Careless Mistake
by Kelli
Part 55
Late September 2005.......
"Hello," Lynne bellowed once she walked through the front door the the condo in Destin, Florida.
"Oh hey," Britney said, jogging down the foyer to help her mom with her bag. "Oh my, you're all here," she laughed when she saw Lynn and Paul behind her. "Where's daddy?"
"He's behind us," Lynne added as she wrapped her free arm around Britney.
"I'm here," she heard Jamie's voice boom from outside the door.
"Let me take that," Britney said, trying to take her mom's bag.
"I'll get it," Justin warned as he walked up behind her.
"What? I can get a stupid bag, Justin," Britney mumbled, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Oh let him get it," Lynn kidded. "Take advantage of it." She leaned up and pulled Justin's cheek down so she could kiss him.
After exchanging hugs all around, Justin, Paul and Jamie took the bags upstairs to the guest bedrooms.
"Is Mackenzie taking a nap?" Lynne asked as the three women walked into the kitchen.
"Yeah, she finally fell asleep. She was getting so cranky. We spent the morning at the beach with her," Britney smiled.
"So what have the three of you done these last few days here?" Lynn asked, picking a bunch of grapes up out of the bowl that was setting on the table.
"You know, the normal beach stuff. Gathering seashells and swimming...."
"Oh I can't wait to see Mackenzie gathering seashells," Lynne said, looking at Lynn as she agreed.
"You two are so easily amused," Britney chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Justin asked as the three men walked into the kitchen. He stood behind Britney and wrapped his arms around her.
"Our mothers talking about their granddaughter. I don't think they're going to have a problem with watching her while we go to that restaurant we wanted to go to," Britney said.
"I didn't think they would," Justin chuckled.
"So, there's got to be a reason why you've invited us to tag along on your family vacation," Jamie said as he leaned over the counter.
"Jamie," Lynne warned.
"What? I just find it funny that they've got this beautiful place all to themselves and they want the folks to be here too," he said.
Britney laughed. "Can't we just want to spend time with our parents too?"
"Yes," Lynne intercepted.
"Well yeah, but it still seems fishy to me," Jamie said.
"I don't think it's fishy. I can believe that our children want to spend time with us. They get free babysitting," Lynn said.
Lynne nodded in agreement.
"Anyone want anything to drink?" Britney asked, trying to change the subject.
"Was that Mackenzie I heard?" Lynne asked, sitting up in the lounge chair a little.
"I don't think so mama," Britney said, resting her head back against the chaise.
"We're going to go play golf," Justin said, poking his head outside.
"Now?" Britney asked, looking at her watch.
"Yeah, we'll be back in time for dinner."
"Both Jamie and Paul going too?" Lynne asked.
"Yeah, they're both coming."
"Okay, have fun," Britney said, acting like she was pouting.
Justin stepped outside and walked over to where she was sitting. He leaned down and waited for her to look up at him before he kissed her.
"I love you."
"I love you too," she said.
"Bye."
"Bye baby," Lynn said.
"Have fun," Lynne said.
Britney smiled and laid back against the chaise again.
"Okay, now that the men are going, tell us what's going on?" Lynne asked.
"Mama!" Britney said, lifting her head again.
Lynn started laughing.
"Seriously, we can't just ask you guys out here? We've done it before, why should this time be any different?"
"You just seem different. A mama can sense these things."
"Nothing's different mama," she said, closing her eyes again.
"Okay....if you say so," Lynne said, winking at Lynn.
Finally Mackenzie really did cry. Both Lynn and Lynne jumped up at the same time and chuckled as they did.
"We'll go get her," they both said.
"Uh huh," Britney said, knowing that they would.
In a few minutes Mackenzie came walking out onto the deck, holding Grandma Lynne's hand.
"She walks to fast now," Lynne said.
"Yeah, we have to keep getting her new shoes because she keeps burning the soles on all the others, right baby?" she asked as she picked Mackenzie up and set her on her lap.
"Yes," Mackenzie agreed.
"Who wants some juice?" Lynn asked walking out onto the deck with a sippy cup of juice.
"Meeeee," Mackenzie said, holding out her hands.
"What do you say?" Britney asked.
"Pease."
"Good girl," Lynn said, handing her the sippy cup.
Mackenzie took the cup and immediately began drinking out of it, leaning back against Britney as she did.
"It's getting a little windy out here," Lynne said, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. "Why don't we go in and I'll start fixing something to eat."
"Mama, you don't have to do that," Britney tried to protest.
"I know I don't have to....I enjoy cooking for a lot of people."
"No arguments here," Lynn said, following her inside.
"Come on, sweetie, the grandma's have spoken," Britney said as she stood up and propped Mackenzie on her hip.
"Gwandma's," Mackenzie repeated with the sippy cup still in her mouth.
"So how is the playgroup working out?" Lynn asked while she chopped up some onions.
"It's going very well. If we don't get to go, she wonders where her friends are. There's Ashley and David. Those are her best friends now."
Both Lynn and Lynne smile.
"She seems to have learned a lot, too. I guess it just helps her to communicate with other children better...."
"Yeah, she picks up a lot just from them. It gives me a little free time too."
"So when do you start promoting the movie?" Lynne asked. She was breading the chicken.
"In January."
"Then what?"
"I don't know yet."
Lynne glanced over at her daughter. "You want to do another album?"
Britney shrugged and glanced down at Mackenzie who was playing quietly on the floor.
"Another movie?"
"I don't know, mama."
"No need to get irritated with me, I was just askin," Lynne said.
"I know," Britney sighed.
"Are you frustrated that you don't know what you're doing yet?" Lynn asked.
"No, not really."
"Mommy," Mackenzie said, turning Britney's attention from her mother and Lynn down to the floor where she sat.
Mackenzie held up her Barbie Doll that she decided to undress and redress in a bathing suit which was now stuck on top of the doll's head.
"Oh, isn't that nice? The newest fashion," Britney chuckled.
Mackenzie smiled and then went back to work on changing the doll's clothes again.
"It just seems like a sore subject with you. You and Justin aren't clashing over career decisions are you?" Lynne asked.
"No. I just don't know what I'm going to do yet. Nothing's come up."
She hated not telling them yet.
Lynn and Lynne exchanged concerned glances with each other.
"What about Justin?" Lynne asked.
"What about me?" Justin answered from the doorway.
Britney looked up and smiled. "Hey, that was quick."
"We only played nine holes," he shrugged.
Jamie and Paul walked into the kitchen.
"Smells good, ladies," Jamie said.
"Justin, I talked to your daddy and he'll be coming in tomorrow. Lisa can't make it because Jonathon has something due at school.....or something or other," Lynn said shaking her head. She handed the chopped up onions to Lynne.
"Oh good, I was afraid he wouldn't make it," Justin said, walking into the kitchen and sitting down next to Britney.
"Dada," Mackenzie said.
"Hey angel," Justin responded.
Mackenzie stood up and walked over to Justin and showed him her doll with the swimming suit on her head.
"Wow, isn't she pretty? Britney, I think you should wear your suit like this next time," Justin said, holding the doll up to Britney's face.
She smacked it away and glared at him. "Our parents are here."
He laughed. "We have a baby, I think they know I like to see you nekkid," he said so only she could hear.
She blushed.
"Stop it," she said softly.
"Da da up," Mackenzie said, holding her arms out.
Justin bent down and picked Mackenzie up and set her down on his lap.
"Anything I can do to help?" Britney asked.
Lynne shook her head. "No, I just need to get this in the oven and stir the vegetables once in awhile and I'm good to go."
"Why don't we take this wine," Lynn said, picking up a glass and a bottle of wine, "into the family room."
"Sounds good to me," Paul said, grabbing a few more glasses.
Britney sent a nervous glance to Justin.
"Okay," he said, patting Britney on the shoulder as he stood up.
"Mackenzie doesn't want any, though," he said, teasing as he walked into the family, still holding her.
Britney stood up and followed the group. She sat down next to Justin on the couch. Mackenzie was now on the floor playing with a couple of stuffed animals.
Lynn poured a glass at a time and handed one to Paul and then walked over to Justin.
"Thanks," he said, taking the glass from her.
She poured another one and offered it to Britney.
"No, thanks," Britney said.
Lynn tried to hide her smile. With that one gesture, Britney gave away her secret....at least to her.
"You sure?"
Britney nodded. "Yeah. I just haven't been in the mood for wine lately," she said, screwing up her nose.
Lynn shrugged and handed the glass to Jamie.
"Great dinner, Lynne," Paul said, wiping his mouth with his napkin.
Everyone else agreed.
"Thank you."
"We'll get the dishes mama," Britney said, standing up as she started to clear the table.
"I won't argue with you," Lynne chuckled.
"So, what should we do now?" Jamie asked as he leaned back in his chair.
"We could go for a walk on the beach," Lynn said.
"I'm a little tired for that," Britney said as she started to place the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. "But you guys can go ahead."
"I actually feel like going for a swim in the pool," Lynne said standing up.
"Why don't we all just do our own things, tonight?" Justin suggested.
"Sounds good to me," Paul said, patting him on the shoulder.
As they all dispersed to go do their own things, Justin walked over to Britney to help her with the remaining dishes.
"So, Mrs. Timberlake, what do you want to do tonight?" he asked.
"Sleep," she sighed. "I think I was out in the sun too much today."
He rubs her back and then nudges her to the side.
"Let me finish and you and Mackenzie go get ready for bed. We'll all snuggle up in our bed and watch TV until Mackenzie falls asleep."
She smiled and leaned against the counter. "Sounds perfect. But what about our parents?"
"They'll understand and they can take care of themselves. They know their way around."
"True. Okay....hurry."
"I will," he chuckled.