***A Month Later***
Jonathan and Jennifer were at Willow Pond. All of the repairs and a few upgrades had been made to the property and guesthouse, and Jonathan's shoulder was healing up quite nicely.
Aunt Marnie had stayed on to help them out, but her visit was drawing to a close. She would be going home in just a couple of days.
Jonathan and Jennifer were getting one final date night, to his company's annual charity ball.
Jonathan and Jennifer were in their bathroom, getting ready.
"Darling, are you sure you're up to going to this tonight?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, it's just it's only been a little over a month since your plane accident, and I just don't want you to overdo it, that's all".
She was putting on her makeup in the mirror, while he was shaving.
"I'm ready to get back into the swing of things, darling. I'll be fine, I feel great. Are you going to be ok? I don't think you've left the babies this long, yet".
"I'll be fine. Aunt Marnie is more than capable, and it's not like we are going to be out all night".
Jennifer stepped into the closet and slipped on her dress.
"Darling, what did you say the theme for tonight is?"
"A Night to Remember".
"Well, I'm sure we can manage that".
She stepped out of the closet in a strapless mermaid evening gown, made of champagne tulle, black lace and rhinestones, with a corset lace-up in the back.
She paired it with black lace peep-toe heels and a black lace clutch, and the silver diamond necklace Jonathan gave her when the kids were born, plus some diamond hoop earrings.
"Darling, can you lace me up, please?"
"Certainly".
After he laced her up, she made sure his tie was straight, and then they headed downstairs.
"Ok Aunt Marnie, we are headed out. We won't be too terribly late. I made the kids' bottles this afternoon, and they are in the fridge, you just have to heat them up. The number of where we'll be is on the fridge."
"Jennifer, you look absolutely stunning! Have a good time, you two. We'll be fine here".
They gave the kids several goodnight kisses, and then headed out.
***In the car***
Jonathan opened the door for Jennifer and helped her into the car, before sliding into the driver's seat next to her.
She laced her fingers through his as they made their way to the Imperial Ballroom.
"Is the ball in the same place as last year?"
"No. We are having it this year at the Imperial Ballroom, on the top floor of the Walenska building. We have the whole parking garage, the top floor of the building and roof access".
"That sounds great".
He kissed the back of her hand.
They drove along, enjoying the scenery until he pulled them up in front of the parking garage.
They valet parked, and then he came around and helped her out of the car.
They walked the red carpet, hand in hand, and posed for some photographs.
They made their way inside, and found their table.
Everyone was excited to see him, and to see Jennifer.
"How are the babies?"
"Amazing. They are smart, just like their daddy, and have them wrapped around their fingers, for sure".
Jonathan went and got them a drink, while Jennifer talked with the ladies from the office.
They all loved her dress and couldn't believe she had already lost almost all of her baby weight.
Jonathan reappeared with their drinks.
"Thank you, darling".
They mingled and chatted with various people until it was time for the ball to start.
"Ok, I have to go make the opening speech".
He gave her a quick kiss and then headed up to the stage.
"Hello, everyone. Thank you all for coming to Hart Industries' annual Spring Charity Ball. We have a great evening planned for all of you tonight. If you look to the far western end of the ballroom, we have the absolute greatest restaurants here to feed you their best dishes. Along the southern wall of the ballroom, is an open bar. Please, drink responsibly, and please, tip your bartenders. In the eastern section of the room-you will find the bathrooms, plus an emergency exit, as well as the silent auction tables. We will have a live auction later on in the evening, but we have some very nice silent auction items on those tables. And finally, in the Northern end of the ballroom, you will find my absolutely breathtakingly beautiful wife, Jennifer. Everyone give her a hand".
Jennifer blushed.
"Now, everyone has been wondering what has been going on with us, and why I took a step back from the company. Well, there are a couple of reasons. One is that due to an experience I am not going to talk about publicly just yet, I broke my shoulder blade and I have been having to rehab it. In a few weeks, I am more than likely going to have surgery on it, but that won't keep me down too long. There are two other reasons I took a step back. If you'll direct your attention to the screen behind me, you'll see them. Our daughters' name is Jessalynn, and she's just the most adorable baby this side of the Colorado river, and she's the spitting image of her mother. And our son, Jagger, he's a handsome little heartbreaker. He's a momma's boy and his daddy's best buddy and he'll be hitting baseballs out of the park before we know it. Now, I am going to officially open the dance floor, by dancing with my beautiful wife, and then we will get on with the party. Thanks for coming, and please, enjoy yourselves".
The music started to play, as Jennifer walked out and joined Jonathan on the dance floor.
She gave him a couple of kisses as they started to dance.
"Wonderful speech, darling".
"Thank you".
"How's your shoulder? Am I hurting you?"
"With you in my arms, everything is perfect. I'm just fine, it barely hurts".
"Nice turnout tonight".
"Yeah, I'm pretty pleased so far".
"What items are up for auction?"
"Well, there's a Louis Vuitton purse, and an all expenses paid trip to the city of the winner's choice, with a value limit of course, and there's a couple of spa packages, and a few nice jewelry pieces, and a fur coat".
"Sounds exciting".
"I hope that it will be".
Just before their dance ends, she leaned in close to him.
"Darling, do you think this dress fits me well? I feel like everyone is staring at me and I don't really know why".
"I think it fits you just perfectly. And I know why they are staring at you, because I can't keep my eyes off you either. You have never looked more beautiful than you do tonight".
He leaned forward and gave her a couple of kisses, as their dance ended.
For the next two hours, they mingled, ate, and looked at the silent auction items.
Jennifer really wanted the Louis Vuitton bag, and was trying to figure out how much to bid.
She walked over to Jonathan and linked her arm through his.
"And then I told him he'd be lucky to ever do business with me again, and that if I ever heard of him peddling this scheme again, I would call in the bunko squad myself".
Jennifer leaned up to Jonathan.
"Meet me on the rooftop in 5 minutes".
She gave him a quick kiss and then headed towards the elevators.
As the doors closed, she saw him starting to head her way.
The elevators opened to the rooftop and she walked out and over to the edge. She was admiring the skyline when she felt his arms around her waist and his lips on her neck.
"Hi".
"What was so important you had to pull me up here?"
She turned around in his arms.
"This".
She kissed him slowly and romantically, and then rested her forehead against his.
"I just wanted to spend a few minutes alone with you, that's all".
"You know, the last time we had a few moments like this, we conceived the twins".
"I beg your pardon. The twins were conceived after you and I binge-watched those French movies, remember?"
"Oh. Yeah. Well maybe, baby number 3 can be our rooftop baby".
"Darling, are you saying you're ready for another baby?"
"I think so. I would love to see how the babies react to having a sibling".
"Darling, they barely recognize each other at this point. And besides, my body isn't ready to have another one just yet."
"That's a fair point. Ok, we can wait".
She put her hands on his chest and kissed him.
"I wish we had a night or two alone, but I also miss the babies. If I could just see them, I would probably be ok for a minute or two".
"I saw you eyeing something else downstairs too".
"You?"
"I was talking about the Louis Vuitton bag that's up for auction".
"Yes, I was eyeing that".
"So bid on it".
"I can't. It wouldn't look right if you and I bid on our own auction items".
"I tell you what. We sometimes get duplicates of the items donated for the auction. I'll take a look at the office on Monday and if I can find the duplicate, it's yours".
She scratched his neck with her fingernail.
"You know something? From time to time, I love you".
"Only from time to time?"
"Yep. And all the spaces in between".
She leaned up and kissed him passionately, and did that thing with her tongue and his lip that he loved.
After they finally broke the kiss, they headed back inside, hand in hand.
***Later that night***
Jennifer and Jonathan had the final dance of the evening, and then headed home.
It was their tradition, that after the ball on their way home, they always stopped for burgers and shakes.
They parked and ate at the overlook near their house.
"Darling, we should have the ball at that location every year. It was perfect. It was spread out just right so that you could pack everyone in, but not feel crowded. And the view from the rooftop was breathtaking".
"I agree. I will definitely put that in the notes for next year".
They finished their late night dinner, and then Jennifer rested her head on his arm.
He kissed her forehead and then moved to start the car again.
"Nuh uhh uhh….we said we were going to stay out past the last bottle of the night, darling".
"I know. But I just really want to go home and hold our kids".
"You know something? Me too".
She kissed him and they headed home.
***Willow Pond***
Aunt Marnie closed her book and set it on the table. She got up and headed to the kitchen to make the babies' bottles.
Hearing a door close, she came out of the kitchen.
"Jennifer, Jonathan? Is that you?"
Silence.
"Guess I'm hearing things". She headed back into the kitchen and retrieved the bottles, and then headed upstairs to the nursery.
She was turning on the lights as she went, and turning them off as got up the stairs.
She walked into the nursery and set the bottles down and then went to check on Jagger.
He was sleeping peacefully and wasn't showing any signs of waking up, so she walked over to check on Jessalynn.
She pulled the blanket back, and realized that it had been covering a baby doll.
She quickly went to the closet and turned on the light and cracked the door so it would illuminate the crib.
Jessalynn was gone.
Hearing another door close downstairs, she walked out to the landing.
"Hello? Who's there?"
"It's just us, Aunt Marnie. We're home from the ball".
"Jennifer, I don't have a clue as to how this happened. I swear I put her in the nursery".
"Aunt Marnie, what is it? What are you talking about?"
She stumbled and turned pale.
"Jonathan, something's wrong with Aunt Marnie".
He raced up the stairs to help keep her from falling down.
"It's not me. It's Jessalynn. She's gone".
"She's what?"
"Oh my God….."
Jennifer raced up the rest of the staircase and ran into the nursery.
Jagger woke up as she came in.
"Oh my gosh…."
She came out to the hallway.
"Jonathan! Call the police. Jessalynn is missing".
She picked Jagger up and held him close.
"It's ok, buddy. We'll find sissy".