“Hello?” AJ said into the phone, “Hey… yeah… hold on.” AJ said and handed the phone to Ciara. “It’s Rachel.” He replied.

“Heya Rachel.” Ciara thanked AJ and answered the phone. AJ pointed to the other room and gave her some privacy.

“Hi. I just called to see how yesterday went.” Rachel replied.

“I got to say good-bye to my dad and then we went and spent some time with his mom. It was a good day. We ran into a woman who I remembered and we’re going over there tonight for some dessert after dinner. What are you doing?” Ciara asked.

“Nothing… Nick’s doing much better. Kevin’s been making a few calls… looks like management wants to get the guys back on the road as soon as possible.” Rachel replied.

“What? No!” Ciara replied quite upset, suddenly not wanting to let AJ out of her sight.

“Haha… got you!” Rachel giggled on the other end as AJ came running back into the room.

“You are so dead girl. So dead.” Ciara replied and then cupped the phone to calm AJ down, “Rachel played a cruel joke on me… it’s okay though.” She said to AJ. AJ nodded and left the room again.

“I’m sorry… I was just having some fun. Miss you.” Rachel replied.

“Yeah, I’m sure you do… What about Kevin, isn’t he keeping you occupied?” Ciara asked.

“It’s not the same. I can’t talk girl stuff with him although there are things that I can do with him that I’ll never do with you.” Rachel and Ciara both laughed at that remark.

“I hear ya. Well, AJ and I are going to watch some movies this afternoon and just take it easy. Give our love to the guys.” Ciara spoke.

“I will. I’m glad you’re down there and you’ve gotten some answers. We’ll have a girls’ night, just you and me when you get back, ok?” Rachel wondered.

“Yes, we will. Bye.” Ciara replied and hung up the phone.

“Ciara? We’re here.” AJ said a few minutes later. Ciara had closed her eyes for a few moments. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea?” AJ said as he looked at Ciara’s face. He could tell the toll that the day had taken on her.

“No… you’re mom and I are looking forward to seeing each other again. I’ll be fine and if I’m not, I promise I’ll let you know.” Ciara looked at him and said before kissing him.

“You’d better.” He said as they stayed connected by their foreheads for a few moments.

AJ’s mom had heard them pull up into the driveway and was anxiously waiting for them at the door.

“Ciara!” Denise McLean ran to the car from the door.

“Mom!” Ciara was already crying as she got out of the car and hugged AJ’s mom.

“You look wonderful!” Denise cried, “C’mon, let’s get you both into the house, we’ve got a lot to catch up on, Ciara.” Denise said as AJ joined the two women on the side of the car. Denise hugged him as well.

As soon as Ciara and AJ got into the house they could smell the pasta sauce; they took one look at each other and smiled. They knew they were going to have home made pasta for dinner.

“C’mon… into the kitchen. Yes, I’m cooking.” Denise smiled as she wiped away the tears from Ciara’s face. “There will be no more tears. Okay?” she looked at both of her kids. She always considered Ciara her daughter.

Ciara and AJ spent the afternoon and well into the evening talking and eating and catching up with AJ’s mom. AJ and his mom insisted on Ciara taking it easy while they cleaned up the kitchen. They left her in the den looking at pictures. When they returned, she was sound asleep.

“AJ, why don’t you two stay here for the night?” Denise suggested to her son.

“That would be great mom, thanks for the offer, but I think she would be more comfortable back home.” AJ replied.

Denise opened the doors for AJ as he scooped Ciara up and carried her to the car.

“AJ?” Ciara asked.

“Ssshhh, we’re going home. It’s been a long day.” AJ spoke softly as he kissed her forehead.

“Bye baby.” Denise kissed Ciara’s cheek after AJ had buckled her in.

“Bye mom. We’ll call you tomorrow.” AJ gave his mom a hug and a kiss before getting in the car and heading home.

---

“I’m sorry for falling asleep at your mom’s.” Ciara said as AJ helped her out of the car when they got back to his house.

“It was late and you’ve had a pretty big day. It’s okay that you fell asleep there. You were comfortable with being there. That’s good. C’mon, let’s go to bed.” AJ said. Within a half hour of getting home, they were both sound asleep.

---

“What are you doing in my kitchen?” AJ said the next morning. He woke to the smell of fresh coffee and something cooking.

“I’m making breakfast.” Ciara replied. “You’re in for a treat!” she giggled as AJ kissed her on the cheek.

“Mornin’.” He said as she handed him a glass of juice.

“Mornin.” She replied. She was making omelets.

“You didn’t have to make breakfast…” AJ began to say as she stopped him with the spatula.

“Maybe so, but I wanted to. Amuse me, okay?” Ciara replied. “Let me do this.” She stated.

“Certainly.” AJ said. He leaned back against the counter and watched her make breakfast, offering to make toast or help in some way, but she insisted that she had everything under control. That was until she tried to flip the omelet. She couldn’t get it to flip and they both watched in horror as half of the omelet landed on the ground.

“Awe man!” Ciara said.

“Well, Animal’s enjoying that. Here, let me help.” AJ tried not to laugh.

“Animal, that’s not meant for you.” Ciara said to the cat as she handed the pan with the rest of the omelet to him so she could clean up the floor.

AJ helped salvage breakfast and added more ingredients and scrambled everything together. Ciara didn’t mind. He was just trying to help.

They discussed what to do with the rest of the day over breakfast. As they were cleaning up, the phone rang.