by M. B. Feeney
"Why are there two of you this morning?"
"Darlin', you must be high."
"No. There's two of you." I pulled migraine tablets out of the cupboard. "One of you in here, and one in the living room."
"That would be Wade."
"Nope. Not possible."
"Very possible, darlin'." The ‘other’ Gage stepped into the kitchen, with a very familiar woman in tow, and I cursed and threw my cigarettes down on the kitchen counter.
"I'm going back to bed." I kissed the real Gage, picked up my pills and my tea, and walked out.
"Is she okay?" I heard Jenny’s voice ask.
"I think so." Gage sounded confused.
I clambered back into bed, swallowed the tablets, drank my tea, and passed out again. Four hours later, when I woke again, my head didn't feel the size of my house anymore and wasn't as fuzzy. I stood, picked up my cup, and went downstairs, entering the front room to find Jenny on the sofa, flicking through a magazine.
"Hi, baby. Feeling better?" She smiled and joined me when I found my cigarettes and went out to the garden.
"Yeah. Why's my house so quiet? I'm sure there was at least one Texan here last night, and possibly two this morning. But I can't be sure about that ‘cause I had a migraine and sometimes they make me hallucinate."
Jenny chuckled. "Gage and Wade have taken all three kids to the park. Yours arrived about an hour ago. Dermot had to get off to work."
"Why didn't you go with them?" I watched from the doorway while she made us both a drink.
"Well, Wade and Gage haven't seen each other for a while, so I thought they would appreciate the time together. Plus I didn't want to leave you to wake up to an empty house, especially after this morning."
Yawning and stretching, I stubbed out my smoke and stepped back into the kitchen. "What happened this morning?" I took my cup of tea off her gratefully.
"You seemed to think that I was invisible, that Wade was Gage, and that Gage was a figment of your imagination. So really, what with that and the last time I was here, I'm starting to think that you do live in a madhouse."
"I don't think I want to know anymore." The door flew open just as I spoke, and three little bodies slammed into me, followed by Gage, who snaked his arm around my waist.
"Feeling better, darlin'?" He grinned at me.
"Much. Jenny's just filled me in. Was I really that spacey?" I couldn't remember the last time I'd had a migraine that bad. Usually I was able to stop them before they got too severe.
"Just a little, but it was kind of funny, so we'll let you off."
I glared at him. "Whatever. I'm going for a shower. It looks like I need to do some food shopping." The kids were devouring whatever they could get their hands on, and Wade was munching his way through a packet of cookies, without a care in the world.
I felt human again once I was showered and dressed. The kids wanted to stay at home with Jenny and Ali, so I was stuck with the Texas Twins helping me with my shopping. They had a bit of a kerfuffle over who was riding in the passenger seat in the front. Wade claimed he needed to sit in the front because there was more legroom. Gage ended it by throwing down the boyfriend card, and Wade had to sit in the back.
The entire journey, the pair of them bickered nonstop. It made me laugh, which made them worse. I’d never been so relieved to arrive at a supermarket in my life. Once I’d parked the car, we made our way inside. We hadn't been in there five minutes when we were approached by a woman not much older than me.
"Wow. Can you spare one of these?" She indicated the guys. "Surely you don't need both of them."
I stared at her.
"Of course she does, after all, polygamy is legal in some states," Wade quipped while he threw a few packets of cookies into the trolley.
The woman blinked a couple of times before walking away.
"Er. . . Don't tell Jenny about that, will you?"
"I'm making no promises." I grinned at his pout.
"I'm telling her just so I can see her whup your ass." It was clear that Gage had an evil streak in him.
The rest of the shopping trip went without incident, apart from the constant ribbing between the guys. Gage ripped into Wade about his sugar habit, and Wade told Gage he was weird for not liking sweets and chocolate. I almost regretted bringing them with me when Gage started to tease Wade about falling for someone who liked Gage first.
"That's only ‘cause she hadn't met me. As soon as she saw me, it was like 'Gage who'? Jeez, ego much, dude?" Wade pulled Gage into a headlock and ruffled his hair. "Besides, I'm taller. What’s not to love?"
"Hey, I'm not that short!" Gage pulled me to him. "Besides, being shorter gets me closer to do this." He kissed me sweetly on my lips while his cousin rolled his eyes at me over his shoulder. "You gotta bend over and flash that skinny ass of yours. You need to buy a belt."
"Gage, why the hell are you bringing my ass into this? Is there something you want to tell us? Anyway, you wear a belt and your trousers still fall down, so don't tell me about being skinny."
I decided to step in. "Oi, children. Do we have to do this in public? Let’s take this shopping home. Jenny will be going mental being alone with three energetic kids." As if by magic, both Wade's phone and mine bleeped with a text.
HELP! Jx
"In that case, get me back to my woman. people." Wade led the way to the car.
"She's so gonna spank him when I tell her how he's been talking about her," Gage muttered in my ear.
"You are a cruel, cruel man Gage Weston."
He stared at me for a second, his eyes flickering down to my lips and then back up to my eyes. His soft gaze spoke volumes and almost made me forget what I was doing and where I was going. The moment was fleeting, broken by him speaking once more.
"That I am, darlin'." He kissed the top of my head.
When we walked into the house, Jenny was nowhere to be seen. Then realised that she was under a pile of giggling children on the sofa. I made the guys go and put the shopping away while I pulled children off her. Her face was flushed, but she seemed to have been enjoying herself. All four of them were breathless from their games.
"There's my woman." Wade pulled her to her feet and planted a strong kiss on her lips.
" This 'woman' has a name, you realise. Next, you'll be calling me 'she' and 'her'. It stops now, you get me?"
Wade blushed and nodded his head before glaring at Gage, who was doubled over with laughter.
"He called you 'The Missus' earlier, but that was before he told a woman in the supermarket he was in a polygamous relationship with me and Charlotte," Gage told her. "Wade, buddy. I suggest you run. Now."
I turned to Gage. "Oi, how old are you?" I asked, swatting his arm. "Stop being such a troublemaker." To Jenny, I said, "He's winding you up."
She winked at me before turning back to Wade, who had the grace to look nervous. "Explain."
Words came tumbling out of his mouth as he rushed to explain about the woman propositioning him and Gage. I wasn’t sure Wade took a breath until he’d finished. Jenny had an extremely unimpressed look on her face throughout the whole story.
"I'm sorry, angel. Forgive me?" He even gave her puppy dog eyes.
I had to look away to prevent myself from laughing at him.
Jenny couldn't keep it up any longer and burst out laughing, clinging to Wade's arm so she didn't fall over.
"What? What? You lot are fucking evil." If it hadn’t been for Wade’s rueful grin, I would have thought he was offended.
I rolled my eyes at the lot of them and went to start cooking dinner, leaving Gage and Jenny snickering at Wade's pout.
Once we'd all eaten, Gage and Wade were commandeered by the kids to read bedtime stories and sing songs for over an hour. Afterward, the four of us sat in the front room with a beer each. There wasn't any need to fill the silence with nonsense chatter, so we all jumped when Gage's phone rang.
"Hey, Dad. Yeah, he's here. A few days, why? Okay, I can't see t
hat being a problem. Yeah, see you tomorrow."
We all looked at him, waiting for him to explain.
“Weston family picnic in the park tomorrow."
"A what?" I asked.
"You know, a picnic. Where you eat outside. Sandwiches and candy, that kind of thing." Wade cut in.
"I know what a picnic is," I told him.
"So, why did you ask?" he grumbled.
"Whenever there are more than two Westons in the same place at the same time, we try to get together for a picnic,” Gage said. “Just chill out. You and the kids gonna come, darlin'?" Gage took my hand in his, and rubbed his thumb across my knuckles. "Dad said the weather's supposed to be nice enough, and the kids would have a ball."
"Of course we will, I even know the perfect place," I said, then gave him a gentle kiss.
"Good, he was hoping you'd say that. He wants me to phone him in the morning with directions."
I winced and hoped that I could remember where the park was.
"Damn you Westons."
All three kids were excited, and as soon as we got into the park, they were off like rockets. Wade and Gage put down what they’d been carrying and chased after them like worried fathers. I stopped walking at that point and took stock of the thought that had just rattled through my brain.
"You alright?” Jenny elbowed me back to reality, making me smile.
"Yeah, it just hit me how much like dads those two look." I could see Wade swinging Ali about, while my kids had pinned Gage to the ground and were sitting on him.
The idea stopped her in her tracks, too. "I never thought about it like that." She paused to watch her daughter and her . . . boyfriend?
"Let's not think about it now. We need to get you introduced to Gage's mum and dad."
I thought I could see Wade trying to corral the kids to the back corner of the park, near the shaded trees and lovely spread out picnic blanket, so we headed in that direction.
"Looks like they got here early," Jenny murmured, pulling back a little bit on my arm and slowing us down, her nerves clear on her face.
"Oh, come on. It's not that bad."
"Yeah, but what if they don't like me? What if they tell Wade's parents not to like me?"
"Look, Gage's mum's already said she liked you from your forum posts. I told you that. Stop stressing."
Jenny gave me a reluctant smile and allowed us to move forward to join everyone else.
"Uncle Wayne, Aunt Margaret, this here's my wo— Sorry, angel. This is Jenny."
"Lovely to meet you, honey." Margaret smiled at my friend, and it was then I knew it was all going to be okay.
Until Wade started on Gage again, the idiot.
"Hey, Gage. Did you get the divorce papers through?" My head whipped round to stare at him.
"What?" Gage was just as confused as I was, which was a good thing.
"You know. You being a 'wayward husband' and all."
Jenny glared at Wade as if willing him to shut up.
"What the hell are you talking about, douche?"
I suddenly clued in to what he was on about and hid my face behind my hands, waiting for everything to go tits up.
"You called Jenny here your 'future ex-wife'. I kinda need her single when I date her."
Margaret burst out laughing. "I remember all that. Have you still got that t-shirt, honey?" she asked Jenny.
"Yeah, it's back home in New Zealand, in a frame."
"You framed it?" Wade gave her a strange look.
"Well, I didn't want it getting ruined by sticky fingers."
I remembered her telling me the real reason she had it framed was not because of her daughter, but because her mother had spilt wine on it one evening.
"Dude, why did you have to bring that up now?" Gage glared at Wade. "Are you trying to get back at me for this morning?"
Wade grumbled under his breath.
"Takes more than a feeble attempt like that. I am a master. Just ask Callaghan."
Gage's dad jumped in at the mention of Matt. "How is Matt? The last time we had one of these picnics, he got so drunk that he tried to chat up that statue of the half-naked lady. He thought she was pretty and put all the moves on her. Just wouldn't accept she was a statue."
"Well, he better not be doing anything like that now. I promised imh bodily harm if he hurts Karina," I told them with a smug grin.
"Who's Karina? Don't tell me Matt's settled down!" Margaret sounded shocked.
"Yeah, he has, Mom. She's a friend of Charlotte's, and she gives him a run for his money. She’ll keep him in line."
"I never thought I would see the day." Gage's dad was laughing. "Who'd have thought it?"
"He's well and truly whipped."
I elbowed Gage.
"Darlin’, he is. The thumb print on top of his head is so deep."
I raised an eyebrow. "Er . . . Well . . . Yeah."
Gage trailed off, and I gave myself a mental fist pump.
"Anyway, who'd have thought I'd have such a stable future, too?" His smile was gentle.
The food that Margaret provided went down well with kids and adults alike, and silence descended while we ate. Once they had finished, my kids dragged me to the playground to push them on the swings. I hadn't been gone ten minutes when Gage joined us, standing by the gate just watching us.
"What?" I asked him.
"What, what?"
"What are you looking at?"
"You."
"Er . . . Why?"
He walked over. I still couldn't believe how lucky I was. I was so in love with this gorgeous, caring man, and by some miracle, he loved me back.
"Because I can. When you don't realise someone’s looking is when you are the most beautiful."
I snorted.
"It's true. Your whole demeanour changes. It's like I can get little glimpses of the real you. You don't seem to realise that I'm always watching you."
I was speechless.
"And do you know when I love to watch you most?"
"No." If I wasn’t careful, this conversation could change direction in a heartbeat.
"When you're with the kids, and when you’re in bed."
This made me raise an eyebrow.
"Hey! I'm not being pervy here," Gage insisted. He took off his hat and ruffled his hair. "What I'm trying to say is, I just love to wat—"
"Gage! Come on the slide with me!" My daughter, the mood killer.
Just as we were finishing up and relaxing with a beer, Jenny's daughter climbed into Wade's lap and yawned.
"You okay, little angel?" He smiled down at her.
"Yeah. Are you my daddy now?"
Jenny's face went white.
"Cause I want a sister, and I can't have one without a daddy."
Wade smiled at her gently. "Would you like me to be your daddy, little angel?"
"Yeah. You sing pretty songs to me at bedtime. And after Mummy and Nana, you give the best cuddles."
Jenny looked like she was going to cry, so I took hold of her hand and squeezed it.
"Well sugar. I'm not your daddy, but me and your mommy can talk about it, and maybe I could be there for you like a daddy. What you say?"
"I guess so.”
Wade kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms round her.
“Maybe one day you could be my daddy.”
"We'll see, sweetie," he whispered.
:: ::
Wade, Jenny, and Ali stayed just one more day because filming was starting back up. The kids and I were sad to see them leave, and we made plans to go and see them in London some weekend. Gage and Wade had spent a lot of time together, which gave me the warm fuzzies. Their personalities were as similar as their appearances. They really were like brothers, even down to the squabbling that made me laugh until I ached.
I was sad to see them go back to London. It had been wonderful to see Gage so full of life, and in a few days he was leaving, too. He had to go back to the States with his parents.
We spe
nt quite a bit of time with his parents after they returned from a day trip to London, which gave me the chance to get to know them better. We did simple things like going out for dinner or to the park for more picnics with the kids. I really liked Margaret and Wayne and felt that they had accepted me, regardless of the situation, which meant a lot to me.
On their final night in the UK, they decided to spend the evening together in their hotel, leaving Gage and me some time alone. The kids had gone to spend the weekend with Dermot, so I’d decided to cook a nice, intimate meal. However, Gage disappeared for a while and came back with bags of shopping so he could cook for me instead.
"You know you didn't have to do that," I told him, leaning against the work surface and watching him wash and peel vegetables.
"I know, darlin', but I wanted to. You've fed all of us, and now I want to make you something nice. So get yourself a drink, light a cigarette, and get out of my kitchen."
"Wow, someone's bossy." I placed a soft smack on his arse, which turned into a grope. "I think I quite like it."
He chuckled, turned his head to give me a quick kiss, and went back to cooking. "Get me a beer, woman."
My eyebrow rose. "Are you going down that route after what happened with Wade and Jenny?"
He dried his hands, took hold of mine, and pulled me close. "You're my woman, so just put up with it."
I punched him on the arm, making him grin even more. "Go, cook. I'm hungry."
After opening two bottles of beer, I handed one to Gage and went out into the garden to have a cigarette as ordered. The smell of our dinner as it cooked made my mouth water. Stupid talented bloke.
Of course, dinner was delicious. Even though he wasn’t a fan of sweet foods, he'd bought a tiny chocolate cake for dessert. We sat on the sofa, him with a beer, me with my cake, and music played in the background.
"I hate you," I told him when I put my empty bowl on the floor, too full to go into the kitchen.
"Er . . . Why?"
"Is there anything you can't do? I mean, at this rate, I'm going to get a bloody complex. How can I compete with you and your multiple talents?" I grinned, not being serious about my complaint.
"It's not exactly a competition, darlin'." Gage pulled me close to him and tucked his arm around me. "Look at what you've accomplished. I don't think I would have been able to do all those things, all at the same time."