Beastly Lights

by Theresa Jane

  “Liam,” I murmured, tugging on his sleeve to get his attention. “I need to check on the turkey.”

  “I’ll do it, you sit. Rest,” he ordered before getting to his feet and repositioning Charlie on his hip.

  “Do you know how to check a turkey?” I asked skeptically.

  “I’ll go with him,” Ant announced and I rolled my eyes at the two of them. We were going to have burned turkey tonight with those two in charge.

  They quickly disappeared from the room with a giggling Charlie in tow. As if she already knew what a disaster this night was going to be.

  “How are you doing Freya?” Lucy asked as Jarred followed the two boys from the room muttering something about warming up a bottle for Tahlia.

  “I’m doing well,” I smiled, resting back in my chair with a tired sigh. “Liam has been amazing.”

  “It looks like he’s really stepped up,” Lucy smiled.

  “He finished prepping the baby’s room yesterday,” I smiled, unable to hide my joy. It seemed to blossom from within until it was radiating from me with no chance of dimming. I had never felt so light and blissful in all my life and I never wanted it to end.

  “I have to see this,” Lucy laughed, getting to her feet, then helping me to mine. With Davis still occupied with Ryan, I led Lucy up the stairs toward the room Liam had been working on for the past two weeks.

  Not even a week after he found out I was pregnant he had assured me he could create a room for our upcoming child. He had researched cribs online for over a month before he decided on one and even then he had it returned to the store three times because he changed his mind.

  Then, there was the whole debate over whether it would be a boy or girl and what he should paint the walls. We had decided not to find out, both of us wanting to keep it a surprise until the very last moment.

  So, he hadn’t painted the room any color but instead had left it plain. I hadn’t seen it since he finished yesterday so I was almost as eager as Lucy to take a peek at Liam’s work.

  “The nursery is right next to our room,” I explained as we walked down the corridor that led to mine and Liam’s room. “Liam’s choice, not mine.”

  “He’ll probably regret that three months in,” Lucy chuckled, pushing open the door to the nursery. “Wow, he really went all out.”

  “Yeah, he did,” I mused, stepping further into the room to get a better look. The furniture was all white with blue trim, and I instantly felt a rueful smile build. He really wanted that boy. There was a large white crib beside a change table and a bookshelf stuffed to breaking point with picture books and soft toys. In the corner, there was a white rocking chair with a blue bear sat in it. I gravitated toward it, picking up the bear and placing it in my lap as I sat down.

  “This is amazing,” Lucy gasped, rifling through the drawers that were already stocked with everything we could possibly need. I knew Liam would come back in here and straighten everything up later. He was still a neat freak despite my unique ability to leave a trail of mess in my wake.

  “He really has done a nice job,” I muttered, rocking gently in the chair and feeling my eyes begin to get heavy.

  “What’s this?” Lucy asked and I reluctantly opened my eyes to see her running her fingers over the guitar I had bought to replace the one Davis had broken. This one had the same sunflowers painted over it as the ones in my painting. I had made them a little more edgy and rocker-esque than the ones in the painting. There were more reds than yellows, and they faded like flames when you got to the base. I didn’t want to insult Liam’s masculinity by making them too feminine, but he didn’t seem to mind.

  “He likes to come in here and write, I think,” I answered, settling back in the chair and readjusting the pillow behind my back. It had the faint scent of Liam’s aftershave, and I could only think that he spent more time in here than I realized.

  “I’m so glad he found you Freya,” Lucy began. She was looking at the guitar with a pensive gaze. “I was afraid the next time we found him we were going to be too late. He was so destructive before you came along. It was only a matter of time before we lost him again.”

  I sat silently as she drifted off again. Her fingers were clutching the guitar tightly, almost as tightly as the pain clutched at my chest as I remembered how Liam had been not even a year before, the way I had been. How we had made it to this point, I would never know.

  “Freya,” I heard Liam call from down the corridor.

  “In here.”

  “You should probably come downstairs,” he explained, leaning on the doorjamb and looking at me with a rye smile.

  “I’ll just give you two a minute,” Lucy smirked, slipping passed Liam and disappearing.

  “I love seeing you in here.” He said as he pushed off the doorjamb and walked over to me. “I can’t wait till we have our kid here with us.”

  “Just three more months,” I smiled, eagerly taking his hand so he could pull me up.

  “It’s such a long wait. I just want to meet him already,” he complained, rubbing his hand over my protruding stomach affectionately.

  “Or her,” I shot back, taking his hand in mine and entwining our fingers.

  “If we have all girls, they can start a punk-rock band,” Liam beamed, probably imagining himself teaching his little rock stars how to play. It was an adorable thought and nearly melted my heart entirely.

  “How many kids do you think we’ll be having?”

  “Enough to fill every room in this house.”‘There is eleven rooms in this house, not including our own.’ I chuckled, absently running my hand over my stomach as we left the nursery and headed back to our guests.

  “It’s lucky we’ve already started then,” he murmured, bending down and placing another kiss on my baby bump.

  “You’re insane.”

  “Only for you.”

  “You’re also cheesy,” I smirked, cupping his cheek and pressing a kiss against it. It was moments like this I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. He had been everything I needed him to be and more.When we arrived back in the living room I immediately noticed two additions.Standing in the corner, was both my brother and my father. The room seemed tense and segregated now. The warmth that had been in it when I left was considerably less now that I had returned.

  My father stood with his back half turned on the room, and my brother did the same.It was the first time I had invited them to a gathering with mine and Liam’s friends. I knew it was going to be rough. It was going to take time for them to be accepted.

  Feeling Liam’s muscles tense beside me, I gently unwound myself from his arms and crossed to my family with a tentative smile. I had seen them a handful of times over the past few months, and each time I was shocked by their change.

  I had gone with Mason to one of his meetings a few weeks back. I wanted to be supportive because I wanted him to succeed. I wanted him to be in my child’s life, but if I knew he was going to hurt them, then he wasn’t going to get within three-feet of them.

  Already, he had relapsed twice in the year since he quit and both times my father had surprisingly been the one to scrape his son off the sidewalk and haul him back to his apartment. He dragged him back to his meetings as his three-month chip was traded in for one week and they began the process all over again.

  I didn’t care how many times he failed as long as he got back up and tried again.

  “Hey Mason,” I greeted, all too aware of the growing silence in the room. “Dad,” I nodded.

  “Thanks for inviting us, Freya,” Mason mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. A tell-tale sign that he was uncomfortable.

  “You’re family,” I shrugged, resting a hand against my stomach again.

  “How’s my little niece or nephew fairing?” He asked, a strained smile spreading across his lips. He was trying.

  “Kicking the hell out of my kidney,” I laughed, trying to break the chill that was lingering.

&nbs
p; “You were always a kicker,” my father offered. When I glanced at him, I found a distant smile on his face. “Your mother was kept up half the night with your antics when she was pregnant with you.”I heard someone clear their throat at my side, and I felt his warmth before his arm was wrapped supportively around my waist.

  “Dinner should be ready in a few minutes,” he whispered against my ear, pulling me fractionally closer.

  “Raven should have arrived by now,” I frowned, looking down at my watch and then out the front window. It hadn’t snowed yet but the temperatures were heading in that direction. With any luck we were in store for a very white Christmas this year.

  “He probably got lost,” Liam chuckled, moving to lead me away.

  “Thanks for coming,” I said finally, stopping in Liam’s hold to look back at my brother and father. “It means a lot.”They both nodded in reply, resuming their guarded positions beside the front window as the room started to warm with the voices of our friends and family again.

  “We better start serving dinner.” Liam nodded in reply as we both looked at the little monster who was currently munching on one of our throw pillows.

  “Before Davis starts on the furniture.” Liam muttered, shaking his head at the little terror. “That pillow will have to be burned.” I rolled my eyes, letting him lead me into the kitchen to serve dinner.

  * * *

  “Davis,” Lucy sighed, rubbing the center of her forehead tiredly. “Three more bites or you don’t get any dessert.”

  “No fair,” Davis pouted as the rest of the table tried to hide their amusement. “I already ate lots.”

  “You would have eaten a lot more if your father hadn’t have let you sneak three cookies before dinner,” Lucy scolded shooting a remorseful Jarred a scolding look. Thank god she didn’t know that I had snuck him one too. If she did turn on me, I was playing the pregnant card. Anything to get out of that scathing look.

  “That’s not my fault,” Davis grumbled, shoving a potato in his mouth and then proceeding to mumble around it. “Daddy should be punished for giving them to me.”

  “Davis Anthony,” Lucy scolded as the boy shoved a second potato in his mouth. At that same moment, a fussy Charlie started to screech in her high chair. Throwing her half finished mashed potato in Lucy’s face. I could have sworn her face turned two shades redder.

  “I think it’s time someone took their afternoon nap,” Liam announced, swiftly scooping up the screaming toddler. Charlie immediately calmed in his arms, unfazed by her mother’s fierce gaze. Teenage years were going to be very interesting.

  “I’ll start on dessert,” I announced and Jarred was quick to volunteer to clear the mains. Probably eager to get away from his wife who had turn back to argue with a fiery Davis.

  “You really think she won’t follow you in here,” I smirked, putting the apple pie in the oven to reheat. Jarred was unloading his arms by the sink and starting to fill it with warm water.

  “It’s going to be a long trip back to the city,” he groaned, dumping the plates in the soapy water as I heard something clatter in the dinning room.

  “Hopefully, Davis falls asleep,” he muttered as we both resumed our tasks in silence.Apart from Davis’ defiant streak the dinner had been perfect. The initial chill from my father and brother’s arrival was quickly replaced by the warmth of our family and friends sharing a Thanksgiving meal.

  Raven had finally arrived. Along with Harri and Marc to round out our table. Mason and Marc had been in a passionate debate over who was the more valuable player in the criminal justice sector with neither coming out the winner.

  While Raven had provided endless entertainment with stories about the pop stars and rock gods he had had in the recording studio. None more entertaining than the one he told about when Liam had nearly lost his mind when he had leaned me his jacket.

  I had been back to the studio several times since returning and each time Liam had made sure I had enough clothes to stay warm while I watched. Not to mention, the addition of a new sofa when I informed him it was like sitting on a stone bench.

  “I should probably go check on Liam,” I muttered, noticing the pie was nearly ready and Liam still hadn’t returned to the table.

  Jarred grumbled something in reply and I could have sworn he said, “lucky bastard”.

  * * *

  I silently walked down the corridor to the nursery but stilled when I heard Liam’s deep voice drifting through the open door.

  “-more to me than anyone I have ever known in my entire life.” I was never above eavesdropping. So, pinned myself against the wall outside the nursery and waited for him to continue.

  “There are so many things I want to say to her, Charlie.” He sighed, and I could just imagine him running his hands through his disheveled hair. “She means everything to me, and I don’t want to mess it up. I don’t want to overcomplicate it. Everything up until this point has been complicated, but I want this to be easy.”Charlie gurgled in reply, and I slid down the wall to continue listening.

  “Do you want to hear what I have so far, big girl?” He cooed, and as always Charlie was his willing audience, giggling angelically in response.

  “I thought you might.” He was smiling, I could hear it in his voice but there was something else there too, and it was an emotion I rarely heard.

  “Freya,” he began, and my heart raced. “Frey, no Freya was better. She likes Freya better.” He was fumbling with his words, and it was something I had rarely heard him do. He was always so good with words. He made a living out of stringing the right words together and yet now, he didn’t seem to have any.“Freya, I have spent a lifetime building a wall. A wall with the purpose of keeping everyone and everything out,” I shuffled closer to the open door, eager to hear every word. “You destroyed that wall. You burst into my life like a damn finally succumbing to a raging river, and at first, I resented you for it. I was terrified about what you might find but I was even more afraid of facing everything that I had tried to keep hidden. You changed everything.“You brought color and life back into me. You reminded me that life is messy-“ He groaned in frustration before I heard a dull thump followed by a high pitch giggle. “That’s too cheesy, she’ll laugh at me,” he groaned. “I can’t say that to her.” I could barely hear him now over the thump of my own heart. My pulse was so thick in my veins it felt like syrup was trying to be pumped through them.

  “Alright Charlie, how about this?” He asked, another joyful giggle raining loudly in my ears.

  “Ace, pweety,” she squealed. “Arlie twy, Arlie twy.”

  “Oh no, little munchkin. This isn't for you,” Liam chuckled and the anticipation was starting to make my head spin.

  “Now listen,” he ordered, trying to settle down the overexcited two year old. “Are you listening?” I could imagine Charlie’s head bobbing up and down in reply.

  “Freya, I love you. You make my life worth living and have given me so much even when I’ve been a selfish bastard.” Oh, Liam, language. “A life without you is a life I never want to live. Freya, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  “Yes,” I gasped, not even noticing I was crying until the tears fell hotly against my chest. The room was silent after that before I heard the rustle of clothing then quick footsteps.

  “Freya?”

  “I’ll marry you,” I blubbered, looking up at the blurry outline of my rock star.

  “You heard all of that?” He was holding an open black velvet box in his hand and wearing a dumbfounded look on his face. He had never looked more perfect.

  “Every word,” I smiled, trying to push up from where I sat against the wall but having little luck. Realizing my struggle, Liam leaned down and helped me up.

  “I-I…Charlie was helping me,” he ran an anxious hand through his hair, his eyes darting to the floor.

  “Do I get to see the ring?” I smiled, wiping back the tears that had cascaded down my c
heeks.

  “I haven’t proposed,” he frowned, snapping the box closed and hiding it behind his back.

  “But, I already accepted.”

  “That’s not how it works. I need to propose first.”

  “You already did.”

  “But that wasn’t to you.”

  “You said my name.”

  “But I was talking to Charlie.”

  “So, you were proposing to a toddler? I never thought you were a literal cradle snatcher,” I smirked, leaning back with my arms crossed over my stomach.

  “I’m not,” he defended.

  “So, ask me.”

  “Don’t be so bossy,” he grumbled, rolling the velvet box around in his fingers.

  “Do you want me to ask you?”

  “No, I already bought you the ring. I’m asking you.”

  “Well, get on with it then.”

  “I have a right mind not to ask you,” he grumbled.

  “Oh really?” I raised my eyebrows at his childish pout.

  “Fine,” he sighed, opening the ring box again and revealing the white gold band with a small cluster of diamonds surrounding a beautifully cut emerald. “Freya, will you marry me?”

  “Oh, very romantic.” I mocked, enjoying the tinge of pink that was blossoming on his cheeks. Oh, if his fans could see him now.

  “It would have been romantic if you let me do it my way,” he grumbled.

  “Okay, rock star,” I consoled, leaning up to run my fingers through his hair.

  “I wanted it to be perfect,” he pouted, wrapping his arms around my waist and instantly filling my body with warmth.

  “You gave it your best shot.”

  “At least let me get down on one knee,” he bargained, releasing me and kneeling down.

  “Ryan,” we were both startled when Ant’s voice broke through the moment. I couldn’t help the smile that was growing on my face as Liam’s frown deepened. “Ryan, it’s go time.”Seconds later, Ryan came screeching around the corner in a flurry of lilac and glitter. He quickly assessed the scene before disappearing again only to be replaced by the rest of our guests.