zampsa19752001: Mother’s have that ability to drive their kids nuts. My Mother does it to me. I hope you enjoy their dinner. I had fun writing it. I’m glad you enjoyed the dreams.
willowtaralover: HI!
I have never met Steve Rankin, but I hear he is nice.
When the last update was posted it was close to Halloween! Today it is Thanksgiving so this chapter is fitting.
Another possibility for a present to Willow, though this may be better as a honeymoon, is a roadtrip to Napa Valley where they have all the wine houses.That is a good idea too! I’ll see if that works with how things play out.
I love the idea of Willow and Buffy playing video games together. It's something that I had never really considered in the fics that I'd written.Playing video games is fun...I like to incorporate it in when I can. Plus, that is what they did early on in the story.
Enjoy their Thanksgiving dinner!
I'llAlwaysFindYou: I am glad you are enjoying the story. I hope you enjoy the latest update.
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<--- too cute!
=====================================Title: Meant To Be
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these Characters, just borrowed them and wish I did own them.
Rating: PG-13 – NC-17Author: Branny72
Feedback: Pretty please…it helps me improve and if I get stuck it gives me ideas on where you would like to see the story go!!
Summary: AU – Willow is graduating from college at UC Sunnydale and has accepted a job with a company that is new in town. One night, while out with some friends Willow sees an attractive blonde who turns her life upside down. (No Vamps, No Hellmouth, No Magic...)
Authors Notes: Thank you to Willara4ever for all your help with this story. I appreciate your reading it and helping me with the idea.=====================================
Chapter 47Morning arrived and so did Willow’s nerves. She wasn’t sure why she was nervous. SHE wasn’t the one hosting the dinner. Today was all on her parents, and then Willow realized that was why she was nervous. She never had a close relationship with her parents and this was an unusual and new experience and she was sharing it with her soon-to-be extended family.
Willow knew she wasn’t going to be able to rest anymore and got up. She made her way into their home office. She hoped that playing on the computer would help to clear her mind. She normally would have stayed in bed and either, read on her tablet, or played on her laptop. Today was different. She wanted Tara to be able to sleep in, and she knew she was much too restless to be still.
“Let’s see what happening on Facebook and Twitter this morning,” thought Willow as she logged into her accounts. “Not a damn thing...oh wait, it is only five in the morning why would anything be happening.”After reading the news on her computer and playing on her social media sites, Willow decided that it was time to shower. As she entered the room, she saw Tara lying on her side, an arm draped over Willow’s pillow that she was now cuddled up to. Willow couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have some an amazing and beautiful woman in her life. A lot had changed in the last six months.
Willow watched Tara sleep for several minutes before grabbing her clothes for the day and heading into the bathroom to shower. After her shower, Willow finished getting ready before leaving the bathroom.
“How long have you been up?” Tara asked, her voice laden with sleep.
“For a couple of hours,” Willow said glancing at the clock and seeing it was already just after seven in the morning.
“What’s wrong, Sweetie?”
“I’m nervous about today.”
“Why?” asked Tara as she motioned for Willow to join her back in bed.
“I just want everything to go well today,” Willow said as she sat down on the bed and allowed Tara to pull her into an embrace. “This is the first time our families are going to be together. And not in a business ‘everyone acts professional and appropriate’ setting. What if it goes bad? What if your Dad decides that he doesn’t want you to marry me because of my family? Or something that my parents say.”
“Oh Willow,” Tara kissed the side of Willow’s head. “My Dad adores you. And anything that could happen with your families would never change that. And, as for him not wanting me to marry you for ANY reason; that isn’t his choice, that is mine, and you are stuck with me.”
“Promise?”
“Of course. Is there anything else bothering you?”
“What if my dad drops the turkey, or my mom burns the pies? What if the turkey is dry? What if they forget the rolls?”
“If your dad drops the turkey we will all have a good laugh and then we’ll figure out something else to eat. I don’t think we have to worry about that much though. Or...is your dad as clumsy as you are?” Tara asked with a mischievous grin.
“I'm not clumsy! The floor just hates me, the table and chairs are bullies, and the walls get in my way for their own entertainment,” pouted Willow.
“Well, I will have to have a chat with the table and chairs, and maybe the walls,” Tara said with a giggle. “And if the turkey is dry, we’ll drink a lot of wine or whatever else there is to drink. Was there more bothering you?”
“No, those were the big ones that were bothering me. How is it, you can always make me feel safe, secure, and loved, no matter what is going on?”
“Because, I love you,” Tara said. “What time do you need to be at your Mom’s again?”
“I have to be there by ten,” Willow said.
“Good, we have time for a proper cuddle.”
The two women lay holding one another enjoying their time together until Willow had to leave.
“I’ll be there in an hour,” Tara said as she kissed the redhead before she left.
“Hopefully I’ll still be alive…” responded Willow wearily.
=====================================Willow stood outside her parents house for a few minutes. She gave herself a little pep talk and then knocked on the door. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt for some reason that it was the right thing to do, it was her childhood home, but she lived with Tara now and not here. Her father answered and stepped back allowing her in.
“Sorry the door was locked. I’m certain in your mother’s yammering this morning she told me to unlock it, but you know how she is,” said the dark-haired man as he hugged his daughter.
“It’s okay, Dad. I actually didn’t test the door, I just knocked.”
“Where is Tara?”
“Mom said that Tara could sleep in and come later with the others. She said I had to be here early to help set up.”
“I’m sorry,” teased Ira.
“Me too, Dad, me too!”
The two made their way into the kitchen where Sheila was cooking, prepping h’orderves, prepping dinner, and going over her list of things yet to get done for the day.
“Oh good, Willow. I am glad that you finally got here,” Sheila said flustered.
“Um, you told me to be here at ten, and it is just now ten.”
“I know, but I was hoping you would arrive earlier.”
“Sheila, if you wanted her here earlier, you should have told her to come earlier. Now, what do you need Willow and I to do?” Ira interrupted, before a fight could erupt between his wife and his daughter.
“I need you both to make sure that the tables are set up in the dining room and living room, that the drinks are in the fridge, and that the house is clean. Willow, that includes your bedroom.”
“Why does that include my bedroom?”
“Well, if I am going to give your friends a tour of the house, that is going to be one of the rooms in the tour. Now, you go make sure that it is all clean, and then come help your father. Ira, you go set up the tables to put the h'orderves on in the living room.”
“Yes ma’am,” Ira and Willow said together before leaving the room.
=====================================Willow made her way up to her room. The room was clean, Willow knew that. When they were in High School, Buffy often accused her of keeping her room too clean. As Willow looked around the room and saw so many memories. She saw the books on her bookshelf that her parents had sent her while she was growing up and they were off on business. She had a picture on her desk of her and Buffy from when they first met. There was another one on the nightstand by her bed of her, Buffy, Dawn, and Joyce. It was taken the one Christmas where it had actually snowed in Sunnydale. She saw the poster on her wall that was hanging in the dorm room she shared with Buffy their Freshman year. She had brought the poster home after that year. They had outgrown the hippie tye-dye peace signs.
Willow debated on hanging out in her room rather than dealing with her mother, but she didn’t want to leave her father to have to do all the work. She headed back downstairs and helped him with getting things set up, and making sure the house was immaculate. Pillows were fluffed, magazines stacked or put away, everything neat and tidy.
=====================================“Hey, Tara,” Faith called and she and Emily walked towards the Rosenberg’s front door.
“Good morning! How are you two doing today?” asked Tara.
“Good,” answered Emily. “Where is Willow?”
“She had to be here early to help set up. Her Mom has been driving her nuts for over a week now. Sheila decided to spare me the added torture, and told me I could come later.”
“Wow, Red really does love you,” laughed Faith. “I would have made your ass come with me anyway.”
“Hello, beautiful women...and my sister,” Donnie said as he wrapped his arms around the three women.
“Donnie, behave or I’ll ask Ira where an out of the way corner is and you can have a timeout,” teased Donald as he joined the four younger people.
“Hi, Daddy,” Tara said before hugging the older Maclay.
“Hi, Sweetheart.”
The group made their way up to the door, Donald knocked, and they waited for someone to answer.
=====================================Willow heard a knock at the door and quickly made her way over. She was curious to see who was first to arrive. She hoped that it was Tara, she missed having her close.
“Oh, wow, hi everyone,” Willow said as she opened the door to see the other guest standing there. “Come on in.”
“You survived,” Tara said kissing Willow quickly.
“Barely,” Ira said as he entered the foyer. “It was touch and go for a while, but she pulled through.”
“Hello, Ira. Thank you for inviting us today,” Donald said shaking Ira’s hand.
“As my wife puts it, ‘we are going to be family soon’. I would like to get to know the people important to my daughter better.”
“Oh, I thought I heard voices,” Sheila said as she entered the foyer. “Please, everyone, come into the living room and make yourselves comfortable.”
The group made their way into the living room. Donald, Ira, and Donnie each took a seat in one of the recliners. Faith and Emily sat on the couch, and Willow and Tara sat cuddled together on the loveseat.
“Ira, you are on drink duty. Willow, why don’t you show your friends around,” instructed Sheila.
Willow showed Tara, Faith, and Emily around. Donnie, Donald, and Ira started discussing football and who was going to win in each game. Donald was convinced that the Lions were going to beat the Bears, the Seahawks were going to beat the 49ers, and the Eagles were going to beat the Cowboys.
“Dad, you are insane. The Cowboys are going to win,” Donnie informed his father.
“I have to agree with your son Donald. The Cowboys are playing at home,” said Ira.
The three men debated records and the history of teams playing on Thanksgiving day. They were still in a heated debate when Emily and Faith joined them.
“Where’s Willow and Tara?” asked Ira.
“Willow was showing Tara some of the stuff in her room from her childhood and we decided that they could use the time alone,” Faith said.
The group went back to discussing football. Faith and Emily put in their two cents as well.
=====================================“Welcome to my room,” Willow said as she and Tara entered the room that had been hers for the first eighteen years of her life.
“It smells like you,” Tara said taking a deep breath.
“I’m not sure if that is good or not.”
“Oh, that is very good.”
Willow pulled Tara onto her bed and kissed her.
“Sweetie, you have to get rid of the stuffed animals if you want this to go further. I’m not into stuffed animal porn.”
“Baby, wouldn’t that be if the stuffed animals were giving US a show?”
“Either way, you don’t get lucky with that many eyes watching. For all I know one of them has a nanny cam in it.”
"Only three of the possible twenty are perverted enough to have cameras to tape the fun," teased Willow.
“Will, is there snow in this picture?” Tara asked taking the photo off the nightstand.
“Yeah, there is. I think it was the only time it has ever snowed in Sunnydale.”
"Interesting. I didn't think it would ever snow in Sunnydale. So, now on to more pressing questions. Have you ever been kissed in your bedroom? Has there ever been more to happen than kissing in your bedroom?"
“That depends. Does you kissing me in here a few minutes ago count?” Willow asked as she sat up next to Tara on the bed.
“Well, I have to mark my territory,” Tara said licking her lips. “So, have you ever been kissed in your bedroom?”
“Yes,” Willow blushed.
“Where?”
“What do you mean where? Where in the room was I kissed or where on my body was I kissed? I mean it could be either I suppose and you probably want to know both and I bet the next question is going to be who kissed me. I know who you are thinking…” babbled Willow until Tara pressed their lips together.
“Yes, I want the answers to those questions, but only if you want to tell me,” Tara said softly as they broke apart. Tara leaned her forehead against Willow’s.
“Oz kissed me once on the lips over by the window. That is the only thing that has ever happened in here. Until today, that is.”
“Well, then I need to mark that area,” Tara said standing up and pulling Willow over by the window and kissing her soundly. Both women groaned into the kiss. “Where else in the house do I need to make mine?”
“Mmmm, you mean you are going to kiss me in each spot?”
“Yes, I am,” Tara said winking at Willow.
“And if I lie to get more kisses?”
“There is no need to lie, I’m more than happy to christen any place in this house in any way you want...as long as nobody is going to walk in on us, or stuffed animal porn.”
Willow let that thought sink in for a minute before she smiled and pulled Tara close before pressing the blonde to the wall.
“I love you,” Willow said before kissing her.
“Mmmm, I love you too. We should probably be getting back. I’m certain if we are gone too long Faith and Emily will take the opportunity to make us blush.”
“I’m okay with them making you blush,” teased Willow.
“Sweetie, if they make me blush, they are going to make you blush too.”
“Good point.”
The couple shared a couple more soft kisses before heading back down to the living room.
=====================================“Willow?” Sheila called as Willow and Tara passed the kitchen headed back to the living room.
“Yes,” Willow said popping her head into the kitchen.
“I need your help keeping the snack trays filled.”
“Yes ma’am,” Willow said. She turned and gave Tara a brief kiss and a whispered ‘I love you’. The blonde squeezed her hand and then headed back to the living room while Willow went into the kitchen to gather some stuff to refill the plates.
“Don’t you think you should check to see what is needed first?” asked Sheila.
“Probably, but at least this way I’m not making a wasted trip,” Willow responded.
She took the items and refilled the plates that Sheila had set out earlier. She looked over to see that Tara had joined in the heated football discussion that was happening.
“Need some help?” asked Emily as she jumped up not wanting to be a part of the sports talk any longer.
“Sure, although if my Mother asks, nope, I’m good. Aren’t you a football fanatic?” laughed Willow.
“Not a chance in hell. Are you?”
“Do I look like a sports enthusiast?”
“No more than I do. Let’s go get the rest of the food restocked. I’m sure the others will appreciate it.”
“That depends on how intense that conversation gets. Are they always this intense?”
“No clue. I’ve never been around them during football season. I know that Faith and Tara are pretty intense just from some of the stories Faith has told me,” said Emily as they entered the kitchen.
“Willow, you know that guests don’t help they are to sit back and relax,” admonished Sheila.
“It was my choice Mrs. Rosenberg. I’m not a sports fan, and it was getting a bit too intense for me out there. Willow offered for me to come and hang out in here with the two of you,” Emily quickly responded.
“Oh, is it really that bad?”
“Well, Mr. Maclay and Mr. Rosenberg are debating the different coaching styles, Tara, Donnie, and Faith are discussing different players and the season they’ve had. I don’t see why they care, it is just a sport,” said Emily.
“I agree,” Sheila said smiling at the brunette and the three of them went about finishing making Thanksgiving dinner.
=====================================Sheila put the food out on the table. Willow filled the wine glasses with the expensive wine her parents had bought. Emily filled the water glasses.
“Ira, dinner is ready,” Sheila said from the doorway to the living room. “Ira, dinner is ready.”
“I don’t think he’s listening, Mom,” Willow said.
“Oh, I know how to get your Father’s attention,” Sheila smiled.
“Oh god,” Willow said backing away from the door.
“Ira, your mother will be here in five minutes,” Sheila called loudly into the living room.
Ira heard his wife and jumped up from the chair getting caught in one of the pillows he had set on the floor and fell back into the chair tipping it over backwards.
Everyone laughed and Sheila went in and helped her husband up.
“That was mean,” said a very embarrassed Ira.
“Well, I had to get your attention somehow.”
“So, your mother isn’t going to be here?” asked Donald.
“No, she passed away ten years ago.”
“She was a very intense woman,” started Sheila. “If Ira didn’t have the door open and wasn’t waiting to get her bag immediately, we were disrespecting the elderly. There was a schedule for everything and she was the timekeeper.”
“She was like that my whole childhood.”
“Well, dinner is ready,” Sheila said. Ira grabbed the remote and started to turn up the television. “Ira, you turn that up any further and you will be pitching a tent in the back yard. We are having a nice meal and you are not going to ruin it with football.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ira said.
As Sheila turned around and started to lead everyone to the dining room, Ira stuck his tongue out at her causing Willow and Emily to giggle.
“I know what you are doing Ira, and you had better watch it, or you will be washing dishes alone tonight as well.”
“Everything looks great,” Ira said as they entered the dining room. He walked over to his wife and kissed the side of her head causing Willow to shudder slightly. She didn’t think she would ever be comfortable with seeing or hearing about her parents kissing, or other items that are better left unsaid.
“Sheila, it looks as though you have truly gone above and beyond. Thank you, again for inviting us,” Donald said.
“We are going to be family soon, it is only right that we get to know one another.”
“Thank you for extending the invite to us as well,” Emily said motioning to her and Faith.
“Well, from what I am told you are family as well. It is only right,” Sheila said as everyone was seated.
Ira stood at the head of the table sharpening the knife preparing to cut the turkey.
“I’ve spent the past week watching cooking shows and youtube videos learning the best way to cut this turkey,” Ira said.
“You watched youtube videos?” snickered Willow.
“Yes. I’m not THAT old that I can’t understand that site.”
“I’m just surprised is all, Dad.”
“Don’t be, Willow. Bunny helped him. She stopped by to pick up some stuff for Joyce and saw him getting frustrated and took pity on him.”
“Wow, Buffy helped. I’m not sure if I am more impressed that she was able to help or that you were ‘hip’ enough to try to search for the videos.”
“Watch it kid. I know how you love Turkey and I can arrange for you to be last and get very little.”
“Mooom, Dad’s being mean,” whined Willow.
“You two stop it. What type of impression are you making on our guests,” Sheila said glaring at Ira and Willow.
“Don’t worry Sheila, I’m used to whiny kids. I did have Tara, Donnie, and Faith to contend with over the years.”
“Hey, we were perfect angels, Dad,” Donnie said unable to keep a straight face.
“Sure you were. Do you want me to tell stories about you three?”
“I do,” said Willow.
“Me too,” said Emily.
“I would prefer if you didn’t,” Faith said looking between Emily and Mr. Maclay.
“I only have one really good one about Willow,” Ira said seeing his daughter gulp when she realized the story he was talking about. “How about we do one story per kid?”
“I think that sounds fair. I just want to clarify, when you say per kid, you mean I can tell one on Donnie, one on Faith, and one on Tara, correct?”
“Yes, that is what he meant,” Sheila piped in.
“I’ll start with...hmmm...how about Donnie,” grinned Donald as his son flinched.
“Why not start with Tara? She’s the youngest of the three of us,” said Donnie.
“Nope, she’ll be my last and best story.”
“Crap,” Tara said under her breath.
“Oh, relax Tara, I will try not to embarrass you too much,” Donald said offering his daughter a warm smile.
“I’ll still love you, no matter what,” Willow whispered in Tara’s ear.
“I hope so,” Tara said, glancing over at her father.
“I think one of my favorite Donnie stories happened when he was about eight, I believe. Donnie, had this trouble making cat named Doug,” started Donald.
“Please, Dad, I beg of you…” started Donnie.
“Oh come on, this is a classic, and it is adorable.”
Donnie and Tara buried their faces in their hands and groaned.
“So, Donnie, had a crush on a girl from school. We had invited the girl and her mother over for dinner one night to get to know them better. We were sitting in the living room talking when Doug came racing into the room and jumped up on the back of the couch right behind the girl and her mother. They both screamed like school girls. We were used to it so we rarely jumped. Doug then raced off down the hall. My wife and I apologized for Doug, and we went about the night. Donnie and the girl were playing video games while we talked after dinner and Doug struck again. This time he came out from wherever he was hiding and unbeknownst to us started digging through this woman’s purse. He pulled her wallet out, her car keys, and then he pulled one last item out and brought it over to the middle of the living room to play with. Everyone thought it was adorable watching him roll around with this lace item. Donnie went over to see what he was playing with and held the item up looking very confused. When we looked closer it was a red lace bra. Now, I knew my wife didn’t have one of those, Tara was four so she wouldn’t have had one. The girls mother gasped and turned about as red as the bra when she realized that the cat had pulled it out of her purse. Donnie being the innocent that he was at the time told the lady that he wasn’t sure how the cat magically got it off her, but if she wanted to use the bathroom to put it back on, the bathroom was down the hall.”
The group erupted into laughter. Donnie blushed the color that everyone was imagining the bra to have been.
“You are evil, Dad,” Donnie mumbled.
“Oh that is priceless,” giggled Faith.
“Shush you. Remember your time is coming,” Donnie reminded her.
“Crap…”
“So, what happened then?” asked Ira.
“Oh, the woman was mortified and collected the items Doug had removed from her purse and they left in a hurry.”
“I would have too,” said Sheila.
“So, what about Faith?” asked Emily.
“Faith, well my wife had a rule. Whatever is put on the table, if you haven’t tried it before you have to at least try it.”
“That sounds like a good rule,” interjected Sheila.
“No it wasn’t,” groaned Faith as Donnie and Tara giggled. They both knew the story their Dad was about to tell.
“Well, it was the first year we had known Faith. Her family wasn’t around much, so we gladly became her surrogate family and therefore the rules for our kids applied to her as well. We were having a birthday celebration for my Aunt. There were about twenty or thirty of us at the party. We had all sat down to eat. My Aunt loved Brussel Sprouts, so my wife had made them for her. Tara we knew didn’t like them, and Donnie tolerated them. Faith however had never tried them, so I placed one on her plate and reminded her that she had to at least try it. Well, it was dead silent in the room as everyone had just started their meal. Faith took a bite of the brussel sprout and loudly said, ‘ew, this tastes like butt, slimey butt to be exact.’ Everyone heard her, Tara started to laugh, Donnie sat there with his mouth open, everyone else just stared or blushed. Faith then asked why everyone was looking at her. When we told her it was because of her outburst, she told us she hadn’t had one. She had no clue that she had even reacted to the bite she had taken. Tara pulled her out of the room and told her what happened. I don’t think I have ever seen Faith so embarrassed.”
“So, I should only make us brussel sprouts when I need entertainment. Gotcha,” laughed Emily.
“It was priceless. She had no clue, and even after I told her she thought I was making it up, but she couldn’t think of a better explanation for why everyone was looking at her like the were,” added Tara laughing.
“Well, why don’t we move to the dining room and then I will tell my Willow story,” said Ira.
“I’ll clean the table,” volunteered Willow.
“I’ll help her,” offered Tara.
“How about we all help clear the table and then we can all relax,” said Donald halting both Ira and Sheila’s objections. “Please, you made such an amazing meal, let us help.”
The group cleared the table and piled the dishes by the sink to be done later.
=====================================Tara and Willow were alone in the kitchen while everyone found a place in the living room relax and allow their meal to digest.
“Hey, Beautiful,” Tara said as she felt Willow wrap her arms around her waist.
“Hey,” Willow said as Tara wrapped her arms around her neck and pulled her into a hug. “Are you having a good day?”
“I’m with you, it’s the best day,” responded Tara as they broke apart. Tara raised one hand and ran her thumb along Willow’s jaw. “How are those nerves from this morning?”
“Better.”
“Good, I don’t like my girl being stressed,” Tara said before leaning in and kissing Willow softly.
“Mmmm, I love it when you kiss me,” Willow said as they finally pulled apart.
“That’s good, because I love you, and I love kissing you.”
“I love you, too.”
Neither woman saw the older woman that had started to come into the kitchen, but saw the moment they were having and gave them their space. Sheila was touched to see the love between her daughter and Tara. She didn’t doubt that they loved one another, but this was the first time she saw them together when it was just them being themselves.
Willow and Tara joined the others. They cuddled together in one of the over stuffed chairs.
“So, when do we get to hear Willow and Tara’s embarrassing stories?” asked Faith.
“Well, because Sheila and I were traveling so much, I don’t have a lot of stories to choose from, but I do have one. It was from when she was I think three…”
“Please, not that story,” pleaded Willow.
“I’m sorry dear, I don’t have a lot to choose from, and it is adorable.”
“I love you,” Tara whispered into Willow’s ear only to receive a faint smile.
“We were at my mother’s for Thanksgiving, and she was pouring the water for the glasses at the table in the dining room, when it is my understanding that one of them tipped over. The water spilled all over the table, the table cloth, my mothers pants, and one of the plates. Well, my Mother could curse like a sailor if she wanted to. She let out a string of swear words like none I had ever heard before. Willow and I went racing into the dining room to see what was going on. When we got in there the front of my Mother’s pants was very wet. Willow, being the innocent that she was tugged on my sleeve and loudly whispered, ‘Daddy, I think Grandma needs her diaper changed. She can borrow one of mine, hers leak.’ My mother was mortified, the rest of us couldn’t stop laughing,” Ira finished as the entire room was laughing, and Willow blushing.
“Nice one, Wills,” laughed Faith.
“Ever so caring,” Tara whispered before kissing the side of Willow’s head and pulling her closer.
“Well, I guess that leaves Tara’s story,” said Donald when the laughter calmed down.
“We don’t have to. I mean, everyone’s Tryptophan has to be kicking in, and we wouldn’t want to mess with that calming force,” Tara said as she received looks from her brother, Faith, and Emily.
“So, what is Tara’s story?” asked Emily.
“Traitor,” Tara said under her breath. Emily heard her and turned and smiled at the blonde.
“Well, one of my favorite stories was when Tara was three. We had a house in the country and my wife and I had planted a bunch of flowers, plants, and just greenery. Well, my wife didn’t like how some of the plants were growing up the trellis. She wanted to trim them, but I told her no. We had gone several rounds about this. We even had a few little fights about it.”
“I remember this story,” laughed Donnie. “It isn’t that embarrassing.”
“Shut up,” replied Tara.
“Anyway, one day I had gone to town to get some groceries and my wife took it upon herself to trim the plants on the trellis. She had told Tara to keep a watch out for me and warn her. At only three my angel was being used as a lookout in a conspiracy to commit flower murder,” laughed Donald as Tara blushed a deeper shade of red. “Well, they were almost done when Tara saw me coming down the driveway. She quickly ran back to my wife as I parked the car and I heard her screaming ‘Mommy, Mommy, run for your life. Here comes Daddy.’ It was so precious and hilarious. I wasn’t sure if I should be concerned or laugh. I mean, here is my three year old screaming at my wife to run for her life. When I saw what my wife had done, I understood, but it still brings a smile to my mind whenever I think about it.”
“Really, Tara?” laughed Faith.
“Baby, that is so sweet,” giggled Willow as she kissed Tara quickly.
“I was three people, sheesh,” Tara blushed, which only made people laugh harder.
The rest of the day was spent enjoying one anothers company. Everyone thanked Sheila and Ira for hosting the day and everyone agreed they would get together again.
=====================================“So, today wasn’t all bad,” Tara said as they got ready for and into bed.
“No, but the stories I could have done without.”
“At least yours was sweet,” Tara said as they cuddled together underneath the covers.
“So was yours. I love sweet, protective, little Tara.”
“Well, I love sweet, thoughtful, little Willow.”
They both giggled before drifting off to sleep in one anothers arms.
=====================================
TBC...