As far as she knew, Edward rarely left the house unless he was fishing, and she didn't have time to search all the nearby fishing holes before work, "Oh well", she sighed, "I'll just have to catch him after work."
Edward had gone to work as soon as Jessica had stepped onto the school bus, as well as being the primary supplier for almost every shop and store in town that sold fish to the public, he had promised a restaurant owner's daughter two black goldfish. Luckily Edward knew just the spot to catch them.
"If business gets any better", Edward mused on his way to deliver the days catch,"I am going to need a bigger truck."
Kim dropped by after her shift, and she and Edward spent a few pleasant hours in the Garden exchanging small talk. The small talk was followed by a lengthy silence. They both enjoyed each other's company, but eventually Kim broke the silence when she spotted an easel in the corner of the yard. "Working on a painting of Isabelle?", Kim asked casually, with just a hint of jealousy from her voice.
Edward, not being a people person, missed the tone completely and replied "No, its a blank canvas, although Jessica says my painting is getting almost as good as my drawing, not that I'm ready to switch from commercial fishersim to commercial artist, I'd definitely go hungry."
"Would you like me to paint your portrait?", asked Edward. "Yes, I'd like that very much.", replied Kim with a smile.
After Edward had sketched the basic image he switched to paints, and Jessica took the opportunity to chat with Kim. "You like my Dad, don't you.", Jessica asked. "Yes I do, we are very good friends.", Kim replied.
Jessica rolled her eyes in a very grown fashion. "You like my Dad, don't you.", Jessica asked again. "Yes sweetheart, yes I do.", Kim responded.
"Oh maker, I remember when that fashion was all the rage", Kim laughed, "and I remember when I first got one of those dresses, my father was all 'You cant be leaving the house in that dress, it doesn't even have sleeves!'. Edward smiled at Kim's infectious laugh.
"I definitely prefer these older movies to all the action and sci-fi on TV these days.", Edward said to keep the conversation flowing. "Really?", asked Kim, "because they run a black n white every Wednesday night at the cinema, I'll take you!".
"It sounds real nice, but, I uh, I get really uncomfortable around crowds.", Edward said quietly. "I know that", stated Kim, "Luckily for you, when they updated the place from a theater to a cinema, they kept the old stage intact, as well as the private viewing boxes, it's like having the whole place to yourself, even when the place is full!". "Which it won't be of course, being a black n white.", Kim added.
Outside, Jessica was doing her best to scare Mia with a ghost story about an
evil sorcerer that kidnapped children's toys
Jessica was getting really good at scary stories.
That night when Jessica climbed into bed, she realized that she had forgotten to do her homework.
"Don't let me sleep in Mia, I need to do my homework before I get on the bus!"
Jessica completed her homework and crammed into her schoolbag just as the bus honked outside, except for the orange juice stain in the corner it was one hundred percent complete, and hopefully worth an "A++".
"Tomorrow night is black and white night and when Kim and Daddy go out we will have a baby sitter.", Jessica explained to Mia, "I have to be very quiet so the sitter doesn't hear me talk to you.", Jess continued
"Kendra at school said her Mummy used to talk to an imaginary friend that lived in the roof, and when people found out, Kendra's Mummy got taken away to a special hospital, and never came home.", Jessica passed on some gossip she had heard at school. "And I don't want to go away and not come back, because Daddy would miss me.", Jess finished. "I would miss you too!", Mia said.
"Have fun on your date Daddy!", Jessica wished her father.
"It's not a date, Kim and I are just friends.", Edward explained.
"Are you going to a restaurant for dinner?", Jessica probed.
"Well, yes, The Huntmaster's Table.", Edward said.
"And are you going to see a movie after dinner?", Jessica prodded.
"You know Kim is taking me to see an old movie!", Edward sighed.
"And are you going to sit together together and share popcorn?", Jessica pressed.
"Well, uh, I don't know about the popcorn.", Edward said, losing the battle.
"Well, I may only be in elementary school Daddy, but even I know that it ticks all the boxes for a date!", Jessica stated triumphantly.
Any attempt by Edward to deny that this outing, was in fact, a date of sorts, was interrupted by the arrival of visitors.
Jessica continued to grin like she had just won the state lottery, as Kim introduced the council approved babysitter. "Sally, this is Edward and Jessica Jettstar, Edward, Jessica, this is Sally Longpaw."
"Kim, why is she sniffing me?", Jessica asked nervously, as Sally worked her around Jess. "Sally is from the oldest tribe of Werewolves in the Hollow, which means you should never challenge her to play hide'n'seek, she will find you every time.", Kim laughed.
Sally turned to Edward, taking a single sniff. "I can work Sundays to Thursdays 4PM until 10PM, Fridays and Saturdays until Midnight, at council rates, I can do weekend sleepovers at double rates, I do holidays, but not full moons, for obvious reasons.", Sally grunted. "I'm fine with cats and dogs and fish, I don't invite my own friends over, or throw parties in your house, but I also don't do gardening or housework.", she added.
Edward looked at Kim with uncertainty at her choice of babysitter. "With Sally, you get a babysitter and a bodyguard all rolled into one package, plus she is actually really good with kids.", Kim reassured.
"And I don't eat children unless they are really naughty.", Sally grinned at Jessica. "Sally, not helping with the nervous parent thing.", Kim said. "Sorry Mr.J, wolf humor", apologized Sally.
Jessica took Mia up into the tree house while Sally the babysitter studied her schoolbooks.
"Trust me, I know everybody in this town, and I mean everybody. I had children of my own and needed a baby sitter, Sally is the first person I'd call, she has a dozen younger siblings, she really is great with kids.", Kim reassured Edward when he brought it up again over dinner. "I know you and Jess spend a lot of time on your own, but Jessica has a need to socialize that you don't, I think you need to let her see a little of the world around her.", she said gently.
"Without darkness there can be no light, without sorrow there can be no joy, without peanut butter what is the point of jelly.", Kim quoted from her favorite book, getting a smile from Edward.
After dinner at the Huntsman's, Edward and Kim walked the block to the cinema, "You know, I've never actually been inside one.", admitted Edward. "Honestly, never?", asked Kim in shock.
"Jessica, it's getting too cold out here for you and your imaginary friend, you need to come down and go inside.", Sally called up at the tree house.
"What friend, I was up there all by myself?", asked Jessica innocently. "You are a talented little actress but see these wolf ears?", Sally asked pointed at her own ears. "They could hear you whispering as plain as day!". Sally pointed at her nose, "See this wolf nose, this nose knows you took a packet of choc mint biscuits up to have at tea time."
"My Grandma, what big teeth you have!", laughed Jessica. "All the better to gobble you up with, although that will be a challenge if you have already frozen solid!", grinned Sally. "Why aren't you cold Sally? You've only got shorts and a t-shirt on.", asked Jessica. "See this wolf skin?", said Sally, "It doesn't feel the cold until its below zero, and its getting close, so inside with you."
Authors Note:
Kim's running gear in the first two pics is actually her work uniform as a snitch (Lvl 1 Law Enforcement). I remember being happy that the game had given her one of my shirts to wear as uniform, but by the time I was ready to write the chapter I had forgotten how it was plot related. (Kim is only working so I can get the police car, docking her income is such a pain!)
I am trying to drag out Kim and Edwards relationship as much as possible because of 'Gen Rolls', but I am under a lot of pressure from Jess to hurry things along.
Speaking of rolls, how horrible is deadbeat parent, OMG, it was so hard for me to NOT teach baby Jess to walk or talk, or read to her, or potty train her, or let her at the Xylo and the pegbox! If I do another RLC, I'm going to remove deadbeat from the roller for sure :P
