A New Beginning

Chapter 2

The weekend had come and Jessica was sitting in the living room while Malcolm and Ainsley were chasing each other through the house. "Mrs. Whitly is just in the living room. Watch out for Malcolm and Ainsley, they're chasing each other through the house." Luisa said to Gil after she let him into the house. As Gil made his way to the living room Malcolm and Ainsley ran over to him and hugged him. "Hey kiddos, I hear you've been chasing each other through the house," Gil said as he picked up Ainsley and she wrapped her arms around Gil's neck. "Mommy said that you're gonna have a tea party with me," Ainsley said excitedly as Gil carried her into the living room with Malcolm walking beside him. When Gil walked into the living room with Ainsley and Malcolm, Jessica stood up and smiled. "Thank you so much for saying you would watch Malcolm and Ainsley today. The nanny is out sick and.." She started to say before Gil placed his hand gently on her arm to stop her. "Jessica, don't worry about it. You go enjoy the day to yourself, I've got a tea party to attend with your daughter and I still don't know what Malcolm has planned," Gil said as he set Ainsley on the floor, " alright kiddos, say bye to your mom. She'll be back later but you get to spend the day with me." Ainsley and Malcolm hugged their mother's legs and said goodbye to her. "Be good for Gil, I'll be home before dinner," Jessica said kissing Malcolm and Ainsley on the cheek and standing up to leave, "thank you, Gil. Please don't feed them too much sugar." She added as she kissed Gil on the cheek and headed for the door. "Alright Malcolm, your mother told me you were going to read a book while Ainsley and I had a tea party," Gil said to Malcolm when Jessica had left and Malcolm nodded. "Yeah, mom wants me to help you move Ainsley's tea party stuff in here and help you set it all up first," Malcolm said as he and Gil walked into Ainsley's room to grab her tea party set.

After Malcolm and Gil had set up Ainsley's tea set in the living room, Malcolm sat down on the couch with his book while Gil sat on the floor in front of the couch for his tea party with Ainsley. "Wait, I forgot!" Ainsley said before running into her room and coming back with her hands behind her back. "What did you forget?" Gil asked and Malcolm chuckled knowing exactly what Ainsley was holding behind her back. Ainsley walked over to Gil giggling as she did, "close your eyes," she said when she was standing beside Gil and he closed his eyes, "okay, now open them." She instructed after she had placed a plastic dress-up tiara on Gil's head. Gil opened his eyes and touched the tiara on his head. "A tiara? Why thank you, miss Ainsley. I love it." He said with a smile. Ainsley smiled brightly as she placed another tiara on her head and pretended to pour Gil some tea. "Here is your tea. Be careful, it's hot." Ainsley said as she gave the plastic cup to Gil. Gil took the cup from Ainsley and blew on the pretend tea. While Gil and Ainsley were having their tea party, Luisa walked into the living room. "Lunch is ready, do you want lunch in the dining room or here in the living room picnic style?" She asked as Malcolm set his book down. "Picnic style!" Malcolm and Ainsley said together and Luisa nodded before leaving to grab their lunch from the kitchen. Malcolm got up off the couch and walked over to the shelves where their mother kept extra blankets and pulled one out to use for their picnic. Ainsley helped Malcolm set up the blanket on the floor as Luisa returned with their lunches. Gil stood up and took the plates from Luisa before placing them on the blanket and sitting with Malcolm and Ainsley for their picnic lunch. "Gil, I'm sure you can take the tiara off for lunch," Malcolm said as he took a bite of his sandwich. "No, it's alright. Ainsley and I will be continuing our tea party after lunch so I'll keep the tiara on." Gil said and Ainsley giggled excitedly.

A few hours later, Jessica returned home to find Gil sitting in a chair while her children wrapped Ainsley's feather boas around him. "Do you two think that this is how you're going to get Gil to stay longer?" Jessica asked as she walked over to untie the feather boas from around Gil. "No mommy," Ainsley said as Jessica tried to figure out how to untie the feather boas, "Gil stays." Ainsley dropped the feather boa she was holding and tried to stop her mother from untying Gil but was unsuccessful. "I can always come back and hang out with you guys some other time," Gil said as he stood up and Malcolm sat on one of his feet. "Ainsley, sit on Gil's other foot and then he can't leave," Malcolm said and Ainsley did as her brother instructed. Jessica shook her head and looked at Gil with a smile, "Would you like to join us for dinner tonight?" She asked Gil as her children continued to sit on Gil's feet. Gil looked down at Ainsley and Malcolm who were hugging his legs tightly as they sat on his feet, "I would love to join you guys for dinner." He said and Malcolm got up off Gil's foot. "Mom, can we have pizza for dinner?" Malcolm asked as Gil picked up Ainsley. Jessica shook her head and sat down on the couch. "Maybe another night, dinner is already being cooked as we speak." She said as Gil sat beside her on the couch with Ainsley on his lap. Malcolm climbed onto his mother's lap, "Can we have pizza for dinner tomorrow?" He asked as he looked at his mother with big, sad eyes. "Please mommy?" Ainsley asked as she copied her brother in looking at their mother with big, sad eyes and Gil chuckled. Jessica sighed as Luisa walked into the living room to tell them that dinner was ready. "Does this mean you want Gil to come over for dinner tomorrow?" Jessica asked as the four of them walked to the dining room table for dinner.

After the four of them had finished eating, they went to the living room where Malcolm began cleaning up Ainsley's tea set. "So did you have fun with Gil today Ainsley?" Jessica asked Ainsley as Ainsley sat on the couch in between her mother and Gil. Ainsley nodded as she snuggled into Gil's side. "We had a tea party and Ainsley gave me a tiara to wear," Gil said to Jessica as he wrapped an arm around Ainsley. Jessica chuckled at the thought of Gil wearing one of Ainsley's dress-up tiaras as Malcolm joined them on the couch with his book in his hand. "He even kept the tiara on while we ate lunch," Malcolm told his mother as he snuggled into her side and opened his book. Jessica smiled as she ran her fingers through Malcolm's hair. "Sounds like you guys had fun today," Jessica said and looked at Gil, "Thank you for watching them today, I really needed the break." Gil smiled at Jessica as he rubbed Ainsley's arm. "Just let me know when you need another break and I'll take your kiddos off your hands." He said as he gently placed a hand on Jessica's arm. Jessica smiled as she looked at Gil, "Thank you, I really appreciate it." she said before resting her head on Gil's shoulder.

After a few hours, Gil and Jessica were sitting and talking to each other while Ainsley and Malcolm slept curled up to them. "We should probably get my little kiddos to bed," Jessica said as she carefully moved Malcolm so she could stand up. "You take Ainsley, I'll take Malcolm," Gil said and Jessica nodded before picking up Ainsley so that Gil could stand up and pick up Malcolm. After Gil and Jessica had put Malcolm and Ainsley to bed, they went back to the living room and Jessica poured them both a drink. As Gil sat down on the couch with Jessica again, he picked up the book Malcolm had been reading that had fallen to the floor. "The Count of Monte Cristo?" Gil said curiously as he placed it on the coffee table. Jessica sighed as she handed Gil one of the two glasses, "Yeah, it's Malcolm's favourite book," she said as she took a sip of her drink, "Martin used to read the book to him all the time before bed." Gil took a sip of his drink and gently placed a hand on Jessica's hand. "We don't have to talk about Martin, I know this is hard for you." He said softly and reassuringly.