Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Seven

'How is Spain looking?' Landon asked as Ecie sat in the passenger's seat and put on her seatbelt.

'It's looking good,' Ecie nodded. 'How has LA been?'

'Boring,' Landon smiled at Ecie. 'I've missed you.'

'I'm sure you have,' Ecie smiled back. 'I've missed you too.'

Landon grinned. 'So how long are you staying for?'

'A week,' Ecie replied. 'I want to hurry back to Spain.'

'Well then we'll have to make the most of this week.'

'Have you been working all summer?'

'Yeah,' Landon nodded. 'I've been driving up and down from Santa Barbara, you know, just checking up on the students.'

Ecie laughed.

'It's a shame about Lauren,' Landon said. 'I think she would have done really well this summer.'

'Well there's always next year and there'll be other placements,' Ecie replied. 'What are you going to bribe them with next year?'

Landon laughed. 'I'm working on it. So far what I've got is the Bahamas.'

'That doesn't sound like it'd be good for placements,' Ecie replied.

'I was talking about you and me,' Landon replied. 'I can bribe you with the Bahamas next summer.'

Ecie laughed. 'Oh.'

'What?'

'Nothing,' Ecie said. 'It's a really nice gesture, but how about we concentrate on right now.'

Landon nodded. 'I want to spend time with you.'

'Then fly out to Spain,' Ecie said. 'Take some time off. It's really nice over there.'

'I don't know,' Landon sighed. 'I've got so much stuff going on here.'

'Well I'm not leaving just yet,' Ecie smiled. 'We can have this week at least.'

'Yeah,' Landon reached over and kissed Ecie on the lips. 'Have you heard from your mom?'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded. 'She's doing really well and so is Rowan. Apparently he's been being really good and hasn't been crying much.'

'Are you going to see them while you're here?'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded. 'I think I will.'

'Are you ready for this?' Landon asked sitting back in his seat.

Ecie looked out of the window and at the large stadium.

'Ecie.'

Ecie turned back to Landon. 'I'm scared.'

'You've got nothing be scared of,' Landon smiled. 'You're ready for this, you've been preparing for this for months. You can do it.'

Ecie nodded and looked back at the stadium.

'Don't look at it,' Landon said. 'Just look at me, it'll be okay.'

Ecie looked at Landon and took a deep breath. 'Okay, it'll be okay.'

Landon kissed Ecie and held her close. 'You'll be fine. Just go in there and show them what you're made of. You're a great cheerleader and you can do it.'

Ecie kissed Landon on the lips before taking a deep breath and opening the door. 'I'm ready.'

Landon grinned.

'Okay guys, my name is Sandra and I will be in charge today,' a woman stood in front of hundreds of girls talking through a microphone. 'This is what's going to happen today...'

'How did it go?' Landon asked expectantly.

Ecie collapsed in a heap on the sofa.

'It can't have been that bad,' he said. 'You've been gone for like ten hours.'

Ecie sighed and closed her eyes.

'E?'

'It's true what they say,' she breathed. 'That was the most grueling, tiring, absolutely awesome experience of my life. I could die tomorrow and be totally satisfied.'

'Did you get through?'

Ecie opened her eyes and smiled. 'I got through.'

Landon jumped up happily and hugged Ecie. 'Well done. You've got no idea how happy I am for you. When do you have to go back?'

'Next week,' Ecie replied. 'Oh my god I can't believe that happened today. I cannot believe that I got a call back.'

'I love you,' Landon kissed Ecie. 'I love you so much.'

'I love you too,' Ecie kissed Landon back. 'I love you.'

'Bye,' Ecie kissed Landon then climbed out of his car and walked up the path to Sofie and Eric's house. 'Hello?' she opened the door and walked through the empty foyer and through to the living room where Sofie was sat bending over baby Rowan. 'Hey mom.'

Sofie smiled up her daughter and pushed her hair back. 'Hey honey, how was it?'

'It was good,' Ecie nodded. 'I got a call back so I'll be going back for in interview next week.'

'That's awesome,' Sofie smiled tiredly. She hugged Ecie tightly. 'I'm so proud of you.'

'Thanks mom,' Ecie smiled. 'How is everything going on here? Where's Eric?'

'Eric went to the store to get some more diapers,' Sofie yawned. 'He's really good at this whole hands-on thing. I think he was made to be a father.'

Ecie looked at her mom. 'Do you want to lie down for a bit?'

'That is the best question I have been asked in forever,' Sofie replied rubbing her forehead. 'You wouldn't mind looking after him for a short bit?'

'Not at all mom,' Ecie smiled. 'You go upstairs and lie down. Do you want me to bring you something to drink?'

'Hot chocolate,' Sofie smiled. 'Thank you honey,' she bent down and kissed Rowan. 'Ecie's going to look after you while I go and lie down. I love you.'

Ecie smiled as her mother kissed Rowan one last time before getting up and leaving the room.

Rowan opened his big brown eyes and stared up wondrously at Ecie. He blinked several times and opened and closed his mouth like a fish.

Ecie laughed and grinned down at her brother. 'Hello Rowan. Hello.'

Rowan coughed a bit and started gargling.

'You can't hate me already,' Ecie said softly as she bent down to pick him up. She noticed some paper as she bent down. 'Has mommy been lying to us Row?'

Ecie cradled Rowan and blew in his face lightly as she grinned and smiled.

Rowan blinked at Ecie and pulled a face as he started to cry.

'Shh, shh,' Ecie soothed as she jogged him a little. 'Come on baby Row. You don't want to cry do you? E's here to take care of you, yes I am, of course I am.'

Rowan stopped crying and looked up at Ecie.

'Aha,' Ecie grinned. 'That's right. You're not going to cry when your big sister is here, are you? No you're not.'