That night after a rousing game of ‘Mommy, bet you can’t catch me.’ From Kelly who was just learning to walk. And Tommy not feeling well and Mark trying to help but being more of a nuisance than a help…and to top it all off the baby was cutting teeth.

Sabrina was thrilled to just sit and do nothing. But being the dutiful teacher that she was she picked up her papers and put on her glasses and began working on grading papers. The phone that was in her lap rang.

“Hey, Ike.”

“How did you know?”

“I figured it was you…it’s late here.”

“It’s not too late here. How was your day?’”

“Good. You?”

“Not bad…we have a concert in a few hours. I’m sleepy….you know I use baby language when I talk now… I told Taylor yesterday that I had to go to the potty.”

Sabrina laughed. “Well, at least you are staying in practice for the new one.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m starting to show.”

“Awww. I can’t wait to be there and see for myself.”

“I’m so glad that you will be home tomorrow.”

“I am too.”

“Mark was fighting with Tommy today.”

“Over what?”

“I’m not sure. Neither is giving me anything.”

“That’s how Taylor and I would fight. I would be very vocal. Mom would hear me and then I would get in trouble but I never told her why we were fighting so I was the one to always get in trouble even if it was Tay’s fault.”

“I wonder what it was about.” She said absently.

“Who knows?”

“I punished him. He went to bed without supper.

“Sounds reasonable.”

“Did you like homeschooling?” Sabrina asked seemingly out of the blue.

“Yeah, I did. Why?”

“No reason.”

“Rina, I know you better than that, something is going on in your head.”

“I’ll let you know when I have thought it out properly.”

Isaac sighed. “Okay.”

“How is Taylor and his girlfriend?”

“He misses her a lot. I think they are doing better than Taylor leads on.”

“Do you suspect that he will ask her to marry her?”

“I hope so. Mary is so much better than Karen. This is the only other serious relationship that he’s been in since all of that happened. How long ago was that?”

“About ten years ago.”

“God, it’s been that long?”

“Yup.”

“Well, that’s what’s going on with him.”

“Yeah, Mary and I got together a few days ago. She and I were discussing marriage and she told me that she hopes that Taylor asks her to marry her.”

“Oh good.” Isaac said. “Well, I gotta go they are telling me that I have to get in wardrobe and get ready for this show.”

“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. Do you want me to pick you up or have they made arrangements?”

“They’ve made arrangements.”

“Okay. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Good night.”

“Night.” Sabrina pressed the off button on the cordless phone and sighed. She put the phone on the couch next to her. She sighed and put the papers into her bag and locked up the house.

“Mommy.” Mark whispered. “Mommy.” He said in a slightly louder whisper.

Sabrina opened her eyes to see her son starring at her. She sat up, “What baby?” She looked at the clock. “It’s three in the morning.”

“My tummy itches and I have bumps on it.”

Sabrina blinked a little. “Come here. Let me look.” She touched her touch lamp and illuminated the room. Mark lifted up his shirt. There were little red spots on his belly. “Your tummy itches?”

“Yeah.”

She looked at him and smiled. “You just have chicken pox.”

“Is that bad?”

“No, I had them when I was little. The are just annoying. Come on get into bed with me.” Sabrina lifted the sheets.

Mark climbed in. “Will you get them, Mommy?”

“No, I’ve had them.” He looked at her strangely. “Once you’ve had them you can’t get them again.”

“Oh, that’s good. I don’t like this itching.” He said scratching his belly.

“Don’t scratch, that only makes it worse. Just rub them.”

He nodded.

Sabrina turned off the light and settled back into bed. She listened as Mark rubbed his stomach for a while then she heard his scratch. “Don’t, baby.”

“But they itch, Mommy.”

“I know, I know.” Sabrina got up. She went into the bathroom and was hunting for something to stop his itching. “Dang.” She sighed. “Baby can you wait until morning for me to get you something to put on them so they don’t itch?”

“Yeah, I think I can.” He said rubbing his stomach.

Sabrina grabbed a hair tie and put it around her lengthy hair. She then went back to bed and curled up with her son. She rubbed his stomach until he fell asleep.