| Just then Taylor and Lacey came back in. Taylor from his mother to me questioningly. He opened his mouth to say something and my hand went to my locket again. He closed his mouth and put his arm around me. I smiled up at him and turned to finish the job his mother had given me to do. I glanced sideways and noticed Lacey and Diana exchanging a knowing smile. I sighed to myself. |
| Dinner was an event, to say the least. There was alot of joking around and laughing. Zac kept the little kids, and the rest of us, amused with his usual anitcs. Jessica had alot of questions for me about gymnastics and tumbling, she asked them non-stop. "Tell you what sweetie. My leg will be better in a couple of days. Well enough to show you a few easy tumbles, if you want. I'd be right there to make sure you don't hurt yourself and if you really like the lessons we'll go from there? Okay? But make sure it's okay with your mom.." I told her. "REALLY?" she asked, eyes wide and turned to her mother, "Can she? Please?" Diana nodded, "As long as Jess is there to help you, I don't see why not." "Cool.." she looked so excited I had to smile. "They are easy for me , Jessie...you'll still have to work a little." I warned. "That's okay. I will.." she was beaming. I chuckled and looked at Taylor who was frowning. "Jess..Jake said you shouldn't use your leg except to walk.." he began. "Tay," I laid my hand on his arm, "I don't HAVE to use my leg to teach her..it will be fine." I told him. "Don't worry." |
| I grabbed Taylor's hand under the table and gave it a squeeze, and smiled at him to reassure him. I thought it was sweet that he was more concerned about my leg than I was, but I hoped he would realize that, after tomorrow, I would not have any problems with it, except maybe being stiff in the morning. Jessica was so excited about the mini lessons, I would hate to let her down. I turned to the other younger ones, "Anybody else want lessons?" I asked with a smile. "Yeah.." was the resounding chorus from all of them. I giggled. "Ok, then you guys. Just give me a day or two to get..unstiff?..I guess that's a good word, then we will get started." I told them. Diana was smiling and so was Taylor. The smile on Taylor's face could take my breath away in an instant. He laced his fingers through mine as we sat and listened to the conversations going on at the table. I was thinking to myself how nice it would have been to share experiences like this with Jake. It must have shown on my face that I was deep in thought, because Tay gave my hand a squeeze and gave me a questioning look. I smiled another reassurance at him and gave my head a slight shake, as if to say, "nothing.." and continued taking in all the activity. Diana and Lacey and the girls had started clearing the table, I tried to offer to help but Taylor and Diana were insistent, "Too much traffic in here," Diana said, "They'll run over you.." she grinned. I had to grin. watching all the people coming and going from the kitchen to the dining room was dizzying. Tay got up to help his mother in the kitchen and Zac came and sat next to me while his father and Ike rounded up little kids to get ready for bed. I noticed that Jessica was a big help with her younger siblings, and all seemed to get along really well, barring normal, minor tiffs that would be expected. Zac, of course, was trying to be entertaining. "Zac! Are you EVER serious, man?" I asked, laughing after another joke that wouldn't have worked for anyone else, but coming from him..well..that was a different story. "Hey.I can be serious.." he said, in mock-dismay. "Whaddaya think I am?" "A goofball.." I teased. |
| "seroiusly, Jess... I know with all the stuff that's happened in the last couple days, It just seems like I should be trying to cheer you up.." he shook his head. I reached my hand out and squeezed his shoulder. "Zac, I am just fine with everything that has happened. I'd like to just forget the ugly things that have happened and concentrate on the fact that things are good NOW..Ok? Don't feel like you have to entertain me, although I'll probably have a stomach ache in the morning from laughing so much...we're buds, right?" I smiled. He grinned back and launched into another joke. I rolled my eyes but again, I couldn't help laughing. Taylor came back into the room then and sat next to me, smiling. "And what is so funny?" he asked, as I was wiping my eyes. "You are going to have to buy Zac a copy of the WORLD'S WORST JOKES VOLUME 2 ," I giggled, "he just used up all of volume one, Oh my god, they were bad. But for some reason they work when he tells 'em." I shook my head and tried to regain my composure. Taylor grinned at me. "Zac's just happy to have a new audience for all his goofy jokes, ones that WE have heard a million times, Jess. He never runs out either.." Tay warned me. I threw my hands up. "Ok I give up! No more Zac my tummy is starting to hurt." Zac grinned at me and got up from the table as Diana, Walker, Lacey and Ike came back in and sat down. We sat there for a long time just talking, until I felt a need to stretch and felt the muscle in my leg pull. I shifted in my chair, trying not to wince. Tay's hand went under the table and to my knee, rubbing gently. |
| Taylor turned to his mother, "I think Jess needs to stretch her leg and some more of those pain pills, mom. Where are they?" he asked. "They're in the medicine cabinet, Tay, in our bathroom. But don't you think you should ASK HER, first? She hasn't said a word." Diana answered him. Taylor opened his mouth to say something but couldn't. He looked at me a long moment. "It IS sore, isn't it... I mean.." he stammered, unable to finish. I smiled. "Yes, Tay, it is. And yes I would like another heavy duty whatever that was that worked so well you gave me earlier, please. I don't know what it is, but you always seem to know what I am going to say before I even say it." I shook my head. "I'll be right back, Jess." he said and went to get the medicine. I shifted my weight in my chair again. Lacey and Ike went into the other room, where we could hear Zac yelling at whatever video game he was playing. Walker went to put the little kids down, leaving me with Diana alone in the dining room. She chuckled and shook her head at me. "What?" I asked, smiling, but confused. |