One and Only

Chapter Sixty

Eight years later

Jonathan was the child that loved to be sneaky and mischievous, he made James look like a saint. He was found on top of the stables with his Radio Flyer Wagon, grinning as his mother and father ran across the yard screaming at him to not move, he gave them a wave as he gave himself a push and was gone over the edge and out into a huge pile of hay.

"Thank the Good Lord he's the last one we'll ever have because another one like that and it'd kill me!" Desai grumbled as she threw her hands up and walked back to the house shaking her head. She knew he was alright he was yelling happily, but she had plans for that damn wagon. Tearing it apart bit by bit and running it over with her Range Rover!

"Dad! Wasn't that awesome?!" Jonathan exclaimed.

"Just how did you know it would land on the hay?" Thomas asked him as he ran shaky fingers through his hair.

"I did the calculations," he stated simply.

"Calculations?" Thomas asked confused.

"Yes, papa. I weighed the wagon and myself then figured up the ratio and distance and placed the hay in that spot."

Thomas nodded as if he understood everything his son was saying, truth was he only understood part of it. "How did you get on top of the stables?"

"The tree," Jonathan pointed.

"Ahh. You climbed that tree carrying that wagon?"

"Well, I made a ladder for the tree. I took some leftover pieces of 1X4s that Mumma tossed, cut them using a hand saw, and nailed them up."

"Jon, you're eight. You really should be asking for help to do things like that. Not that you should ever be flying off the top of the stables in a wagon. Your Mumma is very upset. She was very frightened," he said, not to mention the gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair.

Jonathan used a look that Thomas recognized because he had used it so many times himself that went along with the sound, "Pffft! Mumma gets upset with everything I do and is always scared of the stuff I do."

"Only because she loves you, Jon." He clapped the child on the shoulder. "Look, just please be a bit more careful. You like adventure? Well, then let's go on an adventure. Chris has been asking us to come visit him in Australia."

"Yippee! Are there snakes and lizards there where he lives?! Wow, he could teach me to surf too!" He looked up at his father. "Do you think he'd mind?"

"No, but –" He let his voice stop because Jon was yelling that they were going to Australia.

Desai came out of the back of the house with a look that was hard for him to read. It was between shock and disbelief. "You rewarded him for flying off the top of the fucking stables?!" she hissed into his ear as she hugged him. "I could absolutely – never mind. He's gonna cause me to keel over dead, Thomas. And you're no help. We don't run this house! Those children of yours do!"

"Yours too." She eyed him then and those green eyes were sparkling and even though she was upset with him and Jon, she loved them all. He smiled and asked, "You love me?"

She laughed. "Yes, Thomas William Hiddleston, I love you and you know I love you, but one more episode of Jonathan Hiddleston and The Raiders of the Old Manor House and Flying Circus and I'm out of here." She shoved a finger in the air. "I mean it." She hit him on his chest with her palms twice, the third time she made contact she squeezed his muscles and ran her thumbs across his hard nipples.

"You'd leave me here to deal with all of them? Alone?"

"Yep," she said popping her p.

"No, Desai, darling you're not that cruel. Those children know exactly how to manipulate me ..."