I turned my head and saw that my mom was standing in the doorway. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Your father still corners me…”
“Mom, please don’t finish that sentence,” I begged.
She smiled broadly at my discomfort. “Diaper bags, please.”
Gabe hoisted the bulk of the luggage while I grabbed the rest plus the diaper bags, and together we made our way inside the house. We dropped our bags in the kitchen and followed the sounds of the cooing until we found everyone gathering around the two car seats they’d propped up on the coffee table. Like it had every day for the past two weeks, my heart stuttered to a stop in my chest for a brief second when I looked at our children. We’d been parents for a whopping fourteen days, yet I could hardly remember a time without them. That’s how fast we fell in love with our kids.
“You know, I wasn’t sure I could do it,” I said to Gabe.
“Do what, Sunshine?”
“Love another living soul as much as I love you, but there are two more that I can’t imagine my life without now. It’s like you’re all tethered to me by an invisible string; a part of me.”
Gabe wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. “You’re just tapping into the well of love you have inside you.”
Normally, I wouldn’t have liked getting so personal with a large gathering around, but they didn’t know we existed. At least our friends were waiting patiently for our sleeping beauties to wake instead of just snatching them out of their seats. I knew how hard that was to do and sometimes I was guilty of lifting them out of their bassinettes while they slept because I just needed to hold them and know that it was all real.
I looked at the faces of each of the people smiling down at our infants. They all brought something unique to our lives and made us better people. John and Adrian started out as Gabe’s co-workers, but we couldn’t love them more if they were our flesh and blood. Emory and Jonathon were the newest members of our group, but it felt like I’d known them my entire life. It seemed to me that their sadness faded a little bit more each time they came around, but I thought it had more to do with the undeniable attraction between them rather than anything Gabe or I had done. I hoped one day they’d stop pretending and start accepting that something special could develop between them. Mere and Chaz were the brother and sister I never had, and I was so happy to see them in love and planning exciting futures. Mere and Harley were engaged and planning a wedding. I expected to hear news out of… Wait a minute!
“Chaz Bailey Hamilton,” I said loudly, mimicking Mere’s tone she used when he was in trouble. “What is that round, shiny metal thing on the ring finger of your left hand?” I marched forward with my hands on my hips. “Did you get engaged and not tell me.”
“Um…” Chaz rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Well…”
“It’s not a particularly hard question,” I told him.
“No, I didn’t keep my engagement from you,” Chaz said sheepishly. “I got married and didn’t tell you.”
“Married?” we all asked at the same time.
“Why in the world didn’t you tell us?” Meredith asked.
“I can’t believe you got married without us,” I said in shock.
“Wow! When did this happen?” Gabe asked them.
We peppered them with one question after the other, but they didn’t seem to hear us. Chaz and Kyle were too busy staring into one another’s eyes while wearing sappy smiles. All the fussing did, however, wake the babies and they cried to show how unhappy they were at having their slumber disturbed.
“Look what you two did,” I said jokingly to Kyle and Chaz. “You woke the babies.” Gabe and I moved in to sweep up our children, but Mere and Deanna elbowed us out of the way.
“Now now,” Meredith softly said as she held Destiny against her chest. “Auntie Mere has you now, beautiful girl.”
“Oh, such a sweet boy you are, Dylan,” Deanna said to our son as she rubbed gentle circles against his back. Dylan was always more vocal and harder to calm down, but Deanna had the magic touch.
The room got quiet once again except for all the baby talk from the two women, but the peacefulness didn’t last long.
“You woke the babies!” Savage screeched from his perch in his fancy solarium. “Fucknuggets!”
Sassy began mimicking a crying baby. I had to admit she sounded just like them.
“Dirty Bird!” I turned to face Gabe. “I thought you worked out a deal with your bird.”
“He was your bird long before I walked into your salon.”
“He’s Big Daddy’s boy now,” I countered. “I thought he was going to play nice from now on.”
“I can control that bird’s mouth about as much as I can control you,” Gabe said dryly. “I’ll work on it.”
“We’re a family now!” Savage squawked proudly, making me smile. Gabe had taught him a host of new sayings, and we repeated them all the time in the hope of pushing out his foul vocabulary.
“Family of fucknuggets!” Sassy added.
“Gonna wash your mouth out with soap, cock badger!” Savage added.
I threw up my hands. “It’s hopeless.”
Gabe looked at me with wide eyes. “I never called him a cock badger.”
“I’ll ask their pediatrician about fitting them with ear plugs,” I told him.
The birds settled back down while the babies were gently passed around like precious party favors. I made a beeline for Kyle and Chaz once they were done making googly eyes at my kids. Gabe was right on my heels probably ready to intervene if I got too huffy. “You have some serious explaining to do!”
“It just felt right,” Chaz said with a shrug. “We went to Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve and got caught up in the excitement of the moment. A new year seemed like the right time to start a new life.”
“It sounds romantic and sweet, but why didn’t you tell any of us?” Gabe asked.
“We stayed in Las Vegas for five days then went to Cabo San Lucas for ten days and just got back ourselves,” Kyle said. “We told our families this morning, and now we’re telling our friends. We’re going to have a reception party to celebrate properly.”
“Just wow,” I replied. I opened my arms and hugged Chaz. “I’m so damn happy for you. Your writing career is taking off, and you finally took Dr. Dimples by the…”
“Josh,” Gabe said in a warning tone.
“…hand and took that leap. I’m going to miss seeing you every day at the shop, but I am so proud of you, Chaz. Don’t you forget about us.”
“Like you could get rid of me,” he replied, hugging me tighter. “I’m so happy for you too, Jazz.”
“Let me in,” Mere said. Chaz and I opened our arms so she could join us in a group hug. “You’re my tribe, my ride or die, and the most amazing men I know.”
“We’re not all that,” I told her, rumpling her hair.
“But we’ll do in a pinch,” Chaz added.
“I’m glad you said that because I need to ask you guys for a favor,” Meredith said. “I would like for both of you to give me away in May when I get married.”
Meredith’s father had passed away when she was a young girl, and she didn’t have any living male relatives. Her request meant the world to me and moved me to tears. I looked at Chaz, and I figured my expression was just as dopey as his.
“Oh, Mere,” I said, “We’d be honored to give you away.”
“We’ve been waiting to do it for a long time,” Chaz added. “Wait, that might’ve sounded wrong.”
“Still holding a grudge, I see,” Meredith said after she stopped laughing herself silly. She was referring to the way Chaz resented her arrival in town our first year of high school because he suddenly had to share my friendship with someone else.
“I honestly didn’t mean it the way it sounded.” Chaz was prone to say the absolute worst things at the wrong time. “I meant that your finding your Prince Charming has been a long time coming. I’
d be honored to share in your special day.”
The doorbell rang, and Harley yelled, “Food’s here.”
“Aw, you guys ordered us dinner?” I asked.
“It’s just pizza,” Chaz said. “None of us can cook quite to your standards yet.”
“Salad too,” Kyle added.
“It was pizza or Deanna would make something from the grocer’s freezer section.” John tilted his head to the side and asked, “Do you make your lasagna homemade Josh?”
“Yes, sir,” I replied. “I even make my own pasta.”
“John,” Deanna yelled from the kitchen. “No one is entering any more cooking or baking contests!”
“Damn it, woman. Do you hear everything?” John asked as he headed for the kitchen to sweet talk his wife.
“That will be us in a few years,” I told Gabe.
“Probably a few months,” he countered.
“Hey, you want to sneak off…”
Our babies started crying again, and it was louder than the first bout, which meant they either had full diapers, empty bellies, or both. We looked at each other and grinned. “Raincheck,” we said at the same time.
I suspected we would be saying that word to each other many times over the next eighteen years or longer. I knew we’d be okay as long as we carved out time for one another. Instead of heading into the kitchen, we walked over to where our babies were kicking up a fuss in their seats.
Gabe and I had the diaper changing down to an art and had the kids redressed and ready to feed in a jiffy. The grandmas came out of the kitchen with fresh bottles and snatched the babies from us. I pouted a little because feeding time was my favorite. I loved the little grunts they made as they greedily drank from their bottles.
“Go get something to eat,” Martina said. “Bertie and I have this under control.”
We followed the smell of delicious cheesy pizza and the sound of happy voices in our home. Emory stepped out of the kitchen and nodded his head to the side. “Can I talk to you guys for a minute?” His timid smile and the nervousness I heard in his voice worried me.
“Is something wrong?” I asked Emory. I glanced over at Josh and saw that he was nibbling on his bottom lip nervously, which meant he picked up on our neighbor’s mood.
“No,” Emory said unconvincingly. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m leaving town for a little bit to take care of some personal things. I don’t like to just drop out of sight without telling you.” Emory’s voice cracked, and he broke eye contact to look down at his shoes.
Josh stepped up to Emory and placed his hands on his shoulders. I didn’t thump my chest or growl because I could tell Josh was trying to comfort our friend. “Emory, there’s something obviously wrong. Won’t you tell us?”
Emory raised his head slowly and attempted to smile. “Maybe it’s right,” he replied cryptically.
“Is this like the last time you left before our wedding?” Josh asked. Emory had told Josh the Monday before the wedding that he needed to leave town to do something but promised to return for our ceremony. Emory honored that promise. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something about this trip was different from the last. “You’re coming back, right?”
“I hope so,” Emory said noncommittally. “But if not, I want you to know that your friendship has come to mean the world to me. The two of you have restored my faith in humanity.”
“Emory, is there anything we can do to help you?” I asked. He was clearly torn up about something, and I wanted him to know he didn’t have to go through it alone.
“I appreciate that so much, Gabe, but unfortunately, this is something that I’ll have to do alone.” Emory hugged Josh first then me. “I love you both. I’m sorry that I ruined your first night home with the babies. It’s just I leave first thing in the morning, and I couldn’t go without saying goodbye.”
“So long for now. You’ll be back, Emory,” Josh said confidently. He added a wink and added, “I know things.”
Emory smiled at Josh’s attempt at a joke, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I was a fix-it kind of guy, and I wanted to help make things better for my friend. I recognized that I couldn’t make everything right in the world, no matter how hard I tried. The only thing I could do was be patient and let Emory know how much we valued his friendship. “There will always be a place for you at our table, no matter how long it takes you to find your way back to us.”
I was aiming for assurance, but instead, my words made Emory cry. I tried to apologize, but he shook his head and left. I started to follow him, but a firm hand on my shoulder stopped me.
“I got this, Gabe,” Jonathon said. “You guys enjoy your welcome home party, and I’ll take care of Emory. Congratulations on your beautiful new additions to your family.” Jonathon didn’t wait around for us to respond.
Josh and I looked at each other in shock. “What just happened?” he asked me.
I wrapped my arm around my husband and pulled him to me. I dropped a kiss on his forehead before I answered him. “I have no idea. I don’t like it, but I don’t think there’s anything we can do to make him stay.”
“Lock him in the scary room downstairs,” Josh teased. I couldn’t hide the shiver that worked its way through my body. “Too soon, Gabe?”
I pinned him with a dark look. I didn’t think enough time would ever pass before I got over being bashed over the head and knocked out in that creepy cellar. Josh had the room sealed off before we moved in because he knew how much I hated it.
“Come on, you two, and eat something while you can,” Sally Ann said from the kitchen. “You need to take advantage of the help when offered. Don’t be saintly fathers who try to do it all.”
“Absolutely,” Deanna agreed. “When someone offers to watch the babies so you can nap then do it.”
“Or some other bedroom activity,” Adrian offered. “It’s a long dry spell, brothers.”
Josh snorted. “Not for us; we didn’t give birth to the babies.”
Adrian tipped his head to the side and said, “True, but there’s precious little alone time with newborns in the house.”
I just shook my head, certain that they were just exaggerating. “They have to sleep sometimes,” I replied.
“Who said they’d sleep on the same schedule?” John countered.
Josh and I looked at one another in panic. Oh my God! What if one of them slept all day and stayed up all night while the other did the exact opposite? I felt panic start to creep in that I would never sleep or have sex until the kids were ten or older.
John and Adrian must’ve thought it was hilarious because they threw their heads back and roared with laughter.
“Now they get it,” John said.
“I bet I’ll see a whole lot less swagger and more stagger out of Gabe these next few months—maybe even years,” Adrian added.
Their comments started up a new round of laughter. They were so busy slapping each other on the backs and laughing it up that they didn’t notice their wives’ reactions. Deanna and Sally Ann wore matching expressions of disgust and outrage.
“I wasn’t aware that our children were such a burden to you, John. If you weren’t getting any then how is it we had multiple children?” she asked icily.
“Baby, I’m just joking. You know I love our little cockblockers,” John said to his wife. His tone was appeasing but not his language. I was glad they had found a babysitter for the night, although John was an amazing father and would never say something like that in front of the little Dorchesters.
“I guess it’s not a good time to tell you that you’re going to be a father again,” Sally Ann said to Adrian then promptly burst into tears.
“What?” Adrian asked, sobering immediately. “Oh my God! Are you teasing me right now?” Adrian scooped Sally Ann up into a hug. “Do you promise?”
Sally Ann was still crying but at least she was smiling and nodding happily.
“Damn, I hope Adrian doesn’t lose his shit in the birthing suite l
ike he did last time,” I said fondly.
“Or Sally Ann’s head starts spinning in circles while she spews foul language and talks about dudes carrying babies in their prostates and squeezing it out their asses,” Josh added. He winked at Sally Ann who laughed hysterically. “I told you that I’d never let you live it down.”
“That you did.” Sally Ann looked at Adrian and said, “I’m sorry I told you this way. I had every intention of doing something cutesy.”
“I don’t need cutesy,” he replied softly.
Josh and I congratulated the expectant couple with hugs before we made our way to the pizza. It felt like months instead of hours since I last ate. The cheesy, greasy pizza was just what the doctor ordered.
Adrian came over after everyone finished fawning all over him. “Hey, I want to talk to you about a few things, but wasn’t sure it was the right time to talk shop.”
A cop was never truly off duty. “What’s up? Any leads on the break-ins?”
“Nothing, man. They stopped as fast as they started. It’s frustrating as hell,” Adrian replied.
“Then what’s on your mind?” I asked.
“There was a pretty big announcement in the police department while you were gone.”
“There was?” I was shocked that Adrian didn’t call me right away if it was so serious.
“Captain Reardon has decided to run against Rocky Beaumont in the May primary election,” Adrian told us. “There is no opposition party on the ballot at this time so if the captain wins, and I think he will, our captain will be mayor.”
“And that leaves his position at the police department open. Are you going to apply?” I asked him. Was he trying to let me down easy?
“No, but I want you to apply for the position,” Adrian said.
“Me? I’ve been here the shortest amount of time. You have more seniority here than I do,” I argued.
“Gabe, you have a lot more experience, and you have a better temperament for the job. I hate to lose you as a partner, but I’d love to see you take over our department if the captain is elected as mayor.”
Welcome to Blissville Page 116