Just Hanging Out (open)

[Dix C. Martin]

Dixie had some time off from work since her kids had some time off from school. Nolan was upstairs napping and Kathy was occupied elsewhere in the house. But Tara was insistent on getting her hair braided, and her mom was happy to oblige.

"Tara, honey if you don't sit still this won't work."
"It takes too long Mommy!", the nearly five year old whined, sitting on the couch cushion while Dixie perched on the arm.
"If you squirm now we'll just have to redo it."
That got her sitting still as a statue.
As she braided, and Tara giggled at some cartoon on TV. Fairly Odd something or other, Dixie bit her lip. She loved spending time with her kids, but she had to admit she was on the lonely side as of late.

Tad had been away for, however long too long was. J.R was busy with Chandler and Marissa was busy with him. And as far as friends went she hadn't heard from Angie or Erica lately. While she didn't mind peace and quiet she was wishing her phone would ring and someone would give her a call. Even Opal hadn't had much to say the past few days and that was never a good sign.
Thinking though Kathy would be ready for a snack or something soon, at least she'd have her oldest girl to talk to.

(OOC: Okay leaving this thread wide open for anyone interested. Sorry its on the lame side but at least it's something LOL. )

[Erica Kane Montgomery]

Erica was sitting in her car. She hadn't been much of a friend lately, or a wife, really. She'd been a good mother, but that was all she could muster up. She couldn't understand what had come over her, but she had distanced herself from everyone she loved. "That's enough of that," she told herself, feeling that Kane power coursing through her veins. She loved that she was so strong & had so much willpower.

She looked in the backseat at her sleeping boys & got out of the car. She locked it, just in case in Pine Valley, & headed up to the door. She knocked on it carefully. She wanted to say hello to Dixie today, & she was determined to catch up with Angie & Liza today, too. And since she had the boys with her, she would have to make due with that. Colton & Carter were both fast asleep, so she would have to grab them before she went inside, but she did need to know if Dixie was home & had time to chat before she brought the crew inside with her.

When the door opened, she smiled wide. "Hi... it's been a long time, hasn't it?"

[Dix C. Martin]

Dixie was absentmindedly finishing Tara's braid when she could've sworn she heard someone at the door. She knew she had though when Tara looked up too.
"Mommy who's here?"
"I dunno baby, stay here. Let me check."
"But my braid!", the girl whined.
"Oooh, alright here. I got the end just take hold of it..see, there ya go."
"But..." Frowning the girl clasped her fingers around the end of her own curly red braid. Waiting impatiently for her mother to come back.

Opening the door Dixie gave Erica a surprised smile.
"Erica hi! Yes, it..it certainly has.", she said, slightly thrown off guard and hoping the house was in decent enough condition to receive guests. When was the last time she'd vacuumed the foyer...

"I..come on in. Are the boys with you?", she asked looking to Erica's car parked in the driveway. Trying to remember and not for the life of her able to, the last time she'd seen her friend's sons. She felt ashamed at having to try and remember how old they were now.

[Erica Kane Montgomery]

"Yeah," she smiled to herself, before saying, "I just have to grab them from the car quickly," Erica said, before heading out to her car. Two kiddos in her arms, she came back to the door & went inside, following Dixie to the couch. She smiled at the twins, realizing how big they had gotten & sighed, it was a little bittersweet.

"So, how have you been? What's going on in your life, Dixie? It's been forever, & I feel so badly because of that. I think it's my fault, I've been so unavailable with my book launching..." Erica explained.

[Dix C. Martin]

Watching as Erica went to wrangle her sons, Dixie lightly laughed and looked in awe at the two handsome little boys coming up the walk. Letting the group inside, Tara heard them come in the foyer, then the living room and looked up from her spot on the couch curiously.
"Mommy?"
"Tara honey, you remember Erica right? She and I are good friends."
"Who are they?", Tara asked.
"These are her boys, Colton and Carter."
Interested, Tara walked over to get better acquainted with them, while Dixie perched next to Erica on the couch.

"Not very much.", she shrugged.
"I've just been working at the hospital, taking care of the kids. Tad's, away still but he calls every few days so we can hear his voice."
Looking wistful, she gave her friend a sad smile, before Erica started apologizing.
"Oh don't feel bad, Erica.", she sighed.
"I could've picked up a phone too and called."

When she mentioned the book launch Dixie looked on in surprise.
"You wrote a book? Wow, Erica that's amazing!", she marveled.
"What's it about?"

After asking, she picked up her phone that just beeped at her, indicating it had to be charged. Looking at the background photo on it though a soft smile filled her face. It was a picture of her and Tad, Jesse and Angie, and Jackson and Erica. Taken at some party from last summer, maybe?

"Erica you haven't heard from Angie at all, have you?", Dixie asked. She knew Erica and her were close and wondered if they'd been in touch.

[Erica Kane Montgomery]

Erica smiled at the mention of her book. It was a little bittersweet, though. She loved being the author of a great book, but she hated that it took away from her friends & family. She knew she had been neglecting them, & she felt so terrible about it. "Well, it's about being married to Jack, actually, even though..." she began to tear up a little bit, but shook her head. "It's nothing. I just need my boys," she told Dixie, who seemed suspicious of her actions. "Really, it's nothing."

Erica went over & hugged her boys tightly, giving them each a kiss, & chatted with Dixie's little one for a few moments. "So, Tad's been calling at least?" she nodded at her own question & continued, "That's good. I'm really so happy that you two are still so strong together."

"No, I haven't heard from Angie... I thought I might have at the book launch, but it's been my fault. I've just been so incredibly busy. It's been hard with this book," she said with a forced laugh, hating that she had even considered doing this book deal. If she had known everything that would have happened because of it, she wouldn't have done it at all.