Chapter 38

Standing there in the driveway, with the bow in his hands and a grin on his face, AJ wondered what he might have to offer Harriett to watch the children for the night. It wasn't that the two fifteen year olds couldn't be trusted to sit for the others if he and Sarah wanted to go out for an evening on their own, they'd actually been doing just that for over a year now. No, it was Sarah's comment as she left that made him want the house to themselves that night!

Going into the house he got the children off to school and then picked up the phone to ask an old friend a favor. "Harriett, I know it's an imposition, but is there any chance at all that you might be able to watch the children for a few hours tonight?"

"We would love to have them over! You know that we feel we never get to see enough of you and them! Is there something special going on?" she questioned.

"Just would like a little private time with my wife," AJ chuckled.

"Oh! In that case I think that I will ask for a return of the favor some night as payment!" she laughed along with him.

"Done!" he agreed readily.

"Is Mac looking forward to sitting in your old chair?" Harriett asked, changing the subject.

"She said she was," he answered. "And then she told me all the old fantasies that she had of the two of us in that office when we were working together. I just might have to surprise that wife of mine and drop in for lunch some time!"

"I'm sure that she would love it!" Harriett laughed in response.

They ended the call after a few more minutes and AJ did a quick run through of the house. He was proud of the fact that they had taught their children well and there was very little mess at all. Their beds were all made and there were no wet towels lying around, about the only thing out of place was a toy or two that had been dropped in place as they made the last dash for the door and the school bus. He had loved being a stay at home dad, but had to admit that now Marta was in school it was nice to have the house quietly to himself after they were all out the door.

Grabbing the keys to his rental, he headed into town to do some errands and see about trading in the mid-sized sedan for a vehicle that was more his style. It would still have to be large enough to hold the whole family since he'd bought Sarah the Vette. His vehicle would have to be the 'family' car. That accomplished, he was looking for somewhere to have lunch when he spotted a costume shop with a costume in the window that reminded him of a conversation that he and Sarah had just before they were married. With a chuckle he went in to the store and stunned the clerk with the rental of the year! Putting the boxed up costume in the black 2015 Escalade with extended cab that he had just purchased, he found a small diner for lunch.

Finding that the florist that he had always used when he lived there before was still in business, he bought flowers for his wife and then made a stop at the grocery store so he could make her favorite meal for her that night. The stage would be set for seduction, for the entire evening, not just for after the children were in bed, as he was sure she was thinking. He wanted to surprise her with the fact that they were going to have a childless night.

The kids got home from school and changed into play clothes as instructed; he piled them into the new Escalade and stopped to pick up a couple of pizzas on the way to the Roberts home. Dropping off seven children on a family that already had four, made him feel a bit guilty, but he reassured himself that Harriett could handle anything. Reminding her of his promise to return the favor anytime she wanted, he left to prepare for Sarah's homecoming from her first night at work. He hoped that she wouldn't be too tired for what he had planned!

To be continued….