Chapter 233

The slumber party was a great success. The girls had a good gossip session when everyone arrived, then headed outside where Richie started a fire in the pit. They roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and made s’mores until no one could eat another bite. At Ava’s request, Richie brought out a guitar and they all sang songs. When it got dark, Richie’s voice alternated between Igor and the evil scientist as he tried his best to scare the girls with ghost stories. The girls just laughed.

Finally, it was time to go inside. The furniture in the living room was moved to create a large space in the middle. Tori helped the girls spread out their sleeping bags while they argued over which movie to watch. Richie blew out a sigh of relief when they decided against Mamma Mia. The girls went upstairs to put on their pajamas and Tori went into the kitchen to make popcorn. She returned just in time to see Richie bop Ava on the head with a pillow.

“Daddy! What’d you do that for?”

He shrugged. “You looked like you needed a pillow. What’s the matter, can’t you take it?” He turned and bopped Kate.

“Hey!”

He grinned. Tori shook her head. “Richie! What are you doing?”

“Can’t you tell?” He bopped Ava again.

“Well, I know what it looks like, I just can’t believe it.”

Ava frowned at her father, picked up her own pillow, then froze and looked at Tori.

“Go ahead. Let him have it. He asked for it.” Tori gave her the green light and hid a smile when Ava walloped him.

Kate quickly followed suit. “Pillow fight!”

Tori stood back and watched Richie put up a valiant effort, but he was outnumbered and soon overpowered. The girls were declared the winners and Richie lay panting on the floor, defeated, but his dark eyes were sparkling.

Tori brought out popcorn and drinks and served the victors first, before handing a glass to Richie. “And one for the really big kid.”

He grinned, pulled himself up onto the couch, and accepted his glass. “So what now? Movie time?”

Ava gave her father an exasperated look, then sent a pleading one her stepmother’s way. Tori nodded and stood behind her husband where he sat on the couch. Sliding her hands over his shoulders and down onto his chest, she bent to murmur in his ear. “Now you quit harassing the girls and come upstairs with me.”

“But…”

“We can have our own slumber party.” She purred, slid a button free on his shirt and slipped one hand inside. “Pajamas are optional.”

He stood abruptly, said good night to the girls and escorted his wife from the room. Tori looked back over her shoulder to wink at Ava, who grinned and gave her the thumbs up. “Don’t forget to turn off the T.V. when you’re done Bean.”



Monday morning Gail called. “How are you feeling?”

“I feel great, but I need to go shopping for some pants. Mine won’t do up anymore.”

“I remember that stage. Not big enough for maternity clothes, but too big for your regular pants.”

“Bingo.”

“I’ll go shopping with you if you like. We could do lunch.”

“Sounds good.”

“Okay, now that we’ve got the pleasantries out of the way, what are you trying to do to us poor untalented, unimaginative parents?”

Tori frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“All I’ve heard about for two days is ‘Ava’s dad and Tori did this, and Ava’s dad and Tori did that, and Ava’s Tori doesn’t get Rosa to do that she cooks it herself’ and…did I hear right? Did Richie start a pillow fight?”

Tori laughed. “Yes. I think it was payback for not being able to scare them with ghost stories. Although they beat him at that too. Actually, I think he just wanted to be part of the fun. He really is like a big kid sometimes.””

“Well the two of you are making life hell for the rest of us. Kate’s already told us that she doesn’t want hired entertainment for her next party, she wants us to do it ourselves….or hire Richie! Melissa’s mom called me today and said that Melissa wants them to build a fire pit in their back yard and Sarah’s mom wanted to know what s’mores were and how you make them.”

Tori laughed. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be. From all accounts the girls had a great time, and Lord knows Ava deserves to have some fun. Although, Kate wondered if dipping the s’mores in maple syrup was a Canadian delicacy.”

“No, it’s a Peanut delicacy.”

“A what?”

Tori smiled. “Ava calls the baby Peanut.”

“Ah, cravings, I get it. Well, it could be worse than maple syrup. For me it was onion dip. On everything. Which of course gave me heartburn. For months my dessert was Tums.”

Tori winced and rubbed her stomach. “Ouch! I’ll take the maple syrup thanks. I may gain a little more weight than I should, but at least it won’t upset my stomach.”

“Oh, speaking of which, I thought I should warn you that Melissa came down with the flue today. Fever, vomiting, chills,… a real nasty bug. I hope you don’t get it.”

“Me too. I haven’t heard that Ava’s sick, so hopefully we’ll miss it.”

“Oops there goes my other line. I should get that. Call me when you’re ready to go shopping.”

“Will do, and thanks for the warning Gail. Talk to you later.”

“Bye Tori.”

“What warning?” Richie had entered the room in time to hear her last comment.

“Melissa came down with a nasty flue bug today.”

He frowned. “I hope you don’t get it.”

“So do I. But we haven’t heard that Ava’s got it, and I feel fine, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

The next morning, Richie woke to the feeling of something hot pressed against his chest. Glancing down all he could see was Tori’s head, nestled in her favourite spot. He started to doze off again when he realized the heat was coming from her.