“Jaycee, think of our millions of future kids. Do you really want to deny the world of a mixture of the Bradshaw and McGinty blood?” He starts kissing my neck.
I freeze. “Max, we can’t do that to the world.” I say in complete seriousness and he starts laughing. “No, really.” I turn my head to give him better access to my neck. “We’ll have to move. Buy an island to keep the craziness contained. Don’t want it to spread into the normal population,” I say and moan as he starts pulling my strap to my slip down and trails kisses down my shoulder. “And then the government will drop a nuclear bomb on our island.”
“No, they won’t.” He chuckles. He grins at me, his dimples on display before bringing his mouth back to mine. It's a kiss so passionate it ends our conversation or any talk for that matter, for the rest of the night.
It’s Friday, a week after the engagement and much to our surprise, our families are already talking about the wedding. Tonight, Max’s mom, Ana, invited everyone over for dinner to discuss ideas and we’re also going to get our first look at what my dad has planned for our home. All the family is here, except Johnny, but I hear he’s on his way.
I’m sitting next to Max, watching everyone. Acer just brought Callie in from the garage. When she saw his motorcycle through the open garage door she started to skip and jump in excitement so Acer picked her up and sat her on the seat. She runs over to Connor and Bradley and tells them all about it. She’s wearing the cutest baby pink and blue sundress with her brown boots. Her hair is hanging down today as she’s forgone the bow for a pink cowboy hat. It’s fallen off the top of her head and hanging around her neck from the stampede string. My heart warms watching her. She’s family now and always.
While everyone’s visiting, I pull Abigail outside in the backyard under the pretense of showing her Acer and Ana’s garden, but really I want to talk about her and Nick.
As we’re walking along the path, Abigail stops to smell the roses. They’re beautiful. Max’s dad has a serious green thumb. When she releases the flower she turns back to me and blows my mind.
“I love him so I’m moving to Lubbock to be with him.” she says with a serious but dreamy smile.
“Huh?” is all I manage to get out.
“I love him. I want to be with him. I’m going to transfer to Texas Tech. They have an awesome agriculture department. I’m going to study Animal Science, specializing in the business side,” she says on her last bit of air.
“Huh?” I repeat, still not processing.
“Nick’s family. They own a small ranch or something, sissy, and he’s going to be taking the helm soon. He’s been working with his dad. He grew up on the ranch but was never much interested until recently. I’m going to help him.” she explains almost pleading with me to understand.
“Dad?” I ask as I release a deep breath.
“I haven’t told him yet but he’ll need to understand. Jaycee, I almost died. We almost died. I’m not wasting any more time. I love him. I can’t be without him.” She says with watery eyes. “Dad will just have to suck it up. Plus, it’s only a four maybe five-hour drive. We can come down on weekends or y'all can come up.” she says as she starts pulling me towards Acer and Ana’s garden.
“Abigail,” I pull her to a stop. “If this is what you want, then I support you one hundred percent. I’ve seen you two together. The way you look at him. It’s the way I look at Max. I get it.”
I draw Abigail into a hug and then release her, but keep our arms linked as we start walking along the garden looking at the variety. All of a sudden, Abigail gasps and starts laughing. She’s pointing at a section of potted plants, spices. As I lean in and get a closer look at the patch, I start laughing too. Yes, special spices.
“No way! Is that what I think it is?” I ask Abigail while still staring at the plants.
“Do you think it’s locoweed? Spliff? Ganja? Reefer?” Abigail replies while laughing.
“What?” I start cracking up. “Yeah, I do.”
“Then you would be right, sissy,” Abigail says and then lets out a squeal when Nick comes up behind her and kisses her neck.
“What are you two up to?” Nick asks while looking Abigail up and down. “Your leg?” He frowns.
“It’s fine, Nick. Remember the doctor said it’s time for me to start using it again. It’s just a little weak. I need to rebuild the muscle is all.” She leans in and gives Nick a sweet kiss. “I’m fine. I promise.”
I watch them thinking they look so good together and he is so caring towards her. I’m happy for her, for them. Voices behind us alert us to Johnny and Max's arrival.
“Hey, sugar,” I call out as he gets closer. “Hi, Johnny,” I greet him.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Johnny says as he pulls me into a hug. “Sorry I’m late. Yesterday we had something go down and today we had tons of paperwork.”
“No. Don’t be sorry. I’m just glad you made it. You’re okay?” I say into his ear and he gives me a tight squeeze.
“I am now,” he assures me.
When we pull back I turn to Max and wrap my arms around his waist. “How are things in there?” I ask hoping for the best.
“Our dads are talking politics. They’re disagreeing while smiling and laughing. It’s like watching for the impending train wreck but I was able to force myself to walk away,” he tells me while wrapping his arms around me too.
“Wait, I thought they were both republicans,” I say, confused.
“They are,” he shakes his head.
“You’re a cop right, Johnny?” Abigail asks Johnny.
Damn it, Abigail.
“Yeah. I’m a police officer. I serve on the S.W.A.T team,” he replies smiling. Boasting a little.
“Wow, that’s very impressive. So, yeah, have you ever busted people with drugs? Or do raids on people who, I don’t know, manufacture in their home? Grow in their own yards or gardens or just hostage kinda stuff?” she asks while barely containing herself from jumping up and down.
“Anything, and all the time,” he says and I can almost see the chip on his shoulder.
“Texas hasn’t joined in with the other states legalizing pot yet, has it?” Abigail asks already knowing the answer.
“No. Not currently legal but I hear change is coming very soon. Why do you ask?” he replies cautiously. Just realizing he’s being set up.
Max tenses behind me and at the same time, Johnny starts looking around the garden. Max turns us a little so he can get a better view, and he and Johnny both let their gazes roam over the area.
Oh, hell.
“Fuck,” Max breathes out but also gives a quick chuckle.
“Fucking awesome, Mom and Dad,” Johnny says in frustration, rubbing his hand over his face and looking back at the rest of us.
Nick is on the verge of tears laughing along with Abigail. Neither Max nor I can help the chuckling as Abigail coughs, clears her throat and continues her torment.
“So, um, what do you think that is right there?” She points to the section of potted plants.
“Oregano plants,” Johnny replies dryly, without missing a beat and with a completely straight face.
“Yes, officer, sir. I see the oregano plants but look to the left. Those. What are those?” she says while trying not to laugh.
Without looking at the garden, Johnny replies. “Basil plants.” He then raises one eyebrow at Abigail giving her a warning. A warning she completely ignores.
“Yes, Officer Johnny. I see the basil plants but you went too far to the left. Look back one plant. What kind of plants are those? The one between the oregano and basil,” she asks.
“Pot. Those are pot plants,” Acer says, causing as to jump; having not heard him walk up. Johnny shakes his head then drops his chin to his chest in defeat.
“I hate chemicals. I hate drug companies. Don’t trust ‘em. They all crooks. Granted, once in a blue moon they come up with something that can really help a sick person, but the rest of the time those bastards are
killing us with their poison,” he says as he leans down and checks the soil. “I prefer nature's remedy. I trust God and what He provides.”
Can’t argue with that.
Acer stands back up and wipes his hand off on his jeans. Now Johnny and Max look concerned.
“You okay, Pop?” Johnny ask frowning.
“We all got aches and pains. My knee hurts every now and again. Sometimes my elbow hurts. Every now and then I get a finger cramp,” he says then grins.
“I get finger cramps too. They’re awful,” I blurt out.
“Me too, terrible pain,” Abigail says, frowns and shakes her head.
“Do you now?” Acer says trying not to laugh.
“Yes, it hurts…” I start to say but Abigail finishes for me.
“Now and again,” she says and winks back at Acer and me.
“Finger cramps?” Max asks grinning at me.
“Sure,” I raise my index finger and bend it back and forth at him until he finally laughs.
“I’m sure you all have pain but does it really reach to this level?” Johnny points to the pot plants.
“Pain is pain, Johnny,” Abigail says to him. “Finger cramps are a full blown frown with a tear on the pain chart.”
She manages to say with a straight face but Max and Nick are cracking up now and Acer is well on his way joining them.
“You know, Mom made pancit and lumpia so I’m walking away and pretending none of this ever happened,” Johnny says as he starts back to the house.
“We’re right behind you. That’s why I came out. Need you all inside so we can say grace and eat,” Acer tells us.
Once inside, we say grace and give thanks for food and family before sitting down to enjoy Ana's cooking. Midway through the meal, Uncle Brock’s phone rings and he excuses himself to answer it. When he walks back in the room, he looks at Aunt Paige and then Callie who’s sitting at the bar with Johnny, dunking a lumpia in soy sauce and vinegar with his help. She takes a bite and then squishes her face up and shakes her head. Johnny starts cracking up. I glance back at Uncle Brock and see that Aunt Paige has moved to his side. Whatever he says has her mouth dropping open in shock. He says something else and they both turn to walk back over to the table.
He starts to speak to everyone, but then looks back at Callie and stops. Ana gets up and without a word, picks up Callie from her seat beside Johnny.
“Callie, you want to come with me to grab some tomatoes from the garden? I need to get a few more and I’d love to have a helper.” she asks while smiling at Callie. Aunt Paige sends her a grateful smile.
“Yay!” Callie squeals as Ana walks out the back door with Callie on her hip. Everyone has turned back from watching Callie and Ana and all eyes are on Uncle Brock.
“Tomorrow morning, if you would like to join us at the courthouse, nine o’clock, we’ll be going through the official ceremony to adopt Callie.” Uncle Brock tell us.
Whoops and cheers and happy tears start as everyone gets up from the table and comes forward to hug and congratulate them.
“This is wonderful. I thought you had at least another month before they waived the birth parents' rights. I can’t believe how wonderful this news is,” my grandma says.
Aunt Paige speaks up. “Brock just heard from Callie’s social worker and was told that her mom passed away last night. They think it was a drug overdose. Apparently some paperwork turned up and it shows Callie’s dad has passed too but they didn’t say how.”
I can see it’s a bittersweet moment for my aunt and uncle.
“Her great aunt and her next of kin, waived rights and the judge told Callie’s social worker he saw no reason to wait. He has an opening in the morning and told us to come in. You’re all welcome to be there. We would love to share this moment with all of you.” Aunt Paige looks at Johnny and Acer. “You're family now and are more than welcome to come too.”
Acer smiles and replies. “I think Ana and I might just do that, darlin’.”
“My captain gave me tomorrow off, so I’ll be there.” Johnny tells her.
The back door opens and Ana and Callie return. Callie has lifted the front of her dress up and is cradling three tomatoes in a makeshift pouch.
She looks up with big eyes and smiles. “Look, got me maters.”
Everyone starts laughing as Uncle Brock carefully picks her up and kisses her on the head being careful not to smash her ‘maters’.
“Love you, baby and those are some pretty tomatoes.” He sets her back down.
“Love you, Daddy.” She turns towards Aunt Paige but one of the tomatoes falls out and then another. “Mommy, ugh.” She frowns. “My maters keep falling.”
Aunt Paige kneels down in front of her and picks up her tomatoes and sets them back in her pouch. “I love you, Callie.” She pulls her in for a soft hug and then sets back on her haunches and stares at Callie with a tear in her eyes.
“Love you, Mommy.” she says and puckers her lips and gives her a kiss before carefully turning and slow as a snail starts back to the bar where Johnny is.
Johnny takes the tomatoes from her skirt and sets them next to her plate and then picks her back up and sets her on the stool before sitting back down on his. He hands her a lumpia, the tomatoes forgotten for the moment, and she dunks her lumpia in the tiny bowl holding the soy sauce, vinegar mixture and then hesitantly takes a small lick. Once she does, she scrunches up her face again and gives a whole body shiver from the strong sour taste. Laughs and chuckles can be heard all around as she goes back for more.
Johnny looks down at her as she goes back for even more and smiles. “Good stuff?”
“Mmmmmmmm,” is all Callie says as she smiles and gives another full body shiver.
Yes, good stuff indeed.
It’s been a long day. Last night I called Nora Lee and asked if I could switch from the morning shift to the evening shift so I could be downtown at the courthouse in the morning. She offered me the entire day off but I felt bad so I told her I’d come in.
After going to Callie’s adoption ceremony this morning the family went out for an early celebration luncheon at one of the places along the San Antonio River Walk. It’s been a truly beautiful day.
When the judge asked Callie if she wanted my aunt and uncle to be her mommy and daddy, everyone held their breath. Callie walked up to Uncle Brock and raised her arms to be picked up. She poked him in the nose and said “my daddy” and then leaned into Aunt Paige to kiss her on the cheek, but it ended in a raspberry and said, “my mommy.”
After the judge and everyone else in the courtroom stopped laughing, he granted the adoption and signed the papers. Before he left the courtroom, he came down off his bench and shook everyone’s hand and squatted down in front of Callie to shake her hand but she wasn’t having that, no, she walked up and gave him a big neck hug. Just like that, another one bites the dust.
Callie is now officially Callie Regan McGinty.
When I asked Aunt Paige, why she chose Regan, she told me Regan means “the King’s child.” The King being our Lord and Callie being a blessing from him, it seemed fitting. I love it. I think it’s a beautiful name and fits her perfectly.
As the family walked along the river walk, I watched Callie, dressed in the cutest outfit of gold leggings with big brown polka dots on them, a soft yellow lacy dress with a cute brown tweed jacket with ruffles over top and a brown cloche hat and on her little feet, gold high top chucks with brown rhinestones that I know my aunt had made. Her golden locks were bouncing and swaying as she skipped along sidewalk getting too close to the edge of the water for comfort for the men. Chase couldn’t take it any longer and scooped her up and sat her on his shoulders, eliciting squeals and giggles from Callie and a collective sigh from the men.
Now, I’m getting ready to leave work and head home to Max and my grandma. Picking up my cell phone to call home to see if I need to grab anything before I leave, I see a text from Ana, Max’s mom. I shudder when I read she wants me to go
with her to a pig farm to pick a pig for roasting at our post wedding celebration where all the family comes together and just kicks back in jeans instead of the formal wear. I’m almost more excited about that then the formal dinner. But I can’t do the pig thing. Max is going to have to handle that. I push the button and call him and tell him about his mom’s text.
“Max, if your Mom wants to roast a pig, that fine. But you have to go with her to pick out the pig, not me. Please, help me out,” I plead and he laughs.
“Okay, Jayc, I get it. When it’s time to do the dirty deed, I’ll take care of it.” he says through his chuckles.
I shudder at the thought of looking a pig in the eye and then roasting it. “Okay, well, I’m leaving work, do we need anything?”
“No, we’re good. Oh, and don’t forget we’re meeting your dad in the morning to go over the plans for the house.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I’m so excited, Max.” I’m practically jumping up and down with excitement. “Okay, I’m leaving now. See you in about ten minutes. Love you.”
“Love you too, Jayc. See you in a few.”
As I walk to the car, a figure approaches me so I stop and back up to where I’m under the lights from the store as I reach for my car keys.
“Hi, Jaycee, sorry to bother you but do you know who this might belong to?” A man’s voice asks.
I tense when I see him come into the light. It’s Jed. The customer I’ve seen in the store a couple of times that gives me the creeps. I step forward to see what he’s holding in his hand. Taking it from him to get a closer look turns out to be a mistake. I start to panic and my heart starts racing.
“Where did you get this?” I whisper my voice full of confusion and fear.
He takes it back from me and closes his hand around it and puts it back in his pocket.
“So you do remember?” He asks and then grabs me.
He tries to pull me into the dark of the parking lot and I fight and scream for help while struggling, but he overpowers me and throws me to the ground. My head hits the blacktop hard and I find myself dazed, my vision goes blurry and my head starts pounding.
Love Is Forever Blue Page 14