The Wanted Short Stories(35)
Author: Kelly Elliott

Libby began giggling, which I found funny since she’d screamed bloody murder when she found said frogs in her bed.

Will nodded his head. “Okay, Mommy.”

I smiled as I bent down and wiped away Libby’s tears. “Don’t cry, baby girl. You’re going to love your new bedroom.”

She stood up and stepped into my arms. I picked her up and held on to her.

Josh held Will’s hand. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go potty.”

Josh took Will upstairs while I led Libby to the bathroom downstairs. Weeks ago, we’d figured out that we needed to separate them to potty-train them faster. It had only taken days until they were both one hundred percent potty-trained. We wouldn’t even have to put Pull-Ups on them during naps. We would just use them at night, and most nights, they would both wake up dry.

We were halfway through dinner, and Libby had already successfully put spaghetti up her nose and in her hair. Will had spent more time constructing something out of his spaghetti than he had eating it.

“What are ya making, buddy?” Josh asked.

I kicked him under the table. “We don’t play with our food, Daddy…remember?”

Josh smiled at me and then turned to Will. “Hey, buddy, let’s start eating, okay? We’ll build something with your blocks before bedtime.”

Will’s face lit up. He quickly grabbed handfuls of food and pushed it into his mouth.

“Slow down, William.”

Will gave me a smile and slowed down.

Dinner continued without any more problems, and I silently thanked God for the peaceful meal. Afterward, Josh took Will and Libby and gave them a bath while I cleaned up.

Later, we were all sitting in the living room, playing, when my cell started ringing.

I jumped up and ran to answer it. “Hello?”

“Hey, Heather.”

“What’s up, Jessie?”

“You and Josh feel like having a night off?”

My stomach did a little flip at the idea of being alone with Josh. “Are you playing a cruel joke on me? Or are you offering something up?”

She laughed. “No joke. Scott has a huge benefit dinner and dance to go to in Austin, and I don’t want to be stuck there alone with no one to talk to. I arranged for a friend of mine from college, who is now a full-time nanny, to come and stay here for the night. Do you think Josh’s parents would take care of your kids? We are staying in Austin the whole night.”

I bit down on my lower lip and glanced out into the living room. A whole night alone with Josh would be amazing.

“I have to ask Elizabeth. I think she’s still recovering from the last three days they watched the twins.”

“It’s a ball. We can dress up and feel beautiful.”

I scrunched up my nose. I really wanted to go. “Damn it. When is it?”

She let out a little yelp. “This Saturday night.”

I took in a deep breath and quickly blew it out. “Let me call Elizabeth. I’ll call you right back.”

Josh walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek. “What’s going on? Why are you calling my mom?”

“Jessie said Scott is going to this huge benefit dinner and ball in Austin on Saturday night. They want us to go. We’d have to stay in Austin all night though.”

Josh’s eyes lit up instantly. “All night?”

I chewed on my bottom lip as I nodded my head.

He took my cell phone from my hands and began calling his mother. “Hey, Mom. No, it’s me. How are you and Dad? Oh, yeah?”

I peeked in the living room, and Will and Libby were busy constructing something.

“That’s awesome, Mom. Hey, not to cut right to the chase ’cause you know I love hearing about how you and Dad are doing in the garden. Yes, I was being facetious, Mom.”

Josh winked at me and motioned for me to follow him. We walked out into the living room and both sat down next to the kids. Libby handed me a block, and when I placed it on top of hers, she clapped.

“Heather and I have been invited to a dinner and ball in Austin on Saturday night. I’d love to be able to take Heather.” Josh smiled and gave me a thumbs-up. “Mom, you’re the best. We owe you and Dad big time. Right. Yes, I’ll tell her. Hold on. Lib and Will, y’all want to say hi to Grammy?”

Libby’s eyes lit up as she jumped up quickly and then sat in Josh’s lap. “Gammy! Gammy, I wuv you!”

Josh smiled and nodded his head as he pointed to Libby talking to Elizabeth on the phone. “If Mom had said no, I was gonna pull out the big guns.”

I covered my mouth and laughed.

Will and Libby each talked to Elizabeth and Greg for a few minutes.

“Okay, Mom. I’ll give you more details as I get them. I love you, too.”

Josh hit End, and we high-fived each other.

I called Jessie back, and as soon as she answered, I said, “We’re in!”

“Perfect! It’s at the W Austin Hotel. Dinner starts at six, and the ball immediately follows it. I guess we’ll just meet y’all there?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“See you then, sweets!”

I hung up and ran upstairs.

“Where are you going?” Josh called out.

I stopped and turned back to look at Josh. “I need to see if I have a dress. If not, I’m going shopping tomorrow.”

Libby jumped up and ran toward me. “I want to dwess up, too, Mommy!”

I reached down for her and picked her up. We made our way upstairs and into the master bedroom. I set Libby down in my closet, and I began looking at my dresses.

I smiled when I saw the white dress bag. “Oh, Libby! Mommy has the perfect dress!”

Libby clapped her hands. Then, she began putting on my shoes, and she attempted to walk around in them. I hung the dress up on the hook and unzipped the bag.

When I saw the red chiffon backless dress, I smiled. I had bought it a few months ago when Ari, Ellie, Jessie, and I had gone shopping in Austin. Ari thought a girl could never have too many sexy evening gowns, and she was right.

Josh was going to die when he saw me in this number.

I looked down at Libby and said, “Daddy is going to love this. The high slit comes all the way up to the top of my thigh.”

I jumped up and down, causing Libby to do the same.

She reached for the dress and said, “Me!”

“No, not this one, baby girl.”

I turned and grabbed a white sweater. I slipped it over her head, and she wobbled to the mirror in my high-heel shoes.

She looked in the mirror. “Oh…so pwetty!”