The Third Wife

by Silver, Jordan

  Chapter 13

  Alana

  Things seemed to be going fine. Everyone took the news as was to be expected, with well wishes and lots of advice from my mother and mothers in law. I could see already that Margo and Jonathan's two other wives Celia and Jane were going to be hands on grandmothers. Darlene was already pouting about how much more time they were all gonna have with the baby than her. I'm sure dad's ears will be ringing before the night was over.

  Thank goodness mom didn't let on that that she and dad knew before everyone else. I didn't want any hard feelings. Arlene's reaction kinda threw me for a loop. She'd been softening towards me a lot lately but still, her reaction was...huge. I guess my idea of ignoring their asses and doing my own thing regardless of what they said or thought was paying off. Or Cody was laying down the law.

  Sharon on the other hand was a whole other story. Cody could believe what he wants. He believes that she would come around eventually I just didn't see it. What she didn't seem to realize, which was surprising since she was a second wife, was that this was just as hard on me as it was her. Personally I think that crazy bitch is narcissistic anyway, so nothing is gonna change her from the way she is. All I can do is stay the fuck outta her way and hope she stayed out of mine.

  I had a baby to protect now. I would take that bitch down quick if she tried anything. Not to mention Cody would probably lose his shit. The man takes being overprotective to new heights. For some reason neither of us wanted to know the sex of the baby. We were more than happy to learn at the end. I didn't care I could spoil a boy just as well as I could a girl.

  I couldn't wait. I can't believe that only a few short months ago I was freaking out at the thought of having this baby, now I could hardly wait to meet him or her. On that thought I went over to my hubby and laid one on him. He blushed, but he drew me closer, and kissed me back onlookers and all.

  It's been two months and what months they have been. Where should I start? Let's start with Arlene. The woman is trying, she really is, but I still don't trust her ass. Not that she's done anything, it's just in my world you don't go from mean girl to BFF in the blink of an eye. Yes, I understand about forgiveness and letting shit go. I also know that's not the world we live in. I might be young but I'm not stupid, for all I know she could be softening me up for the kill. Fuck that.

  So while she's now being all kinds of helpful I'm still keeping my eye on her ass. Sharon, have to give that bitch her props. She was a bitch from the get and she's still a bitch. When hubby is around she will all kinds of calm and shit. But as soon as he's not around the viper shows its tongue. I think I've told her to go fuck herself at least once a day in the last two months. She hasn't had her daily dose yet today, that's because I haven't left my bed yet.

  Cody has become a mad man not that he wasn't wild in bed before. But something about my pregnant body seems to trigger something in him. I was almost tempted to ask Arlene if it was the same when she was carrying Kate, but that would be all kinds of wrong. He had also lost his mind in other ways.

  We were working on the nursery and the girls' rooms. By that I mean I was watching others do the work while I said what I wanted done. Apparently painting, like soap making was a no no! If he had his way the only thing I would be allowed to do for the rest of this pregnancy was breathe. I had to sneak around if I wanted to do anything, and it was like he had radar. Every time I even had the thought to do something, even something as innocent as taking one of my long walks he would call me, I kid you not.

  It wasn't the walking he was against. It was the long walks alone. Some of the places I walked were pretty isolated so I understood his apprehension there. He wanted me to take Arlene with me on these walks and I have, but it's not the same.

  Sharon and I butted heads a few weeks ago in our first real big blow up. It was because of the girls' rooms. I thought that since they were in the same wing they should have their rooms closer as opposed to on opposite ends from each other. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who had come up with this layout. That shit did not spell happy family to me, it was more like divide and rule. I could see her trying to turn little Crystal into a mini her, but since the kid was half Cody's, no dice.

  I had the workmen fix up two rooms next to each other. Arlene thought it was a great idea, Sharon, not so much. The fight started because she tried to stop the men from doing what I wanted. But it was the way she did it that really got me riled up. First of all she had no right to show her displeasure with me to outsiders. These men were all part of our community so they understood about our lifestyle. So when she told them that she had superiority over me and her word meant more than mine I lost my shit.

  I actually grabbed her elbow and dragged her out the room. Unlike her I had no interest in airing our dirty laundry in front of others. She'd bitched and moaned about my hands on her but I was too pissed to care.

  "First of all you have no superiority over me so get that shit out of your damn head. You're two steps away from lunacy so no, hell no. Second do you really think I would make a call on something like this without discussing it with OUR husband first? He gave the okay, because the three of us, him, me and Arlene; thinks this is a good idea. They're sisters they should be close to each other. If Crystal wants to spend the night in Katie's room she can.

  Your separatist bullshit is over everyone can now see what you're up to, so kill, that shit."

  "I have no idea what you're talking about."

  "I'm so sure, listen up Queen bee. You're that only in your head, no one wants to hear anything an angry bitter has been have to say. Haven't you ever heard you can win more bees with honey? Damn, and stop the madness already, you can't get rid of me. If you want to really lose your husband, keep up the bullshit. Not that I care, I wish he would chuck your crazy ass somewhere so I don't have to look at you. But hey, we can't always get what we want, as you have been learning of late." Yes I could be a mean ass bitch, but I'd had enough of her shit.

  Poor Cody has been bending over backwards trying to get her into the fold. He spent most of his evenings talking to her while Arlene and I were with the girls. He took her out to dinner, as well as Arlene and I, sometimes all of us went out together. But still nothing was enough for her. She seemed to only be happy when he was focused solely on her. Good luck with that bitch.

  "I wonder how you haven't offed Arlene in her sleep by now, with your demented ass. You had a whole other plan going there though didn't you? Turn her into your own personal Stepford wife." She'd turned red as a cherry at that and if she could've she would've smacked me one.

  "You're a stupid little whore and you have no idea what you're talking about. You might have MY husband fooled but you don't fool me. You're nothing but a tart who thinks to alienate my husband's affections but I will win in the end."

  "Bitch please, let me know how that works out for you. As to me being a tart, you might be right there. I do love me some Cody in the sack." I smirked after saying that shit, it drove her nuts.

  "I wish you'd never come here...."

  "This is news how? Listen I could care less what you think. This is about the girls' room and since this is Cody's house and he gave the okay for the change, take your ass somewhere and stop annoying people." I'd walked off and left her standing there.

  Needless to say Cody had heard a completely different version of events. And when he had approached me all hot under the collar, probably after having a hard day at work only to walk through the door to complaints. I'd given him the finger, told him to fuck off and left his stunned ass standing in the hallway before heading up to my room to rant at the walls. He'd followed me a few hours later all sheepish and full of apologies. I'd listened to him but said not one word to him. That night he had dragged me from my bed to his just to hold me. I still didn't talk to his ass. If he wanted to pretend that his second wife wasn't bat shit crazy that was his business. As for me I would be proceeding with caution.

  Chapter 14

 
Alana

  His mothers were another matter. I never had more spa days and hair salon visits in L.A. And that was beauty central. These women were hardcore. They knew how to live; and how to spend money. I was enjoying spending Cody's and he loved it, weird. Darlene was all kinds of jealous. I had to FaceTime with her for at least an hour each day. At which time she proceeded to talk to my tummy, another whack job. She had like a hundred names picked out already. Cody and I were waiting on that though.

  I never had so many hands on my body in my life. If it wasn't Cody it was the girls, they liked to talk to whoever was in there too. I rolled my well -fucked ass out of bed finally as my phone started to ring. Cody had been gone for a few hours already, but he’d been so thorough this morning I took me that long to get up. I don’t know how he does it. I know he visits both of them so where does he get the energy?

  It was the doctor's office calling.

  "Mrs. Jackson, we need you to come in today if you can."

  "What, why, I was just there, is something wrong?" My hand went right to my stomach as my heart dropped.

  "Oh no, no, nothing like that. The doctor just wants to go over some things with you that can't be done over the phone. So can you come in?" The nurse didn't sound nervous or anything so I guess everything was okay.

  "Sure I'll be right there." Should I call Cody? I didn't think so, they said it was nothing maybe I'll wait. I got dressed and left the house for the docs'. He had them do another sonogram for some reason, but he kept saying it was fine. In his office he was all calm smiles, so I relaxed again.

  "What's going on doc?"

  "Where's Cody? He should be here for this." Now I'm scared again.

  "He's in meetings all day, please tell me what's wrong with our baby."

  "Nothing's wrong dear, it's just at your last check up I noticed something a little unusual and wanted to double check to be sure."

  "Unusual how?" I was at the edge of my seat.

  "Well...there was more than one heartbeat." I fell back in my seat, what the fuck?

  "Two..." He shook his head, my heart raced and my head spun.

  Cody

  I'm standing outside my building waiting for her. They had called me from the doctor's office to say she was on her way. I still didn't understand how they could let her drive after she'd fainted. But when doc had assured me that she was fine and that she had insisted, I understood her stubbornness. We were going to have a go round about that later. Right now I wanted to know what the heck was going on. Doc insisted that it was nothing for me to be worried about but that was easier said than done.

  When you hear that your heart had fainted, you were bound to worry. Especially when she's six months pregnant with your child. I saw her pull up and went to get her. I kissed her before I could help myself. The fact that she was here and she seemed okay made me lose it a little.

  "What's going on wildflower?" I put my hands on either side of her stomach where my kid lay.

  "I think you might want to sit down for this one baby."

  "No tell me." I looked into her eyes. There was no fear there that was good.

  "You feel anything strange in there? Like maybe little bit has more than two arms or something?"

  I was confused. I had no idea what she was talking about. Was something wrong with the baby after all? "What?" I shook my head to let her know I wasn't following.

  "Hold onto your hat baby daddy. There're three little tykes in there." She was smiling at me, my ears were ringing, her face was beginning to blur. Did she just say? I think I mouthed the word three before I hit the pavement. As my wildflower would say' well shit.'

  Alana

  I sat on the ground next to my car with my husband's head in my lap. On TV these things are over rather quickly. In real life they're a bit scary and last longer. At least he was breathing. The nurse had caught me when I fainted thank goodness. I hadn't even attempted to catch this one since he would've taken me down with him. He had a slight bruise on his head where he hit when he landed, but nothing serious, there was no blood.

  He started showing signs of coming to life as I stroked his temple soothingly.

  "Wildflower?"

  "Right here babe."

  "Did you say...more than two?" He turned to look up at me. I don't think he realized as yet that we were sitting on the ground in the parking lot.

  "Uh huh." He got this big goofy grin on his face.

  "One of them has got to be a boy." He actually fist pumped the air.

  "Hey." I pulled his hair playfully. "They could all be little princesses." He kissed my tummy.

  "And daddy will love you all dearly, but please, please, please, one of you be a Junior." He climbed to his feet and helped me up.

  "Let's go celebrate."

  "Don't you have work?"

  "Are you kidding? This calls for a celebration, we'll tell everyone later if you'd like. But right now, it's just you, me, and the baby bump." He patted my tummy. So cute.

  "Okay, what should we do?"

  "I don't know, anything you want, name it, we'll do it." I had to give it some thought. I just really wanted to be alone with him for now. To enjoy the joy that was running through both of us at our good fortune.

  "How about a nice long drive in the country side? Since you won't let me walk anymore, I miss the scenery. We can even have a picnic in my meadow."

  "If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do." He called up Constance to let her know something had come up and he'd be gone for the rest of the day. We took my jeep since he'd driven the Aston today, and apparently I needed more room. Talk about the power of suggestion. We stopped at the local deli and got picnic food and bought a blanket from the boutique across the street. He held my hand the whole time. People probably thought he had lost his damn mind since he had a silly smile on his face the whole time.

  Chapter 15

  Cody

  Triplets, holy...man I haven't come down from my high yet. I knew this girl was going to be something special. Knew she was going to bring more into my life, into our lives. For some reason today her meadow seemed brighter, happier, more alive. My love felt more. There are no words for what I'm feeling. I'm a private person by nature, today I feel like shouting my joy from the rooftops.

  She's lying across my lap as I play in her hair. I've already made sure she ate enough. She moaned and groaned about me turning her into a pig, but there was no way she was eating less than she needed. Three babies, oh man, oh man, oh man. Later, after I've calmed down I'm calling doc to find out everything we needed to be doing for her and the babies. She'd already snatched my phone when I started surfing the net for information on multiples.

  "You'll be even more of a tyrant now I suppose."

  "It's not tyrannical for a husband to want to make sure that his wife and unborn children are safe and well taken care of." I loved saying that word, children.

  "We have a lot to do, like the nursery for one, we're gonna have to expand it. We're gonna have to go shopping again, get two more of everything. Oh my, I know they make strollers for twins but do they make them for triplets?"

  "I'm sure they do Cody, stop worrying about this stuff. Today we're just gonna celebrate the fact that we're getting a three for one deal. Tomorrow's soon enough to put on your worrying cap."

  "I'm too excited, I can't wait, let's go look at stuff now."

  "Cody are you serious?"

  I really was. This was monumental, huge, it's not something that happened everyday. The conception of any child was amazing to me, but three! It’s gonna take me a long time to come down from this high if ever.

  "Okay crazy man, let's go. Where're we going anyway?"

  "To the mall, they have more selections there."

  Alana

  Cody has officially lost his mind, that's all I can say. He had me walking in and out of every baby store in the damn mall. Some of the stuff he was having delivered to the house. I had the honor of carrying around a teddy bear that was so sof
t and plush. I almost didn't want to let it go. That one he bought for me. The other three that were almost my size, that he insisted on getting for the nursery, were being delivered. We remembered to get some things for Katie and Crystal, couldn't have our girls feeling left out.

  Speaking of which. "Do you plan on telling your wives about the trips?"

  "Don't you think we should?"

  "I'm not sure it's a good idea, besides they already know we're having a baby, what's another two gonna change?"

  "Well...you are gonna need their help with the babies when they come."

  Come again; oh hell no those bitches aren't getting nowhere near my babies. Not until they can defend themselves, which should be in about thirty years. Of course I didn't say any of that to him, didn't want to burst his bubble. Maybe I should rent The Hand That Rocks The Cradle for him to watch tonight.

  "Besides they're going to wonder about the nursery expansion and the need for three of everything."

  "Or maybe they'll think what they always do. That I'm a spoilt bitch from Cali who has to do everything bigger and better than them." He sighed and gave me a look. Oooookay. We're in our happy place and everything is rainbow colored. Got you, carry on. "Well shit, okay. Though I was thinking more along the lines of them staying on their side of the house and me staying on mine."

  "Alana!" Uh oh warning voice.

  "What, no good! It was worth a try." He gave me a nudge for that one.

  "Behave yourself okay."

  "Yeah, you wait for that one." He actually kissed the hell out of me right there in the mall.

  Okay it's official. Hubby is in a whole other dimension. The man is baby crazy. We were finally finished with the mad hatter's shopping spree. To say we had a shitload of stuff, not to mention what’s to be delivered would be the understatement of the century. "I do want to tell the mothers though, yours and mine."