JC was giving thanks to God when his illness subsided just two days after it started. Although he’d been absolutely miserable, he did enjoy the extra attention bestowed on him by his wife, who felt it was her fault that he was sick. After all, she’d had it first!
After having his first shower in days, he came downstairs, whistling. The reddish color had left his cheeks and he was looking a lot less like death! He was greeted almost immediately by his toddler son and their puppy.
“Daaaaddy… you is aww better?” Jack asked, holding his arms up to be lifted. He hadn’t seen his daddy for two long days, because they’d been unwilling to subject the little boy to the sickness that had plagued their family.
“Yep, I’m all better buddy,” he said, leaning over to lift the little boy into his arms. He groaned and smiled. “You’re getting big, Jackie.”
“I big boy!” He said proudly, a grin on his face. At JC’s feet, Jax barked, clearly needing some attention from his master. He laughed and leaned over, scratching the dog behind his ears.
“That’s right buddy. You’re my big boy.”
“I daddy’s boy.”
~*~
A smile crept onto her features when he approached, and she lifted her hand to sweep back a piece of hair that had been in her face.
“Hey,” he greeted, his voice smooth and calm. He flashed her a smile and her face turned red. She wasn’t sure if she could respond without making a fool of herself. The relationship was a new one and she hadn’t even shared it with her mother and father.
“Hi,” she responded, her voice soft and shy. He slipped his hand into hers and a chorus of “awes” could be heard from several of her classmates, causing her to roll her eyes.
“Abbi and Nicky sitting in the tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Abbi--“
“Then comes Sharon with a bloody nose if she don’t hush!” She growled, scowling over at her taunting friend. Letting out a laugh, Nicky looked over at his girlfriend.
“That wasn’t nice,” he told her.
“Well… she ain’t bein’ nice either,” she pointed out. She leaned back against the doorway when they reached the end of the hallway.
“Can I walk you to your ride?”
“Nah, if my sister sees, she’ll snitch,” she told him.
“Oh… well… can I have a hug then?”
“Yeah sure… I guess,” she said, wrapping her arms around him before she pulled away. “Bye! Cya tomorrow!”
Without another glance back at Nicky, Abbi took off down the steps of the school and located her sister, waiting in her car. She climbed in and shut the door behind her.
“Who’s that booooy?”
“What boy? I dunno what you’re talking about!”
“Oh please… Look at him. He’s up there waving like a fool!” Julie pointed out. Abbi rolled her eyes and slumped down in her seat a little. “Aww! My little Abbi is growing up!” She laughed.
“If you don’t shut up, I’m gonna sock you right in the mouth, Julie. I mean it. Stop!” The older girl rolled her eyes at the threat and couldn’t help but continue to taunt the young girl.
“Abbi’s got a boooyfriend, Abbi’s got a booooyfriend! Ah… puppy love!”
“Well… well… at least I can GET a boyfriend!” She shot back, knowing that Julie hadn’t had a boyfriend since her sophomore year of high school—two years ago!
“So he IS your boyfriend!”
“Ugh! I wish you would just… just… shut up! He’s NOT my boyfriend.”
“That’s not what you said two seconds ago!”
With a beaten whimper, Abbi knew that no matter what she said, there was nothing she could do to convince her sister otherwise. And there was no point in trying. “You’re not going to tell daddy, are you?”
~*~
When the phone rang later that night, no one thought much of it. People called all the time, usually for JC, though sometimes they called for Jen, and as of late, Julie had been getting quite a few phone calls as well. But it was rare that Abbi got a phone call, and it was even rarer when it came from a boy whose voice was changing!
“Uh yeah… just… one second,” he mumbled. He covered the receiver and tossed his head back to holler. “Abbi!” he bellowed.
“WHAT?”
“Telephone!” A loud racket could be heard from overhead and it wasn’t long before the sound of feet could be heard stomping down the stairs.
In almost no time at all, his daughter was at his side, snatching phone from his hand.
“Hello?” JC cocked his eyebrow as her voice lowered dramatically and she tossed looks over her shoulder at him, silently shooing him from the room. “Can you hang on just a second? Okay thanks.” She lowered the receiver, holding it against her shoulder to mute herself. “Dad… ain’t you ever heard of PRIVACY?”
“Sheesh… you know your little girl is growing up when she kicks you out of your own living room!”
“Daaaaddy!”
“Okay, okay! I’m going. Jeez.”
