Next day Amanda woke up feeling much better in herself, Nick's surprise news last night had given her something to look forward to, she was looking forward to seeing him again, even if it was for a day or 2.
She got up and went to the bathroom, then checked on the girls. Billie was lying wide awake playing with her little doll quietly. Jesse was still sleeping. She picked up Billie and took her out to the living area and started to make breakfast.
A few hours later they were sitting at the table colouring in. Amanda had been enjoying spending this time with the girls and she and Jesse had been baking buns and cakes this morning. They were listening to some nursery songs and out of the blue Jesse said, mummy, will we ever get to see Nick in the real world? She was shocked at the young girl's question, so she sat the crayon she had down and asked, what do you mean in the real word honey? Nick is in the real world. No not in the computer world mummy she said, I mean in real life, not just pretend. Amanda tried not to laugh, Nick isn't pretend on the computer though sweetie, he's real. Just like when we talk to him on the telephone, he's real. Remember I told you that he used to live here in New York, and he is mummy's friend and Auntie Olivia's friend and Uncle Fin's friend too. He used to work with us. But how come Noah has seen him in real life but not me she asked. Aww sweetie, you weren't born when Nick lived here, she said smiling. And Nick had to move so he could be with his little girl and little boy. But will me and Billie get to see him in the real world? she asked again. Amanda smiled and made a decision there and then. Maybe one day she said to her daughter smiling. Ok the little girl said and returned to her colouring. Amanda started to make a plan in her head for her little girl and she smiled to herself. She would speak to Nick this evening about it and see if he would take part in it.
Later that afternoon Nick text Amanda and said he would zoom a bit earlier; he had a surprise for Jesse. She smiled and her stomach flipped again. OK she replied, there's something I want to talk to you about too but if it's OK I'll call you when they are in bed? No sooner had she sent the message when her phone rang, and she smiled when she saw his name. She answered and he sounded worried, what's wrong Amanda? he asked. What not even a hello she laughed, oh sorry hi he said, what's wrong? She smiled, nothing's wrong she replied quietly, just a conversation Jesse brought up today that has got me thinking and I want to plan something for her when you're here next week if that's OK? she could hear the relief in his sigh, oh good, yes of course, anything he said. She smiled. I'll let you get back to work now she said, and we'll see you later tonight. Yes, he said smiling, I'll do a zoom call with you when the girls are in bed and you can tell me all about your plan. Ok she smiled, see you later. See you later he smiled again. They hung up.
Jesse saw her mum smiling and she asked who she had been talking to. Oh, just someone from work she said. Hey, Nick won't be telling you a bedtime story tonight she said, he has to call a bit earlier. Aww groaned Jesse, I'll tell you what Amanda said as she picked her up in her arms, how's about we buy some new books online and I'll read them to you when they arrive. The little girl smiled, can we buy the book Nick read to us last night mummy? I really liked that one. Amanda smiled, sure she said, let's go have a look.
Books bought along with a few other things they had just finished dinner and were playing a board game when Nick sent the zoom link. Amanda set up the link and the 3 of them sat on the sofa waiting to see Nick. When he appeared Amanda gasped, oh Wow she said loudly, hey girls Nick grinned, I thought I'd take you for a little walk tonight he said. NICK! Shouted Jesse. Where are you? Well he said, you were asking me about my house and my street last night he replied, so I thought I'd show you where I live. WOW the little girl said in disbelief. He was at a set of traffic lights and when the walk sign showed he chatted to her while walking along, telling her how you have to wait until it's safe to cross the road etc. She was saying yes, I know that my mummy told me that, but I didn't know you have to do that in your world too. Amanda laughed and Nick looked into the camera….. my world? he said confused. Amanda laughed and cleared her throat, I'll talk to you about that later on babe, she said then realized she had said babe and blushed and quickly added, that's part of what I need to talk to you about. He smiled at her, and nodded, OK he grinned, and carried on walking and talking to Jesse. He stopped at a small wall and sat down on it, here's the big surprise he said to her, he lifted the phone up and showed her what was behind him….. wow the little girl shouted, a real beach is in your world she exclaimed. He laughed again and stood up and walked towards the sea, yeah, he said, I don't live far from the beach he said, I wanted to show it to you he said. He turned the camera back to him and he sat down on the sand, with the sea behind him. Wow Jesse kept saying, I wish I could live in your world she whispered. Nick looked at her and said, well maybe one day you can come and visit me here he said, but that's up to mummy to decide. Jesse looked at Amanda and Amanda's heart melted, and she smiled, hey, maybe one day when it's safe for us to travel we'll go visit what do you think? Yeah, Jesse gasped, yes please. Nick talked to her for a few more minutes then Amanda said, hey off you go and get your pyjamas on while I speak to Nick for a bit. The little girl agreed and said goodnight to Nick, as she walked away she came back and said Nick….. sí princessa? That was the best bedtime story ever she smiled. Amanda couldn't hide the big smile spreading across her face. At that the little girl went off to her room. She looked at Nick and said, well I'll never beat that bedtime story she laughed. He laughed and replied, aw I'm sure you'll do better than me tonight. She sighed and he said, so what's all this about my world. Oh, she sighed, that's the conversation she started with me today, about your world and the real life world. He looked at her and he said, she doesn't think I'm real? I'm not sure, Amanda answered. You might have changed her mind tonight though she laughed, and he said, what time do you want me to call back at he asked? She smiled, well what time suits you? Anytime he smiled, she saw him looking over his phone and smiling, oh one more thing he grinned that sexy grin she loved so much, I've a surprise for you too here. Me? she said shocked. I'm not sure how much more you can surprise me Nick hun she laughed, seeing that beach has been an amazing surprise, he smiled and said well this one's just for you, and he turned the camera around slightly and there appeared a beautiful teenager on her laptop. Hi Amanda, the girl waved and grinned. Oh my God Zara? Gasped Amanda, oh my she said you have changed so so much since I last saw you honey, you're beautiful, How are you? Zara blushed and smiled, thank you she said, I'm doing good she said, how are you? Dad has been telling us how you're stuck at home at the minute, you ok? Yeah, said Amanda, I'm not doing too bad, she smiled and said had I known I would be seeing you I would have brushed my hair at least, Zara laughed, and Nick jumped back in, hey how come you don't brush your hair for me Rollins? Amanda blushed, well I did at the start Amaro she laughed, but then I got bored, and you've seen me in far worse states she laughed, yeah, I suppose he scoffed. Zara sat beside her dad and said, so where's your little girls she asked? Oh, said Amanda, well this here is Billie she smiled, she said to Billie can you say hiya? Billie looked up and saw Nick and squealed ICK she said loudly and waved at him. Nick waved back grinning, Hola princessa! OMG she is so cute said Zara. Amanda smiled, and Jesse is just getting changed into her pj's. Billie was still waving and Amanda said can you say Zara? The baby looked at her and said Ra, which made Zara squeal, Oh my God Amanda I want to squeeze her! Nick laughed as did Amanda, at that Jesse returned saying mummy who are you talking to? She gestured for Jesse to come to her and said, do you remember I told you about a little girl called Zara, and Nick is her daddy and that's why he had to go live with her? Uh-huh in his world Jesse added, well, she pointed to the computer screen, this is Zara, she said, can you say hello to her? Jesse looked at Zara and Nick, but mummy that's not a little girl and Nick laughed, no princessa you're right, Zara's a big girl now he smiled. Zara looked at Jesse and smiled, hello Jesse she said softly. Hello Zara replied the little girl. Are you at the real beach too? Zara looked at Amanda confused, and Amanda laughed, I'll explain to your dad later she said, and he can then explain to you honey. Jesse looked at her mum, I'm your honey she said sternly. Nick laughed and Amanda smiled, aww don't worry honey she said pulling her close, you'll always be my little honey she smiled, but before you were born, I called Zara honey too she smiled, and her heart panged a little as she remembered her old life. She kissed the little girls head and Zara said, is it OK if she calls me that too Jesse? Zara looked at Amanda, I haven't been called that in years Amanda she smiled sadly, I like hearing that again. Amanda smiled and said, I'm sure Jesse won't mind me calling you that too, what do you say Jess? OK said Jesse, well now we've got that sorted said Amanda rolling her eyes and laughing, I'm going to assume you two have plans? Yeah, said Nick, we're going to get some dinner then I've to drop her back at her mums before curfew begins.
Well, I'll let you two go and catch up and I'll put these 2 to bed she smiled. Hey Amanda Zara said. Yes honey she replied automatically without thinking, Zara smiled again, did dad tell you my news? she asked. Yes he did, she smiled, he told me you're thinking of coming to New York to study. Yeah, Zara said excitedly, when I come down to look around the campus can I come visit you? Amanda smiled, of course you can honey she said, I'd be gutted if you came down here and didn't call by for a visit, she smiled again. Great said Zara, when things calm down and plans are made, I'll get dad to call you, sure said Amanda smiling, or you can get my number off your dad too, I don't mind. Nick sniggered again, so I'm blew out then you don't even wanna talk to me now Zara's back on the scene, that's cool. Zara hit her dad playfully and Amanda laughed, don't be silly you she said, you can call anytime you want too, you know that she said and smiled a smile she only had for Nick. Nick smiled sweetly and nodded his head. Well, us two will let you 3 ladies go and get settled down for the night, and when I drop Zara home, I'll give you a call he said looking at Amanda with one of his looks, she smiled and nodded knowing the look. Yep, I'll have my coffee ready she smiled. And I look forward to seeing you again soon Zara she said looking at her. Yep, definitely, Zara replied, bye Jesse she shouted. Jesse looked up at the screen again and smiled, bye bye new friend Zara and she waved, Billie waved too. Ra she giggled. Bye guys Nick said Night Night Jesse he smiled. Night Night Nick and she blew him a kiss. OK you two said Amanda, have fun she smiled, I'll see you later. Bye Amanda Zara said, and Nick nodded smiling. See you later Rollins he said quietly, will do she replied smiling, and then he ended the video.
After they ended the call Amanda sat up and leant over to close the laptop. Well, wasn't that a lovely surprise she said to Jesse smiling, yeah said Jesse excitedly, I saw the beach! She was jumping up and down. Yeah, we did said Amanda a big smile across her face, I wish we had a beach in our world, Amanda laughed, and I saw another girl in Nick's world Jesse continued. Jess…. Amanda started, Nick and Zara live in our world too she said, they just live in a different part of America. Jesse looked at her and said, really? Yeah, Amanda said, look, how about tomorrow we look at where Nick and Zara live on the internet, we'll learn about where they live, and where we live. OK mummy she said. Ok Amanda smiled but now, it's time for wind-down time. After a while Jesse was falling asleep so Amanda brought both girls into the bedroom. She lay Billie down in her crib and put on her musical mobile. She the tucked Jesse into bed and they settled down for a bedtime story.
After Jesse had fallen asleep Amanda returned to the living room, started to tidy up and do the dishes. When she had done that she went into the bedroom and changed her t-shirt, brushed her hair and put it up in a ponytail. She smiled and felt a bit better. She returned to the living room and made herself a coffee and sat down to watch some tv. Around half an hour later she got an email from Nick with another Zoom link. She smiled, reached for the laptop and set it up again. While she waited, she went and made another hot drink – this time a tea – and sat back down again, just as she settled herself Nick appeared on the screen. Hey you, he smiled, hey you she replied back smiling. You have a good evening with Zara? she asked. Yeah, he laughed, she talked about you and the girls non-stop, Amanda blushed, I can't believe how grown up she is now she said, it's scary, yeah, he said, it is. So, he said, you going to tell me about this plan of yours and what world I live in he laughed. She laughed and told him what Jesse thought. He couldn't believe it. It's amazing what goes through their little minds he said in disbelief. Yeah, she sighed, so he said, what do you want me do to next week then? he asked. Well, she said, how do you feel about coming round here for dinner one night when you're free next week? She asked. I'm not going to tell her you're coming to visit, just let you turn up and let her see you in real life in her words she laughed. He smiled, absolutely he grinned, I'd love to do that. They talked about how long he was coming to visit for, and what his plans were. He told her he was arriving on Thursday night and had a meeting on the Friday, then he was free that weekend and then had a meeting on the Tuesday morning. He wasn't going back home until the following Sunday. She smiled, she told him her rota and she was off those 2 weekends, and her holidays were booked for the week he was here so he said maybe we can do something those few days we're both free then? Yeah, she said, definitely. They spoke for almost an hour and he could se she was getting tired. By the way he smiled, I see you done your hair after our chat earlier and she laughed, well I can't have you talking about me can I? He laughed, its nice he said smiling. Thank you she blushed and smiled. But you need to get to bed Amanda he said, go on, I'll call tomorrow night to read to Jesse again he said. You don't have to she said, I know I don't he replied, but I've enjoyed it. She smiled, well I'll not lie, we've been enjoying your calls too she said. I don't know what we'll do when things are back to normal and we don't have our daily chats. He smiled sadly, well we can try to make time more often he said, you never know what can happen in the future he said. What do you mean by that? she asked, he laughed, nothing Amanda, I mean just look at where we are now, who would have thought 7 years ago we wouldn't be together anymore, I'd be in another state and you would have 2 kids and we would all be in quarantine. She sighed, yeah, none of us could have imagined this could we? No, he said, so what I'm saying is, who knows what lies ahead for us. She sighed, yeah, you're right smiling at him. I know I am he laughed, go on, off you go to bed, I'll see you tomorrow night. Ok goodnight she said sleepily. Good night he replied.