Rollercoaster (The Circle Series - Part 3)

Chapter 23

Leesha smiled up at her husband. "Wish you didn't have to leave so soon. Call me soon as you get there?"

"Always do, babygirl." David cupped his wife's face and kissed her deeply. "I'll be home in a few days. Promise."

She nodded in understanding and watched him load his bag into the trunk. Leesha waved as David backed out of the driveway, pulling out her phone and dialing Julie's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey hunny! Guess who's home!" Leesha locked the front door and padded through the foyer, the marble flooring cool beneath her bare feet.

"Oh Leesh! So good to hear your voice again!" Julie exclaimed, "How are you feeling? David...David hasn't said."

She crossed the room to Sam's bassinet and dropped beside him. The tiny baby was sleeping peacefully and drooling. "Extremely sore and exhausted. Doctor's told me to rest until I'm healed up. David left for New York. Broadway calls. He didn't want to but Ethan's here helping me. I'm surprised we haven't seen you sooner...like at the hospital or here. I've been home for three days now."

"Umm yeah," Julie inhaled, "We, ah, we thought we'd give you some recovery time."

"You two busy today? I could bring Sam by to meet you both. Granted he sleeps 80 percent of the time."

"Jon has his physiotherapy appointment this morning, so..." Things had been strained again, between the two families since Sam's birth. They'd both been trying to contact David but all phone calls had been ignored and they hadn't wanted to put Ethan and Ari in the middle of their battle again.

Leesha frowned at the tone in Julie's voice. She'd thought for sure Jon would have at least called by now. "Is everything okay? You sound off...like seriously off."

"Er, yeah, sorry. I'm just a little distracted with the Bolan paperwork," Julie said, feeling guilty at the white lie she'd just told.

"Bolan? I thought they cancelled. Saw their email today saying they'd chosen a destination wedding."

"Did I say Bolan? I meant to say Greenward," Julie grimaced at her slip-up, "New clients. Word of mouth."

"My two favorite words," Leesha cheered. "I'll come over and help. Give Jon some time with his son. There's no appointment that can't be rescheduled. See you in a few!"

After a little bribing and begging, Ethan left the warmth of Ari's arms and gave into his mom's request to be driven to Julie's home. He typed in the gate code and pulled to the front door. He helped her out of the car and disconnected the baby capsule.

"I'll call for you to pick me up," Leesha said and handed her son a $50.

"Geez, Mom, I feel like a taxi service," Ethan grumbled.

"While your Dad is gone, you are." She kissed his cheek and picked up Sam after adjusting the small Patriots beanie stuck on his head. "Love you, hunny!"

"Love you, Mom." Leesha walked slowly up the stone path, turned Sam's seat so Jon could see him and rang the doorbell.

~*~

Jon heard the doorbell from his office and frowned. "I'll get it, babe," he yelled. He didn't know if Julie could hear him or not but he grabbed his walking stick and hobbled down the hallway to the front door. He wasn't expecting anyone and Julie didn't mention that she had any client meetings so it must be one of the kids that had forgotten their keys...again.

With a wince of pain, Jon leaned on the stick with his weaker arm and opened the door. "So which of you kids have forgotten-" he started to say as the door swung open to reveal Leesha standing there with the baby capsule.