by S. E. Rose
Lanie walks over to me. “You sure you want to date that?”
Giggling, I nod. “Yes, very much so.”
She shakes her head. “I can only take responsibility for the good parts.”
“Whatever, we all know that I’m responsible for any charm he has,” Kylie says with a huff as she starts painting leaves.
I grin as I walk over and grab a paintbrush. This is going to be a long night, but I couldn’t ask for better company.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Clark
I stare at my phone. My parents should be arriving at any moment. I look around at my siblings. Kent is all smiles even though his team didn’t make the World Series this year. I feel like this semester is going by in a blink. I can hardly believe everything that’s transpired over the past two weeks.
Megan looks up at me and grins. “The anticipation is killing me!” she whispers.
I look around us. The house is packed. People are in every room and outside. Thankfully, it’s one of those warm late-fall days.
My birthday was this past week, so I know we will be doing something today to celebrate it, but I don’t even care. I’m more interested in seeing my parents’ reactions to the house and hearing all about their trip. I’ve missed them and my grandparents. And while it’s nice hanging out with my siblings at their homes, there is nothing quite like this house.
Megan looks over at her sister and parents who are waiting on the other side of the room. Her dad fully stocked my parents’ wine cupboard as a welcome-back gift. I glance around. Mrs. Miller and her boyfriend, Mr. Folley, are here. My parents' neighbors Crissy and Mark are here with their daughters. Di’s principal from her school and her husband and the vice principal are out on the deck. Mr. Hannum who owns the local orchard that our family always goes to for apple picking is here. All of our friends including some of Kent’s teammates and good friends are crowded around the deck and backyard. My aunts and uncles and cousins are also here. It’s like everyone who ever came to one of these has stopped by today.
I glance over and see Ash handing a paint marker to the judge who signed off on his adoption, but instead of having him sign a canvas, Ash is pointing to the mural.
“Uh, Lanie,” I say, nudging my sister as Judge Maloney signs the wall, followed by Mrs. Miller. Oh shit.
“What?”
“Your son might be having all the party guests sign the leaves on the tree,” I say.
She looks over and gasps. “Oh shit. Ash!” I see her walk over, but by now at least a dozen people have signed leaves on the tree.
I shrug at Lanie and she throws her hands up in the air. “Hey, if anyone wants to sign or leave a message on the tree, feel free. Ash has pens,” she says.
Kent’s eyes widen and Lanie shrugs. He shakes his head and goes back to caressing Vera’s back. Vera is passed the fuck out and will likely sleep through the whole party because she’s a rock star like that.
“Shit, that was unexpected,” Megan says with a giggle. I reach over and grab a pen for her.
“Might as well sign the wall, you did help paint it after all,” I urge.
She leans over the sofa and finds a small green leaf. I can’t see what she’s writing, but she takes a moment to do it and then tosses the pen to her sister.
“What did you write?” I ask as I squint to read her tiny handwriting.
“Don’t worry about it,” she says. I push her to the side and read it.
“Moore means ‘open land’ and this family has opened more than just their land to others. They have opened their home and their heart. I am humbled and honored to have been a recipient of their love and support. XOXO, Megan (Megladon) Lennox,” I whisper read, and turn to Megan. “Impressive knowledge about my last name.”
She raises one perfectly shaped eyebrow and motions to her shirt, which reads, “Smart Is My Superpower.” She winks and I chuckle, pulling her back against me.
“They are pulling in,” someone says.
“OK, you all know the drill, everyone clear the side entrance. I’m going out to meet them,” Kent says.
“Do you really think they haven’t noticed the huge amount of cars on the street?” I ask Lanie.
She shrugs. “Maybe.”
Megan leans back against me. “I have a birthday surprise for you, by the way,” she states.
“What?”
She elbows my ribs and I grunt. “I’m not telling you, jackass.”
I’m about to ask more questions when the side door opens and in walks my parents, followed closely by my grandparents, and then Kent.
“Surprise!” everyone yells.
Mom jumps and Dad puts a hand to his chest.
“What in the…” Dad trails off as he looks around.
“We might have done a little redecorating for you,” Kent explains from behind them.
“Oh my goodness!” my mom says as she starts crying and hugging everyone.
“Dad, what do you think?” Kent asks.
“It’s amazing!”
We start showing them the new kitchen, breakfast room, and family room. We let Ash show them the constellation lights in the ceiling, but it’s the mural that gets their attention.
“This is so beautiful. I love it,” Mom says with tears still glistening in her eyes. “It’s just perfect.”
“That was Clark’s idea,” Di says.
Mom turns and embraces me. I squeeze her back and kiss the top of her head. “I missed you, Mom.”
“Missed you too, Clarkie. Happy birthday!”
“Thanks!” I had gotten all the regular birthday calls and texts last week, but it’s nice to have my mom hug too.
“Let’s get this party started,” Kent says, and everyone cheers as waiters start bringing around champagne.
“I’d like to make a toast and then please enjoy yourselves,” he says clearing his throat. “Mom, Dad, you have done so much for all of us and this community over the years and we all wanted to give something back to you. We hope this remodel brings you many more years of Saturday parties, birthday parties, and family festivities.”
“Hear, hear,” Lanie and Di say in unison.
Everyone raises glasses and yells “cheers” as the room is filled suddenly with hugs and kisses. I’ve never been more sure about where I want to spend the rest of my life than I am right now.
Megan
After a round of “happy birthday” singing for Clark and a cake, of course, I pull him outside. I had snuck away this week, and with the help of my dad, we bought Clark’s gift and then made a little something special after conferring with his siblings.
“Where are we going?” Clark asks as I drag him to the woods behind the garage. I start climbing the redone ladder to the treehouse. It’s then that he looks up at it.
“What have you done?” he asks.
“I spoke to Kylie and the others and decided you might like a walk down memory lane, well, a modernized version of it. We are having a slumber party tonight,” I declare once I reach the newly renovated balcony of the treehouse. I motion for him to come inside.
“You added a dormer window?” he asks.
I nod. “We needed it so we can use the telescope.” I point to the telescope that I’ve bought him.
“What? Are you serious?” he asks.
“Yep,” I say with a grin.
“This is awesome. I love it. Thank you,” he says as he pulls me in for a kiss.
I lie down in the treehouse and stare up at all the stickers and notes in markers written on the old wood. Clark lies down next to me.
“Lots of memories in here,” he states.
“Yeah.” I turn on my side and stare at him. He grins that goofy Clark grin and everything suddenly seems so perfect.
“You sure you’re doing OK still?” he asks. I know he’s referring to the crazy Anthony situation which I’m still grappling with if I’m being honest with myself.
Shrugging, I gaze into his eyes. “It’ll take some time. It�
��s a lot to process, but I think I’m going to be fine.”
He takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips. “No matter what happens over the next few weeks with our dream job, I’m glad we got stuck working together and I’m glad you came back into my life.”
“Me too,” I whisper. “I love you, Clark Moore.”
His grin widens and he leans forward and kisses me gently before pulling back to search my eyes. “I love you, too, Megan Lennox, always have and always will.” I blush as we continue to stare into each other’s eyes.
“You think it’ll always be this crazy?” I ask.
“What? Us?” he asks. I nod and he looks back over at his parents’ house as Ash runs outside with Kent chasing after him growling like a lion with Vera giggling in his arms. He looks back at me. “Uh, yeah. I think it will, but it’ll be the best type of crazy, I can promise you that.”
I laugh. My heart feels so full it could burst. “Come on, let’s go back to the party,” I state as I get up on all fours to crawl over to the new ladder. I turn back around as I get on the ladder. “But tonight, you and I are going to fulfill my childhood fantasy of doing it in the treehouse,” I tell him with a wink.
“That could be arranged.”
“Oh, it has been, and it will be,” I assure him.
He smirks and follows me back inside. We walk around the garage and enter the side door and I freeze.
The door is closed slightly, and I hear his parents inside. “Jesus,” I mutter, and then I see it, a small sign next to the laundry room that had just read “laundry room” earlier, now says “occupied” in red backlit text.
“What in the…” Clark trails off, yanking on my hand as he pulls me toward the breakfast room.
“Was that…were your parents…” I scramble for words. Clark and I had once walked in on them as kids. They tried to say that they were doing laundry. And after that, every time they said they were doing laundry, Clark and I would run out of the house screaming and giggling. I smile at the memory.
“Uh, yeah, but the sign is new,” he states.
“Oh, shit, you saw my sign,” Kent says as he runs up to us with a laugh and claps Clark on his back.
“Yeah, how does that work?”
“Motion sensors,” Kent states with a wink. “But no one is going to tell them that, OK?”
We nod, and I pretend to zip my lips closed.
“Good,” Kent says as he bounces Vera in his arms. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go find Ash. Apparently, Vera is ‘it’ in this epic game of tag.”
He heads off bouncing his daughter whose baby giggles echo down the hallway as he runs out the side door with her.
“I can’t believe you guys rigged the laundry room,” Clark says on a huff as he sits down at the breakfast table.
Di and Lanie shrug. “We have children now, we can’t have their retinas burned out by finding their grandparents in the laundry room,” Lanie explains.
“I still have nightmares,” Kylie concedes as she leans on Levi’s shoulder.
Clark looks around at all his siblings and their significant others as Ash, Kent, and Vera zoom past us. Ash trips and Kent reaches down and grabs him, hoisting him over one shoulder with Vera on the other. Both kids are giggling and Kent grins as he looks down at all of us. He glances between Di and Kylie. “You guys are up. We need more of these rugrats.”
Di giggles. “Let’s just get through my wedding first, OK?”
Kylie rolls her eyes. “Dude, our house isn’t even done yet and someone”—she glances at Levi—“hasn’t popped the question yet.”
Levi smirks. “All in good time.”
Tabby coughs and everyone turns to look at her.
“No,” Kent’s face goes white.
“Uh, yes?” Tabby says, patting her belly.
“No…no, no, no,” Kent repeats.
Tabby glares at him. “Yes, yes, yes.”
“Double fudge cakes,” Kent exclaims.
Garrett, Brixton, and Levi chuckle under their breath as they uncomfortably look between Tabby and Kent. Di, Lanie, and Kylie squeal in delight and pounce on Tabby, pulling her into a group hug.
“Get over here, Megladon!” Di says with a chuckle as she motions for me to join their girl hug. I get up and walk over and am yanked into the circle.
“Damn, bro. Your spermies are out of control. And you all were worried about me in college,” Clark says with a smirk.
“Eff off,” Kent huffs. He looks back at Tabby as we all pull away from our group hug. “When? How?”
Tabby rolls her eyes. “Remember our trip to Levi’s island in August? I think that might be it.”
“That was almost three months ago! You’ve been sitting on this information for two months?” Kent cries out as he sets Ash down who scrambles away, clearly sensing the adult conversation. He passes Vera to Clark. Vera grabs Clark's finger and curls up against his chest, putting her thumb in her mouth.
Tabby looks sheepish. “I wasn’t sure at first. And then I went to the doctor a few weeks ago. And I was looking for a good time to mention it. You’ve been busy in the postseason. So, I figured I’d wait. And here we are.”
He glares at her. “Thanks for letting me know before the kid is born.”
Tabby stands up and puts her hands on her hips. “Sorry that I was trying to help you focus. Meanwhile, I had to hide two months of vomiting from you. So, don’t even start with me.”
I look at Clark and raise my eyebrows. Everyone else is looking everywhere but at Kent and Tabby.
“You’re sick?” Kent asks, his entire demeanor changing as he starts to walk over to his wife.
She shrugs. “I was…at first. But I’m starting to feel better this week.”
He gets down on one knee and cautiously reaches out to Tabby’s belly that’s not even showing yet. “I can’t believe it,” he whispers.
Tabby places a hand under Kent’s chin and he looks up at her in awe. Every woman at the table is now visibly swooning as he reaches out to touch Tabby’s cheek. “You’re amazing,” he says quietly.
I feel like a voyeur. I can’t look away.
Tabby grins. “Maybe it’s a boy this time,” she says.
Kent shrugs. “I don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl as long as it’s healthy. I love you, Tabby Cat,” he says as he leans up and plants a kiss on his wife’s lips. He picks her up as he stands and twirls her in a circle.
I glance over at Di who is mouthing to Garrett, “I want a baby too.” Garrett’s face goes pale but he nods. She grins. I chuckle as I elbow Clark who’s trying not to laugh too much because Vera is now falling asleep against him.
We all break out in cheers and “congratulations” as the Moores walk back in, looking like they did not just do the deed in the laundry room.
“What’s going on?” Mrs. Moore asks.
“Baby number two will be joining our clan in May,” Tabby announces as she covers Kent’s hand that is protectively over her belly.
“Oh my gosh! That’s so exciting!” Mrs. Moore screeches as she launches herself onto her daughter-in-law.
“Congrats, you two,” Mr. Moore says with a giant grin on his face.
“What’s happening in here?” Gran Tilly asks as she walks in and looks at us. Gran Mill, Nana Betty, and PopPop Bob are all behind her.
“Tabby’s preggers again,” Clark says.
“I told you that was them in the laundry room,” Nana Betty says to PopPop. “I know what our daughter sounds like and that wasn’t her.”
All of us nearly choke as we start awkwardly laughing.
“Mom!” Mrs. Moore says with a hand on her chest as she pulls away from Tabby.
“Oh, come on. You know that we all know. This is not a state secret,” Nana says with a pointed look.
Tabby looks to Kent. “Well, I didn’t think about that time. It was the weekend before we left for the Bahamas…” She trails off with a pensive look on her face.
Kent starts laughin
g. “Oh my God, it might have been. Holy shit! What are we going to name the kid now? I was thinking something cool like Nassau, but now, I mean should we name them after the dryer or the laundry detergent?”
Clark starts laughing next. “Spin Cycle Moore. This poor child doesn’t stand a chance.”
Everyone is now bursting out laughing.
I look at Clark and he looks at me with a raised eyebrow and motions toward the laundry room. I shake my head. “No way,” I whisper.
“Oh, come on, everyone else has, apparently,” he says with a wink.
I bite my lip trying to stop my laughter as I shake my head.
“It’s gonna happen,” he states.
“Clark!” I scold.
He reaches over and pulls my shirt until I’m an inch away from his face. “Spin Cycle, Vera, and Ash are going to need cousins.”
My eyes widen. “No way! We aren’t even graduated yet,” I whisper yell.
He laughs. “Don’t worry, I’m not ready for that yet either, but we should get a lot of practice in first.” He gently hands Vera over to Tabby.
“Well, since I’m home for the weekend, I’m going to do some laundry,” Clark says as he reaches down and picks me up, tossing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carrying me toward the laundry room.
Everyone starts laughing, his siblings hoot and holler at us and I know my face is bright red when he sets me down next to the washing machine.
“Clark!” I yell but I’m also laughing.
He puts his hands on either side of my face. “Promise me that when we buy a house someday, the laundry room will be tucked away somewhere no one goes.”
I grin. “I can make that concession.”
“Good,” he says as he shuts the door. We both look up and see the tiniest little black dot on the cute photo hanging on the wall.
“It’s not a camera, right?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
He grins. “Nope, just a motion sensor. Now, about all that practicing…” He trails off as he leans down and kisses me. I still hear everyone laughing but I don’t care. I know they all love me, and I love them. But mostly, I now know that nothing else matters but the man who is now claiming me with his kiss. Together we can conquer anything. Together we are in perfectly imperfect love.
