Chapter 29

Springfield Park

Saturday, September 26, 1992

"Blake!" Michelle ran up and hugged her big sister as she came into the registration tent.

"Michelle, how's my favorite little sister?" Blake smiled wide at Michelle's energy. She was practically jumping up and down.

"Great! I'm so excited for our girls' day next week!" Michelle gushed.

Blake laughed, "Me too, we're going to get manicures and pedicures and get our hair done!"

"I just wish I could go to the Ball, too," Michelle spoke a little sadly.

Blake hugged Michelle again. "Trust me, there will be plenty of dances and plenty prices for you to go with when you're grown up. Don't be in such a rush!"

Ed came over and handed Michelle a racing bib number, "Here, you go. All registered, sweetie."

"You're running in the 10K?" Blake asked Michelle, surprised.

"Yup, no kiddie race for me. I'm trying out for the school's track team in the Spring! Dad's been my running partner."

"You're running, too? Don't keel over and die on me," Blake joked.

"Not a chance." Ed leaned over and pecked Blake on the cheek.

Vanessa and Maureen were standing behind them, talking. "So, are you ready for the Ball next week?" Vanessa asked Maureen.

"Yes, I'm excited. A night out, a babysitter!" Maureen laughed.

"Is Bridget babysitting? Fletcher and I were debating about leaving Ben and Bill home without a sitter. They're twelve now, they think they're too old to be babysat," Vanessa worried. "I just don't know, though. It might be asking for trouble."

"Yes, Bridget is babysitting. Michelle doesn't think of her like a typical babysitter, so it works. Why don't you just bring the boys over, too. I'm sure Bridget wouldn't mind the extra cash," Maureen suggested.

Vanessa lit up, "That sounds like a good solution to our problem. I'll talk it over with Fletcher."

"Great. Blake is spending the day with Michelle, since I have a meeting in Clayton, and Ed is working until six. Bridget has a study group and is supposed to be back by 5:30, so Blake can leave. You can bring the boys over before you leave for the Ball."

"Okay. Oh, look, there's Fletcher. I'd better catch him, before the race starts." Vanessa took off to the other side of the tent.

Just then, Rick's voice boomed across the tent, "I knew I'd find some Bauers in here!"

"Rick!" screamed Michelle as she ran up to hug him. "I didn't know you were coming?"

"Surprise, little sis! I'm staying for the next two weeks," Rick smiled as he brought Michelle back over to Ed, Blake, and Maureen.

"Dad," Rick greeted Ed with a hug.

"Son, I'm glad you could make it," Ed replied. It had taken a lot to heal their damaged relationship after Rick's involvement with Phillip's faked death.

"Maureen, always good to see you! You look great." Rick kissed her on the cheek.

"Blake! Look at you! You sure it's not twins?" he joked.

Blake slapped him playfully, "Bite your tongue."

Rick leaned in to hug her, whispering, "Good to see you again, little sis," not sure if she had told anybody about Ed, yet.

"Where's Samantha?" Rick looked around. "I told her I'd meet her at the registration tent."

"Umm, not sure. Ross was going to pick her up, so she wouldn't have to find parking." Blake glance around and spotted Ross and Samantha coming towards them with Harley and Mallet coming up behind. Harley had convinced Mallet to join the race and she and Samantha promised to take turns pushing his wheelchair when he got tired.

"There they are," Blake pointed out.

Suddenly a stream of dark blonde hair, attached to an attractive woman came out of nowhere and launched herself at Ross. "Ross!" shrieked the woman and Ross hugged her back, preventing them both from falling over.

Blake was confused for a moment, wondering who this woman was who'd clung to her man, when Samantha yelled out, "Lainie!"

"Sammy! It's so good to see you. I can't believe how grown up you are!" She let go of Ross and hugged Samantha. "And look at you big brother, going gray!" She ruffled his hair.

"Lainie!" Ross greeted her, pulling her hand off of his head. "What are you doing here?"

"What! You're not glad to see me. I'm hurt." Lainie fake pouted.

"Of course I'm glad you're here. Why didn't you say you were coming?"

"And miss the surprised look on your face? No way!"

Ross informed her, "You missed Justin. He was in town last week."

"I know. That's why I'm here this week!" Lainie jested. "Anyway, I'm here to stay," she announced.

"For good? What about Australia?" Ross asked.

"The kidlet is off to college and I'm off the hook from Carter. He can't make me stay in the country anymore for our custody agreement now that Emily is 18," Lainie declared happily.

"So you're moving back?"

"Yup, just accepted a job at Spaulding!"

"Congratulations!" Ross hugged her again.

"Welcome home, Lainie," Samantha chimed in.

"Yes, welcome back!" Ed added.

Lainie turned around, recognizing the voice and smiled. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Dr. Ed Bauer. You haven't changed a bit!" she flirted.

"No, just a couple of gray hairs and two grown children!" Ed put his arm around Maureen, introducing her, "This is my wife, Maureen, and our daughter Michelle."

"Nice to meet you," Lainie shook Maureen's hand, slightly disappointed that Dr. Ed wasn't single.

Ed turned to Rick and Blake. "And you must remember Freddy and Christina, though they apparently didn't like the names their dear old Dad gave them. Freddy goes by Rick and Christina goes by Blake."

"Oh, my, you two have grown up! Chrissy, I'm sorry, Blake, you must have been 5 or 6 the last time I saw you, and now you're having a baby," Lainie pointed to Blake's stomach. "You make me feel so old, I used to babysit you!"

Blake saw Ross cringe a bit. He hated to be reminded of their age difference and now hearing his little sister talk about how she used to babysit the mother of his child was throwing him off.

Rick interrupted the awkward moment, that Lainie didn't seem to realize had happened. "Okay, so we should get this show on the road. Everyone have their bib numbers? Blake what time does the race start?"

Blake glanced at her watch. "Ten minutes to start time." She glanced up and noticed Ross struggling to pin his bib number to his shirt. "Can't even get your number pinned on? Sure you're not too old to run a 10K?" She ribbed him, leaning in to pin the number to his chest.

"I'll have you know I'm in the prime of my life!" Ross protested.

"Umm, hmm, don't come crawling to me when you throw your back out." She patted his chest as she finished getting the number on straight.

Samantha turned to bring Harley and Mallet into the conversation, hope to draw attention away from Ross and Blake's obvious flirting. "Now Mallet, I don't want you being stubborn. Let Harley and me push you if you need to rest. I got out of my wheelchair and so will you, but you've got to rely on your friends to help you out once in awhile. I learned that the hard way."

"Hey, I'll help too," Lainie chimed in. "I was hit by a car and paralyzed when I was younger. It took a long time for me to learn how to walk again. But I had people pushing me to not give up," Lainie smiled at Ed.

"Okay, it's race time people," Blake announced. "Better get up to the starting line."

"I'm going to be beat all of you," bragged Michelle.

As the group made their way towards the starting line, Lainie leaned in to whisper to Ross, "Robbing the cradle, big brother?" She nodded at Blake. Ross looked flustered. "Congratulations," she whispered, kissing him on the cheek, letting him know she was okay with it.

To Be Continued...