“Where’s Michael?” Gideon asked.
“He’s finishing up his exams.” Kari sat down with help from Thane. “He’ll see us afterward.”
Thane sat next to Kari. He held her hand, happy to be with his family.
“The costumes look great.” Janelle gave Thane a kiss on his cheek.
“Yeah, stellar work.” Gideon gave him a thumbs-up.
The lights in the room dimmed before an older woman in sensible shoes appeared in the middle of a papier-mâché forest, complete with large apple trees, low, fluffy bushes and a log.
“Not a problem.” Now that Thane had a whole team to do his sewing, he could also get them to put together costumes for a kindergarten play.
“Thank you to all the parents, family, and friends who came here to see our kindergarten class’s play about an enchanted forest. Before we begin, we would like to thank Thane Wells for creating the costumes.” The educator pointed Thane out in the audience.
Kari kissed him before she applauded with everyone else.
“We would also like to thank Gideon and Gunnar Wells for their generous donations, which allowed us to have refreshments available after the play.” She pointed to the two men.
Another round of clapping echoed off the walls.
“Without any further delay, let’s now be transported into the enchanted forest.” She made her way off stage just as the curtain opened.
A group of small children walked out and gave a simultaneous speech about love and friendship. The cute scene got Thane to smile, but he wanted to see his niece, the star of the show, according to her doting dad Gideon.
Within seconds, a golden-toned child skipped onto the stage. Thane beamed when he saw her in the pink, glittery dress he’d made for her. Her matching pink wings fluttered behind her. A curly ponytail topped her head to accommodate her tiara. It made Thane wonder if Uncle Gunnar had anything to do with the styling.
“I’m here to make sure all the forest animals are free and happy.” Lizzie, as Thane called her, reached into her pocket.
She threw glitter in the air but stopped when some of it fell back onto her face. She balled her little hands into fists and rubbed her eyes. Like a shot, Thane, Gideon, and Gunnar bolted to their feet.
Lizzie blinked before looking out into the audience. “Hi, Daddy. Hi, Uncle Thane and Uncle Gunnar.” She waved.
Thane and his brothers waved to the girl before they sat back down.
“Smooth.” Kari tapped Thane’s hand.
“I thought she was in trouble.” Thane settled back into his tight, uncomfortable seat.
“You’re going to make a great dad.” His wife patted his leg.
Hearing that sentiment from her made him smile. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he watched a play filled with fairies, squirrels, magical elves, and an evil wizard. In the end, Lizzie cast a spell that made them all friends.
After the play, all the children ran to their families. Lizzie trotted to Gideon. Her curls bounced all over her head like little golden rings.
“Did you see me, Daddy?” She held her hands up to him.
Gideon crouched down and lifted his oldest child. “I saw you. You were magnificent.”
Lizzie giggled before turning to Janelle. “I want to do that again, Mommy.”
Janelle, who held their youngest girl, Ava, in one arm and held the hand of their middle child, Ella, smiled and gazed at Gideon. “She’s going to be an actress. You know that, right?”
“Had a feeling.” He nodded.
“Congrats on the win.” A man nodded to Gideon. “Great game.”
“Thanks.” Gideon smiled, but Thane could tell he did not want to talk about his third Super Bowl win.
“Love your purses and shoes.” A woman held up a burgundy handbag with Thane’s signature TW emblem on the side. She kicked up her foot to show off her matching pumps, also from Thane’s line.
“Thank you.” He wrapped his arm around his wife. “I happen to love that Kari line of purses and shoes myself.”
Gunnar and Eboni joined the group, each of them holding a twin.
“Hi, Cameryn,” Thane said to the one Eboni held. “Hi, Jilly Bean,” he said to the little girl Gunnar held.
“I’m Cameryn.” The little girl in Gunnar’s arms pointed to herself.
“I’m Jillian.” Eboni’s bundle of joy raised her hand.
In mock horror, Thane covered his mouth. “How do I keep getting you two mixed up?”
In actuality, he could tell the difference. Jillian, the older twin by two minutes, had a slimmer face. Cameryn, the baby of the duo, had chubby cheeks and a small freckle beside her mouth. Thane liked teasing the three-year-olds just to hear them giggle. He couldn’t wait for his own child to be born.
“We need to get to the house.” Kari held Thane’s hand. “People will be arriving soon.”
“Hopefully, Michael is already heading down there.” Thane kissed Kari’s forehead.
“We have to finish up here.” Gunnar nodded to Gideon. “The perks of being PTA parents. As soon as we’re done, we’ll be right behind you.”
Thane didn’t wait for them. He helped Kari get into the car before leaving Virginia Beach and heading down to the Outer Banks house.
As soon as Thane reached the house, he helped his wife out of the car first. He unlocked the door and disabled the alarm before getting Kari to a nearby couch.
“I don’t know if I can take another month of this.” Kari shook her head. “I don’t remember being this huge with Michael.”
“It’s been seventeen years in between pregnancies.” He rested his hand on her stomach. “You’re doing great.” He kissed her before retrieving the bags from the car.
After dropping them off in the master suite, he came back down and joined Kari on the couch.
“We need to get this place decorated.” She struggled to stand.
“We could. Or, while we’re alone…” He kissed the side of her face and went down to her neck.
“How is it that you find me attractive now?” Kari laughed and tried pushing Thane off her.
“I don’t care what you look like. You will always be sexy to me.” When he kissed her again, he slid his tongue into her mouth.
This time, she did manage to push him away. “Doing that is what got me here.” She pointed to her belly.
“So I can’t do any more damage.” He reached for her again, but this time she managed to make it to her feet.
“You remember when I said you would make a great father? You are also a damn good husband.” She winked as she went to the kitchen and started placing trays of food around the breakfast bar and dining room table.
While she arranged food on the bar, he came up behind her. “Have I told you I love you today?”
Kari nodded. “You did.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Have I told you how much I love being married?”
“I think you mentioned it once or twice.” She nuzzled her head under his chin.
“The rest of the family has got to be at least thirty minutes behind us. Why don’t we go up to the bedroom and—” As soon as he started to make the suggestion, a set of headlights beamed into the house.
“They’re here.” She rubbed his arm.
“Damn.” He kissed the side of her face. “I’ll answer the door. You make sure everything is out.”
“Gotcha.”
Thane opened the door to Michael, his son. It didn’t matter that Jarrod Townsend had fathered him. For the last seven years, Thane had raised him like his own.
Michael now stood a couple of inches over Thane and carried the same lean frame like his father. “Dad.” He pulled Thane into a hug.
Thane had never stopped Michael from calling him Dad. He’d liked it back then and now. It helped that after Thane and Kari married, he’d legally adopted Michael, and Michael had had his surname changed to Wells.
“I thought I was going to
be here alone.” Michael’s smile lit up the room.
“No, your mom and I managed to see Lizzie’s play and get down here in time.” Thane started to close the front door when Michael stopped him.
“Wait. I have someone here with me.” He opened the door and beautiful, young African-American woman followed him inside.
Thane stared at her for a moment. Her big, curly hair framed her face. As soon as she got into the house, she reached for Michael’s hand.
“You look familiar.” Thane didn’t mean to stare, but he couldn’t help it.
“I would hope so, Mr. Wells. You made me my first dress.” She smiled.
“Leona?”
“You remember me.” She embraced Thane.
“Of course, dear.” He hugged her back. “Great to see you.”
Kari walked into the room. “Is this Leona from the dance?” She pulled the young woman into her arms. “I haven’t seen you in forever. The last time I saw you, this one was wearing a purple shirt.” She pointed to Michael.
“You had to bring that up again, didn’t you?” Michael kissed his mother’s cheek.
Leona laughed. “I lost all that baby fat, but I still have that dress.”
“Good. Save it for a child of your own someday.” Thane smiled.
“Just not right now,” Kari quickly added.
Soon the house filled with family and friends. The children ran around, chasing after each other and laughing.
It didn’t surprise Thane to see Gideon’s friend, Dennis, coming in with Shay, a stylist in Gunnar’s salon. The two had hit it off at Thane’s barbeque last summer, obvious from the way they wouldn’t leave each other’s side.
Reagan, Michael’s former nanny, had remained a close friend of the family, even after she’d stopped her nanny duties. She arrived with her newest girlfriend, an ice skater Kari represented.
Thane took a breather in the kitchen. He pulled a cake from the refrigerator and placed it on the counter when Gunnar walked in.
“You need help with anything?” Gunnar scanned the food on the counter.
Before Thane answered, the doorbell chimed. He furrowed his eyebrows.
“I thought everyone was here already.” Gunnar turned to the entryway.
“So did I.” Thane moved around the breakfast bar to head to the door.
“It’s probably Penny. I invited her.” Janelle ran to it with Ava in her arms.
She opened it, and Penny, her best friend, burst through to hug Janelle and Ava.
“So good to see you.” Penny kissed Ava’s cheek, which made the toddler giggle. “And I brought a date. I’ve been seeing this guy for a couple of months now.” She turned. “Come on in, honey.”
Gunnar and Thane’s faces dropped when Ant strolled into the home.
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Gunnar shook his head. “You’re dating Ant?”
The diminutive man poked his scrawny chest out. “Yes, we’ve been seeing each other. And people don’t call me Ant anymore. I go by my real name. Waldo.”
Thane tried hard to hold back his laughter. “Welcome to my home, Waldo. You two, come in. Get something to eat and drink. Everyone is in there. Mingle.”
Janelle hung her arm around Penny’s shoulder and led her into the room with Ant following behind.
“Incredible.” Gunnar nodded toward the party.
“I know. He’s like a bad penny. He shows up everywhere.” Thane laughed.
“You remember when Mom used to host parties like these at her house?” Gunnar stood next to Thane.
“She celebrated everything. If you got an A on your report card, that called for an intimate get-together with about a hundred of her friends and family.” Thane laughed. He looked into the living room when he heard growling.
Gideon and Dennis made fools of themselves by crawling on the floor like dogs and chasing after the kids, barking at them. The twins squealed and ran away from them. Ava and Ella tried climbing on Gideon’s back for a ride.
“How it should be?” Gunnar nodded to the packed house.
“Always.” Thane and Gunnar strolled back to the living room. “Can I get your attention, folks?”
Janelle turned off the music and made her way to her husband, who still sat on the floor.
“First of all, thank you so much for coming down here. I know spring break has just started, and you all have vacation plans of your own.” Thane kissed the back of Kari’s hand. “We’re thankful you’ve chosen to spend a little time with us. We have a lot of great news to tell you.” He looked to his wife.
“Before you all share your news, I have something to say.” Dennis strutted to the center of the room.
“You always do, man.” Gideon shook his head. “They don’t call you Dennis the Menace for nothing.”
Dennis held his hand up to his friend. “I’ll make it quick. I promise.” He turned to Shay. “My woman. Will you join me, please?”
Shay glanced around first before walking to the center of the room. “You are so silly. What are you doing?”
“This.” He dropped down to one knee.
The women all gasped. The kids giggled. Shay cried.
“You have shared so much with me.” Dennis held Shay’s hand. “I want to be the man who protects you. With me, you will never have to worry. With me, you will always be secure. With me, you will always be my queen.” He pulled a ring from his pocket. “Will you do me the honor of being my queen forever?”
Shay screamed before covering her mouth. Then she nodded. “Yes. Yes, I will.”
Dennis slipped the ring on her finger, stood, and hugged her. Then he looked at Gideon. “I want you to be my best man.”
Gideon smiled. “You know it.”
“You will be Mrs. Menace?” Ella asked.
The group laughed.
“Something like that.” Gideon pulled his daughter onto his lap. “Congratulations, man.”
“Yes, way to make an honest woman out of her.” Gunnar held up his glass to toast the duo.
Eboni walked over to Shay and gave her a hug. With her arm still around Shay’s shoulders, she glared at Dennis. “Shay is special.”
“I know this.” Dennis nodded.
“She’s strong and hard working and beautiful.” Eboni held her tighter.
Dennis stared at his fiancée and nodded. “Yes.”
“And I won’t stand by and watch anyone disappoint her again. She deserves the best in life. She’s my friend.”
“Eb.” Shay kissed Eboni’s cheek.
Dennis shook his head. “It will never happen. Not on my watch, although I might cause her a little pain.”
Eboni’s eyes widened.
“Mom said I was a twelve-pound baby.” Dennis put his hand on Shay’s stomach. “Sorry, sweetie. You are going to carry a little linebacker in there one day.”
Shay pulled away from Eboni to put her hands on Dennis’s shoulders. “How do you know it won’t be a long, lean baby like me?”
“Doesn’t matter. As long as it’s ours, I don’t care. I love you, baby girl.” He kissed her tenderly.
“Now, can my brother and his wife tell us their news?” Gunnar asked.
“Of course. Of course.” Dennis put his hand to the small of Shay’s back and helped her over to the couch.
“Congrats again, Dennis. Thanks for sharing that special moment with us.” Thane held Kari’s hand. “Honey?”
“First of all, this is a gender reveal party.” Kari put her hand to her stomach. “It shouldn’t be a surprise what I’m having.”
In unison, the crowd announced, “A girl!”
“Mom has a sense of humor, even on the other side.” Gunnar laughed. “I can see her wanting us to have families of only girls after being the only female with all of us.”
“Hey, I take offense to that.” Michael stepped forward and nudged his elbow into Gunnar’s side.
“Of course, my son.” Thane put h
is arm around Michael’s shoulders. “That’s the other news. Michael has chosen a college.”
“Oh, wow. So tell us. What is it?” Gideon got up on his knees. “UNC?”
“Go Tar Heels!” Dennis pumped his fist in the air.
“No.” Michael waved his hand and shook his head.
“I know you’re going to play football.” Gideon pointed to him.
The guests in the room groaned.
“What? Look at those hands. And he’s fast.” Gideon clapped, which made Ella mimic him.
“What’s wrong with wrestling?” Gunnar asked. “He could go to the Olympics with that skill.”
“Stop. I’ve thrown a ball to him since he was ten.” Thane regarded Michael. “I told him then and I’m saying it now. He’s a natural. He’s got a great pitching arm.”
“Will you all stop it and let him talk?” Eboni shook her head. “Go ahead, Michael.”
He looked at Kari first before regarding Leona. “I’ve gotten offers from five top universities including Yale, Harvard, and Columbia. I decided—”
Gunnar drummed his hands over his thighs, which got the rest of the guests in the house to do the same.
“I’m going to Stanford.” Michael beamed.
Kari and Leona didn’t. The rest of the guests hugged him and congratulated him on his decision.
“Stanford in California.” Kari nodded.
“Honey.” Thane squeezed her hand.
“I told him I wanted him to be an astrophysicist. I didn’t think he would go to the other side of the country to do it.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Come on, Mom.” Michael held her shoulders. “I’m going there to be a doctor.” He glanced around the room. “Sports medicine.”
“And you have to go there?” Kari wiped her face with the back of her hand.
Thane handed her a napkin. “He has to go there.” He nodded to Michael. “He’s growing up. He’s a man now. We have to respect his wishes.”
Thane heard some sniffling behind him. When he turned, he saw Leona crying.
“We just found each other again.” Leona shook her head.
Michael framed her face. “We won’t lose each other. I promise. And if we do, we’ll find each other again.”
As he watched his son kiss Leona, Thane saw Michael as an adult. When he gazed around the room at all the activity, he saw them all as a family.
Head Over Heels Page 31
