by Haven Rose
“That,” Dani says as she watches her wife walk away, “was the Mary seal of approval. You fuck up after getting that, and there will be no safe place you can hide.” Then she follows Mary and I hear Rooney chuckle next to me.
“They’re scary as fuck,” I admit. “I thought when Mary started, she was the one I’d have to watch out for, but Dani slides her own threats in there, smiling innocently the whole time.”
“You know that phrase, ‘it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for,” and when I nod, she glances around as if making sure neither are listening, “it was created with her in mind.”
Chuckling, I remind her, “That saying is a lot older than Dani.”
“I know and that’s my point. They did so all those years ago to try and prepare for her. It was necessary that far in advance.” Her expression is so serious and I suddenly picture Rooney as a little girl, Mary telling her this as a shared joke between the two of them about Dani, and the giggles that came of it. It’s a sweet visual and I have a strong feeling it really happened.
“Hey, lovebirds,” I hear shouted from inside, “feed your mothers.” And with that, I know I’ve been accepted into the family.
**Rooney**
We’ve finished eating and are now settled in the living room, and Mom, as I refer to Mary to avoid confusion, looks at Mama, as I call Dani, and says, “So, now that we’ve interrogated your baby daddy, tell us what else is going on.”
I show them the ring, having kept our engagement to myself so I could do it in person, and that we’ve set the date already. They’re excited and ready to start. Caden gets our lists from the bedroom where we left them earlier, and hands them to my moms. They begin making notes on their phones and before we know it, they’re cut in half.
“They,” Caden whispers to me, “have the force.” I giggle at his inner nerd and decide we’re having a Star Wars marathon soon.
“Can you guys go dress shopping with me next week?” They both look at me like I’m crazy for even asking. “Sorry,” I say, holding my hands up in surrender, “next time I’ll just tell you what we’re doing or wait for you to read my mind and magically appear where I need you.”
I hear Caden chuckle when mom and mama glance at each other and the latter announces, “pregnancy has made her feistier. Think we can blame that on the part of Caden she’s carrying?”
Beside me Caden is shaking he’s laughing so hard. Well, if he can handle their crazy, he’s definitely not going anywhere. After talking about the wedding a little longer, we move to other topics, namely the shelter and the letters I’ve received.
“And your calls have been brushed aside?” I nod at mom’s question and she gets that look on her face, the one that doesn’t bode well for whoever is upsetting her or those she loves.
“What are you doing to help?” Mama asks Caden, pinning him with a questioning stare. “You using your name and money to fix this for her?”
“No, ma’am,” Caden replies instantly.
“And why not?”
“Because she can take care of herself, Dani, but I will gladly assist her in any way she’ll let me.” Now her gaze holds something else as she watches him, respect. Then he lets her know he’s calling a lawyer on Monday to see what we should do. After that, we play with Boomer, laughing at his antics. He’s grown so much in the short time he’s been here, it’s hard to believe he’s even the same dog. Caden and I have already talked and decided he won’t be put up for adoption because we’re keeping him. We just can’t let him go, he’s our family.
They stay for a few more hours, the four of us enjoying chatting and it’s clear they like Caden, even before they hug him prior to leaving.
Caden cleans up while I take Boomer out and we meet in the bedroom afterward where we strip each other, and I show him with my mouth how I feel before he slides home, my body easily adjusting to his entrance.
“I love you, Rooney,” he says, his forehead against mine as he slowly works his hard cock in and out, my walls struggling to keep him inside.
Tears silently fall from the corners of my eyes, as I say, “I love you too, Caden.”
Chapter Six
Caden
June 21st…
Bart Stein, the lawyer for my family’s business, wasn’t able to take the case himself, but he did give me some suggestions along with the name of a colleague, Joseph Archer, that could help. I’m waiting on Archer to return my call, but in the meantime, I wanted to try other options.
I contacted Town Hall to see if I could get someone other than the person blowing Rooney off, and Shane Thompson, the PI I’d hired to find Rooney, I’m no further ahead than before. I got voicemail for the former and the latter seemed as if he was purposefully misunderstanding what I said or asked before rushing off the phone, claiming he was meeting a client. I’ve had suspicions about Shane for a while, wondering how hard it could be to find someone with the first name Rooney, especially as she ended up living one city over, but had wondered if I was just being impatient because I was anxious to see her again. Plus, everything I’d heard about him had been nothing but complimentary.
Making a mental note to look into him again, or at the least stop by his office unexpectedly to catch him off guard, I force myself to actually work. I’ve come to label my life BR, Before Rooney, and WR, With Rooney. Before meeting her, all I did was sleep, eat, work, repeat. I’d see Peyton and Reese pretty regularly and my parents when I couldn’t get out of it, but that was it. I’d even slept at my office more than I care to admit; a fact made sadder because my bed was only an elevator ride away. Hell, more often than not since waking up alone that morning, I’d spent as much time in my office as possible, not wanting to face my suite without Rooney. She’d only been in it for a few hours, but she’d left her mark as surely as if she’d lived there for years. It was lonely without her. The first few mornings afterward, I’d instinctively reached for her, only to find nothing but empty cold to the touch space, which I found ironic as that’s exactly how my heart had felt.
“Sir?” My assistant asks through the intercom.
“Yes, Estelle?” Estelle had originally worked for my father, Thomas Howell, and when I’d taken over, she’d accepted my offer to remain in her position. He usually wasn’t one to give others praise, but had said numerous times he’d be lost without her and she could probably run the place better than him. She’s an older woman, her kids now grown and starting their own families, and I think our relationship works well for both of us. Not only does she keep me organized, but she treats me with maternal affection, something I’ve never had, and she seems to enjoy fussing over me. I know she misses her son and daughter, especially as both have moved out of state for their own jobs, so I fill a void in her life as well.
“Your sister is on the phone, and wants me to tell you,” Estelle pauses for a second before clearing her throat and giving a funny imitation of Peyton, ‘answer your damn cell next time I call and I won’t have to interrupt Estelle. We all know she does most of the work anyway.’”
I laugh, having no doubt those were her exact words. “And we also all know how much the two of you enjoy chatting, sometimes Pey calling only to talk to you.”
“Your point, young man?” Estelle asks, trying to affect the haughty tone my mother does so well. She, on the other hand, is too sweet to pull it off, and I tell her so. “You say the truest things,” Estelle tries to reply seriously, but I can hear the amusement in her voice as she connects me to Peyton, who starts in immediately.
“You are alive! Thank goodness. I’ll cancel that missing persons report after we talk. I just want to make sure you aren’t under duress first.” I know she wasn’t really worried as she’d been there when I’d ran into Rooney and knew what her presence at that office meant. However, I do feel bad I haven’t talked to her since, even just a text to let her know we’d worked things out.
“I’m sorry for being radio silent, but your future sister-in-law and I needed some time togethe
r.” Three, two…
“You’re engaged?!” She shouts right on cue and suddenly I’m glad I’d left the phone on speaker so that wasn’t directly in my eardrum.
“What was that? For some reason, I’ve gone deaf in the last two seconds,” I tease.
“You’ll get over it,” she replies without hesitation.
“The sisterly love just oozes from you.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let’s talk important stuff. She’s obviously nuts about you, so why’d she sneak out? There’re only three reasons she could’ve been there and I’m ruling one out as the ob-gyn doesn’t see those patients on Wednesdays. So, since she didn’t have a kid with her, she must have one in her. You excited? When’s she due? When’s the wedding? When can I meet her? Where does she live? She can’t be that far away.” I just let Rooney get it all out at once, knowing she’ll wind down eventually and stop to breathe.
“Fourteen questions left,” I say with a chuckle. “Are you saving those?” When she hisses, I crack up before answering. “We were asleep when you called,” I laugh again when I hear her making gagging noises, “and my phone was on her side. She saw the picture of you and Reese on the screen and thought you were my wife and son,” the noises now sound more realistic, “and left. Yes, she’s pregnant. I’m freaking ecstatic. We’re due beginning of January and the wedding is next month on the fourteenth. Soon. In Newburyport.”
But instead of asking the rest, Peyton surprises me and says, “I’m so sorry, Caden. You lost all that time together because of me.” When she sniffles, I immediately correct her.
“No, Pey. It was a misunderstanding, not really anyone’s fault. You didn’t know Reese had your phone and I was the last number dialed, so he accidentally called me. And Rooney admitted she was scared by how much she already cared for me and used it as an excuse.”
“But…”
“But nothing. She tried twice to reconnect. The first was later that same day but I wasn’t in.” In fact, instead of going into the office as planned, I’d scoured the city looking for her. “The second was when she realized she might be pregnant and asked for me at the front desk and you know who intercepted.” Peyton groans at that, knowing right away I’m referring to our mother who would’ve had no problem sending Rooney on her way. Honestly, I’m thankful that’s all she did as I wouldn’t put it past her to do worse, something that could’ve ruined my chances with Rooney forever. “Exactly. She told her she was becoming a nuisance and wasn’t to return. As pissed as I am about that, the sad thing is mother probably won’t even remember doing so.” Peyton echoes my own thoughts, saying it could’ve been worse. Neither of us have any misconceptions about how our parents think.
We chat a little longer before we both have to get back to work. Peyton didn’t want to be part of the family business, preferring to utilize the degree she’d obtained after Reese’s first birthday in Early Childhood Education. She’d been about a year from graduating prior to finding out she was pregnant, then took some time off getting ready for his arrival, then staying home with him for a while afterward. I’d done what I could, even watching my nephew a few nights a week at her place while she studied online or went to campus for her last class. It was a long process for her, but she refused to give up, wanting to provide for them on her own. She’s now the manager of a local daycare and both she and Reese are thriving there.
After I promise to introduce her to Rooney soon, we hang up and I conquer the paperwork mocking me. I’m still having trouble focusing, but I force my mind where it needs to be and plow through it before moving onto the next order of business.
I’m knocking out my to-do list until my phone buzzes with a text. It’s Rooney letting me know she and her moms are shopping. And just like that, my brain wanders again, and I know I won’t be able to wrangle it back this time.
**Rooney**
I look around the bridal shop, trying to find the source of this feeling. Of course, it doesn’t go unnoticed by my always observant mom. “What’s goin’ on Roo-Roo?” She asks, reverting to their childhood nickname for me and I smile at hearing it.
Mama joins us, leaving the section she was browsing through to find out what’s going on. “Mary?” She asks, looping her arm through her wife’s as they both watch me now, ready to solve whatever problem I may have. Mama sees the attendant pop her head in to check on us and gives her a thumbs up to let her know we’re okay. Once we’re alone again, their gazes are right back on me.
Whispering as the shop is busier than I thought it would be on a Thursday morning, I tell them, “I’m probably just imagining it.” Of course, that doesn’t work, and they continue mom glaring until I cave. “It’s just, I feel like someone is watching me.”
Mom begins eyeing the other shoppers suspiciously while Mama tries to reassure me, though I see her own dart around as well, “That’s because you’re glowing, and people are drawn to it.”
For the next hour, I try on dress after dress, knowing none are it. The moms are giving me their undivided attention, but I can tell they’re watching everyone in the shop. I know I should’ve told them this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way, but I kept it to myself not wanting to spoil this memory for us. And make a mental note to tell Caden tonight, knowing he won’t be happy I didn’t mention it before.
I’m starting to get disheartened, feeling like I won’t find the dress and honestly, I’m getting tired as well, the baby draining my energy a little more each day. Deciding to try and streamline this entire process, I go through the remaining selections hanging in the room with me, discarding as I go and realize that’s all of them. Figuring I might as well put my own clothes back on, there’s a knock on the door and I hear my moms whispering on the other side.
Opening it, wearing a dress I didn’t even bother showing them because I knew it wasn’t an option, they take one look at me and in perfect sync as they always are, say, “Not that one.” I tell them I agree and don’t want to try on the others, knowing they aren’t it either.
It’s then I pick up on the fact they’re up to something. “What are you two doing?”
Mama laughs then looks at mom and says, “Told you she’d be onto us.”
To which mom replies, “We can’t get anything by her.” I swear, sometimes they act like the kids and I’m the parent. But I wouldn’t want them any other way. I love their mischievous sides. Both fall silent as mom holds out a garment bag.
I can’t even see what’s inside it, but the moment I touch the hanger, I just know. Quickly ushering them out, I can’t take the one I’m wearing off, forcing myself to go carefully, then hang it up and set it aside with the others. As I unzip it, I gasp at my first glimpse, knowing this is yet another magical moment in my life. Adjusting it so the bag is now behind it, I take my first full view of the dress I’m going to pledge my future to Caden in.
The style resembles a strapless ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and while the white organza is the dominating material, which makes me happy, the bodice has red lace and bead appliques around the edges which trails down the center before surrounding the waist and reaching upward in some parts. It’s silly I know, but it doesn’t stop tears from gathering in my eyes as I imagine those small sections as the baby growing within me, as if reaching toward my heart, not realizing he or she and their dad already own it.
I put it on with reverence, loving that the appliques are also spread out along the front and back of the skirt. The dress fits perfectly, though it may need alterations before the wedding depending on how my body adjusts to the pregnancy. Giving a little twirl, loving the swishing sound it makes, I take one final look in the mirror, anxious to see my moms’ reactions, then walk out, finding myself almost skipping before I remember I should act my age. Bummer.
When I round the corner, I hear their gasps so reminiscent of my own when I saw it on the hanger, the room falling silent as if it too knows another bride has found her dress. Both talk at the same time, their opinions obvious.
Mom reaches out and grasps her hand, comforting her as her own tears go unchecked and declares, “That was made for you, sweetheart.” And then they walk toward me, engulfing me in a double hug, something we’ve done since I was a child that has never failed to make me feel loved and protected.
“This is the one,” I tell them after a few minutes, all three of us too overcome with emotion to speak until then.
“Well, of course it is,” Mom replies as if it was a given, and I guess it was. “Let’s go hunt down everything else you need.” Mama looks at me, a mock look of long-suffering on her face, before I walk back toward the dressing room to get into my own clothes once more.
Exhausted, I walk into the house hours later, arms empty as my moms took everything home with them so Caden couldn’t peek. Boomer greets me excitedly at the door and I praise him for being good while he was home alone.
Speaking of which, I’m surprised Caden isn’t here already, then I hear a car and smile at the fact I’m about to see him. I can’t believe how much I missed him today. It doesn’t make sense considering we went two months without any contact, but it’s the truth. Shopping for my wedding dress, and the lingerie for our honeymoon, only heightened it.
The knock at the door surprises me, but nowhere near how the person on the other side does. “Are you Rooney Walker, owner of,” the man then looks at the paper in his hand and adds, “Finding Fur-ever?” I nod before finding my voice and asking who he is. “I’m from Newburyport Town Hall,” he responds, and it doesn’t escape my attention he sidestepped my question, “and I’m here regarding the case against your business.” There’s a case now? “As this matter hasn’t been resolved despite repeated attempts to discuss it with you, we are hereby shutting you down until further notice. You have two days to gather what you need and vacate the premises. After all the evidence is gathered, a hearing will be held to determine the outcome and whether you are allowed to continue.” With that earth-shattering news, he hands me some documents then turns to leave. But he doesn’t get far before Caden, thankfully, pulls in.
