by Magan Vernon
Wow! That's really soon? Is she knocked up?
Probably. What else is there to do there but tip cows and make babies?
And of course Kristi's comments.
I'm not saying anything, but you may want to ask the lil mama and papa :)
This was the last way that I wanted to tell the world. How could she do that?
I didn't even know I was crying until Blaine was wiping a tear from my cheek. "Hey, baby. What did she say? Is everything okay or do I need to have a talk with someone?"
I shook my head. "Kristi just put up a post about having lunch and basically told the world I was pregnant. Why would she do this?"
Jackson patted Blaine's back. "I'll give you two a minute."
Blaine walked around the blockade and stood in front of me. He took my phone and set it down on the ground before looping his arms around my waist. "Some people just can't be happy for others. Maybe this was her way of dealing with her own drama. It'll all pass over, but it's not our concern. Now people know and they can either support us or they can go screw themselves. All that matters is that you and I are happy."
"I guess that's true."
He kissed my forehead. "There's no guessing. It is."
I smiled. "Okay. It is."
"Now, since we have an hour before you go to work...if you did want to get in a quickie, I'm sure Jackson could cover for me"
I swatted his chest. "Blaine Crabtree!"
"What? I can't suggest it?"
"Are you going to keep asking for it when I'm as big as a house? Or when we have a toddler crying in the next room?"
He smiled and leaned in. "Only one way to find out..."
"CRABTREE! Get your ass over here and finish work unless y'all plan on giving us a show!" A guy yelled from behind us.
Blaine rolled his eyes. "As much as I'd like to show you how much I still find you sexy as hell, I have to get back to work."
I nodded. "Yeah. I guess I understand that."
He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. "I'll see you soon though, okay? And don't worry about Kristi or any of those other bitches. We do our thing and they do theirs."
"Okay."
With that, he left me standing there while he went back to work. It was hard to see a positive when it seemed liked everything was a big jumbled mess. So instead of trying to find it, I just went back to trying to find normal and got in my car, driving the long, winding road to work.
Chapter 10
It was early. Too early.
But it was the beginning of my second trimester and the morning that I got the call that Beth finally had her baby.
Luxx Ann Marie Watterson was born on March 13th at 5:01 AM...after about twenty-two hours of labor, from what Mom said.
And that scared the hell out of me.
My parents already booked Blaine and I are tickets to fly back to Chicago, and it was a good thing it was a weekend, because Blaine had to basically run home and shower quickly before we hopped on our flight that Friday. He needed to save all the time off he could, so he said. But that meant that I was hardly ever seeing him. Between his work schedule and my school schedule, we would only get a few hours at night and half the time I'd end up falling asleep.
"Did you talk to your sister?" Blaine asked as we finally sat down in the plane. I wasn't sure we were actually going to make our flight on time and had to run down the terminal.
I shook my head. "Not yet. I didn't want to bother her."
He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "So she didn't tell you how it was?"
"I don't know if I want to know."
He squeezed my hand. "We still have a few months before that happens and we've at least survived the first trimester."
"Barely," I muttered.
"Meg says that the second trimester is a lot better."
I nodded. "I don't think it could get any worse."
"Come on, Lib. What about going back to positive town? See the good in it. Only twenty-eight more weeks to go and before that we have the wedding and finding our new place."
"That's more like stressors than happy things."
"Okay, what about the fact that you can maybe get a few good naps in while we're there? And by the time we get back, you'll almost be done with school."
"Ugh, between wedding showers, studying for finals, and everything else going on, I don't think I'll have time for anything but quick naps."
"Okay, fine. I give up trying to make you happy then," he threw his arms up in the air, then looked out the window.
I squeezed his knee. "Hey. I'm sorry. It's just... a lot...for both of us."
He turned back to me and put his hand on mine. "I know and I wish there was more I could do to help you out right now, but with my work schedule, I can barely catch up myself."
"Maybe things will slow down once the baby's born."
He laughed. "I don't know about that one."
***
I thought maybe Mom or Dad would be there to pick us up, so I was literally open-mouthed shocked when I saw my Grandpa Gentry standing at the gate with his wife, Leslie, who was closer to my age than his.
"Grandpa, Leslie, what are you two doing here?" I asked, hugging them both.
Blaine shook both of their hands before Grandpa turned to me, shoving his hands in the pockets of his tweed blazer. "Your Dad had an emergency surgery to do and your mom is up at the hospital, so they asked us to pick you up. I'm sure we weren't the first choice, but they had to take us."
That was probably the case. Dad made it known that he wasn't a fan of Grandpa's former dental assistant and much younger wife with the pixie cut who dressed like a Rockabilly waitress.
Blaine smiled. "Well, it's good to see y'all again."
Grandpa patted his back. "And we hear that you two are getting hitched. Good to have another man in the family, especially one like you."
"Thank you, sir." Blaine nodded.
Leslie put her hand on his shoulder, her red plastic nails practically digging into his skin. "And one with such manners."
"He's only putting on a front now, wait until after we're married," I joked.
Leslie pushed past the boys and stood in front of me. With her red heels she still barely came up to my neck. "Now let's see the ring the boy put on your finger."
I held out my hand and she took it, gaping at the ring. "Oh my! It's gorgeous"
"Thank you."
She looped her arm through mine. "Now, come on, let's get to the car and you can tell me all about your wedding plans on the way to the hospital."
I shrugged as we followed Blaine and Grandpa. "There's not much to tell. It's in June and in Elsbury."
"Louisiana? Your mother didn't tell us that. I knew it was going to be quick and...well...I know about your predicament..." Her eyes lowered to my stomach, then back to me.
I sighed. "Yeah. I guess it moves things a lot quicker, but it'll be nice. I've been going to the church with my Aunt Dee since I moved down there and we both feel comfortable there."
She smiled. "Well, that's what matters, isn't it? A wedding is just one day, but if you don't feel comfortable, it's hell to get through."
I nodded. "Yeah. That's true."
"Now, I know you have your mother and I'm not really your grandmother, but if you do need any help, I'm always here for it. Even if it's just to bend my ear."
I didn't really think it'd be cool to have Aunt Dee's brother-in-law's new wife helping out, but I smiled anyway and said I'd call her if I needed anything. Though, I knew it was an empty promise, at least it was nice that someone wanted to help because that was getting harder and harder to come by.
***
I hated hospitals. The last time I was in one, I was hooked up to a bunch of different machines after passing out. I think births were the only happy occasion to be in one, but it still didn't make it any easier.
We walked down the long hallway to the labor and delivery wing and then turned down another hall to where the mothers' rooms
were.
There was a giant pink sash on the door that read "It's a girl" and I could hear laughter from inside.
Slowly I opened the door to a room that was bright and much larger than I expected. The whole thing was probably as big as my Aunt Dee's kitchen and living room combined.
Beth sat on a bed leaned against the wall and Brian sat in a chair beside her. On the far wall was my mom with a little pink wrapped bundle in her arms.
I had to choke back tears just looking at the sight. The proud grandma. My little niece. My future baby's cousin.
"Libby, Blaine, you made it!" Brian said and stood up and came over to hug us.
"We wouldn't miss it," I said.
Brian smiled and then hugged Grandpa and Leslie as we all entered the room.
"Hi, Beth, how are you feeling?" I leaned over and kissed my sister on the cheek.
"Honestly? I haven't slept, my boobs hurt, and my lady bits feel like they're on fire. I don't know why in the hell you thought this would be a good idea to do this, too," Beth snapped.
I blinked rapidly. This was not the perky, put-together sister I was used to. She didn't even look the same with her sloppy blonde bun and makeupless face.
Brian swooped in and patted Beth's back. "Now, now. Someone is just a little cranky post-partum. Don't worry, baby, next feeding is soon then you can get a nap in and I'll take Luxxy to the nursery."
Beth just gritted her teeth.
"Do you want to hold her before we have to leave?" Mom asked, her voice quiet.
Usually Mom was always outspoken, so was Dad. It was the quietest she'd ever been.
I nodded and walked over to Mom. "Yeah, that'd be great."
I sat down next to Mom and she handed the little bundle to me, instructing me every step on making sure I watched Luxx's head. "You'll be doing this in a few months, I guess," Mom said, almost muttering.
I looked down at Luxx's little pink face with the big purple bow on her head. Her eyes were closed and she let out a big yawn. I always thought all infants looked the same, but there was something still adorable about them, especially when it was my niece.
"Yeah, we will be," I whispered, staring down at Luxx.
"She's a natural," Leslie piped in. She'll be a great Mommy."
"I guess we owe you two a congrats," Brian said, patting Blaine on the back.
"Ha, yeah, you're stuck with me now," Blaine said and even though I wasn't looking at him, I knew he had that nervous smile on his face.
"Naw, it's not stuck when we like you. Someone has to keep Libby in line."
Blaine laughed. "She does that pretty well on her own."
"Aw, isn't he just the sweetest?" Leslie asked.
"He is," Mom said.
I met my mom's eyes for the first time that day. The way they crinkled at the corners and she had a genuine smile, I knew she meant it. "Thanks, Mom."
She squeezed my hand. "I thought maybe we could grab some lunch with your father and talk wedding plans, then maybe do a little dress shopping before we come back here? That'll give Beth some time to rest."
None of that exactly sounded fun to me. I didn't want to argue with my parents about wedding things or see disapproving looks from my father. I just wanted to sit there all day and hold my little niece in my arms. But with the way Beth looked, I knew she needed a break from people too.
"Yeah. That sounds great, Mom."
***
Since Dad's office was downtown, Mom suggested we meet him at a place on Wacker. It was one of those cloth napkin places that served tiny salads and Blaine absolutely hated them. I didn't mind them since I usually preferred not to eat much, but I was starving and was thinking I'd have to make someone drive me through McDonald's later.
We made small talk until my dad rushed into the restaurant. If I thought my sister looked bad, she was practically a beauty queen next to my dad. His normally brown hair was almost fully gray and thinning. He usually always kept his face smooth but now there was almost a full gray beard growing. Some men could pull of the lumber sexual thing, my dad just looked homeless.
"Hey, guys, sorry I'm late, emergency extraction on the point guard for The Bulls. He couldn't wait." Dad hugged me and shook Blaine's hand before taking his seat next to Mom.
"We totally understand," I said, sitting back down.
"Wow." Dad looked at us and smiled. "It's been a crazy couple of months and I think it's going to get even crazier."
"Yep." I nodded, praying things couldn't get any more awkward.
But of course they did.
Dad crossed his arms over his chest, like he always did when he was pissed off and about to lecture. "Now, Libby, your mother tells me that you two want to get married in Elsbury and in only a few months? That sounds awfully quick to me, are you sure you don't want to wait awhile?"
I groaned. "Seriously? I thought we came here to lunch, not to fight about details."
Mom put her hand on Dad's arm. "Honey, we talked about this. Let's not fight about it."
"I'm not fighting, Kathryn. I'm just simply asking them a question." Dad's voice slightly raised with each word, the way it always did when he was mad. It wasn't a question, it was a statement and he wanted answers to that statement.
"With all due respect, Mr. Gentry, and I do respect you, Libby and I did discuss this and we discussed it with Mrs. Gentry," Blaine said.
Dad smirked. "There you go, putting in that Southern charm."
"Jack!" Mom said.
I banged my fist on the table and it shook the glasses, causing everyone to look in my direction. "Okay. Enough. I didn't come here to fight. We flew back here to see my sister and Luxx. If I would have known we would just be fighting, I would have changed our plans and headed back home."
"Libby..." Mom said, reaching her hand out to put it on mine.
"Mom, I love you and Dad. I do. And you know what? It sucks that I got pregnant before Blaine and I were married or I finished school, but it happened and we're moving forward. We love each other, we really do. He wants to help support me as I finish school and we both want to be married before our baby is born."
I sighed and reached down, putting my hand on my stomach as if it would give me some strength. Blaine put his hand on mine and that was what I needed. I didn't realize it at first until I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw him smiling. That was my positive of the day: that no matter what, he was on my side.
"We want to get married in Elsbury because that's where we both feel comfortable. We don't want anything extravagant and I'm sure it's not what everyone up here wants, but if they can't come, then they can't come. If you don't like it, then you don't have to come either."
Dad laughed but there was no humor in it and then looked at Mom before looking at me. "Well, that was some speech."
"It's also the truth. I know you guys have supported me through everything; hell, I know you're supporting me now by paying for everything, but you sent me to Elsbury to grow up and now I finally am and taking control of things in my life. It may have taken me awhile, but I'd like to think I'm finally getting the hang of things and as long as Blaine stays around, I think I'll be fine."
"I'm not going anywhere," Blaine chimed in.
Mom squeezed my hand. "And neither are we. If you two want to get married in Louisiana, that's fine. We'll all fly there. Just keep us in the loop, okay? We do love both of you and we will continue to support you. Even if sometimes we do some things that may seem unkind."
"Thanks, Mom," I said softly and then looked at my dad.
Dad sighed before finally speaking. "Well, if you two are happy and think you have things figured out, then I'm happy, too. So let's stop fighting and order about fifty main courses because you know they aren't going to give us shit for food."
We all laughed. It may not have been perfect, but at least we were all going to move forward.
At least I hoped we were.
Chapter 11
After lunch, Mom and I dropped Blaine off
at the condo and we went shopping. I really wanted to go take a nap like Blaine was probably doing, but if my mom was finally going to get excited about wedding stuff, then I had to go along with it.
"Since we're only three months out, it may be harder for us to find a dress, so I thought maybe we could start while you're here. Of course, we'll have to order a few sizes bigger and you'll probably have to get it tailored," Mom said, her voice drifting as she kept ticking things off her mental list.
"That's fine. I'm sure Aunt Dee could help with any altering."
"Oh and there's invitations. We can order those and you'll have to make sure you get those sent out by early May. I can send you the list we used for Beth's wedding. Some of them may be out dated and everyone probably won't be able to make the trip, but it'll still help you."
"Mom," I interrupted.
She looked at me, but didn't stop walking. The woman could power walk like it was nobody's business.
"Thank you for doing all of this," I said, forcing a smile.
She finally stopped. "Of course. You know I'm always here to help you."
I let out a deep breath. "Yeah, it's all just a little overwhelming."
Mom laughed, putting her arm around me. "I can imagine. School. A baby. Wedding. I don't know how you're doing all of it on your own."
"Well, I'm not completely on my own. Blaine has been helping a bit and I do have some friends in Elsbury as well as Blaine's mom."
"I'm glad you have another support system, even though I wish your father and I could be a bigger part of it."
"Mom, you guys totally are. You've both been financially supporting me through everything. I wouldn't be where I am now if you didn't decide I needed tough love and to move. If it weren't for that, who knows, I'd probably be skipping community college classes and still dating that jerk off Beau."
Mom laughed. "He was kind of a jerk off, wasn't he?"
"Oh the biggest! I definitely got an upgrade."
When we got to the bridal shop, I thought I'd started to relax, until I saw the mannequins and racks of dresses. They were all fitted in beautiful, mermaid-style dresses with lots of detail.