Chapter 1 ~ Fallon

 

“Oh, My God! Nicholas, have you lost your ever-loving mind?” I shout with my hand on my hip in the middle of the car lot.

“Mighty Midget, all I’m saying is it’s big enough to fit everybody in it and it has cargo space,” Nick says, looking at me like I’m crazy.

“Seriously? Are you forgetting what happened in one of these things?”

“Well, you can’t very well drive your truck, so, what do you suggest? Since my ideas suck.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes at Nick’s dramatics. Geez, you can so tell he’s gay when he’s acting like this. I walk off without another word because if we keep going back and forth, we won’t get anywhere today. I had my twelve-week check-up on Wednesday and the doc said I was good, the babies are growing, but I’m supposed to be watching my carbohydrates. Of course, I just agreed, but God knows I’m not giving up my bread and sweets. That just can’t happen.

Now, I’m just gazing around for something that might catch my eye. This is much harder than I thought it would be. I look at all these vehicles and I can’t help but think… Would that one hold up in a crash? Would it protect me or my babies? It’s been exactly one month since my boys’ wreck and I’m just a bit nervous when it comes to new cars. However, Nick is bound and determined I am getting a new car even if I don’t think I need one right now.

“Little Momma, what are you doing all by yourself?” I snap out of my mental fog when I hear Blaine calling. He’s walking toward me with three cups in his hands.

“Just thinkin’ about things. See anything ya like?” I ask.

“Oh, my heavens, no. I don’t drive. I just hop on the subway for anything I need, or when I’m here, I hop on Nick.” He smirks.

Just about every time I look at this man, I’m givin’ him a funny look. It’s hard not to with the things he says and how he says them. “Aren’t you supposed to be helping me pick something?”

“I’m here for emotional support and your wedding, not greasy, dirty cars. I just didn’t want to be stuck home with the brooder and the breeder,” Blaine says as he hands me a cup.

Shaking my head, I take my cup and look around again. “You’d have to be more help than Nick. I can’t believe he wants me to get the same vehicle that the boys crashed in.” I take a sip and I get a taste of my hot chocolate.

“The Durango? Ugh, no, that thing folded it up like an accordion. You need something that’s going to give you room to grow. What about a bus? You can get your CDL and we can buy you a trucker hat. You already look cute in flannel.”

“It’s winter time, so of course I’m wearing flannel. I’m having four babies, not fourteen, I don’t need to be in a frickin’ bus. Blaine, it’s time you go find Nick and get far away from me. If you don’t go, I can’t be held accountable for how many pieces your body ends up in.”

“Okay!” Blaine laments before he sashays away.

I walk a little more before I’m standing in front of a blue box, but it looks big enough to fit my family. I walk over so that I can look in the windows.

“Nissan NV Passenger is really good for families,” a man says from behind me.

I jump and my hot chocolate hits the ground as my hands go to my belly to keep it from bouncing too much. “Shit! You scared me to death. Don’t ya know you aren’t supposed to walk up on people like that?” I shout.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, I thought you saw me.”

“Well, I didn’t…” I look at his name tag “…Dan. What can you tell me about this car now that you’ve scared me?”

“It’s good for families, holds up to twelve passengers, V8 engine. How about I let you get in and see how it feels?”

Dan opens the door and I climb in. I get myself adjusted just as Nick steps in front of the car. “It feels good. Standing out there, it looks really big, but in here it’s not so bad. I think it’d be perfect for my family and me.”

Nick looks at me like I have two heads. “This thing looks like a mail truck and a pick-up truck had a baby and it went all kinds of wrong.”

“I really like this one and there’s enough room for it to grow with the babies. I don’t care what extras you get to make you feel better, I just know I want this one.”

Dan walks up to us. “Your wife has a good eye, sir. This really is a great vehicle. It’s safe and handles very well.”

Nick looks at me and then back to Dan as both of us start laughing. Dan is watching us like we’ve lost our minds.

“Let’s just let her test drive it,” Nick says and I squeal a little.

 

***

 

My Nissan NV Passenger SL V8 has been paid for and should be ready on Monday, Wednesday at the latest. I’m so excited for everyone to see it. Now, I’m on my way home to get dinner started. It’s cold enough for tomato soup and grilled cheese.

Since it’s on my way, I stop by the bakery to check in. Ariel has it all handled but gives me what looks to be a billion orders. Valentine’s is a week and a half out, so it’s going to be busy here. We brought on Mitchell and he seems to be fitting in well, then there’s the girl that started last week, Megan. Poor girl is still trying to figure things out. Dena is here some as well, but she mostly comes to the house to help me with stuff.

Pulling into the drive, Goliath comes tromping around the house as I park the truck. I get out with orders in hand and walk inside, barely making it through the door when I see Justin up trying to walk around.

“Justin Allen Blackthorne! What the hell do you think you are doing?” I yell as I shut the door.

“We’re hungry. You were gone all day. Can’t take pain pills on an empty stomach, my darlin’.”

I drop my stack of orders on the table and walk over to him, taking the sandwiches and cokes out of his hands before sitting them down so I can help him back to the couch.

“Justin, you can’t keep doing this. We’re going to have to make a deal of some kind.”

“The doctor said to walk as tolerated or it's going to tighten up. I’ve got to move around.”

“It’s not tolerated when every time you step there is pain all over your face. Come on, let’s get you to the couch. So much for making dinner tonight.”

“I’ll eat,” Pete says from his spot in the chair.

“Shut up, you’ll eat your sandwich. I’m sorry, Darlin’, I just get antsy sitting here watching you run around.”

“Well, lucky for you, you won’t see much of me other than meals and if you need something. I’ve got a billion and one orders to add to the ones already in the kitchen. This Valentine’s is going to be a busy one.”

Justin drops his head on my shoulder and whispers, “I miss you.”

“I miss you too, but we need the money for the new car, house, and all the stuff for the house. Plus, we have babies coming in about six months that I still need to prepare for. Three more appointments and we get to find out what we’re having.”

Justin grabs my hands, pulling me to sit on the edge of the couch. “You need to take a minute, Darlin’. You got the new car? I thought you were just looking today. “

I smile and place a hand on his cheek. “I found one that will be perfect. It holds up to twelve passengers. Nick and Blaine don’t like it. Speaking of Blaine, we are having fourteen babies, not four. Idiot said I need to buy a damn bus.”

Pete cackles. “It’d have to be a short bus.”

“Would you like me to come over there and give you a shoulder rub?”

“I’m good,” Pete says, holding up his good hand to protect his healing collarbone.  

“Good, watch TV and shut up,” I say, turning back to Justin.

Justin is smiling as he rubs the small of my back. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yep, stop trying to do everything yourself. Oh, and hurry up and get better, our bed just isn’t the same without you.”

“I’m trying, darlin’, I’m trying.” Justin leans in for a kiss and I wrap my arms around his neck, letting it get a little more heated than it should be with Pete in the room.

Pulling away, I smile at Justin. “Let me get your sandwiches and pops. I need to find me something to eat. I was thinking tomato soup and grilled cheese.”

“I’ll be glad when you get over not having coffee.”

“I love you,” I say with a smile and get up.