Their laughter was so contagious that Vickygiggled with the image of Mr. Rutherford all 6’4” of him runningaround chasing a three year old. “Good, I’m glad you guys arehaving a good time. As soon as Jason and I get dressed, we’ll beover to pick her up. Is that okay? Can I speak to her?”
“No worries honey. You two take your time andfrom the sound of your voice it sounds like you’ve worked somethings out. Anyway, it’s good for you to have some alone time withJason. Angel’s fine, we’re fine and having a boatload of fun. So,take your time. I’ll put Angel on the phone.” Miriam called out toAngel. Vicky could hear her running over to the phone. “It’s yourmom.” and she put her on the phone. “Hello…”
“Hi baby girl. How are you? Are you having agood time?”
“Mommy, I am having so much fun! Nana andPoppy look so funny runnin’ round. Poppy’s face is all red.” Angelwas laughing so hard. The sound of her voice full of so much joymade Vicky emotional. That’s all she ever wanted to do was to giveAngel a happy family. “Where are you mommy? And, where isJ’son?”
“I’m with Jason actually, sweetheart. I’mover Jason’s house. We’ll be there soon to pick you up. Is thatok?”
Angel paused “Well…Joslin is goin’ totake me to get ice-crème and then she is takin’ me to park. She isso nice mommy. We painted funny pictures last night and we atepopcorn and watched Nemo. Can I stay for ice-crème and park?Pleeease?” Angel sounded so excitedVicky didn’t have the heart to tell her no.
“Well, let me talk to Mrs. Rutherford againto make sure it’s ok. I love you honey.”
“I love you too mommy.” Angel handed thephone back to Mrs. Rutherford.
“Angel thinks Jocelyn is going to take her toget ice-crème and the park. She seems to have really taken to her.Is the park far?”
“I know what you’re thinking but I’ve knownJocelyn for quite some time. She’s a wonderful girl and highlysought after nanny. Angel will be safe and it will give her achance to play with some kids her own age for a little while. Trustme on this you and Jason need this time alone and Angel is havingthe time of her life. We all are. As a matter of fact, if it’s okwith you, John and I can bring her home tonight after dinner.”
She and Jason really could use the alone timeand Angel seemed to really be enjoying herself. “Well, if you don’tmind...I guess that would be alright. Thank you and not just fortoday but…for EVERYTHING.”
“No, thank you. I haven’t seen Jason so happysince he met you and Angel. I’ll do my part to help where I can.You just do your part and continue to make my son happy. Is that adeal?”
“I’ll do my very best, I promise.”
“Good. Now it’s my turn to find the sillyrabbit so I’ve got to go.” They said their goodbyes thendisconnected the call.
Vicky didn’t know if her heart could be anyfuller. She didn’t know what she did to deserve all this but shethanked her lucky stars.
Chapter 3
Soon after she’d hung up the phone with Mrs.Rutherford, her cell phone rang. Vicky picked it up “Jason?”
“Sorry sweetheart it’s not Jason.”
“Oh, Sandy?”
“Yep, it’s little old me. I just wanted toknow how everything went last night. And, I want all the juicydetails. Don’t leave anything out.”
Sandy and Vicky had become really closefriends over the past few months. At first, Vicky thought it mightbe awkward seeing as Sandy was her supervisor in customer serviceat CkR International but surprisingly, they had really bonded.They’d been big support to each other as they tried to navigate thecomplicated waters of love.
Vicky giggled, “Well, it started outwonderful, got a little rocky, and couldn’t have ended better ifI’d planned it myself.”
“What the hell does all that mean? You musthave missed that part of class when they explained what ‘details’meant? Well, since you did let me explain what it means. I want aplay by play from the time Mrs. Rutherford picked you up from yourhouse to about 3 seconds ago.”
“Okay, okay. Mrs. Rutherford is an incrediblewoman. She hooked me up. When I wear make-up I typically buy itfrom the local pharmacy down the street or the local beauty supplystore. Well, she had her professional glam squad ready to turn meinto a princess. They did my hair and my makeup. Can you believethat? She also had one of the most gorgeous gowns I’d ever seenready for me to wear to their anniversary party. I’m sure you canappreciate this; it was Dolce and Gabbana along with a pair ofred-bottoms that you would have killed for.”
Vicky heard Sandy groan, “I am so jealous.Looks like you’ve found your very own fairy godmother. You’ve gotto send me pictures as soon as you can.”
“I will. I promise. Anyway, once I was readyI waited for her to text me that Jason had arrived. She wanted meto make a grand entrance. It seemed like forever to get the text.When I finally got it and made my way to the party I ran into theCFO, Franklin Roth. You know he’s a really nice guy once you get toknow him. Since Jason and Franklin are best friends, maybe the fourof us should do dinner or something. Anyway, all of Atlanta seemedto have come out for this party.”
“Were the Reeds there?” Sandy was curious asto how that was going to go?
“Yes. That’s when things got a little rocky.You know they’ve been friends with Jason’s family for years and itwas pretty obvious they didn’t want me around. I can’t prove it oranything but I’m sure they tried to set me up to send me off.”
“Set you up? Like, how exactly?”
“Well, Mrs. Reed sent me to the balcony tofind Jason but what I found was her precious daughter Bridgetwrapped all up in Jason’s arms. It made me want to throw up.”
“Bridget sounds like she hasn’t given up onbeing Mrs. Rutherford yet. What did you do? I would have slappedboth of them.”
“I think you’re right. But, no, I walkedaway. Jason didn’t know I
