
* 6 YEARS LATER *
“UNCLE COLBY!!” Brooke screamed running and latching on to Colby’s leg. The little 4-year-old squealed as Colby picked her up and tossed her in the air.
Her curly blond ponytail bobbed as she told him about Colby falling out of the fort, “Is he alright?” Colby asked trying not to laugh at her animated story
Her pudgy little hand covered her mouth, “I didn’t ask him, should I go see?”
“How about we both go check on him.” Colby said walking into the kitchen still holding Brooke. He found Alex bending over Colby who sat in one of the kitchen chairs.
He had a scrape on his knee and his elbow that Alex was tending too. She looked up as he entered, “I heard you were in town. How’s it going stranger?”
Colby kissed Alex on the check, “You are looking wonderful, it’s going great.” Then he turned to look down at his name sake he sat Brooke down, “Well Little C, what have you gotten yourself into now?”
“I fell, see.” The 5-year-old said pointing to the scrape on his elbow.
“How did you manage to do that?”
Colby shrugged, “I don’t know.”
“Were you being careless?” Alex asked from the kitchen sink
“I don’t know.” He said again
“Well, I hope you learned your lesson.” Alex said turning back to what she was doing
“I have, never jump out of the fort.” Colby piped up.
“So that’s what you were doing!” Colby said pointing his finger at the little boy
Colby realized he had let it slip and covered up his mouth, “Oops.”
“How is New York?” Alex asked
“Cold, I’m happy to be back in the sunshine. Where’s Nick?” Colby asked opening the refrigerator and grabbing a coke.
“He ran to he store to get something. He should be back any min…”
She was interrupted by Brooke’s shriek, “DADDY!!” she said running to him
Nick laughed as he picked up his daughter, “Hey precious, did ya miss me?”
She nodded and kissed his cheek.
“Well, you will never need a guard dog with munchkin around.” Colby said laughing
Alex smiled, “I bet your right, but you never know what Christmas will bring.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it’s on their list.”
Nick said hello to Colby and then noticed his son sitting in the chair, “What happened to you?”
Brooke must have forgotten her job as informer, “He fell out of the fort.” She said
Nick looked at Colby, “I was in a hurry and didn’t want to climb down the latter, so I jumped. I had to go to the bathroom.”
Nick tried to keep a straight face, but turned so Colby couldn’t see him laughing. He finally turned around, “Well, I guess next time you will have to go own the latter.”
Colby nodded, “yeah, but mom said I was tough because I didn’t cry that much.”
Nick kissed Alex on the cheek, “you get that from my side of the family.”
“You wish.” Alex muttered turning to finish the salad she was making for dinner.
**
They had had dinner and the kids had made the mot out of Uncle Colby’s visit. Brooke had shown him her room and the bike she had gotten for her birthday and Colby had to show him the tee set he got since the last time he had visited and how he could hit the ball ‘really far’. Now they were in the living room, Colby was laying in the floor with both children sitting on top of him, “Tell us another story about mommy.” They chimed
Alex walked thru and glared at him, “Don’t be filling their head with nonsense.”
Colby grinned, “On time, before your mommy and daddy were married this guy kissed your mom and she punched him.”
“Really? In he face?” Colby asked his eyes getting big
“yep Little C, right in the face.”
“Mommy says it’s not nice to hit.” Brooke piped up
Colby smiled, “Well, if a boy ever tries to kiss you, you can hit him.”
“but not when you kiss me, or daddy, or Colby.”
“Yeah, but if anyone else does, you just smack ‘em.” Colby said
Alex walked back in, “What are you telling my children?”
“I’m teaching Brooke self defense.”
Alex just shook her head, “It’s bedtime.”
“But, mom, we’re not tired.” Colby said rubbing his eyes
“I know you’re not, but we’re going to your grandparents tomorrow and I don’t want you to be wining all day long. Now, get upstairs and into your jammies.”
They both obeyed and said their goodnights to Uncle Colby before making there way upstairs, “Well, Lex, I better be going. I have plans tomorrow.”
“Really? What’s her name?”
“Lindsey. How did you know?”
“You have never give up a chance to stay around and bug me unless a girl’s involved, she hot?”
“Very.” He said making his way to the door. He gave her a hug, “Love you, and tell Nick I said bye.”
“Okay, love you too.” She watched as he walked to his car and left. Then she proceeded upstairs to tuck the kids in. Nick was already saying good night when she walked into the room they shared. “Momma, where you a good pitcher?” Colby asked as she kissed him good night.
“I don’t know, you will have to ask your Uncle Colby next time he’s here.”
“Okay.”
They traded and Alex kissed Brooke goodnight, “Will I be as tall as daddy?”
Alex laughed, “I don’t think so.”
“As tall as you?”
“Possibly, now, go to sleep.”
Nick flipped the light out and Alex shut the door, “Life is never boring without those two little hurricanes.”
Nick kissed her, “Maybe we should add to the bunch.”
Alex pushed him away, “No, thank you. I have had my share, and that’s all I want.”
Nick only kissed her again, “You can think about it.”
“Okay…no.”
Nick laughed as he followed her downstairs, “Well, what should we do? The kids are asleep, and we have the house to ourselves.”
Alex rolled her eyes and planted herself on the couch, “Monday Night Football.”
Nick sat down next to her and pulled her close. He kissed her again, “Now, that’s my kind of chic.” Nick flipped the TV on and turned it to the right station, the game had just begun. Nick got up and turned the TV a little.
“Hey, turn it back, it has a glare from the lamp.” Alex said
“But I want it this way.”
Alex got up and turned the TV back a little, “but I want it that way.”
They argued for a few minutes before they finally agreed and settled down to watch the game. Alex smiled, she had a wonderful marriage, great kids, and a really cool life. Who could ask for more?