Among The Wildflowers

𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕪-𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖: Spilled Grape Juice

While Nic and Stan are upstairs in time out, Gina's downstairs starting on dinner.

She's just gotten off the phone with Lorie, who asked if Stan could stay the night, when her phone rings again.

Gina smiles as she answers.

"Hello?"

Hey, Gina Jo, Will says, I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight.

"Tonight? Well, I was just about to start dinner for me and the kids."

Kids?

"Stan's staying the night," she says,"Could we go out another night?"

Will's quiet for a moment, contemplating what to say. He knows deep down that if he doesn't propose tonight, he'll most likely chicken out.

No, Gina. It has to be tonight.

"Why?"

Will thinks about what to say, hoping whatever he comes up with sounds like the truth.

I'll be busy tomorrow night. I have plans.

"Plans?" Gina asks, her doubt evident in her tone.

C'mon, Gina, Will pleads, playfully, quit asking questions and just be ready by six.

Gina looks to the clock, realizing she has less than an hour to get ready.

"If ya want me ready by six, then I gotta go," she says,"would ya like to tell me where we're going?"

Nope. Just wear something nice.

"Alright, see ya soon, Will, bye."

Bye.

Gina hangs up the phone and heads upstairs to her daughter's room. She hears the two children talking from outside the door, but once they hear her turn the knob, they go silent.

"C'mere," she says, entering the room.

Stan and Nic share confused glances, before turning around and approaching Gina.

"Stan, I called your mama and she said ya can stay the night."

"Well that's good," he says, grinning at Nic who's grinning right back.

Gina puts her hands on her hips and clears her throat to bring the attention back to herself.

"Will and I are going out tonight, so I expect ya both to stay outta trouble. I reckon he'll be bringing John too, so that really goes for all three of ya."

Nic keeps her face from revealing her surprise. She didn't think Will would propose this soon.

"Now, if I find out either of ya have acted up while I'm out tonight, I'll tan both your behinds, do ya hear me?"

"So I'd get a whippin' even if I didn't do anythin'?" Stan asks.

"If one of ya misbehaves, you'll both get punished."

"How's that fair?" Stan whines.

"It's not, but it'll hopefully keep ya both from misbehaving."

Stan groans and throws his head back like it's the end of the world.

"Stan, quit," Nic says, shoving him playfully,"I won't get us into trouble, I swear."

"Ya better not," her friend replies,"I'm still sore from earlier."

"Well ya shouldn't be," Gina says,"I went real easy on ya."