by JA Low
“Oh my…” Mum gasps, seeing me for the first time, I look over and she is bawling her eyes out, which of course makes me start crying, then the rest of the girls join in.
“You look beautiful,” Sienna states.
“Like a princess,” Camryn adds.
“Christian is going to faint when he sees you,” Isla says with a smirk.
“Stunning,” Stacey adds.
The girls come and stand beside me and for the first time I see my wedding party all together. They all look so beautiful, I am truly blessed and if Yvette is right, I might have some more good news coming my way.
114
Christian
“Christian,” Vanessa screams from the toilet. Fuck, I hope she is okay, we are getting ready for Thanksgiving at Sebastien’s restaurant in Paris.
“Babe, what is it?” Turning the corner where Ness is in the en-suite, I rush the last couple of steps and see she is standing looking at something on the counter. I can see her face reflecting in the bathroom mirror; it’s pale and she’s crying. “Ness?” The uncertainty in my voice echoes against the bathroom walls. Her hands are shaking as she hands over a white pen thing. I take it from her and stare at it, I’m not sure what she wants me to do.
“Look at the screen, babe.”
I frown and look at the little digital screen on the pen, there is a plus sign on it. I look up at Ness then back to the pen. No, this is not what I think it is, is it? My heart starts thumping in my chest.
“What do you think, Daddy?”
“You’re using the word daddy in a non-sexual way, aren’t you?” I ask, not sure if I can believe what I am seeing in front of me.
“Yes.” She smiles.
“We’re having a baby?” I question, just to double check because my brain is not working at the moment, it seems to have left the building.
“Yes, babe. You and I are having a baby.” Tears start running down her cheeks.
“Fuck!” I pull her into my arms and nuzzle my face in her neck. I can feel the tears falling down my own cheeks. I’m going to be a dad, me!
“Babe, are you okay?”
Lifting my head up, I look into those jade eyes that I love so much.
“I don’t think I could love you anymore than I do right now. You have made me the happiest man on the planet. I thought the night you married me in Vegas was the happiest I could ever be, but no, right here, right now, you giving me this gift of becoming a dad, it trumps everything. How can I ever repay you for giving me this gift?”
“Christian,” Vanessa whispers as more tears fall down her face, she wraps her arms around me. “We are so fucking lucky.” She smiles at me and my heart bursts, like literally bursts with love and I can’t contain it any longer, I smash my lips against hers in a heated kiss. I show her exactly how much I love her. My hands run down over her body, feeling her curves, curves that I know are going to change each day with the growth of our baby inside of her.
“I can’t wait to see you with a big belly.”
Ness groans, “Are you still going to find me sexy when I am waddling around the house like a whale?”
“Hell yeah, I can’t wait to have pregnant sex with you.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. She gives me a light smack on the shoulder.
“We shall see when I am the size of a house whether or not you will still want all of this?” She wiggles her body against mine.
“Babe, I will want you when we are old and gray, sitting in the old folk’s home. I will still be jumping your bones.” Ness starts to laugh, then bursts out crying. “Oh, babe. What is it?” I ask as the tears stream down her face.
“I’m so fucking happy,” She wails into my shoulder; her reaction makes me laugh.
“Oh, babe. I am so happy too. But we are going to have to finish getting ready because we have to get going to Thanksgiving.”
We both come down the stairs from our level in the apartment, most people are milling around waiting to jump into the waiting limousines. But Vanessa sees Sienna and bursts out crying and runs back upstairs, Sienna is hot on her heels.
“What did you do?” Evan’s eyes narrow at me.
“Hey, why do you automatically assume I did something?”
“Because your wife just burst out crying as soon as she saw her best friend, in chick talk that means you have had a fight.” He crosses his arms over his chest. Then I watch as Mom and Vanessa’s mom rush upstairs also.
“Oh shit, it’s big, isn’t it? The wedding is off? You got cold feet?” Evan asks.
“Fuck you.” I punch my best friend in the arm. “As if I would be getting cold feet.”
“Who’s got cold feet?” Axel asks, joining our conversation.
“Christian, he’s got cold feet about the wedding,” Evan replies.
“Are you fucking serious?” Axel clips me around the head.
“Ouch.” I frown at me brother. “I DO NOT HAVE COLD FEET,” I shout at Evan and Axel.
“Okay, okay.” Axel puts his hands up defensively.
“Then why was Ness crying?” Evan asks.
“Ness, was crying?” Axel questions.
“Would you two fuckers just shut up for a moment and let me explain.”
“This should be good,” Evan huffs. I give him a death stare.
“It’s early but Ness just found out she’s pregnant.” Evan and Axel’s jaws drop; they were both equally stunned by the news. “What, nothing to say now, fuckers?” I goad them. My question breaks their surprise and they both congratulate me.
“Fuck…that means I’m going to be an uncle?” Axel looks pale as the realization of my news sets in.
I grab him on the shoulder. “You are going to be the best uncle there is.” I can feel myself getting a little teary-eyed. Shit, can men catch pregnancy hormones? Axel pulls me into another hug, this time a little tighter, as we both thump each other on the back, like men do.
“I am so proud of you, bro,” Axel mumbles into me.
“I can’t believe it; I’m going to be a dad.” The words hitching in my throat.
“Fuck, I love ya,” Axel responds, and for the first time in a long time, Axel and I are really connected.
“Welcome to the club, man.” Evan gives me a hug. “And I guess if we are dropping bombshells…Sienna and I are having another baby as well.”
Axel and I both stare at Evan in shock. “No way, man.” I hold onto his shoulder.
“Yeah, we just found out too.” He has the biggest smirk rising on his face.
“Shit, what the hell was in the water in Vegas? Because you are both knocked up from it. Keep that voodoo shit away from me,” Axel moans.
Evan and I both look at each and realize we both knocked up our girls while on holiday, we give each other a high five. “We need to celebrate.” Evan indicates for us to follow him downstairs to the sitting area where I notice our fathers are all set up, chilling and chatting away.
“Dad,” I call out, seeing the old man reclining in the oversize lounge, watching football highlights on the big screen. He gets up and gives me a hug.
“Happy Thanksgiving, son,” he says with a smile.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Pop,” I reply and my dad stills.
“What did you call me?”
“Or would you rather grandad or even grandpop?”
“What are you saying? Are you drunk?” He’s not sure if I’m joking or not.
“Ness and I are going to have a baby.” That’s when I see it, tears quickly well in his eyes as he comes for me again, pulling me into a big, tight, dad hug.
“I’m going to be a grandpa?” he asks. I nod. “Holy shoot,” he says with a shocked expression on his face. “I am so proud of you, son. So damn proud.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“We were just about to celebrate,” Axel adds.
“Sienna is pregnant as well,” I tell Dad Evan’s good news.
“No way, that is fantastic. Little Ryder will have a sibling.” He congratulates Evan and hi
s Dad.
“I think this calls for a round of bourbon and cigars,” Evan calls out from the bar and we all agree.
The Thanksgiving meal was amazing, looking out over the Seine, the Parisian skyline before us with all her famous icons. Sebastien put on an incredible feast, a totally new spin on our traditional Thanksgiving banquet, but no one cared as the food was to die for. If he cooks as well as this for our wedding, then it’s kind of going to be spectacular.
Ness explained that she couldn’t keep the news in any longer and told her mom, Sienna and Sienna’s mom. She said that reality hit her when she saw Sienna with Ryder, that’s why she ran back upstairs, realizing she was going to have a little baby in her arms next Thanksgiving. She couldn’t believe Sienna was pregnant as well; she was so excited that they were going to be having babies together. Ness started going on and on about baby stuff, and if I’m honest, I might have tuned out. My head was spinning just finding out I was going to be a dad; let alone all this crap I am going to have to buy.
Last year we started a tradition of standing up after dinner and telling everyone what they are thankful for and so we have kept the tradition this year too.
“I am thankful for the amazing opportunities that I have been given this year.” Derrick starts off his list of what he is thankful for, this could be interesting. “I am also thankful that I look this good at thirty.” We all chuckle. “I am also thankful for Mr. and Mrs. Taylor for getting busy one night and producing Axel and Christian.” My poor parents almost choke on their meal. “Because your boys gave me the most life changing gift for my birthday, I will never ever forget it.” The room bursts out laughing.
“Awe, my boys were raised right. They would have given you something nice for your birthday,” Her reply makes everyone laugh and Derrick grin.
“Oh yes, Mama Taylor, they knew exactly what I wanted,” Derrick smirks and Axel quickly places his hand over Derrick’s mouth.
“It wasn’t really anything worth mentioning,” Axel adds. This makes the boys erupt into laughter. Mom and Dad look around at the teenage sniggering going on around the table.
“Love, I don’t think we want to know what happened,” Dad mentions to Mom.
It’s my turn to stand up and tell everyone what I am thankful for, the list is long. “I am thankful that this beautiful woman beside me…” I turn to where Ness is sitting and take her hand in mine, “…decided that she wanted to take a chance on love and that I was the one she wanted to experience it with.” Our mothers are lapping this up. “I am also thankful that my wife is in good health, and that I get to spend forever with her.” Vanessa gives my hand a squeeze and I can already see her eyes becoming glassy. “I am also so thankful that she allowed me to knock her up.” The table goes quiet as the words sunk in.
“No bloody way,” Derrick screams.
“Yep, Ness and I are having a baby,” I announce to our nearest and dearest. The whole table erupts into hollers of congratulations.
115
Vanessa
“I cannot believe you two hussies are knocked up at the same time.” Derrick pouts as the boys watch the Thanksgiving game in the sitting room.
“What can I say, Vegas!” I sip my mineral water.
“You guys can have a joint baby shower,” Camryn squeals.
“No, I don’t want to take it away from Ness, this is her first baby, she should get to enjoy it,” Sienna adds.
“What? No, we can definitely have a joint party, it would be silly to have two separate ones when the same people would be going to both,” I tell her.
“Yeah, I know, it’s just…”
“Stop it, I don’t mind sharing. It will be heaps of fun.”
“I am so excited; I don’t get to plan many baby showers. I am planning your baby shower aren’t I?” Camryn asks.
“Um, hello, of course. Who else would I have plan it?”
“Oh my God, imagine if these two beans grow up and marry each other,” Derrick adds.
Sienna and I look at each other and laugh. “That would be so cute,” Charlotte adds.
“Looks like Dirty Texas 2.0 is starting to take shape,” Isla jokes.
“That would be so awesome, the kids following in their daddy’s footsteps,” Stacey adds.
“No, no, no. I am surrounded enough by egomaniac rock stars; I do not need my kids to follow in their footsteps.” I shudder at the thought of a little Christian running around on stage, chatting up girls. Nope, no way, not for my boy.
“So what do you think you’re having?’ Derrick asks.
“Um a baby?” I joke. He flips me off.
“No, do you think you are having a boy or a girl?” he asks the question again.
I shrug, I mean for months I have had no idea I was pregnant, let alone imagining if it’s a boy or a girl.
“As long as it’s healthy, that’s all I want.” I give my nonexistent belly a rub.
“Could you imagine Evan and Christian with daughters?” Isla asks. “It would be karma for all their womanizing years.” We all burst out laughing at the thought, but I do have a small pang of excitement imagining me with a daughter, then flashes of a little sandy blond boy, with whiskey colored eyes filter through my mind, just like his daddy. I wonder what you are little nugget?
“Imagine the fashion if they are girls,” Derrick gasps. “I know Ryder rocks the coolest kid’s clothes ever, but a little girl running around.” I can see Derrick salivating.
“You need to open up a Wyld Jones children’s boutique,” Charlotte suggests. Sienna and Derrick go still.
“Why the fuck have we not thought of this?” Derrick turns to Sienna.
“Um, because we have been so busy running the boutique and your business, plus possibly trying to expand into the shop next door if we can get it.”
Next door to the boutique is a two story shop, upstairs has offices and downstairs has a shop front. They found out that the owner has gone bankrupt and the building is up for sale. Sienna wants to use the money that Beau gave her from the divorce to buy it.
“We could move the adult shop into the new building, and upstairs could be the styling side of the business and next door could be for the children’s boutique.” I can see Derrick’s legs shaking with excitement.
Sienna pauses for a moment. “But we don’t know anything about children’s fashion.”
The room erupts into laughter. “Si, the fact that Ryder has his own Instagram account with over a hundred thousand followers suggests you know about children’s fashion,” I remind her. She rolls her eyes at me.
“But, that’s just taking cute photos of my boy, but making a business out of it?”
“Look at the Kardashian’s, once they started popping out children people wanted to know about what they were wearing, just like Ryder, only he is way cooler,” Derrick adds. “You are spending more money on children’s clothes than you do your own at the moment, think of all the rich mummies wanting to dress their kids in the coolest fashions just like Sienna Wyld.”
Sienna gives him a smile. “I do go kind of crazy looking for kids clothing for him, and now with another on the way.”
“You could call it Wyld, instead of Wyld Jones, that way it would be different branding to our adult shop,” Derrick suggests. This gives Sienna pause.
“What, you don’t want your name on it?” She looks a little hurt.
“Oh, no babe, that’s not at all what I was thinking. I think it should be a separate brand under our Wyld Jones banner. I could concentrate on the styling and adult side, especially now we have men’s fashion and you could concentrate on the children’s side.”
“There is a shit ton of money in children’s fashion,” Charlotte adds, “The amount of photograph work my friends are doing for couture children’s fashion is crazy.”
Sienna listens to Charlottes words. “But I just found out I am having another baby, D. How am I going to deal with Ryder, buying real estate and adding a new business to the mix plus everyth
ing else going on in my life?”
Derrick puts a reassuring hand on her knee, and gives her a smile. “We hire the best people; we get good staff around us. We are already starting to amass an awesome team, and we can hire more people.”
“Don’t forget you have me,” Stacey adds.
Sienna gives her a smile.
“Stacey found us staff, she can do it again. Stacey could take over the running of all the other stuff and you can concentrate on discovering the best brands for the boutique,” Derrick explains to her.
“Plus, don’t forget Ryder has amassed a huge following on Instagram, they will all want what he has. I bet if you open up the children’s boutique to online orders you will have a runaway success, because all these mothers will want to dress their children like him.” I give her my two cents worth.
“Ryder is pretty cute, and he does have awesome style.” Sienna smiles. “You sure we can do this, D? I mean, it’s a lot of work.”
Derrick gives her the biggest smile. “I think it’s kind of a perfect business idea, we can now dress the whole family.”
This makes Sienna laugh, “When you put it like that, yeah I guess it makes perfect sense. Okay, let’s do it. Evan is going to kill me, but oh well.”
“Just suck his dick, he’ll be fine,” Derrick adds.
116
Christian
We just said goodbye to the ladies as they head off to their hotel. We are at the Monaco marina where Nate is standing at his ship’s tender waiting for us.
“Good day, fellas,” he calls out in his crisp British accent looking every inch the billionaire business man that he is. “Welcome to your last weekend of freedom,” Nate declares as I greet him.
“It’s already too late for that, man, he’s been married to Ness for months now,” Axel corrects him.