Head Start

Pete was glad that Nikki's mother enjoyed having him around. He wasn't sure why Carol liked him, but it made him feel good if he could get her to smile or laugh and... maybe down deeper he knew that perhaps Carol was the only other person besides himself who had thought about his role in the future, as far as her daughter was concerned.

Nodding slowly, it pained him to know that Carol didn't have much time left. Nikki loved her so, and to see her hurting hurt him even more. But... that's what life and death were about. He knew that Nikki hoped to keep her mother at home for as long as possible, and in a way, Pete hoped that when the time came, Carol would go quickly so she wouldn't have to suffer long in a hospital. 

"I suppose in a way, I'm jealous," Pete admits. He gives Nikki a soft smile. "She's gonna get to meet Jesus before me." 

Still smiling, he pulls Nikki close for a hug and kisses the top of her head. "I'm here," he assures. "No matter what you need... you just call on me." 

"Next Tuesday..." Ariel shrugs and sets her book aside as Slinky jumps up into her lap. 

"Make it five instead of four and I can do that, and... do you like Chinese?" 

Jason laughs and swallows his bite of food. Misty had just found out she was pregnant and already wanted to get everything ready. Maybe it was good though, that she had something like this to focus on.

Grinning, he shrugs. "You could always choose something neutral, as far as colors go. Like yellow or mint green or something. Then you could pick a theme later if you wanted to be more specific. Like flowers or Harley motorcycles." 

He laughs again. "Or maybe both." 

Jeff shakes his head, rolling his eyes. "It's just a scratch." That much was true. It was just that a scratch for him was as bad as a deep gash for someone else. "I'm fine." Maybe it hadn't stopped bleeding completely but close enough. 

Moving around and mounting up on Hawk, Jeff refuses to even hesitate. "Angel's seen enough of me today as it is. I'm going on a picnic with my daughter. So come on." He gestures to her horse. "You better get on before I get too much of a head start." 

Grinning, he swings Hawk around and digs in his heels, sprinting for the back lane. He wouldn't usually do that to a horse he'd just taken out of the stall, but Hawk had been out all day yesterday so Jeff knew he'd be fine... and... he wasn't about to let Katie talk him into staying and making a big deal out of something so small. Not today. 

Having you around

Finished in the kitchen Katie swings the bag over her shoulder and heads outside again joining Jeff once more. Attaching the bag to the horse Katie gives it a soft pat on its hind end before turning to Jeff again. Catching sight of the bandage on his hand than the blood on his pants Katie's heart races for a second not know what went on

   "Dad what happened?  Are you ok, do you need to go see Angel?"

Katie had the look of worry on her face. If Jeff needed to go see Angel she had no problem with that. Riding could wait as long as he was ok. He always came first to her because she never wanted anything bad to happen to him.

   "Riding can wait for a little while longer I don't mind."

   "Oh boy someone more stubborn than me....we are in for trouble now."

Misty gives a laugh as she heads outside with Jason. Getting into the truck the talk is light or non at all till the get to the restront. For it being a slower night it dosnt take long for them to get there food. Misty's mouth almost watered as she looked down at her sub. It was not the normal that she would get but it did look good. She could only guess this was some of the cravings she had heard about when one was going to have a baby.

Finally biting into the sub She can't help the smile that spread across her face. It tasted soooo good she couldn't even describe it. Silence rains for a while as she continues to eat till finally she decides to come up for air.

   "So, I am kind of being impatient. I want to know the gender of the baby now so I can start making his or her room up."

Giving a little laugh Nikki's eyes twinkled before giving a thoughtful nod about her mom. She had looked pretty tired at dinner time and she would of guess that soon after she would of been sound asleep in her chair.

   "I figured it wouldn't take her long to be out. She seemed to eat a little more today though. I think it was because you were here. She likes having you around."

Thinking for a second about her mom dr appointment the other day Nikki's face changed slightly. Though she tired to still hold a smile there was a small bit of sadness in her eyes too. Her mom had lived a good long life so Nikkie new she shouldn't be sad but it was hard not to be. The only comfort she had was that when her mom did pass she new she would see her again.

   "The dr said mom was doing the best she could be, but the cancer was moving quickly though mom's body. The cemo hasn't been doing much good and the dr fears if we continue it, it will do more harm than good. It's only a matter of time now till her body finally gives out."

Nikki draws in a breath and than slowly lets it out. She trusted God, and new her mom did too but it still hurt.

   "Mostly all she does now is sleep and its becoming hard for her to move around the house. I...I exspect as much as I don't want it...God will be calling her home soon."

Pacing his room at TJY Trey things for a second. She had said yes, and he hardly ever did anything that was planned so anyday was really clear to him.

   "How about next Tuesday at four and you can pick the place."