by Cari Quinn
The official mommy role was new to her, and I wanted her to feel comfortable disciplining Laurie or whatever the situation needed. So I deliberately motioned to Oliver and Sage and led them inside. Right before I shut the door softly behind us, Ally’s light laughter rang out.
“You’re just letting her handle it?” Oliver’s brow rose. “When did you get so Zen?”
“She’s her mother.” It didn’t matter that Ally wasn’t Laurie’s parent biologically. She was her mom in every way that mattered.
“Aww, that’s so sweet.” Sage gave me a smile. “You guys are so cute together now that you’re not a dick anymore.”
“That’s called damning with faint praise.” Oliver undid the button on his jacket and moved into the living room. “And if I’m going to be stuck handing out sugar to squabbling toddlers, then I do believe I’m going to have a whiskey.”
“Ally should’ve warned me he would be here.”
“Considering she just said she didn’t know—”
“Yes, but she should have. She has to know that where you are, your nefarious twin is sure to follow.”
Unable to resist a grin, I glanced down at the bowl of candy I still held. Whoops. Ally would need that.
I held up a finger. “One sec.”
As soon as I turned toward the door, it opened and Ally’s long, slim arm extended inside. From the porch, children’s laughter and excited talking offset the deeper tones of the adults in the group. Laurie’s giggles rose over the voices.
“Good job, Hamilton.” I passed her the bowl and she leaned inside long enough to stick out her tongue at me just as she’d done when we were kids.
So I responded in kind, just as I might have when we were teens.
“Don’t stick that out at me unless you intend to use it.”
“Ugh, so adorably gross.” Sage clutched her fluffy belly. “I can’t stand it.”
Ally shut the door behind her again, trapping me with Sage and her dislike of my brother.
“What are you anyway?” I asked.
“Seriously, no one can guess? I’m Lola. Like the song.”
Oliver strolled back in, drink in hand. “Her name was Lola? L-o-l-a, Lola.”
“Not that Lola, jackass.”
“Good, because I was going to ask when you intended to sit on my lap.”
I choked on a laugh, but Sage merely slitted her eyes. “Lola from the song by the one and only Barry Manilow, thank you very much. You know, she was a showgirl with yellow feathers in her hair.”
Oliver plucked at her halo of curls. “Not too many feathers, but there’s a couple of leaves. Have you been crawling around in the bushes?”
Sage smacked him away, nearly upending his drink. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“No, actually, I don’t care.”
Sage sniffed. “Sounds like you do to me.”
“Do I dare leave you two alone in my house for an hour? Possibly less. Laurie usually has to pee, which cuts things short. Though now that’s a factor with Ally too.”
“I heard that,” she said, opening the door with Laurie right behind her. “I’ll visit the bathroom before we go.”
“Maybe I should go with you.” Sage peered at Laurie. “Wouldn’t you like that, Peanut?”
“Scaredy cat.” Oliver sipped his drink and smiled when Sage nailed him with a look.
“Unca Ollie needs help. There’s a lot of kids.” Laurie spread her arms wide.
I shuddered. “That settles it. Bathroom time, ladies, because this bus is about to leave.” I took the bowl of candy from Ally and pushed it into my brother’s gut. “You two can fight over doling out the candy as you see fit.”
“C’mon, sweetie. Daddy is being impatient again.”
“Again?” I called after Ally as she and Laurie trooped down the hall to the bathroom. “When have I ever been impatient?”
“Since birth.” Oliver flashed me a beatific smile. “Actually, no, since before then. Pretty sure I remember you kicking me in the womb.”
Sage wrinkled her nose. “It’s creepy thinking of you two in the same pocket.”
I had to laugh. “Nice dainty way to describe childbirth. Wait until you get to help coach Ally. You’ll see it’s not all wine and roses and cute little pockets.”
“Yeah, I almost would’ve missed it. I won this thing from a radio station, can you believe it? I was listening to Flashback to the Eighties on satellite radio and there was this contest. All expenses paid trip to Vegas, but it was for Valentine’s Day and that’s when the baby’s coming. Well, around there. And that just wouldn’t do, because it’s for two and I can’t go party like a rockstar without my best friend, and she can’t travel then, and oh my God, Vegas.”
“Take a breath,” Oliver advised. “You’re going to pop a seam.”
Sage ignored him and stared hard at me. “So I switched the date to right before Christmas. That was my only other choice. My parents are traveling for the holiday, and I’m flying solo. Besides, we really need one last hurrah before the baby comes. Tell me you won’t cock-block her. It’s just for, like, a weekend.”
“Like a weekend?” I echoed.
“Yes, two nights, three days. A weekend.”
“No, I won’t cock-block her, but um, she’ll be under two months from giving birth then. Her doctor might object. Maybe not, but he’s been wanting her to take it easy.”
“What?” Sage wailed. “No way.”
“The miracle of childbirth lamented once again.” Oliver finished off his drink in one long swallow.
“What are you screeching about?” Ally asked, tugging Laurie down the hall. “We could hear you in the bathroom.”
“Later,” Sage muttered, wiggling her brows at Laurie.
I knew I’d probably regret it, but I had to ask. “Why can’t you discuss a Vegas trip now?”
“Because it’s meant to be hedonism squared. And, you know, little ears.” She looked pointedly at Laurie.
“And you figured that’s the perfect trip to share with your hugely pregnant best friend?” I asked dubiously.
“Watch your mouth. I’m not hugely anything. Yet.” Ally frowned. “When?”
Sage briefly filled her in while Laurie practiced her Wonder Woman moves with her sword. When she nearly jabbed Oliver near his unmentionables, he set down his empty glass and swept her up, holding her upside down until she shrieked with laughter.
Yet I could still hear Ally and Sage arguing. Unfortunately.
“Even if I can fly then, I won’t. No way am I traveling right before our first family Christmas.”
“I knew he’d cock-block me,” Sage muttered. “No one ever wants me to get la—lay down,” she amended with a quick glance at Laurie, who was currently suffering from one heck of a head rush.
“Why, I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t want you to lay down. Maybe she’s concerned about feather strangulation.” Oliver offered Sage a bland smile before righting my flailing daughter. “What do you say, baby girl? Time to hit the road for candy?”
“Candy!” Laurie cried out just as the doorbell rang.
I sighed and accepted the bowl of treats from my brother, then glanced between the women. “Hopefully, you two will have figured this out by the time I’ve passed out the candy.”
After five minutes of pleasant small talk with Dare Kramer and his adorable son, Weston—one of Laurie’s classmates, who she called “her boyfriend” when she saw him, grr—I finally slipped back inside. Oliver had another drink in his hand, and the women were still arguing.
“I can’t go. I’m sorry. If you could reschedule it to, I don’t know, maybe June—”
“June? You expect me to wait eight months for se…sexual congress,” she corrected at the sight of Laurie, who was chewing on the end of her sword since candy was coming approximately never at this rate.
“Why not?” Oliver asked. “You’ve waited, what, thirty years so far?”
“I am not thirty, thank you. I’m only
twenty-six.”
Oliver shrugged and sipped. “Close enough.”
Sage flung herself at Ally, gripping the ruffled front of her costume. “Take me with you. I implore you. Or take him. Just separate us. Now.”
Ally laughed and untangled herself from Sage’s grabby hands. “You’ll be fine. We won’t be gone long. Just take turns manning the door and adjourn to opposite corners of the house in between.”
“Easy for you to say. You got the good brother.”
“Since when? As I recall, you used to not like me either.” I shrugged at Sage’s flinty gaze. “Just saying.”
“You manned up. I am woman enough to adjust my opinion when warranted.” She pointed at Oliver. “Except when it comes to that one. That will happen never.”
The doorbell rang again and I threw back my head. “We are never leaving.”
“Go already.” Oliver stepped forward and took the bowl of candy, then held out an arm toward Ally. “Come on, ladies. Time to go be witchy.”
“I’m Wonder Woman,” Laurie said, snagging her pumpkin treat container off the side table.
Oliver opened the door. “I know, kiddo. And a very fine one at that. Out the door. Excuse me, everyone,” Oliver said, nudging Ally and Laurie out first.
I followed behind them and we escaped down the walk as Oliver boomed out “Happy Howl-a-ween” to a burst of giggles from the kids.
“He really is good with them,” Ally said, shepherding Laurie down the steps.
“Better with kids than women. At least Sage.”
“Aw, crap, I forgot my staff.” Ally glanced back at the crowded porch, full of kids and parents.
“Swear jar,” Laurie said.
“Crap is not a swear word. Me thinks you’re trying to get that change for yourself, Miss Woman.” I ruffled Laurie’s hair and gripped Ally’s hand as we strode down the walk.
Laurie was not deterred. “Miss Jenkins says ‘crap’ is a swear.”
“Can’t deny Miss Jenkins.” I tugged Laurie and Ally closer as we dodged the Grim Reaper and a princess coming up the walk. “C’mon, my beautiful ladies. Let’s go get ourselves some candy.”
Ally
Halloween was exhausting business, especially when you were five and a half months pregnant. Or thereabouts.
Last Halloween, I never could have guessed this would be my reality. Married to my best friend, a mother to his daughter—our daughter. Slowly, it was beginning to feel like that was true in all ways, not just in my heart.
Pregnant with a little boy too who enjoyed enthusiastically kicking his mama. Not as pregnant as I would be soon though. Lord help me.
“Are you all right?” Seth guided me up the walk with his hand on my hip. I think he could tell the walk was wearing on me tonight.
“Fine. Terrific.”
“Sure about that?”
Nodding, I smiled as Laurie rang another doorbell and cried out, “Trick or treat!”
She was adorable as always, and watching her run from house to house was so much fun. But the homes were spread out on this side of town, so despite only half filling her sack so far, my feet ached as if we’d walked fifty miles. I had a stitch in my lower back, my calf was starting to hurt, and those Snickers she’d collected were looking mighty fine.
I was a hot mess in a slightly inappropriate costume in which I’d hoped to jump my husband later. At this rate, I’d probably need a nap first.
“Want me to carry you?”
I was so busy grinning at Laurie’s banter with the homeowner, Mrs. Whitfield, that I almost missed Seth’s question. We were standing at the bottom of the steps because Ms. Independent wanted to go up alone.
Good thing, since Seth was apt to say things no one should overhear.
“Excuse me?”
“Carry you. I can, you know. I’ve been working out.” He flexed his biceps in his T-shirt—he wore no costume and no jacket although it was only in the fifties—and grinned. “I’m buff.”
“Sure, you are. But I’ve gained weight.”
“I’m super buff.”
“Jerk.” I couldn’t help laughing. “Thanks, but I think I can make it.”
“Is the baby doing acrobatics again?”
“Always.” I rubbed my side.
Seth cupped my stomach. These days, he touched my belly almost as much as I did. “Yeah, he is.” He smiled, brushing his fingers over my navel. “Why don’t you go back to the house and I’ll finish up with Laurie? It’s probably a good idea for you to referee those two anyway.”
“I’m good. Honestly. Besides, we’re almost done.”
Seth gave me a dubious look. “We’re barely a quarter around this side of the lake. You know she’ll have us going until her show at eight o’clock.”
“I hike all the time. This is child’s play.”
Lies. So many lies.
Laurie bounded down the steps and flashed a wide smile. “Ready for more.”
I swallowed a sigh and took her hand. “Okay, Wonder Woman. Let’s go.”
She trooped between Seth and me, babbling excitedly. I tried to follow along but I was still thinking about those Snickers. We’d eaten an early dinner. A small one. Many moons ago.
“You should let me inspect your candy,” I announced. “Make sure it’s safe.”
“Um, it’s dark out here. Hard to inspect much.” Seth shook his head and turned to whisper into my ear. “Hungry again?”
“What? No.”
He waited until Laurie charged up the steps at the next house before murmuring, “Liar. I can tell you’re hungry.” He trailed a fingertip along my collarbone. “You’re not the only one.”
“You can’t have the Snickers. Those are mine. I’ll leave her one and replace the others later.”
“Nope, not interested in the Snickers.”
“M&Ms? Those are mine too.” When he cocked a brow, I rubbed my belly. “Not my fault your son got your sweet tooth.”
“Is it also my fault that you’re so fucking gorgeous I can’t wait to get you naked?”
As always, sentiments like that from Seth knocked me on my ass. He’d been saying them continuously since he’d first come up with his crazy plan to have a baby in May, but I still couldn’t believe sometimes that he was saying them to me. That we were us. An us so much bigger now than the one we’d always been, because we’d had that solid foundation to grow from.
“Um.”
His warm chuckle stirred my hair. “I love how you react when I say stuff like that.”
“Just trying to get a reaction out of me?”
“Hardly.” He pulled me in front of him and discreetly pulled my hand back to touch the column in his jeans. And it was a column. The dude was fucking erect while trick or treating with his four-year-old. “This outfit isn’t helping matters.” He tugged on the ribbon between my breasts. “I keep imagining peeling you out of it and seeing how much bigger your tits are today.”
“They don’t grow hourly, you know.” Even if it felt like it.
“Mmm, seems that way to me.” He laid his hands on my shoulders as Laurie skipped down the stairs, swinging the jack o’lantern she was using to collect her candy. “What’d you get, sweetheart?”
“Snickers. A full-sized bar.”
My stomach rumbled and he laughed. “Awesome. Onward ho.” He slung an arm around my shoulders as he shifted me back toward the walk. “We have miles to go before we sleep.”
It took a lifetime and a half to cover the square footage of the trek that Seth evidently took Laurie on every year. I’d never gone trick or treating with them before, which had been a mistake. At least I would’ve known what I was in for.
“Yay, time for camel corn and Snoopy.” Laurie spun around ahead of us, twirling her pumpkin full of candy above her head.
“Caramel corn,” I corrected, but Laurie wasn’t listening. I didn’t mind much, since home was finally in our sights. I swear, the warm golden glow of the lights in the windows nearly made me weep.
<
br /> “Just you and me for those things, princess. Mommy needs some rest.”
“No,” I immediately protested. I didn’t want to miss a minute of our first family Halloween.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the energy I’d once had. The beginning of my second trimester I’d been full of it—and horny as hell. Seth had happily obliged me in that area. As the months progressed and the third trimester neared, a lot of my sex drive and drive period had disappeared.
Now a carton of ice cream, a cozy blanket, and a pillow excited me nearly as much as Seth’s cock.
Actually, that was a lie. Tonight, his cock was losing big time to the ice cream.
“Yes.” Seth looped an arm around my waist and ushered me up the stairs. “Bed for you. After a snack. We just have enough time to make you one before the show, right, Laur?”
“Yes.” Laurie clapped and ran up the steps. “PBJ?”
“Hmm, thinking something a little lighter.”
I gripped Seth’s arm. “Don’t deny a pregnant woman peanut butter, for God’s sake.”
“Swear jar.”
I didn’t even bother to argue with Laurie. She’d been taught not to take the Lord’s name in vain. We might as well just buy her that pink bike with streamers she wanted now.
“PBJ it is then.” Seth’s lips twitched as he pushed open the door to utter silence.
The three of us stood in the doorway, not moving. Barely breathing.
“Do you think they killed each other?” Seth questioned.
“If so, I hope it was on the green rug. Even if we paid far too much for that piece of—” At Laurie’s glance, I smiled. “Loveliness.”
Seth tsked. “Poor rug.”
When I tried to move forward, Seth threw out an arm to keep me and Laurie back. “Let me check things out.”
Caught between a laugh and rolling my eyes, I laid a hand on Laurie’s head. “Let your daddy play the hero. He so rarely gets to.”
Seth was about to respond when Laurie bellowed, “Unca Ollie, where you be?”
Oliver strolled out and smiled as if we didn’t make quite a picture being blocked from entry into the house. “There’s my favorite superhero. How’d you do?” He moved forward and Seth dropped his arm in time for Oliver to pluck the candy bucket out of Laurie’s hand. “Whoa, this thing must weigh five pounds. Good job.”
