Cold as (N)ice (Sticks and Vows #1)

Chapter 9

9

IRENE

Hearing a chuckle and her son’s choked laugh, her heart warmed at the sound that was always pulled from somewhere deep within Stephen. It wasn’t a normal ‘ha ha’ laugh but rather something more guttural and full of joy because the noise escaped him – and he couldn’t hear it. That sound was more precious than anything, Irene thought silently, smiling in her sleepiness, and then she froze.

The other laugh.

Her eyes shot wide open as her head flung to the side of the bed – only to come face-to-face with Barrett kneeling beside her son with a terse look on his face, and he had coffee.

“Bout time…”

“Oh my gosh, yesterday really happened – didn’t it?”

“I don’t usually get that after sleeping with a woman, but yeah.”

Irene looked away from him, scrambled to a seated position in his bed, and yanked the blankets up higher against her, tucking them under her arms protectively. He lifted an eyebrow and handed her a cup of coffee before signing to her son who was standing there, beaming happily.

Talk to your Mom while I go get us some cereal, buddy.

Yes, sir.

No, Barrett signed quickly. No ‘sir’ – we’re family now, remember? Call me Barrett like you used to. We’re still friends, and I’m still going to whup you in Mario Kart.

Good luck with that! Stephen fired back, laughing, and to her shock, Barrett ruffled his disheveled hair, smirking, and walked off, leaving her there with her son. Stephen immediately turned to her, looking utterly thrilled.

Mommy, we spent the night here? Are we going to sleep here from now on? Can I bring my stuff over?

One thing at a time, she replied tenderly, trying not to crush his enthusiasm. I should talk to Barrett first, and I need to work some today. I’m glad you two are friends, but we don’t want to take advantage of that friendship.

But you got married, he asked, obviously confused. And he said we are a family.

We are, she quickly answered. We are a family, but when you mix in different people – we have to find out how we fit in together, too.

Like where my room is in this big house – or do I need to wait until we move? Will I have friends there? Can they sign? Mommy, can I have a green bedroom? What if we…

Irene swallowed nervously as her son continued excitedly with the questions. Yeah, she needed to talk to Barrett quickly and figure out a few things that they hadn’t talked about yesterday.

Hang on. We should have this conversation as a family, she signed. Let’s go get breakfast and talk.

As Stephen nodded and bolted out the door to find Barrett, she jumped out of the bed and lurched for her bra, trying to make her appearance somewhat decent. She might have slept in the same bed, remained fully clothed, and was positive nothing happened – but there was no way she was walking out there without a bra.

In the dark, he couldn’t see her, but in daylight?

Uh, no .

Things changed after breastfeeding, and that was not happening. She darted into the bathroom and quickly locked the door, adjusting her garments before brushing her teeth. Yeah, there wasn’t a lot of help to be had – she had a cowlick from her pillow that was not endearing in the slightest.

Opening the bathroom door, she nearly ran into Barrett who was leaning against the frame with one arm, smirking.

“You ready to join the conversation since you sicced Stephen on me?” he taunted. “Or are you hiding? I’m not sure I’m ready for the ‘ Dad of the Year ’ award, nor do I think you want me answering some of his questions.”

“That’s why I said we’d talk as a group.”

“As a family,” he corrected.

“Yes.”

“So, before we get out there and have this wonderful familial conversation – are there any lines in the sand that I shouldn’t cross?”

“Not that I can think of – other than ‘no spanking’ my child.”

“I would never strike a kid, or you for that matter.”

“Then we’re good.”

“Perfect,” he said bluntly and walked off, with Irene trailing behind him. When they reached the kitchen, Stephen had a massive bowl of cereal in front of him using what looked like a scoop to eat.

What are you doing?

Eating my breakfast.

Where did you get that spoon? She asked, turning to Barrett and giving him a wide-eyed pointed look. “Why is he using a serving spoon for his cereal?”

“Because he’s got a small mouth?” Barrett shot back with an even expression and grabbed his own bowl, rolling his eyes in a dramatic look before brandishing a ladle. He literally scooped up a bite of his cereal with a ladle and made a mock-salute toward Stephen, who did the same before taking another shovelful of food in his mouth.

“Have you no table manners? We have spoons, you know! Why are you using a ladle?” she practically screeched as he gave her that steady look – and shrugged.

“I’m hungry.”

Before she could comment, Barrett took another massive bite and chewed thoughtfully, turning to Stephen in front of her like he was ending their conversation and starting one with him instead.

What did you want to talk about?

“No,” she snapped, causing Barrett’s head to jerk back in surprise.

What? He wanted to talk.

No, you are not teaching my son to eat like a heathen. We use normal spoons no matter how hungry you are, and we behave like humans.

Our son. I’m his stepfather now.

“You do not get to play that trump card when we’ve been married less than twenty-four hours,” she snarled audibly.

Mommy is not a happy person in the mornings.

I like mornings, Stephen motioned and looked at her curiously. Why are you mad?

Because we eat like normal people, she gestured, getting out several regular spoons and holding them up. We use spoons like this for cereal.

“Irene,” Barrett began and signed at the same time so Stephen could follow along. “We’re going to be a family – and family is the one place you never have to worry. You can be yourself…”

“A dumpster fire?” she shot back, motioning the words – and heard Stephen snort as Lucky Charms when flying across the counter before he coughed. She was immediately at his side, patting him on the back where he sat on the stool next to Barrett – who was smirking. “I swear, you are trying to stress me out and…”

“Because it’s safe,” Barrett interrupted softly, catching her attention. “You are free to be yourself, relax, and let down your hair when you are at home. I might not have intended to get married, and we’ve got a lot of change coming over the next few days – but when you get frustrated and upset, it’s okay to lose your temper toward your ‘dumpster-fire of a husband,’” he finished, signing ‘ dumpster fire’ again… and smiled. “Here you are giving me a pet name already.”

“Oh my gosh,” she muttered, rubbing her forehead at the chaos inside. Was he pushing her buttons for a reason?

Can I call you a dumpster fire, too? Stephen signed in delight, laughing – and Barrett chuckled, nearly falling off the stool as he laughed.

“You can call me Barrett – or whatever you are comfortable with,” he replied to Stephen but said it aloud as he held Irene’s gaze. “You call people you don’t like a ‘dumpster fire’…”

Sure enough, her son’s hurt gaze looked at her immediately.

You don’t like Barrett?

And heaven help her – Barrett made a moue with his lips, pouting, behind her son’s head.

“Answer him,” Barrett encouraged a split second later, taunting her – and she felt her blood boil. If he thought that he was going to be a wedge between them, he had another thing coming.

He has his moments, she retorted, not holding anything back. Barrett has moments where he can be nice and friendly, but sometimes he pushes Mommy’s buttons to make her mad, and I haven’t figured out why. I don’t want you calling anyone a ‘dumpster fire,’ and I shouldn’t have said it – so I apologize, Barrett.

Stephen’s head swung around to see Barrett’s response – but he just stared at her, swallowing, as his brown eyes held hers.

“Irene…” he said quietly and then looked at Stephen. I’m sorry I made your Mother mad, and she is right. Do not call anyone a dumpster fire. Your mother can say what she wants to me because we are friends, and she is an adult. She knows the hurt that calling someone a name can create and understands the repercussions, h e paused and looked at her again. “You can call me that if that is how you feel. I don’t mind.”

“I shouldn’t have said it.”

“You never have to apologize – and it might be slightly true.”

Sign so I can understand, Stephen interrupted, waving his hand in Barrett’s face and frowning.

Sorry buddy, I was apologizing to your mom for making her upset – even if she is really pretty when she gets mad.

“What?” she choked out, shocked.

It’s the hair, Barrett gestured, pulling his hair tie out and shaking his messy hair several times before putting his hands under his chin mockingly and batting his eyelashes. Stephen laughed wildly at his antics while Irene sighed, picked up the correct spoons, plucked theirs directly out of their bowls, and walked off to the sink.

And heard Stephen laugh again behind her.

She hated admitting that her son was laughing and responding like a child so much more around Barrett – and maybe being around a guy would be good for him. Goodness knows Eric was not the person she would want her son to emulate, and he was not a good role model. She wasn’t sure if Barrett was, but she thought anything was better than Eric.

Pouring her own bowl of cereal, she moved to join them… and caught wind of their conversation.

It’s the color that makes you say that.

It’s because it’s standing – and you should see it. One time, there was a big piece sticking up and…

“Wait,” she interrupted, putting her spoon back down. “Are you both still talking about my hair? Is it that bad?”

Yes, Stephen said, chuckling throatily and nodding

No, Barrett replied, giving him a look. I told you that she would not like that.

“Like what?”

I told him your hair looked like one of those Troll dolls, Stephen volunteered, laughing harder as her gaze shot to Barrett.

“I never said that – I swear,” he volunteered quickly and then winked at her. “But I could see the resemblance if you go like this…” and made a face.

It was such a weird-yet-normal conversation between the three of them, sitting in disheveled states around the kitchen island, having breakfast, and she hesitated. This was the first day of her marriage, and her son was joking with his new stepfather. She had already lost her temper once in front of her son and didn’t want to do it again, especially when it was something Stephen said. They were bonding, and she wouldn’t destroy that.

I thought we were supposed to talk about your room. She began, changing the subject. “He asked about what room he should use and…”

“Well, I thought about maybe we could do a virtual tour with the listing agent on the one you liked before we make the leap,” Barrett offered and Stephen’s excited gaze turned to her.

We can see our new home today on the computer?

Yes, she replied, looking at Barrett. “We’re going to need to talk about roles or…”

“What about it?” Barrett interrupted and glanced at Stephen before answering for both. “We’ll agree on a house and when he picks his room, we can start looking at furniture for him too. Maybe a jungle gym for the backyard?”

“Are you serious?” she whispered, her eyes searching his.

“We’re making it our home,” he replied softly. “I’m grateful you had my back and bailed me out of a problem, so let me show my thanks. I want you both to feel like Quebec is your home, so get whatever you want for the house when we move in.”

Can I have a bunk bed?

Only if it’s a cool one with a school desk underneath, Barrett replied quickly, giving him a raised eyebrow. And your mom has to say ‘Yes’…

Can I have a green room?

If your mother likes the color – then yes, Barrett continued, not looking away from her. “Pick something nice for us, too. I just needed something to sleep on when I moved in here.”

“And if I select twin beds?” she retorted, testing the waters and taking a cue from how he’d been acting toward her.

“Then maybe we can push them together someday and snuggle,” he smiled. “It gets cold in the winter.”

Hey! Sign so I can understand you, Stephen said again. This time the frustration was clear on his face.

I’m sorry, she began – and Barrett grabbed her wrist, stopping her apology as he looked at Stephen before gesturing.

There are going to be some things that we need to discuss privately as adults – and during those moments, we are not going to sign. It’s not because we are being mean, but because adults have to talk about things like money, work, and other stuff.

Like what?

Kissing.

Never mind, Stephen replied quickly, shivering.

“We’re not kissing,” she said hoarsely, looking at Barrett in disbelief – and the infernal man turned away, ignoring what she’d said and spoke to Stephen.

So, what shade of green do you want on the walls of your room?