CHAPTER 12
Fall was in full swing, Thanksgiving only two days away. With Gran still hospitalized and her condition unknown, things would certainly be different. Upholding tradition, despite her absence, the gang got together for holiday prep, and a break from the stress that came with holding vigil at the hospital. With their family of friends growing more and more, Sam and Dawson volunteered to host since they had the space.
Gathered in the kitchen, the women divided out the recipes, Gran’s recipes, and went to work. Pies, and other baked goods were just the beginning; there were even seasoned bread crumbs in the making for stuffing just as Granny Lou would do.
“So, what’s up with you and Doc? Feels a little tense,” Morgan asked of Everly.
“Oh, nothing. Just a little misunderstanding…and bruised ego,” she chuckled.
Sam stopped chopping the apples she was working on, intrigued by topic at hand. “Uh oh…do tell.”
“I…can’t. It wouldn’t be right,” Everly defended, but the laughter kicked in yet again.
The ladies had all stopped doing whatever task they were charged with and came together, time to tag team Everly and get some answers. Though Everly was amused by whatever was going on, the tension that stilled the air between her and Doc was a contradiction that had them swarming like bees to honey.
“No really…I can’t,” Everly insisted with a stupid grin and snort.
“Jesus, Ev, just say it. We’re going to figure it out anyway, you suck at secrets,” Jessie chimed, her lack of filter fully intact.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you suck at secrets. What part of that is confusing?” Jessie deadpanned. “We all knew you were screwin’ Doc. Parking in front of each other’s house in the middle of night? C’mon… Even knocked up, you tried to hide it. Then you act like he’s just a booty call baby daddy when it’s obvious you love the shit out of him.”
Nothing could quiet a crowd to the point of hearing dust fall like hard truths. Everly sat in her chair, leaning from side to side, unsure of what to say next. Tension among the ladies was high until Everly finally relaxed and a grin turned to a giggle, the ladies joining in the laughter.
“I guess that was pretty stupid.”
“Yep. Now what’s going on. Doc’s not bailing, is he?” Jessie asked, sounding concerned. She may come across as a real hard ass, but she had a heart of gold and loved her people hard. “We can bust his balls if he is.”
“Oh, my God. No. Nothing like that. Quite the opposite actually.” Everly looked around taking in the curiosity amongst the hens.
“I uh…had a hard time understanding Doc’s…behavior.”
“His behavior?” Jessie chimed, again. “You mean his obsession? That guy has it bad for you, I’m surprised he lets you pee unattended.”
“Well…yeah. He has been a little overwhelming, but with good intentions. I got upset though because…well…” her silly grin broke into a chuckle again and she couldn’t help herself.
“He won’t have sex with me.” Everly was in a full-blown fit of ab busting laughter. “He won’t…touch…me.”
Unsure what to think of Everly’s admission, the ladies and their laughter stalled. It wasn’t funny, it was sad really, and they were worried for their dear friend.
“Everly, honey,” Sam interrupted. “This isn’t healthy. What do you mean he won’t have sex with you
. Are you…breaking up?”
A room full of nearly silent awes and ohs of sympathy made Everly laugh even more. Their concern was endearing, but completely unnecessary so she thought she would let them off the hook.
“No, no…he’s afraid to. He’s afraid to hurt…the baby!” And there it was, Everly’s confession and Doc’s humiliation. “I thought he didn’t want me, that I was getting too fat…he just doesn’t want to hurt us! I’ve tried everything!”
The giggles were matched with adoring sentiments as Doc’s silliness was actually quite sweet. His love for Everly had been obvious, but now it was more so.
While the women were busy at work, preparing for a big day of cooking, the men worked on tradition of their own. Sam and Dawson lived in a semi-secluded area, on several acres that were mostly forest. Directly behind the house was a fair sized yard, with all that comes with outdoor living, like seating, a swing set for the kids, hammocks, and then some.
Just beyond the soft grass, but before the tree line that bordered the property, was a small slope that dropped into a prairie like field that was mowed and painted every year for the annual Thanksgiving Day football game. Any other day of the year, you might see a herd of deer, or even elk, but on this day, it was white lines and make shift goal posts made from fence posts.
It is said that women hunt and circle gossip like a flock of hungry vultures, but truth be told, men have them beat ten-fold. Working alongside the guys, Doc was quiet and in an obvious pout that had the other men giving each other questioning looks. Doc was the guy who always had a smile on his face and couldn’t be brought down by anything – even the shit he saw at work. Today, though, he was in the midst of a silent tantrum that was lacking only a single foot stomp and folded arms.
“Hey, Doc? You okay over there?” Dawson was the one to bite first.
“Just fine,” was all he had in return – short and sweet – also not like Doc. He was far too outgoing, loved to talk, hear himself talk, and had no issue with being the center of attention – hence being the lead singer in the band he was in.
“You seem a little…off
,” Blake offered, looking to the others, shrugging his shoulders, throwing his hands out, unsure what to say. Just like it wasn’t like Doc to be quiet, it wasn’t like Blake to pry or generally give a shit about feelings
.
Laughter came drifting from the house above them grabbing their attention with its ebbs and flows of intensity.
“Wonder what’s so funny up there?” Colton asked, resting his hands and chin on the end of a shovel he had been using to dig holes for goal posts.
Doc’s stare was locked on the house. “Probably me. I bet she’s telling everyone
. Real fricken funny!”
More confused looks were exchanged between the men as they watched Doc watch the house. Curiosity was getting the better of them, they wanted to know what was so funny because it obviously was the source of Doc’s pissed off demeanor. There was a silent debate, all with eye contact and eyebrow gestures as the guys tried to decide who was going in. When all eyes looked away from him as if he drew the short straw, Beck rolled his eyes, tired of the let the new guy handle it
mentality. He was hardly new, but he was the newest and took a lot of crap for it.
“So, uh, what is it you’re, uh…worried about over there, Doc?” Beck was about as good at this as the other men.
He turned and looked at them with a surly look. “Why…you want to laugh at me too?”
Hands going up around the group, they all shrugged it off with each saying, not me
or not at all.
There was even a just here to listen, bud
in there. Doc sighed again, looking at his feet, a pattern he was getting really good at.
“So, I upset Evie. Like really upset her and didn’t mean to. I was just trying to…protect her, and the baby. Well, it didn’t go as planned.”
Protective instincts were kicking in from all the alphas in one place and chests began to puff a bit, each wondering if there was honor to defend on Everly’s behalf. The change in the air, and smell of testosterone wasn’t lost on Doc when he looked up. “Calm down. Nothing like any of you are thinking. Christ…I could never hurt her. Not like that.”
“Oh, uh…go on then,” came from one of the O’Reilly boys.
“Look. I promised her. I promised nothing would ever happen to her or the baby. She’s fragile that way, you know? Or at least she
thinks she is. I think she’s kind of a fearless bad ass, but…”
He looked back up at the house, noticing Everly standing at the sliding glass door looking back at him. She smiled at him before walking away from the door, returning to whatever she was doing.
“I uh, upset her because I was taking care of her too
much.”
Dawson gave him a cross look, “How does that work? What’s too much? I mean, I know you have been helping her out so she can stay with Lou. Sam actually complained that I don’t do nice things like Doc
anymore. How does that get you in trouble, it only got me
in trouble.”
“Me too…” Colton added.
Beck nodded, “Yep…and me.”
“She thought I didn’t want her anymore. That I wasn’t… I swear to God I will kick any one of your asses if this turns into a…thing
, got it?! I don’t care if most of you are bigger than me, I’m faster.”
Grins were brewing as they all nodded in compliance, damn, this was going to be good.
“I won’t sleep with her. There. Ya happy? I won’t have sex with her, I hurt her feelings because of it. I didn’t want to hurt the baby.”
Oh, Doc stepped right into that one as far as Wylie was concerned. “I thought you were a doctor? You know how it got in there, right?”
Then came the laughs. He should have known better. He realized how ridiculous he had been, especially now that he said it not once, but twice.
“Oh, fuck off, O’Reilly.”
“Whoa, Doc. Easy. Give us a minute. We are mere mortals and know that shit can’t hurt the baby. So, give us a second because it’s…well, it’s funny.”
Dawson tried, but lost his composure too. Doc’s fear wasn’t unheard of, it was just something you didn’t typically hear from a Doctor.
“I know. God, I know it’s so stupid. I know it’s safe, have even told patients to go for it. There’s just all that medical jargon in my head that says, hey…but there is that rare oddity that is medically possible. Then it’s all about the science, and odds…and that promise. It’s like I can’t turn it off. God knows, I want to turn it off because she’s…” he stopped himself before saying more and disrespecting her, they weren’t blind after all.
“You aren’t going to hurt her, or the baby,” Blake said, matter of fact, drawing attention from the others. Blake was the least likely to understand that concept, and even more unlikely to give a shit so it took them all by surprise.
“I know! Gah! I finally, after all this time, get the girl and then…”
“You do
love her – you got it bad, Doc.” Colton snickered.
“I do. I bought a ring. Months ago, long before the baby. I wanted to have it in case she finally came around and, well…now maybe she will?”
“Wow…man, that’s great. Really fucking girly, but great. We grew up with her, she’s a great catch, Doc. Hang on to her,” Wylie added. As much as he was playful and full of mischief, he was the sentimental and sweet one of the bunch.
Awkward was about the only word to sum up this conversation for Blake. He cared deeply for his people, but bedroom talk like a bunch of pansies was really making his skin itch. “Yeah…you might want to…you know
…before you blow it. If you want to give her that ring but no…stuff
, she might say no.”
Doc nodded, he knew Blake was right, they all were. He went into the conversation feeling like an idiot, telling his buddies he was afraid to have sex. Now he felt like an idiot because they were not only still talking about it, but they were giving him advice…good advice. Even if his man card was likely to be revoked.
“Now that we are all done feeling
and supporting
each other’s needs
with an estrogen loaded pep talk, can we finish this thing up? I’m about to grow tits and an ovary over here.” Declan earned a round of laughs, and raised eyebrows. There was a woman inside that house, who’d haunted him since the day he left her behind and had him twisted in knots. Another one who thought he kept his secrets on lock down but wore them on his sleeve…Lydia Prescott was inside and it was either burning a hole in his heart or his dick – maybe both.
“Thank you! Jesus, it’s like you guys left your balls at home or in your women’s purses. Football field and emotions…I only signed up for part of that. Let’s finish, I’m hungry.” Luke was haunted by a lot more than a woman. Feelings – he just didn’t do those.
Jessie stuck her head out the sliding glass door and yelled for the men, “Food’s here! If you stink, we’ll bring your plate outside!”
Food meant BJ was there. He had to run the bakery for the first half of the day but promised to bring lunch and help finish up whatever they had left to do. It was Thanksgiving Day that they really wanted him for. They could make the pies, bread crumbs, and even make a football field, but BJ Baker, five-star world renowned chef, was charged with the one thing he did better than anyone…make Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.
Quick to clean up their tools and supplies, the men made their way up to the house, ready for whatever BJ whipped up. Even the O’Reilly brothers were looking forward to BJ’s lunch feast, though they wouldn’t admit it and added plenty of organic hippy food jokes. Coming through the backdoor, laughter from the ladies could be heard from the adjacent kitchen. Doc froze when he was within ear shot and realized the conversation was still about him.
“Don’t worry, Ev. We’ll get you a bedside boyfriend for your nightstand drawer. Just need to give him new batteries once in a while,” Jessie teased.
Meg was the last one in the group to have been pregnant, and added, “Pregnancy hormones…she’ll need lots and lots of batteries.”
Colton was in the door and heard the gist of the conversation, and added his two cents before wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her hard. “That was my favorite part of you being pregnant!”
Laughter and get a room
floated through the room, but Doc stood right where he was, just outside the door, too embarrassed to go in. He considered heading right back down the steps and running around to the front of the house, where his truck was parked, and leaving.
“Ignore it, Doc. They’re just messing around. Jessie makes fun of the Pope so of course she’ll make fun of your situation,” Blake said from behind Doc.
“I can’t believe she told all of them. Crap.”
“Well, in all fairness, you told all of us so what’s the difference?”
Doc just shrugged his shoulders, Blake was right, but it still stung. If he was being entirely honest with himself, he wasn’t really mad or embarrassed by Everly’s actions…it was his own. He waited so long to get the girl
and when he got her, he didn’t know what to do with her. He felt like an ass by his own doing.
“Look, Doc. You love her. It’s obvious she loves you too, even if she’s being all Evie
about it. You guys are having a kid… Don’t let this get away from you over a few jokes and your weird
paranoia. Family is everything, man, and you have one of your own now.”
Blake patted Doc on the shoulder as he walked past him, headed to the kitchen where everyone else was. Shocked at the sincerity and that odd sense that Blake was speaking from experience, Doc couldn’t help but feel the words that he spoke. He was
lucky, and the only real problem he had was with himself. It was high time he got his shit together.
Last one to enter the kitchen, Doc went straight to Everly, wrapped his arms around her, and locked her under a long hot smoldering kiss that made her sweat. Without a word, just a confident swagger, he continued on, as if she were just a quick pit stop, and washed his hands like nothing just happened. Snickers and snorts quickly began the clapping of hands with a few high-pitched whistles mixed in.
Speechless and in shock, Everly stood there and watched her man come back to her. It wasn’t clear what came over him, or her for that matter, but she had wicked romping butterflies. That was her libido, not the baby.
With two plates in his hand, Doc tipped his head in Everly’s direction and motioned for her to join him while he plated up food for both of them. The sentiment was sweet, his doting was back in play, and the other ladies were side eyeing their men, wondering where their plates were. Doc may have been getting out of trouble with Everly, but he was quickly becoming well hated amongst the other men with the example he was setting.
Everly sat at the large table, looking around the space at each and every one who was there. Their small family of friends was much larger than she really gave it credit. They no longer managed to fit at a single table when all together like this. If she had any doubt left about her lack of family or ability to love anyone completely, it was gone now.
Confident and loved were the two things she felt the most in that moment. This was going to work out for her, she could feel it and it wasn’t just the kicking baby, it was hope and forever with Doc. She rubbed her belly and had a secret agreement with the little person growing in there about its daddy. Everly had room in her heart for one more and what he provoked in her far outweighed the fear she had lived with most of her life…it was love.
Doc watched Everly look down with a smile on her face as she rested her hands on her small baby bump. Something had changed and for once, it didn’t worry him where she was concerned. Joy, pure joy, was rolling off her and he couldn’t help but feel it as he looked at her bump and had a silent promise of his own with their baby.
A lifelong promise is what he vowed – to love them, cherish them, and be everything they wanted and needed him to be. He couldn’t wait to live that truth. A weight had been lifted, and a hint at forever replaced it.
But first, he had some advice to take and a plan to put into action. Blake was right, it was all in his hands and he needed to claim his woman. And he would…forever was waiting.
They were living a season of change, a welcome one full of firsts and fresh new starts. As if on cue, the universe threw him a sign as the season outside had changed a bit too with its own first and fresh new start…it began to snow.