My Twin Flame

Chapter Five

I thought about it my whole drive home. I would surprise Vanessa with being able to go to the party. I was tired of fighting with her. Maybe this would be just what we needed to be able to get our bond, our friendship back. I didn't want to be the kind of mom that committed social suicide for my duaghter. She was my best friend, my little buddy. Sure I am close with Max and Libby, but Max he's a boy and Libby, I work all the time. When Vanessa was little I didn't have to work. That is one of the few things I thank Elliott for. I got to just be home with her. By the time Libby came along I was in school so she spent most of her time in day care, then preschool. It was just different with Vanessa. I always pictured me and her talking about boys and shopping for homecoming gowns. Guess that was kind of a stupid dream considering I wasn't even the kind of girl that did all that homecoming stuff. But I grew up without my mother; being only six when she passed away. I never had a mom to do those things with. I guess I just thought it coulda been different for me, so I wanted it to be different for Vanessa and Libby.

I opened the door to the house and wham! "Max why are you running in the house!" I bent down to pick up all the samples I had dropped. When I stood up Miss. Combs was there like she just appeared. Now I understand why Libby thinks she's just creepy.

"Libby and Max have finished their homework. Miss Vanessa isn't feeling well today. She has been napping in her room.

"What do you mean doesn't feel well?"

Miss. Combs just shrugged and shuffled her feet out the front door. I called after her, "does she have a temp? Is she throwing up?" Come on Miss. Combs throw me a bone here.

"I shut the door and walked into the kitchen. One thing I loved about Miss. Combs watching the children, I never came home to a messy kitchen. I pulled some frozen pizzas from the fridge. Not a very nutritious dinner but I was tired, and I figured it was going to be just me and the littles tonight, maybe it would be a great movie night.

"MAX, LIBBY!" I holler from the bottom of the stairs.

"COMING!" They both responded at the same time. Of course pushing each other as they ran down. "Move booger head!" Libby elbows Max and pushes past him.

"I was thinking of pizza and a movie night, how does that sound? What movie would you all like to see."

"I want to watch Snow Queens."

"Lame-o no way am I watching anything with singing princesses in it. I say we watch Night of the Killer Zombies!"

"First off young man, tell me when I have ever let you watch movies like that?"

"You don't" he pretends to sit up and stick his chest out like a little man, "but dad does!"

"Great well, that is at your father's house. Here it's my rules and I say you are not allowed to watch movies like that."

Oh, I know a movie, how about Puppy Beard, the Hunt for Lost Treasure?"

"Man you are such a baby."

" I AM NOT A BABY!" Libby screams at her brother.

"Libby stop yelling at your brother! Both of you go pick a movie out together. And get along doing it."

I preheat the oven and pour a cup of coffee. After a good twenty minutes of fighting and with a little help from me the kids finally settled for a movie. I served up the pizza on plates and we all cuddled up in the living room for a nice quiet evening.

About half way through the movie I started to worry about Vanessa. "Libby how long has your sister been sleeping?" Libby just shrugged her shoulders. "I'm going to go check on her, I hope she doesn't have strep or something."