by lanie love
****
Three Months Later
At 12:45am, I was woken up with five little words that turned my world upside down:
"Michael, my water just broke."
"What!" I say to her. I am amazed at how quickly I just jumped up out of a sound sleep. "But, we are supposed to have three more weeks." I whine.
"Your son apparently has no sense of time." She grits out.
"Shit!" I say as I begin to haul ass. I bellow for Kyle and Karen.
Thank fuck they came down yesterday to help us pack up and drive back to LA. I didn't want to take the risk of Jane riding in a cramped car, so Kyle rented a camper and came down to help me drive back. I wanted Jane to have plenty of room to stretch out. Otherwise, we would be making frequent stops along the way since she can’t go 10 minutes without having to pee. I also wanted to be able to focus on giving Jane what she needed.
I can't imagine being here alone with this right now. It's taking all I have not to panic Jane, who, to my surprise, is extremely calm.
Kyle gets us to the maternity ward while Karen stays behind to call and let everyone know.
As the afternoon breaks, our family starts to trickle in. Everyone is here waiting for news of Jane and the baby. I swear Jimmy Junior is more of a worrier than I am. He and Shelly discovered that they are in fact pregnant with twins. I will never get over the sight of her waddling around, caring my little nieces or nephews. Jimmy Junior couldn't be happier. It's hard to believe that this is the same guy who told Dad and me on my wedding day that he would never settle down.
After sixteen hours of being in labor, Daniel Nathan Lowe yelled his arrival to the world. And boy does he have a set of lungs on him. He is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. He has Jane's clear blue eyes and downy soft blonde hair.
Two years later
Jane and I are in the living room in Laguna Hills she’s fretting all day about the decorations being just right for the party today. We soon discovered after Danny started walking that Laurel Canyon wasn't the place we wanted to raise him. We wanted him to be near the water. It has such a calming effect on Jane, we wanted him to experience it.
Everyone is here celebrating his second birthday today. Gram and Gramps arrive with a toy store in their arms, for not only Danny, but for every kid here since they can never keep track of whose birthday it actually is.
While the kids run wild, Mom is busy lecturing her parents for always spoiling them with way too many toys. I smirk at her because I just gave her that same lecture an hour before everyone arrived.
Jimmy and Shelley, who are running around chasing the kids, have a little two-year-old girl named Eloise and a boy named Jimmy Mason III. Four-year-old Nate Jr. tries to help them keep the rambunctious brood of toddlers in order. He is so serious. He reminds me so much of his dad. With his help, we finally pin them all down long enough to sing happy birthday and have some cake and ice cream.
I take Jane in my arms and shake my head. The cake is now everywhere but, in their mouths, as they begin to throw it at each other.
Mom, Robin, and Shelley are busy trying to clean them all up while my dad is snapping pictures. Jimmy is as dirty as the kids, being the one who started the food fight.
"Well, we have two years down." Jane says to me, as she plays with the silver locket she wears around her neck. "And we’re still alive."
"Aw, baby this parenting stuff is easy." I say, kissing her cheek. "I can do this a hundred times over."
"Are you for real?”
“Totally.”
“Well, I don't know about a hundred times, but we are going to do it at least one more time for sure."
I look at her and frown. It takes me a minute for what she said to sink in.
"Jane, are you…" She nods her head.
"I'm eight weeks." She whispers, with a brilliant smile on her face. I should have known just by how much she’s been glowing. She’s always been beautiful, but nothing compares to how she looks when she’s pregnant.
"God, I love you, Mrs. Mason." I tell her, holding her in my arms.
"I love you too, Mr. Mason."
"Bro, you are not going to believe what my girl just told me." Jimmy says after Jane goes to help clean the kids up.
"She told Shelley the news before me?"
"What?"
"Jane's pregnant.”
"Get out of town. So is Shells.”
We look over at Jane, Shelly, and Robin as they huddle with Mom over in the corner. Nathan comes up to join us with a big goofy grin on his face.
"Let me guess. Robin’s pregnant too?" I ask him and he nods.
The girls erupt with laughter as each one holds their own bellies.
Here we go again!
****
Beth
The grandparents invited me to join them at the Santa Monica Pier today to ride the Ferris wheel. They both agree I’ve been moping around the house far too long. I don’t think two weeks is nowhere near over-doing it, but I decide to go anyway.
Beau left for Boston a few days ago without so much as a goodbye to me. I don't blame him. What more was there to say to the woman who, in spite of all her promises, ended up breaking his heart. Grandma says not to blame myself for following my own heart, but it’s been impossible not to when I even had a hand in destroying his friendship with Island.
The company’s gossip grapevine finally made it to Beverly Hills and the hot topic was the boss and his CEO having a big blow up in his office over a girl. By the time the story made its way to me, it was completely screwed around. I was supposedly pregnant with a love child and neither one of them wanted to marry me. Island called twice so far and I haven’t called him back. What else can I say?
I nearly jump a foot off the ground at the Edsel’s horn blowing in the driveway. Grandpa caved and is letting us take it to the pier as long as I’m the one driving it. He doesn't trust himself or Grandma to drive anymore. He keeps grumbling on about missing Kyle, his driver from years ago.
“Get a move on.” Grandma yells out the window at me taking too long to lock the front door.
“Backseat driver.” I hear Grandpa accuse her as he gets out of the passenger seat and slides in the back to sit next to her. “I don’t know why you’re in such a hurry. I’m not looking forward to reliving this particular memory, you know. I don’t know what I was thinking asking you for your hand on that thing. I must have been crazy.”
“You were crazy with love. Love makes you brave.” She says. I hide my laugh at her batting eyelashes at him. Of course, he caves yet again. He always does where she’s concerned.
I turn on Ocean Ave, passing up our flagship hotel, Estabrook Santa Monica and head into the pier to find parking. Coming up fast in my rearview mirror is an Escalade SUV. It’s a single lane, so he can’t go around me, but this guy doesn't look to be slowing down.
“What the hell is he—” Before I can get the last word out, he rams into the back of the Edsel. I turn around to see if grandma and grandpa are okay. They seem unfazed, grinning at each other like two foxes in a hen house. I guess love stops you from giving a shit about being in an accident. Good thing I’m here, because I’m pissed. I pull the break and hop out. “You have got to be kidding me.” I’m ready to give whoever this idiot is hell until Island steps out of the driver’s seat. I’m completely confused as to why he’s here at the pier today of all days. The last I spoke to him, I thought we agreed to not even try and start whatever it was we were thinking about doing. It was the day after I left his house with his T- Shirt on doing the walk of shame. He had stopped by the office pissed at me, but I hadn't slept at all that night and I was in no mood to hear it.
“Why the hell didn't you tell me yesterday that you and Beau had broken up.” He demanded to know, using that voice that makes the spit catch in my throat and why did he have to come in here looking so damn fine. I really didn’t have an answer. What was I supposed to tell him? Beau broke up with me and I didn’t even give it a day be
fore jumping into bed with his best friend.
“How did you find out?”
“He stopped by right after you left, giving me some grandiose speech about me winning you. He was drunk off his ass, passed out cold on my couch.”
“Did you tell him about what happened between us?”
“No. I know I’m a shitty one, but he is my friend. It’s not my intention to hurt him. Jesus, I thought we cheated on him yesterday.”
“We did. Maybe not yesterday and we may not have had actual sex while I was with him, but we did cheat on him.”
“He blames himself for opening up this can of worms between us.”
“I know.”
“He’s wrong. I think this between us would have happened regardless of his orchestrating it.”
“Like it’s fate or something? You sound like my grandmother.”
“I talked to her yesterday.”
“How?”
“She answered your phone.”
“She didn’t tell me that.”
“She seems like a smart lady and maybe she has a point. Don’t discredit her.”
“She’s sentimental and loves people in love. So, what do you say now about giving her credit?”
“Baby, all I know is, I wanted you on sight. A beacon has been shining over your head for me since that day and I can’t ignore it. I don't want to ignore it.”
“I need more than just good sex, Island.”
“Great sex.”
“Amazing sex.” I smile. “But that gets old. Once all that lusty heat wears off, where does that leave us? Look at us: me as a self-proclaimed nympho with mommy issues who wanted to do her boss and got her boyfriend to make it happen, and you, a Dom who wanted what he thought he couldn't have. That’s not exactly solid ground to build on.”
“But it’s still a ground. We can make it solid.”
“I don’t think so.”
“What do you suggest we do now? Ignore this, whatever it is”
“No, but I think we need to step away and reflect. Besides, I don’t even think I want to start another relationship right now. I was just dumped, you know.”
“And now you’re punishing me for it?”
“I’m not punishing anyone. I’m just taking a step back, that’s all. I need to get past the threesomes and foursomes and hiding my shit in vibrator wands and orgasms. I’m trying to move on.”
“You mean move away from me?”
“I mean move away from all of it. It was messed up what I did. Beau thinks he opened this can of worms but it was me. I wanted you and I probably would have eventually found a way to have you without Beau making it happened. I would have cheated on him with you. Is that the kind of girl you want to try and see with?
He walked out of my office denied and pissed off that day. I haven’t heard from him since. Until now, that is.
“What the hell did you do hit us for?” I go to the back of Edsel to check the damage. Thank god, it’s just a little bump, nothing major.
“You call that a hit?” Grandpa comes to inspect the damage. “My Jane should have shown you how it was done. Show him, Sweetheart.”
“You gotta put more gas into it.” Grandma says, pressing an imaginary gas pedal with her foot.
“I didn't want to hurt her.” Island tells them. “She’s carrying my baby.”
“What?!” The three of us say in unison.
“You’re pregnant with my baby.” He says. I cringe, avoiding the stare of my grandparents at all costs. I want to kick his ass for this little reveal. I put my forehead in my hands, totally mortified. He leans in to whisper to me, so my grandparents won’t hear, but it’s too late now. My grandparents move in closer to listen, but can’t. “The last time we were together, I didn’t wear a condom.”
“I’m on the pill.” I whisper back through clenched teeth.
“Oh, thank God.” He says, running his hands through his hair. The color returns to his face, making him bright red in the October heat.
“Is that why you ran into me? You thought I was pregnant? Is this some male chauvinist Dom thing? Because if it is, you can forget it.”
“Dom?” Grandpa says. Oops.
“Hush, Dear.” Grandma tells him, putting her hand on his chest to keep him quiet.
“No. I ran into you because I wanted us to start over. I wanted us to have a better foundation.” Island says.
“And this is what you came up with? Hitting me with your car?”
“Worked for me.” Grandma says.
I look at the three of them: grandma grinning like she’s just created world peace, while grandpa is trying to look like he was just along for the ride, even though I know he was in on it from the start. Meanwhile, Island, is looking at me hoping this harebrained scheme of theirs has worked.
“So, you did all this because you thought I was pregnant?” I ask him.
“No, Baby.” He takes my arm and moves me to the edge of the pier.
“Keep your shirts on.” Grandma says, to the cars honking for us to clear the road. She hops in the Edsel while Grandpa moves Island’s Escalade.
“I did all this because I did what you suggested.” Island says. “I reflected. I realized that I want a future with you. I’m willing to give you all the time you need. We can take this as slow as you want, but just as long as we do it together.”
“Do what?”
“Whatever we want. We can make our own rules. All I know is, I’m crazy about you and it’s not just the mind shattering sex. Something between us keeps pulling at me and I know you feel it too.”
“I do.” I say. The last two weeks of “reflection” was just me pining away for him. He grins so wide, it looks like it should hurt.
“Baby, let just jump in and see where this goes. Let’s give us a try. All or nothing.”
“All or nothing?”
“Yeah. What do you say?”
I look out at the water and the setting sun. The noise from the roller coaster overhead blocks out the screams of its riders. The lights are just coming on around the Ferris wheel, giving it a magnificent glow. I’ve been to this pier a thousand times, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it look so right.
I look back at Island, staring at me, hope and fear fighting for time on his face, but his eyes, I’m lost in them. I can see his fire and his turmoil, but also his strength and his calm. Everything that he’s feeling is reflected in his eyes and it’s all for me. It is me. I see me in his eyes. I can see me through his eyes and I like what I see. Whatever this thing is between us may not be a perfect. It may not be diary worthy or life inspiring, but damn it, it’s ours and we are going to grab it.
“Okay.” I say and his lips part to take a breath. “Let’s do it.”
“All or nothing?” His eyes dance in anticipation and I nod my head.
“All or nothing.”
“Finally.” He says, taking my face in his hands, kissing me. My knees go weak, making me lean into him. He takes hold of my waist and pulls me even closer. His strong arms are around me, anchoring me to him. Our need for air parts us. He stares at me, brushing my hair from my forehead before placing his lips there.
“Aww.” I hear Grandma Jane say, seeing her plan has come to fruition. “Now, make sure you hold on to her from now on.” She warns him.
“Oh, I plan to do just that. Mrs. Mason. She is a hard woman to catch.”
“She takes after her grandma.” Grandpa, puts an arm around her shoulder. Watching with an eagle eye as Island kisses me again. Grandma has to hold him back from breaking us up.
“Let them alone.” She tells him. “It wasn’t too long ago you and I were doing that very thing on this exact same pier and now look at us. I wonder if we are going to have to this thing with our great grandkids.” Grandpa jerks his head so hard to look down at her, he might have given himself whiplash.
“Now, it’s a little too early to be thinking about all that, Janie, dear.” He says. She only grins up at him for an answer.
&n
bsp; “You mark my words. A woman knows these things.” He sighs in defeat.
“Here we go again.”
Indian Summer Epilogue
Five years later
Island
With my legs stretched out on the floor of my bedroom, I shift my weight, trying not to get carpet burn on my bare ass. The sun is setting over the ocean and the pod of whales I’ve been watching are rapidly making their way out to sea. My back is resting on the bed and my long neck Corona is almost gone. The house is unusually quiet for this late in the evening and I’m taking full advantage of it.
A soft foot hits my shoulder and decides to rest there. I smile at it, taking it in my hand and kissing the dark purple painted toes as the woman it’s attached to stirs, but refuses to wake up. Downing the last of my beer, I crawl my way up her body, prying her legs open with kisses.
“Mmmm.” She says, enjoying it, but then the brows of her closed eyes furrow when she realizes my destination. “No more.” She whimpers.
I chuckle at her pathetic plea, still undeterred as I make my way between her legs. My lips press on her overworked clit while my hands steady her hips that are trying to move away.
Taking pity on her, I kiss my way up her slightly protruding belly where our baby is just now getting big enough to show and settle on my side of the bed.
“You’ve finally had enough of me today, Mrs. Lowe.” I ask her.
She smiles at the satisfied smugness she hears in my voice. She’s been the epitome of untamed horniness since she jumped me in the shower about 6 this morning. I’ve had her hemmed up in bed ever since Mom and Dad took Malcolm for the day.
“Just give me thirty more minutes.” She says, turning over and snuggling into my arms. “I’m just getting my second wind.”
I laugh, kissing the top of her head.
“Have you forgotten we have to get your dad and grandparents from the airport?”
“Shit.” She says. Finally, she opens an eye and peeks at the clock on the dresser. “They can call Uber.”