Charity beat the girls home and dashed straight into the house, leaving a trail behind her. She kicked off her shoes one by one in the foyer. By the time she reached her room she was down to her bra and panties. They were off when she reached the bathroom. She jumped into a warm shower, washing away remnants of her lunch meeting. The thoughts of billionaire Hal Jaworski circled the drain and disappeared. She was looking forward to sipping an adult beverage with her hot husband and watching the evening unfold. She’d watch Margaret and her father with an eagle eye and Jamie would be the center of everyone’s attention. She grinned in the shower. It would be an amazing night, before and after the company left.

In celebration of spring, she pulled on a fresh blue and green sundress. She put on a pair of leather strappy sandals to complete the look. She slipped on the lace bra that made Elijah moan whenever he saw it on her. No panties. It was her house and she was in command—commando. She giggled at herself in the mirror.

The kitchen door opened, followed by cheerful voices entering the house.

Let the fun begin.

“Mommy? Mommy! I pooped in the toilet! Big and squishy just like you and daddy,” Jamie screamed.

Charity laughed as she ran and scooped Jamie into her arms. She’d missed the all-important first poop in the toilet and didn’t have a moment of regret! “I’m so proud of you, Peanut! I’d say you earned a treat, but I’m sure Gamma has been treating you all day long.” She turned to Margaret. “Did you happen to take a picture of it?”

“A picture of the poop?”

“Yes, is that over the top?” Charity teased, trying to not break into a laugh and give herself away.

“Absolutely not!”

“Oh, bummer.” Charity could barely keep a straight face.

“I have the entire thing on video, complete with facial expressions and the final product.”

“You didn’t!”

Margaret laughed. “Of course not!”

“Wait… what?!”

“Of course I didn’t video tape the silly thing. She’ll have plenty more to share with you.”

Charity burst out laughing. “I was trying to fool you.”

“You can’t fool an expert.” Margaret winked at her, looking like Elijah as she did it. “Okay, enough of this silliness. I have dinner planned and need to get sorted. We’re having grilled chicken and a wonderful Mediterranean salad I make. It’s heathy, but you would never know it. I fear every bite that goes down Scott’s throat is going to send him to the hospital. He, on the other hand, is scared of anything meant to be healthful. I’ve figured the whole thing out,” Margaret said as she proudly gazed upon her granddaughter.

Charity’s stomach growled in agreement. “The yard’s paradise since we got rid of all the debris from remodeling the house. It sat there forever looking horrible. I paid the boy next door to move it to the curb. He borrowed his friend’s truck to take it to the dump a few weeks ago. The grass has already grown and the yard looks huge. It’s great. Except the pile of rubble that still has to be removed. He’s doing that next weekend.”

“You could’ve just paid a service to haul it away. I would have paid for it. Got it done a lot quicker.”

“Nah,” Charity waved her hand. “The kid was looking to make a few extra bucks. I often hire him to do odd jobs because he volunteers instead of working while at college. He’s pre-med. Good kid. He’ll probably run the hospital one day. He’s a nice, smart kid.”

“Be sure to keep Jamie Lynn away from the rubble. It looks dangerous, which means it’s a fun magnet to her.” Margaret went in to perform magic in the kitchen while Charity lit the barbecue.

Charity and Jamie got the sidewalk chalk out and went ballistic drawing crazy shapes and figures on the concrete in the backyard. Charity’s drawings were not as advanced as Jamie’s were. She wondered where her daughter got her skills from because she was no Rembrandt and based on Elijah’s writing, he was way worse.

“Daddy! Mommy, it’s Papa too.” Jamie cheered the arrival of the remainder of her fan club VIP’s.

Elijah and her father had left the hospital together in Elijah’s Porsche Boxster. The car was leased as an early mid-life crisis toy. Elijah wasn’t showy. He would attract attention in a beat up pickup but it was on his bucket list. Charity never drove the thing because the sleek interior and small steering wheel were difficult to get used to. It sat in the garage most of the time because it didn’t work for a family of three.

Elijah threw Jamie in the air as if she were a stuffed doll. She giggled with joy. Jamie loved taking flight although it drove Charity mad. “How’s my princess?”

“Great!” Charity and Jamie responded at the same time.

“You’re right ladies,” he said smiling. “You’re both my princesses. I believe that makes me the luckiest king in the world.

“How was the hospital?” Charity asked as he set Jamie down on the grass to play.

“I was able to swap my on-call with Bailey. It usually doesn’t mean much because I get called in anyways, but at least it gives us a shot at a quiet evening.” Elijah pulled Charity in for a kiss, but it didn’t last long because Jamie Lynn was grabbing on his pant leg.

“I pooped today Daddy. Big girl toilet.” Jamie smiled as if she had just aced an exam.

“You did.” He dropped down so he was at her height. “I’m so proud of you, Peanut!”

“Gamma got video!” She leaned over his shoulder as Margaret came out of the house carrying a tray. “Right Gamma? You videoed me?”

Elijah looked horrified as he straightened and turned to help his mother with the tray of tall cool cocktails for everyone.

“She didn’t,” Charity whispered in his ear.

Elijah handed the frosted glasses out to everyone and raised a glass. “Cheers to family.”

“And poops.” Jamie raised her sippy cup.

The gin & tonics were tantalizing paired with the scrumptious and healthful crudité platter. They swarmed around the treats as if they’d never eaten. They didn’t notice Jamie sneak away and head for a mountain she wanted to be king of, like her daddy.

She climbed the pile of rotten rubble or timber with exposed nails and old sheet rock. It was about four feet high. Charity saw her and cried out as she raced toward Jamie, dropping her glass in the process.

Jamie nearly reached the top when her small pink Croc got stuck on a piece of twisted metal. She pulled and her other leg lost footing. She teetered before falling backwards.

Charity ran, as if in slow motion and horrified, watching her baby fall. Jamie hit the ground with a hard thud and her guttural scream caught everyone’s attention.