AN: This is the first chapter of the new story. This story will be a bit different than the last, more action less thought.
"Breakfast!" I yelled up the stairs. It was a Wednesday morning, two weeks before Rose and Zac are due to start kindergarten. I turned around and headed back to the kitchen.
Just as I was laying three plates of eggs on the table, I heard tiny little feet running down the stairs.
"Morning Mama", my three children chorused as they sat at the table.
"Morning to you too." I replied as Troy entered the kitchen, giving me a peck on the lips.
"Ew, Daddy", Lily, our three year old, complained. "Why do you have to do that?"
Lily Maria was our third and youngest child. She was the perfect mix of Troy and I, with my hair and facial features but Troy's eyes. She also had the best singing voice out of all our children, apparently inheriting both of our singing talents as well as acting talents. She loves being in front of a crowd; that's why I enrolled her in ballet. She loves it. We even have a little dance studio, with mirrors, a bar and a sound system for her to practice with.
"Yeah, why?" Rose added.
Rose was a mini me. She had dark, wavy brown hair and chocolate eyes. She was the perfect picture of me at that age. She also has my brains. She loved me reading stories so much, I taught her how to do it myself. That was a little over a year ago. She also has my singing voice but is too shy to show it.
"' 'Cause it's gross." Zac finished.
Zac, what can I say. He is Troy. It's a wonder I don't get confused. Both with brown-blond hair, startling blue eyes and an adoration and talent for basketball. Troy had him playing it ever since he could walk. He spends most of his time in the court in our yard, shooting with Troy on the lowered net. He did not miss the singing gene either.
I giggled. This happens every time we kiss in front of them. I still don't understand why they continue asking. They get the same answer every time.
"Because I love your mother." Troy replied. "One day you'll be kissing too."
"Now way Daddy. Kissing is gross." Lily and Rose replied in disgust.
"Good." I heard Troy mumble under his breath. I giggled at him. Troy was not going to be happy in a few years when the girls started liking boys. When that time came we were going to have to have a discussion about the dating. Troy looked at me and just smiled. I smiled back.
"I don't know. Girls are cool." Zac replied. Oh no. Zac was already starting with the girls. I blame that on Troy. I don't want my babies dating for a while yet. I rolled my eyes and sat down at the table, placing two more plates on the table for Troy and I. The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence.
As everyone was leaving the kitchen, I called for them to wait.
"Today, we're going shopping for school supplies and clothes. We will be leaving in about one hour to go to the mall and I want everyone ready to go by then, okay?"
Yes's were heard as Rose and Zac scampered quickly out of the kitchen to get ready. Lily stayed behind.
"What's wrong sweetie?" I asked, walking over to her.
"Why can't I go to school too?" This had been frequently asked question since I told Rose and Zac that they would be starting kindergarten. Lily had been feeling a little sad that she wouldn't have her older siblings at daycare with her.
"Honey," I began, crouching down to her level," you're not old enough to go to school yet. Don't worry, you'll still have lots of fun at daycare without Rose and Zac. You'll still have Sara, Allison, Emma and Hannah to play with."
"I know, it just won't be the same." She replied.
"It'll be okay. I know you'll miss them, but they'll only be gone for half the day anyway."
"Thanks Mama." She said.
"No problem." I replied, giving her a hug. "Now hurry up and get ready to go, we don't want to be late." She turned and ran out of the room and up the stairs. I sighed as I resumed cleaning the table.
"Was that a sigh?" Troy asked, entering the room and wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Yes, Lily doesn't want the twins to go to school without her. I just feel bad that she thinks she's being left behind."
"It's fine. Once she gets back with all her friends, she won't even notice they're gone. Plus, I was thinking that as a gift to the family for the start of the school year, we should get a dog. The kids have been begging us and it would be the perfect opportunity. Plus, we need a pet." Troy said.
"That's actually a good idea." I said in mock astonishment.
"Hey, you're not the only one who can have bright ideas. Just for that…" He broke off and started coming towards me, hands out.
"No… Don't you dare… Stop! Stop!" Troy was tickling me like crazy, I could barely breathe. Suddenly, he stopped and kissed me. We kissed for a few minutes and then broke apart, just staring into each other's eyes. It was amazing that even after these years, my knees would still go weak when he smiled at me in that loving way. We became lost in each other's gaze until…
"Dad, will you play with me? I've been working on my free-throw and I want to show you."
"Sure, champ. Go get the ball and wait outside. I'll be out on the court in a few minutes."
He ran out of the kitchen, sliding the door closed behind him. Troy turned back to me with an 'I'm sorry' look on his face. I just smiled back.
"Now don't be too long" I started, slipping out of his arms and wagging my finger playfully at him.
"Yes ma'am!" he replied in mock salute.
"Get out there", I laughed, shoving him out the door. With one last kiss on the lips, he ran to the basketball court.
I stood behind the glass for a minute, watching Troy shoot a perfect shot. It reminded me of high school, when I would watch him play for the Wildcats. I shook myself out of my reverie and headed upstairs to do my makeup and change.
On my way to the bedroom, I stopped into the girls' bedrooms to see how they were doing; Rose was reading one of her easy-read books and Lily was playing with her dolls. About 20 minutes later, Troy came in and showered after his game with Zac.
Forty-five minutes later, we were in the SUV and heading to the mall.
When we arrived at the mall, we parked the car and walked to the food court, where everyone was supposed to meet.
"Hey everybody!" I greeted as our family approached the group. Greetings were extended as the kids split up into their little groups and found a table in the small area. I smiled to myself as I watched them talk with their friends. The rest of the gang and I were sitting at a large table, just behind the kids.
"What are you smiling about?" Troy whispered in my ear, while everyone else continued talking.
"Just about how great it is that all of the gang's children get along so well together." I whispered back. We smiled at each other before turning back to our previous conversations with Jason and Taylor respectively.
While we were talking, I kept shooting glances at Troy out of the corner of my eye. He would do the same. I was hardly paying attention to Taylor so it was a bit of a surprise when she half-yelled, "Gabi!"
"Yeah", I said, a little surprised, turning back to her. She laughed.
"I swear. Sometimes I think you and Troy are still stuck in high school. Sneaking glances at each other again?"
"Don't know what you mean." I said evasively, meeting Troy's eyes again.
"There you go again!" She exclaimed giggling at me.
"What are you talking about?" Sharpay asked, while Heather and Kelsi also turned into our conversation.
"Just how Troy and Gabi are still stuck in high school. She was looking at him out of the corner of her eye the whole time we were talking and probably has not idea what I was even talking about." I blushed at Taylor's response. The girls laughed and I changed the topic.
"So, what do you have left to do for Sara's birthday party tomorrow?" I asked Taylor.
"Well, I have the decorations, loot bags, and prizes but I need to buy her present. I'm going to get that today." She replied.
"Cool. Do you want us to come over early and help you decorate?" Sharpay asked.
"No, I'll be fine, but could you remind Zeke about the cake though?"
"Don't worry, it's already made and in our freezer. Cookie dough ice cream with Barbie figurines on top. I can't wait to taste it!"
The rest of the girls laughed. Sharpay can never wait to eat anything Zeke makes, it's been that way since high school. I stole a glance at Troy, laughing at something Ryan had told him, before turning back to the girls.
Everyone talked for a bit longer and then decided to start on our shopping. We stood up and split up, heading in different directions.
Troy and I held hands as we walked through the stores. At the end of three hours, Zac and Troy were exhausted. Lily and Rose, who had my love of shopping, and I, however, were not tired in the least.
Everyone had gotten new clothes. Rose had purchased six new shirts, three sweaters, five skirts, six pairs of pants, two dresses, a new coat, one pair of sneakers and one pair of shoes. Zac had six new shirts (three were basketball jerseys), four pairs of shorts, five pairs of pants, two new sweaters, a jacket and a pair of red high tops. Lily had five shirts, four sweaters, seven skirts, three dresses, two pairs of pants, a coat, a pair of sneakers and a pair of shoes. I had also bought three new blouses, two skirts, four pairs of dress pants, three pairs of jeans, a blazer, a jacket, a purse and three pairs of shoes. I had also forced Troy to pick out some new clothes. He had gotten a few new button-down shirts, a couple T-shirts, a jacket and a few pairs of jeans. All in all, it was a very productive day.
"Can we go now." Whined Zac.
"We just have one more stop." I told him. He groaned, as did Troy.
"It's not a clothing store, though." I said, winking at Troy. He saw it and caught on to where we were going.
"But mama, we already got our school supplies and backpacks, see." Zac said, holding up his basketball-covered bag. "What else is there to get?"
"It's a surprise," Troy told them. The kids exchanged curious glances as we rounded the corner and stepped into the pet shop.
"Today, we're buying a dog."
Cries of joy and thanks rang out from the kids as they ran to look at the puppies. I smiled at Troy and we followed.
"Look at this one!" Rose exclaimed. "Isn't she cute?" She was looking at a black miniature poodle. I nodded in response.
"That's a girly dog," Zac said with a disgusted look on his face. I giggled at his reaction.
"I want that one." He said, pointing at the boxer.
"Umm" I stalled.
"How about this one?" Lily asked, breaking up the argument that had started between the twins about the dogs. Everyone walked over to where Lily was standing, pointing to the little chocolate retriever puppy in the cage. The kids, Troy and I agreed that this was the best choice.
I walked over to the counter and told the woman there which puppy we wanted. She walked over to the cage and took her out.
"So, I need a name." The clerk said. I looked at the kids beside me, who were discussing it.
"Belle, mama, like in Beauty and the Beast." Rose replied, looking up at me.
"Belle it is." I told the lady, who handed me the adoption forms to fill out. I filled them out while Troy and the kids picked out everything we needed for Belle, like food, toys and a collar. Once the tag was engraved, we slipped the collar on Belle's neck and paid for everything before leaving the store, our new puppy in my arms.
This was a great thing to do, I thought. We got into the car and drove home.
After supper, the kids played with Belle in the backyard as Troy and I sat on the patio, next to the fire pit. At 7:30pm, Lily want to bed and half an hour later, Rose and Zac followed. Troy and I spent some time alone outside before heading up to the master bedroom and falling asleep in each other's arms.