"You do?"
"Yes, I miss them. I can't quit thinking about McKenna and Savanna and Luke. I don't want to just see them every other month, I want to see them every day."
She unbuckled her seatbelt and threw her arms around his neck.
"I'm so glad you feel that way. I've been feeling the same way".
"Ok good. I will get my lawyer on it immediately".
She kissed him, and rubbed his cheek with her fingers.
They stayed there a little longer, and then went through the drive thru of Jonathan's favorite chicken place before heading back to the townhouse.
"Darling, when our boxes and my two vehicles get here, where are we going to put them?"
"In a storage unit for now, and then at our new house later, I guess".
"I should probably start looking for work…"
"You don't have to if you don't want to, I don't mind taking care of whatever you need".
"I suppose I could focus on planning the wedding and then go back to work later".
"Or not at all if we have the kids with us".
"Yeah, I guess".
They went inside and changed into their pajamas and then ate dinner on the couch.
"Darling, what if we got married in August, like the 20th or the 27th?"
"I like that. We could do it sooner, if you wanted".
"NO, I don't think so. I think that will give me enough time to really plan it like it I want".
"Darling, something is bothering me. Max said he doesn't do ankle biters. Do you think he will be mad with us if we bring the kids?"
"No, I don't. I think when we explain how much they mean to us, he will understand. And if he doesn't, Savanna or McKenna will push him over the edge".
"Savanna without the steroid".
"Savanna with the steroid will send him running for the hills".
Jennifer chuckled.
"I was a little hard on her that night, but she was a little crazy".
"Darling, a little crazy is screaming for no reason, or running all over the place. If we didn't know any better, I would have thought she drank jet fuel. She was absolutely insane. She couldn't control herself at all."
"That's true".
Just then, the phone rang.
Jonathan reached over and picked it up.
"Hello?"
He talked for a few minutes and then handed it to Jennifer.
"Hello?"
"Jennifer, hi. It's Abby. I'm sorry to bother you guys, but Savanna is having a hard time, and she keeps begging for us to call you. And we wanted to let you know that we received some news this week, that is going to impact things in a big way".
"What kind of news?"
"Well, we matched in with a hospital in Los Angeles, Los Angeles General. But we also matched with a hospital in Dallas, Methodist of Dallas. So, we are going to decide this week which one we want to go to."
"Well that's great. If you want, we could take the kids with us for a while so you guys can get settled."
"No, that's not necessary. That's what we wanted to talk to you about. We think that all this upheaval has been a little much for them. So, we are going to use this move to make a fresh start, and we are going to have them start calling us mom and dad, and we are going to file to formally adopt them. We are selling their house and will honor the will that they get the money when McKenna turns 21, but other than that, they are now going to be Elliott's, not Buchanan's."
"I see".
"Well, I'm going to let her talk to you for a few minutes, and then she has to go to bed."
"Thanks for calling".
Savanna got on the phone.
"Aunt Jeffer! I miss you. What are you and Jonathan doing?"
"We just finished dinner, lovebug. We miss you too, we miss all of you."
"Aunt Abby made mac and cheese, but it wasn't like yours. And her pasghetti didn't taste like yours either."
"Well, I'm sure she makes things her own way, lovebug. It's ok. How's McKenna?"
"Well, she screamed a lot today, and kept saying Batman, but other than that I guess she's alright."
"Good. Well, can you do me the biggest favor ever?!"
"Sure! What is it?"
"Can you give her a kiss from me and Jonathan, and give one to Luke also? And ask Aunt Abby to give you one from us".
"I will. Aunt Abby says I have to go now. I love you, Aunt Jeffer".
"I love you too, Lovebug".
She hung up the phone and looked at Jonathan.
"Abby said they are moving either to Los Angeles or Texas, for their residency. And then I offered for us to take the kids for awhile to get them settled. And she said no, and told me they were basically adopting them and changing their names and making them call her and Mike mom and dad and they are going to sell the house and start over fresh as a new family. Please, we have to get them. I got the feeling that she was trying to tell me without actually telling me that she wasn't going to let us see them again".
"I will call him tomorrow and we will get started on this right away".
He put an arm around her and tried to comfort her.
"It's going to be ok".
"Savanna said McKenna has been saying batman over and over and over today".
That made Jonathan chuckle.
"Darling, if we end up getting the kids, we are going to need a lot more space".
"I was just thinking that".
"And we are going to have to baby proof this one, and we are going to have to decorate the rooms, and figure out how to get their stuff out here, and where they will go to school, and-"
"Darling, darling. It's ok. We will figure it all out".
She nodded.
"Are you sure you're ok with this? I mean, they mean the world to me, but I know you weren't as close to them as I was".
"Darling, they mean a lot to me too. And even if they didn't, you mean every thing to me, and what's important to you is important to me, so I promise you, I'm fine with this".
She nodded.
They looked for another movie to watch, and had just selected it when Max came in.
"Hey you two".
"Hey Max, how was the poker game?"
"Broke even, but gave it up because the guy who was winning was getting on my nerves".
"How so?"
"Politics".
"I see. We stopped and got some chicken at Coastal Chicken, if you want some".
"Sure. Was it your first time eating at Coastal Chicken?"
"Yes".
"What did you think?"
"It was good, better than I expected".
"What did you expect?"
"A plain crust, not a tangy one. I like the tangy one".
"Max, you haven't had spaghetti till you've had Jennifer's. And her pancakes are out of this world".
"My pancakes are a mix, Jonathan".
"What do you put in your spaghetti?"
"Well, I brown the meat with some garlic. And then I add fresh crushed garlic to a jar of Prego sauce, mushrooms, and fresh herbs, plus a little bit of my secret ingredient".
"If your secret ingredient isn't Ricotta cheese, I'm not interested".
"It is, how did you guess?"
"That was my mother's trick. Makes the sauce creamy".
"Yes, mine too".
Jennifer snuggled up to Jonathan and covered her legs with the blanket.
"Are you cold? I can build us a fire".
"That would be lovely".
Jonathan got up and went and got some firewood and built them a fire.
He came back and settled on the couch next to her again.
"Well, I'm going to hit the hay. I'll see you two in the morning".
"We'll probably sleep in, so don't make us a big breakfast Max".
"Got it".
"Goodnight Max".
Jennifer stood up and kissed his cheek.
"Goodnight".
He took a few steps towards his room and then turned around.
He looked at Jennifer.
"Do you have any food allergies?"
"No. Only thing I don't eat is cooked corn or veal".
"I can work with that. Goodnight".
Jonathan got up and went and got a bottle of wine and two glasses and came back to the living room.
"Oh, great idea".
Jennifer got up and sat on the floor in front of the fire.
He moved to the floor next to her.
"Darling, why haven't you told Max that we are engaged yet?"
"I will, I promise. I didn't want to spring it all on him at once. But, you passed the test, so I promise, we can tell him".
"What test?"
"Jennifer, I don't want to upset you, but in the interest of being honest, I've had women spend the night with me before".
"Oh, that's ok. That doesn't upset me".
"Never with any of those other women, did he ask them if they had food allergies. It was just, this is what I'm making and you either like it or lump it. But he asked you, because he wants to make you happy".
"I see".
"Plus, if he didn't like you, he would come into the room after he left and asked to speak to me alone. He hasn't done that".
"I see. Well, he might when we bring the kids here".
Jonathan chuckled.
"Yeah, maybe. He's never been a baby person, but McKenna will win him over, I'm positive".
"I can just see him and Savanna bonding, too".
"Yeah, me too".
He moved to sit behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Darling, when is our stuff going to get here?"
"Two days, baby".
"Are you going to the office tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I am".
"Well, I guess I can do some unpacking, and some grocery shopping, and some other shopping".
"Darling, if you make a list of what you want, Max will go get it".
"I know that, but I can get stuff too".
She leaned back against him, and he started nuzzling her neck.
"It's going to be so hard to leave you tomorrow".
"Oh it is?"
"Yeah, it is. Now that we have time to ourselves, we are on an extended date night, basically, and I don't want it to end".
"I hadn't thought of it that way. And I don't want it to end, either".
She turned and kissed him, one long kiss after another. He ran his hand up her pajama shirt, and cupped her breast.
She had her arms around his shoulders.
"Want to get more comfortable?"
"Darling, we can't do that here, what if Max sees us?"
"Jennifer, he went to bed. He's not going to see us".
"It wouldn't be proper".
"Where's your sense of adventure?"
He started kissing her neck.
"I'm very adventurous…"
He kissed her again, and ran his fingers through her hair.
She got lost in his kiss, and neither of them were paying attention to anything else.
"Don't mind me, just getting some milk".
Max quickly walked through the room.
Jennifer sighed.
"Upstairs?"
"Yep".
He stood up and helped her up and she folded the blanket while he put the fire out.
They took the bottle of wine and their glasses upstairs.
His bedroom upstairs was a modern bachelor pad style bedroom.
He had a king-sized bed, with a gray bedspread and black sheets, and lots of pillows. The room had two walk in closets, plus a connecting bathroom with a shower stall and two sinks.
There was a large picture window, and he had put some black-out curtains on the window, and had a remote that would open them, close them, and raise/lower them.
There was a large TV across the room, that fit into a bookshelf perfectly.
She set her wineglass down on the nightstand and turned to him.
"You have such a lovely room, darling".
"We have a lovely room. As far as I'm concerned, starting now, what's mine is yours".
She leaned forward and kissed him, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He kissed her as he backed her up to the bed and then laid her down.
She was laughing and smiling at him.
He laid on top of her and started kissing her.
"Darling, is the door locked?"
"No, it's not".
She looked at him.
"I'll close it". He got up and closed the door.
"It wasn't even closed?1?"
"I forgot, I'm not used to having to do that here. Max will knock though, unless the house is on fire or something". He laid back down on the bed.
He started kissing her neck and squeezing her breasts.
She was scratching his back and kissing his forehead.
She reached down and squeezed his butt, causing him to moan against her neck.
"I love it when you do that".
"Me too".
She rolled him onto his back and straddled his waist.
He took her pajama top off her, and she threw it on the floor.
She pulled his pajama pants off him, and he started peeling her panties off her.
He reached over and grabbed a condom out of his nightstand, and put it on while she was kissing his chest and neck.
"Ready, darling?"
"Oh yes".
She lowered herself onto him and locked her legs around his.
She tilted her pelvis to make him more comfortable, and then started rocking her hips in a slow, forward motion.
They found a natural rhythm, and a few minutes later, she gave him the best orgasm he had ever had, with any woman, ever.
He carefully rolled them till she was on her back, and he was laying over her.
He leaned down and put her breast in his mouth, and continued to stroke her till she went over the edge, clinging to him.
He kissed her softly as they calmed down. He kissed her for a few minutes and then whispered "be right back" in her ear.
She heard him go into the bathroom. By the time he came out, she had her pajama top on again, and was under the covers.
He came to bed and put on his pajama pants and then climbed in bed.
She scooted closer to him as he set the alarm the next day.
"I love you, honey".
"I love you too".
He kissed her a few times before they fell asleep.
***The next morning***
Jennifer got up and had breakfast with him before he left.
"I'll be home around 5. Make yourself at home, and Max can help you with whatever you need".
"I love you, have a good day".
"I love you too, I'll see you tonight".
A few kisses later, he was on his way to work and she was upstairs getting completely unpacked and settled.
She came downstairs again around lunchtime.
Max had left a note.
"Headed to the track. Dinner is in the refrigerator. Instructions on top. Keys to the other car are on the hook. See you two late tonight-Max".
Jennifer ran upstairs and grabbed her purse and came down and found the keys. She decided to do some exploring.
She found her way to the grocery store, and then found a shopping center, and bought Jonathan's birthday present.
She found a sandwich wrap place and picked up some lunch and headed back home.
She was about 5 blocks from the townhouse, sitting at a stop light when the car started smoking. She started to cry really hard.
She pulled over into the parking lot of the gas station right next to where she was and turned the car off. She quickly got everything out of it and the gas station attendant put the flames out before it exploded or caused too much damage.
She grabbed the car phone and called Jonathan at the office.
"Hello?"
"Honey, I-was-driving-and-smoke-and-now-I'm-stuck-and"
"Calm down. It's going to be alright, it's ok. Whatever it is, it's ok".
She took a few deep breaths and sniffled a few times.
"I said I was driving home and the car started smoking and I pulled over and now I'm stuck because I can't drive it".
Her voice was more normal and not as high pitched in the sonic range as before.
"Ok, where are you? Can you call Max?"
"He left a note that he was heading to the track and would see us tonight. I am at a Conoco station on West Alameda."
"Ok, you are only about 5 blocks from the house. I will come there and pick you up and arrange for a tow truck. It's going to be ok".
"I'm sorry, darling. I can walk home, you're busy".
"No, don't do that. I'm wrapping up and I'll be right there. I love you".
"I love you too".
She hung up the phone and sat there waiting on him.
About 15 minutes later, he pulled up next to her.
He had a shocked look on his face.
"You didn't tell me it was the Bentley".
"I didn't know it was a multiple choice question".
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you".
She started loading her bags into his car while he was looking at the damage under the hood.
She handed him the keys to the Bentley and he pulled her into a hug.
"I'm so glad you're ok".
"Darling, I'm fine. I was just scared you were upset with me".
"Well, even if I was, which I wasn't, you being ok outweighs that. Come here, let me show you something".
He took her hand and walked her to the front of the car and pointed something out to her.
"Do you see how this part is all pitch black?"
"Yes, I see that".
She was starting to get upset again.
"No, I'm not mad. That's not why I'm showing you".
He pointed to another part of the car under the hood.
"Do you see how this part isn't completely black?"
"Yeah, I see that."
"There's only about half an inch between those two places, and the place that isn't completely dark is the place where the gas goes into the engine. If the flames had gotten to that point, you might not be here right now".
She hugged him and rubbed his back some.
"I'm ok, I'm just shaken up is all".
He called for a tow-truck, and ran her home, and then came back to wait for the truck to get there.
About an hour later, he arrived back at the townhouse.
"Darling?"
"In here".
She was in the kitchen getting their dinner out of the fridge.
"Hi."
"Hi".
He came over and wrapped her up in a hug.
"I'm sorry I snapped at you and I want you to know that it wasn't your fault".
"It's ok. I just want you to know that Max left the note that he was gone to the track. And he said the keys to the other car were on the hook, and I grabbed them, and headed to the car, but I swear I didn't look at what kind of car it was. If I had known it was so expensive, I would have not driven it."
"Jennifer, I meant what I said last night, what's mine is yours. It's ok, you can drive it".
He gave her a few kisses.
"Now tell me, what were you doing when it started?"
"Sitting at a stop light".
"That's it?"
"Yep. I saw the smoke first and then the flames and then the light turned green, so I pulled into the gas station and the attendant came out and did the fire extinguisher."
"Ok. So, it was probably some kind of malfunction".
"I have no idea. Can it be fixed?"
"We'll find out when the mechanic calls me and lets me know".
He let go of her and grabbed a beer out of the fridge. She picked up her wine glass and clinked his bottle with her glass.
"What did Max leave us for dinner?"
"Primavera stuffed chicken. We have to let it sit out about ½ an hour and then bake it. And I made some sides to go with it".
"Wonderful".
She set a timer and they went to the living room.
He turned the news on and started giving her a foot rub.
"Darling, what's your favorite thing to do here in the city?"
"I don't know".
"What I mean is, if you could spend a day doing absolutely anything you wanted, how would you spend it?"
"Well, it would have to be at the beach. In the summer, and I would be sailing out onto the water till all I heard was the sound of the waves. And I would anchor the boat and take a nap out there and just totally relax. Do some fishing, and then I would come back home and go have dinner at a really good restaurant up the coast".
"Ok. So, what if it wasn't summer?"
"Well, I don't know then. This is my busy time at work, so I'm hardly ever able to take off for a whole day".
"I see".
Just then, the phone rang.
Jonathan answered it and then after a short conversation, hung up.
"Well?"
"That was the mechanic. It's not good".