Here's the first chapter for the sequel to A Night in Time. I really hope you guys enjoy this one just as much. Enjoy!
Chapter 1: A New Day
"Mom, Autumn won't get out of my room!" A 13-year-old Emma yelled, running down the stairs.
"She just looks up to you and wants to spend time with you. Nothing wrong with that. You two use to be connected at the hip. What happened?" Zoe asked, folding laundry.
"I grew up, that's what happened. And she's still a child. My friends, Mom," Emma whine. Zoe sighed, following her oldest daughter.
"Don't let your father hear that," Zoe told her. "Autumn, honey, let's go find something to do, okay?" Zoe asked, holding her hand out for her 9-year-old daughter.
"Okay, Mom," Autumn beamed, placing her hand in her Mom's.
"Boys, no running in the house," Zoe called after her 6 and 4 year old boys.
"But, Mom," they whined in prefect unison.
"But nothing, Maddox and Ty. Running belongs outside," she told them sternly. Sulking the two boys walked off.
"Can I just go play in my room?" Autumn asked.
"Sure, sweetie, just leave your sister and her friends alone, please?" Autumn nodded, racing up the stairs. Zoe went back to folding clothes, thinking back to simpler times, before she had four kids, a dog and a husband. Life had changed dramatically over the last 13 years. And the last nine years had been the most rewarding of her life.
She had been married nine wonderful years, she couldn't imagine spending the last nine years without him, or even the next 50 plus years. Emma had been through it all, giving her parents the push they needed. Autumn was their little loving surprise. 3 very short years later Maddox came along giving Wade the boy he wanted. Ty however he wasn't expected 2 years later but he was, they had been trying to have a fourth child and they all but gave up when they realized they were spending more time worried about conceiving. So they stopped, spending all the time they had free with their daughters and son. The next thing they knew Ty was being born.
Emma and Autumn were the best of friends, Maddox was pleased when Ty came about having a brother and not a sister. The boys were menaces together driving Zoe nuts, but some days in a good way. Now as age played a factor between the girls, Emma wanted to be around her friends, talking about the latest crush and Autumn just wanted to play with her sister, not understanding the reason why her sister wanted nothing to do with her.
As for the town of Bluebell, Zoe had really grown to love the place and Bluebell had fallen to love Zoe just as much. Even Brick had came around. He had signed his half of the practice over wanting to spend his time out on the lake watching the sun rise and set. Both his girls were living life's of their own and he spent time spoiling his two grandsons. He had helped Zoe out at the practice when she needed him. She was trying to find another doctor to work for her.
"Hey, babe," Wade greeted, entering the house. Zoe smiled, wrapping her arms around him, greeting him with a much needed kiss.
"Hi," she smiled.
As for Wade, he was now the proud owner of the Rammer Jammer. He had worked things out so he could work during the day and be home in the evenings with his family. At least twice a week he would have to go in and close the place up. But even on those nights he would come home eat with his family, listen to their stories, tuck them into bed, spend a few minutes alone with his wife and head back to work, until closing time. "I've convinced Dave to close up tonight, Dad said he would be more than happy to come sit with the kids tonight."
"What's the special occasion?" She asked, locking her eyes with her husband's.
"Do I need a reason to take my wife out?" He asked with a smirk, raising an eyebrow.
"I suppose not," she remarked, only to sigh a second later hearing the screams between the boys. "You wanted boys, they're all yours," Zoe informed him, pushing him towards the stairs.
"Hey dad," Emma smiled, passing him on the stairs.
"Hey princess," Wade smiled back. Zoe watched as Emma came closer, trouble in her eyes.
"Can we can have pizza?" She asked.
"Sure, I'll leave the money with Pappy."
"Why?" Emma asked, not caring if her Mom had more to say.
"Because he's watching you guys tonight."
"Mom I'm 13, I don't need a baby sitter, I've watched them before," Emma huffed.
"You haven't at night and you have friends over," Zoe told her sternly.
"So not fair!" She yelled storming up to her room, cringing hearing the door slam shut.
"Do I want to know?" Wade asked, coming into view.
"She doesn't need a baby sister," Zoe retorted.
"Why must she act all bratty when her friends are over?" Wade asked, walking to the living room.
"She needs to act grown up around them. I was like that to but not that bad. She has to prove that she's a teen and not a child any longer," Zoe explained, curling into his side on the couch.
"That's just stupid, considering she still sleeps with that ragged old bunny and the bar that's becoming just as old and ragged. Don't even mention how she needs to be tucked in at night," Wade smirked. He was in no hurry for his baby girl to grow up.
"She needs her friends to see, not us, baby." Zoe wasn't looking forward to the day she would have two teen girls to deal with. But again she wasn't in a hurry for any of her kids to grow up.
The next few hours were very uneventful, the kids seemingly getting along. Emma and her friends were busy with make overs, with the latest gossip at school. Autumn very much like her daddy played video games. The two boys were busy playing with trains, dinosaurs and toy cars. Tea parties had been long forgotten about.
Earl still had yet to touch a drop of alcohol, he was 9 years sober and dating. He had been with Eloise for the past 6 months and things were going wonderful between them.
Zoe and Wade hugged and kissed their kids reminding them to behave while they were gone. Zoe hugged Earl on her way out the door.
Wade had taken Zoe to Mobile for a fancy dinner. They tried not to talk about the kids but it couldn't be helped. After they ate they walked along the beach in the moonlight.
"I'm telling you now she isn't going to that dance, no way," Wade argued.
"Do you really want to break your daughter's heart? She has the dress and everything. It's just her and her friends. No boys, it's just harmless fun, Wade. Parents and teachers are going to be there to watch," Zoe told him, arguing for Emma.
"She's suppose to stay my baby, forever," he pouted. Zoe smiled, wrapping herself around him.
"Part of her will always be your baby girl, but she's getting older and needs to have fun with her friends."
"Okay, fine," he sighed. "But no boys, and I mean that, Zoe." She smiled kissing him. He would give in, he always did.
"I love you, baby."
"I love you too, doc."
