Unfortunately for the kids they didn't get to stay at the park long because it had started to rain. They came back to the house very disappointed.
"I'm sorry guys. I'll think of something fun for us to do." Jackie promised them.
Jackie noticed Nick's truck was not in the driveway.
"Look, your daddy and baby sister snuck off somewhere." Jackie said to no one in particular as she opened the door to the house.
The kids scattered in different directions.
"Mama baby Nora is sleeping." Johnna told her minutes later.
"No she isn't sweetheart, she's with daddy."
"No, she's upstairs, in her crib, sleeping." Johnna insisted.
Jackie dashed toward Nora's nursery, clearly sweet little Johnna was mistaken, Nick would never leave the infant all alone. When Jackie entered the nursery however she found Nora fast asleep, just like Johnna had promised.
Jackie scooped the baby into her arms, her little eyes flew open.
"It's alright sweetheart, it's mommy." Jackie cooed, feeling bad about rudely waking the infant but feeling very grateful she was unharmed.
Nora offered Jackie an adorable two-teeth smile for her efforts.
Jackie then got out her cell phone, where was Nick, she didn't want to think about it, something horrible had to have happened to him for him to leave the baby unattended. She dialed his number with shaking fingers.
"Hello?" He answered causally on the second ring.
"Nicky, where are you?" Jackie said, relieved he seemed to be fine and livid at him for leaving Nora by herself.
"I'm in the drive-through at Ed's, I'm bringing all of us lunch so don't eat anything." He told her. (Ed's was a burger joint by their house.)
"Nick what the hell is wrong with you?" She demanded.
"What? I thought the kids would like burgers and fries for lunch." He answered her, bewildered by her angry outburst.
"I'm not talking about lunch, I'm talking about you leaving Nora home alone." She replied.
"What? Nora wasn't with me, she was with you at the park."
"No she wasn't, I told you before I left that I was leaving her with you. I figured that since she was asleep and just getting over her ear infection she should stay home."
"Oh my god. I didn't hear you say you were leaving her home with me, I had no idea she was at home, oh my god, is she alright?" He asked in a panic, if something happened to his sweet baby girl he'd never be able to forgive himself.
"She's fine, she was still asleep when we got home, as we speak Houston is making funny faces at her and she is smiling at him, fortunately we didn't stay at the park for very long because it started to rain, when did you leave the house?"
"About fifteen minutes ago." He answered.
Jackie looked at the clock, she and the kids had been home for about five.
"I feel horrible, what if something would have happened to her?"
"She's fine, she was alone for a maximum of ten minutes, don't beat yourself up, it's my fault to, I should have made absolutely sure you knew that I wasn't taking her."
Nick sighed, still shaken.
"Jacks, I have to go, I'm up next at the drive-through, I'll be home in just a few minutes." He told her.
"Ok, we'll see you soon, and she's fine, quit stressing." She told him, hearing the guilt in his voice.
He smiled, Jackie knew him so well.
The call was ended and soon he was sitting at home eating lunch with the family, so very grateful that Nora was safe!
The End!