by Autumn Brown
I’d called up several of the daycare centers in the area, and they offered the gymnastics classes to their students. I had lots of two to five year old children during the day, three days a week. At night, I had several older girls taking gymnastics and cheerleading lessons. Spencer had used the same marketing techniques. Our friends helped us spread the word.
Spencer now had several students taking music lessons. Word had spread that he was a published songwriter. He’d sold another song. We barely had to touch our trust funds. His song royalties and his music lessons were almost paying the bills and buying groceries. It worked out great. We both held classes three days a week. I could drop everything every time Destiny cried. I could hold her while I showed the girls how to do most of the moves. I couldn’t do flips with her strapped to my chest, but I could do almost everything else.
It seemed that everything was perfect. Both businesses were doing fairly well, mine and his. Destiny was almost never laid down. Spencer or I had her at almost all times. She was spoiled rotten, between us, my sisters, and Todd and Janel.
Spencer POV.
I waited in the airport terminal for my grandparents to arrive. It was the first time they’d been to Arizona. We usually went to see them, so they didn’t have to fly. It had been a year since I’d seen them. I was a little nervous to see them, but really excited. Last year, I was just a regular teenage boy. This year I was a husband and a father. I couldn’t wait to show Destiny to them. She was at the studio with Taylor. I couldn’t wait for them to meet Taylor either.
“Grandma! Grandpa!” I yelled to them the second I spotted them walking toward me. I ran to greet them.
“Spencer. You’ve grown so much over the last year. You’re over six foot tall now.” Grandpa said immediately. He always said something about my size for some reason.
“You’re so good looking too.” Grandma said as she patted my face. “Why is your face different? Your birthmark looks like it’s almost gone.”
My grandparents released me from their vise-grip arms. “I had to have plastic surgery after the accident, so they took care of some of the birthmark.”
“Accident? What accident?” my grandparents echoed out together.
“Oh, we didn’t tell you about that. We didn’t want you to worry. I’m fine. Better than fine. Everything is healed now.” I assured them. “Let’s go get your luggage.”
I led my grandparents to the luggage carousel, where we finally found their bags. They didn’t travel much, and didn’t realize that everyone carried black luggage. I grabbed several people’s luggage before we realized that it wasn’t theirs. Aunt Janel always tied goofy looking ribbons around ours when we traveled. I thought it was hilarious at first, but then we always spotted our bags easily.
After finally getting the correct luggage, I led my grandparents to my truck. As I was driving home, I had to tell them all about Arizona and the weather. They were already sweating. It was something I had to get used to when I first moved here. No easy task.
“So, you have a house?” Grandpa asked me.
“We do. It’s small, but it’s nice.” I told them.
“So your life insurance money came in handy. You haven’t spent it all. Have you?” Grandma asked me.
“Not even close. The only thing I’ve bought so far is the house, and this truck. And, it’s not a big house. It’s smaller than Janel’s and Todd’s. No pool.” I told them. Taylor and I didn’t want anything extravagant.
“That’s good. You need to make that money last. For you and your family.” Grandma said.
“I am Grandma.” I assured her, then tried to change the subject. “I can’t wait for you to meet Taylor and Destiny.”
“They both look beautiful in the pictures you sent.” Grandpa said. “Where are they now? Why didn’t they come with you?”
“Taylor’s teaching a few classes this afternoon. The baby is better off there than traveling to Phoenix in the heat.”
“We’ll see her soon enough.” Grandpa told Grandma.
“It’s just another twenty minutes.” I told them both as I sped up to get on the freeway.
“Don’t drive too fast.” Grandpa told me.
I slowed down. “Okay, maybe another twenty five minutes. Janel and Todd are supposed to stop by tonight and take you to their house. They both had to work.”
I was trying to change the subject.
“We wanted to spend time with you and the baby too, though.” Grandma said.
“Don’t worry. You will. Taylor and I are both off tomorrow until Monday. We’ll be glad to show you around and spend time with you. But you’ll like staying at Janel’s house better. They have a nicer guest room.”
We chatted about the weather and everything we could do this weekend together. I told them all about Buckeye as we entered Buckeye. I turned into our parking lot at the studios and waited for them to step out of the truck. Grandma needed some help. She wasn’t accustomed to riding in a truck. It was a little too tall for her. They owned luxury cars in California. “This is it, Grandma and Grandpa. Did you want to see my studio first, or go see Taylor and the baby.”
“Let’s see your studio. I want to see how you make all that money writing songs.” Grandpa said quickly.
“Okay.” I said, as I opened my studio door. “This is it.”
“Oh my. It’s big and so nice looking Spencer.” Grandma said immediately as she looked over everything. “That’s your father’s drum set. Isn’t it?”
“It is. Those are his guitars on the walls. I retired them finally.”
“This is nice. You teach students now?” Grandpa asked.
“I do. I’m usually booked up three days a week, but I rearranged my schedule so I could pick you two up.”
“You’re such a good boy.” Grandpa said to me, and patted me on the back. “Our Elise would be so proud of you right now.”
“Thanks Grandpa.” I said. I could tell it still hurt them to even speak my mother’s name. “Would you like to see my daughter now?”
“Absolutely.” Grandma exclaimed, stepping faster than I’d seen her move in a long time.
I led them both outside my studio. We walked past the big window in front of Taylor’s studio. She had a class still in session with several grade school girls. They were all performing a routine. We stopped to watch for a minute. Taylor had her back to us. “That’s Taylor.” I pointed to her, although they could probably spot her by themselves since she was the only one over four foot tall in the room.
About that time, she turned around. She had Destiny strapped to her chest. She saw me immediately. She smiled and waved, then took Destiny’s little hand and waved it too. She continued on with her dancing after that.
“Oh she’s so cute.” Grandma said. “When can we hold her?”
“Right now.” I said, then walked into the studio.
Taylor didn’t stop dancing as I walked up to her and took Destiny out of her carrier. I took Destiny over to meet my grandparents. “Here’s your first great granddaughter.”
Destiny was half asleep, but waking up. She had one eye open and one eye closed. “She looks just like you did as a baby.” Grandma cooed.
Grandpa joined in on how beautiful my daughter was. Gorgeous black hair and a perfect chubby little face. Of course, I knew they’d do that. I was their only grandchild. I could do no wrong in their eyes. Ever. Grandma took Destiny to hold her. Destiny didn’t cry when she woke up completely. She looked at her great grandparents with awe. She did that a lot. She was very attentive and interested in everything around her. I led them to Taylor’s office where we kept the playpen. There was also a nice couch there. Grandpa and Grandma sat there and played with Destiny for a few minutes.
Destiny started to cry.
“Oh my. What’s wrong? Do you need to get her mother?” Grandma asked quickly.
“No. She just needs her diaper changed.” I told them and took Destiny to change her diaper. I had this technique down. I had her change
d and happy again in thirty seconds. I handed her back to Grandma.
“You’re so good with her, Spencer. Your grandpa was afraid to hold your mother until she started walking almost.”
I laughed at them. I couldn’t imagine that. I had to hold Destiny the second she came out. I still held her constantly. Taylor and I argued over how much I held her, but she was no better. She held her constantly and pretty much taught class all day, holding her in some way or another. I came over between my music classes to hold her. I never imagined that I could love a little girl so much. I was in constant awe of her. She was amazing. I wouldn’t trade her for anything in this world.
I could hear Taylor finishing up class. I think this was her last class for the day, too. I heard her locking the front door. She walked back to her office. I knew she was nervous about meeting my grandparents, so I stepped up to put my arm around her when she walked in. I kissed her. “Taylor, this is my grandparents, Evelyn and Anthony. Grandma, Grandpa, this is my wife, Taylor.” I introduced them. It still sounded funny to be calling her my wife, even though we’d been married for six months now.
“Hi. It’s so nice to meet you finally.” Taylor said with excitement. Too much excitement.
My grandfather stood up to hug her. Grandma stood up too, but only hugged her with one arm, since she was holding Destiny still. “Welcome to the family, Taylor.” Grandma said.
“It’s so nice to meet you.” Grandpa said right after that. “You’ve given us a beautiful great granddaughter.”
“She’s almost as beautiful as Spencer was at this age.” Grandma said.
Taylor laughed. “I’ve seen lots of pictures. They look a lot alike.”
After playing with Destiny and chatting for a while, we all loaded up in the Hummer and went to our house. Taylor had a cheesecake made, because I told her that Grandma loved cheesecake. That won my grandmother over rather quickly. Of course, Destiny had already done that. We showed the house to my grandparents. They liked it. Grandpa had all kinds of ideas on how to strengthen the frame and the foundation so it wouldn’t sink when it rained. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that it never rained here, so we really didn’t have to worry about that.
Grandma was full of ideas for each of the rooms, especially Destiny’s room. Taylor took it all in stride. I’d warned her that would happen and to not let it offend her. Later on, Todd and Janel showed up. They talked for a while, and played with Destiny. Janel loved Destiny so much. She was always buying her all kinds of outfits and toys. Todd and Janel took Grandma and Grandpa to their house when they left. We were headed out there in an hour or so to join them.
“That went well.” Taylor said to me after they’d left.
I hugged her close as we sat on the couch. She was nursing Destiny. I loved to watch her. I couldn’t believe what a beautiful wife I had. I couldn’t believe the luck. She was the prettiest girl in high school and now she was the prettiest wife a guy could ever ask for. I was worried that pregnancy would ruin her body, but it didn’t. She had a few pounds to lose at first, but she did it. She still wasn’t quite back where she was, but it had only been three months. With her constant workouts, she’d be back in shape in no time.
Taylor and I got into an argument before we left. We were going swimming at Todd’s and Janel’s. Taylor wanted to wear a bikini. I kept telling her that it wasn’t appropriate in front of my grandparents. I didn’t want them to think she was loose. I mean, we already had one strike against us with her getting pregnant. I was really concerned about what my grandparents would think of her.
“I don’t even own a one piece swimsuit, Spencer.” She argued with me.
“Can you wear a T-shirt?” I pleaded with her.
“Spencer. I’ve worked so hard to finally get back in this bikini, and now you’re telling me I can’t wear it.”
“Just not this time. Please, Taylor. Don’t do this to me. I want them to think the best of you.”
“I won’t take this T-shirt off then.” She agreed.
Of course, when Janel let us in the house, she was wearing a bikini, with a cover-up. Taylor gave me a look. I smiled and shook my head. We ate, then took Destiny swimming in the pool. Janel had several floating tubes for her, that were safe for babies. She seemed to love the water. Grandma and Grandpa were laughing at her as she scrunched her face to avoid any splashes. Janel and Todd took over and played with her in her tube for a while. That gave Taylor and me a chance to actually swim.
I loved my daughter with all my heart. But I loved my wife with everything I had. I couldn’t imagine that life could get any better for me than it already was.
Taylor POV.
My parents still hadn’t seen Destiny, or shown an interest in seeing us. Janel stopped by several times a week to see us so she could play with Destiny. Todd came up with Janel once a week or so. They were godsends. We appreciated their help so much.
Most of our friends had gone to college without us. Sandy and Zane both stopped in every other week or so to say hi. I kept in touch with most of my fellow cheerleaders. They would stop in at the studio and help with the classes sometimes. Spencer kept in touch with most of his friends. We felt more mature than most of them somehow, even though we were the same age. It seemed that they were headed toward their future, while we were living our future. We loved our life. Spencer planned on attending college next year. I didn’t. I wanted to wait. I wasn’t sure how long I wanted to wait though.
Destiny came first as she had since the moment I discovered I was pregnant. I wanted to stay with her as much as possible. I felt like this was my calling: to be a mother to Destiny and to teach young girls gymnastics and cheerleading. I even became the cheerleading coach for grade school. They came to the studio three days a week after school. It worked out perfectly.
One day while I was teaching the grade school cheerleaders how to do a pyramid without getting hurt, my mom and little sister, Cheryl, walked in through the front door. At first, I thought she’d wandered in by mistake. I fully expected her to turn around and walk back out. I waited for that familiar look, but she walked on in.
“Hi Taylor.” My little sister screamed out in pure joy and ran up to my legs and hugged me.
“Hi Cheryl.” I said to her. I was so excited to see her. It had been over eight months since I’d seen her. She’d grown up some. Her hair was longer, and she was cuter somehow.
“Hi Taylor.” My mom said, her voice choked up. It had been the first words she’d spoken to me in person in over eight months.
“Hi Mom.” I replied to her. I told the girls to keep on with their cheering.
“Can we see the baby? Sharon said you kept her here.” My mom asked carefully. Sharon was Cheryl’s babysitter. She came in from time to time to chat and see Destiny. I didn’t know she was relaying messages to my mother.
“She’s in the office.” I told my mom. I led her to the office, where Destiny was fast asleep. I don’t know how she slept through the cheering and the music from Spencer’s studio next door, but she did.
“She’s really pretty.” Cheryl said immediately, sticking her hand into the playpen and petting her like she was a puppy. “And, soft.”
“She looks just like you did when you were little.” Mom said. “But she’s smaller than you were, I think.”
“She was only five pounds when she was born, so probably.” I said. I weighed almost seven pounds when I was born.
I looked up to see Spencer walking in. His music lessons must be over for the day. He usually came in to play with Destiny after he finished up. He froze when he saw my mother. Cheryl looked up to see him. “Hi Spencer.” She said quickly, then ran over to hug him.
“Hi Cheryl.” He said to her. “Hi Media.”
“Hello Spencer.” Mom said to him. I could tell she wasn’t as enthused to see him as she was the baby for some reason. She said hi to people she liked. She said hello to people she didn’t want to be around.
“How do you like our little Dest
iny Hope?” Spencer asked her as he put his arm around me.
“You didn’t give her your last name?” Mom asked us.
“Hope is her middle name, Mom.” I explained to her.
“She’s opening her eyes!” Cheryl squealed out the words excitedly.
I think Cheryl woke her up with her petting.