by Lisa Bilbrey
“No, no, it’s perfect,” she insisted. “Thank you. I love it.”
“Oh, good,” he said, chuckling. “The tears threw me for a minute.”
Elle smiled and looked at him. “I’m just tired. Been a long —”
“Few months?” he supplied, interrupting her.
“Yeah,” she murmured and looked back down at the book. “Do you feel like I don’t love you anymore?”
“What? Of course not!” he exclaimed. “Why do you ask?”
Elle shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
“Have I made you doubt yourself somehow?”
“No,” she said, slowly.
“I have, haven’t I?” he asked, groaning as he fell back on the bed. “Ugh, I’m a failure at this husband thing.”
“No, you’re not.” Elle shifted so she was straddling him. “You’re an amazing husband, Cal. I’m just being silly.”
He gripped her hips, rotating their position on the bed so that he was hovering over her. “I know how much you love me, Elle. And how much you love Sadie and Derek, too. I see it in the way you look at us, the way you force yourself to get through each day and pretend that you’re not struggling. I’ll never doubt that everything you do, you do for us, because you love us. Just like everything I do is for you, Derek, and Sadie, and them for us.”
Elle placed her hands on his chest. “I wish everyone wasn’t downstairs so you could fuck me silly. I want you so deep inside of me, that you have me screaming your name.”
Callum fell onto the bed laughing. “Oh, you tease me, baby.”
“I’m serious!” Elle laughed.
“I know, which makes it that much harder to get off this bed and leave you to change into something more comfortable and hell-of-a-lot less sexy,” he quipped, climbing off the bed. He reached for her, helping her back onto her feet and making sure she had her cane before releasing her. “The faster you join us, the quicker they’ll leave and then I can bury myself inside you.”
“That does not make me want to let you out of this room!” Elle groused, reaching for him again.
“Sorry, love,” he laughed, walking backward toward the door. “Hurry.”
And like that, he was gone, and Elle was left feeling frustrated. Shedding her skirt and blouse, Elle slipped into a pair of cotton shorts and a T-shirt. She brushed her hair before tugging it up into a messy bun on the top of her head. Unable to keep from stalling any longer, Elle tightened her grip on her cane and headed downstairs, where she found everyone gathered around the dining room table with a couple dozen cartons of chinse from Wang’s.
“About time!” Nick barked, grabbing what looked like a carton of sesame chicken. “Your wife wouldn’t let us eat until you came home. I’m fucking starving.”
“You ate like six eggrolls while we waited!” Sadie laughed. “We had to call and order more!”
“Whatever,” Nick grumbled, but when he winked at Elle, she knew he was just messing around. “Is it all right with you if we eat now, Mrs. Davis?”
“Hmm.” Sadie tapped her lips with her fingers. “I suppose.”
“Thank God!” Ivy laughed. “I’m about to gnaw off an arm.”
“Told Derek that you could eat without me,” Elle said, sliding into the empty chair between Callum and Sadie.
“And I said we’d wait,” Derek countered, making it clear he wasn’t going to discuss the matter anymore.
Elle pressed her lips together and waited while everyone filled their plates before she reached for the last of the Chow Mein. Adding it to her plate, she helped herself to the last of the chicken dumplings, cashew chicken, and beef broccoli.
“So, um, there’s no real subtle way of saying this,” Nick started, sharing a look with Lucia, Aaron, Jonas, and Abe. “But, Taj has been offered a record deal with Sin Records.”
A small moment of silence filled the room as Elle, Sadie, Derek, and Callum looked up from their plates and eyed the members of Taj, who were smiling like it was Christmas morning.
“Seriously?” Derek asked. “Luc?”
“Yeah,” she said, quietly. “You know how we were worried that we’d blown our audition because we hadn’t heard anything?”
The four of them nodded.
“Well, we didn’t,” Nick continued, a huge grin on his face. “Last week we got an invitation to perform in front of the CEO of Sin Records. So we did. Today actually. And he offered us a contract. First album is guaranteed, but we have an option for an additional three.”
“Oh, wow,” Elle laughed. “That’s amazing! Congratulations, guys!”
“Thanks,” Aaron replied. “But it means we’re going to have to make some tough decisions. We have careers to consider, after all.”
“You do,” Nick clarified. “I’ve already made my decision.” He speared a piece of sesame chicken on his fork. “I’m quitting my job. I’m tired of trying to appease my uncle, trying to be the good nephew, when all I want is to tell him to fuck off.”
“Gabriel’s not that bad,” Elle insisted, and when Nick cocked an eyebrow. “He isn’t!”
“Not with you, but then, I think he may have a little crush,” he teased, causing Derek, Callum, and Sadie to laugh. They had insisted on the same ridiculous idea, but Elle knew Gabriel would never act on his feelings, if he indeed had them.
“Working with you on Alvarez Park made him more bearable, but he’s still an asshole at work. At least to me. I’m not happy there. I never was. I wanted to study music, to spend every night in a seedy bar, playing to drunks and assholes. I only got a degree in accounting to make him happy. But it’s time for me to live my life the way I want to, the way Ivy and I want to.”
“Damn right it is,” Ivy agreed, leaning over and kissing him.
“Wish it was that easy for me,” Aaron grumbled. “I love my day job. My kids needs me. I just don’t know how I am supposed to leave them.”
“I know, man,” Nick said. “And we’ll understand if you can’t put the band first, but the rest of us have to take this chance.”
“Yeah, my mom’s bitching about me never moving out,” Jonas added, causing Elle to laugh. “Seriously! She keeps bringing men home, and I think it’s because she’s trying to gross me out so I’ll get my own place.”
“Oh, that’s nasty!” Sadie cackled.
“No shit,” Jonas scoffed.
“Babe, just move in with me,” Abe laughed, draping his arm on the back of Jonas’ chair. “I promise to spoon with you every night. I’ll even let you be the big spoon, if you prefer.”
“But would you respect me in the morning?” Jonas asked, leaning toward him.
Abe smiled. “Probably not.”
“Then, I think I’ll pass.”
“Your loss.” Abe smirked and leaned back in his chair. “I’m a gentle lover.”
“Maybe I don’t want gentle,” Jonas pointed out. “Maybe I want someone to be rough, to make me his bitch.”
“Hmm, I could handle that,” Abe murmured before leaning over and kissing him.
“Oy, we didn’t order dinner and a show,” Nick laughed.
Jonas and Abe laughed, but leaned away from each other. Neither of them were usually so affectionate in front of other.
“Well, we’re thrilled for y’all,” Sadie said, lifting her glass of water off the table, her Texas twang thicker than normal. “Congratulations.”
Lifting their drinks, Elle, Derek, and Callum echoed her sentiment, thankful for the family that as gathered around them.
Sixteen
“Is this thing on high?” Sadie whined, reaching for the controls to the air conditioner in Elle’s car, but huffed and gave up. “It’s too fucking hot.”
“It’s on full blast, honey,” Elle said, reaching over and adjusting the vents so that they were blowing right on her. “Better?”
“No,” she huffed, grabbing one of the magazines she kept shoved into her purse and began fanning herself. “Tell me again why we left our nice, cool house?”
Elle smiled, thinking about how cold the house had been lately. Derek, Callum, and Elle had taken to wearing sweats and jackets around the house rather than complain about being too cold. “Because Samuel and Lydia insisted that we come for lunch.”
“Still don’t see why they couldn’t come to our house,” she muttered.
Midway through September, Sadie had just started her thirty-fifth week and was absolutely miserable. Her feet were swollen, her belly was large, and she’d started having problems sleeping. Not to mention all the trips to the bathroom.
Her appointments with Dr. Kemp were on a weekly basis now, and the doctor had assured them that everything was perfect with their daughter. Elle was feeling the pressure more and more to keep herself from falling apart, worrying about adding the Sadie’s misery.
Elle parked her car behind Derek’s truck and looked over at Sadie, who had her eyes closed. If it wasn’t for the way she was caressing her belly, Elle would have thought she’d fallen asleep.
“Is she moving?” Elle asked.
Sadie smiled, but didn’t open her eyes. “A little. Don’t think she has much room in there.”
“Who do you think she’s going to look like?” Elle asked, laying her hand on Sadie’s belly. She gasped when their daughter pushed against her touch. “I will never get used to that.”
“Me, either,” Sadie laughed, finally opening her eyes and lobbing her head toward Elle. “I hope she looks like all of us.”
“I don’t think it’s possible for her to look like me,” Elle teased. “Are you scared? To go through the labor and delivery?”
“I’m terrified,” she said, softly. “I’ve read all the books, but they can’t really prepare one for the pain and …” Sadie shifted in her seat. “One of the books I read said that sometimes, when a woman is pushing, she shits all over the table. Elle, I do not want to crap everywhere!”
“Maybe you won’t?” she suggested.
“Yeah, maybe,” Sadie murmured and looked up at the house. “Guess we should go inside. Lydia’s peeking out the front window again. Wouldn’t want her to come charging out there like last time. Don’t think she expected to catch Callum sucking Derek’s cock, or you with your fingers in my pussy.”
Elle laughed, thinking about the look of shock on her mother-in-law’s face. “Yeah, but the clincher was when she asked Callum if he spits or swallows.”
Sadie giggled. “Poor Samuel. She really shouldn’t have asked that just as he took a drink of his beer.”
Elle and Sadie were still laughing as they made their way up the front walk, stopping outside the door. Elle slipped her arm around Sadie’s waist. A moment later, the front door opened and they found themselves face to face with Derek and Callum, both of whom were trying very hard not to laugh as they looked from Sadie to Elle. She rolled her eyes, knowing she should never have trusted them to keep cool under pressure.
“Are you just going stand there, or are you going to let me in? It’s hotter than fuck out here,” Sadie snarled.
Derek and Callum nodded and wisely moved out of the way so the two of them could walk into the house. The moment they did, however, loud screams of “Surprise” reverberated and Sadie let out a startled squeal as she brought her hands up to her mouth.
Everyone was there: Jonas and Abe, Nick and Ivy, Aaron, Lucia, Greta, Tyson, Thomas, Leigh, Samuel and Lydia, of course. But Felicia, Carlos, Claudia, Bruce, James, and Helina had flown in for the occasion, as well.
“What the fuck is going on here?” she sobbed, looking at Elle.
“I would think the pile of presents, the cake shaped like a pacifier, and the banner that says ‘congrats on your baby,’ would be pretty clear,” she snickered. “We’re throwing you a baby shower.”
“You are?” Sadie asked, her voice soft and sweet.
“Yep.” Elle smirked. “We wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well, it was.” Sadie laughed as she turned and looked at all their family and friends. “Hey, everyone!”
“Oh, look at you!” Claudia gushed, breaking through the crowd and rushing up to Sadie. Once the two women had hugged, Claudia dropped her hands to Sadie’s belly. “I still can’t believe my little girl is going to be a mommy.”
“Me, either,” Sadie replied, covering Claudia’s hands with her own. “If you wait, you’ll be able to feel her move.”
Claudia seemed to hold her breath, and a moment later, her smile grew wider. “Oh, my gosh! I can feel her!”
“Pretty crazy, huh?” Sadie laughed. “Okay, I need to sit. My back does not like all this extra weight.”
“Are you having a lot of discomfort?” Helina asked as everyone settled around the living room.
Elle, Derek, and Callum were perched on the larger sofa next to Sadie. Chairs from the dining room and metal folding chairs that had ‘Davis Architecture’ stamped across the back provided enough seating for everyone.
“Oh, yeah,” Sadie complained. “My back hurts all the time, but it’s my hips that bother me the most. I wake up every night with cramps, and I can’t find a comfortable position. As much as I’ve enjoyed being pregnant, I am ready for this little girl to be born.”
“And, um, what’s her name again?” Samuel asked, casually.
Elle laughed. “We’re not telling, so quit asking.”
“You’re not being fair!” Samuel whined, falling back against his chair.
He had been nagging them every day for the last two weeks to tell them the name they had decided on, and every day, they refused to tell him. One would have thought he’d given up, but he was a stubborn man, much like his son.
“You know I can’t let this go. You have a secret, and I must know it.”
“A few more weeks and you’ll know, Dad. Stop acting like a child,” Callum quipped.
“Don’t wanna,” he grumbled.
“Oy, vey, how about we move on?” Lydia suggested, looking at Sadie. “Cake or presents first?”
“Cake!” Sadie cheered. “I’m starving!”
Laughing, Lydia nodded. Together with the help of Claudia, Helina, and Felicia, they began dispersing the cake, the first piece going to the mother-to-be, much to Derek’s chagrin. By the time everyone got a piece, Sadie had finished hers and was waiting impatiently to open presents.
Unable to deny her anything, Elle began to place the stack of gifts in front of her, causing Sadie to cheer. “Thank you, honey!”
“You’re welcome,” Elle snickered before taking her seat.
Placing her cane between them, she tried to be discrete as she rubbed her sore thigh, but she caught Helina watching her with a frown.
She turned back to Sadie. “Well, get to opening!”
“Okay, okay.”
Elle found it amusing how different she and Sadie were when it came to opening gifts. Where Elle preferred to take her time, to keep the paper and bows intact as much as possible, Sadie ripped through hers, desperate to find the prize inside.
“Oh, my God!” Sadie squealed, lifting out two of what looked like a dozen onesies. The first one had a guitar on the front and the words ‘Rock N Roll Lives’ beneath it. The other had the Taj’s name and new logo. “She’ll be adorable in these! Thank you, Jonas and Abe. These are very sweet.”
“Have to start recruiting our fan base when they’re young,” Jonas snickered, draping his arm around Abe’s shoulder. Elle chanced a look at her mother, pleasantly surprised to find her smiling at the two men.
Sadie laughed and picket up the next gift, which turned out to be an assortment of bibs, teething rings, pacifiers, bottles, and burp rags from the accounting department. Other coworkers gave them packages of diapers, baby wipes, tiny socks, and several blankets.
“That one’s from me, Lucia, and Nick,” Aaron said, gesturing to the small gift Sadie had just picked up.
“Oh, what is it?” Sadie asked, eagerly, but didn’t wait for them to tell her before she was ripping the paper off. “You gave her a blank CD?”
“Thank you. That was very kind of you,” Sadie whimpered, dragging her fingertips over the CD case. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”
Aaron smiled and leaned back on the couch, shifting his eyes down to Lucia, who was seated next to him. Ever observant, Elle had noticed over the last ten weeks that Lucia and Aaron seemed to be spending a lot of time together. She was starting to suspect that Lucia had feelings for Aaron, but worried that she was jumping into a relationship too quickly.
“That’s from me,” Ivy said, smiling as Sadie picked her next gift to open.
Sadie tore the paper off and pulled the lid off, gasping. “Oh, Ivy.”
Elle slid her arm around Sadie’s waist as she peeked at the gift. Tears welled up in her eyes at the picture of Elle and Sadie snuggled together, their forehead pressed together and Elle with her hands on Sadie’s stomach.
“I thought you could put it in her room, and then she would know that her mommies are always watching over her.” Ivy looked at Derek and Callum. “Sorry, I don’t have a picture of the two of you where you aren’t sucking face. Not sure you want your daughter to see that every night. No offense, of course.”
“Offense taken,” Derek and Callum laughed.
“But seriously, it’s okay. She’s going to know that we’re there for her,” Callum added.
“No shit,” Derek scoffed, his eyes drifting to where the parents were sitting. “I mean, no kidding.”
“Sure you did, mijo,” Felicia said, shaking her head. “That little girl is going to have a potty mouth with the way you curse.”
“Callum’s worse,” Lydia cackled. “By the time he was fourteen, I gave up trying to get him to stop cursing. Figured there were worse things he could do than say fuck and shit.”
“Ma,” Callum groused, the tips of his ears turning red.
“What? It’s the truth?” Lydia argued.
“Whatever.” Callum picked up a large box and placed it on the chair in front of Sadie. “This one is from —”
“Me and Lydia,” Samuel said, interrupting his son.
