Disclaimer: You know the drill.
Jarod and Parker had been settled back in Jamaica for several months now. The kids were dressed in swimsuits when Parker came down the stairs.
"Mommy. Mommy. We're ready."
"Okay, give me a minute."
"Mommy."
"I will be ready in a minute." She walked over to table and left Jarod a note then picked up baby Sydney and took Kyle by the hand. "Okay, let's go."
They walked out the back door and met Debbie there. "I was just coming to the door."
"Well, they couldn't wait."
"Here let me help you." Debbie took Kyle's hand and they walked to beach where Parker sat the baby down. As Debbie spread out some towels, Catherine took off running toward the water.
"Catherine, get back here."
"Mom."
"Catherine Rose Russell."
She knew she was in trouble. She hung her head and walked back toward her mother."What?"
"You can't take off like that. I told you to wait on someone to go in the water with you."
"Mommy, I'm ready now!"
"Catherine."
"Sorry."
Debbie volunteered to go with her.
"Okay, but be careful."
Parker watched Kyle and Sydney play in the sand as Broots and Angelo soon joined her with their towels.
Angelo ran his hands through the sand. "Hot."
Parker touched his hands. "Angelo."
He looked up at her and smiled as she handed him a shovel.
Broots and Parker finished their conversation when an average size woman with dark hair and hazel eyes walked by. Broots stared at her as she went to her towel and sat down.
"Broots." He knew Parker was talking but he didn't hear what she was saying.
"Broots," she tried again.
"Uh," he answered as he turned his head toward her.
"Broots, why don't you go over and talk to her?"
"Me, go talk to her? She wouldn't be interested in me."
"I don't know Broots. She's looking this way."
"She's not looking at me."
"Yes, she is. Go over there. Talk to her."
"I can't."
"Fine." Parker got up and walked toward her.
"Parker, what are you doing?"
She didn't pay attention to him. She walked over to where the young attractive woman sat."Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"I couldn't help but notice the way you were looking at my friend."
"I'm sorry. I didn't..."
"No, it's okay. He's just a little shy. I couldn't help but notice the way he looks at you either. I have never seen him look that way toward a woman before. You really caught his eye."
It wasn't long before Jarod returned home and joined his family on the beach. He sat down beside Broots, who was rubbing in suntan lotion.
"Where's Melissa?"
"She is over there talking to that lady. I'm going to kill her," Broots shook his head.
"Why is she doing that?"
"She's talking to her about me."
"Okay. Why?"
"Because I was watching her as she came by and our eyes met."
"Broots, sounds like you're falling for this girl."
"Please, Jarod, just because we happened to glance at each other doesn't mean I'm falling for her."
"Okay, Broots." Jarod dropped the conversation.
"I mean, I can't help it if I saw her in the store the other day. She looked so beautiful. I tried to talk to her then but I couldn't. Then, I see her here again. I haven't seen a woman so beautiful in a long while. I never even thought about another woman since Debbie's mother."
"Broots, I said okay."
"Oh, yeah. I didn't mean to go on and on like that. Please don't tell Parker."
"I won't." Broots looked up and saw Parker come back this way.
"Broots," she said, smiling.
"Oh no....."
"Broots, she would like to talk to you."
"Oh man."
"Go on, Broots. Go!" Parker shoved him that way.
"Honey, what did you do that?"
"I wanted Broots to find happiness like we have," she answered as she kissed his lips.
"I sure he will, just let him do it at his own pace."
"If I let him do that at his own pace, he will never find anyone."
Jarod started to talk when Broots walked back. "Well..."
"Well, what?"
"Broots, did you get a date or am I going to have to go back over there?"
He just smiled.
"He has a date," Jarod answered.
"Broots. I'm so happy for you. When and where?"
"Well, we are all going out tonight."
"What do you mean we?" Parker asked.
"We, as in you, Jarod, me, and Janie."
"Broots, I don't think we need to go out with you."
"Come on, Parker. I haven't been on a date for a long time. You have to help me."
"Come on, honey. We have to help Broots out. After all he has helped us plenty of times."
She looks over at Jarod. "Okay. What time and where?"
"Well, we are going to meet Janie at 7:00 at Evitas."
"Meet her there. Mmm...Broots I know it has been a while but aren't you supposed to pick her up, not meet her."
"Yeah, but we thought it would be best to meet somewhere that is neutral ground."
"Oh, that makes sense." Parker looks at Jarod's watch. "Oh, I better get ready if we are going to be there at 7:00."
"Honey, it's only noon."
"I know but I have to get ready. I don't know what I am going to wear. These things take time, Jarod."
"Oh, yeah. I forgot. You are female."
"What does that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." He didn't want to go there.
"You want me to look good, don't you?"
"Yeah, but not to good. Someone might hit on you and I would have to fight them." He kissed her lips again and she pulled away.
"I can take care of myself."
"I know you can, honey." Jarod shook his head and smiled. He took he bucket of sand that Kyle left sitting beside them and dumped it on her.
"Jarod, now when I go to get ready I will have to try to get all the sand out of my hair."
"I have a better way." He pointed toward the ocean.
"Oh no!"
"Oh yes!" He picked her up and carried her over his shoulder to the water, with her kicking and screaming all the way, he didn't dare set her down until he got in the water.
"Jarod! I'm going to get you."
"You can bet on it." He grabbed her and held on tight, looking up he saw Sydney coming that way. He grabbed her just before she went to far. Parker slipped up behind Jarod and pushed him down in the ocean.
"Hey, I have Sydney," he yelled as he went down.
Parker grabbed her from Jarod's arms and took off toward the shore. She sat Sydney down before Jarod could clutch her foot, taking hold of it he dragged her back out with him.
"What did you do that for?" he asked.
"Getting even."
He snatched her up and gave her kiss. She wrapped her arms around him, "I love you. I hope you never forget that."
"I won't." He kissed her back.
After their little fun in the ocean, she headed back toward the house. Jarod soon followed leaving the kids with Broots. They weren't ready to go in.
He opened the back door and saw his wife in the kitchen.
"What are you doing?"
"Fixing something to drink. Would you like something?"
He walked over to her, grabbed the coke out of her hand, "I'll take this one." And hurried out.
"Jarod!"
He turned around and grinned.
"You are just as bad as the kids."
"I know."
She knew just how to get her coke back. She motioned for him to come toward her with her index finger and smiled.
"It's not going to work."
"All I want is a kiss."
"Yeah, right."
"It is. I promise." She continued motioning for him. Finally, he came toward her. She kissed his lips as she recaptured her coke.
"I knew it. All you wanted was your coke." Intensifying the kiss, Jarod licked his lips.
"Mmm...that's was good. Can I have another one?"
"I don't know. Can you be a good boy?"
"Me...be good. Always."
"Well, in that case I better not get you what you want. I only give in when you have been bad."
"I can be bad," he answered as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I don't know. You already said you could be good."
"Give me a minute and I can be bad." He raised an eyebrow.
"I don't have a minute. I have to go take a shower."
"Ooo, a shower." His eyes lit up.
"Alone."
"That's no fun."
"Well, what if the kids come in looking for one of us?"
"Well, then we tell them to wait a minute because we are taking a shower." He followed her up the stairs.
She turned to face him and ran right into his chest. "Jarod."
"Yeah."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm taking a shower with you and you are not going to stop me."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips. "Okay, come on." She really missed showering with him too.
*********
Debbie looked at her dad. "You are not going to wear that, are you?"
"What is wrong with it?"
"Well, for one thing it went out style 10 years ago."
"Then, what do you suggest?"
She went through his closet. "Well, do you have time to go shopping?"
"No."
"Well, I guess this will have to do." She pulled out a pair of black dress pants and handed them to him then continued going through his closet as he combed what little hair he had.
"Debbie, are you okay with me going out?"
"Yes, daddy. You need to go out."
"Now, if you aren't tell me. I can stay home."
"No, go. Have a good time. Besides, Melissa would kill me if you backed out."
"Yeah, me too."
"Here, try this." She handed him a shirt.
"No, I don't like that one."
"Okay, how about this one." She handed him another and he stared at it for a moment. "Come on, dad. It's white."
"How about the blue one?"
"What about the purple one?"
"I don't know."
"Dad, hurry up. You were supposed to be at Jarod's 20 minutes ago."
"I know. I know. Okay, the white one."
She smiled and handed him a tie to match. "Let's go."
"Wait, what about the gray sweater instead of the tie?"
"Okay, but hurry."
They handed out of his room when she stopped him. "Wait." She moved close enough to her father to notice he was wearing any cologne. "Here put this on." She handed him a bottle of Cool Water.
He turned back around and put on the cologne. "Happy now."
"Yes. We better get going."
********
Jarod was standing impatiently at the bottom of the stairs. "Melissa, come on. We are going to be late."
"I'm coming. Is Broots here yet?"
"No."
"Well, then I have I some time."
"Broots is late," he said as the door bell rang. "There he is. Now, come on."
"Give me a minute," she yelled as he opened the door.
"Broots, you look nice."
"Thanks. I guess."
"Daddy, can you watch cartoons?" Kyle was pulling at his shirt tail.
"Yeah." Jarod went to the TV and turned it to the cartoon network as Parker came down the stairs.
"I'm ready."
"It's about time," Jarod said without looking up.
"Well, let's go."
"Wait."
"What?"
"Scooby is on."
"Jarod, you can watch Scooby later. Let's go!" she grabbed his arm and pushed him toward the door.
He glanced up at her bare neck. "Wait."
"Now, what?"
"Something is not right."
"What do you mean something is not right?"
"Something is missing."
"What?"
"You."
"What about me?"
"You are missing something."
She looked down at her dress. "I don't think so but you are going to be missing something if you don't hurry it up."
"Yeah, you are." He pulled a diamond necklace from his pocket and fastened it.
They arrived at the restaurant at the same time as Broots' date.
"Janie, you look beautiful," Broots commented as he held the door open for them.
"Well, thank you Mr. Broots."
"Please, just call me Broots. I guess you remember Melissa."
"Yes. It's nice to see you again."
"The pleasure is all mine."
"This is her husband, Jarod."
"Hello Jarod. It's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too, Emily."
They went to their table where Jarod helped his wife with her chair. He kept his eyes fixed on her.
"You really look beautiful tonight," he whispered in her ear.
"Well, thank you."
Broots, pulling the seat out for Janie, can't help but notice the cologne she is wearing. She smelled really nice. He was going to comment when the waiter came over.
"Hello, my name is Robert. I will be your waiter tonight. What can I get you to drink?"
"Well, Robert I will have a glass of white wine," Parker said while flipping the menu back and forth.
"Me too," Jarod answered. He turned toward his wife and pointed out something on the menu. "What about this?"
"I don't know. I was thinking more about this." She pointed at something else.
After dinner, they visited over coffee. Parker observed the way Broots was watching Janie. She leaned over to Jarod, "Lets pay and take a walk outside."
"Okay."
Parker turned to Broots, "Will you excuse us? We are going to take a walk outside."
Broots halfway listening replied, "Okay. See you later."
"We will meet you back here in a couple of hours," Parker remarked as Jarod led her out with his hand at the small of her back.
"I like her," Parker mentioned as they walked down the sidewalk arm and arm.
"I do too. She is really nice. I think Broots did well."
"Yes, but I would really like to kiss you right now."
"Well, what's stopping you?"
"Nothing." She leaned forward for a kiss, her tongue entered his mouth slowly. She deepened the kiss when his arms went around her waist.
*********
Broots and Janie decided to take a walk also. They walked down by the pier, going for her hand, Broots took it back. He wasn't sure if now was the right time. Janie noticed Broots move and took his. She smiled at him as they continued walking.
"So, tell me all about yourself, Mr. Broots."
"Broots, please."
"Oh yeah. Broots. I forgot."
"Well, I have a beautiful daughter, who I love very much. I would do anything for her. What about you? Do you have any children?"
"No, I never found the right man."
"Yeah, I know what you are talking about. Well...the right woman. I mean."
"It's okay. I knew what you were talking about."
Broots sighed. "So, tell me about you."
Janie took a deep breath. "Well, I'm photographer who comes here to hide out."
"Hide out?"
"Yeah. Sometimes I like to get away." She looked up into his eyes. "You know you have a nice face. I would like to photograph you sometime."
"Sure. I guess. I usually try to hide for the camera but for you I would do it."
"Thank you."
"So you said you don't live here."
"Well, no. Not actually. I have a place here but I live in the states. But who knows after tonight, I might be willing to visit more often."
Broots grinned. "How long are you here for now?"
"I came for a month. I really needed a break."
"I hate to change the subject but what do you do?"
"I'm into computers." Broots hated to tell her where he worked before. He wanted to make a clean break so he kept his past behind him. He looked at his watch, "Oh, look at the time. I bet they are waiting on me."
Janie took Broots' arm as they walked back toward the restaurant. "Broots, I really had a nice time. I hope to see you tomorrow."
"Yeah. Me too. What do you say we meet for lunch?"
"I would like that."
"Okay, say I meet you at Port Royal at noon."
"Okay, it's a date."
As they came closer to the restaurant, Broots saw Parker and Jarod waiting for them. They weren't really paying any attention to him. Parker, hugged up to Jarod, "I am ready to get you home."
"Not as ready as I am," he whispered in her hair.
"If we weren't outside here in public I would take you down."
"It wouldn't take much to take me down, honey."
Broots and Janie stepped closer to them, clearing his throat, Broots said, "Are you ready?"
Parker was still gazing into her husband's big brown eyes. "Yeah. If you are."
Turning toward Broots, they got into the car and left Janie and Broots to say good bye.
"I'm going to walk her to her car," he advised as he poked his head in the car.
Broots made sure Janie got to her car safely. "Don't forget, noon tomorrow."
"I won't. Thanks for a nice evening, Broots." She kissed his cheek.
Broots made his way back to the car. "Well, Broots."
"Well."
"Did you have a good time?"
"Honey, will you leave him alone."
"Jarod, I want to know how it went?"
"Well, I don't kiss and tell."
"So, Broots had a good time."
"Yes, I did and that is all I'm going to say."
"One more thing and I will leave you alone."
"I doubt that," Jarod commented to himself.
Parker cut her eyes to Jarod. "Are you going to see her again?"
"Yes, tomorrow."
"Ooo...Broots. I'm proud of you," Parker grinned as she turned toward Broots who was sitting in the back seat. Jarod glanced at her and took her hand.
They arrived home and Broots went in to pick up Debbie.
"Well, dad, did you have a nice time?"
"Yes, I did. I am going to see her tomorrow for lunch."
"That's good."
"Are you ready to go home?"
"Yeah, let tell everybody bye."
Debbie and Broots left for home. Parker went upstairs, she went walked by and found Angelo in his room.
"Angelo."
He turned to face her with tears falling down his cheek, she went over to him. She put her arm around him.
"What's wrong?"
He looked into her eyes, holding some of Kyle's legos. "Won't." He tried to pull them apart.
Parker grinned, pulled them apart and handed them back to him. "There you go."
"Thanks."
She patted his back and stood up. She turned to walk out when she saw Jarod standing in the doorway.
"You are getting better with him."
"Well, after having kids I seem to have more patience than I used to."
He put his arm around her and led her toward the bedroom. "Are the kids in bed?"
"Sort of."
"Jarod, what do you mean sort of?"
"Well, they are in bed but they are waiting on you."
"Oh, I see. I will be there in a minute. I wanted to change first."
Before Parker could change clothes, their bedroom was flooded with kids. "Mommy."
"I'm coming. I was going to change clothes first."
"Mommy, can we sleep with you and daddy?"
She looked over at Jarod, he nodded his head. "I guess so." She really wanted to spend time alone with her husband but figured her kids wanted the same. She changed into her night clothes and climbed into bed with the kids. It wasn't long until the kids fell asleep. Jarod rolled over toward his wife, "Honey, are you asleep?"
"No, how can I?" He saw Kyle's feet in her back. Catherine was hanging onto her mother's side and Sydney was laying between them, cross ways. "Jarod, I don't think this was a good idea."
Jarod slipped out of the bed, carefully picked up Catherine from her mother's side.
"Come on." He helped Parker out of the bed and sat his daughter back down.
"Where are we going?"
"To another bed." He took her hand and she followed him to Catherine's room.
They slipped into the bed. Jarod stayed close to his wife, kissing her lips. "And what do you want to do, Mr. Russell?"
"Hold you tight," he answered in her ear. He put his big, strong arms around her and kissed her neck. "I love you."
"I love you too." Her body stayed next to his as they soon found the rhythm they knew so well.