Home » The Archives » Chapter 9 » Regrouping and Recouperation
| Re: Regrouping and Recouperation [message #273 is a reply to message #272] |
Mon, 23 July 2012 15:55   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
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"Mom?"
Dianne looked up to see her three children standing by her, hopeful expressions on their faces.
"Mom?" Cherie asked again. "Can we stay up until the party is over?"
Dianne looked for Jeff, but he wasn't in the room. She didn't feel like fighting, but she knew that if the children didn't get enough sleep, they'd be hard to deal with in the morning. "Honey, I..."
"It's time you boys were in bed." Emily came up, holding a sleeping Joshua in her arms. "I told Dom I'd take him and put him down in my suite," she explained. "I can wait up until he's ready to leave."
"You said 'the boys'," Cherie piped up, sounding hopeful. "Does that mean I can stay up later?"
Dianne nodded wearily. "Yes, you can stay up."
Cherie clapped her hands a little, and bounced just a bit, making a small squeeing noise. She was about to run off, when Dianne reached out and grabbed her arm, keeping her there.
"How come we have to go to bed and not Cherie?" Alex said, pouting.
"Because Cherie's older and doesn't get so cranky in the morning. Still," Dianne added, giving her daughter a stern look. "There's no telling when this party will end, so your curfew is 1 a.m. If I hear you're up later than that, you'll hear from me and go to bed before your brothers all next week! Understand, girl?"
Cherie nodded eagerly. "Yes, Mom! I understand."
"Okay, you can go." Cherie spun and took off. Dianne reached out to stroke Alex's cheek, then ruffle Tyler's hair. "Y'know, I think I'm going to head for bed right now, too. And since I don't see your father to ask him to tuck me in, how about the two of you do it tonight?"
"Can we?" Tyler asked, his expression one of surprise and delight.
"Yes," both Dianne and Emily said in unison. "I'll just put Joshua down, then come and help your mother get ready for bed, then you two can tuck her in. But," Emily added, "you need to get into your pajamas while I help her into hers, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am," Alex said. He tugged on his brother's sleeve. "Let's go now and get ready."
"Right! We'll be down soon," Tyler said as the two boys hurried off.
"I'd better go now," Emily said apologetically, shifting her sleeping burden in her arms.
"I'll get Scott to help me out. He can keep an eye on Cherie for me, too."
Emily nodded, and left, while Dianne rolled her wheelchair over to where Scott was getting a drink from Parker. "Scott, could you help me back to the sickroom? I think I'm going to call it quits for the night."
"Sure, Mom," he said. Glancing around, he asked, "Where's Dad? Wouldn't he want to do this?"
"I'm not sure where he is and I don't want to disturb him. Just get me up to the study..."
Her instructions were interrupted by Jeff, who joined them. "Cherie told me you had sent the boys to bed and said that she could stay up until 1." He made it a vocal statement, but they all knew it was actually a question.
Dianne nodded. "Yes, I told her that. The boys have gone to get dressed for bed; they're going to tuck me in. I've asked Scott to help me down to the sick room."
"I'll do that, Scott," Jeff said, nodding. "If you could keep an eye on Cherie, I'd appreciate it. I'll be back after I see this lady off to dreamland."
Scott's head had gone back and forth between his father and step-mother as if he were watching a tennis match. "Cherie? Sure. I'll see what she's up to. Do you need any help?"
"You could help me get Dianne up the steps into the study, son," Jeff said as he began to wheel his wife toward far end of the lounge. Dianne began to call her goodnights as she passed people, and Jeff found he had to stop as kisses or hugs were exchanged.
"Hey, Mom," Virgil said as he came up to her, smiling. "Thanks for the gift. You, too, Dad. That week in Paris will be just what I need to get the creative juices flowing." He leaned down to hug her gently and kiss her on the cheek. "I'm sorry we didn't get to dance tonight. I'm trying to dance with all the ladies."
"I'm sorry, too, Virgil," was all Dianne could say on the subject. "I'm glad you like your gift and happy birthday, son."
"Thanks again, Mom. Goodnight."
Scott and Jeff finally got Dianne and her chair up the steps to the study. "You hitting the hay, too, Dad?"
Jeff shook his head. "No, I'll be back soon."
"F-A-B," Scott said with a wink. He embraced Dianne gently and kissed her on the cheek. "Goodnight, Mom. See you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Scott, and thanks."
They passed through the study door, and Scott turned back to the lounge just in time to hear Gordon call, "Okay, who's next? Come on, folks, we need some more talent up here!"
Post by Tikatu on 2/23/2007
  
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