Searching for Mr. Darcy

Scene Fifty-Seven

Maisie picked up her phone again and finished her text with Bastian: "I guess I'll just have to be wearing bells then."  Then she switched over to her conversation with Marcus.

"I had a great time, too.  I'm really looking forward to seeing you tonight, but there could be a problem.  I'm stuck with my sister's kids for the foreseeable future.  Too long to explain in text."  She started to type a follow up, but before she could get further than, "We might have to reschedule," he had responded.

"I like long stories. You can tell it to me over dinner.  I'll pick up a pizza and some ice cream and meet you and the kids wherever you want."

She erased her reschedule message.  "That would be amazing!  You sure you don't mind?  I know it's not what we had planned."

"Not at all.  I love kids.  Send address and I'll be there by 5:00 if nothing changes."

"You're amazing."

"You won't say that when you find out what I'm asking for in return."

"I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have had to ask :)"

The kids napped for nearly two hours.  When they finally woke up, Maisie had straightened the house as much as possible and texted Marcus to ask if he wouldn't mind also getting a carton of milk and some more adult beverages since her sister's fridge was empty and the kids had drank the last of the milk that morning.

"I want Mommy," Fisher said, rubbing his eyes and crawling up on the couch.  He leaned against Maisie and wrapped his hand around her forearm.

"I know, buddy.  She's still at work."  In fact, Maisie had still heard nothing from Anabeth and even a call to Momma Frampton couldn't relieve her of the children.

Fisher's voice seemed to have woken Sailor, who was sleepily climbing into Maisie's lap.  "Is Daddy back?" she asked.

"I talked to him and he said he's out of town all weekend."

"He's been gone a long time."  Sailor yawned.  "Can we watch Octonauts?"

"Sure, kiddo.  Fisher, can you hand me the remote?"

Her nephew dramatically sighed and reached over the arm of the couch to snatch the remote from the end table.

"Thanks."  Maisie found the show on Netflix and they watched peacefully for forty-five minutes until there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Maisie called, having trouble extracting herself from the kids.

"Marcus!"

"Great, come on in, door's open!"

"Who's that?" Fisher asked when Marcus stepped across the threshold.  He was carrying a grocery bag and a pizza box and Maisie could have kissed him.

"That is my friend, Marcus."  She tried to get up again, but Sailor had fallen asleep on her lap.

"Stay where you are," Marcus said. "Where should I put this stuff?"

"Kitchen is straight back.  Thank you so much."

"No problem."  He walked to the kitchen while Maisie gently shoot Sailor.

"Wake up, sweetie, it's time for dinner."

"I'm not hungry," the little girl mumbled.

"Well, I am."  Maisie carefully lifted her niece and finally stood, her legs painfully stiff from Sailor's weight. She set the girl back on the couch.  "You two wait here for a second.  I'll go fix us plates."

Marcus had just reappeared, but she grabbed his hand and tugged him back into the kitchen.  Once they rounded the corner, and she knew the kids couldn't see them anymore, she turned and pulled him close.

"You're amazing."  She kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck.  They backed up until Marcus's back was against the wall.  Maisie wanted to thank him properly, but after a few seconds, reason got the better of her and she broke away.

"Wow," he said.

She laughed.  "Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away."

"You can get carried away like that with me anytime."

"I'll remember that."  She took a few steps back.  "I can't thank you enough for coming over.  I've been with them all day and I haven't heard from my sister at all."

"What happened?"

Maisie shrugged and started getting plates and cups out of the cabinets.  She explained what went down when she arrived and her attempts to reach Anabeth.  She was just about to call the kids for dinner when Sailor screamed.

They both rushed into the living room - Fisher was sitting on his sister, who was face-down on the carpet.  He had two dollar bills clutched in his chubby little fist.

"Fisher! Get off your sister right now!" Maisie picked him up and handed him over the Marcus.  She bent down to check on Sailor.  "Are you okay?"  The little girl was crying, but Maisie couldn't see any bumps, bruises, or blood.

"He took my dollar!" she screamed, pointing at her brother.

"It's mine. I won!" Fisher insister to Marcus.

"You won?"  Marcus raised an eyebrow and looked to Maisie for an explanation.

Maisie helped Sailor to her feet.  "Neither of you won, because you both fell asleep, so you each get to keep your own dollar.  Hand hers over, Fish."  She held her hand out.  Fisher started to cry.

"Calm down, buddy.  Count to ten."

"One..." sniff, "two..." sniff.  By the time he reached ten, his tears had stopped and he loosened his grip on the money.  He gave a dollar to Sailor, then used his to wipe his nose.  "Now she won't take it," he said to Maisie.

Marcus chuckled and Maisie stifled a laugh herself.  She grabbed a tissue box and wiped both kids' faces, then ushered them into the kitchen for dinner.