“Hunter take your little brother to the bathroom so that you two can brush your teeth before bed.” Hunter gave his mom the look. The look that say’s do I have to? Rebecca gave him the mother look back that said don’t even bother. Hunter waved his hand at Cole to follow him into the bathroom. Cole ignored him and continued playing with his DS.

“Mom , Cole won’t come with me. He won’t stop playing with his DS.”

Rebecca walked over to Cole and gave him the look . “Now you know that you guys are only allowed to play two hours a day with the DS and you played one hour this morning while getting ready for school and you’ve just finished playing your last hour. Now come on let’s go. It’s time to get ready for bed. Go to the bathroom with your brother and brush your teeth.” Cole reluctantly gave his mom the DS and she gave him a big hug and kiss then she tickled him on his stomach. He giggled and smiled at her while Hunter looks on tossing his eyes in the back of his head as he smacks the palm of his hand to his forehead . “Mom stop treating him like a baby. Gosh he’s eight years old now.” Rebecca picked up Cole and walked over to Hunter and runs her fingers through his very straight golden brown hair and say’s, “Yes and you’re ten years old and you are still my baby too.” Hunter takes his hand and put’s it on top of his mom’s hand. “Oh cut it out mom.” Smiling Rebecca say’s, “And you will continue to be my babies when you are all grown up and having babies of your own.”

She put Cole down and Hunter takes Coles hand and they start to walk towards the bathroom but just before they leave the room Cole turns around and say’s with a look of disgust on his face. “Yuck mom, I’m not having any babies.” then he stuck his tongue out like he was going to throw up at just the thought of it. “Oh come on!” Hunter says to him pulling him to the bathroom.

Rebecca smiled at them. She walked into her bedroom and turned on her computer. While waiting for it to come up she walks to the bathroom and peeks in on the boys.

“Mom I see you.” Hunter says with a mouthful of toothpaste.

” I know and don’t talk with toothpaste in your mouth.” She makes the same face that Cole made earlier exclaiming YUCK then she sticks her tongue out at them and makes a funny face. In the background she hears “You’ve got mal!” and before she goes into the her bedroom to check it she tells them, “Okay when you guys are done, off to bed with you. I will come in a few minutes to tuck you in all right?” They both nod their heads and both spit into the sink at the same time.

Rebecca walks into her bedroom  and she sits down at her computer. She opens up her email and reads them and responds very quickly to one in particular. She clicks to send it. Then she receives an instant message and she smiles.

(Instant Message Conversation)

Acetopper : Hi beautiful. Bath time?

R5factor6 : (lol) u know me too well.

Acetopper : Can I join u?

R5factor6 : You gotta ask?

Acetoppper : Kids sleep yet?

R5factor6 : They will be soon. I need to tuck them in.

Acetopper : So I’ll see you in about 15 mins.

Acetopper signs off before Rebecca can respond back.

Rebecca gets up and walks away from the computer still logged-on she walks to the boys bedroom  to find Cole on top of the covers already fast asleep while Hunter is reading his favorite book – Where the wild things are. It was his favorite book he must have read it a hundred times. “I was reading to him and he just fell asleep and I’m not even done yet.” He scrunched up his face as if to say “whatever!”

“Poor baby!” She said as she lifted him up and slides his body under the bed-covers. He still fast asleep as she gives him a kiss on the cheek. Then she walks over to Hunter and takes the book from him and puts it on the night stand beside his bed. She leans over to give him a big hug and kiss. “Now Hunter I know that you love to read and that this is one of your favorite books but do not let me catch you with a flashlight reading under the bed-covers okay.”

Hunter made another oh mom face. “Okay mom I won’t. I’m really tired.” He put his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. Rebecca kissed him again. On hr way out the door she turned off the lights. “I love you guys.

“We know mom! he giggles. We love you too.”

“You’re speaking for your brother?” She smiled some more. She loved that they always made her smile. She closed the door just enough to allow the light from the hallway to flow through into their bedroom. Then she whispered to herself put probably just enough for them to hear at least she hoped this in her heart. “Good night my boys love you forever.”

Rebecca went into the bathroom and turned the water on for her bath. Then she walked into the kitchen and reached underneath the sink for her aroma therapy candles. She also grabbed a bottle of Merlot from the kitchen cabinet and two wine glasses. She went back into the bathroom and got out her special  bath salts and poured it under the running water. She also added her very expensive aroma therapy bubble bath, with the tub half full and full of bubbles she turned off the water. Then she began her bath preparation ritual. She placed candles on the floor beside the bathtub two in front and two in back. She got down on her knees to light them. Then she turned off the bathroom light and left the bathroom door cracked. She un-corks the bottle of Merlot and pours some into the wine glass and places it on the floor beside the bathtub. She undressed and gently eased herself into the bathtub. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to breathe it all in. She thought to herself. Maybe a little OCD but it works for me. Then she picked up the glass of wine and raised it to the air as if she was proposing a toast. She took a drink from the wine glass and then she poured a couple of drops into her bath water. She put the glass down, closes her eyes and totally relaxes. In the silence she hears a key turn in the front door  it opens and then she hears it close. Then the bathroom door opens.

“Hello Beautiful Guess who?”

Smiling her eyes still closed she say’s, “If I have to start guessing we’ll never get started. Now get out of those clothes and get in here with me.”

Already taking his clothes off he laughs. “I’m already ahead of you Bec.”

He walks over to the bathtub and kneels down. Rebecca eyes still closed hands him the bath sponge and as she leans forward for him to wash her back he gives her a long hard kiss.

After landing in Laguardia all Devon could think about was getting home to his wife so as soon as he picked up his luggage he got on his cell phone to call her. after about four rings he got her voice mail. “Em honey it’s me pick up.” He hung up and immediately calls her cell and when she picks up he screams into the phone. “Hi Honey boy have I missed you.” His wife Eminence was so happy to hear his voice that she screamed into the phone to him. “Hey baby. Where are you?”

“I’m at Laguardia.”

“You’re back early.”

“Yes I am, signed, sealed and back home to you.” He said almost cooing over the phone to her.

“So everything worked out okay?”

“Yes it’s official they signed the group and now I am both manager and executive producer. What do you think about that babe?” He said with a huge smile on his face.  Eminence screamed so loud that Devon was pretty sure that everyone in the airport could hear her. She was so happy for him and he loved her for it.

“Honey I am so proud of you. I love you so much.”

“I love you more. Let’s go out and celebrate tonight.”

“Oh honey I’m sorry I wasn’t expecting you back so early I’ve already been invited for dinner.” She said sounding very disappointed. Devon was a little disappointed too.

“Where are you honey?”

“I’m at Sui-Lon’s. She invited me down for dinner.” Sui-Lon walked into the living room to see what was keeping Eminence . She asked her who she was talking to. She told her that Devon was back early and Sui-Lon told her to tell him to come down as soon as he gets home. There’s more than enough for one more she told her.

“Honey Sui-Lon say’s there is more than enough food so drop your luggage off and come down.”

“Sui-Lon’s sweet. Okay babe I’ll be there as soon as I get done with the press. I can’t avoid them. I’ll give them a few sound bites. Then jump into the lime and be there as soon as I can. I can’t wait to be with you. Honey I love you so much.”

“I know. I love you too.” Eminence said giggling like a school girl with her first crush.

Devon hung up and as soon as he walked out of the airport the press starting gathering around him. Devon swallowed really hard. He knew he had to deal with them . He figured he better get this over with and also that he better get used to this so he waved them over and started taking questions. A reporter from NY-1 news called out, “Mr. Corrieri!”

Devon smiled that gorgeous smile of his, “Please call me Devon. Mr. Corrieri is my father, you’re dating me.” All the reporters laughed. The reporter from NY-1 continued.

“Thank you Devon. I understand that you just got back from signing the singing group “Seph” on the MTD recording label for an unheard of amount for a new group that has never recorded and the fact that they are all of european descent, singing hip-hop certainly has raised a few eyebrows in the industry. Care to comment?

“If you mean by european descent that they are a white group singing hip-hop, music has always crossed racial barriers since before I was born and dare I say (He smiles and winks at the reporter who asked the question) way before you were born. The reporters laughed. “and to respond to the rest of the question. “Seph” has been performing in NY clubs and the NY city club scene is fierce and the reception for them has been phenomenal. The MTD exec’s knew this and so hey you know the rest.”

Another reporter from Fox 5 news called out – “Devon you and your wife super model Eminence have been married for two years now. You are Italian American and she is African-American. You are the manager and now executive producer of an all white group singing hip-hop – some might say that you are a white man trying to be black?”

Devon shook his head and sighed. He hated theses ignorant type of question but he certainly knew how to answer them. “I love music and as I stated earlier, music crosses all racial barriers but let me also say that music is not a color, never has been a color. It’s art. I am not a white man trying to be black. I am a man who enjoys music/art. And with regards to me and my beautiful wife. I’m a man. She’s a woman and we love each other.”

The reporters all started talking at once – “That’s all. Thanks but I really have to go.” Devon left making his way through the reporters, photographers and onlookers. He walked to the curve and waved his hand for his limousine. The limo pulled up, the driver gets out and opens the door for him. He then puts the luggage in the trunk and gets into the car and begins to drive.

“Any stops along the way Mr. Corrieri? He asks him.

“No Milton and it’s just Devon remember.

“Yes! How are you feeling?

Devon settled into his seat,put his legs up, poured himself a glass of champagne from the fully stocked bar. “I’m feeling great Milton. Happy to be back in New York and I am looking forward to seeing my wife. Milton I’m going to close my eyes now. Please wake me when we get to my apartment.”

“We’ll do sir.”