Chapter Two-Hundred-Sixty-Two
When Elenore and Chris found Brian he was sitting in the living room with Riley in his lap. Their foreheads were touching and they were talking quietly amongst themselves.
“Brian?” Chris asked nervously.
“Yeah buddy?” Brian asked, looking at his newest son curiously.
“Ellie and I want to ask you a favor.” Brian grinned.
“Okay, what’s up?” he asked, as Kevin looked away from his papers and at them as did Jerald and Harry.
“We want to play matchmaker with Josh and Kota…but we can’t do it by ourselves, we need help.” Jerry chuckled.
“What’d you two have in mind?” he asked amusedly. Elenore beamed and spoke up this time.
“A Beauty An’ The Beast mock dinner,” She answered. Kevin laughed at this, as he can just see in Elenore’s mind how she wants everything to go. He knows her and how her mind works – it’ll have to be just exactly like the movie – in detail.
“That’s really cute,” Riley smirked. “And it fits Kota and Josh very well. They didn’t start out so great…Josh was like ‘The Beast’ to her, and now look at them.”
“Yes, an’ it would be so romantic!” Elenore gushed again and Chris grimaced. He’s not used to being around girls so much. “Can we do it Kevy, please? ” Kevin thought this through for a few moments, and then he looked at Brian.
“Can we pull it off Bri? You know Ellie is going to want it to be exactly right. Just like the movie and all.”
“Sure we can,” Brian grinned excitedly, ready for another big surprise. “We can pull it off. We’ll just need to find the right place to do it at – a place with the staircase and the big ballroom dance floor.”
“What we need is Ashley. This is her area of expertise.”
“She and Denise can take Dakota to the mall and buy her a really nice Belle gown – not a Halloween one, a nice one.”
“And do her hair up all nice just exactly like Belle’s,” Riley added, smiling a little. Elenore frowned some, as she just remembered something.
“Kota’s hair is blonde, though.”
“Honey, there’s not much we can do about that. I don’t think Nick would allow us to dye her hair brown” Harry explained, chuckling a little. Elenore sighed.
“A wig?”
“I think we’ll just have to have a blonde Belle, sweetheart” Kevin replied. “I know you want it exactly like the movie and we’ll try, but like it or not Kota is blonde.” Brian got up from his spot then and set Riley so her feet were on the ground and he gathered Elenore and Chris up into his arms and carried them toward the door.
“Come on munchkins, lets go have a word with our romance expert who is just down the hall,” he told them, and Kevin, Jerald, Harry, and Riley followed. When they got there they found the door all the way open so they just walked right in and found Nick, Ashley, Denise, AJ, and Marcus sitting in the living room.
“Hey guys – and girls, what brings you in here?” Nick asked curiously.
“Ashley, our romance expert” Brian answered, and Ashley raised her eyebrow.
“Oh yeah?” she asked.
“Yup. Where is Kota, she isn’t in here is she?”
“Nope. Her and Josh are back in AJ’s room with Howie. They’re playing with Play Dough with Ryan and Laila. Sarah is here though; she’s in her room. Why?” Just as Ashley spoke, Sarah suddenly came venturing out of her room with her teddy bear.
“Because we have two young matchmakers here, who would like to get their two best friends together,” Brian explained while smiling at Ashley causing her to smile back in amusement.
“Well that sounds like fun. Sit down…tell me what you have in mind.” Brian set the kids down then.
“We wants to bring Beauty and the Beast to life,” Chris explained and not just Ashley, but Nick, AJ, and Denise now looked intrigued. “Kota and Josh’s story has Beauty and The Beast written all over it. Josh started out as the Beast in the beginning and Kota was and still is a beauty – especially in Josh’s eyes. But after time…he became good again – too good if you want my opinion. The beast turned into a prince. So we want to bring that scene to life – the dinner scene when they danced and stuff. But we need a staircase and dance floor just like in the movie.”
“Awww…” Ashley gushed, her heart melting at their idea. “That sounds sooo perfect. Kota will cry tears of joy when she hears she gets to be a princess for the day. We definitely have to do it.”
“But where?” Brian asked curiously. “And when?” Ashley considered his questions for a few moments.
“We could do it at the Orphanage sometime after we get back.”
“The Orphanage doesn’t have the right stairs,” Elenore pointed out. Kevin rolled his eyes grinning.
“I should tell you, she’s very big into having this done in exact detail – like the movie.”
“Yeah she tried to tell us that we should dye Kota’s hair brown just like Belle’s hair,” Jerald added. Ashley giggled at the horrified look on Nick’s face and she leaned forward and gently took Elenore’s hands in hers. She already suspected as much.
“I agree, it should be in exact detail” she told her. “I don’t know about Kota’s hair being brown, I don’t think that’s going to work out. But I will make sure we have the stairs just exactly like the movie.” Elenore beamed triumphantly.
“How?” Nick asked, raising his eyebrow. “Before you make that promise, tell us how you plan on doing that.”
“We could put on a play for the little kids in the Orphanage,” Ashley grinned. “With props and stuff. We’ll build the stairs…somehow.”
“That’s going to take a lot of time,” Brian pointed out.
“I know, but it could be fun. If we had a bunch of people to help us out…Brandon…”
“I like the idea,” Jerald replied, taking on the challenge. “Bri, you live for these kind of projects.”
“I know, it sounds really fun, and the kids have their heart set on it but I just want to make sure we’re going to have the time. Cause keep in mind, I already have another project going in the auditorium.”
“Yes, and we’re all curious on what that is” Nick pointed out, raising his eyebrow suggestively.
“I just thought a play would be the best way to do it. We can satisfy Ellie and Chris’s need to hint to Kota and Josh that they’re meant to be together, and it also satisfies the parents who are very sensitive about their kids growing up so fast. It wouldn’t be so…grownup that way” Ashley explained. She looked at Nick, who looked extremely shocked that she had picked up on his fear. He thought he was putting on a real show of being supportive of the idea because Ellie and Chris have their heart set on it. Maybe she just knows him too well. She took his hand into his and gently squeezed it.
“I think we can find a way to share the auditorium,” Brian replied. “I just need a small portion of the stage. When are we planning on this performance taking place?”
“Well, just our kids alone are not enough to take on the whole cast, so we’re going to have to run auditions for parts. And then we have to do the props, and practice. So we’re looking at after the holidays,” Jerald replied.
“Kay, well mine and Sarah’s project,” Brian replied, being sure to include his assistant in on the credit, and he gently pulled her into his lap and hugged her causing her to smile some. “Takes place during Christmas, no later then that because it’s a Christmas thing.”
“All right, so until Christmas is over…maybe you should have the stage three days a week, and The Beauty and The Beast crew can have it two days a week,” Kevin pointed out.
“We’ll take the stage Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays, and the Beauty & The Beast crew can have it Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It’s more even that way.”
“Okay, it’s settled then” Ashley replied, and she looked at Elenore.
“Is that okay? Can it be a play Ellie?” Elenore nodded enthusiastically.
“Is there a particular part that you want before we start involving other kids in the orphanage?”
“Cogsworth or Lumiere,” Elenore insisted.
“We’ll, I think she should audition like everybody else – just to be fair. I don’t want any of the kids to think they’re getting special treatment” Kevin replied.
“Joshy and Kota have to get Belle and The Beast though or it would ruin the whole point” Chris pointed out.
“I know, but they have to go through the audition just like everybody else. I can just see lots of kids getting upset over this.”
“But they will gets the parts right?” Elenore asked, looking to Ashley.
“Let the other kids see that they’re going through the audition like everybody else,” Ashley replied. “Okay?”
“They’ll makes it,” Elenore insisted confidently. “Everybody knows Joshy has the temper for it – an’ after Joshy gets the part, everybody will see that it’s only natural that Kota is his Belle.”
“Belle and The Beast have a lot of singing. Can Josh and Kota even sing?” Denise spoke up.
“I have no idea,” Nick shrugged, looking mighty curious now. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard my daughter sing before – except silly tunes with Ellie on the road.”
“Josh can sing exceptionally well. He could use some work if he wants to sing in the play, but it’s nothing I can’t help him with” Brian replied.
“When have you heard Josh sing?” Nick asked, looking to his best friend with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh you know, in the shower…and stuff…” Brian replied, fearing he had just said too much.
“Joshy sings in the shower?” Elenore asked, biting Brian’s bait easily.
“Oh yes, all the time. I just caught him singing drowning the other day.” Elenore giggled.
“I thinks Ryan should be Gaston,” she pointed out. Ashley giggled.
“You think so huh?”
“Mhm.”
“He’s not that bad you know,” she replied deciding to defend him. Elenore looked at Ashley as if she has three heads.
“Yes huh. He’s a meanie head.”
“He has his problems just like the rest of us,” was all Ashley said and she gently squeezed Elenore’s hand before looking at Nick. “Nick we need to take Kota shopping for a Belle gown. She has to have the nice one, not a Halloween costume.”
“Now? I thought we decided she was going through the audition first.”
“They don’t have to know we already bought her a dress…we’re just making her go through the audition so no one will get their feelings hurt. We just wont take the dress out until everybody else gets their costumes.”
“You can’t wait until she goes through the auditions?” Nick questioned.
“Do you know how excited I am about taking her dress shopping?” Ashley asked eagerly and he chuckled.
“Oh believe me, I hear ya on that one seeing as how I haven’t been able to get her in a dress since she was Laila’s age.”
“This is actually the perfect place for her to look too. New York…home of Broadway,” Kevin pointed out.
“Well you know about that stuff more then I do, so why don’t you go do that with your mother? I will give you the money since it’s my kid you’re doing this for.” Ashley looked at Denise then.
“Will you come with me?”
“Of course. You’re the reason I am here after all.”
“Nevermind me,” AJ replied, playfully rolling his eyes. Denise looked at him and blinked.
“Who are you again?” she teased and AJ scoffed.
“That aint right,” he insisted and Denise laughed and reached over, gently placed her hand at the back of his head and he pulled him forward and planted a kiss on his forehead.
“Don’t be jealous, you know you’re my little Alex,” she told him, and this made his bandmates snicker and AJ blush a crimson red. “I think we should invite Kori to come a long too,” Denise added, and she turned to look back at Ashley as she rubbed her hand over AJ’s back.
“Okay, I will go get Kota, you go invite Kori. She’ll just think I’m intruding on her and Wiley again,” Ashley insisted and Denise laughed.
“Okay,” she replied and the two of them got up. She handed Bella over to Nick then and she left the room headed for Kori’s while Ashley and Nick went down the hall to AJ’s with AJ following them. Jerald and Harry – as well as Brian, Riley, and Kevin took Elenore, Sarah, and Chris back to theirs to make plans. Sarah hoping that by helping everybody with this, Kota will see that she is not at all interested in stealing Josh away from her. When Ashley and Nick got into AJ and Howie’s room, they found Howie sitting at the table with the kids and they’re playing with play dough. They looked at Ashley, Nick, and Aj curiously as they all walked in though.
“Hi daddy, hi Ashee looks at my play dough house,” Dakota spoke up, beaming proudly at her masterpiece.
“Wow baby that’s really neat,” Nick replied as he went over and kissed the top of her head.
“Yeah sweetie, very cool” Ashley agreed. “But I need you to wash your hands and clean up now because I’m taking you shopping. Okay?” Dakota gaped at her, feeling both shocked and excited at this announcement. She tilted her head to the side a little bit, the kind of gesture Abbie would do if someone were talking to her as if she were actually going to reply.
“Just the two of us?” she questioned.
“And Denise. Maybe Marcus also.”
“Buts no Sarah or Bella?”
“Nope, just you.”
“So like Ashley said, we really need you to get cleaned up,” Nick spoke up and he gently gathered her into his arms and carried her to the sink and he helped her wash her hands. When he finished he turned around and handed her to Ashley. Ashley who is getting very good at being temporarily handicapped shifted Dakota so she is rested against her hip and Dakota beamed and wrapped her arms around her neck.
“Bye Joshy, see ya laters. I’m going shopping!” she announced cheerfully.
“Bye,” he replied amusedly and Ashley kissed her forehead softly and turned and headed for the door when Brian walked in.
“Hey Josh…we need you back in our room,” he announced as he watched Nick and Ashley leave the room and Howie cast him a curious look. Everybody looks like they’re on a mission. What did he miss? AJ hung back with Bella and filled Howie in and Nick and Ashley met Dense in the hallway with Kori who has an amused look on her face. Nick slid his arms around Ashley’s waist and pulled her near and he brushed his lips lightly over hers.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
“I’m positive. This is a girls thing and I’m afraid I might get teary-eyed upon seeing her in such a dress so I think it would be safe for me to stay here.” Ashley giggled a little.
“You’ll be okay honey, it’s all just make believe. Something the kids have their hearts set on. I purposely made it like this so it wouldn’t seem so grownup for you.”
“I know and I love you so much for that. But it’s not every day that you get to see your little girl’s dream of being a princess come to life.” Dakota who still sat resting on Ashley’s hip looked back and fourth at her set of ‘parents’ as they talked about her as if she wasn’t even there, trying to figure out what in the world they’re talking about. All she knows is, she’s all for being a princess – she likes that bit of the conversation very much.
“We better get going if we want to finish shopping tonight, and meet the boys at the arena for sound check,” Denise spoke up. Nick kissed Ashley one last time and when he pulled away he looked at Marcus who was standing there waiting patiently. Nick can already tell that AJ had given him the ‘protect her with your life’ speech, because he is looking rather dutiful. He didn’t need the speech though, because after this morning he’s remained within calling distance of her the whole day. All she had to do was look around the corner, and miraculously…he would be there. He isn’t about to leave her and AJ and Nick were both informed of the situation that had happened. Since Marcus already threatened to beat Lou to a pulp if he ever sees her that frightened again, all AJ did was give him dirty looks from the moment he woke up to the time he got off the bus. He made sure he was in every room as him and couldn’t escape it too. His mission was to make him feel just as uncomfortable as Ashley felt, and it worked.
“You’ll watch Bells for me?” Ashley double-checked.
“No, I thought I would just lay her in her crib and watch football all afternoon while she cries,” Nick teased. Ashley narrowed her eyes.
“Very funny,” she replied moving closer to him while looking up at him and he chuckled before planting a kiss on her forehead.
“Of course I’ll watch her. Don’t worry about a thing,” he promised and she pulled away feeling reassured and he handed her enough money to buy Kota an entire new wardrobe if she wanted to. She looked at everybody else finally ready to go and they turned and headed for the stairs and she followed, still holding Dakota who is curious now on just exactly what they’re going shopping for. When they made it to just the edge of the stairs they noticed the lobby just swarming with young teenagers and outside was pretty much just the same.
“Oh boy…” Kori gulped and she grabbed hold of Ashley’s hand, the most attractive one out of them all, who has the second most attractive person in her arms. The fans know Denise too, but she can take care of herself.
“It’s all right…play it cool,” Marcus spoke up. “I called our limo driver, he’ll be here shortly. I think we’ll be okay…there aren’t nearly as much fans as usual if they were planning on mobbing anyone. I think they’re just hoping to catch a glimpse of the Backstreet Boys – or any other artist performing tomorrow night for that matter.”
“Ashley is Nick’s girlfriend she’s still bound to cause attention to herself. What if they approach her?”
“Then I will talk to them,” Ashley shrugged, and Kori looked at her skeptically. “They’re just fans…I was one myself. Trust me, I know how to handle them.”
“It can’t hurt any. They won’t try anything so long as I’m here – they know better,” Marcus replied.
“Okay…” Kori replied, still feeling skeptical but she squeezed Ashley’s hand gently and pulled her down from the stairs and the two sisters began to casually walk toward the door, Marcus and Denise right behind them. They made it halfway to the door thinking they were going to make it home free, when suddenly a squeal broke out.
“ASHLEY! LOOK IT’S ASHLEY AND HER SISTER!” squealed a young girl just about Ashley’s age and Kori looked surprised that they know who she is – even if she was addressed as ‘Ashley’s sister’, they still know her. That girl and the three that were at her side came running over excitedly and Marcus gently placed his hand at the small of her back protectively. When they reached her, Ashley smiled politely and put on a brave face. She acted so brave when she said it was no big deal to talk to them, but as soon as she began to walk through the lobby, the anxiety took over her inside. She’s never spoken to the fans before, and that suddenly dawned on her. But when they arrived, they didn’t seem so bad. They’re smiling at her at least. That’s a good start.
“Hi Ashley!” they chorused, and she could feel eyes all around, other fans watching in a mixture of curiosity and shock. Probably wondering just exactly how Ashley is going to handle a fan encounter, and feeling surprised that someone was actually brave enough to approach her. They’re all well informed with her situation, she’s sure. Perhaps they think that she is so fragile that if they approach her, she’ll have a nervous breakdown. But it’s not going to happen. She’ll show them she can be strong. She’ll even show them how respective of them she is. How supportive of Nick she is and that she deserves respect in return. She’ll show them.
“Hello ladies…how are you three this afternoon?” she asked warmly, and the three girls looked slightly taken aback, all of them surprised at how kind and relaxed she sounds. They are so used to Nick’s girlfriends from the past, that they expected her to have an attitude and to be intimidating.
“We’re good, just hanging out…chillin’,” the girl who had screamed answered.
“Yeah? Have you spotted any cool celebrities at all?” Ashley asked interestedly, smiling at them some.
“No not yet, just you so far.” Ashley blushed and laughed a little.
“Well keep a look out…I hear Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy is supposed to be here,” she told them all, winking some.
“Oh my god…he is sooo hot,” one girl gushed, and the other one nodded in agreement.
“Yes he is, I have to agree” Ashley giggled. “So what are your names?”
“I’m Janet,” the brunette girl who had spotted her earlier answered and she looked at her two friends.
“Carrie.”
Natasha.”
“It’s nice to meet the three of you. This is my sister Kori…and you know Kota, Marcus, and Denise” Ashley replied introducing her group of protectors and shopping buddies.
“Hi,” the girls chorused, and Dakota waved, but otherwise pressed herself more into Ashley shyly, and she rested her head against her shoulder earning a chorus of ‘awes’ and Ashley laughed.
“Oh no way, is Miss Dakota actually being shy?” she teased.
“She’s so cute,” Natasha insisted, and Ashley smiled down at Dakota proudly.
“Yes she is, I adore her so much” Ashley replied, hugging Dakota close to her.
“Where are you all headed to?” Carrie asked curiously.
“Shopping,” Ashley answered. “I’m just going out to spend some quality time with my mom, Kori, and Dakota during our free time.”
“Nice,” Kori replied and Ashley nodded.
“Speaking of which, we only have a short time today, so Ashley really needs to go now” Marcus spoke up gently, as he noticed their ride pull up.
“All right, bye have fun shopping” Janet replied.
“We will, thanks” Ashley smiled. “If you happen to see Pete, be sure to go all teenybopper on him and give him lots of hugs…tell him Ashley said to do it, he’ll know who you’re talking about.” Janet, Carrie, and Natasha all laughed.
“Okay we will,” Natasha replied, and they each took turns hugging Ashley. When they pulled away Marcus gently pulled her along toward the door. Just as she walked out the door she smiled some as she heard Carrie say quietly to the other girls “She is really, really sweet. Nick did really well this time.” When Marcus, Denise, Kori, and Ashley were all in the limo with the door shut and were driving away, Marcus looked at Ashley smiling some.
“Well, you’ve earned the respect of three fans, it’ll be no time before it’s spread around fan nation. Good job kid.” Ashley blushed some.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Meanwhile in Kevin and Brian’s penthouse, everybody was sitting around discussing further plans for the evening. How they have sound check and then Brian and Riley’s plans for the evening afterwards. They plan on leaving Josh and Chris with Harry and Brian is going to take her out for dinner and to run around the city together. Brian was very vague on just exactly what they were going to do out in the city to the guys, and Riley but he made it very clear that they’re going to be out real late and will definitely be wanting to sleep in. While they were talking, Josh and Chris were on the other side of the room playing video games, Sarah was sitting in Nick’s lap, Laila was asleep snuggled on the floor against her big teddy bear, and Ryan – of course, was reading. Elenore sat quietly playing with her puppy by herself. She was throwing the ball and he was going after it and bringing it back. After a few moments of playing, she accidentally threw the ball too hard, and it went right out the open door and down the hall.
“Oops…” she muttered, silently cursing herself. She should know better not to throw it that hard but sometimes she doesn’t know her own strength. She watched her little puppy dart out the door after it and waited patiently, hoping he would come back. After a few moments when he didn’t, she sighed and got up. She glanced at the grownups. They can’t really be mad if she just goes right out the door to get her ball…and puppy…could they? After a few moments of thinking about it, she decided to take her chances. He is just right outside the door she can hear him playing with the ball. She rushed to the door and stepped out into the hall to find Lou sitting in the hall petting Lil’ Rok. It is Lou he is playing with. She froze.
“That’s my puppy,” she informed nervously.
“Oh yeah?” he asked calmly, and Elenore nodded matter of factly.
“Maybe you shouldn’t be throwing balls into other people’s rooms then…he just might get lost,” he informed her, holding up a ball so she could see, and indicating toward his open door behind him. “He ran right in there.”
“It was an accident. I’m sorry.”
“Well, accidents like that could cause you to get into trouble. What would Kevin think of you throwing things into other people’s rooms?” Elenore looked down, ashamed.
“I’m sorry. Please don’ts tell him. Please.” Lou looked at her for a few moments as she stood there in her pink tanktop and black shorts, and he eyed her legs longingly.
“I might be able to keep it a secret.”
“Really?” she asked hopefully.
“Really. Why don’t you come into my room and have cookies and milk with me? I just made them fresh out of the oven,” he told her. And sure enough, she could smell them.
“An’ you won’ts tell on me?”
“We’ll work something out…”
“I’ll gets in trouble if I leaves the room,” she insisted, as she stood so her one ankle was just inside the doorway.
“No you won’t, you’ll be with me. A grown adult…you’ll be safe.” Elenore looked at him skeptically, tilting her head to the side.
“I don’ts know…”
“Aw come on. Warm chocolate chip cookies…all for you.” Just the smell of the cookies made Elenore’s mouth water. She looked down at her one foot, which was just inside the door. If she moved it, she would be out of bounds. She promised Kevin she wouldn’t run off alone. She promised him. But she isn’t alone. Not really…she has Lou. Just then Tyke began barking inside the room. It was his danger bark, so naturally everyone looked.
“Tyke? What is it boy?” Kevin asked. Tyke ignored Brian and he went over and stood by Elenore’s foot and he looked at Lou and started growling. Everyone looked over there and Kevin groaned and got up. He walked to the door, gently placed a hand on Elenore’s shoulder and looked at Lou.
“Hey Lou…what’s up?” he asked, and upon hearing this AJ joined him.
“This little one accidentally threw her ball into my room and the puppy ran in after it. I was just returning it,” he answered innocently. Elenore gave him a dark look for tattling.
“It was an’ accident Kevy, please don’t get mad,” she pleaded her eyes watering up. “I didnts even leave the room – I knows better Kevy. I was a good girl.”
“I know it was an accident baby, it’s okay” Kevin replied, and he gently gathered her up in his arms and looked at her concerned. Why would she think he’d get mad? Why is she so frightened all of the sudden? AJ narrowed his eyes at Lou suspiciously.
“Why was your door opened in the first place, Louie? Huh?”
“Why was yours?”
“Because people have been in and out of it all day. What’s your excuse?”
“I was waiting for room service. I ordered some more towels.” AJ stared at him for a few moments.
“Making cookies in there?”
“Is there a law against that?”
“I’m onto you Pearlman,” was all AJ said. Lou shrugged.
“Well, okay, but I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Yet. Ellie…what were you and Lou talking about?”
“He saids to take care of my puppy…because I could really lose him some day.”
“Anything else?”
“He offered me cookies.” AJ looked at Lou, again narrowing eyes.
“Oh really?”
“Is there something wrong with being nice and offering a kid a cookie?”
“It depends on your intentions behind it. And your intentions are never good.”
“You’re making a big deal over nothing. I was just trying to be nice! I’m a jerk and you bitch at me. I be nice, and you still bitch at me. I can’t make you happy can I?”
“Oh don’t give me that pitty bullshit,” AJ snapped, rolling his eyes.
“AJ,” Kevin spoke up.
“Kevin, you know what he was trying to do!”
“You don’t know that. He could’ve been trying to be nice. You want to get him in trouble so bad that you’re jumping down his throat over every little thing. Calm down.”
“OH I don’t believe this,” AJ replied, glaring at Kevin and he turned and went back in the room and he sat down beside Nick and slid his arms around his shoulders, glaring at the back of Kevin’s head. Kevin sighed.
“I’m sorry Lou…” he apologized. “But please keep your door shut in the future if you don’t want any balls and puppies to come flying in. Thank you for trying to be nice.”
“No problem,” Lou replied. “Are you sure you don’t want any cookies Ellie?”
“Ellie say no. I’ll make you cookies myself,” AJ spoke up from the couch.
“AJ I’m sure there’s nothing—“ Kevin began.
“NO Kevin,” AJ snapped, raising his voice and he got up again.
“You may have your head so far up his ass that you can’t see what he’s trying to do, but I know better. Your kid or not I will not let you give her any of Lou’s cookies,” he informed, and he went over and gently grabbed Elenore from him, hugged her close and kissed her forehead softly.
“Come on Ellie. We’ll go make our own cookies,” he told her, before grabbing Kevin by the arm, pulling him out of the door and slamming the door in Lou’s face and he carried Elenore off toward the kitchen, leaving Kevin seething behind him.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
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