Chapter 28

Going into Allison's room, AJ found her lying across her bed crying. His heart ached at the sound and he knew that he would do just about anything to stop her tears. Scooping her up into his arms, AJ sat down on her bed holding her close, "Sweetie, I will never stop loving you or your mommy, but that doesn't mean that someday I won't meet someone else that I want to love too."

"You told me that you would never love again!" she whimpered through her tears.

"I know I did, and at the time I thought that I wouldn't, but every thing changes. But something that will never change is the fact that I will always love you and your mommy."

"But you just said that EVERY THING changes!" she cried.

"Allison, I promise you that you'll always be first in my heart and you'll just have to believe that."

Rubbing the tears from her eyes, she sullenly nodded and said, "If you say so, Daddy."

"I do, sweetie, you'll always be my number one girl," he told her hugging her to him tight. "Now how would you like some chocolate cake?"

"Yes please."

"With some ice cream?"

"Yes," she said and they got up and went into the kitchen, a tense truce seemed to have been called.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

1800 EST

AJ's home

McLean, Virginia

"Allison, are you ready to go?" AJ asked as he was putting on his jacket and grabbing his keys in preparations to taking his daughter to the Webb's.

The child entered the living room dressed in her nightie and slippers dragging her feet and looking sad, "Daddy, I don't feel good. My tummy hurts."

"Really, sweetie? You were fine this afternoon while you were playing with Dasher outside," he said going over to her and placing the back of his hand against her forehead to see if she was running a temperature.

Looking up at him she said, "I just know I have a fever, Daddy. My tummy hurts so bad. I think I need to go to bed."

"You don't have a fever darling, your head is nice and cool. If your tummy hurts I can give you some Pepto Bismol…" he offered knowing that she hated the vile pink medicine.

"Then will you put me to bed and stay with me all night?" she asked pitifully.

"No darling, I told you that I have a date, I will give you the medicine and then take you to Auntie Mac's house. Mac has dealt with sick children before, she'll keep you in bed and you won't be able to play with Mackenzie or Neville, but you should be feeling better by the time I come back to pick you up."

"What if I throw up and you're not there?"

"Like I said, Auntie Mac has taken care of sick children before and I am sure she'll know what to do if you throw up. Of course if you could arrange to throw up on Uncle Clay…never mind," he thought better of finishing that statement.

"I don't want you to go out and leave me!" she sobbed clinging to his leg.

"Allison, I am not leaving you! You've been to Mackenzie's house hundreds of times and you know that I have always come back for you! In fact there are many times when you're begging to stay longer when it is time to go home!" He scooped her up in his arms and carried her into her room to get her dressed to go. Pulling her nightie over her head he discovered that she was dressed in her play clothes, as if she had been expecting to lose the argument. Sighing he said nothing, but carried her out to the Escalade and buckled her in.

Arriving at the Webb house, Allison ran in without even knocking. AJ had just gotten to the front door, which she had left standing open, when he heard Mackenzie ask, "Didn't you tell him you had a fever, like I told you too?"

"Yes, but he felt my head and said I didn't," whined Allison in response.

AJ's eyes met Mac's over the girls' heads and Mac told him, "Don't worry AJ I'll deal with the two conspirators, while you go off on your date."

"The rack and thumbscrews come to mind," he laughed.

"Oh, and all I was going to do was tell them no TV or video games," Mac sighed. "I must be slipping."

To be continued…..