Hey babes! Back again with a new chapter for ya. I have work in a little while and have some time before I have to get ready so I thought I'd update this story for you all.
Enjoy!
Hearing a loud knock at the front door, Grant closes the book he'd been reading, stands from the couch and makes his way over to the door.
Pulling it open, he smiles when he sees the three young kids standing in front of him, excited smiles on all three of their faces.
"Uncle Grant!" All three kids shout together and then immediately attack him with hugs as they step across the threshold.
Grant stumbles on his feet before regaining his balance, hugging his niece and nephews and dropping kisses to the tops of their heads.
"How are you guys?" he asks them as he steps back to let the kids and his sister further inside the house.
"Good," the oldest boy speaks up, glancing around the room. "Where's Max?"
"He's out back. Why don't you all go on outside and see what he's up to?"
"Come on," the oldest boy says to his younger siblings and then the three kids take off running through the house for the back door.
Grant chuckles and then turns to the raven-haired woman standing just inside the door, having set the kids' belongings at her feet. "Mandy, how are you?" He steps forward to pull her into a hug.
She hugs him back. "I'm good, Dougie. The kids are just driving us a little insane right now. Thank you so much for letting them stay here for the night. We really, really need a night off."
Grant smiles. "It's no problem. You know I love having them here. And they love helping out with the animals so it's no problem."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it. If only I could get the boys to do their chores at home like they do here."
"I'll be sure to talk to them about that."
"Thanks." Amanda takes a deep breath. "Okay, so, please don't let them stay up too late; I don't care if it's summer now. Ethan will probably beg you to let him stay up but you just have to be firm with him. Caleb is going through this whole 'no eating vegetables' thing, so good luck with that. I've tried everything. And Kate, well, she's four."
Grant smiles. "Yes, she is."
"Uncle Grant."
Grant looks down to see Kate standing right next to him, her big brown eyes watching him carefully. "Speaking of my favorite niece ever." He smiles and leans down to lift her onto his hip, tickling her sides, making the little girl giggle. He presses a kiss to her cheek before looking back at his sister. "We'll be fine, Mandy. We always are. Right, Katie?"
Kate nods her head once. "Right."
Amanda smiles. "If you insist. Give me a kiss, baby girl."
Kate leans forward out of Grant's arms to hug her mom around the neck and give her a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm sure Ethan and Caleb are too busy playing with Max to come and say goodbye. So just let them know I left."
Grant nods. "Will do. See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, bye." Amanda smiles and waves at them before turning and making her way back outside, down the porch, and to her car.
"Well, little miss Katie," Grant speaks up once he closes the front door and locks it. "Should we go outside and see what your brothers are up to?"
"They're running 'round with Max," Kate tells him.
"Do you want to go out and run around with them too?" he asks his niece.
Kate shrugs. "I guess."
Grant chuckles. "Alright, come on." He turns around and makes his way through the house and out into the backyard. "Hey guys," he calls out to his nephews. "What are you doing?"
"Playing fetch with Max," Caleb answers.
"Do you want to go play with them, Katie?" Grant asks his niece as he moves over to one of the lawn chairs.
She shakes her head. "No. I wanna stay with you."
Grant smiles and presses a kiss to her temple, adjusting her in his lap so she's more comfortable, smiling when she leans back against him. "So," Grant takes a deep breath, "what do I need to be caught up on?"
"I'm working on a new merit badge for Scouts," Ethan tells his Uncle. "I almost have it."
"What's the badge for?" Grant asks.
"I don't remember," Ethan replies, grabbing a stick and tossing it across the yard for Max. "Something outside, I think."
"Well I'm sure you'll get it in no time," Grant tells him with a smile. "What about you, Caleb? What's new?"
Caleb thinks for a moment. "Um, I have the highest score for reading at Summer School right now."
"That's awesome, Caleb. I know how much you were struggling with that. And what's new with you, little miss Kate?" Grant looks down at his niece.
Katie shrugs. "Dunno."
"Well there has to be something," he says in a playful voice.
"I love you," Katie says with a small smile, leaning up to kiss his cheek.
Grant smiles. "Thanks, Katie. But that's not really news."
"Hey, Grant? I can't seem to find—oh, who are these cuties?"
Grant looks toward the back of the house to see Skye approaching them, wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top, her hair pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head. His breath catches a little in his throat but he quickly shakes it off.
He smiles up at her. "Hey."
She smiles back. "Hey. So, are you going to introduce me?"
"Right, of course. Skye, these are my niece and nephews. Ethan, Caleb, and Kate. Kids, this is Skye. She's been staying here with me for the past few months."
"Princess Daisy," Kate says quietly, her eyes wide and completely fixed on Skye.
"What was that, sweetie?" Skye asks.
"Princess Daisy," Grant repeats for Skye. "The movie where you play Princess Daisy is her absolute favorite. She watches it constantly."
"Aww, that's so sweet," Skye says with a smile. "What's your favorite part of that movie?" she asks the little girl.
"Katie, you need to answer her, don't be rude," Grant tells his niece when she doesn't respond. "Tell her what your favorite part of Princess Daisy's movie is."
"When you beat up all the bad men who tried to take you away from your mommy and daddy," Kate responds quietly.
Skye smiles and whispers, "That was my favorite part too."
Kate breaks into a grin and then leans forward out of Grant's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around Skye's neck.
Skye stumbles a bit but regains her balance, hugging Kate back and smiling at Grant.
"You two are being unusually quiet," Grant says to his two nephews. "What's going on over there?"
Both boys are standing completely still, not moving or speaking, despite Max nudging their small bodies, trying to get them to play with him again.
"Nothing," Ethan replies. "We're fine, Uncle Grant."
"I didn't ask if you were fine. I asked what's going on because you two are never this quiet. It's a little unnerving, to be honest." He takes a deep breath. "But that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is what we're going to do for lunch."
"Can we have grilled cheese?" Ethan asks.
"Only if you have some fruits and vegetables with it," Grant replies.
"Will Skye make mine?" Kate asks.
Skye gives her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, sweetie. I would if I could. But I'm not really the best cook."
"Uncle Grant can teach you. He's the bestest at makin grilled cheese."
Grant smiles. "Thanks for the praise, Katie. Now, let's all go inside and I'll get the grilled cheese started for us."
"Come on, Skye," Kate says, sliding out of Grant's lap and grabbing hold of Skye's hand. "We can play 'til Uncle Grant finishes the samwiches." She drags the older woman along behind her into the house.
Skye looks over her shoulder and shoots Grant a look as she gets dragged along.
Grant just shrugs and smiles. He looks over at his nephews. "Alright, who wants to help me make the sandwiches and who wants to set the table?"
"Caleb got to help make them last time," Ethan says. "So now it's my turn."
"Then Caleb is setting the table," Grant says. "That work for both of you?" Both boys nod. "Great. Let's go." He turns to make his way into the house, Ethan and Caleb following right behind him.
.
.
.
"Alright, kiddos." Grant claps his hands once as he makes his way into the living room. "It is now time for bed."
"Do we have to?" Ethan asks. "It's summer."
"Yes, you do. Your mom said so."
"She doesn't have to know," Ethan counters.
"Mommy always knows," Kate speaks up from her spot on the floor with Max.
"No, she doesn't," Ethan protests.
"Yes she does," Kate insists.
"Okay, that's enough," Grant intervenes before it can get out of hand. "Go brush your teeth, get your pajamas on and meet me in your room. I'll be right there to read to you."
"Can Skye read the story?" Kate asks.
"What about me?" Grant replies. "Aren't I the one who usually reads you a story?"
Kate shrugs. "I want Skye to do it."
"Then you'll have to ask her," Grant says.
Kate moves across the room to where Skye is and stands in front of her, resting her hands on Skye's knees. She looks Skye straight in the eyes. "Will you read me a story tonight?"
Skye lets a small smile grow on her lips. "I'd love to."
Kate grins. "Yay! I'm gonna get my jammas on and you meet me in my room."
"Got it." Skye nods with a smile.
Kate moves away from Skye and heads straight to the bathroom upstairs to change and brush her teeth.
"You boys too," Grant says to his nephews. "Get moving."
"Yes, Uncle Grant," both boys reply, standing up and heading up the stairs.
"Sorry you got stuck on story duty tonight," Grant apologizes to Skye once the boys are out of earshot.
"It's fine," Skye tells him, standing up from the couch.
"I really should have expected this. Katie's pretty much obsessed with you. Besides me, her parents, and her brothers, you're probably her favorite person."
"Grant, I said it's fine. I really don't mind."
"Are you sure?"
Skye nods. "I'm sure. I have no problem reading to them."
"That's great. Because Katie would probably be heartbroken if you changed your mind."
"Well, I am definitely not the type who would willingly break a four-year-old's heart. That's just way too cruel of a thing to do."
"Yes, I suppose it is."
"Skyeeee!"
"That sounds like your cue," Grant tells her.
"Just upstairs?" she asks, slowly moving toward the stairway.
Grant nods. "Second door on the left."
"Awesome." Skye turns and continues her way up the stairs and then down the hallway.
"Did someone call for me?" she asks when she reaches the room.
"Skye!" Kate exclaims from her small bed. "Over here."
Skye smiles and walks across the room to where Kate is, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "So, what's the story for tonight?" she asks.
"Chamber of Secrets," Kate tells her.
Skye furrows her brows. "As in Harry Potter?"
Kate nods her head eagerly and holds the book up to Skye. "Yeah."
"Wow. It's been forever since I've opened up a Harry Potter book."
"You like Harry Potter?" Caleb asks.
Skye looks over at him and nods with a small smile. "Mm-hmm. I always had one of the books with me to read on set between breaks of my old show."
"I've read all of them twice," Ethan says proudly. "They're the best."
Skye nods. "That they are." She takes a deep breath and settles down next to Kate, the young girl immediately curling up beside her, resting her head on her chest.
Skye smiles at the gesture before focusing her attention on the book in her lap, letting herself get absorbed in the familiar magical world.
.
.
.
"How'd it go?" Grant asks Skye when she enters the living room again.
"Pretty well, actually," she replies, falling down next to him on the couch. "Didn't take very long for them to fall asleep once I started reading."
"It never usually does. Ethan and Caleb like to say that they can stay up late, but they usually fall asleep pretty quickly."
She tilts her head to look at him. "You're really good with them, did you know that?"
Grant shrugs. "I guess."
She pulls herself up a little more. "I'm serious, Grant. You're great with them. They actually listen to you. I don't think even I listened that well when I was their age, which is understandable when you consider how I turned out."
"Hey, you didn't turn out that bad," he tells her. "You just hit a rough patch in your life and career."
Skye lets out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, a rough patch that's been going on for years that I can't seem to get out of."
"Well, you seem to be doing just fine to me."
"That's because there's no cameras and paparazzi or any alcohol around here. I'm usually pretty weak when it comes to alcohol. If I'm being completely honest, I'm a little nervous about going back and that I'll just fall into old habits and screw up the progress I've made while I've been out here."
"Going back?" Grant asks.
Skye nods. "Yeah. I mean, I'm obviously not going to stay here forever. Because that's kind of a little crazy. I have a life in LA, and hopefully still a job. I mean, it's been nice staying here, don't get me wrong, but eventually, I'm going to go back."
Grant's jaw hardens at her words and he nods. "Right, yeah."
Skye furrows her brows. "What, did you think I was going to be here forever?"
"I never said that. I'm going to bed." He stands from the couch and starts making his way toward the stairs, Max right beside him. "Turn the lights off before you turn in."
Skye sighs and sinks down into her seat on the couch, turning her head to stare out the window at the darkness outside. She was always going to leave, that was always the plan. So why did he seem so upset when she brought it up?
Letting out another, heavier, sigh, Skye stands from the couch and moves down the hallway toward her bedroom, exhausted from the day and ready to sleep.
So? What did you think? Let me know in a review down below. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time,
Jellybean96 out!