Thanks for the fab reviews!
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Guest house, one week later
Scott: *slams bags down*
Tom: *looks at Scott*
Scott: *walks away*
Tom: Scotty.
Scott: *looks back*
Tom: I uh...I lost my job.
Scott: *sigh* ...I'll bring you a doggy bag from whatever's left over from dinner.
Tom: What, I'm not allowed in your house?
Scott: You're not allowed at my dinner table. *walks away*
Tom: ...Thanks for letting me stay here.
Inside house
Lori: You told him you'd bring a
doggy bag? What the hell is the matter with you?
Scott: *opens fridge*
Lori: He's our guest. Hence the reason he's in our
guest house.
Scott: *grabs beer*
Lori: Scott...
Scott: I don't want him drooling all over you.
Lori: He doesn't drool, he oggles.
Scott: *frowns*
Lori: *smiles* It's kind of cute seeing you all jealous.
Scott: I'm not jealous. I might be jealous if I had anything to compete with.
Lori: *rolls eyes* You men and your measuring sticks.
Scott: I just think he should get off his ass and find a new job instead of mooching off of us because you feel sorry for him.
Lori: Scott, I used to mooch off you all the time. Remember when you got to Miami and paid Stephanie's medical bills even though you'd never met her before?
Scott: ...I'm Stephanie's father. I'm required by law to be responsible for her.
Lori: Or so you THINK.
Scott: *lifts brow* Which part?
Lori: Uh...OH! Remember the time you let me stay at your condo in New York and you made me breakfast?
Scott: *smiles*
Lori: *sigh* Can we focus, please?
Scott: *wraps arms around Lori's waist* Focus on what? *kisses Lori*
Lori: *smirks* You being pissed at me for letting T-
Scott: *kisses Lori*
Lori: *sighs, grabs Scott's hair*
Steph: *skips over* MOMMA!
Scott: *steps back*
Lori: *turns around* What now?
Steph: I hurt my knee. *points to knee*
Lori: Aw, how'd you do that? *picks up Steph*
Steph: Climbin' the tree outside.
Lori: Ooh, you have some splinters down there too. Why don't I get some tweezers.
Steph: Momma, don't make it hurt.
Lori: *brushes hair from Steph's forehead* I'm not going to lie, it might hurt. But you're brave so it'll be nothin' to you. Right?
Steph: *nods* Right! *smiles*
Scott: *smiles*
Kitchen table
Lori: *takes Steph's knee, grabs tweezers*
Scott: *sits at table*
Lori: So how come you were climbing trees?
Steph: Tryin' to get my ball.
Lori: Your ball's in the tree?
Steph: Yup. OW! Momma! That pinches!
Lori: How did it get in the tree?
Steph: I threw it.
Lori: *lifts eyes* ...You were playing by the pool, weren't you.
Steph: *looks down at floor*
Lori: What did Mommy say about playing by the pool?
Steph: ...
Lori: Stephanie...
Steph: You said not to...
Lori: Why?
Steph: Because I'll get hurt.
Lori: Yup. And you don't like getting hurt, right? Look at your knee.
Steph: *looks at knee*
Lori: So next time Mommy says to stay on the patio, you stay on the patio.
Steph: *nods*
Lori: *places bandaid on Steph's knee* All done!
Steph: *lifts head, wide-eyed* Done?
Lori: *smiles* Yep! You're all better now.
Steph: *looks down at knee*
Lori: *picks up Steph, places her on lap* Now, since you were such a brave girl...*grabs ice cream sandwhich*
Steph: *gasps* ICE CREAM! *grabs sandwhich*
Lori: *smiles*
Scott: *smiling*
Steph: *shoves ice cream into mouth, jumps down, runs away*
Lori: *sigh* Scott! *reaches over, wraps arms around Scott* My baby hurt her knee!
Scott: It happens.
Lori: She's not allowed outside anymore. *lets go*
Scott: We can't deprive her of the outside world because she scraped her knee on a palm tree.
Lori: What the hell was she doing climbing a palm tree?
Scott: ...Looking for her ball.
Lori: *frowns*
Scott: Lori, she'll be fine. I climbed plenty of trees when I was a kid.
Lori: Yeah? When you were 4?
Scott: Sure. I fell and broke my wrist.
Lori: And then what?
Scott: Then I kept climbing trees.
Lori: *lifts brow*
Scott: Human nature, Lori. Steph will get a few bumps and scratches down the road and yeah some of what she'll do will be incredibly stupid and dangerous but you can't keep her from experiencing life, even the painful aspects.
Lori: So you're saying you want to let her do whatever the hell she wants, even if it means getting herself killed because kids will be kids?
Scott: No. That's not what I'm saying at all.
Lori: *rolls eyes*
Scott: You can't put her in a bubble.
Lori: *lowers head*
Scott: ...You want to go hang out with her?
Lori: Yes. *stands, runs away*
Scott: *smirks*
Upstairs, bedroom
Steph: *dressing barbies*
Lori: *steps in* Steph?
Steph: *looks up, smiles* Hi Momma. Wanna play?
Lori: ...Sure. I guess. *walks over, sits* What are you playing?
Steph: House. Barbie wants a new one but Ken has no moneys.
Lori: *smiles* Maybe Ken should get a better job. I hear 'beach bum' isn't much of a career.
Steph: *giggles*
Lori: So what does Barbie do for a living?
Steph: Cowgirl.
Lori: Is that why she's wearing boots?
Steph: Yup.
Lori: *grabs car* And this is her corvette. If only it were black.
Steph: Barbie likes pink, Momma.
Lori: I know she does. I don't.
Steph: *grabs car from Lori*
Lori: *looks at Steph*
Steph: *shoves Barbie into car*
Lori: Where's she going?
Steph: Vacation.
Lori: Where to?
Steph: The beach.
Lori: Is Ken going?
Steph: Nope.
Lori: How come?
Steph: He's gotta find a job.
Lori: *laughs* Right. He's a deadbeat.
Steph: Just like Grampa.
Lori: *smile fades* What?
Steph: Grama says he's a deadbeat.
Lori: ...What else does Grandma tell you?
Steph: Daddy's hot.
Lori: *frowns* No he's not. *rolls eyes* Well, yes he is--but not to you! Ugh...looks like 'Grandma' needs a talking-to.
Steph: *puts shoes on Ken*
Lori: What does she say about me?
Steph: She says you're a whore.
Lori: *frowns* You don't get to see Grandma anymore.
Steph: *lifts head* What's a whore, Momma?
Lori: You'll find out when you're older.
TBC...........................