"Happy birthday, Ray," she almost sings, joined in by pretty much everyone in the room with a rousing rendition from Garth, getting him a swat on the butt from Brad that makes everyone laugh. Taking the card from her, I turn to face the room, seeing Harlan holding a gift bag near him, on the table.
"I told you not to get me anythin'," I scold, swatting her with the envelope before I slide my fingers under the flap to open it. My friends have already done too much for me over the last handful of months, so they didn't need to waste their money on birthday gifts for me. They all just mumble their objections as I take the card out. It is a cute little country stream scene on the outside, with a few people strolling over a bridge. The words scrolled on the inside make me tear up as I read them.
"No matter how small you may think today is,
never forget, it's this day that brought you
to us, from the Lord and especially to me, my best friend!
Happy Birthday- From all of Us"
As I wipe the few tears away and Kendall wraps her arm around me, I take note that all of them had signed the card. Issuing my thanks to the entire room, I see Harlan hold the bag up and dangle it with a smirk on his face.
"Come on," he says, getting all the guys to join in with his rousing, "you know you wanna open it, momma." He smiles as I limp my way over to him, sliding down into the glider rocker as he places the bag in my lap.
"Now Ray," Rosa speaks up, jostling both Marisol and Charlie on her lap, "we bought those in hopes that you and Chad will hurry up and get married, so you can wear them." She winks at me, and I immediately think I'm going to pull lingerie out of this bag on my lap, but peeking around the tissue paper, I spot a shoe box, easing my nerves of embarrassment. Pulling the box out, I open it to reveal a beautiful pair of cowboy boots. They are dark navy blue, with white and red roses embroidered down the sides. Chad comes over to kneel beside me and I hand one to him.
"Wow," I say, attempting to pull the left one on, accepting some help from Reno. "Wow," I say again, standing in it. "These are great guys," I say, looking around the room seeing all of their smiling faces. "You all picked these out?"
"Actually," Kendall laughs, spinning around on one of the stools to face me, "Garth picked them out, and Harlan's momma did the roses." I can feel my jaw go slack as Garth turns around from the stove, taking a theatrical bow and winking at me.
"Wow," I whisper, sitting and having Chad help me pull the one off my foot and place them back in the box. "Harlan, tell your momma thank you," I say, smiling as I take the box and set it in the empty stool next to Kendall at the island. Limping up behind Garth as he flips the last couple pancakes on the griddle, I wrap my arm around him, splaying my hand out over his defined chest, feeling him relax back into me.
"Thank you, Garth," I whisper, kissing his rough cheek and giggling at the look he gives me. It is one full of fake desire before he whips around, taking me in a overdramatic, Rhett and Scarlett, embrace; slobbering all over my face as everyone laughs. Even Chad joins in with the laughter as he comes up to rescue me.
"Okay, Man, okay." he chuckles, taking me from Garth before I laugh myself to death. "Don't make me kick your ass," he says in a mockingly tough tone, puffing out his chest as Garth does the same and they pretend to square off, ending in another round of laughs filling the room.
Wiping my hand across my face, I giggle to Brad. "I sure as hell hope he doesn't really kiss like that." Garth tries to pull Brad in, his tongue on full display, but Brad pushes him away.
"Ehh, he uses his tongue for other things I'm fond of," Brad says and everyone pauses, looking around, before we all burst out in laughter. Garth turns red and I pinch him on the butt as I’m taking the pitcher of OJ to the table.
We all settle down into breakfast, laughing and joking about everything as everyone fills their bellies. Afterward, we all bundle up and head out in a three car caravan to the local tree lot to pick a Christmas tree. Almost an hour of hemming and hawing later, Chad and all of the guys agree on an almost seven foot tall blue spruce, loading it in the back of the Silverado along with another smaller tree for his mom and almost ten fresh wreaths.
After almost thirty minutes of arguing, swearing and knocking things over, the men have the tree in its stand. It is situated by the living room window and the boxes of decorations are set out on the floor and the guys leave us to go hang out in the garage. I am tired as all hell from walking around at the tree lot, so sitting here on the couch holding Charlie, I don't want to get up, but I know that I should.
Hauling myself to my feet, I lay Charlie down next to a sleeping Marisol, and stretch my arm up above my head, not liking the soreness that is setting into my right one. Adjusting my arm slightly, I jump when a hand lands on my back.
"Sorry, Ray, thought you heard me," Rosa says with an apologetic look and a cup of steaming coffee in her hands, holding it out to me. "Thought you might need this, and Dana is asking where your ladder is? We're gonna need it." She laughs, looking over her shoulder at the gigantic tree. Why we had to get such a large one, I’ll never understand, but it does look good.
"It's out in the garage." I smile, taking a sip of the hot coffee before setting it on the side table. "I'll go get one of the men to bring it in." She nods as I try to hold my limp in, heading for the mud room. "Put their asses to work," I joke, and hear her laugh as I shut the door behind me.
Standing there, amongst jackets and old, dirty shoes, I have a mini panic attack. I haven't set foot in the garage since the day Duke shot me. Bracing myself with my hand on the wall, I take deep breaths, trying to ebb the gripping sensation around my chest. It's okay, I tell myself, it's okay. There is no one out there who is going to hurt you. I am okay, I am healing. Charlie is okay. Chad is okay.
"Yeah, we're all okay," I whisper to myself with a smile, standing up straight and turning the handle on the outside door, swinging it open to step out onto the small stairs in the garage.
The radio is blaring, pumping out the local rock station, and I can see open beer cans sitting on the work bench and five sets of legs hanging out from underneath my brother's old Chevy pickup. Limping down the steps, I finally give in that I'll have to take some pain pills as I shuffle across the concrete; keeping my eyes on the sets of feet. They are arguing about something and the radio will still overpower my voice, so I do what anyone else would do. I kick the closest foot to me.
Garth's legs jump from the concrete and I hear something hard hit metal, I’m guessing it’s his forehead. Then he shoves himself out from under the truck, his back flat as he lies on the wheeled creeper, his eyes glaring at me.
"What the hell, momma?”" he yells over the music as the others slide out. He jumps up, rubbing his forehead and jogging over to shut the radio off, making my ears ring in the new silence.
"Aww, did I make you hit your head?” I say to him in a mocking baby voice, giving him a big grin while batting my eyelashes. Garth and I have developed a great friendship, especially since he's been living with us. The guys are all laughing and Chad stands, wiping his hands on a rag and then throwing it in Garth's face. Turning to look at him, I almost melt at the smile on his handsome face. God, can that man make me weak.
"What do ya need, Baby?" his deep voice seems to flow around me as he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me into him so that the smell of WD-40 and oil waft up to me. "Besides a spanking," he whispers, nipping at my ear and then kissing my cheek.
"A ladder," I can't help but breathe out, full of desire, then I rein it in when I hear Chad chuckle, knowing that he has gotten to me. Pushing my hand against his chest, I look up into his blue eyes, seeing the smirk on his lips. "I need a damn ladder for that damn tree you picked out." I punch him in the shoulder, turning on my heel and limping back toward the door.
"You’re limpin' pretty bad there, Ray," I hear Brad comment, but I don't turn around. I just wave over my shoulder as I hop the stairs. "You better believe I'm lookin' at that leg when we're done here,"
he yells as I shut the door.
"Yeah, yeah," I mumble, slipping back into the house to be bombarded by Christmas music and the smell of my cinnamon candles. "Kendall, can you get me my pain meds?” I say as I get into the living room and throw myself down into my other glider rocker. She nods, disappearing and reappearing within seconds with my pill bottle; handing me two pills and my coffee, then returning to help Rosa untangle some lights.
I sink into the glider further, smiling at my friends as they try to untwist the atrocity that is my Christmas decorations. I shift a little, adjusting my sling and fixing my shirt, pulling it up over my swollen breasts.
"Your boobs are popping out there, Ray." Kendall laughs as I look up at her. She has lights wrapped around her legs and arms, making her look like a human tree as Rosa works on finding the right end.
"Yeah, I know," I smirk at her, standing to grab my breast pump from the kitchen. "I'll have to dump all of this because of the pain meds," I say, checking on Charlie and Marisol, both sleeping soundly, before I plop down on the couch, pulling open my shirt. "Y'all don't mind if I do this?” I ask, hooking the suction up and glancing at them, seeing them both shake their heads.
"Please, girl," Rosa smiles, silently celebrating her find of the plug for the lights before shoving it in the socket and bringing color to the room, "I whip mine out anywhere, anytime. I figure if anyone has a problem with it, they'll leave. My baby's gotta eat, and if I don't have a bottle handy, well, she's gettin' the tit." Kendall and I laugh as Rosa shakes her chest, doing a little dance as she wraps the lights around the tree.
We all joke and laugh, Rosa and Kendall filling the tree with colored lights, while I put my breasts away just seconds before the guys come through the mud room doors. Rosa hands Chad the star and Reno holds the ladder for him as he climbs up, turning and smiling at me.
"This is our first Christmas tree," he says as I move to stand beside the ladder in front of the magnificent sight, accepting an ornament from Rosa so I can hang it.
"Our first of many." I grin up at him, loving the feel of his hand as he brushes it along my cheek, winking at me before setting the star on top. He hops down and tangles me in his arms, claiming my mouth for what seems like forever. I revel in the feel, wrapping my fingers into his short hair as his grips at my hip.
Releasing each other, we both laugh when we see that our guests have left us, their voices coming from the kitchen. Joining them, I get to work helping Kendall and Dana as they put the chickens in the oven for dinner. It feels good to be surrounded by people I love on my birthday, filling my home with their laughter and jokes.
Bobby Timmons and Austin French join us right before dinner is done, settling right into conversation as if they have been here all day. My cousin Ellie calls and says that she is going to meet us for church, that she is at a co-workers house and that she'll come back after the service for popcorn and a movie with us, which makes me happy. I know she needs me as much as I need her right now. We've been missing that family feeling.
Everyone powers through the roasted chickens, potatoes and other sides, all dressing warmly for our visit to church. Dana and Timmons are in the back seat of our truck, on opposite sides of Charlie's car seat, as we pull into the church parking lot and I spot Ellie's junky old Chevy Berretta.
She's standing behind it, and waves at me with a smile as her hair blows around her face. She has dark brown, almost black, hair like my father passed on to me and she keeps it in a short angled bob, framing her blueish-green eyes and porcelain-like face perfectly. She is my height and build, being about five foot three and thin but curvy, and she is all bundled up in a cute red and white plaid jacket, complete with a red beret type knit hat covering her ears.
"Who is that?” Timmons almost whistles out, and over my shoulder I can see him practically sitting in Dana's lap, looking out her window in Ellie's direction.
"Back off Bobby," I turn and scold him with my finger in his face. "She's my cousin, and she's going through a nasty divorce right now, so stay away." He puts his hands up defensively, shooting me a short look before gazing back at Ellie's approaching figure.
After greeting her warmly, getting a nice hug in return, I introduce her to every one as we make our way into the packed church. I purposely sit Ellie next to Dana at the end of a pew when I see Timmons trying to make his way over to her, and I smile when I see his defeated look as he sits next to French.
"You shouldn't be so hard on Bobby," Chad whispers in my ear as he settles next to me with Charlie in his lap. "He's a good guy."
"I know he is," I smile, taking our son from him and kissing Charlie’s chubby little cheek as he squeals. "Ellie is just...not ready for that yet." He gives me that 'yeah right' look, raising his eyebrow at me. "You weren't there that day Chad. The things she told me that her ex has done, they're scary. She's too fragile for anything right now." He nods his head, kissing my temple as he snakes his arm around the back of my shoulders.
My cousin had married her ex right out of high school, feeling as if he was her ticket out of the small town in West Virginia where she had grown up after her mom had left Wakefield with her and her brother. He had become a cop and the abuse started not long after her mom died from cancer. She is running from him, moving from place to place until the divorce is finalized. Hopefully it will be over soon so she can focus on being happy, instead of living in fear.
The service is beautiful, full of songs and prayers and a short rendition of the night Jesus was born, acted out by some of the local children. The boy playing Joseph dropped the plastic baby Jesus, making Mary yell at him and all of us laugh, but other than that it is cute. We are in one of the back pews so when the Pastor walks by, opening the doors to thank everyone for coming, we are some of the first ones out the door.
After accepting a million praises from Pastor Williams, we all gather behind Ellie's car, talking and laughing about the service. I can see Bobby trying to talk Ellie up, but she is being her shy self and looking at her boots most of the time.
"Rhea," the weak little voice comes from behind me, and I turn to see Holly Unger standing with Duke's mom, both of their faces streaked with tears. Her bleach blonde hair is under a grey knit cap and Duke's mom, Brenda, grips Holly's hand tight, not meeting my gaze. "Rhea, we just wanna say how sorry we are for what happened."
"I am too," I say, still scrutinizing the women before me as I hand Charlie off to Chad.
"I wanna apologize for being so stupid before," Holly says, wiping at her face with a gloved hand. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness for being so nasty to you, but.... I loved him." She almost whispers, and I take a step closer to her, reaching my hand out and touching her shoulder lightly. I can see the hurt in her eyes, lined with disgust over what she had done and I feel sorry for her.
"I know you did, Holly." I smile lightly at her. How many times over the last year had I told Duke just to stop bothering me and be with Holly? She smiles back, and I'm shocked when she pulls me in for a hug, but I hug my arm around her back nonetheless. "And I forgive you, Holly. You did nothing wrong. Please don't blame yourself for anything," I say, and she sobs quietly into my shoulder.
Brenda Orr steps up as Holly releases me and her tears almost break my heart. I can't imagine how she feels. I don't even want to think about what I would be going through if Charlie ever does anything like Duke had. I would feel like an utter failure as a mother that's for sure, and I place my hand on her arm, patting it slightly.
"I'm so sorry, Rhea," she cries, accepting a hug from Holly as she gazes at me.
"It's not your fault, Brenda," I say as Dana steps up to my side, rubbing Brenda's back. She tries to smile at me but I know no matter what I say, it won't make her feel any better. Holly and Brenda both nod in my direction, before looking around at my friends and nodding at them as well. Dana gives Brenda a quick hug before they walk away, leaving us in a shocked silence.
"Well, that was unexpected," I say to Chad as I turn into his arm
s, loving the warmth in which his embrace surrounds me.
He mumbles a response, and then tells everyone to meet back at our house for a movie and snacks before we hop back in the truck. Us girls are disappointed when we get back to the house and the guys all decide they want to watch an action film instead of the Christmas flick we had picked out earlier, so after changing into my PJ pants and saying goodnight to Dana, we ‘females’, as Garth jokingly insulted us with as we complain, settle into the kitchen, hovering over mugs of coffee and plates of snacks.
Kendall and Rosa sort of grill Ellie on her life, teasing her about how Timmons keeps staring at her, and she just nervously laughs it off. I sense something with her over Bobby, by the way she kept sneaking looks at him, but I’ll leave it alone for now.
"Nah, I'm not looking for anything right now," she laughs, giving me a 'help me' look over her coffee as she sips it. "I wanna get through the divorce and find a stable place to live before I get into a relationship with anyone."
"Yeah, so back off guys," I say, pointing my finger at my two friends as I rock in my glider, enjoying my cup of half coffee, half hot chocolate. "Besides, Ellie doesn't want your leftovers, Kendall," I joke and both Rosa and Ellie almost choke on the cookies they had just bitten into.
"Oh ha-ha." Kendall gives me the finger and turns to the still mildly choking Ellie. "Really, it was only a fling. A weekend thing, ya know?" She asks and Ellie nods, giving me a look that could kill an elephant. She isn’t enjoying the direction of Kendall's conversation. "But trust me," Kendall says, leaning in close to my cousin’s ear, "he's worth it."
Ellie breaks out in laughter, getting all of us to join her and Chad's head pokes around the wall from the living room, his eyebrows raised in appraisal. He looks around at all of us as we giggle uncontrollably.
Coming Home: Book 2 The Wakefield Romance Series Page 20
