Just a Kiss

Chapter 10

I can't believe this! Idina is pregnant again. Tom thought to himself as he made dinner for Dawn and Himself. Tonight was Cheeseburger night, so Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett was blaring out of the Ipod Dock. Tom was flipping burgers when Dawn walked in.

"Hey Dad. Need any help?" She asked, standing in the doorway.

"Hey kiddo. Yeah I could use some help with um... how about you cut the Lettuce, Tomatoes, and pickles for the burgers." Tom said, turning around and pointing to the spot on the counter.

"I can do that!" Dawn said, walking over to the counter. She began to cut the Pickles

when the door rang.

"Dawn, could you get that please?" Tom asked, looking at Dawn.

"Yeah!" Dawn exclaimed, running to the door. She opened it and exclaimed, "Uncle Ben!"

"Hey Kid! How are you doing?" Tom's close friend Benedict Cumberbatch asked as he walked in.

"Good! And you?" Dawn replied, walking back to the counter.

"I am well, thanks! Just you and Pops?" Benedict asked, following Dawn into the kitchen.

"Yeah, Mom and Shelby are with some friends at the lake for the weekend. Fiyero went with them. Just Dad, me, and Loki." Dawn said, finishing up the tomatoes and putting them on a plate. She put the chopped lettuce on a plate and the pickles in a bowl and took them to the table.

Dawn and Benedict sat down as Tom finished the burgers. He brought the burgers over, set the plate on the table, and sat down next to Dawn. The three of the them doctored up their burgers and began eating. A conversation popped up here and there, but it was mainly about their work and stuff. Dawn continued eating and went to her room for a bit. She grabbed her laptop and went into the study to work on a story that she was writing.

"Hey kid." Benedict said, popping open the door to the study. "You alright?"

"Yeah, just working on a story that I have been writing." She replied, setting down her laptop.

"Really? That's cool. So, your dad and I were talking about getting together sometime this week. My sister is in town and she has a daughter that is about your age. We were thinking about having a dinner or something like that. He is going to talk to your mum and sister about it when they come back." Benedict said, looking at Dawn.

"Sounds fun." Dawn said.

She set her laptop down and followed Benedict out and into the kitchen. They helped Tom wash dishes and clean up the kitchen. After everything was cleaned and put away, Tom and Benedict wanted to play a game. Tom grabbed Cards Against Humanity and called Dawn over. Dawn went and sat between the two at the poker table.

"This could get very interesting." Dawn said shortly after she sat down.

Tom dealt out the cards and they played for about two hours. Some of the funniest cards were played and Benedict ended up winning.

"Goodnight Uncle Ben." Dawn said, giving him a hug, then moving by her father. "Night dad." She said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Night!" Benedict and Tom said at once. The two resumed their drinking and the card game.

Benedict left shortly after midnight, and Tom cleaned up the kitchen, dining room, and living room before going to get ready for bed. Before Tom made it to his room, he popped in to check on Dawn. She was sitting on her bed with her laptop in her lap typing her story. Tom walked over and sat down on the bed next to her.

"Why are you not asleep Dawn?" Tom asked, looking at her with a concerned look.

"Well, it is because I miss Mom and Shelby. I love hanging out and playing games with you, don't get me wrong, but I love doing things as a whole family as well. You know, going to a museum or the park, taking the dogs for a walk. I want to do that again, but I don't know when Mom and Shelby are going to be home." Dawn said as she powered down her laptop and set it on her desk.

"Look, I miss Mom and Shelby too. They will be back sometime this week, I promise. Now, How about we take Loki out for a walk in the morning. What do you say?" Tom asked, looking at Dawn.

"Sure!" She said as she laid down on her bed and covered herself up.

Tom gave her a kiss on the forehead and said Goodnight. He turned off the light and headed into his room. Loki followed him and jumped onto the bed, claiming the spot that is normally occupied by Idina.

"Look at you! Lucky Dog you are!" Tom exclaimed while going into the bathroom to finish getting ready for bed.

Tom cleaned up the bathroom and laid down next to Loki. He watched some TV and eventually fell asleep. Dreaming of what tomorrow has in store and hoping Idina and Shelby come home.