Chapter 86
Taping for ‘Sabrina, The Teenage Witch’ had one more day to go and they’d be done. Howie was exhausted, more because he hadn’t completely recovered from the flu. All he wanted to do was get back to the room and spend time with Sarah and the babies. He was so glad that she’d joined him.
As he stepped onto the elevator, Howie smiled to himself. He was looking forward to hearing how Sarah’s day had gone. She despised shopping, but today she’d planned to visit Rodeo Drive. The last time she’d been to LA and tried to shop there, she’d gotten sick. He was curious as to what she’d bought.
Expecting Sarah to be waiting for him wearing something she’d bought today, Howie was surprised to find Ilse in the living room giving Caroline a bottle.
Looking up, the young nanny smiled. “You’re back early.”
“Hey,” answered Howie as he closed the door gently. “Where’s Sarah?”
“Asleep. She wasn’t feeling well.”
Hearing Dwaine beginning to fuss, he asked, “Got another bottle?”
“Warming on the hot plate.”
Howie scooped Dwaine up talking softly to him and headed to the small kitchenette to get the bottle. With the baby cradled in his arm next to his chest, Howie gave him the bottle and went back to rejoin Ilse who was finishing with Caroline.
“I thought you had plans for the evening.”
“I did but with Sarah not feeling well, I cancelled.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’m here now. Call your friend back and see if you can still meet them.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Thank you, Howie,” beamed Ilse. “I’ll get Caroline settled first.”
“Has she burped?”
“Yes.”
“Then put her in the seat and go. It’s getting late.”
“Thank you so much!”
The young nanny placed the infant in the seat and bounced to her room excited to be able to go ahead with her plans.
Howie really liked their nanny. She was young, only nineteen, but she and Sarah had bonded almost instantly. It was even better that Jesse adored her as well. In just a matter of days, Ilse had become a part of the family.
Looking down at his son, Howie pulled the bottle away only to upset the infant. As Dwaine fussed, Howie patted his back talking to him. “You know the deal, D.J. If you don’t burp, you’re just going to have an upset stomach later. We can’t have that, now can we? No…Daddy wants to spend a quiet evening with you and your sister and your mom and if you’re fussing because of your tummy, that’s not going to happen. Give me a good burp and you can finish off the bottle.”
It didn’t take long for Howie to get a loud burp and he shook his head. “I swear, you could be Nick’s son,” he mumbled as he went back to feeding him. As Dwaine nursed on the rest of the bottle, Howie watched him, gazing into his blue eyes and a smile danced on his lips. What a precious gift he had in all three of his children and his wife. No man could be any luckier than he was.
Ilse came back into the room. “Are you sure you don’t mind? You look tired.”
“We’ll be fine, Ilse. I’m looking forward to a quiet night with my wife and children. Go have a good time with your friend.”
“I promise not to be too late.”
“Just enjoy yourself. Do you need any money?”
Ilse smirked, “No, Dad! I have plenty.”
Howie laughed, “Just practicing. See you later.”
“Sarah should be waking up soon. She’s been asleep since noon.”
Howie frowned. It was almost six now so that meant she’d slept all afternoon. “Thanks. I’ll get her up in a little while.”
With that, Ilse said good-bye and the penthouse was quiet. Howie looked down as Dwaine’s eyes fluttered shut. Pulling the bottle away, he burped his son and then took him to the bassinet in the children’s room. Returning, he got Caroline and did the same but before he left the two sleeping infants, he got the monitor and took it with him.
With the twins down for the night, Howie decided to call room service for dinner but stopped. Maybe Sarah would feel like eating something.
Entering their room quietly, Howie found Sarah snuggled under several layers of blankets hugging his pillow to her. He felt his heart flutter watching her. It never ceased to amaze him just how innocent she looked when she slept. Sitting beside her, Howie reached out to feel her forehead and realized she was running a fever. Deciding to let her sleep, Howie started to leave but as he was placing a kiss on her forehead, she began to wake.
“Hey, ‘Angel’,” he greeted softly.
“You’re home early,” she mumbled sleepily.
“A little. It’s almost six, Sarah. Ilse said you’ve been asleep all afternoon.”
Panicked, Sarah asked, “Are the babies okay?”
“They’re fine. I fed Dwaine when I got here and they’re both asleep again. Do you feel like eating?”
“Sorta. I haven’t had anything since breakfast.”
“You aren’t nauseous.”
“No, I just ache all over…like last time I tried to go shopping on Rodeo Drive.”
Howie laughed, “You just aren’t meant to shop there, are you? Next time we’re here, I’ll go with you.”
“NO!” pouted Sarah. “I’m NOT trying again.”
Still laughing, Howie placed a kiss on her forehead and asked, “Did you get to do ANY shopping?”
Giving him her sexiest smile, Sarah said, “Uh huh! Got some really sexy lingerie that I was HOPING to wear tonight.”
“It’ll be a nice treat for the six week mark.”
“If you think I’m waiting six FULL weeks to make love to you, you’re sicker than me,” smirked Sarah as she struggled to sit up. “I had EVERY intention of tonight being a night of romance and passion.”
Giving her a hand, Howie asked, “It’s too soon, Angel…isn’t it?”
“No…it’s not but I really don’t feel up to it now.”
“Then tell you what….we’ll spend the evening I had planned. A quiet evening, just the four of us…watching some TV.”
“That sounds just as good,” smiled Sarah as she put her hand on Howie’s.
“Let me go order us some dinner, Angel.” Howie gave her a kiss on the forehead as he brushed her hair back behind her ear. “I’m really glad you came out, Sarah.”
“Me too, ‘D’,” whispered Sarah as she leaned into his hand.
One more kiss and Howie headed out to order their dinner. Sarah followed him a couple minutes later and the couple spent a quiet evening together.