On April 30, the world of country music lost a great legend. Naomi Judd passed away at age 76.
Sofia2017 planning suggested this song by Naomi Judd, so enjoy your request! As a kind of deleted scene from chapter 34, since Bobby Lee is singing to Ricky to get him to sleep, I thought it would be nice if James helped Elena and Gabby go to sleep as well. He offers to help Nell take care of the girls, and she jumps at the chance at getting some extra help, especially when he offers to let her spend the night in his room and rest. Thanks to Sofia2017 planning for helping with the story. Naomi Judd's music is not mine, and on a more serious note, rest in peace, Naomi Judd.
As he watched Nell leave her and Bobby Lee's room, James smiled as he heard a soft, yet one-sided conversation between Bobby Lee and Ricky, and he even heard Bobby Lee start singing one of the songs that Roland used to sing to him when he was a baby. He knew Nell was tired after giving birth, and he wanted to help her too. He saw Nell passing his door, so he called out, "Nell, can I help you with anything?"
Nell paused outside the door. "I was going to check on Elena, Gabby, Madeline, and Sabrina while Robert puts Ricky down."
"I can help you with that," James offered. "You look like you're going to fall asleep right there."
Nell smiled. "All right, James, but don't wear yourself out either."
James smiled as he helped Nell to his room and helped her lie down. He couldn't help but laugh as she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. As he drew a blanket over her, he thought he'd help Elena and Gabby go to sleep first, then check on Madeline and Sabrina, then sleep in the sitting room for the rest of the night, like he did before when he was working around the castle. It wouldn't be the first time he did that, and it wouldn't be the last. Besides, he thought, if she wakes up in the middle of the night, Bobby Lee, Madeline, or Sabrina would be close enough to hear her.
He saw Elena and Gabby dancing around their room, and Madeline and Sabrina were also there, trying to keep them quiet.
"Girls, go to sleep! Nell needs peace and quiet now!" Madeline pleaded.
"We teach Ricky to dance too!" Elena cheered.
"You can dance with him tomorrow, but for now you have to go to sleep!" Sabrina pleaded.
"Or you can dance for him, since Nell probably won't like it if you spin Ricky around too much," James said from the door. He turned to Elena and Gabby. "Elena, Gabby, come on, let's get you ready for bed."
"No! We wanna stay up!" Elena giggled, dancing around with Kitty.
"Yeah! We play all night!" Gabby giggled as she spun around with Dolly.
"James! Help us!" Sabrina mouthed as she tried to rein the girls in.
"Please!" Madeline mouthed next to her.
"No problem," James mouthed back, already getting an idea of how to get the girls to go to sleep. He raised his voice so they could all hear him. "Okay, we can play, but let me get one of my plush friends to sing with me."
"Okay!" Elena giggled.
"Okay!" Gabby agreed.
James quickly slipped out, and came back a minute later with his plush dragon Sir Blaze-a-Lot. "How about Sir Blaze-a-Lot? I would have asked Prince Blizzard or Little Rex to join me, but they're asleep now. Sir Blaze-a-Lot likes to stay up as much as I do, so he can help me sing."
"Just like Chrissy!" Madeline giggled as she thought of the doll that she, Nell, and Sabrina shared. "She used to sing with me, Nell, and Sabrina when we were little!"
"Amber's dolls and plush friends like singing with her and my plush friends too," James agreed.
"Dollies do like singing," Sabrina smiled.
"What kind of song James sing?" Elena asked.
"I remember this one song my mommy used to sing," James started as he got the girls settled on either side of him. "She sang it to Amber once when she had a bad dream."
"You sing the la-la-la song with her?" Elena asked.
"Maybe, that's the song I always sang when I wanted to sing with her," James shrugged. "But now I can sing full songs like this one."
He got a tape out, put it in his small tape recorder, and started singing when the song started.
I laid a red rose on your front porch
And wrote 'I love you' on a note
I rang the doorbell and turned to go
Baby when the curtains moved, I couldn't believe the view
"I know this song!" Sabrina smiled.
"Like my mom always said, if you know the song, feel free to jump right in," James smiled.
"Okay!" Sabrina smiled as she joined in.
I saw the light in your window tonight
I saw two shadows holdin' each other tight
I know the truth, when I look in your eyes
I saw the light in your window tonight
"Can I sing with you too?" Madeline asked.
"You don't have to ask, if you know the song, just jump right in and join us," James smirked.
"Okay!" Madeline smiled as she took Elena up in her arms and Sabrina took Gabby.
As they spun the girls around, and got close to their beds, Madeline sang, So take your cheatin' hands off my red dress
'Cause I ain't wearin' this thing for you
I see you clearly now and your lies too
They say that love is blind, baby not this time
James joined Madeline and Sabrina as they sang together, I saw the light in your window tonight
I saw two shadows holdin' each other tight
I know the truth when I look in your eyes
I saw the light in your window tonight
Sabrina got Gabby into her bed and tucked her doll in with her as she sang, Why baby why, should I listen to you?
I cry baby cry, now I'm walkin' out the door
They say that love is blind, baby not this time
Madeline got Elena into her bed as she joined in, I saw the light in your window tonight
I saw two shadows holdin' each other tight
Since Elena's plush jaquin Kitty was with Ricky for the time being, James tucked Sir-Blaze-a-Lot in with her as he finished the song with Madeline and Sabrina.
I know the truth when I look in your eyes
I saw the light in your window tonight
I know the truth when I look in your eyes
I saw the light in your window tonight
"Yay James! Yay Auntie Madeline! Yay Auntie Sabrina!" Elena giggled.
"That was a good song," Gabby smiled.
"This is one of Amber's favorite songs too," James added.
"How you know so many songs?" Gabby asked.
"Well, it helps that my mommy always sang before me and Amber were born," James grinned. "I guess I liked it more than Amber, since Dad says I was singing when I was born!"
"King says you sang the A-B-C song when you were a baby like Ricky!" Elena giggled.
As Madeline and Sabrina giggled beside him, James smiled as he asked, "That's right, now go to sleep."
"Sing more?" Gabby asked.
"I've been singing songs to you all day; I'm not the castle juke box!" James smirked.
"King says you are!" Elena giggled.
James smirked, but he said, "Okay, how about this: you'll get another song tomorrow night if you go to sleep right away. Right now, I'm going to help Madeline and Sabrina get to their beds, and then I have to go and check on your mommy."
"Sing later?" Gabby asked before she fell asleep.
"Yes, I'll sing something later," James smiled as he left the room.
"James, you said Nell's sleeping in your room. You can sleep on my window seat if you want," Madeline offered.
"I think I'll take you up on that offer, Maddie," James smiled as they left the room and let the girls sleep.
