Stand In The Rain

Forty Six

Dinner went very well that night, and the way Emily saw things from there on out, everything was right in her world, and she was even beginning to sketch out a serious proposal plan for later that week. She'd even gotten JJ to agree to sitting down to talk about wedding plans and house hunting before vacation was over.

As for JJ, she was was also hammering a proposal plan that involved her easily securing reservations at Emily's favorite restaurant for later that week.

At the moment, all JJ wanted to do was just sit with Emily and at least talk about planning the babies' nurseries, but... the day had quite an adventure in store for them.

The beginning of the adventure unfolded with a phone call.

"Archie, hi!" JJ said in surprise when she answered the phone. "What's up? I'm still at the Prentiss house with Emily."

"I know this is very last minute, but can you and Emily look after Kaida today?"

"Of course, but what about everyone else?"

"Well, for starters, one of mom's old friends is in town, and they're catching up."

"Oh?" JJ said interestedly. "Who?"

"Aunt Cecelia."

Archer's words were said with a shudder, but with reason—Cecelia Szymański was from the old neighborhood in Pennsylvania, and, at least amongst the neighborhood kids, had always been referred to as the crazy lady at the end of the lane. JJ and her siblings had never figured out how their mother and Cecelia Szymański had even become friends, and they always dreaded being babysat by her.

"Copy that. Staying out of their way today."

"Good call.Toshio and Sakura are here at the house with Cho right now because she's on lockdown." There was a brief pause, and then Archer added, "Haley just came in to hang out, too. It's her day off."

"I'm glad they're becoming friends. Is Cho having contractions yet?"

"No, but it's any day now, and she's determined for the boys to come before the doctors have to induce her. Plus, what friends we do have here are all at work. A squirrelly Kaida cooped up in the house all day is not fun."

"Meaning that that leaves us, but don't worry—we'll keep her for as long as you need; just come pick her up after work. We'll even make dinner if things run late." (Beside JJ, Emily was listening and casting a wary eye at her, trying to figure out what they were being volunteered for) "Anything on the agenda in particular that we should know about?"

"Actually, Kaida is going to a birthday party the day after tomorrow, after school, but she needs to get a present for her friend and a new outfit because she's going through a growth spurt. Would you and Emily be willing to take her? We've already set aside some cash because Cho won't hear of money being spent out of your pocket since this is an errand we didn't have a chance to get to because Kaida was given the invitation by a classmate last week. She's been talking about it every day since."

"You're family, Archie, and we're glad to help out, but I just have one question."

"Why isn't Kaida at school?"

"Yes, exactly."

"Staff development day—you and Emily will have to learn about it in five years or so when you send your kids to school for the first time."

"Stop it!" JJ whined at her brother. "Don't put those ideas in my head before you get here!"

"So that's a definite yes?"