girls I went out with a few weekends ago? Well, they’re having this really cool party on Halloween this year, and I was thinking that maybe I could go?” She suggested, looking up at him hopefully.
They’d had some problems the previous school year with Julie’s choice of friends, but since the whole ordeal with Brianna at the beginning of the school year at the football game, her attitude and choice of friends had greatly improved. He didn’t see a problem with her attending.
“Are there going to be chaperones?” He asked, taking a bite of his steak.
“Yes sir. Carrie’s mom is going to be there,” she said, giving him a smile. He nodded and chewed thoughtfully, before turning to Jen.
“What do you think?”
“As long as a chaperone is there, I don’t see a problem,” Jen said, giving her husband a smile. “Is it a costume party?” She asked, turning back to her step daughter.
“Yep. I’m thinking of going as Daphne from Scooby Doo,” she said. JC couldn’t help but snort.
“Isn’t that a little before your time? Scooby Doo was popular back in the nineties.”
“Ugh! Dad! You know nothing. It’s vintage,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You know how people back in your day used to dress up as people from the fifties and stuff?”
“Ugh, I am not that old,” he said with a laugh, rolling his eyes. “She must be talking about your generation, dear,” he said, smiling at Jen.
“You’d better shut your mouth unless you want to sleep on the couch tonight, bucko,” Jen warned, cocking an eyebrow in her husband’s direction, even though she couldn’t help but smile at his playfulness.
“Yeah yeah… keep talking and I’ll have to put my foot down. I’m tired of your sass.”
“Oh I’m sorry dear… were you talking? I stopped listening a long time ago,” Jen said in a matter of fact tone, standing up to clear the table, squealing when her husband swatted her as she passed him.
~*~
All Hallows Eve had arrived before anyone knew what was happening. Abbi had indeed decided to go trick or treating a ball player. JC thought she looked absolutely adorable in his old uniform that Karen had sent down to him. It was a little too big for her tiny frame, but she was adorable none the less. Especially with the authentic dirt smudges complimentary of school.
He definitely wasn’t as keen on Julie’s outfit. The skirt was a little too short, the shirt was a little too tight, and the make up was a little too much. However, when he started to complain, he was met by his wife’s elbow in his stomach, warning him to keep his mouth shut. How could he argue?
“What do you think?” Julie asked, smiling as she turned around. Due to the fact that she was lacking Daphne’s signature red hair, she had purchased a wig and then had Jen cut it to match the character that she was portraying. She looked very Daphne-like! A little too much for JC’s taste, of course, but then again, nothing would suit him. She was his little girl!
“I think you look perfect, honey,” Jen said, a smile on her face. In her arms, Jack was dressed as a bumblebee, complete with the little black stinger on his bottom. He was adorable.
“Thank you,” she said with a smile, turning to Abbi. “Have fun. Get a lot of candy so I can steal some later on,” she teased.
“Psh, you better go out and get your own!” Abbi said, sticking her tongue out at her sister. Julie returned the gesture before turning to her parents.
“Alright well, I’m going to get going. I’m going to just stay over there tonight, but I’ll be home first thing in the morning,” she said with a smile, walking over to kiss her father on the cheek. “Love you daddy.”
“I love you too baby. Have fun, and be careful.”
“I will. Love you Jen,” she said, walking over to give her step mother a kiss on the cheek as well and then she turned to her sister once more. “Have fun tonight, Abs. Try not to eat all the candy before I can get home and swipe some,” she said, ruffling her sister’s hair.
Abbi simply rolled her eyes and pulled her baseball cap on. “Yeah yeah. Daddy, can we get goin’? We’re burnin’ day light!” She complained, even though the sun had gone down about an hour ago.
Jen shook her head and laughed as her family, minus her little boy exited the house, leaving her alone to pass out the candy for the evening. “Ahhh… beautiful silence!”
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