"What's taking so long?" Beth asked, leaning into her mom.
Megan looked over at her husband, talking to Eden's Sunday School Teacher, "Ms. Lydia asked to talk to Daddy, anything happen is class today, E?"
"No ma'am." Eden said, she too was leaning against her mom. It had been a long week and she was ready to be home and to watch a movie with her family.
Megan looked down at her two exhausted kids and wondered for the millionth time if they were making the right choice.
She watched her husband, but he gave nothing away as he walked over. He leaned down so that he was eye level with Eden, "Do you want to go out to lunch?"
Eden's face lit up, "Yes Sir!"
He lifted his girl up into his arms, "you're pick."
Eden looked over at Beth, who her mom had picked up, "What do we want?"
Beth sighed, leaning her head into her mom's shoulder, "I'm just excited to eat without chores."
Megan rolled her eyes at her youngest's dramatics before poking her, "you don't want us to tell the waitress that you want to bus the tables?"
"No thank you!" Beth told her laughing.
"Can we eat at olive garden?" Eden asked.
"That sounds great to me, Momma?" David asked.
"Perfect, then we can go home and watch movies and cuddle." Megan said, squeezing her baby close.
"Do you both know what you want to order?" David asked, after having a few minutes to look at the menu.
"Yes Daddy." Both girls said.
"Okay, I want you both to stop coloring, and look at me so that we can talk about this last week." He told them. Both girls looked up at their dad. "Thank you. Is there anything that you two think went wrong this week?"
"I didn't love placing fourth and third in the group dance and second in our duet." Eden said.
Beth shrugged, "It was our first competition and Chloe and Paige are bigger than us."
"That's true Baby," Megan agreed, "I thought you both did amazing."
The waiter appeared, "Everyone ready to order?"
"Yes Sir." David told him. "You start Bethel."
"Thank you, Daddy. May I have the five-cheese ravioli, but with the meat sauce?"
"Of course, and what for the side?" The waiter asked, impressed at how well the young girl spoke.
"Grapes please and thank you." Bethel told him, smiling.
"Great. And you Miss?"
"May I have the grilled chicken with rotini pasta, please? And May I get the broccoli instead of the grapes?" Eden asked.
"Yes," the waiter said writing it down. He took the parents orders and quickly walked away.
"I didn't do very well on my math test." Bethel picked up the conversation again.
"Well, in truth, you got a B. A low B, but a B none the less, not anything to be upset about." Megan told her daughter.
"I know Momma, but I knew those math facts, I don't know what happened." Bethel said.
"Your brain was probably tired." Eden told her.
"You got 100 percent on all your tests." Bethel told her.
Eden shrugged, "I'm not you."
"Is there anything, you don't know?" Beth asked exasperated.
Eden turned to respond, but David cut in, "That wasn't edifying Bethel Ann, try again."
Beth frowned at the rebuke. "I'm sorry Eden, I didn't mean to be mean, I just know we aren't the same."
Eden leaned over and kissed the side of her sister hair, "I'm sorry too, my comment wasn't helpful."
"Thank you. That brings me to my issue with this week, you've both been very tired." David said.
Megan nodded, "You were almost impossible to get out of bed Friday, Beth."
"I said I was sorry Momma," Beth told her, feeling a little ganged up on. Tears started to flow slowly.
Megan scooted her chair back from the table and held her arms open and the little girl rushed into them, "Shh…I know you did Baby, you aren't in trouble, Daddy and I are just worried about you."
"I think we just have to get used to it." Eden told them honestly.
"Me too, and it was cool to go to phoenix." Beth told them.
"Yeah, I wish we could have stayed longer." Eden told them.
"Maybe next time," David told her. "Alright lets talk about the good things of this week. I think you both danced beautifully."
"Agreed." Megan said squeezing her daughter, "And you BOTH did great in school."
"Ms. Lydia pulled me aside and said that she had concerns with adding so much to your schedules, but that you had your work done for Sunday school, your verse memorized and that you got through 4 sections in AWANA Wednesday, good job Eden." David praised.
"Thank you Daddy," Eden said.
The waiter set the plates down on the table and Beth went back to her chair. After Megan said grace she turned to her husband, "we had said that we were going to look for an outreach opportunity at dance, and I think I should make dinner for all of the families."
"you don't think that's too much for you honey?" David asked her.
"I'll just make more of what we are eating, have you seen what those kids are eating? Not anything that will keep those kids bodies going."
"I hear ya. If that's how you feel lead, I support you." He told her.
"Thank you, I will meal plan while we watch the movie." Megan told him.
"You two want to keep going with this?" David asked the girls.
"Yes Sir." They both said.
"Okay, if we can keep things to how they were this week, we will be fine." He told them.
The family ate and chatted about their week with both girls.
The next day at pyramid Eden was frustrated to be downgraded to fourth and was dead set on putting herself on top. Eden was happy for her sister to get her solo but also a little frustrated to only be in the group dance.
When the dance started though she was further frustrated when her dad walked back in the room. "Ms. Abby?" He asked politely.
"I'm teaching class right now, David." She told him.
"Yes Ma'am. I understand, can I grab you for a moment after this dance is done?" He asked.
She paused for a moment; she wasn't used to her parents being so polite. "Gianna, keep them going." She stood up and followed him out of the room, "What can I do to help you?"
"I am by no means telling you how to run your dances, but I can't have Eden in that dance with those moves." David told her.
"So, you don't want Eden dancing this week?" Abby asked him, frustrated.
"I want her in class, but she will now be doing that dance." David informed her firmly.
"What is your problem with the dance?"
"They are dancing a lot older than I feel like is appropriate for my daughter." David told her.
"You don't think that Eden should make that choice for herself?" Abby asked.
"I think that until my daughters can make that choice for themselves, then it is my job to do it for them."
"Maybe she won't dance in any team dances at all." Abby threatened.
David tried to control his temper, "I think that would be a great loss to both Eden and the team, but if that is the choice that YOU have to make, then I respect that."
"I need to get back in there and reblock the dance." Abby told him going back inside the room. "Eden." She called.
"Yes Ma'am," Eden said walking over to her teacher.
"Your parents have decided that they can do my job and that you will not be in this dance." Abby told her.
Eden tried to keep the tears out of her eyes, "Why?"
"Your Dad thinks it's too sexy, that's why this is dance moms not dance dads by the way." Abby said.
"But I want to dance." Eden told her. Tears started falling, and Abby pulled her close, "I know honey, I know."
Eden stepped back and dried her eyes, "I'm sorry Miss Abby."
"It's okay honey, why don't you go upstairs and do your homework in the mothers room." Abby told her, thinking she may be able to talk her dad into staying in the dance.
"Yes Ma'am." Eden said. She walked out of the studio into the den to grab her backpack and then went upstairs.
Megan had just got to the studio and had just been filled in by her husband when she heard little feet on the stairs. Mackenzie and Vivi were already up their doing their homework. "Hey Lovely," Megan said when her daughter appeared.
"Hey Momma," Eden said walking over and setting her backpack down on the seat in front of her.
"Do you have a lot of homework?" David asked.
"I only have one math worksheet and some spelling words to study." Eden said stiffly.
"Do you want me to help you with them?" David asked.
"Daddy, I'm very angry with you and I'm trying hard not to throw a fit or be disrespectful, but I don't want to talk to you." Eden said, not looking up at him.
David raised his eyebrows at his wife, she shrugged at him, she had not been rude. "Do you want help on your math worksheet, or do you want to be left alone?" Megan asked her.
"I would like to be left alone, please Momma." Eden told her, pulling out her folder.
"That's fine Lovely, but I want you to be thinking about what you want to say, remember, we don't let the sun set on our anger," Megan reminded her gently.
Eden nodded, "Yes Ma'am."
Megan looked around the mother's den and decided to just plunge ahead, "I made dinner for everyone tonight. I want to start doing it every night, and you guys can either join in or not, but there will always be enough."
"What's for dinner tonight?" Mackenzie asked.
"Kenzie!" Melissa scolded.
"She said!" Mackenzie argued back.
Megan laughed, "Tonight I made a chicken spaghetti with a salad as a side."
"Is there dessert?" Vivi asked.
Megan shook her head, "Sorry, we only do desserts after dinner on the weekends."
"Bummer." Vivi said.
"Maybe on Thursday nights we could do a dessert." Megan said, everything in moderation, she thought.
"Yay!" Mackenzie said excitedly.
Megan laughed again, "Does that sound good, Lovely?"
Eden looked up at her Momma, "Yes Ma'am." She looked back down at her homework and frowned, "I'm still too mad to talk Momma."
"People get angry, people GO mad." David said before he could catch himself.
Megan shot her husband the dirtiest look, Eden just sighed, "I know Daddy."
"I'm sorry Lovely that was habit." David told his little girl. He hated that she was angry with him. All he wanted was for his little girl to snuggle in his lap.
"When's dinner Momma, I'm hungry." Eden said. She set her finished Math worksheet back in her folder and looked up at her mom.
"Do you want to come downstairs and bring it into the den?" Megan offered.
"Yes please!" Eden said excitedly. She quickly threw her folder into her backpack and zipped it up.
Megan was happy to have a moment with just the two of them. She loved both of her children equally of course and wanted to spend equal amounts of time with them, but it just worked out that Eden and David spent more time together and Megan and Bethel spent more time together due to shared interest.
She handed her daughter the three bowls of salad and grabbed the two dishes of pasta and started to go back into the building. "How are you holding up lovely?"
She set the things down on the bench and then moved back towards the car. "I just feel really angry Momma," Eden said honestly.
"At me and Daddy?" Megan asked her, stopping both of their movement. She sat on the open back of her car and pulled her little girl between her legs into a hug.
"Yes, but not just you and Daddy." Eden told her.
"Who else then?" Megan asked, pushing her back so she could see her face.
"I'm angry that Ms. Abby would do a dance like this." Eden said. Megan nodded, but didn't say anything. "And I'm angry at me too."
Megan looked surprised down at her very stubborn child. "Your mad at yourself?"
"Yes Ma'am. I know that dance isn't okay, why didn't I say anything?" Eden told her. Megan still didn't say anything. "But I'm angry with you and Daddy because you didn't really give me a chance to say anything. I know you have to make a call but you could have given me a day to try and make the right one."
"I think that Daddy and I can talk about giving you a day to make a choice before we step in." Megan agreed, nodding and pulling her little girl in for a hug again.
"And I'm upset that I have to tell Daddy all this all over again." Eden told her. Megan nodded behind them and Eden turned around to see her Daddy leaning against his truck just a little bit away. "Hey Daddy," Eden said, leaning into Megan.
David kneeled down and hoped that would make him seem more approachable to their daughter, "Come here Lovely," David said softly.
Eden ran over to her dad and hugged him tight. "I'm sorry I got so angry Daddy."
"You are growing up into quite the woman of God, Eden, and sometimes I forget that you aren't just my little girl anymore. I promise Mommy and I will give you some more room to make your own choices." David told her.
"Thank you, Daddy." Eden said, burying her face into his neck.
David stood up with his girl in her arm, happy that order had been restored to his family. Megan grabbed the paper plates, utensils and breadsticks and walked over to kiss her husband. "Good job not sinning in your anger, Eden." Her mom encouraged.
David took the things from his wife with his free hand and nodded for her to lead the way. When they walked back into the den everyone including Abby and Gia were in there.
"I heard there was free dinner." Abby said.
"Yes Ma'am, every night." Megan told her, handing out plates to the waiting Mom's and girls.
"This smells good Megan," Gia told her.
Abby started to dig in with the other parents.
"Wait!" Chloe exclaimed. "Aren't we going to pray? I mean isn't that what you guys do?"
David smiled at the girl, "If you guys want you can with us, but you don't have to."
"I think that's a great idea," Kelly said.
"Anyone want to pray?" Megan asked.
"I do!" Vivi said excitedly.
"You do?" Cathy asked her daughter. The girl nodded. "Alright, lets hear it."
She waited for everyone's eyes to close before she started. "Dear God, thank you for dance and this food. Amen."
"Amen," everyone chimed before digging in.
"Did you get your daddy to change his mind?" Abby asked Eden.
"No ma'am, but even if he did, I think he was right and the dance is too old for me." Eden told her.
Abby nodded at the little girl, "Maybe, we are taking a risk for sure."
"Are we going to see the people with the bonnets in Lancaster?" Bethel asked.
"The Amish?" Brooke chimed in.
"Yeah! The Amish." Bethel confirmed. All of the girls looked up in interest at this.
"Maybe," Gia said. "We aren't spending the night there though, we are leaving early Saturday morning and coming back that night."
"If we see an Amish store on the way home can we stop?" Eden asked.
"You'll have to ask Ms. Abby, it's her bus lovely." Megan told her daughter.
Suddenly Abby was meet with a chorus of pleases' from a bunch of little girls.
"Let's see how tired you are after competition," Abby told them.