Chapter 9
The Harmon House…

Angel was up from her nap and she was now sitting on the floor in the living room staring at the blank television.

"Angel what would you like to have for lunch?" Mike asked her.

"Nothing." She answered quietly.

"Well you have to eat something honey. Whatever you want. Grilled cheese? Peanut butter and jelly?"

Angel just shook her head no to his every suggestion while her eyes stayed focused on the pictureless screen.

"Oh boy." Mike whispered under his breath. He was about to go over to her and try to persuade her with some gentle prodding when the doorbell rang. Angel turned away from the TV to see who was at the door as Mike went over to answer.

Upon opening the door he’s surprised to see Lucy. "Lucy hi, come in."

"Thanks Mike." She answered making her way in carrying a brightly colored wrapped gift box. "Is Ellen here?"

Before Mike could answer Angel had made a mad dash over to Lucy.

"Aunt Lucy, Mommy and Daddy left me." Tears clouding her eyes. She needed sympathy and she was determined to get some.

"They left you?" Lucy repeated as she made her way over to the couch with the unsettled child.

"Uh huh." Angel answered nodding her head.

Lucy looked up at Mike.

"They went to the Poconos for their anniversary."

"The Poconos?" Lucy smiled. "That had to be Matt’s idea."

"Yeah it was."

"Is that present for me?" Angel asked Lucy.

"No Angel this present is for your mommy. Well actually it’s for your daddy too." Her eyes dancing as she thought of Ellen’s reaction and Matt’s too when they saw the "gift". "I do have something for you from my trip but actually it’s home still packed in my luggage. I promise to bring it later."

"They wouldn’t let me go on the trip with them."

"Well that’s because it’s a special trip for your mommy and daddy."

"They said that, but I still wanted to go. Are Tori and Charles with you?"

"No they’re at home with their father. Hey it looks like you could use some cheering up. Why don’t you come home with me for a while."

"I’m afraid that can’t happen Lucy." Mike told her.

"No it’s alright Mike, Ellen won’t mind me taking her for a while. I’m the godmother remember."

"It’s not that I don’t think it would be okay. I’m sure it would be, under different circumstances, but Angel can’t leave and she knows this."

"Well why not?"

"She’s on punishment. Appears Matt and Ellen deciding to go without her didn’t set to well. She made attempts to have them change their minds about that and it didn’t please either of them too much so now she’s stuck inside. No friends, no phone, no TV, and no going outside. Matt and Ellen made me promise not to falter and to make sure she carries out her punishment."

"I can’t watch Elmo." Angel informed her as tears clouded her eyes once again.

"Aw." Lucy sighed as she wiped the tears from Angel’s eyes. "Look Mike I don’t think Angel could have done anything so bad as to warrant all that. She’s so sad and Tori and Charles would love to see her, they wanted to come with me anyway."

"Lucy I really don’t think…" Mike started.

"I’ll take full responsibility. I know Ellen and Matt won’t mind."

Angel knew that wasn’t so but she wanted to go with Lucy and with any luck she could watch Elmo there.

"Do you want to go home with me for a while?" Stroking Angel’s face.

Angel nods.

"Good then let’s go."

"Lucy…" Mike’s words are again interrupted but this time by the phone. "Wait one second please." Mike answers the phone. "Hello Harmon residence."

"Mike hi it’s me again." Ellen said.

"Ellen, so you guys are there?" Looking at Lucy.

"Yeah we just got here." Taking a seat on the bed. "How are things going on your end?"

"Things are…"

Lucy comes over and takes the phone from Mike.

"Ellen, it’s me."

"Lucy what are you doing there? I thought you and Kevin would be gone for at least a couple more days."

"Well I remembered your anniversary was coming up and even though the Grand Canyon was beautiful, it’s extremely hot there and so we decided to cut it short. The kids really enjoyed it though. Speaking of kids, Angel’s really sad, I’m going to take her home with me for a while."

"No you’re not Lucy. Angel’s on punishment she can’t leave the house."

"Ellen you don’t see her sad little face. She told me she couldn’t watch Elmo."

"I’ve seen the sad little face and she uses it mercilessly to get her way, which is why she’s on punishment right now. She can’t go Lucy that’s that."

"Ellen."

"And I hope you didn’t bring Charles and Tori with you because she can’t have friends over either."

"No they’re at home with Kevin."

"Which is where you should be too. Go home Lucy. Give Angel the phone now."

"Angel your mommy wants to talk to you." Walking over and giving her the phone.

"Mommy."

"You know you’re on punishment and that you can’t go anywhere right?"

"Yes Mommy."

"That means with no one, even Aunt Lucy is that clear?"

"Yes. Mommy can I please watch Elmo?"

"No TV Angel."

Angel sighs sadly.

Matt signals for the phone. "Your father wants to talk to you." Handing Matt the phone.

"Sweetheart I know you’re not happy right now but in the long run you’ll see that this is for your own good."

"It’s not good when I can’t see Elmo Daddy."

"Who’s fault is that?"

"Daddy I’m not being bad, Aunt Lucy wanted to take me home I didn’t ask."

"You knew you were on punishment."

"Yeah, but she didn’t ask me that. She said did I want to go home with her, I didn’t tell a story Daddy I said yes cause I did want to go with her. See I’m being good. Can I watch Elmo please, please."

"Angel Mommy and I love you but the answer is still no. Put Grandpa Mike on the phone."

Angel gives the phone to Mike. "Mommy and Daddy are being so mean to me." Then she dashed back into her room.

"You don’t have a happy daughter right now." Mike spoke into the phone’s receiver.

"What else is new? So where’s Matty or do I even need to ask?" He said rhetorically

"He’s your son. Yes he’s in the backyard shooting hoops."

"I’m thinking that kid has had that basketball surgically attached to his hand. We’re going to call back a little later to say goodnight, maybe we’ll catch him the next time. I know Lucy is still there put her back on Ellen wants to talk to her again."

Matt gives Ellen the phone as Mike hands Lucy the phone.

"Yes." Lucy said.

"Lucy, Angel is in search of sympathy and she got way too much from Matt and me. She’s mad and sad right now but she’ll get over it. From this she’ll learn that she can’t always have her way. Now you go home to your family and I’ll see you when I get back."

"You know I came here to drop off a little pre-anniversary gift."

"I gather "little" is the operative word. I can only imagine what you picked out this time."

"I’m sure Matt will love it."

"I’m sure he will too."

"So the Po…."

Matt takes the phone away from Ellen cutting off Lucy’s words.

"I see you two are about to get started so it’s time for me to bring this conversation to an end. Thanks for the gift Lucy I’m sure it won’t disappoint me but right now Ellen needs to go. She’ll catch up with you when we get back. Give Kevin and the kids our best. Bye." Matt hangs up the phone.

"Matt that wasn’t very nice." Ellen told him.

"This is our time Ellen, she can talk your ear off later." Transferring next to her on the bed. "Just listen."

Ellen waits a few moments. "I don’t hear anything."

"Exactly. It’s absolutely quiet. No kids, no beepers, just you and me and a whirlpool for two, locked behind the doors of this amazing room."

"This room is beautiful Matt, the brochures don’t do it justice." Taking in the splendor of the space they’d call home for the next few days.

Taking her hand. "This is our own private world, a soundproof fortress of love. Welcome to our second honeymoon Mrs. Harmon. I promise to make this a vacation you’ll never forget. I love you Ellen." Matt leans in for a kiss.

"I love you too." The two share a kiss marking the prelude of their eleventh anniversary.