Chapter 34
It was a couple days into the week of Maureen and Joanne's vacation, and while the kids were at school and Collins was teaching, Angel decided to use his free time to clean the house up a little bit.
He did some laundry, and tided up some of the house, doing the dishes as well. It was almost three thirty when he heard the front door open.
"Honey, I'm home." Collins called out.
"Me too." Tessa brightly called out after him.
Angel had a dazzling smiling on his face, as he walked up the stares with a basket of laundry in his hands. He set it down before greeting Collins with a kiss.
"Welcome home, sweetie." Angel said, and then bent down to kiss Tessa on the cheek. "How was your day?"
"Good." Tessa said, "Am I allowed to play outside?"
"In the backyard." Angel replied, and sent the little girl off.
"Is that cookies I smell?" Collins asked his nose pointing in the direction of the kitchen.
"Help yourself." Angel smirked, sending Collins off with a playful smack on the bottom. Then he went upstairs to put the laundry away.
Angel's last laundry stop was Leah's room. He set her clothes on her bed, and went to leave the room, but something caught his eye. He normally wasn't one to snoop, but there was a notepad strewn across Leah's bed, causing his eyes to sparkle.
"Robber!"
Angel nearly jumped at the sudden scream, his hand flying over his chest. "Brooke?"
"How do you know my name?" Brooke asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"It's me." Angel said.
Brooke took a step closer, "Me who?"
"Angel." Leah laughed, walking in from behind her.
Brooke gave Angel a look over, a smile soon finding her lips, "Damn Angel, you make one hot man."
Angel blushed, "Thanks." His attention quickly went to Leah's, "Uh honey, I found these when I brought your clothes up…did you draw these?"
Leah walked over and examined the notepad Angel was holding, and then nodded, "Yeah."
"These are really good." Angel said his eyes once again looking over the dress and outfit designs Leah had drawn up. "Have you ever thought of making them come to life?"
Leah bowed her head, a small smile on her face, "To be honest…I dream of it."
"You never told me." Brooke said, coming in to take a look at the drawings.
"I was a little embarrassed." Leah said.
"Why?" Brooke asked, "These are fantastic."
"You can get into a good school doing something like this." Angel said,
"Like fashion design?" Leah brightly asked.
Angel nodded; "Honey, you can probably create your own clothing line!" he walked over to the phone Leah had in her room, "I have an idea." He dialed a number and let it ring for a few moments, "Mimi? Hey chica, listen get Roger's lazy butt up, go to my apartment and find all the extra fabric I have that is lying around, and then get over here."
Brooke and Leah watched as Angel hung up the phone.
"Brooke, you want to be a test model?" Angel asked with a smirk,
Brooke nodded, "Hell yeah!"
Leah gawked, "You mean?"
"We're going to make these come to life." Angel winked, pointing to the notepad.
Downstairs Collins was sitting at the dinning room table, keeping an eye on Tessa who was playing in the backyard, while also helping Haley with her homework.
"I can't do it." Haley sighed, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm pregnant and dumb!"
"Yes you can." Collins assured, "You're putting to much thought into the question."
Haley huffed, crossing her arms, "Just let me fail!"
Collins shook his head, "Just take a deep breath, and look at the question again."
Haley did what he said, and looked back at her homework, a smile hitting her lips. "I'm so stupid! This is so easy. Thanks Collins!"
Collins chuckled, "No problem." He sat back, rewarding himself with another homemade cookie.
"We're here!" Mimi called out, letting her and Roger in the house.
An hour later, Angel, Mimi, Brooke and Leah were all up in Leah's room, working nonstop on designing clothes. Tessa was still outside, Collins was still helping Haley with homework, and Roger was watching TV downstairs.
Tessa tiptoed to the sliding glass door where she found Collins sitting with Haley. She waved, smiling when Collins waved and smiled back, and then walked away, knowing she couldn't go in that door if she didn't want to get caught with what she wanted to bring in the house. She then spotted the other backdoor their house had, which led into the basement. A small smirk hit her lips as she ran for the door, and down the steps, peeking inside, finding the back of Roger's head.
"Hi Roger." Tessa called out.
Roger didn't even look around to wave; he kept his eyes glued to the TV, entranced by some movie, "Hi Tess…"
Tessa smiled to herself once again, and ran back outside, coming back five minutes later, holding a little kitten in her arms. She bundled the kitten in her shirt, and then snuck in the house, quickly climbing the stars with out Roger even knowing she was in there. She then made it quickly into her bedroom, shutting her door and letting the cat roam free.
"Nice kitty, now you're my pet." Tessa smirked, letting her hand smooth out the grey and white fur on its back.
Around supper time, Mark, Cora and Ryan stopped by.
"We brought food." Cora called out.
"Great, I'm starving." Roger said, as he emerged from downstairs.
"Ryan!" Tessa excitedly said, "Come here in my room, I have something to show you. "
Ryan wasted no time in running up the stairs.
"Core come up, we have something to show you." Mimi said.
Cora tossed the food to Roger and ran upstairs.
"Must be a girl thing." Roger shrugged, and he and Mark made their way into the kitchen.
A half hour later, everyone was sitting around the table eating and discussing their day. Leah even showed off some of her half done clothes, Angel and Mimi had helped her make.
"Collins?" Tessa began, when she finally found the chance to talk.
Collins looked to his right where Tessa was sitting, "Yes?"
"What do cats like to eat?" She asked,
"Milk, fish, especially tuna." Collins answered, "Why do you ask?"
"Just asking." Tessa smiled.
Collins ruffled her hair, and went back to eating.
"Pookie, this was the perfect vacation idea." Maureen said, coming in from the bedroom, dressed in only a bathrobe.
"Thank you." Joanne smiled, handing Maureen a glass of red wine, she too covered with a bathrobe. "Did you have fun hiking today?"
"I did." Maureen smiled, placing a kiss on her lips, "My favorite part though, was when we came back, went in the hot tub, and you gave me a massage."
"I knew you would like that part." Joanne grinned, "How about we watch the sunset, and then come back in and lay in front of the fire?"
"Sounds wonderful." Maureen agreed, and the two interlaced hands and headed outside.
After watching the sunset, the two came back in. Joanne made a fire, and then sat on the ground, taking Maureen into her arms.
"Let's sleep in front of the fireplace tonight." Maureen suggested, snuggling into Joanne.
"That's sound romantic." Joanne smiled, placing a kiss on the corner of Maureen's mouth, and then another one, until they were both lying on the ground, caught up in only each other.
The week seemed to fly by for everyone, since it was already Friday. Leah and Brooke went to the movies, Haley was downstairs with Tyler, and Collins, Angel and Tessa were in the upstairs living room watching TV.
Collins had his arm wrapped around Angel, while they both watched TV and Tessa who was playing Barbies on the floor in front of them. She picked up one with brown hair, which reminded her of Maureen. Soon after she left it on the ground and stood up, walking over to Collins and Angel.
"Collins?" Tessa quietly began, coming to a stop in front of him, "When's my Mom coming home?"
"Not until Sunday." Collins replied.
"When's that?" Tessa asked.
Collins smirked, "Not tomorrow, but the day after."
Tessa frowned and climbed on his lap, "But I want her home right now."
"Today and tomorrow will go by so fast honey; your Mom will be home before you know it." Angel assured.
Tears began to fill her eyes, "I want my Mommy now. Please?"
"I have an idea." Angel smirked, grabbing the phone, "Why don't we call her?"
Tessa sniffled, wiping her tears away, her head resting against Collins chest, her head nodding.
Angel dialed Joanne's cell phone, and let it ring, until finally a giggling Joanne picked up.
"Hello?"
"Joanne?" Angel smiled, amused by the fact she was giggling, happy the two were having fun on their vacation, "I have someone who wants to talk to you and Maureen."
"Tessa?" Joanne guessed, knowing she could get homesick…or "Mommy sick" when she was with out her parents for a long time.
"Yeah, here you go." Angel said, passing the phone to Tessa.
"Hey baby." Joanne cooed,
"Mama!" Tessa excitedly spoke, "When are you guys coming home?"
"In two more sleeps." Joanne answered, "So are you having fun with Collins and Angel."
"Yeah," Tessa smiled, leaning into Collins, "Collins and I made mud pies, and then Angel cleaned us up, and then we made real pies. And Mimi and Roger and Mark and Cora and Ryan all came over a couple of nights."
"Sounds like we're missing out on all the fun." Joanne said,
Collins and Angel smiled, watching Tessa as she eagerly spoke into the phone, happy she was finally happy…until Joanne passed the phone to Maureen.
"Mommy?" Tessa said, her voice quivering. "When are you coming home?" She sniffled.
"Two more days." Maureen answered, "But I heard you are having fun with out us."
"No." Tessa began to weep. "I only have fun with you. Can you come home now?"
Angel and Collins shared a quick glance surprised by the sudden change in mood.
"Sweetie I can't." Maureen said, her face falling, "Can you wait until Sunday?"
"No, Mom, I need you now." Tessa said, beginning to cry, "Please Mommy? Please come home, I miss you."
Maureen sighed, leaning into Joanne, her own tears stinging her eyes. She hated to hear Tessa cry, it made her heart melt. "Be a big girl for me, and I'll be home before you know it, okay? Can you do that for me?"
"I'll try." Tessa sobbed, handing the phone back to Angel, and hiding her face on Collins chest.
Maureen handed the phone back to Joanne.
"Hey Ang, um, there is a picture of Maureen on the desk in our bedroom, give it to Tessa, it'll make her feel better." Joanne explained, "Just put her to bed, she'll eventually fall asleep, and will feel better in the morning."
"Okay Jo." Angel smirked, "Sorry I called. I didn't know it would make her upset."
"It's alright." Joanne smiled, "She needed her Mom. Maureen spoils her, so I'm not surprised," She joked, causing Maureen to swat her arm.
"Okay, well have fun on the rest of your vacation." Angel said, "See you Sunday, bye."
"Bye." Joanne said, and hung up the phone, turning to face a pouting Maureen. "She's okay, Mo." Joanne assured, kissing her on the lips, and then running her thumb gently over them.
"But I hate when she cries." Maureen sighed, resting her head on Joanne's shoulder, "We should have brought her with us."
"But then…we wouldn't be able to sit in the hot tub, and enjoy each other…" Joanne smirked, running her hands down Maureen's arms.
Maureen couldn't help but smile, and stood up, pulling Joanne with her, "You're right, maybe you should give me another massage to make me feel better." With that said, the two girls ran for the hot tub.
Back at home, Angel laid Tessa in her bed, and handed her the framed picture of Maureen. Tessa hugged it tight and closed her eyes, her tears finally clearing up.
"Goodnight sweetie." Angel murmured, kissing her forehead. He slowly backed away, shut the lights off, and then shut the door, turning to face Collins.
"She asleep?" Collins asked.
"Yup." Angel smirked, wrapping his arms around Collins. "Let's go finish our movie and wait up for Brooke and Leah."
"Want to finish the movie by making out instead?" Collins suggested.
"Sounds even better." Angel smiled.
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First off, shout out to bellaT, who picked up on some foreshadowing from way back in chapter 7.
another shout out to the forum Ceruleia has created. If you want to get constructive reviews, then put this link in and check out her forum, /forum/TheRENTReviewGame/49642/
Next Chapter: Maureen and Joanne come home, Tessa tries to keep her kitten a secret, and Leah gets a surprise in the mail. (Haley isn't gonna have a big part yet, cuz well...she's gonna get a lot of story time when she has the baby...which will be soon!)