"Let's go!" JC exclaimed through gritted teeth, stalking through the living room.
Justin stood up from where he had been sitting on the couch with Danielle and Noah. "I'll be out in just a minute."
JC's only answer was the front door slamming shut.
"Danielle, I was thinking."
Danielle continued sitting on the couch, bouncing Noah on her knee. "'Bout what?"
"Well. . . since we're officially dating again, can't you think we should actually go on a date?" he asked.
Danielle stopped bouncing Noah. "How can you think about that at a time like this?"
"When else would you want me to think about it?"
"Maybe when such horrible things aren't going on." Danielle suggested.
"Just because bad things happen it doesn't mean I give up on the rest of my life."
"I know, but-"
"Look, it was just a suggestion. Will you let me take you out on a date, or what?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I will. When?"
"Tomorrow night."
"All right. Call me in the morning and let me know the details so I can get a sitter, k?"
"Ok." Justin bent down and gave Danielle a short kiss on the lips, and Noah on the hand. "Bye, little guy."
Noah burped.
Danielle chuckled. "That's his way of saying 'Bye Daddy.'"
Justin smiled. "If I were to ever say buy to you like that you would call me rude, but the kid does it, and he gets praised."
Danielle rolled her eyes.
JC honked the horn loudly outside.
Justin shook his head. "I guess I better go. Bye, Dani."
"Bye, baby."
Justin left, and Danielle stood up. "Come on, Noah, we've had a long day. It's time for bed."
Noah rested his head on Danielle's shoulder in response.
"Aww, you *are* tired, aren't you? Come on."
She brought Noah to his room, changed him into his pajamas, and put him to sleep.
Danielle headed down the hall to her room, but suddenly stopped and knocked on Katie's door. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah." Katie called softly.
Danielle opened the door, and cautiously walked in. She wasn't exactly sure why, but it seemed to her that cautious was the best way to go.
She walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge. "Hey hun."
"Hi."
"How are you doin'?"
"Horribly."
Danielle frowned. "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
Katie shook her head. "I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes all I can see is. . . is. . .is. . . " Katie burst into tears.
"Shhh." Danielle gave her a hug, and let her cry on her shoulder for a moment. "It'll be ok."
"I don't see how." Katie sniffled.
"Me either. But, we both know your strong enough to pull through."
"I'm so scared."
"Of what?"
"If someone can do something like this, what other horrible things are going on, and are they going to happen to me?" her eyes were wide with fear.
Danielle shook her head. 'Nothing else is going to happen to you."
"Do you know for sure?" Katie challenged.
"Yes."
"How?"
"I just know."
"I'll pray to God every night that your right."
Danielle grinned. "When have you ever known me to be wrong?"
Katie rolled her eyes. "You are so conceited, you know that right?"
"Yeah, I know."
"Just as long as you know."
Danielle stood up. "Welp, Katie, I'm, gonna go to bed, are you sure you don't need anything?"
"Yeah."
Danielle began walking to the door, but then stopped and turned back around. "Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you, would you be mad at me if I went out with Justin tomorrow night? Cuz, I know you need to be with friends right now, and I just want to make sure your-"
"Danielle, stop babbling. I think you should go out with him."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Danielle smiled. "All right. Good night."
"'Night."
Part Thirty Seven
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Part Thirty Nine