Chapter 10
Ding!
The elevator door opened and Bertram and Zuri stepped into the living room. Bertram had chili and cheese covering his nose and mouth.
"Zuri!" squealed Emma, hopping up from the couch. "You're home!"
Zuri ran into Emma's arms. Emma squeezed her little sister good and tight.
"Zuri!" exclaimed Ravi from the top of the stairs. "We are all quite relieved to see that you are home safe and sound." He stepped down the stairs to give his sister a hug.
"You know what this calls for?" Bertram said.
"What?" the three children asked eagerly.
"Another chili cheese dog!" Bertram said. "I would go back to the park to get another, but it's... so far away..."
The children giggled.
"Zuri, I am so, so sorry for leaving you at the park." Emma looked ashamed. "I'm so used to Jessie rounding everyone up."
Zuri forgave Emma. "That's okay," Zuri replied. "Just don't do it again!"
Then she, Emma, and Ravi laughed.
Jessie tasted her gelato. "Mmm," she said. "This is really good. It's the perfect complexion of sweet and sour."
Through a mouthful of gelato, Luke said, "Yum. Mine is rich and chocolatey."
"Sounds pretty good," Jessie replied. "You want a taste of mine?" she offered, holding out a spoonful of lemon gelato.
"Um, but that's your spoon," Luke pointed out.
Jessie smiled. "Nah, I don't mind," she answered.
Luke shrugged. He tasted the gelato. "Wow," he said. "That is really good."
"You wanna try mine now?" Luke asked Jessie, holding out his chocolate gelato filled spoon.
"Aww, thanks buddy." Jessie ate the gelato. "Whoa," Jessie observed, "that is amazing! But only because it came from your spoon." She pinched his cheeks.
Luke beamed.
The two finished their gelato, left a five-dollar tip on the table, and walked out of the restaurant.
"Now," Jessie said, "How about a horse-and-carraige around the block and back?"
"Sounds good," agreed Luke. "I'm so stuffed I can barely walk."
"Okey-dokey," Jessie said, gesturing to a carraige. She and Luke hopped on and sat down.
Jessie looked up, down, and all around her. It was so glamorous to be living in New York, even though she missed her family back in Texas.
Luke yawned and his eyes fluttered shut. Jessie put her arms around Luke, and he fell asleep with his head on her chest.
After the ride around the block, the carraige stopped in front of the penthouse.
Luke looked so sweet and peaceful cuddling in Jessie's arms. She would hate to wake him up. So she scooped him up in her arms and carried him through the lobby, in the elevator, up the stairs and in his bed. She helped him change into his pajamas.
As Jessie tucked Luke in bed, he began to wake up.
"Jessie?" he mumbled.
"Shh, Luke." She ruffled Luke's hair. "We're home now."
Luke yawned again. "Thanks for the wonderful evening, Jessie."
Jessie smiled. "Thank you for making tonight special." She caressed his face with two gentle fingers, tucked up the blankets, and kissed Luke softly on the cheek.