Carolyn: The only time my kids had a choice for supper was on their birthdays and if it wasn't "Busketti" it was lasagna...no kidding. Now it's cabbage rolls if they're coming to dinner that is planned...otherwise it's take what you get when you just show up.
Eve: You are so right about some people just having to ruin it for others but I think this chapter is just some more kids fluff. This little JP is fashioned somewhat after my youngest grandson who is now 22 and still the same. He's also the baby of the bunch and funny to me, not so much his parents. I guess that's what being a grandparent is all about, you can laugh at the chaos.
Chapter: 14
“Hey Dad…we have a problem here at the house. Liz has been running into this officer Bradley all over town and since Don’s break-in her instincts are in overdrive so she became suspicious and when we got home this evening she went on a search and found a surveillance mechanism on top of the refrigerator. She thinks Bradley planted it there and we don’t want to alert him by calling the PD if she’s right. Can you get in touch with one of the guys you know and help us out here?”
Philip was floored,
“What kind of surveillance device Max? My God, what in the hell is going on over there?”
“Well, it’s sitting on top of the refrigerator, it’s small and it looks like it might have a camera lens on it but I’m not really sure. We didn’t touch it and we came outside to talk about it in case it’s what we think it is. We didn’t want to alert anyone to the fact that we found it. I don’t know what the hell is going on but we’d sure like to nip it in the bud.”
“I can imagine…let me make a call and I’ll get back to you son. I’ll call your cell so you can talk outside.”
“Great dad… you know, I don’t know how Liz manages to get through a day without losing her mind. She never ceases to amaze me. I’m about ready to kick some serious ass and she just keeps on dealing…I guess we all do. It wouldn’t do any good to go off like a lunatic in front of the kids; they’re having enough problems without us adding to it. It’s a wonder JP hasn’t used his new boots on Parker as mad as Parker makes him.” And Max shook his head in wonderment.
“I know exactly what you mean Max…I wonder too. But one day I’ll just bet Parker and JP are the best of friends. You know JP will catch up.” Philip was in total agreement with Max. He knew Parker agitated JP something fierce but he also believed what he said.
“I hope you’re right Dad and wait until I tell you about JP deciding to run away…this one is a real hoot…he even packed clean underwear.” And Max chuckled…
“NO! Honest to God? Did you tell Liz about your experience?”
Philip had to laugh at that, the kid is just too hilarious and he’s only four. What’s he going to be like in a few years?
“Yeah, I did tell her but I don’t think she believed me. She said mom would never do anything like that.” And now both men were laughing…
“Well, I’ll just have to confirm that story for you son and I’ll get back to you with the other. Keep your phone on okay?”
“Will do dad, and thanks.”
“Please Max, don’t thank me…I’m just glad you two are thinking this thing out rationally. I don’t think you’re in any danger, but an invasion of privacy is a crime and we’ll deal with it.”
“Okay dad, talk to you later.” And both men hung up.
About that time JP walked out onto the back patio and told his dad that mom made him come out to help him clean Jack’s dishes. Max rubbed his son’s little head and smiled…
“What did you try to get away with this time JP?” Max knew the boy had tried to con his mom out of something.
“Oh, nothing…I just wanted busketti for dinner and she said no and told me to come and help you.”
JP was very up front and nonchalant about the whole thing…anything was worth a try in JP’s book.
Max smiled again as he took the dog’s dishes over toward the garden hose at the side of the house and JP followed, talking as they made their way, never missing a beat as he continued to talk to his dad about busketti.
“Uh huh…didn’t we have busketti last night?” Max asked as he bent over to turn the faucet on.
“Yeah, but I thought we could have it again tonight.” JP said as he reached down and held the water bowl for his dad.
“Well, I think we should let mom decide what we have for dinner don’t you? She really does a pretty good job don’t you think?” Max asked as he washed the dog bowl out.
“Yeah, I guess, but I really like busketti.”
Max smiled as he turned the water faucet off and then he and JP walked over to the corner of the patio to fill the dog dish with Jack’s dinner…then Max looked at JP and said.
“Well JP, it’s like this” Max motioned for JP to sit in the seat next to him on the glider sitting next to the large patio table. And as they swung back and forth Max said “Jack eats the same thing everyday and he seems to be pretty healthy and it doesn’t seem to bother him but I think, personally, that I’d get pretty bored eating the same thing everyday.” And Max looked down at his son to see if he was paying attention, which JP was… “I like spaghetti too but I don’t want to eat it every day” Max said thoughtfully, “think I would get tired of it and then I wouldn’t like it anymore and that would be terrible because spaghetti is really good. What do you think?” JP looked up at his dad with a very serious expression on his face.
“Yeah, I guess. I like mashed potatoes and gravy too, and that’s what mom is making tonight with pork chops. I wonder why she wanted her little red skillet; the big red skillet would have worked better with all of those pork chops she had out…let’s go ask her.” And JP was gone that fast. Max just shook his head and smiled. He bent down and scratched Jack under the jowls when the dog came around the house and nuzzled Max’s hand before heading over to his bowl to have his dinner.
“You know Jack, if it wasn’t for all of the weird shit going on it could be a really great evening. What do you think?” And Max left the glider and took a seat at one of the patio tables by the pool and looked up at the setting sun and smiled and added, “Yummy!” Yep, a great evening and the smile deepened, after all these years he still couldn’t get enough of her.
It was getting closer to winter and the sun was setting a lot quicker these days and there was a slight evening chill but this was one of the great things about living in Philly, the changing of the seasons… and Max remembered the fall that Liz came to see him so many years ago and he smiled. That was one of the greatest experiences of his life and winning the World Series didn’t hurt either and his smile grew broader.
*~*~*
During dinner the subject of the new twins at school came up and Briana took it upon herself to start teasing her brothers about kissing Marlene and her twin sister. Both boys started to scream at their sister saying that they were not going to kiss girls and really got in a snit. They looked like they were going to throw their plates at the girl if she didn’t shut up. Then Deana looked over at JP and decided to put in her two cents…
“Are you going to kiss girls JP?”
Both Max and Liz held their breath, they knew if JP got pissed off anything and everything could start flying…JP just kept on eating and answered in a very definitive voice…
“Probably… when I’m a teenager.”
And that was the end of that argument. JP didn’t see what all the fuss was about. Kissing was good as far as he was concerned. He loved his mom and dad’s kisses and grandma’s too. Max looked over at his wife and shrugged his right shoulder at her. You just never knew what that kid was going to say or do and he kept on eating…Liz just nodded and smiled. He was going to be a great man some day, if one of his siblings didn’t wring his neck first she thought and then she sighed.
*~*~*
After all the dishes were cleared off the table and the pots and pans had been soaked and put into the dishwasher Max and Liz headed on up the back stairs to check on the rest of the family to make sure they were all showered and ready for bed before heading to their own room for the night. Jack was curled up at the foot of Parker’s bed watching the youngster play a game over the internet with some unknown opponent and the dog seemed quite content to be where he was and Max looked down at Liz and grinned before addressing his son,
“Hey Parker, you think you’d like Jack to spend the night with you? He looks quite happy laying there?”
Liz jabbed Max in the ribs and giggled, she knew damn well what he was up to… Max feigned injury to his ribs and grinned at his wife.
Parker thought for a minute, never taking his eyes off the screen, and said…
“Sure dad, just bring his bed in, it’s cool.” And he continued on with his game.
Max gave Liz a wink and headed for their room, Liz shook her head and set Parker’s alarm for ten o’clock, turned down the blankets and plumped up his pillow.
“When the alarm goes off Parker, you go to bed. I’ll come in and check on you then, okay?”
“Sure mom, I should have this game wrapped up in no time and then I’ll read for awhile. I have some homework to finish up anyway.” And the boy never took his eyes off the screen and then he gave a yell of victory. “I beat him again mom.”
“Who?” Liz asked… and then she added, “What are Dick and Jane doing this year?” And Parker looked at his mom for a second like she was nuts…who’s Dick and Jane?
“Stefan from Norway. He has to get into bed now before his mom catches him or he won’t be able to come on line for a week. This is so cool. Maybe he can come and see us sometime. Okay?”
“Sure he can visit us anytime he’s in the US, but isn’t it very early in the morning in Norway? I think it’s great that you have friends all over the world Parker, but you do know that Norway is not like next door…don’t you?”
“Sheeze mom, of course I know it’s far away, but his family is coming to the U.S. next summer and they will be visiting Philadelphia and I told him that maybe we could meet somewhere. Would that be okay?”
“Of course that would be okay…get his parents e-mail and I’ll send them a message and tell them that it would be great for you to meet each other. Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah mom, more than okay. I’ll tell him tomorrow when we chat. Thanks.” And with that the youngster got up off the floor and gave his mom a hug and crawled into bed. Liz could only smile. When she was 6 she didn’t have a clue about computers, e-mail or even typing for that matter. She didn’t learn to type until middle school. Then she gave it some serious thought and smiled at the advantages she and Max have provided for their children. They basically attended private school, from 3 to 5, with older children and learned the alphabet and key board at an extremely young age. They really were advanced for their ages but the rest of the kids would catch up soon enough. There are only 26 letters and 10 numbers after all and she smiled.
By that time Jack’s bed was next to the child’s bed but Jack was on the bed all curled up. Liz looked at Max for help and he simply turned around and left. When he returned he had jack’s pillow under his arm and replaced Parker’s spare pillow with Jack’s just in case the dog decided he needed to lay next to the boy.
Liz kept Max’s pillow that he used for sleeping in the linen closet off their bedroom and Max took it with him and put it away when he got up every morning…Jack had his own pillow that he laid on when he was resting or, according to Max, protecting her. And his pillow case, along with their sheets, was changed daily…the dog was just as spoiled as the kids were; there was no doubt about it.
As Liz walked by Parker’s room after leaving Gerard’s room she noticed that Jack’s bed was empty and the dog had made himself comfortable next to Parker.
“Parker, are you okay with the sleeping arrangements here…I can always make him move.”
“No mom, I’m okay. He keeps me warm.”
“Well alright then.” And she walked around to the little boy’s side of the bed and gave him a kiss on the top of his head and then patted Jack’s head as she tucked Parker in.
It looked as though Jack was happy with the new sleeping arrangements also and Liz smiled. It was almost like the dog knew he would have to sleep in the bathroom tonight if he didn’t stay here. Oh well, he probably did know…he certainly wasn’t a dumb dog, and life was good, ’OH YUMMY!!!’ and Liz smiled as she headed to her room and her waiting husband.
*~*~*
As you say, it wasn't really too hot of a sex scene but I thought it might spice things up a little