The sticky heat of the day was lingering on into the evening.
"I think there's a storm coming." said Opal as she carried a tray of dirty glasses back into the kitchen.
Marissa, who was also out on the patio, paused to look up at the darkening sky.
"I hope not."
…
Most of the guests had gone home, but Kendal, Krystal, Opal, Reggie and Camilla had stayed to help Bianca and Marissa with the clearing up.
They had left the kids in the family den, christening the new 72" television with a movie while the adults got on with the washing up. They had a good system. Opal and Marissa were collecting the dirty dishes from the patio. Camilla was busy wrapping up the leftovers and packing them into the already rather full refrigerator. Bianca was doing the washing, finding it fairly easy as she only had to stand in one place. Reggie and Kendal were doing the drying up between them, stacking the dried plates and glasses on the kitchen table for Krystal to put away.
"This is the last of it." said Marissa putting a couple of plates on the worktop beside the sink.
"I'm glad to hear it." said Bianca wiping soap suds from her hand, her fingertips were starting to resemble prunes. As Marissa was so close she did what seemed natural and leaned in for a quick kiss, which Marissa happily returned.
"Look at you, all cutesy." said Kendal with a laugh.
Bianca took the opportunity to flick a handful of suds at her sister in revenge.
"Ignore her." said Krystal with a grin. "I think you are both adorable."
Although Krystal's comment was light hearted, Kendal's lips thinned in irritation. Bianca felt her stomach drop a little; the hope of friendly relations between their two families was still a long way off. Kendal and Erica still couldn't forgive Krystal. They simply refused to see how desperately hard she was working to make up for her terrible mistakes.
Marissa showed no sign of noticing Kendal's frosty reaction and grabbed another tea-towel to help speed up the drying-up process while Opal helped Krystal put away the plates and glasses.
When the last clean glass was back in its cupboard, everyone was happy of a job well done.
…
The time came for the last of their guests to go home. Everyone gathered in the hall. AJ and Miranda and Gabby were saying goodbye to Spike, Ian and Ayesha, the kids were all clearly excited about spending the first night in their new beds.
"Thank you so much for your help." said Bianca as she kissed Opal's cheek.
"My pleasure." said Opal.
Krystal was giving Marissa great big hug.
"Good night, honey." she said. "I'm so happy for you."
"Thanks mom."
Reggie moved to hug Bianca just a fiercely.
"I think my answer will be yes." he said in her ear, as he kissed her cheek.
"Yes?" asked Bianca.
"The job offer… Can we talk about it more tomorrow?" he asked.
"Sure. Stop by my office after lunch." said Bianca with a wide smile.
"Will do."
Reggie was going to be their new nanny.
As everyone got into their cars the Montgomery-Tasker-Chandler family stood on the doorstep and waved them goodbye, just as the first spots of rain began to fall.
"Looks like Opal was right about the rain." sighed Marissa
…
They stepped back inside as Krystal's car drove out of sight. Gabby was shuffling her feet and her head was nodding sleepily. Taking pity on her Marissa scooped her up onto her hip.
"Right, I think its bedtime." she said.
"Not yet." moaned AJ.
"It's after nine o'clock." said Bianca, checking her watch.
"But there is something we have to do first." cried Miranda. "You have to go and wait in the parlour. It's really really really important"
Marissa and Bianca shared a look. As the kids had been so good all day, maybe they could give them little leeway.
"Well if it's really really really important; then okay," said Marissa, "But you have to make whatever this is quick."
"We will." said Miranda and she and AJ raced upstairs.
"To the parlour!" declared Bianca, leading the way; although she wasn't sure why two children reluctant to go to bed would run so fast to their bedrooms.
"Right behind you." said Marissa, a sleepy Gabby nodding off against her shoulder.
They sat down on one of the large leather couches as the thunder of little feet came sprinting back down the stairs.
AJ and Miranda paused just outside the doorway to compose themselves and then walked in together side by side, each concealing something behind their backs.
"We got you both a house warming present." explained Miranda, holding out a parcel to Marissa; "This is from Gabby and me."
AJ did the same to Bianca.
"And this is for you from me."
Each parcel was badly wrapped in swathes of bright coloured paper and sticky tape.
"I helped with the w-apping." said Gabby, still leaning against Marissa.
"You know, you can tell that just by looking." said Marissa, giving the little girl's forehead a kiss. "You did a very thorough job."
AJ and Miranda were watching eagerly as the adults began opening their presents.
Under the wrapping paper they each found a boxed novelty mug. Marissa's mug was white decorated in pink and yellow flowers and bore the legend 'I love my Mamma'. Bianca's mug was deep blue, and in bold red letters on a yellow shield were the words 'Super Mom'.
Neither Marissa nor Bianca missed the significance of the gifts. Bianca could feel tears welling up at such a beautiful gesture, two simple mugs proclaiming that they were, once and for all, one big happy family.
She let out a big sigh.
"AJ, I shall treasure this."
Marissa reached out to bring Miranda into a hug alongside her sister.
"Thank you so much, girls. I love you too."
Marissa and Bianca shared a tear laced smile; both overcome by how adorable their children were.
It took them a moment to pull themselves together.
"Okay." said Bianca, taking a deep breath. "My first job as Super-mom is to say, it's time for bed."
…
*P.S. - I want to announce that there won't be an update tomorrow - as the 300th chapter coincides with the first night in their new home I want to make it extra special - I hope you can wait until Saturday.*