" Higher Terry, higher!," Avery yelled from the swing. Terry certainly felt like she had her hands full. While she was pushing Avery high in the swing, she was lightly pushing Zoe back and forth in the baby swing. At the same time she was watching Jessica and Mackenzie in the sandbox, where Jessica was teaching her little brother how to build a sand castle. She was glad that the Hanson kids were so easy to take care of.
" I don't want to push you too high, Avie. I'm afraid of pushing you right out of the swing," Terry reasoned. There was a sudden shout from Mackenzie.
" Ike!," he shrieked and ran towards Isaac. Isaac waited for him, arms oustretched and swooped him up when he reached him.
" Hey bud!," Isaac told him," Are you having fun?"
" Yeah! First we went to Dairy Queen and I got a hamburgar and french fries and a coke and I spilled my soda on the floor and I got ice cream and-"
" Mackie, here's an idea: Why don't you play with Jessie some more while I talk to Terry and you can tell me all about your day at dinner when everyone can hear?"
" Okay, Ike!," He replied and ran off.
" Aren't these guys driving you crazy yet!," Isaac asked Terry, who was still pushing Avery.
" Hey! That's not funny!," Avery exclaimed.
" I'm just kidding, Avie," Isaac chuckled.
" Nah. I love watching them," Terry grinned," At least if you ignore the fact that they're all future Zacs."
" Ain't that the truth?," he agreed. He was silent for a moment, then continued," Anyway, my mom sent me here to get everyone. She said she got enough of the housecleaning done."
" She didn't make you stay and help her finish it?," Terry asked in mock surprise.
" Actually, she gave me two choices: Get my brother and sisters and help you babysit for a couple of hours or clean house. Guess what I chose."
" Not to change the subject, but it's getting late.. We should get these guys home home befor it gets too cold," Terry said.
" Yeah, you're right. Hey, come on guys! Time to go home!," Isaac anounced, lifting Zoe out of her swing.
" Can I push Zoe's stroller?," Jessica asked.
" Can I have a piggy-back ride?," Avery begged.
" Can I have one too?," Mackenzie added.
" Wait a minute, wait a minute. How about this: Ike and I can each carry one of you, if that's okay with him, and Jessie, you can push her home if you're really careful. Does that sound good to you?," Terry asked Isaac.
" Sure."
" Guys?," she asked the kids.
" Okay!," they agreed.
After they gathered up the kids and toys and were on their way, Terry turned to Isaac and asked," So where was Zac in such a hurry to get to today, anyway?'
" Where alse? Felicia's house. Her parents went out for the day and he went to 'keep her company' ", he answered.
" What about Taylor?"
" He went to the mall with Maddy."
" Dang, you know, if your fans ever found out, Felicia and Maddy would be so dead!"
" What about that one ditz from McDonalds?"
" What about her?"
" You don't think she'll actually spread any crazy rumors about you supposedly being my girlfriend or anything like that, do you?"
" Are you really worried about that?"
" A little," he shrugged.
"Well, not really. Andrea Wilson may be popular, but she's also know as a major player, flirt, and a liar."
" She'd make a great lawyer, wouldn't she?," Isaac grinned.
" I don't think so. She'd be too worried about her make-up and making sure her nail polish isn't chipped to even know what the case is about. When she's not hitting on her client that is!" They began cracking up at the joke.
" Guys? What's a player?," Mackenzie asked from Isaac's back.
" That's someone who has a lot of boyfriends or girlfriends at once. That's not something you should do though," Isaac replied.
" Why not?"
" Because it's not nice. It's very mean to do that to someone," Terry explained.
" Why is it so mean?," Mackenzie pressed.
" Trust me, Mack. You'll understand when you're older," Isaac told him.
" Oh," was all he said. Mackenzie was silent for a moment, then he spoke up again. " Know what?"
" What?," they asked in unison.
" Taylor has a girlfriend and Zac has a girlfriend and if you dated Terry, then you'd have a girlfriend!"
Terry and Isaac glanced at each other nervously, but didn't answer. Isaac thought about that day in McDonalds and about what Andrea had said: " You could have told me you had a girlfriend". He had to admit, he liked the sound of it.
***************************************************
" Isaac, this is nice of you,but you really don't have to walk me home," Terry smiled.
" I know I didn't have to. I wanted to. You've been feeling pretty down lately and I was hoping to cheer you up," he replied.
Terry shivered and rubbed her arms. Isaac noticed. "Cold?"
" Yeah, a little," she replied. He took off his leather jacket and drapped it over her shoulders.
" Thanks," she said, putting her arms through the sleeves. She looked up at him, troubled. " But what do you mean, ' cheer me up' ?," she asked.
" Come on, Terry. You haven't been yourself lately. You don't joke the way you used to, you don't laugh or smile as much and you've been fighting with your mom a lot lately," he listed his reasons.
" Oh, I see what you mean," was all she said.
" Terry, why won't you tell me what's up? You can talk to me," Isaac urged.
" I know I can. Just let me sort out my feelings some more, kay Ike? I just really need to think. When I'm ready to tell you, I'll talk."
" I didn't mean to pressure you. I just wanted to let you know."
" I know you didn't and I appreciate your concern." By this time, they had reached her house. " Anyway, thanks for keeping me company."
" No problem."
" Here's your jacket," she started to hand it to him.
He waved it away with his hand. " Keep it. It's getting too small for me anyway and I know you've been wanting a leather jacket."
" Oh. Okay, thanks," she said, surprised, " Anyway, you might want to get home before it gets too dark."
" I will. In a minute," he said, " See you tomorrow?"
" Yeah. I'd like that," she said.
They leaned in closer and their lips slowly met in a soft, gentle kiss.
" Bye," Isaac smiled. He slowly turned and walked home.
" Bye," Terry said. Smiling, she stpped into the house and shut the door.
