Your Time

Chapter 20

{August 2023}

"I'm going to be need you guys to be really good for the next few days okay?"

The kids nodded in agreement. "Okay daddy, but why?" Billie asked.

"Mommy's going to have a few friends in town for the next couple days."

"I want to meet mom's friends!"

Harrison smiled. "You guys will get to meet your mother's friends."

"Where is mom anyway?"

"Picking up her friends from the airport."

"Who's coming?"

He opened the drawer, grabbing a knife to cut up the chicken he and the kids were having for lunch once it was done in the crock pot. "Mommy and daddy's friends from high school."

"What are their names?" Adam asked.

"Marilou, Mark, Julia, and her boyfriend who I haven't met yet."

"I can't wait to meet them daddy," Ben told him.

"Me too buddy. I haven't seen them in forever."

"But forever is a lot longer than you were alive," Ben argued.

Harrison sighed. "Daddy hasn't seen them in a long time. And neither has mommy."

Just then, the door opened to laughter and the five adults coming inside. Carrie laughed, hanging her keys up. "And then you guys failed that test and spent the rest of the quarter helping him for bonus points."

"Hey," somebody who he presumed was Julia because of her British accent, shot back, "I almost didn't fail that test."

"Almost wasn't close enough," Carrie said with a smile.

The four kids came running into the kitchen to meet Carrie's friends. "Hello."

"Hello Ben," Julia answered.

He took a step back. "How do you know my name?"

She smiled. "Your mom talks a lot about you."

"Kids this is Marilou, Mark, Julia, and Josh," she answered, introducing the kids. "And guys, Adam, Emma, Billie and Ben."

"How old are they?"

"Adam's 12, Emma's 9, Billie's 6, and Ben will be 3 in October."

"Adam's 12 already? Wow."

Carrie nodded. "He's getting old."

"Mom!"

She hugged her son. "You're getting so big."

"Eww mom that's disgusting. Stop it."

That got a laugh from Carrie. "Why don't I embarrass you some more sweetie?"

"No mom, I'm good."

By now the guys all went outside to unload the car and Carrie checked on the chicken Harrison had been cooking before they got home. Hopefully he made enough for a few more people. Opening the lid to the crock pot, she got a whiff of the chicken. And it smelled really good.

Harrison, Mark, and Josh all came back inside carrying bags of stuff. They walked right through the kitchen and upstairs with the bags. Once all the stuff was situated upstairs, Harrison came back down and checked on his chicken. "I'll finish this," he told her.

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

She nodded before kissing his cheek. "Thank you."