Author's Note: AH! I'm doing that thing I do where I get REALLY into writing a story...anyway, another chapter today. I'm glad people are liking it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 3: House and Home
"Well," Chloe smiled as she, Rick and Scooter exited lunch. "I'm really looking forward to working with you."
"Us too," Scooter smiled as they shook hands, "I should get going, it was nice meeting you." He walked away and Chloe sighed, watching him.
"He's married?" She said.
"Happily married," Rick looked at her cautiously, "With a beautiful little girl."
"Are you sure he's happily married?" She shook her head, "He flirted an awful lot for a guy who's happy with his wife." He sighed, "Relax, Riley, I don't mix business and pleasure."
"That's a good policy," He nodded, "Too bad for me though." She laughed.
"Where are my girls?" Scooter asked walking in the door that night.
"Daddy!" Caroline ran over. He picked her up and kissed her. "Guess what Mommy and I did today?"
"What?" He said, bouncing her.
"We went to the park and we had a biiig picnic with Connie and Jack," She stretched her arms open, "And I ate 3 cupcakes!"
"3?" He said, pretending to be shocked, "Wow, how are you ever going to eat your dinner?"
"I helped make dinner too!" She said excitedly as he put her down.
"She did," Julie nodded, "She mashed the potatoes, and she washed the lettuce right?"
"Mm hm," Caroline nodded.
"You were busy," He laughed and walked into the kitchen, "Hello," He kissed Julie lightly hello.
"Hello," She smiled, "Cara, go wash your hands for dinner."
"Yes Mommy," The little girl skipped off.
"How was your day?" Julie asked.
"I signed a client," He said.
"Wow, Mr. Big Shot," She laughed and kissed him. "What client?"
"Um, St. Clair Magazine," He said, "You ever heard of it?"
"Ugh, yes," She rolled her eyes, "I hate it. You can feel the snobbery oozing from it."
"Yeah, well, that's going to change," He said, "Because I convinced Chloe St. Clair herself that they could use an image makeover." She smiled. "Listen, did you make plans for this weekend?"
"No," Julie said, "I didn't."
"I thought we could go house hunting," He said, "I looked through the paper, found a couple of open houses in our price range."
"Oh Scooter," She squealed, "Really?" He nodded, "Thank you so much!"
"I'm sorry I was so edgy about it last night," He sighed, "It was just so much, with the new job and everything." She smiled, "And if you want another baby, we can have another baby, I mean, the first one came out OK right?" She laughed.
"Yeah she did," She said and kissed him. "I love you."
"Rick said he'd watch Cara," He said. Julie looked sternly at him. "He said he'd take her to the zoo or something."
"Last time she came home and asked why she had to talk to all of those ladies that Uncle Rick thought were pretty," She said, he laughed, "I don't like that he uses our daughter as a pick up line."
"I will tell him not to do that again," He said and kissed her. "He is her godfather. Which was your idea if I recall." Julie sighed. He pulled her close, "Did anyone ever tell you how sexy you look when you're pissed off?"
"Yeah, you do whenever I'm mad at you," She laughed, "And it never works." The phone rang. "Hello," She picked it up. "Yeah, hi Mom, no we're fine. I'll talk to you about it later, OK? Do you want talk to Caroline?"
"I'm gonna go change," Scooter whispered.
"OK," Julie smiled, "Cara, do you want to talk to Nana?"
"Yeah!" Caroline said excited running over and taking the receiver and then moving over to the couch. Julie smiled. She was grateful that her parents were such a presence in Caroline's life, since she'd never even met Scooter's. The last time they'd even spoken to them was at their wedding. They'd extended invitations to every possible occasion, but they really wanted nothing to do with this family. She didn't mind so much, but she saw how it hurt him, and she pitied Caroline the loss of her grandparents.
"I can't believe you're watching this," Scooter shook his head as Julie sat on the couch, watching Dancing With The Stars, "It's a completely pointless show."
"I spend every day chasing after a four year old," She said, "If I want to watch B-list celebs dance around in sequins twice a week I will not be denied." He laughed and sat down next to her. "Besides, they asked Adam Banks to be on it."
"Shut up!" He laughed. She nodded. "Is he doing it?"
"Apparently next season yeah," She smiled.
"At last a Duck has amounted to something," He said, she hit him in the chest, "Ow, I was kidding."
"So tell me more about Chloe St. Clair," Julie sat up, "Which cannot be her real name, by the way."
"She's fine," He shrugged, standing up and going to the kitchen. "You know the type."
"Actually I don't," Julie looked at him.
"She's very put together," Scooter shrugged, "Well dressed, very smart." He leaned down and kissed her, "The kind of woman you hate." Julie nodded. She didn't hate those women, the ones he was always working with, she envied them. For getting to live a life that she'd given up, for getting more of her husband's time and attention than she did. For having clothes that weren't covered in food and sweat, and almost chiefly, for getting to have a good night's sleep whenever they wanted it. He settled back in on the couch and she placed her head on his shoulder.
"I think you'll like this one," A realtor said as she showed Julie and Scooter around a house, "It's fantastic for newlyweds."
"Oh," Scooter laughed, "We're not newlyweds."
"No," Julie said, "We've been married for four years. But," Julie pointed out, "This is our first house so," They looked around. "It's small."
"But a first home," The realtor said, "Just the two of you."
"We have a four year old," Scooter said, "So, we need more space. Maybe four bedrooms?"
"Sure," The realtor nodded, "Of course." Julie sighed as they walked back out to the car. She hated this. She saw the change, the look in this woman's eyes. Judging her. It always happened. People could add, married for four years, the kid was four years old. At least she didn't know the things that a lot of people did, about the money. Anyone who did automatically assumed that Julie had gotten pregnant on purpose. They went on to the next house. They both stopped and looked at it. As they toured it and worked their way upstairs Julie stopped at one of the bedrooms.
"Scott," She whispered, he backtracked and looked at it, "Couldn't you see this as the baby's room?" He smiled and hugged her from behind.
"I think Cara'd like it better," He said, "The window seat," He pointed to it. She smiled and looked at him. He was into this, "You know how she likes sitting."
"Yeah she does," Julie laughed. "This could be it." He smiled. He loved when she was happy, and this was obviously making her happy.
"Lift me up," Caroline said, as Rick walked her into the penguin tank. "Please!" She said. He lifted her by her waist and held her up to the glass.
"What do you think Cara?" He asked. She made a face. "No good?"
"No," She sighed, "I'm sorry Uncle Rick."
"What's wrong Caroline?" He said and put her down.
"Why do Mommy and Daddy not like our house?" She asked, "I like our house."
"They like your house too," He said, "But they think it's too small. And now that your daddy has a new job, they think you deserve a bigger house." He looked at her, "Besides, you told me you wanted a baby brother right?" She nodded, "Don't you think your baby brother would want his own room?"
"He could have Mommy and Daddy's room," She said as if this was an obvious solution to the problem. He laughed.
"And then where would Mommy and Daddy sleep?" He asked her.
"Well on the couch of course," She said confused as to the question. "They always fall asleep there anyway." He smiled. "Can I look at the penguins again?"
"Of course you can," He said and picked her up. The one thing that had always made sense to him was how much Scooter loved Caroline. Who wouldn't fall in love with this little girl?
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