"Hey Natie!" Zoe called and ran into Natalie's outstretched arms. She and Taylor were back from their honeymoon and they were coming over for dinner.
"Hi sweetie. How are you doing?"
"Im good mommy says that you guys brought me something?" Zoe said with her blue eyes smiling.
"As a matter of fact, we got everybody something. Even Kaitlin," Tay said as he gently moved Natalie out of the doorway, so he could get by with their bags.
"What did I get?" Mackenzie asked as he ran up behind Zoe.
"Joshua Mackenzie have patience son," My mom said and helped Taylor with the bags. She pulled out two t-shirts that read 'Atlantic Island' on the front. Their were a couple glass figurines for Grandma Hanson, then came two more t-shirts that said 'Hard Rock Bahamas' on the front for Jessi and Avery.
Mackenzie got a new gameboy from MediaPlay in Atlanta while Zoe got a new stuffed whale to sleep with.
Ike got a few guitar pics to add to his enormous collecton and I got a new art book showing verious pieces from the 'Intuitive Artisans of the Bahamas and Jamaica.
"And this is for Kaitlin," Taylor said revealing a large snow globe with palm trees and ocean water inside. "Where is she?"
"I'll go get her," Jessi said and ran upstairs. Tay and Natalie made themselves comfortable in the living room while everyone else sat around them.
My mother struck up a conversation with Nat about how her family was doing. Kaitlin stumbled down the stairs after Jessi as Taylor turned to see her.
"Here she is," Jessi called and Taylor stood up. He stuffed on hand in the pocket and the other held the snow globe.
"Taylor? I would know those baby blues anywhere," Kaitlin said trying to put on the charm. I don't guess she really realized that his wife was sitting right beside him.
Tay smiled shyly and handed her the globe. "This is for you. I think I remember your love of snow globes," He said as Kaitlin took the globe and gave him an unexpected hug.
"Thank you. It's been to long. How are you doing?" She talked as if they were the only two people in the room and it made me sick.
"Kaitlin. You haven't met Natalie have you? Taylor's wife." I said trying to break the moment for Taylor. I could tell he was uncomfortable with all the attention, especially with Nat sitting nearby.
"No. I havn't," Kaitlin said and moved over to Natalie. "Hi. It's nice to meet you."
Natalie stopped her conversation with my mother just long enough to look at Kaitlin. Natalie being a little shy herself, just smiled and nodded, "Yeah same here."
I could tell that Natalie was already sizing Kaitlin up as she sat down in the chair. Taylor returned to his seat beside his wife and put his arm around the back of the couch.
"So Taylor, how is your music going?" Kaitlin said as she sat playing with the snow globe. She twirled it around in her hand as she looked at him.
"Oh it's going good. We just finished recording a few weeks ago. The album should be ready to promote in a few months," I commented but Kaitlin's eyes were burning holes in my brothers forehead.
Kaitlin ignored my comment and went on to talk more about the music business. My parents were talking to Natalie and the younger kids were playing watching tv. I decided to walk around so I went out on the screened-in porch.
This yard isn't as spacious as our old one because it's fenced it. But we do have a nice porch and a newly made tree-house.
The clouds were turning the sky a deep shade of grey and the wind was blowing slightly. I could feel a storm coming on.
I sat on the back porch swing and must have fell asleep, cause when I woke up it was already nightfall. I went inside to find Taylor playing a game of cards with Ike and my father.
"Where's Natalie?" I asked and sat down with a Dr. Pepper. I honestly think Im addicted to these things.
"She went with mom and Kaitlin back to wall-mart. Ike forgot to pick up some stuff we needed," My dad said and slapped his hand down on the table, making me jump.
"Aha! I told you I'd beat you guys."
"Not by a long shot, Walker!" Ike teased him (by calling him by his first name) and put down his full house.
"That's it. Im done," Tay commented and got up from the table. "Shouldn't they be back by now?" He said and started wondering around the house.
"Chill out Tay. It's not like mom drove her off the face of the earth or something. You know how the traffic is when it's raining," My dad said and went into the living room.
Just then the door was opened by my mom, Natalie and Kaitlin. All three had their hands full and they were laughing.
"What's so funny?" Tay asked taking the bags from his wife.
"Oh nothing. Kaitlin just told us a dumb blonde joke."
"Oh Tay can you believe this? We went over to the house and the power is out? It looks like we'll have to stay here tonight cause the roads are all down and the power is out all over town. Just as she said it our lights went out.
"Oh great. I'll get some flashlights," My dad said and began searching the kitchen drawers.
"Mommy!" Zoe began calling for my mom from her room upstairs. She soon came tumbling down the stairs with Jessi, Avery and Mac behind her. Jessi was carrying a flashlight in one hand and Zoe's arm with the other.
"It's okay baby. Why don't we all just get ready for bed and go to sleep?" My mom said and took Zoe in her arms.
"Im not sleepy. I could stay up all night," Mac said and tried to turn on the tv. "The tv doesn't work."
"That's because all the electricity to run the cable is out," Ike said and guided Mac into the kitchen with everyone else.
"Let's just go on up to our rooms and get some sleep. Come on," My dad said nudging all the little ones back up the stairs with flashlights in hand. The grumbled but trudged up the stairs two feet at a time.
"Where will we sleep? Kaitlin has the guest room," Taylor said and looked at her across the room.
"I'll just sleep on the couch and you guys can have the guest room," Kaitlin offered and began lighting candles.
"No you were here first. We can sleep on the couch," He said and gave Natalie a secret smile.
"No, I insist. You guys deserve to be together in a nice warm bed. I can just sleep down here. I've had to do it alot at home anyway..." Kaitlin said and stopped herself suddenly.
"Okay I guess. If your sure that's okay?" Tay said and gave Natalie a squeeze in the arm.
"Sure Im sure. You go on up,"
I was suprised at Kaitlin's sudden change of attitude. She wasn't getting all over Tay and acting like a civilized person for once.
The rest of us went up the stairs after mom gave Kaitlin some blankets and a few pillows. When I hit the bed I couldn't help but think of Kaitlin downstairs.
Even though she was rude to me earlier, she was still drop dead gorgeous.