“Morris, two pieces of cake are enough. No more.”
“But Dad . . .”
“There’s plenty of broccoli left. Have some.” Oh, my son is wicked.
“Ick! No!” I’m trying hard not to laugh as Morris stomps off.
Clint just shakes his head. “That kid would weigh a ton if we didn’t watch him. Talk about a sweet tooth.”
“Must’ve come from Adele’s side, because you were never like that,” I offer. About that time, I hear a squall. “I’ll get her!” I call out as I head toward the nursery.
Nadine’s in full-blown hurricane mode when I get there. Yep – poopy diaper. That’s gotta go. I get her all cleaned up and she’s still snuffling and snarling, so I head out toward the den with her, but Olivia intercepts me and takes her right out of my arms. “Time for some real food, little doll,” she coos to the baby, and Nadine grins and blows bubbles. I know there’s about to be carrots and peas all over the place, and I’m really glad I’m getting to bypass that celebration this time.
“Hey, step out here with me, guys.” When Clint, Steffen, and I are standing on the concrete pad right outside the sliding door from the den, I sweep my arm out. “Well, what do you think it’s going to take to get this yard ready for a toddler.”
“That broken-down wheelbarrow’s got to go,” Steffen points out.
“Well, yeah, I know, but I was . . .”
“What the hell is that?” Clint asks and points at my feeble attempt at a trellis.
“It was supposed to be . . .”
“Would you consider hiring a professional?” Steffen asks pointedly. “Because I know someone who would do this for not a lot of money.”
“I was kind of hoping you guys would help me.” I wait. Crickets. “Well?” Still nothing. “I take that as a no?”
Clint starts to laugh, and then Steffen joins in and slaps me on the back. “Yeah, we’ll help you. Steffen’s the real authority here though.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen your back yard. Very impressive,” I tell the tall, blond mastermind of the familyscaping scene.
“Thanks. I worked hard on that – well, in fairness, we worked hard on that. Sheila and the kids were out there working too. We’re all very proud of it.”
“Olivia will help, I’m sure,” I throw in.
“Trish and Sheila and the kids will too,” Clint assures me. “We’ll all help. You’ll need it. You’re, how old are you now? Eighty?”
“Smart ass. Sixty-six is hardly eighty.”
“Close enough,” Steffen snickers. “I need a beer. Anybody else?”
We both follow him in and I almost start to laugh when I look up and see Marta and Angela fighting over Nadine and playing with her. That’s a sight I never thought I’d see. Before I can get into the kitchen, I hear Olivia yell out, “Okay, everybody, gift time!” God bless her, she shows up at my side with an open beer and steers me into the living room with a hand on my lower back.
I open all the gifts. “Thanks, bitch,” I growl at Angela and she laughs.
“I found it at the store and thought it was fitting.” Everyone else is shrieking with laughter at her joke.
It’s my bottle of Geritol. Apparently they do still make it. Who knew?
But when everything else is opened, there’s one left. It’s big and flat and I think I may know what it is. I open it and everyone gasps.
There, on a piece of high-quality drawing paper, in colored pencil no less, is a drawing that almost breathes in its realism. I recognize the picture instantly. We were at the park down the street, and a lady with a little boy snapped the shot on – what else? – Olivia’s phone. It’s me, Olivia, and Nadine. Nadine’s little face is all scrunched up in the sunlight, and we’re both squinting a little, partly from the sunlight and partly because we’re grinning so big. We look happy.
We look like a family. That’s what I’m thinking; what I manage to say is, “That’s just amazing. It’s incredible, angel.”
“We’re incredible. Against all odds, we’re here.”
In that tiny little moment, with everyone I love around me except for Kathy and her husband, I feel like the luckiest man in the world. I look at my beautiful wife and find her glowing. But when I sweep her into my arms and whisper, “I’m so glad you’re here,” into her ear, she whispers back the one thing that makes my heart sing.
“I’m so glad I’m home.” Before I can say anything she whispers again, “And I want you to know that I trust you completely.”
That’s a weird statement. “Gee, I hope so. You married me!”
“No, David Nathaniel Adams – I trust you completely.” There’s a look in her eyes that I’m not really sure about. I’ll have to ask what she means when everyone’s gone.
Three hours later, the goodbyes are said and the house is finally quiet. Nadine is down for at least a little while. I’ve locked up everything and headed down the hall, and I find Olivia sitting on the bed with a very, very elaborately-wrapped gift. “Well, what’s this?”
I know that smile, the one she shares with me as she gazes up at me, and it makes everything in my body start to burn. “Oh, gee, I don’t know. Just a little something for you from me. Open it.”
Wrapping paper be damned, I just tear into the package. Opening the top of the box, I find another package, and when it’s ripped open, it’s something beautiful and sexy: A lacy bra, thong, and garter belt, including some fishnet stockings. I’m laughing as I tell her, “I don’t know, honey. I think these things might be a little too small for me.”
“Well, maybe the other package will suit you better. And by the way, I trust you completely.” There’s that weird statement again, but I notice that she’s watching intently as I open the second package inside the box. And I nearly have a coronary.
Fur-lined leather cuffs. My eyes dart up and I manage to sputter out, “Are these for what I think these are for?”
She just takes the lingerie from beside me on the bed and heads slowly for the bathroom. I watch her beautiful ass meander across the room and, when she’s finally in the bathroom doorway, she turns and smiles. “I’ll only be a minute. While I’m gone, maybe you can figure out some uses for the rest of your gift.”
Yeah. Maybe so. There are dozens of things I can think of to do with them, but only one woman I want to do them with. If you’d told me a year ago that the dungeon master would be a one-woman man in the near future, I would’ve laughed you right out of your leathers. And I’m not sad about it. A beautiful wife. A beautiful baby. A real home.
And a disaster of a back yard. I’ve seen an awful lot of miracles in the last year. If I can muster up one more miracle, maybe there’ll be hope for that little jungle. There’d better be because if we lose that baby out there in the weeds, my wife will kill me.
This is the end of the Me, You, and Us series. If you’ve enjoyed the journey with Trish, Clint, Steffen, Sheila, Dave, and Olivia, as well as their extended family and friends, please consider leaving a review. I’m sure they’d all appreciate it, and I know I would!
About the author
Deanndra Hall is a working author living in far western Kentucky with her partner of over 30 years and their three crazy little dogs. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, working out at the gym, and cooking healthy food. Oh, and chocolate – lots of chocolate. Some of her favorite things are Victoria’s Secret, frankincense and myrrh perfume, happy hour shakes at Sonic, not-very-healthy Italian food, and driving her Mustang convertible, Ruby. Water is pretty much her drink of choice, but an Angry Orchard, Fat Tire, or cosmo is always welcome. Look her up and make friends with her – there’s nothing she loves more than to laugh and have fun. And it won’t be a problem; she’s easy to find.
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