A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
"On a scale of one to ten, how excited was Landon about today being the last day of school?" Ana crinkled her nose in contemplation of Hannah's question.
"I'm going to say probably a twenty.", Ana giggled. "It was about a twenty five, but then he made the comment of how he's going to miss some of his friends this summer. I'm sure Drew was just as excited."
"He was around a fifteen on the excitememt level. Nathan's department is doing an upgrade on their computers so he's going to be working late tonight. His mom was going to watch Drew, but I asked if I could keep him for a few hours. We're going to get some pizza and then watch a movie while we wait on Nathan to get home."
"Sounds like fun." Ana looked down at the manuscript in front of her. It was titled Sidelined and was the biography of Davis Warren, the former football player turned author who hoped to get the book published by Ana. "I was able to finish this last night, and it was wonderful. What started out as a book simply about a high school football player ended up being about struggling and overcoming obstacles to achieve greatness. Davis Warren went through the ringer after his injury. He lost not only his ability to play football but also scholarships and even friendships." Hannah sat down across from Ana and reached for the manuscript. "I cried and laughed and then cried some more."
"People actually stopped being his friend because he couldn't play football? That's terrible.", Hannah sighed.
"His high school girlfriend who he had dated for three years broke up with him too. She along with his so called friends no longer saw Davis as the big man on campus. He was plain to them."
"It's sad how some people use others just to get the popularity they desire. I take it you're going to sign Davis to a deal."
"I've still got a few logistics to go over, but more than likely I'll be signing him to a deal. I feel like this book is going to be a great read for both men and women."
"Those are always the best kinds of books."
"Christian said the same thing last night when he glanced over it. He didn't read much, but he liked what he saw.", Ana said. "He was pretty busy with his own work last night. Half of it wasn't even GEH related." Ana's mood faltered as she thought of Christian agreeing to be a sponsor for Meredith Channing's foundation Stitched in Love. While the goal of the foundation was one which Ana understood, she still didn't trust Meredith Channing's motives. Fortunately, neither did Christian. After going over the files she had provided him that Monday, he had emailed her the next day to say he was going to be a sponsor.
"From the change in your voice, I sense whatever the non-GEH related work isn't something you're pleased about.", Hannah said.
"He's going to sponsor Meredith Channing's foundation. I think what she's doing with providing clothes to less fortunate is wonderful, but I hope she's not using that as an excuse to get closer to Christian."
"To use a charity as a way to get a man, a married man at that, is pretty low. I also know Christian and how he doesn't let anything slip past him."
"He doesn't. He's already got Welch doing a check on Meredith. He wants a report on her life before she made overseas and also one on her life after she moved."
"I want extra sprinkles on my ice cream.", Landon told Ana. She had left work an hour early and went home to pick up Landon and Layken so they could get haircuts. With both kids styling freshly cut hair, they stepped out of the salon and started down the sidewalk to Cones and Things, the ice cream shop Ana promised to take them if they behaved in the salon.
"I want chocomet.", Layken said. "And stinkles." Ana continued holding both kids' hands while giggling.
"Try not to make a mess or not a big mess.", Ana smiled. They were at the door of the ice cream shop when Ana spotted Meredith Channing exiting a vacant building across the street. She waved at a woman who excited the building with her. After the second woman got into a car and left, Meredith walked across the street, stopping when she saw Ana.
"Ana, hi.", Meredith said with a full on smile. "And hello um...Landon and Layken?"
"Yep. That's our names.", Landon answered.
"Hi Meredith.", Ana said. "How are you?"
"I'm good, really good. I just had a meeting with a realtor about renting the space across the street. I'd like to use it for the boutique I'm hoping to open as well as a headquarters for my foundation. Did Christian tell you he agreed to be a sponsor?"
"Yes. I hope you have great success in garnering other sponsors. It really does sound like a great idea."
"Thank you. I'm hoping it's successful."
"Mama, I want ice cream.", Layken pouted. "Peas."
"It seems she wants ice cream.", Meredith giggled. "I'm not going to keep you any longer, but it was nice to see you."
"It was nice to see you too.", Ana replied. Meredith waved and headed away in the opposite direction on the side walk. "Ok. Ice cream time." Sawyer held the door to the shop as Ana led the kids inside. "Layken, you want chocolate?"
"Uh-huh and stinkles."
"I want strawberry and lots of sprinkles.", Landon said. Ana took note and stepped into line to place her order while Sawyer took the kids to a nearby table. As she waited, her phone buzzed with a call from Christian. She had texted him photos of Landon and Layken's haircuts. Both children simply had their hair trimmed but insisted on sending their dad photos.
"Hey.", Ana answered.
"Hi baby. I wanted to call to tell you how cute the haircuts are.", Christian said.
"They'll be happy to hear that. We're getting ice cream now. I'm calling it an unofficial celebration of the kids not arguing. They haven't done it once since we've been gone. I thought they might at the salon when Layken wanted to get her hair cut first, but Landon told her to go ahead."
"That's good."
"It's almost my turn to order, but I'll see you at home later."
"Ok baby. I love you guys."
"We love you too."
"Did Daddy like our new haircuts?", Landon asked Ana once they were seated with their ice cream.
"He loved them." Ana took a spoon of Layken's ice cream and brought it to the little girl's mouth. "Layken, here's your ice cream."
"Want berry.", Layken muttered, pointing to Landon's bowl of strawberry ice cream.
"No. You wanted chocolate, and that's what you're going to eat." Landon shoved a large bite of ice cream into his mouth as he watched Layken cross her arms. "You either eat your own ice cream or don't eat any at all."
"She can have some of mine.", Landon shrugged. "But only if I can have some of hers."
"Layken, can Landon have some of yours?"
"Tay. Tank you Lan Lan."
"Yes. Thank you Lan Lan.", Ana smiled at Landon.
"We ran into Meredith today in front of the ice cream shop.", Ana told Christian. They were enjoying some down time in the living room after getting the kids to bed. "She had been looking at a space for her boutique and foundation headquarters." Christian had been listening intently but broke the gaze when he raised up from the sofa. He reached under the sofa cushion and pulled out a toy car.
"I knew I was sitting on something.", Christian laughed. "Back to Meredith. She was looking at a place to rent?"
"Yeah. We didn't talk long, but she was nice and didn't seem threatening. I could be wrong about her. I guess time will tell."
"I heard from Welch today. He told me what he found out about Meredith's live. Before she moved away, she had a normal life with normal parents. Nothing stood out. Her dad's company transferred him to Paris where she finished school and studied fashion design. It was also there where she met Pierce Moreau. He came from an affluent family. Just as here in Seattle, there are gossip magazines in Paris. That being said, the relationship between Pierce and Meredith was often a topic."
"You and I both know the tabloids can't be trusted.", Ana scoffed. "They'll report anything to make a dollar. What kind of outrageous things did they say about them?"
"When they first met, Pierce was engaged to a woman named Michelle Depaul. They were planning what was going to be the wedding of the century. Supposedly, Meredith and Pierce met during a night out on the town and ended up having a scandalous affair. Michelle got wind of it and called things off." Any shred of Ana believing Meredith wasn't so bad disappeared.
"So she's a homewrecker."
"Unless she had been living under a rock, she had to have known about Pierece being engaged. Still, Pierce wasn't innocent in all of it."
"If she's capable of going after one attached guy, she's capable of going after any attached guy."