"Thank you for calling Mother's Helpers, this is Jessy. How may I help you?" Jessy said answering the ringing phone as she returned from volleyball practice at school. "Barbara please." Diana asked. "Just one moment please, I'll get her for you." Jessy said heading to the backyard with the cordless phone, "Momma telephone. I'll watch the kids." Jessy announced. "Jessy. Jessy." the backyard called and the swings and slides were immediately evacuated as everyone dashed her way. "Hey everyone. How are you guys today?" Jessy asked and soon they surrounded her demanding attention. "Okay line up or no hugs." Jessy hollered and the children immediately lined up smallest to largest. "Very good, and why do we line up this way?" Jessy asked. "Big kids always look out for little kids." they screamed. "Very good." Jessy said as she made her way through the line with a hug and kind word for each of them. "Jessy I need you to take over here, there's an emergency need. Reverend Miller referred us. I'm heading there now, I'll call you as soon as I get there and find out what's up." Barbara said grabbing her purse and cell phone and heading to the car. As she followed the directions, she dialed the mothers of the children in her care to explain the emergency need and that Jessy was at the house watching the kids, "Jen I'm calling to make sure you are picking up Jimmy. Jessy won't release him to anyone besides you or Jim, and she has only seen Jim twice she may not let him go with him unless he shows I.D." Barbara informed. "I ought to send him to get Jimmy. That would put him in his place, his son's sitter doesn't know him and ask for I.D. before letting him pickup his own child. Ha. No Barbara, I'll pick him up as usual." Jen teased. "Good, I gotta go, here's my turn. Bye Jen." Barbara said pulling up to the gate box, ringing the buzzer, holding her drivers license in front of the camera. "Hello" Diana answered the buzzer. "Barbara of Mother's Helpers a referral from Reverend Miller. Diana called." Barbara answered as the gate slowly opened and she inched forward then headed up the driveway, pulling up by the house and parking. Before she made her way to the front door, it opened and out stepped Diana Hanson. "My it is you. Who will I have and how can I help you? Diana it will be all right, where's Walker?" Barbara asked a noticeably upset Diana. "He's in LA with the boys. I called him, they're headed home. I just don't know how bad it is yet or I'd take the kids with me. Maybe I should. I just don't know." Diana mumbled as Barbara wrapped an arm around her and headed into the house. "Hey kids, everybody wash your faces and hands. Jessie please help Zoe and Avie please help Mackie and meet me back here as fast as you can." Barbara asked turning back to Diana. "Diana, I'll drive you to the hospital and then I'm taking the kids to my place, everything new and different may distract them and help take their mind off things. Write a note to Walker, here is one of my flyers, write it on the back side of this and tell him the kids are with the lady on the flipside." Barbara said securing the house, locking windows and doors as Diana wrote a note. "Good job kids. Jessie, Avie are there any special items that Zoe or Mackie are attached to, favorite stuffed animal, blanket, pillow, toy, anything that makes them feel happy, safer?" Barbara asked. "Zoe has a favorite stuffed animal and blanket." Jessie said. "Sweetie can you show me her room so I can pack a diaper bag?" Barbara asked making her way upstairs with Jessie returning quickly. "Done Diana?" Barbara asked. "I guess." Diana mumbled. "Let's go troups. March. You too Mommy." Barbara ordered as they locked the door and loaded up in her van heading downtown to drop off Diana. "Mommy tell Grampa to get better, we love him and need him." Jessie asked. "Kiss him for me." Avie asked. "Me Papa sick." Mackie said. "PaPa" Zoe squealed swinging her stuffed bunny. "Yeah you're PaPa's Funny Bunny now." Jessie said tears filling her eyes. "Chin up Diana. He needs you to be strong. Now get in there and let him know you expect him to get better, you and his grand children need him." Barbara suggested. "Thanks. I needed that. I'll call you as soon as I know what's going on." Diana said heading into the hospital. "Well you are all in for a treat. Let's go home and have fun." Barbara said pulling back into traffic and making her way to her house. At the next stop light Barbara dialed home, "Jessy I'm on my way there. Any word from Chele yet?" Barbara asked. "Nothing yet Momma. She should be here by now." Jessy worried. "Call Donna and see if she left on time? I'll be there in a few more minutes." Barbara said hanging up as the light turned green. "Here's my house. Let's go play." Barbara said pulling into the garage, making her way around the van and open the back door and stepping in to unbuckle Zoe, picking her up as Avie unbuckled Mackie. "Follow the leader." Barbara said making her way out the door to the back yard, walking the balance beam, climbing the slide, sliding down, climbing the jungle gym, making footprints in the sand box, climbing to the fort and back as Jimmy and Mikey came out to play. Barbara introduced Mackie and led the girls into the house as the boys played. She led the girls upstairs to meet her Jessy. "You girls have fun, I'm heading to the kitchen to work on supper. Anything you guys don't like to eat? How about does everybody like lasagna?" Barbara asked after receiving no response. "We all love lasagna." Jessie shared. "Lasagna it is." Barbara said heading to the kitchen soon joined by a very unhappy Zoe. Cookies and milk brought a smile while Barbara put the lasagna together and started it baking. She and Zoe retired to the rocker with a selection of books to read as Jimmy mom came to pick him up. "No I don't want to go home. I want to play." Jimmy screamed. "Jen it's fine with me, actually it might help occupy Mackie." Barbara offered. "You sure?" Jen asked and finally decided to let Jimmy spend the night and headed to the back yard to let him know. Barbara and Zoe started their story again as the phone rang, "Mother's Helpers, this is Barbara." she answered. "Barbara it's Diana. I told him what you said and he's improving. At least it looks that way, the doctors are encouraged that he's fighting." Diana shared. "Thank God. And I'll do just that as soon as I'm done reading Zoe her story. How are you doing, you sound more grounded." Barbara asked. "I am doing much better. The not knowing, Walker not here, it was just too much. How are the children?" Diana asked. "Your Jessie and Avie are upstairs with my Jessy and I smell fingernail polish and heard the blow dryer. My Jessy is 14 and not sure if she likes boys more than climbing trees, playing football, skate boarding, or blading. You see my Jessy is the only girl of five, two older brothers and two younger. Mackie is playing with Jimmy and Mikey a couple of five year olds I sit for. Mikey is here 3 - 11 and Jimmy threw a tizzy fit when his Mom came to pick him up, so he's spending the night. Zoe is in my lap and I'm reading to her. We're having lasagna for supper. Diana I'm going to just plan on the kids spending the night so if you hear from Walker and the boys, you have them take care of you first, the kids are really doing quite well. I think my funny bunny here is feeling more relaxed, she's the only one I worry about though." Barbara reported. "Well, you are my guardian angel." Diana insisted. "Diana don't get carried away here, remember it's my chosen profession helping you out. You go back to your Dad and let him know you're keeping an eye on him and he better keep up the good work." Barbara suggested and they said their goodbyes. The next interruption was a welcomed one, Chele finally made it. The girls came down to dinner dolled up and elated they were spending the night. Mackie was as happy that he was spending the night. Zoe loved the lasagna and tolerated the rest. After dinner the girls retreated to Jessy's room having a slumber party, the boys watched 'Men In Black' and Zoe returned to Barbara's lap with her blankie and bunny to be read to until she finally fell asleep. When she cheked on the boys, Barbara found them both asleep so she turned off the movie and covered them both for the night. A check of the girls found them still dancing and having a good time, "You make sure you remember all this fun when you have to go to school in the morning my girls." Barbara reminded. "Momma do I have to go, I was going to wait until Monday." Chele suggested. "You've already missed one day to travel here. Besides you know how goofy everyone gets on Friday the last last day of the week." Barbara suggested. "Oh all right. But not fair." Chele complained. "That's my girl." Barbara said leaving to get the phone. "Mother's Helpers, this is Barbara." she said picking up the ringing phone going to check if it woke Zoe. "Barbara this is Walker Hanson. I just got home to this note, are the kids okay?" he asked. "I was hoping you were your wife with good news. Walker the kids are fine, Zoe and Mackie are already asleep and the girls are still dancing and dressing up with my girls. I just came from their room suggesting that my two will be dragging in the morning if they don't call it a night soon. Wait my be time for a refrigerator raid, here they come. Would you like to talk to Avie or Jessie? Girls your father's home and he'd like to talk to you." Barbara said handing the phone to Jessie. "Daddy please I want to stay. I like having older sisters. Please let us stay. Oh, hi Daddy." Jessie pleaded. "I take it everything is fine then?" Walker asked. "Oh yeah, Mackie has a new friend, Zoe got read to until she fell asleep and Avie and I have older sisters that are way cool." Jessie explained. "You're way cool too lil sis." Chele said. "Way cool, dudette." Jessy said high fiving. "Daddy it's me Avie. I miss you Daddy but can we stay, I really like having big sisters." Avie asked. "Of course you can stay." Walker said as Avie dropped the phone and squealed "We can stay." and all the girls squealed. "Girls, Zoe is asleep in the next room, Sssh. Chele please check and make sure she still is." Barbara ordered. "You'll have to excuse them, I think it's the fumes from the fingernail polish. I'm sure they don't normally act this way." Barbara joked. "Oh that was tame you should hear the Scream Squad." Walker shared. "Oh I have two card carrying members. We have an agreement, not indoors, I can't afford to keep replacing all the shattered windows." Barbara teased. "Walker can you hold, there's another call and it might be Diana." Barbara said. "Of course." Walker answered. "Hello Mother's Helpers, this is Barbara." she answered. "Barbara it's Diana. How are the kids?" she asked. "Fine, I have Walker on hold he just got in and is checking on the kids. Diana they're fine the littlest are sound asleep and the girls begged to spend the night. Poor Walker, felt so unwanted I think." Barbara replied. "Oh thank God he's home." Diana gasped. "I'll send him to you right now. How's your Dad?" Barbara asked. "Getting stronger, thanks." Diana said. "Thanks?" Barbara asked. "I really think my insisting he get better is what's doing it." Diana explained. "Well good this time you tell him, lil Miss Funny Bunny, misses her PaPa and needs a PaPa hug real bad." Barbara said. "Oh if that isn't pressure." Diana laughed. "She laughs too, I really wasn't sure. Worried you were one of those stuffed shirt types." Barbara teased. "You're a riot. Tell Walker to hurry, I'm going back to tell Dad Zoe needs him." Diana said. "That's it get in there a push him into getting better. Our prayers are with you. Bye Diana. Walker, it was her. She needs you I think she's tired of being the strong one. Why don't you pack her a change of clothes, her most comfortable ones and stop by her favorite fast food joint on the way to her. I'm sure she hasn't eaten, tell you what. Stop by here, I made Lasagna for dinner and I always bake an extra pan. I'll pack her a dinner. How about you and the boys, have you eaten? I'll pack dinner for two for the hospital and you drop the boys off and I'll feed them." Barbara suggested. "You've done too much already." Walker argued. "I won't take no for an answer. I'll see the four of you in twenty minutes, so get a move on pack clothes for tomorrow and her comfy outfit for tonight. I'm packing a dinner basket and you don't show up, I'm coming after you. I know where you live." Barbara warned. "Yes ma'am." Walker laughed adding, "Got to go if I'm not somewhere in twenty minutes, she'll send out the hounds to track me down." "You calling me a dog. Geez Walker, give me a break wait until you've seen me." Barbara laughed as he laughed even harder "Bye" Walker choked out and hungup. "Girls could you come down and give me a hand please?" Barbara said softly up the stair case. "Yeah Momma." they said in unison heading down the stairs. "Jessy I need the picnic basket please. Jessie, Avie I need you to pick out salad dressing for your folks please. Chele set the table for three please, Hanson is coming to dinner." Barbara said. "What Momma?" Jessy and Chele asked as they both stopped dead in their tracks. "Girls please be fans another day, right now they've driven in non-stop from LA, their grandfather is in the hospital, their parents are worried and upset over that, please they're human beings first and the hottest, most talented three males on the face of the earth another day." Barbara asked. "Yes Momma." they both answered tears running down their faces as they finished their tasks. "Jessie, Avie why don't you answer the door with me." Barbara suggested. "Daddy" they squealed. "Walker, boys come in please." Barbara said leading them to the kitchen. "I'd like to introduce my girls, Chele and Jessy and they already know so much about you it's scary. Walker could you come see Zoe for me, maybe a Daddy kiss will insure sweet dreams." Barbara said leading him to Zoe. "Please sit down guys, you must be hungry driving all that way. Momma said your Mom even laughed this time she spoke to her so things must be getting better." Chele said. "Umm I've never read what your favorite salad dressings are so you're going to have to pick it out yourselves guys." Jessy joked delivering their salads as Chele served the lasagna. "I'll get it, I know." Jessie said. "And you didn't tell me. Well I never." Jessy teased. "Man I did tell you..." Jessie teased. "Jessie." Zac yelled. "Sssh you wake Zoe and your ass is Momma's. I think she likes her better than us." Chele joked faking a broken heart and tears. "I'm sure of it." Jessy added. "There the basket's ready except for drinks. Guys what should I send for you folks to drink?" Chele asked and Taylor quickly moved to the fridge grabbing drinks, "This is what they like." he said moving to Chele's side. "Thanks Tay." Chele said, "Umm Tay you can let go I have them. Tay." Chele said finally looking at him as a smile came over her face and she was lost in his beautiful blue eyes. "I'll put them in." Taylor said reaching over Chele to place the drink in the basket. "Smooth, very smooth." Chele whispered finding herself in his arms. "Here as long as you're here. You can take yours with you." Chele said dishing out a piece of lasagna, turning and offering it to Tay. "Thanks Chele." Taylor said lost in her warm brown eyes. "Taylor take your plate." Chele whispered as Taylor looked at his hands on the counter on each side of her then the plate. Chele took the plate in one hand, picking up Taylor's hand with her other, placing it on the plate then grabbing his other hand "Oh if I have to." Taylor said moving towards his seat. Chele served up two more plates and delivered them to Zac and Isaac as Jessy took the garlic bread and put it in a basket and placing it on the table as Walker and her Mom returned. "Basket ready girls?" Barbara asked. "Yes Momma." they answered. "Don't worry about the boys, when they're fed, I'll drive them home or they can spend the night here, I have plenty of room. Three of my four boys are there size or bigger so I have a change of clothes. You worry about your wife, I'll worry about your kids. Well, those three can worry about themselves. If they stayed, I'm sure it would help Zoe though. She's the only one I worry about and now with her brother's home, it just may help." Barbara said walking him out. "Is she always that way. I mean caring for others and all." Isaac asked. "Yeah, I'm not even her daughter biologically but you wouldn't know it, she treats me like I was, huh sis?" Chele stated. "Don't ask me I'm prejudiced." Jessy laughed. "Girls you want a bedtime snack?" Chele asked. "Sure." they answered in unison. "What? Leftovers, brownie, cookies, sandwich?" Chele asked. "Good stuffs up here." Jessy said opening the junk food cabinet. "I'll take a brownie. You're Mom makes great brownies." Avie said. "What you having Jessy?" Jessie asked "Sweetie you have what you want. I've got a game tomorrow, I have to eat sensible." Jessy answered getting yogurt and fruit. "I guess I'll take a brownie too please." Jessie said. "Sure little sister." Chele said getting plates, "Just enough for you three to have one too. Whipped cream or ice cream girls?" Chele asked putting on whipped cream and a cherry. "Here go sit at the table not on the counter like you know who." Chele said. "It's my counter, besides I have to shine it later anyway." Jessy joked wriggling around. "Eww." Chele complained. "You were hungry, there's plenty." Chele said and the guys lined up with empty plates and she served more lasagna. "Hello Mother's Helpers, this is Jessy." she said picking up the phone. "Hello dear, this is Diana Hanson is you mother nearby?" she asked. "Mrs H she's walking your husband out to the van. Do you want me to catch them?" Jessy said hopping off the counter. "No dear that means he's headed my way?" Diana asked. "Yeah. We packed you a dinner basket and I heard Momma tell him to pack you a change of clothes." Jessy shared. "She's just wonderful. I can't tell you how we appreciate this." Diana said. "Oh I think I know, we're feeding your boys and the looks on their faces just about says it all." Jessy shared. "The boys are there? That makes me feel so good to know they're with you and not home alone." Diana said "Do you want to talk to them?" Jessy said walking to the table and Zac took the phone. "Mom how's Grampa?" he asked. "Zac he's doing better and better." Diana shared. "Mom it's me. How are you doing?" Isaac asked taking the phone. "Dear I'm holding in there. I'll be glad when your father is here." Diana answered. "Mom, hey the girls are having a blast and Dad went in and talked to Zoe before he left. We're gonna spend the night here so she can see us in the morning." Taylor said looking at Chele for her reaction. "Dear that's so sweet. How's your father?" Diana asked. "He's fine, Ike and I drove most of the way." Taylor said as Barbara returned. "Oh dear I see your father. Taylor kiss Zoe and Mackie for me please. Tell them Mommy loves them." Diana asked. "Sure Mom I'll tell them. Bye." Taylor said hanging up. They finished eating and cleaning up. "We have school in the morning and if I don't go, I can't play, so I'm going to bed." Jessy said. "Can we go watch her play, please?" Jessie asked. "I'm sure, but let me check with your folks dear. Guys let me give you a quick tour and show you your rooms." Barbara said. After the tour the girls headed to bed and the boys played in the game room, called friends, and finally headed up to bed.
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