Текст книги "Faithful"

Автор книги: Kelly Elliott

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Текущая страница: 23 (всего у книги 25 страниц)

I rolled over and felt something wet and cold. I reached down and touched the sheets. Wet. Heather’s been eating watermelon again.

Two nights before, Heather had woken me up, saying she had a dream about needing to go pee. In her dream, she finally made it to a bathroom and started peeing. The only problem was she’d started peeing in her sleep, too. She had eaten almost a whole watermelon earlier in the day.

I smiled as I got out of bed. Damn, that girl sure does love watermelon while she’s pregnant. I was beginning to worry the babies would come out green and pink. I walked into the bathroom, and I was just about to lift up the toilet seat.

“Josh?” Heather called out for me.

“I know, babe. You peed the bed again.” I laughed. “Damn, I didn’t think I’d ever have to say that.”

“Uh, Josh…I didn’t pee.”

I stopped and looked down at my dick. “Well, I sure as hell didn’t piss the bed, Heather.”

“No, Josh…my water broke.”

Wait. What? I stepped out of the bathroom and stared at her.

She was standing up, holding on to her stomach, with her cell phone in her hand. “We need to call Dr. Johnson, Josh. I just had a contraction.”

“Wait. What?” I just stood there and stared at her. She’s not due for another two weeks.

“Baby. Will you hand me my clothes, so I can get dressed?”

What is she saying? I need to sit down.

She walked by me, grabbed her clothes, and started to get dressed. Then, I saw her grab her stomach.

I jumped up and ran over to her. “Heather!”

“It’s okay. We probably just need to start making our way to the hospital.” She smiled at me.

“Oh. My. God. It’s time?”

She nodded.

“I’m not ready. They’re early, Heather! They can’t come early.”

She laughed and walked over to me. She sat down on my lap, and I put my hand on her stomach.

“Josh, I don’t think it’s really up to you, babe. I’m pretty sure these two are saying they want out…now. To be honest, I’m perfectly fine with that.”

I felt her stomach getting tighter.

“Shit…here comes another one, I think.”

“Breathe, princess.” I started to rub her back.

After the contraction was over, Heather stood up and smiled at me. “Is my suitcase in the truck?”

Oh fuck! I forgot to do that. I ran over to the dresser and grabbed a pair of underwear, shorts, and a T-shirt. I got her stuff out of the closet and then stuffed everything into a suitcase. I started down the steps, but then I stopped. I took out my phone and then continued down the stairs.

“Who are you calling?” Heather called out.

“My parents!” I shouted.

I ran through the living room, kitchen, and out the back door. When I got to my truck, I realized I’d forgotten my damn keys. I set the suitcase down and ran back inside as I found my mom’s cell phone number.

“Josh, is everything okay? It’s two in the morning.”

“Holy fuck, Mom!”

“Josh! Do not swear at me like that. What in the hell is wrong with you?”

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Mom! Focus here. Heather’s water broke. I’m freaking the fuck out, but I don’t want her to know I’m freaking the fuck out.”

My mother laughed.

Oh my god! My mother is laughing at me! “Mom, really? You’re going to laugh at me now. Do you ever want to hold the babies?”

My mother stopped laughing. “You wouldn’t! Oh, Josh, calm down, sweetheart. It’s going to be okay. How far apart are the contractions?”

I stopped dead in my tracks. “Ah hell, Mom. I didn’t look at the clock. That was my job. I fucked up my first official Dad job. Fuckin’ A!”

“Josh, what are you doing right now?”

“I, um…I was putting the suitcase in the truck, but I can’t find my truck keys.” I looked up and saw Heather standing there, holding my truck keys.

“Oh, Heather has them! Thanks, babe!”

I ran back out the door and to my truck. I opened the back driver’s side door and threw the suitcase in. I jumped in and checked the car seat again. Shit, I hope this thing is in right.

“Okay, sweetheart, that’s good. But what are you doing right now?”

“Mom, I’m checking the car seat now!”

“Okay…my guess would be to just let that go for now since you already had that checked out four times in the last two weeks, honey. You might want to focus on Heather. I’m just saying.”

I heard my mother tell my father to call Heather’s cell.

“Josh, stop and take a deep breath. Will you do that for me?”

I jumped out of the truck and took a deep breath. I closed my eyes, picturing Heather and the first time we had made love next to the river. I remembered everything—how her body had reacted to my touch, every sound she’d made and look she’d given me, every time she’d whispered my name. My breathing slowed, and my hands stopped shaking.

“Better?”

“Yeah. Better. It’s just that I love her so much, Mom. I don’t want anything to happen to her or the little ones.”

“I know, baby boy. I know. Your dad is talking to Heather now. She said her contractions are about twenty minutes apart. Honey, go back into the house and help your wife to the truck. We’re on our way, okay?”

I nodded. “Okay. But, Mom…”

“Yes, Josh?”

“Hurry. Please hurry. Heather needs you, Mom, and I…I need y’all, too.”

“We will. Don’t worry. Women do this every day. You’re married to the strongest woman I know. She’s got this.”

“Thanks, Mom! See ya soon.” I tried to walk calmly back into the house.

The moment I saw Heather standing there, taking deep breaths, I almost lost it again.

“Come on, baby. Let’s get in the truck and head over to the hospital, okay?”

“Oh, wait! Can you grab some watermelon?”

I just looked at her. “Really?”

“Hey…I remember both Ari and Ellie complaining how hungry they were. I don’t want to be hungry, Josh.” Tears began building in her eyes.

No! Oh no! No, no, no! Don’t cry! “Okay, princess. Look, I’m getting it right now!” I walked over, got the watermelon out, and handed it to her.

She took the watermelon, and then she started to walk toward the back door.

Holy hell. Who is this person?

She turned and smiled, so I smiled back at her. I decided the best thing for me to do was to do whatever she told me.

I listened as Dr. Johnson talked to Josh about what to expect during the C-section.

When I looked up, I saw Ari and Ellie walking in. I glanced over at the time. It was five in the morning.

“Hey, sweets!” Ari smiled at me.

I looked down at her huge belly and smiled. She’s next.

“How are you feeling, hon?” Ellie asked.

“Better…now that I’ve had the epidural!” I said with a laugh.

After chatting for a few minutes, Dr. Johnson walked in. “Heather, it’s time.”

Ellie let out a little, “Eeeppp.”

Ari smiled, but it faded as she put her hands on her stomach. “Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”

Dr. Johnson looked over toward Ari and raised his eyebrow. “Ari?”

She glanced up at him and nodded.

“Oh my god, Ari,” I said with a smile.

Ellie looked between the three of us, and then she let out a small laugh. “This just keeps getting better and better.”

Dr. Johnson laughed and turned back to Ari. “You better let your husband know and then check in.”

“Ah hell, here we go again.” Ari turned and walked out of my room.

I glanced over and winked at Josh. “Ready?”

He laughed. “Ready.”

The moment I looked at Josh holding our son, I knew my life would never be the same. I glanced down at our daughter and smiled.

“So, have y’all decided on the names yet?” Elizabeth asked as she stood next to Josh.

Greg was sitting on the bed with the sweetest smile on his face.

I looked over at Josh, and we both grinned.

“Well, Josh picked a name, and I picked a name.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Go on.”

“This precious little girl’s name is Isabella Gemma Hayes. Isabella is short for Elizabeth, and Gemma is after my mother.” I smiled at Elizabeth as she began crying.

“And this future all-star football player’s name is William Gregory Hayes. William for Heather’s dad, and Gregory for you, Dad.”

Greg stood up, leaned down, and kissed my forehead. “I’ve never been so honored in my entire life, baby girl.”

I felt tears rolling down my face. I peeked over, and Josh was crying also. There was a knock on the door, and then Gunner and Ellie poked their heads in. Alex was wide-awake, and she smiled the moment she saw Josh.

“I still say that girl knows a good-looking man when she sees one,” I said.

Josh laughed and showed Alex the baby. “Alex, meet William Gregory. You can call him Will.”

Alex started laughing and buried her head into Gunner’s chest.

Ellie rubbed Alex’s back and turned to me. “Oh my god, they are so tiny! Her name?”

“Isabella Gemma. Libby for short.”

“Beautiful names.”

“Ellie, how is Ari doing?”

Ellie smiled and shook her head. “She’s doing good, but Jefferson is freaking out.”

Gunner and Josh both started laughing.

I snapped my head over at Josh and just looked at him. “Really? You’re one to talk!”

Josh instantly stopped laughing and looked at his dad. “Oh, um…uh.” Josh turned back to look at me. “Princess, have I told you how beautiful you look?”

“Nice,” Gunner said, laughing.

As I looked around, my heart started to feel tight, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

My parents should be here. They should be holding my two beautiful children right now. My mom should be making plans to come and stay at my house for the first week, so she could teach me everything she knows about babies and diapers and no sleep.

Oh god! How am I going to do this alone? Take care of two babies? I’m going to drop one. Or what if I forget to feed one? Holy hell.

I looked at Josh. He must have seen the panic on my face.

Ellie must have noticed it, too. “I’ve washed my hands twice. May I hold Libby?” she asked with a wink.

I handed her the baby as Josh handed Will to his mother. He walked over and sat on my bed. Leaning down, he kissed me so softly and sweetly that I let out a small moan.

He moved his lips to my ears. “Don’t make noises like that. I’ve been told no sex for six weeks,” he whispered.

I giggled, and he kissed my nose. When I looked over at Elizabeth holding Will, my heart got heavy again.

“Breathe, princess. They’re with you, with us. I don’t think it was an accident that we both came up with your parents’ names for our children. I really believe they are with us, guiding us along. I wish more than anything they could be here for you…if only to kiss you on the forehead and tell you, ‘Good job, you did great,’ just like they knew you would. I’m so proud of you, Heather. You’ve made me the happiest man on earth…again! I can’t wait to start this next chapter of our lives. I love you.”

Tears were building in my eyes as I looked at the most important person in my world—my husband. “I’d be lost without you.”

“I’d be even more lost.”

“I love you so much, Josh.”

He smiled and kissed my lips gently before he rested his forehead on mine. “I love you more, princess.”

I let out a giggle. “I love you more times infinity.”

I stood there next to Ari as she pushed again.

After nearly two hours, Dr. Johnson finally looked up and smiled. “One more good push, Ari, and I think we’ll have it.”

“One more good push! That’s what you said on the last push, you bastard!”

Dr. Johnson laughed. “Come on, one more push.”

The next thing I knew, I could hear the sounds of our baby girl crying.

I bent over and kissed Ari on the lips as she cried. “You did it, baby.” I wiped the tears from her face.

When they placed our sweet baby girl on Ari’s chest, Ari just stared at her. She looked up at me and smiled. “I think the name we picked is perfect.”

I glanced down at our beautiful angel and smiled. “I agree. Grace Hope Johnson is perfect.” I leaned over and kissed my sweet baby girl as she gave us a big yawn.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and Ellie and Gunner walked in with Alex. Then, Brad and Amanda followed with Maegan.

Ellie gave me a huge smile as she walked in, and then she glanced over to Grace. “Oh my god. Oh, Jefferson, Ari…she’s breathtaking!”

When Alex let out a laugh, Gunner laughed. “I think she’s excited about her cousin already!” Gunner reached out and shook my hand as he winked at me. “She’s beautiful, dude.”

I looked back at her and smiled. “Yeah, she is.”

Brad walked up, leaned down, and kissed Ari on the forehead. “Job well done, Ari. She’s beautiful.”

Amanda smiled while she was rocking Maegan back and forth.

I glanced around and laughed. “Oh, holy hell. Do you know what it’s going to be like when these three start dating?”

Gunner and Brad glared at me.

Brad shook his head. “She ain’t gonna be dating…ever.”

Amanda laughed. Ellie looked at Gunner and winked.

Ari sucked in a breath of air. “Heather!”

“Two beautiful, healthy babies—Isabella Gemma and William Gregory,” Amanda said.

“Wow. Four girls and two boys. Five more, and we’ll have a football team,” Gunner said with a chuckle.

Brad glanced over at Amanda and winked. “I’m working on it.”

I noticed Ellie was looking down at the ground. She glanced up and caught my eye. When I tilted my head, she gave me a look.

Oh my god. My baby sister is pregnant.

I raised my eyebrows, and she quickly looked over toward Gunner, who was now holding Maegan while Amanda held Alex. Ellie shook her head.

Gunner doesn’t know yet.

I winked at her and then turned back to Ari, who was humming as she fed Grace.

I glanced around the room at everyone. I couldn’t wait to see Josh and Heather’s babies, and I really couldn’t wait to see all the kids running around and playing on the ranch. My heart swelled up with so much love and pride as I looked at each person in this room. There wasn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do for any of them.

Leaning over, I kissed Ari and then Grace.

Ari glanced up at me with tears in her eyes. “By the grace of God, he gave us hope. In that belief, we were blessed with our baby girl.”

“Grace Hope,” Ari and I said together.

“I thought the birth of Luke could never be topped, but life just keeps getting better and better. I owe that to you, Ari. I love you more than life itself.”

As Ari handed me Grace, she smiled. “I love you, Jeff. Thank you for making all my dreams come true.”

I walked around the room with my baby girl. I dreamed about taking her fishing, going hunting, and teaching her how to shoot a gun. I couldn’t wait…but I could wait. I wanted to enjoy every single moment with her. “I have big dreams for you, sweetheart. Big dreams.”

Gunner walked up and smiled as he glanced down at Grace. Then, he looked around and back at me. “Dude, does Ari have a plan for introducing Scarlet to the baby?”

Oh Jesus H. Christ. I wanted Ari to forget all about that. “Keep your voice down, Gun. I don’t want to remind Ari. I’m paying Dewey to take Scarlet on a little ride once we get home with Grace.”

“A ride?” Gunner asked.

I looked back over toward Ari. She was now holding Maegan and talking to Amanda, Ellie, and Brad.

“Yeah…I arranged for Scarlet to go to a doggy boot camp for a week. They’re going to train her to do all kinds of shit she should already know how to do. Sit, heel, walk, roll over—whatever the fuck they do at those places. I bought myself at least a week.”

Gunner shook his head. “Motherfucker. Why didn’t I think of that?”

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled. “I’m smarter?”

Gunner just looked at me. “Hardly.”

“Jeff?” Ari called out.

I turned and smiled at her. “Yeah, babe?”

“Before I forget to tell you, I told Dewey to cancel that whole doggy boot camp thing. Scarlet needs to be home to meet Grace,” Ari said with a shit-eating grin on her face.

How in the hell does she know these things?

Gunner busted out laughing as he gently slapped me on the back.

“Damn…I love your wife.” He walked over to Ellie and kissed her.

I stared over at Ari. She gave me a wink before she raised her eyebrow at me.

I shook my head as I looked down at Grace. “Remember this, baby girl. Nothing gets by your mama.”

I peeked up and just watched as Ari laughed and talked to our friends.

Yep, I love her more than life itself.

As we pulled up to the house, I saw my mother and father standing on the porch with Luke. He started jumping up and down while clapping his hands.

Jeff parked the truck and let out a sigh as Scarlet came running up to the truck. “If that damn dog makes a move, I’m gonna kick the shit out of her.”

I snapped my head to him. “You will do no such thing, you ass!”

Jeff shook his head and got out of the truck. When I looked back toward the house, I noticed Luke was wearing a T-shirt that said, I’m a Big Brother. I smiled as Jeff opened the door for me before getting the back door to get Grace.

“Oh!” was all my mother said as she walked up to the truck.

My father picked up Luke, and they were coming toward Jeff and Grace. I stood there as everyone tried to get a peek of the baby.

Luke kept saying, “I want Macy…I want Macy!”

“Jeff, may I?” my mother asked as she held out her hands.

I looked down at Scarlet, who was just sitting there, like the good girl she was. I knew my mother would shove the baby right in the dog’s face, and Jeff would freak the hell out.

“Of course, Sue.”

After Jeff handed Grace over to my mother, she walked up to the front porch and sat down with Grace. Sure enough, Scarlet came up, and my mom had her sniffing the hell out of the baby. It took everything out of me to not start laughing.

After Jeff got the baby bag out of the car, he turned around. “Oh no. Oh shit…no, no, no!” he said. “Um…Sue? I don’t really want dog slobber on the baby…you know, germs and all. Maybe Scarlet can sniff Grace’s butt or something…but not her face!”

My mother looked at Jeff and smiled as she stood up. She started to walk into the house but not before she turned around. “Like the great Katharine Hepburn said, ‘If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.’” She winked, and then she went inside.

Jeff looked at me with his jaw hanging open. “What in the hell did that have to do with dog slobber on my child?” He walked past me and up the porch steps.

My father walked up to me and gave me a hug. “Oh, ma belle fille!”

“Bonjour, Papa!”

“Quel beau nom Grâce est.”

I smiled as I nodded. “Yes, Grace is a very beautiful name, Papa.”

As we headed into the house, my father looked at Jeff.

“Jeff, avez-vous obtenu malade?”

I let out a laugh as Jeff spun around to my dad. “No! I didn’t get sick!”

My dad laughed and slapped Jeff on the back. “Way to keep going with the French, son. I’m impressed as hell.”

Jeff smiled and wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

I bent down, scooped up Luke, and gave him a big kiss. “Hey, my big man! I missed you so much. What do you think about your baby sister?”

Luke smiled and pointed to Grace. “Macy!”

“Grace. Can you say Grace?”

“Shit!”

Wait. What?

I looked up at Jeff. “Did he just say…shit?”

Matt rounded the corner with his iPad as he yelled out, “Oh shit! I lost again.”

Luke laughed. “Shit.”

I almost fell over. My mother spun around and looked at me with that expression only a mother could give.

“What? Why do you automatically look at me?”

“Wow. I’m impressed at how clearly he says it,” Jeff said.

My father walked up and hit his head from behind. “Assmole.” My father winked at Matt.

Oh my god. What in the hell is happening? My child just said, “Shit,” and…and…

“Did you just call Jeff an assmole, Dad?”

Matt looked up from his iPad. “Jeff is an assmole. Everyone knows that.”

Jeff just shrugged his shoulders and took Luke out of my arms. “Hey, big boy. That’s a bad word. We don’t say shit.”

“Shit! Shit! Shit!”

“Ah shit, Ari. He keeps saying it.”

I just stood there and looked at him. I swear if I didn’t love him so damn much…

“Nice, Jeff…swear at him while you tell him not to swear,” my father said as he walked up and took Grace from my mother.

“I didn’t swear at him…I…um…Ari?”

“Don’t Ari me. You dug the hole, baby.” I walked by and gave him a wink.

I fell onto the bed and let out a sigh. Jesus H. Christ, I don’t remember being this tired after Luke. I can’t move.

Jeff and Josh had been helping Gunner tag cattle all day. I reached over and picked up the phone to call Heather.

“Hello?”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. You sound like how I feel.”

“Oh my god. I’m so tired. I’d give anything to get, like, a good solid three hours of sleep.” Heather yawned.

“You haven’t slept for a solid three hours yet? Oh my god, Heather.”

“How old are the babies?”

“Um…I sat up and looked around. Five days old now?”

Heather started laughing. “I thought it was six.”

“Is Elizabeth still there, helping?”

Heather yawned again, which caused me to yawn. “Yes! Thank God, too. I don’t know what I would have done if she weren’t here. Josh got out of the house today for the first time since we brought the babies home. He’s helping Jeff and Gunner.”

“Yeah, Jeff told me. Have you heard from Ells?”

“Not today. Have you?”

“Nope. She’s up to something though. She looked…different to me.”

Heather sucked in a breath of air. “Amanda and I thought so, too! Like she might be—”

“Pregs?”

“Yes!”

“I wanted so badly to ask her, but if she hasn’t told Gunner yet, I figured she wouldn’t tell us until he knew.”

“Ari?”

I yawned. “Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For calling me. You have no idea how wonderful it is to hear your voice. I love you, sweets.”

I felt tears building up in my eyes. “Ah hell, Heather. You’re going to make me cry, you bitch!”

She let out a laugh. “I’m serious. Thank you so much for calling!”

“Same here, sweets. I love you, too. I can’t believe we all have kids now…and hell, we’re not even twenty-one yet!”

“Speaking of, I want to throw one hell of a party for our twenty-first birthdays. I’ve already got Greg and Elizabeth reserved for that weekend.”

I started laughing as I lay back down. “Oh, hell yes. I can’t wait to get legally wasted!”

I could hear one of the babies crying in the background.

“My free time is over! Elizabeth is napping, so I better grab him…or her…or both!”

“Alright. I love you, Heather.”

“Love you, too.”

I hung up the phone and closed my eyes. Oh god…it’s so quiet. I started to drift off to sleep when I felt someone get on the bed. Either Luke learned how to climb out of his crib, or I’m about to be kissed by a stranger.

When I felt his hot breath next to my ear, I smiled and let out a giggle.

“I can’t wait six weeks to be inside you.”

I opened my eyes and looked directly into Jeff’s. They were filled with so much passion.

“Me either, but we have to.”

Jeff pulled away and winked at me. “But we can do other things.” He raised his eyebrows.

He slowly pulled off my shorts, and then he started to kiss the bottom of my leg, making his way up. When he kissed right above my panty line, I let out a soft low moan. He moved up to my stomach.

He looked up and smiled at me. “Sit up, Ari, and let me take off your shirt, baby.”

I did what he’d said. I lay back down on my side as he began to take off his pants and shirt.

“Jeff…there ain’t no easy way to say this, honey, but…you stink.”

He laughed as he used his fingers to gently run along my panty line. I closed my eyes and bit down on my lower lip. I grabbed on to him and started to move my hand up and down…feeling him getting harder by the second.

“Ari…” he whispered in my ear.

He slid his hand down into my panties and gently touched my clit. I bucked my hips into his hand and let out a moan. I moved my hand faster on his dick, his breathing got heavier. The moans coming from his mouth were turning me on even more. All he had to do was move a little faster on my clit, and I would be sure to come.

“Oh god, Ari…faster, baby.”

I went faster and squeezed him tighter, and the moment he started to say my name, I came. Jeff captured my cries with a kiss as he rolled on top of me. Just to feel his body on mine was pure heaven.

He pulled away and smiled. “Four weeks?”

I laughed as I nodded. “Four weeks.”

Jeff leaned down and kissed me gently on the lips. He whispered, “I love you, Ari. So damn much.”

When I heard Grace starting to whimper, I let out a small laugh.

“My sweet baby girl…giving her mommy and daddy their time together,” Jeff said with a wink.

He jumped up and headed into the bathroom. As he turned on the shower, he called out, “Close your eyes, babe. I’ll be two seconds, and then I’ll grab her and take care of her while you get some sleep.”

“Oh, thank you, Jeff!” I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of quilts, oak trees, and making love to Jeff. Pure heaven.