Title: The Right Touch

Rating: K

Category: Romance

Disclaimers: Not mine but I do enjoy borrowing them on occasion

Chapter 5

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Friday night

It was ten thirty and way past the Hudson children's usual bedtime. Bobby carried a sleeping Megan into the house while Josh trudged beside him.

"I had a great… " His sentence was interrupted by a huge yawn. "…time," Josh finished. "That movie was cool."

"Good," smiled Bobby as they walked up the steps to the bedrooms. "I had a nice time, too." He stopped at the top. "Why don't you get ready for bed while I put your sister down?"

"Sure."

"And Josh, don't forget to brush your teeth," warned Bobby.

"I won't."

Bobby removed Megan's jacket and shoes and drew the covers over her. He smoothed back the hair from her face and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Good night, sweetheart," he said softly. Fast asleep, she just snuggled into her pillow.

Josh was climbing into bed when Bobby opened the door. He walked over to tuck his godson in.

"Uncle Bobby?" said the sleepy little boy

"Ummm?"

"I really did have a great time tonight. Thanks."

Bobby smiled. "Maybe we can do it again."

"Yeah, that'll be fun."

"Good night, mate."

"'Night," Josh murmured.

Bobby squeezed his shoulder and turned off the bedside lamp. Glancing one final time before closing the door, a gentle smile appeared on his face. Josh looked so angelic when asleep.

He popped into Megan's room for one last look before heading downstairs to the family room. Not in the mood to watch tv, he ran his finger over the Hudsons' cd collection. Something nice and mellow, he thought. Ah! Michael Buble. Just the ticket.

As the music played, Bobby prowled around the room picking up photos and staring at them as though he'd never seen them before. A laughing Tara with her arms around a beaming Jack's neck. a picture of the new parents with baby Josh, then with Megan, their wedding picture, and oh so many others. Tara liked to have memories of their life scattered around the house.

He took the latest family picture with him and sat by the lone lit lamp. Sitting on the grass, Jack had his chin resting on Tara's shoulder while the two children framed their parents. They looked…happy. Bobby wanted that one day but was Darcy was the right woman? Initially attracted to her looks, Bobby found her to be intelligent, witty and fun. He knew he wasn't the easiest person to get along with but she managed to put up with him and his crazy schedule. It was the longest relationship he'd had since the eighth grade when he was smitten by Deborah Sue MacCorriston.

He knew he eventually wanted to get married and have a family. Darcy had hinted that she was more than willing to marry him but the subject of children was never mentioned. Her career was very important to her. There would be no time for children for a long while if they got married and he wanted a family. His evening with Megan and Josh only confirmed it. Both children were well behaved and at an age where it was more a matter of supervision than anything else. The only moment that he felt he was beyond his depth was when Megan needed to go the ladies' room. But, he'd handled it appropriately, he thought. And it was funny that the woman's name was Sue—just like the florist.

Sue, he thought with a smile. It started with a phone call every Tuesday to either order flowers or just to chat. He'd come to look forward to those few minutes with that friendly voice. Then, one day he'd gotten stuck on a problem. While ordering some flowers for a friend with a new baby, he somehow found himself sharing his predicament with Sue. A few questions from that sympathetic voice and a possible solution came to him. Since then he'd taken to calling when faced with a blip in his plans. By the end of the conversation, he might not have an answer but he did come away in a better mood and in a better frame of mind to tackle the problem.

As he leaned back on the sofa, he tried to imagine the face that went with the voice. Her voice was warm and gentle with laughter quick to bubble to the surface. She had to be pretty with a voice like that. Pretty with sparkling dark eyes—light eyes? It didn't matter as long as they sparkled. Hair…hair…what color hair? Hair like spun gold or dark like deep rich chocolate? His thoughts were becoming ever more fanciful when he fell asleep.

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Saturday Morning

The smell of coffee tickled his nose. Bobby peeled open one eye, then the other. Groggily he sat up. He had fallen asleep at Jack's. He stretched to get the kinks out. He looked down at his stockinged feet—someone had taken off his shoes. He bent down to put them on and walked to the kitchen.

"You could've woken me up," remarked Bobby when he spotted Tara by the stove.

"You looked so peaceful we didn't have the heart to wake you up," she commented with a smile. "There's an extra toothbrush for you in the bathroom and a towel if you want to take a shower though I don't think anything of Jack's will fit you," she said apologetically. "You're just too darn tall for your own good."

"Complain to my parents," he grinned. "I'll take a shower at home," he decided, "but I will take up your offer of that toothbrush. Be back in a mo."

By the time Bobby came back, Jack was placing a plate of toast on the table alongside the bacon.

"Morning, Bobby," he greeted. "Orange juice? Coffee?"

"Coffee." Jack poured a cup for him.

"How do you want your eggs?" asked Tara, as she put scrambled eggs in front of Jack.

"Over easy."

"Coming right up."

Jack slid the paper towards him. "The kids must have run you ragged last night, You didn't even move when I took off your shoes."

Bobby shook his head. "Megan and Josh were wonderful. We had a great time at the movie and a great time at the ice cream place. We had fun." He glanced at Tara and Jack. "How was your anniversary celebration?"

"Fabulous," declared Tara as she smiled at Jack. "Dinner was wonderful. Then we went dancing. I haven't danced with Jack in I don't know how long. A very romantic evening."

"So I take it it was a fabulous evening for everyone," stated Bobby with a grin.

"Yeah," agreed Jack with a smirk. "And we owe it all to you for babysitting."

"Any time you want to baby sit again, just let us know," put in Tara. "We'd be more than happy to supply the kids."

"Deal."

"Anything interesting happened when you were out with the kids?" Jack asked.

"Not really," replied Bobby. "We did have one minor problem." At the mother's questioning look, he continued, "Megan wanted to use the bathroom at the theatre and there was a line so I asked this woman if she'd take her in," he explained looking at Tara. "I kept my eye on the door the whole time," he added to reassure her.

Tara's fork paused in mid-air. "I didn't think about that when you said you were taking the kids to the movies." She thought a moment. "I guess it was all right. I wouldn't want you taking her to the men's room."

"She looked nice," remarked Bobby. "Pretty, too."

"Who?" asked Jack.

"The woman that took Megan to the ladies' room. She told Megan she's deaf and has a hearing dog. Have you ever heard of that?"

"Oh sure," nodded Tara. As a part-time physical therapist, she was familiar with the term. "It's a dog that literally helps a deaf person hear—like the phone is ringing, or someone is calling or knocking at the door. Things like that."

"I never knew that," commented Bobby. "You are a wealth of knowledge, Mrs. Hudson."

"Why thank you, Mr. Manning," she smiled. "Always glad to share what I know."

Bobby glanced at his watch. "I better go. I have a few errands to run today and I think I'll call Darcy to see how the hunt for the missing shipment is going." He leaned down to kiss Tara. "Thanks for breakfast."

"Any time," she smiled. "And thanks again for last night."

"Yeah," echoed Jack. "We really appreciated it."

"Happy to do it," remarked Bobby. "No, sit," he ordered when Jack moved to walk him to the door. "I can let myself out. See you on Monday."

Bobby grabbed his jacket from the sofa and headed towards the front door. As he neared the staircase, he noticed a tousled-headed Megan sitting on the bottom step, leaning against the bannister.

"Good morning, darlin'," he smiled as he dropped to her eye level. "Had a good sleep?"

"Yes," she smiled sweetly. "I had a nice time last night, Uncle Bobby. Thank you."

He felt his heart melt. He planted a kiss on her forehead. "I did, too," he said softly.

"Are you coming back soon?"

"I'll try," he promised.

"Good."

"I thought I heard voices," commented Jack. "Come here, sweetheart." He held his arms open for his daughter. "Good morning," he said as he kissed her.

"Morning, Daddy." She laid her head on his shoulder. "Remember your promise, Uncle Bobby."

"I will. Say good-bye to your brother for me," said Bobby his hand on the door.

"Bye."