The Core Four Series

by Stacy Borel

  “Psh, you wish,” Dodger said. “This kid is too cute to have anything of yours.”

  Camden punched Dodger’s arm. “True. But if any kid looks like Keegan, I’d say we are lucky.”

  Keegan beamed, and I winked at her. A baby may be in her future a lot sooner than she thought.

  “Okay, I’m dying to know . . . what’s his name?”

  Dodger told them and Donna squealed with happiness.

  “Woman, will you settle down while you are holding that baby. He’s precious cargo. In fact, why don’t you just come see your Paw-Paw, and I can start teaching you a few things about women,” Paul cooed at Foster.

  Donna turned herself as if to block him from taking the baby, but she conceded.

  My mom and dad looked on in complete wonderment. I was beyond pleased to see nothing but smiles from them. My mom had come over to kiss me on the cheek, and she softly whispered that she was proud of me. It was another moment for me to catalog and remember for the rest of my life.

  Each family member held him and told him how loved he was already. The smile that was on my face couldn’t be wiped away. Dodger was wearing his pride on his sleeve, and everyone was so full of happiness. Time passed quickly with them all here. I was eventually moved to a recovery room where I’d spend the remaining time in the hospital. I got a new nurse and she explained everything that I could expect.

  As it got later, everyone decided it was time to leave and give me some time to rest and Dodger a chance to actually hold his baby more than he’d been able to already. When they were all gone, I sighed and looked at Dodger. He was sitting in a chair near my bed and he was staring at his son. He heard him talking softly to him and touching his little hands with his fingertips. I did everything I could to memorize this. I didn’t want to take a photo, I wanted to feel it. I wanted to remember his face and how his crooked smile was so full of expression. It was as if Dodger was saying a million things without speaking a single one.

  This is what family was. We grew up, moved on, and had families of our own. We added to what was already our foundation. Nothing could be more perfect.

  “Hey,” I said quietly.

  “Hmmm?” Dodger barely wanted to stop looking at Foster.

  “I love you.”

  He positively beamed at me. “I love you too, Macie.”

  With all of this perfection, I required rest. I was exhausted. I closed my eyes, visions of Dodger loving our son and making sure we were both as happy and healthy as we could be were what I dreamed.

  Epilogue

  (six weeks later)

  THERE WAS FAINT CRYING in the background. The body next to me groaned. I tried to move my head, but it was too heavy. And good lord what was that smell? Oh, my hair. Seasoned moms weren’t kidding when they said the first two months were the hardest.

  “I’ll get this one,” a groggy Dodger said as he got up from the bed.

  “Unless he needs to be changed, you don’t have a boob.” I sat up and scrubbed my face with my hand. “He’s hungry.”

  “I’ll bring him to you.” He stood up and went to Foster’s room.

  I laid my head back down and closed my eyes.

  “Babe,” Dodger said.

  Fuck was he back already? I opened one eye and he was standing over me holding the baby. I could have sworn he just walked out of the room. A few seconds sleep wasn’t enough time. I sat up and took our son. Thankfully he didn’t take long to eat and pass back out. The one good thing about Foster was that he never got his days and nights mixed up. And honestly, we were pretty lucky considering he would take three hour stretches between feedings or waking. We’d only just put him in his own room. When we came home from the hospital, I wanted the baby right next to me. I found out though that I was waking up to every grunt and noise he made, even if he wasn’t waking. The lack of sleep was making me delirious. Dodger made the decision, much to my dismay, to put Foster in his own room so that we all slept a little better. He made the right choice. That first night, instead of waking up every hour, we went to that three-hour stretch. It was heaven.

  The next morning when I walked out into the kitchen with the baby, I was happy to see Dodger standing against the counter with messy bed head and a cup of coffee in his hands. He passed it over to me, and took Foster.

  “Jesus, that was a long night.”

  “Mhmm.” I agreed.

  “Any idea when babies start sleeping through the night?”

  I almost laughed. “No. Remember, I’m a newbie too.”

  “Fuck.” He looked down at Foster and smiled. “Good morning, little dude. How did you sleep, champ?”

  “I think I’m going to look up Georgia law and if it’s wrong to drug your newborn to sleep twenty-four hours.”

  “Macie,” Dodger scolded.

  “I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” I sat down at my usual spot. “Did you get any sleep?”

  “Some. I can take Foster for a couple hours if you want to go back to bed.”

  “No, it’s okay. I need to run to the grocery store in a bit anyway. Your mom asked if I could bring my deviled eggs again, and we are all out of relish.”

  He poured another cup of coffee and Foster made a cooing noise. “Dinner better not be a shit show like it was last time. At least Wrigley will be back at school and he won’t be there stirring the pot.”

  I kicked my foot up on the chair. “Don’t be so hard on him. Even you thought he was being funny. Now if he’d get his head out of his ass and see that Hadley girl has it bad for him, he’d be a whole lot better off.”

  “Wrigley’s head can’t be removed unless it’s done surgically.”

  Two weeks ago, I was ready to venture out of the house with the baby. I was becoming stir crazy not going anywhere. I had no clue what day of the week it was, if I’d showered, changed my underwear, brushed my teeth, up from down. Donna insisted that we come for family dinner. Wrigley was home for a short break and he wanted to meet his nephew. I was more than happy to go and get some fresh air.

  We walked in the front door and Donna practically came running from the kitchen. She took the car seat with Foster in it and immediately started baby talking.

  “There he is. I need to get my hands on my grandson.”

  “Well, damn, Mom. We used to get a hug when we came in the door,” Dodger called after her.

  She waved him off as she walked back to the kitchen. “We can hug later.”

  I was still standing in the entry way, watching the exchange. I burst out laughing.

  “Well, damn. You’re chopped liver.”

  Dodger frowned. “I’m not the one that’s going to take it the worst. Wait until Camden gets here. He’s the ‘Golden Boy.’”

  These boys . . . and they claim they aren’t momma’s boys.

  We walked into the kitchen where Donna already had Foster out of his car seat and tucked under one arm while she was checking her roast with the opposite hand. I’d have to watch her and take notes. Donna had skills. My parents had come over after we’d gotten released from the hospital, my dad wanted to bring us food. Mom held the baby, and it was a little awkward. She got after me and said I was her only child and it had been years since she’s held a baby. She would get used to it again. My parents were so happy about Foster being here that they were already talking about family vacations and a new generation carrying on traditions. It absolutely melted me that they were so in love with him.

  “How are you feeling, Macie?” Paul asked as he walked in from the garage.

  “Pretty great actually. I just went in for my postpartum checkup and everything was as good as could be expected. Even better, I’m already at my pre-pregnancy weight.”

  “I never doubted that you wouldn’t get back to your old size,” Donna interrupted.

  “I noticed that ass was looking pretty fantastic.” Wrigley came strutting into the kitchen.

  “Watch it,” Dodger warned.

  I laughed. “Good lord, you boys are always getting
after each other for flirting, yet you all do it.”

  Wrigley shrugged and came to hug me. I noticed he was almost identical to Camden. Out with the high school boyish looks, in with a more masculine appearance. His jaw looked much more angular, and his brown hair was cut short. He had blue eyes just like Dodger, but everything about him was Camden.

  “Do you see this, Mom?” Dodger pointed at me and Wrigley. “They are doing this thing called hugging.”

  She looked up from Foster and sighed. “For heaven’s sake, would you come over here and give me hug so you stop griping.”

  He went and wrapped his arm around her side. “Pretty perfect, don’t you think?”

  “You did good, kid.”

  “Let me take a look at the new little rug rat,” Wrigley said.

  Donna twisted so he could see. Wrigley smiled down at him, and stuck his finger in Foster’s balled up fist. The baby was sleeping, but they still grasp even when they are napping.

  “Cute kid,” he said nonchalant. “He’s all Macie.”

  Dodger punched him in the arm. “This kid is a Brooks. Wait until he’s awake and you can see his eyes.”

  “Hey now.” I looked at Dodger. “Some of those genes are me too.”

  He back pedaled when he realized he may have insulted me. I really wasn’t though. He was right. Foster looked just like Dodger did as a baby, and I was okay with that.

  Wrigley leaned in and said, “You certainly didn’t get this one from a good ol’ donkeypunch now did ya?” He laughed hysterically at his own joke.

  Donna furrowed her brows and said, “What’s a donkeypunch.”

  “I’m going to kill you,” Dodger growled at his little brother.

  “Look it up on Urban Dictionary, Ma.”

  I piped in, “No!” Shaking my head. “Trust me, you don’t want to know. Wrigley, I swear to god.”

  “Sounds like it’s something that doesn’t need to be talked about.” She glared at her son.

  He held up his hands in defense. “It’s a joke.”

  “What’s a joke?” Camden asked.

  Keegan came in sight and waved hi to me, but went straight to the baby. I better get used to it being that way from now on. Foster was the center of attention.

  “Something about a donkeypunch,” Donna said, not really paying any mind to her boys.

  Camden started chuckling. “That’s some funny shit right there.”

  “Yeah, maybe to you males in the room.” I rolled my eyes. “Wrigley, maybe if you spent less time looking up gross things on Urban Dictionary, you could actually have a girlfriend.”

  He jerked his head back. “Who said I want a girlfriend?”

  “What about that Hadley girl? She was really cute and sweet.” I tried to plant a seed of interest, if he hadn’t taken notice to her yet.

  “Hadley? As in from down the street? She’s just a friend.”

  “Hmmm, maybe you should rethink that friendship status. She’s a doll.”

  He looked at me funny. Something told me he was already questioning what she meant to him. I’d bring it up again when I saw him during his summer break. In fact, maybe we’d be seeing a little more of them together.

  Regardless of how dinner went that day, I was looking forward to another outing. It had quickly become one of my favorite things, being at his family’s house or my parents’ with the baby. The love and adoration they’d all shown him and us was more than I ever thought possible.

  “I’m going to go change the baby’s diaper and get him dressed. Take your time with the coffee and we can go when you’re ready.”

  “Sounds good.”

  When he walked out, I curled my legs up and held my warm cup in both of my hands. I stared at what used to be a wall, but was now one big open room. Smiling, I thought back to that day. I was such a lunatic. Paul came over and helped Dodger patch the spots that were without drywall, and he did some electrical work, moving the outlets.

  “Hey, babe, can you come here for a minute? I think Foster has another diaper rash?”

  I got up from the table and went into the nursery.

  “Another one? Seriously, the last one had just gone away,” I groaned.

  Dodger was standing in front of the changing table with Foster laying on his back. I was just walking up to them when he stepped out of the way to let me in. What on earth? The baby didn’t even have his diaper off. Instead I was looking down at a white onesie that had

  Mommy, will you marry my Daddy?

  sewn on it. My brain was having a hard time catching up to what was happening. It’s like my eyes saw it and I read the words just fine, but the meaning behind it hadn’t sunk in yet. A hand next to me took a hold of mine. I turned in the direction of where Dodger was facing. There he was, down on one knee with a stunning diamond ring, and a blinding smile.

  “Macie Rosewood.” He paused and swallowed. “From the moment you knocked on my brother’s apartment door, I have been absolutely taken by you. You have fought me every step of the way, and you have challenged me in ways I never thought possible. We may not have always seen eye to eye, but I knew, without a doubt, you were my girl. Even when we were apart, that heart of yours belonged to me. I gave you mine when you showed me that smile of yours. God made you for me. I will never find a better match for myself. You are the love of my life, the mother of my child, and the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

  My cheeks were wet with tears. I was completely choked up and wasn’t even remotely expecting this. This. This was exactly how I wanted it. I wanted to know we could make it through the hard times. I needed to know I was with my life partner and that forever was with him. I think I always knew, which was why I didn’t date anybody when we broke up. But now we are here, in a home that we share, with our son that fills my life with more happiness that I ever knew I could have. Those things called life experiences were always changeable. I controlled my own destiny, even when there were surprises.

  Nodding exuberantly, I yelled, “YES! Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

  He flashed me that sexy crooked smile and stood up, wrapping me in his arms and picking me up. My legs and feet were dangling and I was laughing.

  “You’re mine, Macie. Always have been, always will be.”

  “No one I’d rather be stuck with.”

  He kissed the living daylights out of me. When he set me down, I looked back at our son. Yes, this was exactly how it was supposed to be.

  The End

  Prologue

  “BUBBLE GUM, BUBBLE GUM in a dish, how many pieces do you wish? One, two, three, four...”

  The girls were jump roping, and I was sitting on the steps by the door across from them during recess, watching. I wanted to join them so badly. Many days I wanted to hop up from the same spot where I perched and start jumping in the middle of the swinging rope. But I wasn’t invited. Only the cool girls did it. I wasn’t even asked to play tether ball with the nerds. Instead, I sat and twirled my too short brown hair around my index finger.

  I wished I knew why I wasn’t part of a group. I used to have tons of friends actually. Most of them were standing in front of me laughing with the other girls. But that was when we were in Kindergarten. I’d gone to all of their birthday parties, and had played in their backyards. Then I’d been slowly weeded out. By fifth grade, I was the quiet girl who they passed notes about and wasn’t asked to a single sleep over. I’d thought middle school was supposed to be tough. At least, that’s what I’d always heard my mom say to my dad. Instead, I was floundering the year before and the only friend I had was in a different classroom.

  “Hey Hadley!” Claire Montgomery, shouted my name.

  I glanced up in confusion. She was waving at me to come over. I looked around to see if she meant some other Hadley, but it appears I was the only one. I pointed to myself to ask if she meant me.

  “Come over here and jump with us.”

  I stood from the cement
step and walked towards them. When I got to the group of seven, I shuffled my feet. “Hi,” I said nervously.

  One girl snickered, while another said hello back.

  Claire came to stand by my side, and explained. “There’s only seven of us, and we need even teams. You’ll be on Natalie’s team.”

  “Okay.” I said shakily. “What are the rules?”

  “All four of you will start in the middle, and one person will jump out. When there is only one person left, you have to keep jumping until you can’t anymore.” She watched me. “Got it?”

  I nodded. I was pretty decent at jump rope. Well, by myself. I did it often in my driveway at home, but I’d never tried when someone else was swinging the rope.

  Two girls picked up each end, while myself, Natalie, Laney, and Sophia all stepped into the middle. Natalie listed off who was supposed to jump out first. I was told I’d be last. I gulped. Didn’t they know I might not know how to do this? What if I screwed up?

  I had no time to think about it. The small cord flipped up from the ground and swung around. When it slapped the pavement, I jumped. My feet cleared. Holy crap, I did it! Once, twice, a third time. Natalie had left the line, as the three of us left kept jumping. The other four girls sang some song I’d never heard before, but quickly picked up the beat.

  I was laughing and smiling as the other two girls left and I was the only one standing. Here was the test. Keep the rope moving and not let it hit my feet. I was pretty certain I could keep this up all recess, I was that confident. Up and down I hopped, moving to the beat of their rhyme. It wasn’t until I caught Sophia out of the corner of my eye go and whisper in one of the girls ears that was holding an end. When she stepped away, she nodded to the girl on the other side. My once in-rhythm jumping was now being caught off guard by the new speed the girls were swinging. I jumped at every chance I could, but it was getting too fast for me. My smile faltered and I wondered what was going on. Why were they going faster?

  “Hey,” I said. “Slow down. I don’t think I can jump that fast.”

  Natalie chortled. “Better keep up then.”

  I was hopping so fast that my tennis shoes were slamming on the ground and the bottom of my feet were stinging.