We Can See STARS

Future Chapter 24: Be Our Guest

October 2031

He didn't give you much information. Benn called to let you know that he would be home a bit later than usual and to make sure that the guest room was clean and ready to use. You barely were able to let out an 'okay' before he quickly said goodbye and hung up the phone. After all these years he was still a man of few words.

You head into the guest room on the lower level of the house to add some little touches of hospitality. Clean towels, extra blankets and turn on the plugged air freshener that emits a scent that reminds you of the woods and summertime. As you are preparing the room you hear a small little inquisitive voice,

"What are you doing?"

You turn around and see Dhani standing there with her little hand on her hip. Her little pony tail that once was on the crown of her head now tilted to the side from playing around with Asher.

"I'm preparing the room because we are going to have a guest."

"Why?"

"I don't know, your crazy Daddy didn't tell me." You respond as you continue with the preparation of the room.

"Daddy's not crazy!" She, always ready to defend Jamie. Now both hands on her hips. You can't help but chuckle.

"You're right, he's not crazy. He just didn't tell me who is coming because he had to get off the phone super fast."

"Ooh." She stays there.

"You want to help me with welcoming our guest?"

She excitedly nods her head. You ask her to bring her crayons and a piece of paper. As she goes to her room you check up on Asher who is in the living room passed out on the couch, his plastic baseball helmet still on his head. You had brought him some ballpark popcorn that came inside a small plastic helmet from work one day and he always wanted to wear it from then on while he would play baseball with his little toys. Once Dhani returned with the items, you sit with her at the dining room table. You explain to her that you're going to make a welcome note to the mysterious guest. You help her write out the word "Welcome" and have her draw a flower and a happy face. She was quite the little artist even at three years old managing to color and stay within the lines. As she's drawing away she starts singing in her three year old way "Be our Guest". Unintelligible words followed by a clear 'be our guest' you can't help but sing along with her.

"It looks so beautiful Dhani girl." You compliment her as she finishes her artwork. You pull her closer and give her a tight hug.

"I know." she responds as she lifts the welcome note to admire her artwork a bit closer. Where she got her sassiness from you'll never know.

"Let's go put it in the guest room" you hand her the note and she practically runs, excited to place her creation in the guest room. You lift her up so she can place it right in the middle of the bed resting on a throw pillow.

"There is still one thing missing."

She looks at you with an expression of curiosity as to what else we can put. You tell her to wait there for a second as you get something from the kitchen. You come back and open your hand so Dhani could see what was inside. Immediately a smile appears on her face at the contents inside. Three mini peanut butter cups. You help her place one next to the note and give one to her and one for you. You tell her to keep it a secret between the two of you so that Asher doesn't get upset he missed out on some chocolate. You hold out your pinky to her and she wraps her little pinky around yours to seal the promise.

As you were preparing dinner you receive a text from Benn letting you know he should be getting home in about 30 minutes. Again no information as to who this guest could be. All afternoon you kept trying to figure out who it could be. If it were family why wouldn't he just tell you? it's not like you had any particular family member you actively tried to avoid. Luckily having twins kept you pretty busy you didn't have much time to dwell on the matter. The twins had already had dinner and had been bathed. They were now in the living room watching a movie, nice and clean and relaxed. That is until they heard the door unlock. They were like little puppies each time they heard the door unlock sprinting and going crazy, eagerly awaiting whoever was behind the door. You were surprised they didn't jump around and pee on the guest out of sheer excitement.