Chapter Twenty-One
Meghan
“I did a thing.” My words are barely a whisper as I pin my cell phone between my cheek and shoulder, my hands twisting the engagement ring on my hand. I’m hiding in Nick’s bathroom, pretending to shower.
“Is that what we’re calling it? A thing?” my sister AJ retorts on the other end.
“No, silly, I definitely did that thing. Three times, actually.”
She’s silent on the other end of the line for several long seconds before she finally woops with excitement. “Atta girl! Three times?”
“Yes, three amazing, perfect times. But that’s not what I called about,” I say, gripping my towel around my chest.
“What other thing did you do? Because if it were up to me, I’d say forget that thing and go back into the bedroom and do the other thing.”
“Okay, stop saying thing. It’s getting weird,” I tell her, glancing at my reflection in the mirror. I look a bit tired, but thoroughly screwed. (In the good way.) My hair is mussed into a horrible rat’s nest, my lips are swollen and pink, and my cheeks have that freshly fucked glow.
“Well, tell me what you did,” she encourages through the phone.
“I invited him to breakfast at Payton’s. With the family. All of them.”
There’s a pause. “Okay, I don’t understand. You invited him to come eat with us. That’s a bad thing? Wait, hasn’t he been there before?”
“Well, yes, actually he has, but that was before we had sex three times and I let him do dirty things to me with his tongue,” I growl at my sister.
“Really? Tell me more about these magical tongue things he did,” she encourages.
“You’re incorrigible, Grandma. Can we focus on the problem at hand?” I huff, pacing the small bathroom.
“I don’t see the problem at all,” AJ replies. “You were friends before. Now, you’re friends who have seen each other naked. What’s the big deal?”
“You should see me, Alison. I look like I was up all night having sex! I can’t go to breakfast like this. Grandma is like a dog with a bone when it comes to anything sexual. You don’t think she’ll smell him on my skin, even after I’ve showered?”
“Good point. She’ll definitely know.”
“So that’s it? She’ll know. That’s the best you’ve got for me?” I ask, my mouth gaping open as realization sets in. There’s no getting out of this.
“That’s it, sunshine. But don’t worry, I’ll have that freshly fucked glow myself, so maybe she’ll focus on me rather than you,” AJ offers, laughing.
“That’ll never happen. You and the hot baseball player have been going at it like bunnies for a while now. You’re old news.”
“And you’ll be the front page headline! I’m so excited for you!”
Grumbling, I reply, “Yeah, thanks. Anyway, if you could create a diversion when she starts to ask questions about why I’m all rosy and smell like a man, that’d be great.”
AJ laughs. “A diversion? Like what?”
“I don’t know. Announce you’re pregnant or something?”
“Ain’t happening,” she says, with a hint of a smile in her voice. “Not because we aren’t practicing, but because we’re not ready for that yet. We both want kids, but we’d at least like to get down the aisle first.”
“Then come up with something else. I’m counting on you, Alison Jane. Don’t let me down.”
“Fine,” she sighs. “When Grandma starts asking why you look like you had the sex all night long, and why Nick has that thoroughly sexed grin on his face, I’ll create a diversion.”
“Thank you,” I say, breathing a sigh of relief.
“You owe me.”
“We’ll take this one off your tab.”
“Deal. Now, let’s get back to what he did with his tongue…”
* * *
“Nick, good to see you again,” my dad says the moment we step into my oldest sister’s house.
“You too, sir,” Nick replies, sticking out his hand for a quick shake.
“Just Brian, please,” he responds, shaking Nick’s offered hand. When his eyes turn to me, they’re soft and smiling. “Meggy,” he says, pulling me into a tight hug and pressing a kiss on my temple. “Good to see you smiling,” he adds with a whisper for only me.
I swear I blush the color of a tomato.
“Is Meggy Pie here?” I hear hollered from the living room, moments before my grandma enters the foyer.
“Oh, Dr. Adams!” she exclaims, completely bypassing me and going to where Nick stands. When she gives him a hug, I swear I can see an evil smile on her grandmotherly face and her hand snakes up his arm, giving his bicep a little squeeze.
“Good morning, Emma. I hope it’s okay I crashed your breakfast,” Nick says, my grandma’s frail arms still wrapped around him like a spider monkey.
Still. There.
And she’s smiling.
Still.
“My dear, Doc, did you know breakfast is my favorite meal? It’s the sausage. I can never get enough of the sausage. The more, the merrier.” Suddenly, I see Nick jump and I know exactly what just happened. “Don’t you just love sausage, Meggy Pie?” Grandma asks, glancing over her shoulder with that evil ‘I just had a handful of his ass and what are you going to do about it’ grin.
The woman is the devil incarnate.
“Okay, knock it off or he’ll run from the house screaming,” I say to the old woman, looking to retrieve my date from my grandma’s clutches and make a hasty retreat into the living room.
When we step around the corner, we find much of our family already here. Jaime and Ryan are seated on the loveseat, and she looks as miserable as ever. Ryan sits with his arm around her shoulders, rubbing gentle circles on her upper back, while his other hand rests on her huge belly.
“How ya feeling, Jaime?”
“Like a beached whale,” she mumbles, her head falling back on his arm.
“You look stunning,” he whispers loud enough for everyone to hear and kisses her shoulder.
“You have to say that. You want sex again someday, but I have to admit it’s not that appealing right now.”
“You’re the most incredible woman I know,” he replies to her grumblings, and is rewarded with a smile from my second oldest sister. Even though she looks miserable, and probably feels ten times worse, the way he dotes on her and compliments her always seems to make her smile again.
“Hey, Nick,” Linkin says as he comes into the living room, from the kitchen, one of the twins sitting on his hip.
“Hi,” Nick responds, keeping his hands in his pockets but smiling at one of my little nephews. “I hate to ask, but which one is this?”
I move and take the baby from his dad and kiss his forehead. (The baby’s, not Linkin’s.) “This handsome little man is Hemi,” I reply before Linkin has a chance.
“And the other is attached to his mom’s boob, like always. He definitely takes after his daddy,” Linkin says with a grin as he watches me pepper the little guy’s face with raspberry kisses. The result makes my nephew squeal and my heart soar with love.
“Quit talking about my boobs at breakfast. It’s impolite,” Lexi chastises as she enters the living room, Hudson happily cooing on her hip. Linkin takes him right away since Lexi has a hard time keeping the wiggle worm in place, considering her huge pregnant belly.
“Hey, Meg. Hey, Nick,” Lexi says as she walks by and drops onto the couch beside Abby and Levi.
“Hi,” we both reply in unison. I’m waiting for the onslaught of questions about Nick’s appearance today, but they never come. Instead, everyone seems to focus on the pending arrival of more babies and the upcoming weddings.
“How is that going to work, anyway? When the new baby arrives?” I ask my sister.
“These two are about to get the boot. I’m not feeding three babies come next month. We started introducing the bottle, and so far the transition is going well.”
Linkin steps over to Nick, and quickly engages him in conversation. It warms my heart that they’ve embraced him as easily as they have. It’s not easy for me, and I’m sure it’s difficult for them, as well. Josh was a huge part of this family for several years, and I know my family grieved him, as I did.
Not wanting to get choked up now, I hand Hemi to my sister and make a quick break for it, heading into the kitchen. Dean and Payton are there, with Brielle sitting on a barstool, coloring with Grandpa. “Good morning,” I say, giving my grandpa a kiss on his cheek as I walk by.
“Good morning, Meggy. Did I hear the good doc’s voice this morning?” he asks, his eyes lighting just a little.
“Umm, yes. I invited Nick to join us this morning. I hope that’s okay,” I say, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Okay? Of course, it’s okay! Nick was rooting for the Rangers yesterday, so we will keep him,” Grandpa exclaims before going right back to his coloring.
The thought of keeping Nick makes my heart beat like a snare drum in my chest. “Good morning, sunshine,” I say to my niece, who glances up only long enough to give me a big, toothless grin, before going right back to her coloring.
“She’s coloring a cat for the fridge,” Dean offers, flipping a griddle full of pancakes.
“And a beautiful cat it is,” I reply, gently tugging on her long braid.
“How are you this morning?” I ask my newly-pregnant older sister.
“Feeling like I could sleep for three days straight and it would still not be enough,” she mutters as she finishes dicing the fresh fruit and placing it in a large bowl.
“Growing a baby will do that to you,” I answer, though I have no first-hand knowledge of the fact.
“I’m trying not to complain, really. I’m just so blessed to actually be pregnant, without all of those shots and hormones, but this baby is already whooping my butt,” Payton adds with a tired smile.
“I’m going to be a big sister!” Brielle announces to the room.
“I know! I’m so excited. You’re going to be the best big sister ever,” I tell my niece, kissing her on the top of the head.
“Sorry, we’re late! We got…distracted,” AJ says as she joins us in the kitchen.
“Distracted,” I snort.
She gives me a pointed look. “Yes, distracted. You know, like a distraction?” she says, her eyebrows raising as if to remind me of our earlier discussion.
“I’ve heard the term,” I reply with a grin.
“Time to eat,” Payton hollers. “Bri, can you pick up your coloring stuff so we have room to eat, please?”
“Sure, Mom,” the little girl says, making my heart stop and then skip a beat. The sound of Bri calling Payton Mom will forever make my heart happy. Payton too, if the tears that well in her eyes as she gives her daughter a smile is any indication.
Everyone files into the kitchen, grabbing a plate and filling it with food. Nick and I jump in, and it’s the first time I realize how famished I truly am. I load my plate up with scrambled eggs, fruit, and a pancake. Then I throw a few strips of bacon on top, just to be sure I don’t go hungry. Nick glances down at my plate and gives me a smirk. It’s like he’s suddenly recalling exactly why I’m starving this morning.
I can’t help the smile on my face.
I follow Jaime and AJ into the living room, where a large table is set up. Jaime sits down and winces, unable to mask her discomfort. It makes me hope this baby girl or boy comes sooner, rather than later.
“So, how was your night?” Jaime asks.
“It was fine,” I reply, stuffing a strip of bacon into my mouth.
“Just…fine?” she asks, giving me one of those smiles that lets me know she suspects something a bit more than fine happened last night.
“Oh, don’t be shy, Meggy Pie. She definitely has that glow, doesn’t she, Orvie?”
“She does, my love,” Grandpa replies, sitting down beside Grandma and patting her on the hand.
“So? What was it? A night filled with hiding the pickle or a morning packed with stuffing the flounder?” Grandma asks, her beady little eyes pointed directly at me. Of course, I can also feel the eyes of everyone else in the room. I can hear their snickers too.
Instead of answering, I glance at AJ, who’s shoving food into her mouth like there’s no tomorrow. I glare at her, silently reminding her of her one job this morning. The distraction. I notice Jaime stand up, but keep my eyes focused on my traitor sister. She’s smirking behind her mouthful of bacon and eggs, silently letting me know I’m on my own.
Before I can reply, Brielle enters the room. “Aunt Jaime peed her pants!”
We all stop and glance at the little girl, who’s pointing and smiling at Jaime. Then we turn our attention to Jaime, whose pants are clearly wet as she stands there, wide-eyed and full of shock.
“Shit!” Ryan exclaims, jumping up and hustling around the table to his wife. “Your water broke?” There’s a mixture of panic with the excitement in his voice.
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t pee,” she replies to her husband.
“I’ll go get the truck,” he exclaims, tearing out of the house like his ass were on fire.
Everyone else gathers around Jaime, trying to keep her calm and collected. Lexi comes out of the kitchen, a plate of food in one hand and a baby in the other. “This does not mean you get to have the name Henry!” she proclaims, quickly trying to stuff food into her mouth and keep the rest of the plate away from the reaching hands of her son.
“Whatever, Lexi. First one in labor gets the name,” Jaime says breathlessly.
Ryan flies back inside, leaving the front door open. He comes over to Jaime and takes her in his arms and placing a hard, loud kiss square on her lips. “This is it. We’re about to meet our son or daughter, and I just want you to know that you’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever been. This life would be nothing without you.” His words trail off at the end (I’m pretty sure he’s super emotional). That would actually suit this family well, considering most of us are now crying as we watch their private exchange.
She places her palm on his cheek. “I love you,” she whispers moments before a contraction takes hold. Jaime cringes, but keeps her eyes locked on Ryan’s. “Okay, that wasn’t so bad,” she says with a huff and a giggle.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Lexi chimes in, earning a stern look from, well, all of us. It doesn’t faze her though. Lexi just rolls her eyes and takes another bite of food.
We all watch and wait as Ryan slowly ushers Jaime from the house and toward the waiting truck. “I’m right behind you,” Dad says to Ryan after helping make sure he and Jaime are set.
“We going?” Payton asks, glancing around at all of our stunned faces.
“I know I am,” Grandma says, pushing past Grandpa to grab her plate. “We’ll take these to go,” she says picking up her paper plate and plastic utensils. The moment the sisters started to pair up was the moment that a standard set of dinner plates and silverware were no longer enough.
Suddenly, we’re all scrambling to pick up our plates and to cover the remaining food. I grab my plate and Nick’s and turn toward him. “Do you want to go with one of your sisters? I can head home so I’m not in the way,” he says.
“No way! This is the best part. Something major always happens,” I tell him, handing him the plates so I can grab my purse. “Last time Lexi and Linkin got married and Grandma got kicked out of the delivery room! There’s no way we’re missing that,” I add as we follow suit with everyone else and file out the door.
“I’m not getting kicked out this time, Meggy Pie! I’ve been taking online classes. I’m practically a doctor,” Grandma says, hightailing it to her car, climbs into the driver’s seat, and tears out of the driveway.
“Do you think I could have a ride?” That’s when I turn and notice Grandpa standing beside me, watching his wife drive away like a bat out of hell.
“Grandpa!” I bellow, bursting into laughter. “I can’t believe she left you,” I add, walking with him toward Nick’s car. Nick helps me in in the back seat, while Grandpa slides in the front passenger seat. He hands me my plate of food, before we jump in line and head to the hospital, eating a few bites of food along the way.
When we arrive at the hospital, our group makes their way up the elevators and to the maternity ward. We all usher into the large room, while Jaime is pushed to the counter in a wheelchair. Ryan gives the front desk their information, while we all get comfy.
“Do you think it’ll be a while?” Abby asks, sitting down in a chair beside me.
“Probably. It’s her first baby. It could take forever,” AJ replies, getting comfy on the opposite side of the room.
“I think we should head home, babe. The boys don’t need to be here for the wait.” Linkin says to Lexi, as he sets the twins’ car seats down on the table.
Lexi stands by the doorway and rubs her lower back. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I haven’t been feeling so well today,” she says, rocking on her feet as if she’s uncomfortable.
“Do you want something to drink? I thought about walking down to the vending machine,” Dean asks.
“I’ll go with you,” Levi says, standing up and following Dean to the entryway.
“Shit,” Lexi gasps, glancing down at the floor.
We all look down, including Levi and Dean, who stand right beside her, a look of horror on their faces. “Alexis Renee, why did you pee on the floor?” Grandma asks as she enters the room.
“I don’t think it’s pee,” she gasps, her wide eyes searching out her husband.
“Really?” he asks, slowly walking over to where she stands, his entire demeanor calm and collected.
“Are you kidding me, right now? You’re doing this so you can have the name, aren’t you?” Jaime growls from her wheelchair.
“Yes, I made my water break five weeks before my due date so that I can have the name,” Lexi argues sarcastically.
“I wouldn’t put it past you,” Jaime refutes, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Well, you know what they say, the second baby always comes quicker than the first. You could be here for days in labor, while I might pop this baby out in forty-five minutes,” Lexi counters, mimicking Jaime’s stance and crossing her arms over her chest.
“Girls, do we have to do this now?” Abby says, walking over to where Lexi stands in a puddle of amniotic fluid.
“I’m calling my mom to come get the boys,” Linkin says, turning and making eye contact with me.
“I got them. Go make your call,” I reply.
Jaime is wheeled off to her room, with Ryan and Grandma both hot on her heels, while a second nurse comes to get Lexi with a second chair. “Come with me. We’ll get you in a gown and hooked up to a monitor,” she says before wheeling our youngest sister off to a room.
Everyone is left stunned by the turn of events, and the fact that we now have two sisters in labor. Before I can turn to Nick and apologize for the crazy family I just so happened to be born into, I hear a wail. I quickly get up and glance down at the two small humans sitting in the car seats on the table.
“Hey, buddy, are you upset?” I ask, unstrapping Hudson and slowly pulling him from the seat. As soon as I have the little man in my arms, his brother decides to let me know just how much he doesn’t like being strapped in the seat either.
Quickly, I turn and place Hudson in Nick’s arms and spin back around to grab his smaller twin brother. I blow kisses and make faces while I unlock the harness and pull Hemi into my arms. The little guy reaches up and grabs my lips, giggling as I try to blow kisses against his tiny hand.
“How’s my little man doing?” I ask Hemi, giving him a raspberry kiss on the neck and making him giggle. He reaches up and grabs a big handful of hair, pulling it hard and laughing. “That’s not very nice. I’m supposed to be your favorite aunt, remember? We talked about this.”
When I glance over at Nick, my heart starts to tap dance in my chest. He’s standing statue-still, staring down at the baby in his arms as if it were a bomb. Hudson is looking up at him with a bit of a stink-eye, almost like he’s trying to figure out who’s holding him.
“You okay?” I ask Nick, reaching forward and running my finger across Hudson’s jaw and making him squeal.
“Uhh, yeah. I’ve just,” Nick starts and glances around. Dropping his voice, he continues, “I’ve never held a baby.”
“What? You’ve never held a baby?” I gasp, too loudly and drawing everyone’s attention. Hudson seems just as shocked by this revelation and takes that opportunity to slap Nick on the cheek with his wet, slobbery hand.
“Thanks for broadcasting,” Nick says when he hears chuckles.
“I’m sorry,” I giggle. “Do you want me to have Abby grab him?”
“No, I think we’ve come to an understanding. He keeps all of his fluids inside his body and I’ll hold him for a bit.”
Again, I can’t help but laugh. “Let me know how that works out for you, buddy,” I sass Nick as I place more kisses on Hemi’s face. I could kiss these babies all day long. When I glance back up, Nick is watching, a subtle smile on his handsome face. “What?”
He catches me off guard by stepping forward into my personal space. I close my eyes as he slowly bends down and kisses me on the lips. It’s a quick, no-tongue kiss, but still packs a powerful punch. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, his lips still grazing against mine.
“Are we going to have to talk about the birds and the bees? You know how these two cuties got here, right? I could do a demonstration,” Grandma offers as she returns from Jaime’s room, her face practically pressed between Nick’s and my face.
Rolling my eyes, I glance her way. “Butt out,” I tease my grandma.
“If you two would like to go practice for a bit, you just let me know. There’s a storage room down the hall that wasn’t locked last time we were here, and I’d be happy to watch the boys for a bit.” Of course, she practically yells this so that the entire waiting room hears.
“We’re okay,” I mumble, my face similar to that of a strawberry.
“Actually,” Nick starts, leaving the insinuation door wide open, a wide grin on his face as he waggles his eyebrows.
“Doc, I think I like you,” Grandma says with a laugh, wrapping her arms around him for a hug. She makes it look like she’s only doing it to shower the baby with attention, but the moment I see Nick jump, I know that’s not the case.
“Leave his ass alone,” I chastise my elderly grandma.
When she turns back my way, her eyes are wide with delight and she wears a devilish grin on her face. “That was an accident. I was hugging the baby.”
“Hey everyone, she’s definitely in labor,” Linkin says as he rushes into the waiting room. “They hooked her up to a fetal monitor, and the baby looks good. Heart rate’s strong and running one-fifty. Doc is on her way, and the nurse says it shouldn’t be too long. My mom is coming to grab the boys, and she offered to take Bri with her too.” Linkin glances at Dean and Payton before coming over and kissing both of his boys on the crowns of their heads.
“We’ve got them until she gets here,” I assure him, rocking little Hemi in my arms. When we glance over at Nick, he’s struggling to keep hold of Hudson, who looks like he wants to get down and crawl.
“Not yet, buddy. You can get down and move when you get to Grandma’s house,” Linkin says to the boy in Nick’s arms.
“I’ll just go keep Lexi Lou company until you’re ready to go back in,” Grandma offers. Before Linkin can even formulate a reply, Grandma is already hustling out of the room and toward our youngest sister.
“She shouldn’t be left alone with an emotional, pregnant Lexi,” Dad says, turning and following in her wake, making Grandpa snort.
“I’m going to regret letting her go in there, aren’t I?” Linkin says, taking Hudson from Nick.
“Definitely,” Abby chimes in.
About ten minutes later, Linkin’s mom, Karen, along with Linkin’s ten-year-old twin brothers, Jackson and Jefferson, enter the waiting room at a high rate of speed. “How is she?”
“She’s doing well, but I don’t want to leave her in there too much longer, Mom.”
“How about I pop in and say hello for a minute, and then I’ll come out and take the boys home with me,” Karen says. “I’m more than happy to take Brielle with me for a while so you both can stay here,” she adds to Payton and Dean.
“That would be appreciated,” Dean says.
Payton looks over at her daughter. “Do you want to go with Karen and the boys and play with them this afternoon?”
“Can we have a tea party?” Brielle asks the older twin boys.
“Can we bring our swords?” one of the twins (I can’t tell them apart) asks, giving Brielle a look.
“Sure,” Brielle says, shrugging her shoulders.
“Okay, but do we have to drink tea? I think tea tastes like rotten feet,” the other twin adds.
“Yeah, I want root beer!” a boy hollers.
While the kids all discuss different beverage options, Karen heads to Lexi’s room to say hello. Grandma comes out of Lexi’s room and heads across the hall to Jaime’s. It doesn’t take long before Ryan practically runs from the room, looking a little frustrated.
“She kicked me out. That old woman just walked in and told me to leave.”
“She tried that shit with me last time, and I had to get stern with her,” Linkin adds with a smile.
“Don’t let her be the boss of you,” Nick says, earning a laugh from Linkin.
“You’re the man, Elson,” Levi chimes in as he joins the group after handing Abby a bottle of water.
“Fuck off,” Ryan mumbles, quiet enough that none of the kids should hear. He rubs his forehead and glances around the room. “Are you all staying?”
“I think so. At least for a while,” I answer, still holding Hemi.
“Is that okay?” Abby asks.
“Of course. Just as long as you can help distract the old woman and keep her occupied so she doesn’t come in and assist the doc,” Ryan says, rubbing his hands over the back of his neck.
“Good luck with that,” Levi replies with a laugh.
“Ryan? Your wife is asking for you,” the nurse says, standing in the waiting room doorway.
“Gotta go.” Ryan says, slapping Linkin on the back and bolting for his wife’s delivery room.
“She’s getting closer,” Karen says as she enters the room. “Her contractions are only four minutes apart now. You should probably head back in.”
“Okay,” Linkin says to his mom, placing a kiss on Hudson’s forehead and squeezing him tight. “I gotta go, buddy. It’s time for you to become a big brother.” He walks over to where I stand with Hemi and does the same thing. “Mommy and Daddy love you, boys,” he says as he helps his mom put the twins in their car seats.
“We’ll be fine. Go be with Lexi and don’t worry about us,” Karen says as she hugs her son and pulls him down for a kiss on his scruffy cheek.
“I’ll call you as soon as I know,” Linkin tells his mom before kissing both boys again and heading off to Lexi’s room.
“We’ll help you take them down,” Dean says, grabbing one of the carriers off the table. Levi quickly takes the other, while Karen rounds up Brielle and her twin sons, who just so happen to be killing each other in the hallway (with fake swords).
Sawyer and Nick follow, grabbing diaper bags and a bag for Brielle as they head out. “Good thing she has a minivan,” I mumble to AJ.
“No shit.”
Taking a seat next to my sister, I exhale loudly. “Well, we might as well get comfy. We might be here a while.”