by Cee Bowerman
“The girls? It was your sister.” Summer laughed as Jenna dropped down to sit beside her. “She’s a bad influence.”
“Yeah. Terra and Brenda are old and shit. I figured out that they’ve been drinking water this whole time.” Jenna took a swig out of her own jug and then bumped shoulders with Summer. “We’re the fun ones, Summer and me.”
“Did you find a dress?” I asked Summer. I reached over to pick up the jug in front of her and I took a sip. It was pineapple juice with a whole bunch of rum added to it. “Or did you just belly up to the bar and get hammered in the bright light of the afternoon?”
“We multi-tasked. We got drunk while we were shopping.” Summer took the jug back from me and put the lid on it. “And yes, I found a dress. I got clothes for the kids too. We’re all going to coordinate.”
“Do I need to go buy a suit?” I asked her as I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Oh, fuck no. I think you would look hot in a suit, but no. Wear a t-shirt and jeans. I’m wearing a sundress and sandals. The boys will be wearing collared shirts and shorts, Lark has a little dress that is the same colors as mine. We’ll all coordinate.” Summer squinted over at me. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost six.”
“Well, shit. We did day drink, didn’t we?” Summer and Jenna both giggled and started whispering to each other. I smiled and looked up at our friends.
Brenda was sitting in Sonny’s lap and Terra was in Kale’s. Both were completely sober and smiling as they watched the drunk women chatter with each other.
“Did you two have fun?” I asked Brenda and Terra.
“Oh, hell yeah. Your girl has quite the mouth on her after a few shots. One sales lady found that out quick and in a hurry.” Terra high fived Brenda. “And it was awesome to watch. Brenda has it on video.”
“Oh, shit.” I chuckled. When I looked at Summer her eyebrows were raised at Terra.
“She rolled her fucking eyes at you, Terra. She’s lucky all I did was set her straight. I could have taken her.” Summer tilted her head. “Okay, maybe not, but Jenna would have helped me, right?”
“Hell yeah, I would have. Sisters have got to stick together, you know. Uptight bitch looking at our sister that way. She lost out on some hefty commission though, that’s gonna sting. I thought she was going to shit when you got to the register and asked for someone else. It was awesome.” Jenna took a drink of the juice and passed it over to Summer. “We’ve got each other’s backs.”
“Terra is just too nice to say anything Bird.” Summer thought she was whispering, but she really wasn’t. “She needs to be more assertive. She said she was from Alaska, and there’s not a lot of people there. She probably doesn’t have a lot of life experience.”
Every single one of us cracked up at Summer’s ‘whispered’ comment.
“Sweetheart, Terra’s got plenty of experience in life, I’m sure. I bet she can handle herself just fine.” I watched Summer shake her head slowly, disagreeing with me.
“Summer, I was in prison for ten years.” Terra was leaning back against Kale’s chest, smiling at Summer. “I guess you didn’t know that.”
“I did not know that. But you shouldn’t have to deal with women acting all snooty like. She needed to be brought down a peg or two.” Summer had taken her shoes off and was crawling up to sit on the chair with me. “You were probably plotting out what to say to her, but I beat you to it.”
“Actually, I was plotting her death, but your words did okay too.” Kale threw his head back and laughed at Terra’s comment. “I mean, I wouldn’t have killed her, but I was pondering a good punch to the throat.”
“She’s blood thirsty. I like that. I need to take her up to visit Drea at work so she can meet Dan. That would be so awesome.” Summer laid her head on my chest after she curled up between my legs on the lounge chair. “I’ll take care of you, Terra. You too, Brenda. Jenna, I’ve got your back. We’re family now.”
I listened as Summer’s voice got lower until she was murmuring the last words. I watched her face relax into sleep as she gave into the pull of the rum.
“Well, she’s fucking awesome.” Clem said from his seat at the edge of the pool. “You said she has a sister?”
15.
“I'm not saying I have a hangover, but I can hear light right now. I’m convinced you’re the devil.”
Summer’s text to Jenna
I heard voices downstairs and opened my eyes to see that it was already bright out. At some point in the night, I had heard the baby on the monitor. When I got up to check on her, I found Bird already in her room rocking her back to sleep.
I watched him with her for a few minutes, until he laid her in her crib. He leaned down to kiss me when he walked up to me in the doorway. He asked how I was feeling, and I admitted that my head was killing me, and my mouth was filled with cotton. He chuckled at me but got me a bottle of water and some pain reliever.
Now, hours later, I wasn’t feeling too bad. I still had cottonmouth, but barely a headache. Considering all we had planned for today, I needed to be sharp. A hangover would have made that impossible.
I leaned over and picked up my phone to see that it was almost nine in the morning. Lark usually woke up around seven, so I knew Bird had been up with her for a while. I took a shower and dressed for the day, wearing a dark purple pull over shirt with a pair of ripped boyfriend jeans, rolled up at the cuff, and my favorite pair of heeled sandals. Once my hair was dry and I had applied a minimal amount of makeup, I gave myself a pep talk in the mirror and decided I was ready to face the day.
My last day as a single woman, a single Mom of three children. In a little more than twenty-four hours, I would be a Mom of four and a wife. I felt good about it. I still had a head full of worries, but I felt positive that I was doing the right thing for me and my children. And Bird.
As hard as it was to imagine, I was in love with that man. I had met him a week ago, and I was going to marry him tomorrow. How crazy was my life?
I left the bedroom and made my way to the stairs. Bear had been busy, and it looked like the slide was finished on this side of the house. He was on the other side, finishing the slide on that stairway. I called over to him to ask if this slide was finished, and he nodded.
Thinking it might be a fun way to start my day, I sat my ass down on the carpet and slid down into the living room. I couldn’t help myself, and I laughed all the way down.
“Good morning, drunky. How’s your head feel?” Clem asked me from the couch. He had Lark in his lap and was holding a bottle for her. “You’re pretty chipper.”
“I feel fine. I woke up sometime in the middle of the night and drank a bottle of water and took some pills. Add to that the fact that I slept damn near twelve hours, I’m rested, hydrated, and ready to start my day.”
Bird came toward me from the kitchen and swung me to him for a kiss. I noticed that he had trimmed his beard at some point this morning and I put my hand on his face to feel the softness on his cheeks.
“Hello, Mr. Bird. You’re looking mighty handsome today.”
“And you, Ms. Summer, look like Sunshine.”
He kissed me again, long and deep, and I forgot that we weren’t alone in the room until I heard Jenna speak.
“I’m going to throw up. You two are so sweet it’s giving me a cavity.” Jenna snorted and threw herself down on the couch. “Clem, who’s going to be next? You or Daughtry?”
“As long as it’s not you, we’ll all be fine.” Clem returned, and I saw Jenna’s face turn red. “Something you need to tell me, little sister?”
“Nope. Nothing at all.” Jenna hopped up and went back to the kitchen. “Summer, you need coffee?”
Bird let me go and I moved to the kitchen. Jenna passed me a mug of coffee, and I went to the fridge for the creamer to doctor it the way I liked it.
“Bear is almost done with the second slide; he and the guys will get to the dance floor in just a little bit. Drea has guys
out front setting up chairs already, and they’ll be fine until tomorrow as long as the wind stays down. The caterer confirmed by phone just a little bit ago, and they will have the food and the cake set up by four. The bartenders will be here at 3 for early birds. The wedding will start at 5, once the sun goes down behind the house, and you’ll be a Forrester by 5:30. You ready?”
I sipped my coffee as Jenna gave me an update on everything.
“So, you guys have taken care of everything! I just have to show up.” I put my head back and closed my eyes. “Good Lord, I love you.”
Bird laughed as he sat down beside me. “Hey, woman. You’re marrying me here.”
I leaned over and rested my head on his shoulder.
“I have to run a few errands and pick some stuff up for Mom for tonight. The caterers will have the food set up by 6:30, everyone should be here at 7. Sound good?” Jenna rinsed her mug and set it in the sink before she moved to give Bird a hug.
“That sounds excellent, Jenna. Thank you for all your help. You’re the greatest.” Bird kissed her on her head, and I watched Jenna wave at Clem before she walked out the side door to her car.
“It’s kind of surreal that we are having a wedding and I haven’t stressed at all planning anything.” I took another sip of my coffee and glanced back to see Clem burping Lark on his shoulder. “Is it Clem’s turn for morning nap?”
Bird smiled and nodded.
“Are your brothers going to love my sons as much as they love Lark already?”
“Of course. It will be instant, just like it was for her. They are ready to meet your family as much as I am. I can’t wait to see your boys.”
“The Three Musketeers are going to go ape shit when they see your house. The slides were a genius idea, and I’ll admit that even as much as I thought you were crazy, it was fun to come down that thing this morning.”
“Me, Jenna and Clem already went down it at least three times each, so I understand.” Bird smiled, and I laughed at the thought of all three of them taking turns to go down the long, wooden slide. “I hope your boys like it here. I hope they like me.”
I turned and stepped down from my stool so I could stand between his legs.
“They’re going to love you, Bird. How could they not?” I kissed him, glad that he was seated so I had easy access to his mouth. “My brothers and sisters will love you too. There are a bunch of them, along with my boys, and it gets loud and crazy. I hope you’re prepared for that.”
“I’m ready. So is my family. My Mom has called three times already asking things about the kids. Not just the boys, but your brothers and sisters too. I didn’t really have any answers for her, so I told her you would call her back.”
“I’ll do that in just a minute. Do you think Clem would mind if we went for a ride while he naps with Lark?”
“I doubt he would care. Where do we need to go?”
“I need to go to the jewelry store and pick up your ring."
“Let’s do that and run by the diner to see Mom. You can talk to her then.”
I walked over to speak to Clem as Bird ran upstairs. Once we were all set, I followed Bird outside to the motorcycle and held on tight as he took me into town.
This was my life now, and I couldn’t be more excited.
~*~
I heard a car pull up in the driveway and jumped off the couch to go to the door. I saw my Mom and my sister Willow leaning into the back seat of the SUV to unlatch the boy’s seatbelts. The first one out was my oldest son, Hawk. He ran up the sidewalk to meet me, and I dropped to my knees so he could throw himself into my arms.
I held him tight to me, tears in my eyes.
“Oh, my baby boy. I’ve missed you so much!”
“Gigi said that you didn’t get me a puppy, but you got us a pool, a new baby sister and a Daddy!” Hawk exclaimed loudly. “I’m so excited!”
“I’m glad you are, sweetheart. Your new baby sister is little, but she’s going to love you!”
“What about my new Daddy? Will he love me to?”
“Oh, baby. He will. How could anyone not love you?” I squeezed him to me again and then let him move to the side so Crow could throw himself into my arms. “How are you, sweetheart? I missed you so much!”
“Mama! I want to go swimming!” Crow didn’t seem to care about seeing me, the baby sister or meeting Bird, he was only interested in the pool.
“We’ll go swimming in a little bit. I want you to meet someone and then show you around the house. I got rooms set up for each of you, with your beds in them and all your toys and clothes. This is your new house. Are you excited?”
“I am so excited! I can’t wait to see the pool!” Crow was jumping up and down.
I stood up and smiled at my Mom and sister as they walked up the sidewalk, Phoenix in my Mom’s arms.
“Oh, my baby boy. I’ve missed you so much!” I took Phoenix from my Mom and held him to my chest as I kissed his hair. “I’ve missed all of you!”
I hugged my Mom tightly and then Willow.
“Mom told me about all your excitement while the boys were napping today. I can’t wait to meet this man you’re jumping into the deep end with.” Willow reached down and took Crow’s hand as he chattered about swimming. I noticed that in the few seconds that it took for me to greet Phoenix, my Mom and sister, Crow had already thrown his shirt and shoes off into the grass beside the sidewalk. My sister was valiantly trying to get him to keep his shorts on as she reached down to retrieve his shoes and shirt.
Phoenix was snuggled up with his face in my neck, and I enjoyed the cuddle from him. At two years old, he wasn’t as outgoing and wild as my other boys, more of a Mama’s boy than Crow and Phoenix.
“Did you miss me, Nix? I missed you so much it hurt.” I kissed his cheek and then growled into his neck. His laughter made my heart expand.
I felt complete with my boys around me. That little part that had been missing all week was here now and I could breathe easier.
“Are you guys ready to go in and see your new house? Bird had something built just for you boys. You’re going to be so excited when you see it.” I looked up at my Mom and sister and smiled at their curious stares. “Oh, just wait. Good Lord.”
Still holding Phoenix, I turned and took Hawk’s hand and started toward the front door. I laughed when I heard my sister getting onto Crow a few steps behind me.
“Jesus, Crow. At least keep your underwear on, okay?”
Bird was holding the door open and smiled as we walked toward him. We walked past him and while we were in the entryway, I turned to introduce him to my Mom and Willow. Mom instantly snatched Lark from his arms and walked forward into the living room to find a seat so she could inspect her first granddaughter.
“Bird, this one in my arms is Phoenix. Half-naked over here is Crow, and this is Hawk. Boys, can you say hello to Bird, please?”
“Are you our new Daddy? We had a Daddy, but he died a long time ago. Gigi said that you are going to be our new Daddy and we are going to live in your house with a pool.” As Hawk finished talking, Crow started jumping up and down screaming.
“A pool! A pool! Go swimming!”
Bird smiled down at the boys and then looked up at me. “Should we let them?” he whispered.
“Do you guys want to see your rooms?”
“No. I want to see the pool.” Crow exclaimed. Hawk looked over at Crow and nodded his head in agreement. “Pool first.”
“Okay, guys. I’ll take you out and show you the pool while your Mama talks to Gigi and Willow.” Bird put his hands out and Hawk and Crow both took them. I watched them walk toward the back door with tears in my eyes.
“I’m not sure why in the world I keep trying to cry. I’m happy.” I said as I sat down next to Willow on the couch. “I’m just a water works today.”
“Oh, shit. You’re pregnant. That's how you always start, you know. Remember when you cried because they were out of your shampoo brand at the grocery store. That was a ful
l-on meltdown and I wanted to have you committed. Turns out it wasn’t crazy, it was Hawk.” Willow reached over and rubbed Phoenix’s back. “You missed your Mama, huh Nix?”
“Yeah.” He whispered from my neck.
“Willow, will you look at this sweet baby. Look at all that hair, and those blue eyes are beautiful.” Mom looked up at me and then glanced at the glass door where we could see Bird and the boys walking around the pool. “And holy shit that man is gorgeous.”
Willow fanned herself with her hand. “Good Lord, woman. No wonder you’re going to snatch him up so quick. That man is beautiful. What's he like in bed?”
I raised one eyebrow at her, thinking how inappropriate her question was. My Mom, on the other hand, didn’t see a problem and had to put her two cents in.
