by JA Low
“Where’s the baby?” he asks.
“In my tummy.” Stacey points to her belly, which I can’t wait to see full and blossoming with life.
“Does that mean you won’t be my mummy and daddy anymore?” We all freeze. How the hell do we answer this? Lockie has never called us mom or dad; it’s always been Oscar or Stacey. Has he wanted to call us mom and dad? Is it okay if he wants to do that?
“Do you think Stacey and Oscar are your mummy and daddy?” Hunter asks Lockie the question. He looks over at his brother and shrugs, then nestles his face into my leg. Hunter gets up and kneels down to Lockie’s height. “Do you want to call Stacey and Oscar, mummy and daddy?” Lockie nods his head, my heart breaking for the little guy. He was so young when his family passed away and I guess the others were always old enough to understand. Hunter looks up at Stacey and I, gaging our reactions to Lockie’s comments.
“I think we would be fine if he wants to call you that,” Amelia jumps in, Emma and Becca nod in agreement.
“There you go, buddy, Stacey and Oscar would love for you to call them that,” Hunter explains to his little brother. The smile on Lockie’s face melts me. He opens his arms for me to pick him up, and I do. He wraps his little arms around my neck.
“Daddy,” he whispers my new title into my ear and it breaks me, my heart explodes with so much love that my eyes well up with tears. I look over at Stacey and she too is crying. He pulls away and looks at me. “Can I have a brother?” he asks, and I laugh.
“We will try our best, little buddy.” He gives me a nod and reaches out for Stacey and cuddles her before going back to his pizza.
“Well that went well.” Stacey snuggles into me as we lay in bed.
“Yeah it did. Once the shock wore off. And what about Lockie?”
“That was beautiful. He is so sweet. I wasn’t expecting it at all. The poor little guy must have been thinking about it for ages and never knew how to mention it.” Stacey’s eyes get glassy again thinking about it.
“I guess he’s going to be a big brother to this little one.” I place my hand on her stomach.
“Do you think we should bring them up like that instead of cousins?” Stacey asks concerned.
“Technically, they are cousins. But in the family if Lockie is going to call us mom and dad, then don’t you think that would confuse the baby if we say actually, your cousins? I think it’s something we can broach when they are older.”
“I feel guilty though. I feel like I’m taking Naomi and Simon’s title from them.”
“Oh, baby, no. Lockie is little, he doesn’t understand. Every night we tell him to say goodnight to his parents and grandparents, and he does. If we keep that alive and explain to him the story of what happened, their memory will always live on.” Stacey’s arm tightens around me.
“Stupid hormones,” she grumbles as tears fall down her cheeks.
“Little one.” I look down at her.
“I know, I know. I just want to do the right thing.”
“Our family may not be conventional, but it’s no different to us being called uncle and aunty by the Dirty Texas kids.” She nods in agreement. “We may not all be blood, but we are family.”
“You’re right. We are all one big dysfunctional Dirty Texas family.”
“Exactly, so who cares what anyone else thinks, what works for us, is what works for us. Our kids’ happiness is the most important thing in the world.”
“Fuck, I love you.” Stacey grins, leaning over and giving me a kiss. Something she hasn’t done much of recently due to it making her feel sick.
42
Stacey
Today is the big reveal. We have invited everyone down to our place in Malibu for a party. We told everyone it was to taste some new items on our menu, but little do they all know we are going to hit them with a bombshell. I caved into Amelia’s idea of a gender reveal party too, which if I’m being honest, is pretty cool. I mean I am totally dying to find out what we are having. We are both happy either way, but Lockie said he wants a brother. So fingers crossed he gets his wish; the poor little guy is outnumbered with girls.
Everyone is arriving, the kids have run off to play with the animals; it’s a beautiful spring night.
“I’m starving,” Derrick moans, rubbing his belly. “Lucky I love you guys, because there is no way in hell I would be traveling to the end of the earth for anyone else.” We give him some champagne. A beautiful selection of food has been laid out; we asked our chef to add in some new ideas just to keep the rouse. Everyone is happy, drinking and eating, the kids are running around and everyone is in a jovial mood. Oscar taps against his beer bottle.
“Hey, guys, can I have your attention, please.” Everyone slowly stops their conversations and turns their attention to Oscar. “Thank you all for coming down to Malibu, we know it’s a long way.” Oscar looks at Derrick. “So thank you.” I link my hand with his. “We hope that you like some of the new ideas for our summer menu.” There is a murmur of agreement. “But that isn’t actually the reason we had asked you to come down here.” Everyone looks around confused; whispering between each other as they try and work out what is going on. The kids walk out each holding a white balloon with blue and pink tassels on them.
“You’re pregnant,” Derrick screams out as the kids stand by us.
“Yes. We’re having a baby,” Oscar tells everyone. They all scream and squeal and start clapping. “And today we thought we would find out what we are having,” Oscar tells our family and friends. “So, kids, in three, two, one, pop the balloons.” There is a huge bang as the kids all pop their balloons and shower the crowd in bright blue confetti. “Where having a boy!” Oscar screams. He turns and picks me up, swinging me around in his arms. We’re having a boy.
“I’m going to be a big brother,” Lockie tells the crowd, which makes everyone congratulate him.
“You cheeky bitch. Hiding your little Viking baby from all of us.” Derrick gives me a hug and a kiss as I join the group sitting around a table.
“I know. I’m so sorry. We wanted to announce it all at once.” I take a sip of my mineral water.
“You’re having a boy,” Sienna squeals, bouncing Willow in her lap.
“Oscar is so excited. So is Lockie.”
“That was the cutest thing, him saying he’s going to be big brother,” Isla adds, cradling and feeding Mia.
“I know. When we told the kids, he asked if the baby was going to be his brother. He’s so little to really understand, but he knows he has two sets of parents, the ones that live in the stars and us.” My friends give me sad smiles.
“I already feel sorry for your vagina, having to birth a mini Viking,” Derrick adds, making me choke on my water.
“The Dirty Texas family is almost complete. We’re just waiting on Derrick now.” Vanessa points to him.
“Fine, I wasn’t going to say anything.” He looks between all of us. “This is Stacey’s moment.” I wave him away. “Fine, I have started looking for a surrogate.” Everyone gasps, and we all congratulate him. “You bitches, calm ya tits. I said I’ve started looking. You can celebrate me once I’ve knocked up the lucky lady.” He grins.
“You are going to be the best dad.” Sienna squeezes his hand.
“Thank you, babe. I’m kind of shitting myself,” he confesses to us.
“Babe, if I can do it, you can do it.” I give him some support.
“Yes. But you all have hunky men beside you, helping you. I’m going to be doing it all alone.” There is a deep sadness to his tone.
“You can borrow Axel any time you like,” Olivia tells him. Derrick’s eyes light up. “In a non-sexual way, that is,” she quickly adds, which makes us all burst out laughing.
“You’re such a spoil sport, Liv,” he jokes.
“So, it’s going to be a big year this year,” Vanessa muses. “Stacey is knocked up.” She points to me. “My babies are turning two in a couple of weeks.” She lets out a heavy sigh. “Th
en we have a heap of first birthdays with Poppy and Daisy.” She points to Olivia. “Then Willow and Mia.” She looks over at Sienna and Issy. “And possibly Derrick is going to knock up a lady and meet the love of his life.” Vanessa raises her glass to him.
“It’s funny, in a few short years Dirty Texas has gone from picking up groupies to changing diapers,” Sienna giggles.
Things have changed so much in the five years since Sienna and Derrick jumped on a plane to fly half way across the world to start over again. Who knew that decision would change all of our lives forever? Fate had other ideas for me. I was so sure, so cocky that I thought I knew what I wanted in life. My ambition, goals and plans would help me achieve where I wanted to be in life. Oscar wasn’t in my plan; no man was, other than to be nothing more than a live in sex toy. Would Oscar and I be where we are today if I hadn’t taken the job? I don’t think so. I know we would have met, because I would have come to see Ryder after he was born, but would we have made the connection we did being around each other all the time? I doubt it. We probably would have had sex, that was a given, but we would have been just another notch on each other’s bedposts. It’s funny how life has other plans for you when you’re planning your life. I wouldn’t change a thing about how my life has turned out, well besides one glaringly obvious one, my family. But everything else, the good, the bad, it’s all brought me to this place of happiness, contentment, peace. I’m excited about what the future holds and I’m glad that Oscar will be by my side on this crazy journey, there isn’t anyone else I would rather be doing it with.
43
Oscar
“Oscar!” Stacey screams from the shower. Thankfully, I was just in the bedroom putting the laundry away. I drop everything and run into the bathroom.
“What? What?” I skid to a stop in front of the glass.
“My water just broke.” Stacey’s eyes widen then a giggle escapes her mouth.
“Shit!” I run my hands through my hair. “Shit! Shit!” I say over and over again.
“Hospital bag. And call your parents,” Stacey tells me. I rush out of the bathroom then back in. “Do you need help out of the shower? Are you going to be okay?” I check on my heavily pregnant wife.
“Just go. I’ll be fine.” Nodding at her calm reaction, I rush back out into the bedroom and grab my phone. “Mom, it’s go time,” I scream before she even has time to greet me.
“Oh. Okay, sweetie. Oh my God. This is exciting. Wow. Okay. See you soon, honey.” She hangs up. I rush downstairs in a panic, the kids all look up at me and they see it on my face straight away.
“It’s go time, team.” The youngest girls scream and run around the living room crazily.
“I’ll call Hunter. Go. We’ll be fine,” Amelia tells me. Okay, she’s got this. She’s fine. They’re all fine. I rush back upstairs and see Stacey walking out of the bathroom naked, stopping me in my tracks. I take her all in, the swell of her breasts, the way her body has filled out, embracing its new journey into giving new life.
“Would you stop ogling me and help me get ready,” Stacey hisses as she grabs her stomach.
“Babe, are you okay?” She shakes her head.
“Just a contraction. They’ve started.” Shit. This springs me into action, I grab her kaftan and throw it over her head and she slowly dresses herself. I throw her ballet slippers at her feet. Grabbing the hospital bag on one shoulder, I wrap my arm around her and begin to navigate her toward the lower level.
“See ya, kiddos.” Stacey smiles through gritted teeth. Lockie comes running toward her, I stop him before he can headbutt her stomach.
“Is the baby coming?” Stacey nods. “Yay. I want to see him.”
“Later, sweetheart, he will be here later,” Stacey tells him. Amelia picks him up in her arms and he gives Stacey a kiss on the cheek and then a kiss on her stomach.
“Okay. See you all soon.” The girls wish her good luck and I carefully escort her to the car. Cautiously, Stacey gets into the car and once she is settled I screech out of the driveway. Stacey’s hand reaches out and her fingers dig into my forearm. “Slow the fuck down,” she screams at me. Right. Yes. I’m so stressed out I didn’t realize I was speeding. “It’s going to be okay, babe. I’m not going to have the baby in the car.” Warily, I look over at her and let out the breath I had been holding in.
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Eriksen. It’s a boy.” The doctor hands over the pink wriggly little thing, placing him on Stacey’s chest. The little dude starts to suckle her breast straight away. My heart is bursting with pride at my warrior woman; she just gave birth to a little human. A human that I love with all my heart even before I know him. He lets out a couple of cries before resuming his feed. The doctor and nurses continue to work around us, but we are so blissful in our little bubble we barely notice them.
“What do you think we should call him?” I look down at my little family.
“Theo.” Stacey grins. “Theo James Eriksen.” Tears fall down her cheeks as she gives her father’s name to our little man’s middle name. I lean forward and kiss her forehead.
“It is perfect. He is perfect. You are perfect.” I’m overwhelmed with it all. “Welcome to the world, little TJ.”
44
Sienna and Evan
Twenty Years on
Where are they now?
Sienna and Evan have retired to the white sandy beaches of the beautiful east coast of Australia, in the beachside town of Byron Bay. Sienna and Derrick sold their popular boutiques ten years after starting them. They had shops in Los Angeles, New York, London, Saint Tropez, Hong Kong, Stockholm, Byron Bay and Sydney at the time.
They moved full time to Byron Bay to take over the health retreat Sienna and Vanessa’s parents owned together when they all retired. Since taking over the retreat, they have expanded Tanderra, which means resting place in the local Aboriginal language, into many parts of the world. Their health and wellness retreats are the best in the world and can be found in some of the most exotic locations such as, Bali, New Zealand, Iceland, Thailand, Mexico, India, Canada, South Africa, England, France, Italy and the United States where they have serval locations in The Hamptons, Malibu and Napa Valley.
Dirty Texas Records was eventually bought out by a bigger company for over a billion dollars, ten years ago. The guys had accumulated a large catalogue of some of the best artists in the world with offices in Los Angles, New York, London and Sydney. The boys celebrated their twenty-year anniversary as a band with a sold-out world tour. They were able to bring their kids too, showing them all how they used to rock out back in the day. Evan is happy assisting Sienna in running Tanderra while semi-retired. He enjoys spending his days at the beach, golfing or whale watching from his back deck.
Their fours kids are now all grown up. Ryder, twenty-three, and Levi, twenty-two, have followed in their father’s footsteps and entered the music world. Evan takes pride in being heavily involved in Ryder and Levi’s careers, helping propel Wyld to international stardom. The boys say that Evan interferes too much, especially when he joins them on tour. They think he’s reliving his youth through them. It’s funny; they find it utterly embarrassing and complain to their mother all the time about it, constantly asking her to give him something to do so he stops following them.
Willow, twenty-one, graduated from University with a bachelor’s degree in Business, she has worked for the family business since she was a teenager helping at the Byron Bay retreat. Willow has just moved back to America to start management training at The Malibu retreat.
Matilda, nineteen, also known as Tilly, has followed after her grandmother and is a yoga instructor, she used to teach the classes at the Byron Bay retreat, but she wanted to join Willow in America and has moved with her sister to The Malibu retreat.
Sienna is suffering badly from empty nest syndrome, but thankfully she’s extremely busy which keeps her from butting into her kids’ lives. Evan enjoys having the house to themselves. This way they can start e
njoying naked date nights, something he started once the kids left.
45
Vanessa and Christian
Once Dirty Texas Records was sold, Vanessa and Christian took over the full time running of the Tanderra health retreats with Sienna and Evan. Vanessa and Christian moved back to Byron Bay to help run the resort, but once they started to expand globally, Vanessa and Christian moved back to Los Angles and settled near Malibu as they expanded into North America.
Ruby, twenty-two, moved to London when she finished school to study fashion and started up a clothing brand with her cousin Poppy, called Ruby P. This has become a viral trend online, catapulting them to international stardom.
Sadie, twenty-two, followed a very different path than her sister, obtaining a teaching degree in the hopes that she could help educate people less fortunate than herself. While working abroad during the summers in the resorts, she met a lot of the staff working minimum wage jobs. On doing some research, she discovered this was because of their education circumstances. Sadie came back from her first solo overseas journey a changed girl and started the Tanderra Foundation. This helps employees get an education so that they could progress higher within the company.
But the biggest surprise was Vanessa falling naturally pregnant a couple years after the twins. Something she didn’t think would happen.
Along came Max, eighteen, a beautiful surprise for them. Christian was no longer out number with the women in his life. Max is finishing his last year of high school and he’s the star quarterback on his high school team. He has his pick of colleges offering full scholarships to him.
