Again

Chapter 42

After the leftovers had been put away, the grill had been scrubbed, and the fire had died out, the 5 adults worked their way into the living room.  Taylor and Isaac reached for their coats, as Nikki and Natalie both reached into their purse.  Both women simultaneously pulled out their phones, no doubt checking to make sure there was no word of distress from their mother-in-law.  

"I have a missed call from Diana," Nikki said as she checked the time on her watch.  "From about an hour or so ago."

"So do I," Natalie said, as she held her phone up in Taylor and Isaac's direction.  Taylor fumbled around with his coat, as Isaac patted down his pant pockets.  When he didn't feel his own phone, he began to fumble with his own coat as well.

Taylor pulled out his own phone, as he examined the screen, "I have one, too," he said.  "From Mom and Dad," he finished.  Isaac looked over at him before he flipped on the screen to his own phone.

"Yup," he said, as he now held his own phone up.  He turned back to look at the time of his last call, then eyed the corner of his phone for the current time.  "Same thing, about an hour and a half ago.  She probably heard us," he said as he stuffed his phone back into his pocket.

"Are you gonna call her back?" Nikki asked as she set her phone into her purse and positioned it over her shoulder.  Natalie did the same thing and then turned her attention back towards Isaac as well.  Kayla watched as their happy demeanor from minutes ago, turned into a mixture of concern and curiosity.  She'd thought the same thing Isaac had said about Diana hearing them when Taylor said he had missed calls, too.  She'd been thinking it the entire time they'd been in her back yard, actually, but hadn't wanted to bring it up.  She'd been enjoying herself too much for the turn that might take. 

"Nah, it's late.  If it was something about the kids, I don't think she would have stopped.  I wouldn't be surprised if she came over here if it was something to do with the kids.  I'm telling you, she probably just heard us, and she's mad," he shrugged.  "Then she probably called Dad, which is probably why he called us.  She'll still be mad in the morning.  I don't feel like dealing with it tonight."

They took each other's silence as agreement, and went about getting their things ready to leave.

"She came by earlier," Kayla said, causing the two couples to stop in their tracks.

"Is that who you were talking about before?" Taylor asked.

Kayla nodded.  "I got one of those doorbells that rings to my phone instead of the house?" she paused as everyone nodded, indicating they knew what she meant, "The doorbell doesn't work.  Anyway, earlier this morning she came by.  I'd only been sleeping a few hours when she came by, so I didn't even hear my phone.  I just watched the playback from the camera on the app for it."

She reached out her phone, allowing Taylor to take it in his hand.  Isaac moved closer as they watched the silent, short video.  After she'd turned to walk away, Taylor handed Kayla the phone, but he didn't say anything.

Kayla took the phone back from him and slid it into her back pocket, "That's partly why when Kate rang the bell, I answered it.  I didn't know who she was, I didn't recognize her, so I was scared that Diana had come by earlier because something had happened.  To one of you guys.  So I answered it.  I'm glad I did, but I guess the two weren't related."

The rest of the group took the information in for a few more seconds before Isaac spoke out, "Well, I'll figure out what that was all about in the morning," he said as he took Kayla into a hug.  He let go and walked back towards the door, "Try to enjoy the rest of your evening," he joked.

"Yeah, thanks," Taylor said as he stepped forward and gave Kayla a hug as well.  Nikki and Natalie followed suit.

"You're welcome.  Maybe we'll get a chance to do it again before I leave," Kayla said as she followed everyone outside.  She watched as they remembered the fact that her time in Tulsa was only temporary.  They nodded back, agreeing with her, but giving her no straight answer.  Taylor and Natalie turned and began their walk to Natalie's mini van.  Isaac gave Nikki a quick peck, as she turned and waved to Kayla.  Kayla waved back, and she turned and made her way over to her own car.  Isaac turned back to Kayla.