by Carrie Carr
"I'm not losing my hair," Lex argued, running her fingers through it. "Am I?"
"Of course not. It'll probably be nice and silver before it ever falls out," Charlie helpfully added.
Lex stood. "I'm going to see if I can find any old baby clothes in the storeroom. I think we saved some of the yellow and green one-piece sleepers, just in case." She ignored the laughter that followed her.
WELL PAST TWO in the morning, Ellie trudged up the stairs. So tired she could barely keep her eyes open, she paused at the top of the staircase and listened. "I must be tired. That sounded like a baby," she mumbled. She had to grab the banister to keep from falling back when the door to the master bedroom opened and Lex stepped out.
"Oh. Hi, Ellie. You're home late." Lex stood in her nighttime tee shirt and boxers, and she kept blinking, as if trying to awaken.
"Yeah. Working the swing shift is kicking my butt. Especially with
the long commute. What are you doing up?"
Lex ran her hand through her hair in an attempt to straighten out the tangles. "Gotta grab a bottle from downstairs." She started to walk past Ellie, who grabbed her arm.
"Wait just a minute. A bottle?"
"Yep." Another cry from the bedroom caused Lex to shrug. "Go on in. Amanda will explain it to you." She trudged down the stairs.
Ellie watched her go, before her curiosity got the best of her. She tapped lightly on the doorframe to the master bedroom. "Amanda?"
"Come in," Amanda called. She was sitting in the rocking chair in the corner of the room, rocking back and forth. "Hi, Ellie. Are you just getting home?"
"Uh, yeah." Ellie stepped carefully in the room. "That's a baby."
Amanda shook her head and laughed. "Nothing gets past you. Come on over and meet the newest addition to our family."
"I hate to be dense, but when did you have time to get a baby?"
Lex returned with a bottle. "Haven't you heard? You can order just about anything online nowadays." She handed the bottle to Amanda and grinned as Eddie latched onto his meal. "You'd think we were starving the little guy, the way he was carrying on."
Ellie crossed her arms and glared at her cousin. "You did not order a baby online. Now where did it come from?"
"You're a nurse, Ellie. Don't tell me they didn't cover biology in nursing school," Lex quipped. At the glare she received, she started to laugh. "Sorry. I think I'm getting a little punchy from lack of sleep. My brother Hubert dropped by this morning, and asked us to adopt his son."
"Oh. Well, okay. I guess that makes sense." Ellie yawned. "Sorry. That drive is kicking my butt. Amanda? Would you mind helping me find a place closer to Parkdale? I can't keep this up for long."
Amanda stood and handed Eddie to Lex. "Sure." She put her arm around Ellie and gently turned her around. "Come on. Let's get you to your room. We'll talk about all this tomorrow."
"All right." Ellie allowed herself to be led down the hall. "I'm gonna kick Lex's butt tomorrow for teasing me," she said.
"Of course you are," Amanda soothed, guiding Ellie to her bed. She sat her down and took off her shoes, then pulled a blanket over her. "Goodnight."
Lex grinned as Amanda returned to the bedroom and closed the door. "Did you get her all tucked in?"
"Poor thing was asleep before her head hit the pillow. I can't believe she made it home safely." With a heavy sigh, Amanda crawled under the sheets and turned onto her side, so she could watch Lex feed Eddie. "As much as I'd miss seeing her around here, it would be better for Ellie to live closer to the hospital in Parkdale."
"The girls will be devastated, especially Melanie. She's still pouting because her 'El' had to work on Thanksgiving." The lack of noise from Eddie alerted Lex that he had fallen asleep. She removed the bottle from his mouth, wiped his chin, and burped him. "Didn't take much to put him back out." She kissed the top of his head before settling him in the crib. "Sleep well, little man."
Amanda opened the covers and beckoned Lex with a crooked finger. "Come here, Momma. It's time to tuck me in."
Lex grinned and quickly slid next to her. "You already look all nice and cozy. How can I help you?" Her hands snaked beneath Amanda's nightgown and started to trace a familiar pattern.
"I think you've figured it out," Amanda purred. She cupped the back of Lex's head and pulled her close. Right before their lips touched, she smiled as a warm hand stroked her ribcage. "Yeah."
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Lex came out of the bathroom, towel-drying her hair. She noticed Amanda had her laptop open. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Car shopping. Come here and see what I've found."
Lex sat beside her on the bed and peered at the screen. "Nice. Does this mean you're tired of fighting the wind in yours?"
"Definitely. Not to mention, the Xterra isn't big enough for all of us to comfortably ride in."
"Ah."
Amanda pointed to something on the screen. "I emailed the dealership, told them about the Xterra, and here's the deal they'll make me."
"Really? Wow. So, what do we have to do?" Lex grinned as Amanda's attention went from the laptop screen to look her in the eyes. When Amanda didn't answer her, the grin widened. "Sweetheart?"
"Hmm?"
Lex waved a hand in front of Amanda's face. "Road trip this morning?"
"Sure." Amanda blinked and shook her head. "Let me email them back, and tell them we'll be there before lunch. Good thing it's not sleeting today." She leaned into Lex and stole a kiss. "I love you."
"Love you, too." Lex climbed off the bed and started to get dressed. "After we pick up your new ride, let's stop by Davenport's and get Eddie some more clothes."
Amanda sent off her email. "And diapers, formula, and everything else." She shut down her laptop. "Are we ready for this?"
Lex buttoned her jeans. "What? Buying a new SUV?"
"No, raising another baby."
"Hell of a time to ask that, isn't it? I thought you wanted another baby." After another trip to the closet, Lex had on a light gray button down shirt. She carried her boots and socks to the bed and sat on the edge. "Are you having second thoughts?"
With a shrug, Amanda stood and peeked into the cradle, where Eddie lay sound asleep. "No, I'm not. I did want another child, and Eddie's a blessing." She made her own trip to the closet, returning in jeans and a cotton blouse. "I guess I'm a little concerned about the girls, and how they'll take it. If I was trying to get pregnant, we'd have time to acclimate them to the idea of a sibling. But this is almost like we made a wish and it came true."
"Santa works in mysterious ways," Lex teased. She tugged her boots on and got up. "I know we're a little rusty with handling a baby, but everything's going to work out great. We can convert the spare guest room into a nursery, or maybe ask Melanie if she'd like to move down the hall to be closer to Lorrie. That way, Eddie won't disturb the girls if he cries at night. Although, I'm not sure they want to come home. They sounded way too happy at your grandparent's house last night when we called." She stood in front of Amanda and wrapped her arms loosely around her wife's waist. "We got all the perks, with none of the waiting. I can't wait to rub it in your sister's face."
Amanda smirked at that last thought. "Ooh. She's going to gain a lot of weight, and I haven't. You're right. She's going to be pissed." She kissed Lex on the chin. "I like that."
"I thought you would." Lex swatted Amanda on the rear. "Come on. I'll run down to the storage building, get Melanie's old car seat, and put it in the Xterra. We've got a road trip to head out on." Before she could get away, Lex felt Amanda tug on her belt loop.
"Deal." Amanda pulled Lex closer and gave her a kiss. "See you in a few minutes."
AMANDA PARKED THE Xterra near the front door of the dealership and exhaled. "After that drive, I'm more certain than ever that this is the right thing to do." On the drive in, a strong gust of wind, coupled with a patch of slick highway, almost sent them into the ditch. Only Amanda's good driving skills kept the three of them safe.
"Amen." L
ex removed her hand from the "oh shit" handle above her head and flexed her hand. "I'm glad you were driving. I would have probably landed us in the trees." She glanced back at Eddie, who was kicking happily in the car seat. "I think our son is a daredevil."
"Great. Another one? Between you and Lorrie, my hair's already getting gray." Amanda unbuckled and tucked the folder of papers beneath her arm. "Do you want to wait here, or--"
Lex got out and opened the back door. "We'll come in with you. No telling how long it'll take." She removed Eddie from his seat and wrapped an extra blanket around him. "Settle down, son. I don't want to drop you." Once he was secure in her arms, they followed Amanda inside.
A thin, balding man, wearing a cheap, pea-green suit greeted them before the door closed behind them. "Good morning, little ladies. I bet I know exactly what you want. We've got a lovely, slightly used, two-thousand six Ford Freestar mini-van. It's only got eighty-three thousand miles, and I can even get you a good trade in for your vehicle." He spoke so quickly that it took Lex and Amanda a moment to understand everything he said.
Amanda cocked her head. "Do I look like a soccer mom?" She pointed a warning finger at Lex. "Don't answer that, if you know what's good for you."
With a shake of her head, Lex gave her wife her best "who me?" look, but wisely kept silent.
"Well, now, little lady, no need to get yourself all worked up, I was only trying--"
Amanda's upraised hand stopped him in mid-sentence. "I'm looking for Mike. We have an appointment with him."
The salesman's countenance changed immediately. "Second office on your left." He turned and walked away without another word.
As they headed for Mike's office, Lex whispered to Amanda. "Little lady? What was he, suicidal?" She pretended not to hear the profane answer, deciding instead to enjoy the view from behind Amanda, as she stalked away in a huff.
THE SOUND OF the key in the lock caused Hubert to look up from where he quietly sat on the living room sofa. He stood, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. The door opened, and the woman he planned on spending the rest of his life with came inside.
Ramona Buchanan closed the door and dropped her suitcase. When she saw Hubert by the sofa, her face wrinkled into a delighted smile. "Hubert! I wasn't expecting to see you home this early in the day. Is everything all right?" She set her keys on the table by the door and moved to embrace her fiancé.
"I had some things to take care of and your dad gave me a couple of days off." Hubert held onto Ramona as if his life depended on it. "When you get settled, I need to tell you something." He had a lot of time on the drive home to think about everything that happened. As much as he wanted to spare Ramona, and himself, from the consequences of what he'd done, he knew he needed to come clean.
She pulled away from him to look into his face. "What's the matter, honey?"
"I don't want to lose you." Hubert wiped a shaky hand over his beard. "Before I say anything, you've got to realize how much I love you, Ramona. And I'd never do anything to hurt you."
Ramona dropped to the sofa. "What happened?"
Hubert knelt beside her and took her hands in his. "Remember last year, when I asked you to marry me, and you turned me down?"
She nodded. "That was one hell of a fight. After you cussed and yelled, I believe I told you that I never wanted to see you again." The pain in his eyes almost broke her heart. "But everything turned out all right. We got back together the next week, and things have been wonderful ever since." When tears welled in Hubert's eyes, Ramona bit her lip. "They are, aren't they? I've never been happier."
"Me either." Hubert kissed her hands. "But that weekend, I screwed up. Really bad. To tell you the truth, I didn't remember much about it until recently."
"How did you screw up? I remember you telling me you fell off the wagon. But you've been sober since then, right?" She caressed his cheek with one hand. "Honey?"
Hubert lowered his eyes, not wanting to see her face when he told her. "I spent the weekend with a stripper I met at the bar," he whispered hoarsely.
"Oh, god." Ramona pulled her other hand away from him and covered her mouth.
"That's not all. She came into the store, day before yesterday, and asked me to meet her after work."
Ramona put her hand beneath his chin and forced Hubert to look her in the eye. "Did you--" She closed her eyes briefly. "Did you sleep with her again?"
Hubert frantically shook his head. "God, no! I love you, Ramona. I would never cheat," his voice trailed off. "No. I had been so drunk, I blacked out that weekend. I didn't even remember her when she spoke to me." He gathered his strength to finish. "I wasn't sure what she wanted, so I met with her, at the coffee shop across the street from the store."
"What did she want?"
"She had something to give me." Hubert lowered his face again in shame. "My son." The loss of Ramona's hand on his face hurt Hubert more than he ever thought it would. "She said she'd been looking for me since she found out she was pregnant, and didn't want to raise him on her own."
Ramona's voice was soft. "Where is he?"
"I--I," Hubert stuttered. "I asked my sister to raise him."
"Were you going to keep this a secret from me?" Ramona asked, as she stood and stepped away from him.
Hubert began to cry in earnest. "Yeah. But I couldn't." Still on his knees, he turned to her. "I didn't want any lies between us, Ramona. You mean everything in the world to me."
"I thought you were estranged from your sister. I can't believe she'd just happily take your son to help you." Ramona crossed her arms over her chest. "Especially after everything you'd done to her in the past." When they first started dating, it was the heartfelt confessions from Hubert about his past that prompted Ramona to take a chance on him.
"That's kind of the funny thing about it," he said. "They were planning on trying to have another baby soon, so it worked out."
"Made it easy for you, didn't it?"
Hubert shook his head. "Not at all. I'll admit, when she first gave me the baby, I had every intention of dropping him off at the nearest fire station. But then, I realized it wasn't his fault that he was born, it was mine." He sighed. "God, he was so damned cute. Looked just like my baby pictures. I couldn't pass him off to some stranger to raise." He climbed to his feet and stuck his hands in his front pockets. "And I knew damned good and well that I was the last person who should try to raise a kid. My sister and her partner are good people. It's taken me this long to come to terms with that. So I asked them to adopt him and raise him as theirs."
Ramona's eyes were cold. "I should hate you," she said, her voice so low it was hard to hear.
"Please, sweetheart. Give me another chance. I'll do whatever you want." Hubert took his hands from his pockets and held out his arms. "Please, Ramona. I'm begging you."
"You've hurt me, Hubert."
"I know. But if you let me, I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you."
With a sob, Ramona fell into his arms. "Thank you for telling me the truth. But it's going to take some time for me to trust you again."
"That's all right," he murmured, kissing her head over and over. "Take as long as you need. Just don't leave me."
"I won't. We've worked too hard to get this far." She tumbled onto the couch with him.
They sat quietly for a while, until Ramona kissed Hubert on the neck. "I think I realize what I was really upset about."
Hubert was almost afraid of the answer. "What was that?"
"It wasn't the fact that you slept with someone. After all, I'm the one who told you I didn't want to see you again. I mean, yes, that hurt, but I really couldn't blame you."
"What was it, then? I blame myself for sleeping with that woman. That was extremely stupid."
Ramona rubbed his chest. "Sounds to me like she took advantage of you while you were so drunk you couldn't even remember it happening. No, what really upset me was the way you decided on handling everything on your own, without any inpu
t from me."
"It was my mess to clean up, sweetheart."
"No, Hubert. There is no me or you. There's us. We have to make important decisions together, or we'll never be partners. I consulted you before I went to visit my mother, so it's only fair that you allow me to help you with your decisions." She unbuttoned his shirt and slipped her hand inside.
He nodded. "You're right. But I have to admit, at first I was doing it totally out of self-preservation. I panicked." A sharp tug on his chest hair caused Hubert to wince. "But I promise to never do it again." The tug turned into a caress, and he bent his head to hers.
Chapter Fourteen
AMANDA CHECKED THE clock on the dash of her new Ford Expedition. "It's only a little after one. Should we drop by my grandparent's and introduce them to Eddie?"
"Sure. Do you want me to find out if your sister will meet us over there? I want to see her face," Lex said. "You know she's going to accuse us of cheating."
"Yeah. Sounds like fun." Amanda concentrated on the road while Lex made the phone calls. She had to keep from laughing, when Lex was purposely vague as to the reason of their request.
"No, Jeannie. Nothing's wrong. Amanda's just excited over her new ride, and she wants to show it off." Lex listened for a moment. "Okay, fine. We'll pick up a couple of pizzas. Yes, I know what kind you like. No, I won't forget." Lex growled at the phone. "I am not asking them to do that to a perfectly good pizza. No way. I'll have them put the nasty things on the side. No. Have Lois bring you over."
Amanda tapped Lex on the arm and held out her hand. She put the phone to her ear. "Jeannie Louise, quit tormenting Lex. You don't like anchovies any more than she does. Now get your ass in gear and head over to Gramma's. Goodbye." She handed the phone to Lex. "You've just got to know how to handle her."
"Obviously." Lex dialed another number and placed a pizza order to be delivered to the Cauble's home. Once she was finished, she stretched her legs out. "These leather seats are nice. And I like how much more legroom this has, compared to the Xterra."