by Cee, DW
“I thought I should see this house I might purchase.” I repeated her words in my head and understood that I had heard her correctly the first time.
“Yeah?” I couldn’t contain my grin.
“Yeah.” She had the exact same look of satisfaction. “Let’s go see about a house.”
We drove up to the open house and toured the home. From her expression, I could tell Bee liked it immediately. After the tour, we stopped by Garret’s to chat about the neighborhood.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” We hadn’t said much to one another all afternoon.
“I loved the home and it would be cool to be with your sister and Max and his brothers.”
“But…?”
“I don’t know if this could be considered a but…” I was happy that she liked the home. I wasn’t happy with the next part of this conversation.
“So hear me out in entirety before saying anything, OK?”
“Shit. That doesn’t sound good.”
She reached over the center divider of the car and placed her hand over mine. “It’s nothing bad. I want to share what I’ve been thinking and see if you agree or disagree with my ideas.”
“OK, go.” There was no need to have a downer attitude without even hearing her out, as she’d asked.
“First of all, I love the house. I think it’s a perfect starter home.”
“Your first thought sounds good.”
“Second, and more complicated, I don’t want to sell my studio, if I can help it. I need space to work and I thought I’d find that in the warehouse, but I have absolutely no privacy there. All throughout the day, I’m micromanaging and HR’ing. The creativity that flows while in the solitude of the studio is gone when I’m at work.”
“You can work in the house. That’s why I thought the three bedroom would be perfect for us.”
“I don’t want to clutter the house with all my junk. You know what my studio can look like. I’d hate for people to come over and find that mess.”
“So what are you saying? If you want, I can see about purchasing the property on my own and you can live with me. I didn’t put that offer on the table because I didn’t think you’d go for it. Is that what you’d prefer?”
“That’s where this gets complicated.” Bee sighed. “I still have some money I could use to buy this home with you. But, I don’t know if we should buy a home without thinking through the ramification of what would happen if we broke up.”
What the fuck? Where did she come up with that one?
“Why would you think of breaking up?” I was a little pissed by her negative attitude. “That’s like asking for a prenup, just in case.”
“It’s nothing like asking for a prenup,” she sighed. “I’m just saying that we only became a couple less than a month ago. Moving in together is a big step. I don’t know if you or I are ready to buy a home together.”
Why is life so damn difficult? How much more of myself could I put out there for this woman to understand my heart?
June 30, 2014: BEE M(a,e)rry Hearts
Our house conversation was overdue. Nick and I didn’t leave each other on a good note after touring the house, and this past weekend was JR’s birthday, so we haven’t had a chance to finish what was started. It also didn’t help that Lily was at this party, laughing it up with my boyfriend. All in all, it was a long weekend.
It began with an “Under Construction” party. For most kids, their first birthday party might be a small family get-together with milk and cake. Others might be fortunate enough to get a small petting zoo along with the milk and cake. These Reid children, with Barbara as their grandaunt, received a world-class party.
The party was held in the empty lot where Jake and Donovan built their park and wading pool. Everyone who walked in had to wear a hard hat with their names on them. The rest of the “decorations” for the party were unreal.
“How the hell did your mom get a dump truck and a digger truck in this backyard?”
Laney shook her head with me at the enormity of this party. “They had to call in the fence guys to take down the fence, they had to cover the pool to get the trucks to the back without falling in, and now they’re digging up a perfectly good grass field so the kids could have a fun time. And I thought the twins’ party was unreal.”
“Wait until your kids are born. I’m sure your mom has it all planned out already.”
“Spare me. I think I may elope with the family to Hawaii.” She laughed. I couldn’t tell how serious she was. “I love the Bob the Builder outfits you made for the boys. Ellie’s girly construction worker outfit could get some whistles from the boys if they knew any better.”
I didn’t realize the twins had any friends outside of Audrey. Somehow, there were at least a dozen little kids running around, waiting patiently for their turn on the digger and the dump truck. Comically, the digger would scoop up dirt and patches of grass and place it on the dump truck. Then the dump truck did what all dump trucks do. It dumped. There were real live workers operating the machines and each kid sat with a parent, co-holding the controls. It was a boy’s dream party.
“Hey Auntie.” My nephew walked over wearing a Hanes undershirt, denim overalls, an orange glow-in-the-dark vest, and a tool belt.
“Really?” I asked laughing. “Where’d you find the overalls? I thought you might wear the tighty-tight jeans where you show your muffin top and butt-crack.”
“I do not have a muffin top,” my nephew grinned. “A butt-crack is another story.” He began unbuckling one side of his overalls.
“Please! I don’t need to be scarred the rest of my life.”
I loved the relationship that we all had with one another. This was what a family was meant to be.
“Where’s your boyfriend?” Laney and I searched the backyard.
“I’ve no idea. I just arrived and you were the most noticeable one.”
“Sure. Make fun of the prego woman carrying twins.” She rolled her eyes. “Let’s eat. Mom hired the same people who catered our wedding. The way my mom’s mind works is seriously scary. Look at all the fine details.”
We arrived at the buffet table, and each one of us received an old-school construction worker’s lunch box. It was made of tin, like a toolbox, with a handle, a rounded top, and two clasps. When I opened the box, there was a Thermos strapped into the lid with tomato soup inside.
“Unfreakingbelievable!”
“You see what I mean? Even down to the plastic sandwich wrapper that covers over the sandwich rather than the modern Ziplock-style seal. She’s brilliant.”
“I guess that’s where you get it from, huh, Princess?”
“I’m only book smart.”
We dug into our lunch when I heard laughter so loud, I had to turn my head toward the entrance. It was Lily, Doug, Samantha, and my boyfriend. Now why did that surprise the hell out of me to see him laughing it up with those three?
“They’re just friends, Bee. Don’t let that bother you.” Laney was quick to console me. “Remember back to all the stupid things Donovan did before we married. He freakin’ took another woman’s phone number right in front of me.”
Donovan started choking on his soup. “I did not! I don’t know what you’re talking about, Princess.”
“The day I played in that charity golf match with you for AAP, you and Jake took us to dinner and while I stepped away, you happily…” That was about as far as she got since her hubby decided to shut her up with a kiss.
“Sorry.” He wouldn’t let up until she stopped talking all together. “Haven’t I made up for all my sins? It wasn’t as though I had a girlfriend while you were in London being courted by a future duke.”
“Really? You want to go there?”
“Nope. Let’s eat.”
By this point, I didn’t want to eat anymore. Nick hadn’t walked over to say hello, yet, and I worried what I’d say even if he did walk over.
/> “Ignore them, Bee,” Laney said with a mouthful. “Trust me on this one. You walk away first and stay away, and he’ll come begging soon enough.”
I decided Laney was right. I’d enjoy the party and deal with Nick later. That asshole was in for a rude awakening if he didn’t get his butt over here soon.
By the not so covert glances our way, I knew Nick was anxious to come over to me, but most likely, his stupid pride was keeping him from progress. As soon as I saw his body turn our way, I excused myself and found my favorite two-year-old.
“Miss Elizabeth. Should we go into the dump truck?”
“No, digger truck.” Never let it be said that this girl didn’t have a mind of her own.
“Well then, let’s go!”
Elizabeth and I played on the truck for a long time as most kids had sat down to lunch. After a while, James sat with me, and when JR was done with his lunch, Jake plopped him on my lap. Since our trip to New York, I decided I was not ready to have kids. They were more work than I thought I could devote right now. Hopefully the warehouse would settle in soon and I’d be able to rethink the idea of kids. Though…I didn’t have anyone close to being a husband, so thinking about kids was futile.
“Come on down, JR. It’s time to cut the cake.” My boyfriend, who was in the doghouse right now, finally showed.
“No!” JR spoke and didn’t look twice at his uncle. He continued to try and dig while his older brother dumped.
“There’s a bulldozer cake with your name on it. You better come down and blow out the candle before Ellie does it for you. She might even eat your cake.” Incredibly, as though he understood each word, JR jumped into his uncle’s arms ready to cut his cake.
Nick had JR in one arm and waited for me to come down. Without a fight, I stepped down and walked with them.
Each child at the party received a small cake that looked like a battered-up bulldozer. This cake sat on Oreo cookie “dirt.” It was wonderful being a child, though they had no clue how awesome this party was.
Nick stood right behind me as we sang to JR, and he kissed the side of my head when everyone clapped for a smart one-year-old who blew out his candle.
“Emily’s kids are amazing,” I mused.
“I know.” He answered with another kiss to the same spot. “Have we been here long enough? Can we go back to my room and talk?”
“Sure.”
Knowing we’d be back, we didn’t say good-bye to anyone. Nick grabbed my hand and walked us silently back to his room.
“I’m sorry I was pissed when we talked about the house. After I came home, I thought about what you’d said.” He pulled me down on the sofa with him as he continued his thoughts. Since I willingly and happily plopped on his lap—regardless that Nick placed me there—I supposed I wasn’t as upset as I thought. “It’s not that I don’t understand what you’re thinking, but I think you’re wrong to think that way. You’re the only woman I’ve ever had a true relationship with, the only woman I’ve told that I love, and the only woman I’ve wanted to purchase a home with. If that isn’t enough proof that I want the start now and end at the finish line, I don’t know what more I can do.”
Had he just expressed all those wonderful sentiments to me? “You know I love you…” I started.
“But you need assurance—some kind of guarantee that my words will turn into unbreakable stone?” He was now kidding with me, I think? “We have two choices.”
“And they are?”
“One—You keep your studio. I buy this house. And we merge or partially merge, whatever…”
“And two?”
“I ask you to marry me, you say yes, and we buy this home as one.”
“Marriage?”
“Yep. The only proof of the finish line in your mind. What’s it gonna be, Bee Taylor?”
Shit. Did he just propose in the most unromantic way?
July 3, 2014 NICK: Proposal ReprOver
Playing catch-up at school was going well, settling into research at the lab was no problem, and life on the cul-de-sac was always one event after another. Life in general was damn good except for my life with Bee Lauren Taylor.
I don’t know what the hell happened to piss off Bee, but as soon as I brought up my two suggestions, she gritted her teeth and told me she’d “think about it.” Every day since, she’s been “thinking about it.”
What the fuck did I do wrong, again?
Why are women so damn COMPLICATED?
I told her we could have our separate homes and play sleepover, or we could get married. Why would any woman complain about either suggestion? It was her cake, and a slice fork-fed to her pretty little mouth.
Should it piss me off that she was still “thinking about” marrying me? Wasn’t this what she wanted?
Shit, I even shocked myself when I suggested we get married, but I meant what I’d said. I would marry her, live with her, date her, have a sex-only “relationship” with her—whatever! I’d do whatever she wanted. Wasn’t this beyond a compromise?
“Why do you look so disgruntled?” Jake asked, opening the door to his home. After the lab, I came straight to his house for his and Emily’s third year anniversary dinner.
My head went back and forth followed by a huge sigh. “You don’t want to know.”
“Women issues?”
“Damn woman issues.”
“Damn Nick, damn Nick, damn Nick.” Ellie started singing.
“Shit, don’t say that, Ellie.” I f’ed up again. Damn. This wasn’t my day…week…maybe even year.
Even this two-year-old knew how to push my buttons. “Damn, shit, Nick. Damn, shit, Nick.” She walked away singing those words to a made up tune.
“Emi’s going to love that.” My brother chuckled. “What’s up? Why the disgruntled look?” Jake led us toward their backyard where the grill was going and the boys were in the pool with Donovan.
“Hey Nick.” My sister-in-law walked over for a hug and kiss.
I stopped talking and stared at her. Something was off. “What’s different here? You look…I don’t know what the right word is but you look…not the same.” What I said was lame, but she wasn’t her usual self.
“Wow, Nick. I’m impressed.” Laney said while chomping on a celery stick. “Bee must be good for you. You noticed Emily’s change?”
My brother patted me on the shoulder and headed toward the pool with Ellie. “What shall we do with this naughty little one?” Jake called out.
“Throw her, throw her, throw her…” The chanting continued as Jake did just that. He threw her in the deep end and all too soon, her jet-black hair bobbed up.
“When did she learn to swim?” Where had I been? I never noticed that the twins were water-safe.
“They’re not exactly swimming yet. We still need an adult in there. The twins can float, tread water, and dog paddle around the pool. And JR is content to sit in his pool chair.”
“Gotta love summer and a gigantic pool.” Laney mused. “I can’t wait till our kids are big enough to race down those slides.” She pointed to the slides we all loved, growing up. “I noticed James isn’t afraid of the slides, but Ellie isn’t quite keen on them yet.”
Emily answered, “I think James prefers to go down the slide alone, but Ellie wants an adult to come down with her. JR loves the slides too. We just need your kids to join the action.”
“Soon. Very soon.” Laney sighed. “These babies are so heavy, and they’re pushing against every single organ in my body. I’ve actually lost a few pounds because I can’t eat like I used to—my stomach is squished by a child or two.”
Everyone laughed. “They’ll be here before you know it and all too soon, you’ll never get enough sleep.”
“Emily, that’s the story of my life right now. I’m up at all hours peeing.” That was another serious TMI! “You think you’ll have another set of twins?”
“No. The doctor says there’s only one heartbeat
.”
I was listening to this conversation, but obviously I wasn’t following this conversation.
“When’s the due date?”
“Valentine’s Day.”
What??? “Wait! Did you just say, ‘due date?’” What the hell? Where’ve I been? “Are you having another baby?” I unintentionally yelled.
Everyone laughed at me. “By this time next year, there will be at least six kids swimming in that pool.” My brother was damn proud of his accomplishment.