CHAPTER 2 | Pancakes, baby bumps, and sibling bonding
CHAPTER 2
Pancakes, baby bumps, and sibling bonding
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“I love you to pieces ,” CeCe said through clenched teeth, “but if you don’t step away from the stove, I’m going to hit you with this whisk.” She brandished the utensil like a sword, jabbing it into the air.
Evan held his hands up in surrender, but he didn’t move out of the way. “Not gonna happen, babe. The doctor said you’re on bed rest. Don’t make me call Max.”
His wife shot daggers at him before turning her attention back to her batter. “The babies want pancakes, and I want to make them.”
With a huff, Evan placed his hands on CeCe’s hips and attempted to push her out of the way. A few months ago, this would not have been a challenge, but that was before she’d expanded to fit their growing family. Not only was Evan delighted at his wife’s transformation, but he was also jubilant to meet his children in the new year. CeCe was just as excited, but she was also the vehicle for their twins and didn’t like being told what to do.
“Need I remind you, I’m perfectly willing and able to make pancakes.”
CeCe poked Evan’s bicep. “I don’t want Bisquick.”
Evan covered his heart with his hand, jaw falling to the floor. “Woman, you wound me. When was the last time I made you anything from a box?”
CeCe cocked her head and tapped her temple. “That one time after we moved in together.” She winced. “I’m pretty sure you even used butter from a tub.”
“That was like eight years ago,” Evan deadpanned, already pulling out eggs and milk from the fridge. “Not to mention, we’ve won several food competitions and helped open a new restaurant since then. I’m pretty sure I can handle a little pancake batter.”
Quirking an eyebrow, CeCe relented and handed the bowl and whisk to her husband. “All right, tough guy. Show me what you’ve got.”
Evan slid the bowl away before flexing his hands and lowering his voice. “I intend to.” Cradling CeCe’s head, Evan pulled her close for a searing kiss. Their bickering ceased as they melted against each other, lost in the moment, breakfast forgotten.
“Eww, gross,” Mallory said as she entered the room, weighed down by a baby carrier, an exhausted expression on her face. Her brown hair was pulled into a messy braid, her cheeks rosy from the Ohio winter air.
Behind her, in the doorway, her husband, Beckett, shouted, “Yo! Lawless! A little help.”
Evan leaned in to kiss CeCe on the forehead and whispered, “To be continued on the pancakes and everything these hands can do.” Turning to his sister, he said, “You know that key was just for emergencies.” He was all talk though, and gladly welcomed his sister and best friend into their home.
Mallory handed the carrier to Evan and huffed. “This is an emergency. I’m about to pee my pants.”
CeCe frowned, rubbing her belly. “I thought those types of emergencies ended when the baby arrived.”
Mallory snorted but recovered quickly. “Oh, CeCe, we need to talk more.” She linked her arm through CeCe’s and yanked her in the direction of the bathroom. “Let me pee, and then I’ll fill you in on the wonders your body can do.”
As the women made their exit, Evan pulled his newest niece out of her carrier. “God, Foxy. She keeps getting cuter and cuter.” Evan carefully swiped a red lock of hair off Maybelle’s tiny forehead. His heart clenched as she let out a sigh and fell back to sleep. “She looks just like you, man.”
Beckett flinched and checked the hallway. “Don’t let Mal hear you say that. She’s still waiting for Maybelle’s hair to turn dark.” Lowering his voice, he added, “Which I don’t think is going to happen.” Walking over to the box he dropped by the door, Beckett kicked the side. “These are the decorations for the Christmas dinner. Please tell Max we’re willing to help with whatever he needs. It’s just nice they want to include Mal, me, and the baby.”
Evan sighed, a long exhale that was more theatrical than useful. “And how many times do I need to tell you to relax and let this town love you? You’re family, Foxy. Now cut the crap and help me make pancakes. The babies are hungry, and my wife is a little scary this morning.”
Beckett strode to the sink and washed his hands. “Yeah, but you like it.”
Evan cracked another egg into the batter and beamed. “No, I don’t. I freaking love it.” His infectious smile grew tenfold when his wife and sister joined them. CeCe wasted no time pulling Maybelle into her arms.
“Look how big she’s getting.” She clasped the baby to her chest, her eyes misting over. “I just hope our kids and Maybelle are best friends. The thought is literally keeping me up at night.” She sniffled, bottom lip trembling. “I feel like they will be, right? Their fathers are best friends, Mal and I are best friends, and we’re family. It’s like the trifecta of love, right?”
Behind her shoulder, Evan mouthed “Trifecta of love?” before Beckett shook his head.
Mallory yanked a tissue from her pocket and handed it to CeCe, then glared at her brother. One of the biggest changes to the pastry chef was not the weight gain or newfound love of anything related to batter, but her quickness to cry. Whether it was a car insurance commercial or a sweet gesture from her husband, CeCe would be in tears within seconds if the wind blew the wrong way.
“Babe, you’re right,” Evan insisted from his side of the kitchen, “they’re going to be besties for life. They’re half Foxy and half Lawless. C’mon!”
Mallory balled up a napkin and tossed it at her brother. “Gross. Maybelle is clearly half Lawson, not yours,” she chided, referring to Beckett’s nickname for her very law-abiding little brother.
CeCe groaned and rubbed the small of her back. Beckett took Maybelle and hoisted her onto his hip. “You want to have a seat, CeCe? I’ll make sure Ev doesn’t burn breakfast.”
Mallory, always ready to play nurse off the clock, looped her hand through CeCe’s and drug her sister-in-law to the sofa. “I’m fine,” she whined as Mallory placed a pillow at her back and positioned her feet onto the coffee table. “I want my Maybelle time.”
“That girl isn’t going anywhere,” Mallory promised as she fell onto her own cushion. “How are you feeling?” She studied CeCe another moment, and asked, “For real.”
CeCe rested her hands on her belly, rubbing circles over the bulge. Through an enormous grin, she recited her symptoms. “Exhausted, bloated, hangry, gassy, and very excited.”
“All reasonable feelings and symptoms.” Mallory winked. “How much longer?” Her head fell back on the couch as CeCe counted.
“One month, one week, and three days. I’ve lost track of how many hours ...” she said with a huff. “Although, to be fair, I’ve lost track of a lot lately.” Wiggling her toes, she laughed. “I can’t remember the last time I saw my feet. Although I can still tie my own shoes.”
Mallory nodded sagely. “Welcome to pregnancy brain. In addition to having to pee all the time, you’re also going to forget eighty percent of what you need to remember.” Jostling her own legs, she huffed. “And the jury is out on when you’ll see your feet again.”
“You’d think I would be better prepared,” CeCe said. “It’s certainly taken long enough to get here.” She trailed squiggles over her baby bump with her finger, her eyes glistening, bottom lip trembling.
It hadn’t been an easy road to baby for Evan and CeCe. Due to some unforeseen health ailments, it took them over six years to conceive the twins. Unfortunately, they had two miscarriages along the way. Mallory had grieved alongside her brother and sister-in-law, all the while battling with guilt that Maybelle had come along relatively easily.
In contrast, Beckett and Mallory’s road to baby was delayed on purpose. After taking far too long to find each other again, the pair enjoyed their newlywed phase in peace on the apple farm. As the years rolled by, Mallory had craved more of a challenge at work, so she’d gone back to school to become a nurse practitioner. During the sleepless nights of studying for exams, Beckett had taken the time to hire more crew for the farm and turned it into the destination it was today.
The Lawsons and Foxes had certainly been busy, but now was time to celebrate and relax together.
“These twins are strong and healthy. Evan showed me the results of your checkup last week. You’re all going to be fine.” She squeezed CeCe’s arm and offered her most reassuring nurse smile.
“Breakfast is ready!” Evan yelled from the kitchen. “How many pancakes do you ladies need?”
Beckett carried a sleeping Maybelle in her carrier. “I’ll bring in some coffee, Mal. CeCe, what do you need?”
“A latte and a shot of bourbon,” she lamented. “But I guess orange juice is fine, too.”
“Coming right up.” Beckett jogged to the kitchen and came back out with Evan and a tray of food. “Ladies,” he said as he handed each of them a plate of pancakes.
CeCe eyed Evan as she took her first bite, which was swimming in butter and syrup like she liked. After swallowing she nodded. “These aren’t bad.”
Mallory covered her mouth and moaned. “Holy crap, Ev. These are sinful. What did you do?”
Evan sent his sister a withering look before replying, “It’s just Bisquik.”
CeCe shot him a lewd gesture before devouring her pancakes in sixty seconds. Ever the dutiful husband, Evan swapped his wife’s empty plate for his full one. “Thank you,” she muttered in between mouthfuls.
Maybelle slept through breakfast, much to her parent’s delight. “Wow,” Beckett whispered as they cleared the dishes. “I don’t think we’ve shared a meal without interruption in five months.”
“Shhh, you’ll jinx it.” Mallory hissed, poking her husband in the ribs.
When everyone was back in the kitchen, CeCe pulled herself onto a stool and rested her elbows on the counter. “While we’re all here, and before the Christmas insanity begins, I wanted to talk about Beck’s Bakery.”
Beck’s Bakery was the new shop built on Beckett and Mallory’s property. They lived on his late grandfather’s apple farm, and had gone into business with CeCe and Evan for the bakery, building it at the entrance to the orchards for the high season.
Mallory shot her husband a look before answering. “We’ve been talking about that, actually. How do you feel about pushing the opening back until the following year?”
CeCe blinked. “But we’re all set to open this summer, right before the fall festivities start.”
Evan rested a hand on his wife’s shoulder and squeezed. “Babe, maybe Mal’s right. We could give it a year while we get settled in with the twins.”
CeCe was incredulous. “I can do it,” she pressed, “I can do it all. Just because I’m a mother doesn’t mean I won’t be a pastry chef, too.”
Mallory covered CeCe’s hand with her own and squeezed. “I have no doubt, but you’re going to have two babies. I can barely handle my workload at the hospital with Maybelle.”
Beckett raised his hand and added, “And I work a lot less than Lawless.” A few years ago, Beckett had left his job in finance to take over the operations of the family farm. There was only a small flock of sheep and the apple orchards, but it was a full-time job keeping it running.
During the high season two years ago, visitors praised the pastries they bought at the gift shop. CeCe and Evan had a side hustle going out of the diner on weekends where they’d bake pies and cookies for Beckett’s farm, but after they kept selling out, they decided to open a pop-up shop on the property. That was all before they got pregnant with the twins, and reality was starting to settle in.
“We just don’t want you to overdo it, babe.” Evan kissed the top of CeCe’s head.
Mallory stifled her grin. “Although, we know you’re going to.”
CeCe shook her head and sighed. “Please don’t make any decisions now, okay? Let’s see how we’re doing when the babies arrive.”
Beckett looked to Mallory and nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.” Pushing his glasses back up his nose, he asked the question everyone wanted to know. “Have you guys picked out names yet?”