Until December

by Reynolds, Aurora Rose

  “I’m so mad I wasn’t there,” Mitchell says, smiling at me. “Can we bake cookies sometime?”

  “Yes,” I say, unsure if I’m lying or not. Tonight, I’m going to get myself together and have a very uncomfortable conversation with his dad, and if Gareth tells me he never wants more kids, I seriously don’t know what I will do.

  Okay, I do know I will be disappointed and will most likely cry. A lot.

  “Right on.” He looks from me to his dad. “What are we having for dinner? I’m starving.”

  “Chicken tacos,” Gareth replies, and my stomach grumbles, only I’m not sure if it’s from hunger or worry. “You boys go shower. Dinner will be ready when you get done.”

  Without a fight, they both take off toward the house then disappear inside. “What’s with the look?” Gareth asks quietly, and I turn my head to face him, wondering how he knows something is wrong by just looking at me.

  “Do you want more kids?” I blurt, and his eyes shutter, making me feel sick. I wrap my arms around my middle to keep myself together. “I…. God, I don’t want to seem crazy bringing this up now, especially when we are just getting to know each other. But what you said to Mitchell the other day about him never having a sister has been replaying in my head. I feel like I need to know if you do or not before we continue seeing each other, or—”

  “I saw the pill,” he cuts me off.

  I shake my head in confusion and feel my brows draw together. “What?”

  “I saw that pill in your bag when I was getting your phone.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “I wanted to toss it.” He says and realize what he’s talking about and pull one strap of my bag off my shoulder. I look inside and see the Plan B box is still in the shopping bag. “I didn’t do it, I wanted to, but I didn’t.” My head flies up when he laughs without humor. “I thought I knew what I wanted. Hell, the day of our first date, I told my sisters I didn’t want more kids, and I meant it.” He shakes his head then wraps his hand around the back of his neck. “Then the other night you told me about going to get that fucking pill, and I felt disappointed. And today, when I saw it, my only thought was to throw it away before you could take it.”

  I stare at him not sure what to feel. Elated that he’s open to having more kids, pissed that he thought about tossing my pill without giving me a choice, without even talking to me. “I don’t even know what to say right now.”

  He takes a step toward me and I hold my breath “You asked if I want more kids and the answer to that question is yes. If things between us work out, I want everything with you including children.”

  As relieved as that news makes me I shake my head and say softly. “If this is going to ever work between us Gareth, we both need to be honest about what we want and what we expect from each other. You need to talk to me.”

  “I want you,” he says quietly, closing the distance between us. “I want time alone with you. Time for us to get to know each other. I want to watch you get to know my boys and experience them falling in love with you. Just like I seem to be.” My entire body jolts from his admission, and my arms drop to my sides. “I’ll try not to act on instinct, but truth be told I don’t know what I’m doing. This is all new to me, I’ve never felt the way you make me feel.”

  “I’ve never felt like this either,” I confess as he pulls me against him and I rest my hands against his chest. “I’m glad you talked to me.”

  “Yeah.” He rests his lips against my forehead then his fingers curl around the underside of my jaw and he tips my head back so he can brush his lips across mine. “I’ll try to get better about doing that.”

  “That would be good.” I say sliding my hands up to the sharp edge of his jaw.

  “Are we over our latest drama?”

  I smile, “I think so.”

  “Good.” He touches his lips to mine once more.

  “We should probably go in and get started on dinner.”

  “Dinner is done.” He gives my waist a squeeze. “Or most of it is. I just need to warm up the tortillas and a can of refried beans.”

  “Do you have magical powers that allow you to cook while you’re not even home?”

  “No, I have a Crock-pot that cooks when I’m not home,” he says

  “You have a Crock-pot?” I laugh.

  “Are you laughing at me?”

  “Of course not.” I pat his chest. “I just didn’t know guys use Crock-pots. I thought they were only for girls, kinda like baking.”

  “Smartass.” He chuckles.

  “I still can’t believe you don’t bake,” I say as he turns us toward the house and holds the door open for me to enter before him.

  “I’ve never had a reason to. My mom and sisters are constantly bringing over shit for the boys.”

  “Spoiled.”

  “Yep.” He grins then kisses the top of my head while taking my purse from me. “Also, baby, you didn’t need to buy condoms. I got us covered in that department,” he tells me, taking the shopping bag out of my purse before hanging my bag near the door. My cheeks warm as I watch him take it to his room, and he grins at me when he comes back out.

  Studying his handsome grin, I pull in a breath. One more crisis averted and even more proof I’m seriously falling for this guy and his boys.

  Eleven

  Gareth

  “GRANDMA’S HERE,” MAX shouts, and December’s head flies up.

  “Your mom is here?” She turns to look at me, and I want to laugh at the adorable nervous look on her face, but I don’t.

  “I’ll be right back. It’s all good.” I reassure her, stopping to kiss the side of her head before I walk past the edge of the island where she’s been working on her lesson plan for the upcoming week. It’s Saturday, it’s been almost a week since she and Max baked cookies, almost a week since we had our talk about one day having kids. Six days of having her at my house every evening for dinner with me and the boys, and in my bed every night.

  “You’re going to love Grandma,” I hear Mitchell tell her right before I step out of the house to meet my mom on the walkway.

  “It’s only been days since I’ve seen you and it’s like you’ve grown a foot,” Mom says, hugging Max then letting him go asking. “Where is your brother?”

  “Inside. He had to do dishes this morning,” he replies smugly.

  “You didn’t?”

  “Nope, me and December did them last night,” he tells her, and a thoughtful smile curves her lips.

  “Did you make her wash all the dishes?”

  “Nah.” He laughs, shaking his head. “She made it a game, so it was fun, and we got it done super fast.”

  “That’s awesome.”

  “She’s totally awesome,” he tells her as they make their way toward me.

  When they’re close, I palm the top of Max’s head, gaining his attention. “Go finish getting dressed and get your stuff together. We’re leaving in thirty,” I say, and he nods then leans up to kiss his grandmother’s cheek before turning and doing a high jump over both stairs to the top porch.

  “It seems like Max really likes this girl,” Mom points out, turning to look at me once Max is inside and the door is closed.

  “He does. Both the boys do,” I agree. “What are you doing here?”

  “Well, since you were obviously not going to invite me over to meet her—” She tosses out one hand toward the house. “—I invited myself.”

  “You know it’s not like that. This week has been busy, and today we’re taking the boys to Adventure Park in Nashville.”

  “I haven’t seen my grandbabies in days, and I always pick them up from school at least a couple of times during the week.”

  I shrug. “I rearranged my schedule so I could be off in time to pick them up from school last week. I’ll probably do the same next week, but after that, things will most likely go back to normal.”

  “Your aunt told me you’ve turned down a few jobs at the shop.”

  “Yeah,” I agree, cro
ssing my arms over my chest becoming aggravated with the direction this conversation is headed in.

  “I’m worried, Gareth. The boys are getting close to this girl, and you’re turning down work.”

  “Don’t,” I growl, keeping my voice low so the boys and December won’t hear. “Do not go there. I want the boys tight with her. She’s the kind of woman they should be close to, and I didn’t quit my job, I just haven’t been killing myself with overtime.”

  “Honey, I—”

  “Jesus.” I scrub my fingers through my hair. “You were the one who told me that I should find someone, Mom.”

  “You’re right.” She places her hand against her chest. “I… I think maybe I’m just a little jealous.”

  “You have nothing to be jealous of.”

  “When I talked to the boys the other evening, Max told me she baked cookies with him. I didn’t even think Max would want to bake cookies. And Mitchell kept talking about how cool she is. And you. I haven’t even seen you this week, or even talked to you.”

  “Mom.” I sigh.

  “I feel like I’m being replaced,” she says with tears filling her eyes.

  “You’re not being replaced.” I chuckle, closing my arms around her.

  “Don’t laugh at me.”

  “Mom, you’re being crazy. We love you. That is never going to change.”

  “I know. I just…. I guess I liked the idea of you finding someone, but never really thought of where that would leave me.”

  I shake my head and rub her back. “The boys won’t like seeing you upset like this.”

  “I’m almost done.” She sniffles, and I smile. “I know I’m not acting like it, but I really am happy for you.”

  I tip my head down to look at her then tell her honestly, “She’s making me happy. She’s just as cool as both my boys think she is, and she fits in like she’s always been here with us.”

  “You’re falling in love with her.”

  Without a doubt. “She’s special, and when you meet her, you’ll see what I mean.”

  Her expression softens. “Can I meet her now?”

  “Do you think I’m going to send you away?”

  “I don’t know. I did just show up here without letting you know I was coming over.”

  “You’re always welcome in my home. And I know you don’t know December yet, but she would probably be more upset than you if I sent you away without introducing you two.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.” I chuckle, and she laughs, wiping what was left of her tears from under her eyes. “Are you ready?”

  She pulls in a big breath then lets it out. “I think so.” She tips her head back. “Is my makeup a mess?”

  “Nope.”

  “I know you’re probably lying, but I’m going to pretend like you aren’t,” she mumbles, and I toss my arm over her shoulders and lead her up the steps to the porch. When I open the door, December and Mitchell, who are in the kitchen, turn toward us.

  “Hey, Grandma.” Mitchell waves.

  “Child, you better get your not-too-old-for-a-whoopin’ butt over here and hug your grandmother,” Mom orders, and December giggles while Mitchell sighs, mumbling something I can’t make out as he comes out of the kitchen to give her a reluctant hug.

  “You okay?” I ask, tangling my fingers with December’s when she’s close. She gives me a nod, but I still notice her hand shaking slightly when my mom turns to face us.

  “You must be December. I’m Lidia,” Mom reaches out, taking her free hand, and then glances at me quickly. “I can see now why all my boys seem to be falling for you.”

  “I….” December’s fingers convulse around mine. “It’s nice to meet you. The boys talk about you all the time.”

  “They’re good boys.” Mom smiles.

  “They really are,” December agrees, and Mom lets her hand go as Max joins us.

  “So you guys are going to Adventure Park today?”

  “That’s what I was told this morning.” December glares at Max and Mitchell when they start to laugh. “But I’ve told these guys that I will be sitting at the picnic tables reading while they test the strength of nylon and polyester.”

  “My type of girl.”

  “You have to at least try zip lining. Even Grandma did that one time,” Max says.

  “That and the hanging log bridge,” Mitchell chimes in.

  “It will be fun, babe.” I squeeze her hand.

  “I’ll take pictures of you guys having fun, with both my feet planted firmly on the ground.”

  “Chicken.” Max flaps his arms.

  “Yep,” December confirms, looking amused.

  “Stick to your guns, honey. I swear I don’t know how these three convinced me to climb up a tree then jump off a platform. I thought I was going to wet myself when I was flying through the air, I was so scared,” Mom says, and both boys start to laugh while December grins.

  “You should come with us, Grandma,” Max invites.

  Mom shakes her head. “No way. One time was plenty for me. You four go have fun, but if it’s okay with your dad, you and your brother could come stay the night with me. We can go see a movie tonight then get up early and go have breakfast at Pfunky Griddle in the morning,” Mom offers, knowing she’s going to get her way. To this day, I don’t know why that place is one of the boys’ favorite breakfast spots. It’s kind of like cooking at home. Each table is centered around a griddle, and you order what you want then the ingredients are brought out to you for you to make your own breakfast.

  “Can we, Dad?” Max asks, placing his hands together like he’s praying.

  “That’s cool with me, but it’s up to Mitchell if he wants to go.” I look at my oldest.

  “I’m down.” He shrugs, trying to play it cool.

  “Yes.” Max throws his hands in the air. “I love Pfunky.”

  “We all know you do.” Mitchell rolls his eyes at his little brother.

  “I haven’t been there in years,” December says, and I see my mom lock onto that piece of news the moment it leaves her mouth.

  “You two should meet us there in the morning.”

  “I’m sure December wants to sleep in tomorrow,” I respond. December turns to look at me, and I try to tell her without words that I don’t want to get up to go out to eat just to make my own damn breakfast. I’d much rather eat her in the morning and relax in bed afterward—something I haven’t been able to do with her since we’ve started seeing each other.

  “I don’t mind getting up early,” she says, and I sigh.

  “Then it’s set. You two can drop the boys off to me on your way back home from Nashville, and we’ll meet you in the morning for breakfast.”

  “Great,” I agree, and I know I sound as annoyed as I feel. “Boys, hug your grandma then go pack your overnight bags. We need to hit the road.” They both do as ordered then hurry down the hall.

  “Have fun today,” Mom says, leaning up to kiss my cheek, and then she looks at December. “Don’t let them talk you into anything, and I’ll see you two for breakfast.” She grins when December laughs.

  Once she’s gone, I tighten my fingers on the hand still held in mine. “We need to work on our silent communication skills.”

  “What?” she asks, and I turn her to face me.

  “Agreeing to go to breakfast.”

  “It’s not a big deal. I love Pfunky… or I did when I went there years ago.”

  “Yeah, and I would’ve loved to have you to myself tonight and in the morning without having to worry about waking you up in time to leave before the boys find you.”

  “Oh.” Her eyes round. “I didn’t think about that.”

  “Yeah, I kinda got that when you agreed to go to breakfast in the morning, which is gonna be early,” I say, and she bites her lip, looking away. “You owe me huge for this, and just so you know, I’m looking forward to making you pay,” I growl near her ear, and pink touches her cheeks, making me feel a little better.
>
  _______________

  “How in the world did I let you guys talk me into this?” December cries, tightening her arms around the log that is shooting up through the platform we’re standing on.

  “Babe, I got you. Just relax and take a breath.”

  “Don’t tell me to relax and take a breath, Gareth,” she pants, resting her forehead against the log and squeezing her eyes closed.

  “You can do it, December!” Max shouts, and she opens her eyes and turns her head to look at where he and Mitchell are standing on the next platform.

  “You totally got this,” Mitchell calls, giving her a smile.

  “See? The boys know you’ve got this. And I won’t let anything happen to you,” I say, rubbing her back.

  “Promise?” She moves only her eyes to look at me, and my heart squeezes.

  Christ, this woman has no idea. “I promise, baby. Just trust me.” I lean back and hold out my hand. She studies it for a long moment before she puts her hand in mine, and when she does, I release the breath I was holding and look across to my boys.

  “Max, move to the next platform. Mitchell, I’m gonna send December over to you,” I call out, and Max quickly swings himself onto the next platform while I adjust her rope overhead so it’s clear of mine. “Baby, you’re gonna jump to Mitchell,” I instruct, and she eyes me warily. “I’m not going to leave you here alone. It’s better if you jump to him, he jumps to the next platform, and I come over next.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay.” I touch her cheek with my gloved hand then ask, “Ready?”

  “Not really, but yes.”

  “You’ve got this. Get into position then I want you to jump. It’s not far.”

  “You mean it’s not far across,” she grumbles, making my lips twitch.

  “On three.” I count her off, and she jumps across the open space then squeaks when she lands on the wide platform. Both boys cheer, and Mitchell hugs her, making her laugh. “All right, I’m coming over. Mitchell, go on ahead,” I say, and he jumps to where his brother is, and Max moves on. We continue on like that through that part of the aerial obstacle course, and I listen to her let out a relieved breath when she jumps down to a large wooden deck.