by Kay Edwards
Chapter Nineteen
Wendy stretched. She frowned confused as an arm tightened around her. Looking down, she saw a hand on her stomach. Turning over, she looked into Stefan’s laughing eyes. “How did you get here?”
Stefan chuckled. “The question would be how did you get here? I’m where I started last night.”
Wendy looked around at the slumbering children. All three had been between them when they had gone to sleep. It seemed like the floor had not been what they had hoped for. Each of the children was now on either the sofa or the love seat. Wendy realized she must have moved over to Stefan in her sleep.
Stefan teased Wendy. “I guess you find me irresistible in your sleep too.”
Wendy elbowed him. “You need to learn some manners.”
Stefan pulled her back against him. “It is still early. You should go back to sleep.”
Wendy turned in his arms. “We are not married. I should go back to sleep over there. Don’t you think?”
Stefan shook his head. “We have three chaperones and our own blankets. I believe that you can stay right here.”
Wendy giggled as he winked at her. “You need to be good. If they see us cuddled up like this, we are not setting a good example. Not to mention Macy says what is on her mind. She will be telling everyone we slept together. I honestly think going over there sounds safer.”
Stefan had to agree with her argument. They had church in a few hours, and he had no doubt his daughter would be relaying all sorts of information to the people in her class. “You have a point.”
Wendy smiled. “I know I do.”
Stefan kissed the top of her head before he let her go. The two settled back down and went to sleep.
Macy Sean and Cory watched Wendy and Stefan sleep. Macy looked at Cory. “They married?”
Cory shook his head as he continued to frown. “I don’t think so.”
Sean looked at his sleeping aunt. “They are married. I wanted Uncle Stefan to stay with us. Aunt Wendy said not till they are married.”
Cory remembered the conversation. “They must be married then. They are sleeping and together. Aunt Wendy said after they was married Uncle Stefan would stay with us. Aunt Wendy said Uncle Stefan couldn’t stay with us like other mommies and daddies do until they was married.”
Liam and Trevor were doing their best not to laugh, but the entire scene was hysterical. They also knew it was a bit confusing to the young kids.
Macy frowned. “I thought they wait to marry.”
Cory had to agree. “Me too. Aunt Wendy said after the new year we would talk.”
Sean smiled. “I’m glad they are married. I like Uncle Stefan.”
Liam walked in and picked up Macy. He whispered to the boys. “I think we need to go into the kitchen.”
Sean smiled as Trevor picked him up. “Uncle Stefan married Aunt Wendy.”
Trevor chuckled. “I think we need to talk about that a bit more before they wake up. I don’t believe that is the case.”
Sean frowned again as they entered the kitchen. “Uncle Stefan should not be sleeping with Aunt Wendy. They need to be married. Aunt Wendy said.”
Liam had his head on the counter laughing. He looked at his brother. “I know this really isn’t funny, but you have to admit it really is funny.”
Trevor could not disagree. He chuckled. “We may want to consider skipping church today. These three have no tongue guards. I can just hear them now talking to their teachers.”
Macy looked at her uncles. “I want church.”
Cory frowned at them. “We want to go. Why would we stay home? I feel ok. Don’t you?”
The men started talking to Macy and Cory. Neither of them noticed Sean slip out of the kitchen.
Sean walked back into the family room. He sat down on the floor beside the sleeping couple and stared at them.
Wendy stirred causing Stefan to tighten his hold on her waist. She was still half asleep so instead of rolling away from him. She turned in his arms and cuddled into his chest.
Sean observed the couple. He frowned. He was almost positive this was what Aunt Wendy said Uncle Stefan should not be doing.
Stefan smiled as Wendy cuddled closer to him. He knew they should get up before the kids did. He just wanted to savor Wendy’s presence in his arms a little longer. He pulled her even closer as he kissed the top of her head.
Sean was done watching. He stood up and put his little fists on his hips just as the men from the kitchen came running in. His little voice sounded furious. “Uncle Stefan, did you marry my Aunt Wendy?”
Both Stefan and Wendy came awake with a start.
Wendy looked at Sean’s face and realized what had happened. She grimaced as she looked at Stefan. “I did it again.”
Sean looked mortified at his aunt. “You did this?”
Stefan was aware now was not the time to laugh, but the little guy’s indignant face was more than he could take. He started to chuckle. “Sean, I promise this was ok.”
Sean did not agree. “Aunt Wendy said you were not supposed to sleep by her like other mommies and daddies do until you was married. You is not married to her.”
Liam and Trevor were leaning into each other they were laughing so hard. Stefan frowned at them. “This is not funny.”
Trevor shook his head as he disagreed. “This is really funny. You thought so too until about twenty seconds ago.”
Wendy looked at Stefan. “I do not know how to explain this. Your brothers are not helping. Would you two control yourselves?”
Cory now considered himself an authority on the subject of what happened. Uncle Liam had talked to him. He walked toward his brother to explain. “It is ok Sean.”
Wendy looked at Cory surprised. “It is?”
Stefan shook his head as he clamped his hand over Wendy's mouth. “Be quiet and let Cory do our job for us.”
Wendy pulled her face away from his hand and frowned at him before she turned her attention back to Cory.
Cory took Sean’s hand. “We was all here. They are not allowed to sleep ‘alone' until them is married. Since we was here. It is ok.”
Wendy knew her face was on fire again. She laid back down and covered her face with her blanket. Of all the things to happen this was not how she wanted to start her Sunday morning.
Stefan chuckled at Wendy. He looked at Sean. “Are we ok buddy? I promise your Aunt Wendy is safe with me.”
Sean looked at Cory. “If Cory says it is ok I will say it.”
Wendy sat back up. “Now if you all decide to share this story at church…” She glanced at Stefan. “Who am I kidding we all know they are going to share.” Turning her attention back to the children she spoke again. “If we decide to share this story at church remember to say all three of you were in the room and that the room was the family room. We had a slumber party after we watched movies.”
Macy nodded. “I do that.”
Liam looked at Trevor. “It sounds like they are making sure the kids get their facts straight. I can’t imagine what could go wrong with this.”
The entire group was unaware of the fact that Gretchen and Aaron had flown in the night before. While the house was sleeping, they had arrived and made their way soundlessly to their suite. Gretchen spoke from behind them. “Wrong with what…?”
Wendy closed her eyes as Sean started explaining. “Aunt Wendy and Uncle Stefan were sleeping together, but it’s ok.”
Aaron stood behind his wife. He looked at Stefan. “You were what?”
Stefan pointed to all of the blankets. “We were all out here sleeping. Wendy just kind of ended up in my arms.”
Gretchen raised an eyebrow. “Did she now…?”
Wendy laid back down and covered her face with the blankets. She was completely mortified with the entire conversation. How could something so innocent sound so not?
Macy smile
d up at her grandparents. “We was all here. It ok now.”
Cory nodded his agreement. “Uncle Liam says since we was here it is ok. They just can’t be like other mommies and daddies until they are married.”
Wendy groaned from under the blankets. “Will someone please put food into the mouths of the youngest humans in this room.”
Gretchen laughed. “All right you three come with Grandma.”
As soon as everyone left the room, Stefan peeked under Wendy’s blanket. He knew he shouldn’t but couldn’t seem to help himself. “You really do find me irresistible when you’re sleeping.”
Wendy glared up at her future husband. “This is not funny Stefan.”
Stefan laid back down beside her. When she snuggled into his chest, he laughed. “You really are not learning your lesson here.”
Wendy giggled as she realized what she had done. “I guess I’m not.”
Stefan kissed her forehead. “We need to go and have breakfast with everyone else.”
Wendy giggled. “I thought Sean was going to demand that you take me out and marry me today.”
The two headed toward the kitchen. They laughed at the morning’s events while they still could. Each of them knew church would be an entirely different ball game.
