CHAPTER SEVEN
Alex pulled her Escalade into the parking lot at Bayside. Arianna had sent her a text earlier that morning letting her know that she saved her a parking spot near the back door that the employees use as it was closer to the room they would be in.
She grabbed her purse and work bag and got out of the vehicle. She groaned a little as she stretched. Ever since she had woken up, her lower back had been giving her a fit. She chalked it up to all the standing she had done the previous day when Tenley and Bailey were at the house baking cookies.
Today wasn’t going to be any better, as she was there to meet the rest of the ladies to wrap all the presents for the twenty-two military families that her foundation was sponsoring.
She was grateful to a few of the volunteers who picked up everything from the storage facility, transported it all here, and even unloaded it.
She set her purse and bag on her shoulder and waddled into Bayside. She opened the door and walked down the hallway until she came to another door and pushed it open.
She couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her lips as she took in the room. It was alive with warmth, laughter, and music as the ladies of Alpha team’s families took over the party room.
There were tables piled high with rolls of colorful wrapping paper, bows, tape, scissors, and tags, making the place look like Santa’s workshop exploded in an avalanche of festive chaos. The room was cozy, lit with soft Christmas lights and even a fully decorated tree in the corner, giving it that holiday vibe.
Her stomach rumbled as soon as she saw the long table of food that was set up.
“I know, little one, you’re hungry,” she grinned as she rubbed her belly. Alex didn’t think that there was a time when she wasn’t hungry.
She walked over to the buffet that was set up. Arianna, co-owner of Bayside and wife to Dino, had outdone herself with the food setup. There were platters of assorted sandwiches, bowls of different cold salads, baskets of chips, and trays of cookies and brownies lined up in a delicious spread. There was even a hot chocolate bar with all the fixings. Alex’s heart swelled with gratitude, knowing that Arianna had prepared all of this just to make their day a bit more special.
“Does everything look okay,” Arianna asked, walking up and standing next to Alex.
Alex smiled. “Are you kidding? It looks better than great. Thank you again for hosting this here. Thank your dad as well.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Arianna responded, waving her off. She looked around the room. “What you’re doing is great for our community. I know these families will be so thankful for your generosity and kindness.”
“She isn’t lying,” Mia, Stitch’s wife, chimed in as she approached with her and Stitch’s new baby boy, Camden, in her arms.
Alex’s heart melted as she looked at the sleeping boy.
“How’s my little nephew doing?” She asked, bending down to place a gentle kiss on the baby’s forehead.
“Overall, he’s doing great. He’s a little piggy, though. I swear I’m always nursing him.” Mia looked at Alex. “How are you doing?”
Alex gave her shoulder a little shrug. “I’m doing okay. However, I’m exhausted at the end of each day.”
“You’re doing a lot, Alex. And you’re due in two weeks. What happened to you taking it easy?” Mia asked, giving Alex a stern look.
“You do realize that you are talking about Alex,” Campbell, Diego’s wife, said as she and Anna Grace, Skittles’ wife, joined them.
“Alex doesn’t know the meaning of taking it easy,” Autumn, Frost’s wife, piped in as she sat at the table rocking her and Frost’s baby boy, Aiden.
Alex gave the group a sheepish smile but then shrugged her shoulders again.
“Sorry, I can’t help it,” she admitted. “It’s hard for me to slow down.”
“Girl, you better start saving your energy because you’re going to need it once that little one inside you makes its entrance into the world,” Mia said.
“I wish I had half the energy Alex has,” Bailey said, taking a seat at the table with Autumn.
“Alex is like one big ball of energy,” Tenley stated as she took a bite of her sandwich.
Alex looked at Tenley and Bailey, “Where are the girls?” Alex asked, trying to divert the attention away from her.
They are with Juliette today,” Tenley said, plopping down next to Alex with a wide grin. “No kids, no chaos. Just food and girl time. I needed this!”
Alex laughed as she took a seat at the table and pulled out the folder with the list of families so they could start matching up who gets what.
“Okay, here are the sheets for each family. Once everything for the family is wrapped, we’ll place everything in those big Santa gift sacks sitting by the door. Just write the name of the family on the gift tag and tie it around the top. That way, when the volunteers come to pick them up, they can identify them easily.”
“Dang, Alex. Your organization skills are putting us all to shame,” Tenley said as she laughed.
“Hell, I’m lucky if my socks match when I put them on in the mornings,” Anna Grace said.
Alex chuckled before clearing her throat. “Alright, before we start, I do want to thank each of you for taking time out today to help with this.” She paused for a moment because she could feel the waterworks getting ready to start. Damn hormones!
“Oh, lord. Now she is going to make us all cry,” Mia said, and Alex laughed, wiping her eyes before any tears fell.
The others were all laughing, but they all understood.
“Let’s do this, ladies!” Arianna announced and started handing out the papers with the families to the others.
For the next three hours, it was nonstop wrapping, eating, and laughing. They all worked to the rhythm of cheerful Christmas music as they wrapped gift after gift. The floor was practically buried under all the presents.
Alex went to reach for another roll of tape, and that same pain that she had been dealing with for the last two days shot through her lower back again.
She made sure to mask her pain as she didn’t want to draw attention to it. Again, the last couple of days have been nothing but go, go, go. After today, she could relax.
She picked up her cup of hot chocolate and took a sip. No sooner had she swallowed it the baby gave her another swift kick—this one nearly took out her kidney.
Rubbing her belly, she murmured softly, “Alright, little one, give Mama a break here. I’ve been feeding you all day. Can’t you just relax a bit?”
Tenley walked over with another plate of food and sat down. She eyed Alex as she popped a chip into her mouth.
“So…how’s momma doing,” Tenley asked.
“I’m doing good,” Alex said as she placed the last piece of tape on the gift she was working on.
“No. I mean, how are you really doing?” Tenley pressed.
Alex quirked one of her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t think I haven’t seen you wincing now and then.”
Alex froze, knowing that she was busted.
“And don’t try and blow smoke up my ass.”
Alex knew she couldn’t lie. She shrugged, trying to downplay it. “It’s nothing, just a tiny pain in my lower back. Probably Braxton Hicks. You know those fake contractions,” she said, waving off Tenley’s concern.
Tenley raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. A tiny pain that makes you wince?” She gave Alex a knowing look. “Come on, friend, you’re not fooling me. I’ve known you since kindergarten, and you are the toughest woman I know. And a tiny pain wouldn’t make you wince.”
Alex sighed. “Alright, maybe a little more than tiny.”
Tenley became serious. “Alex, did you ever consider that you could be in labor?”
Alex scrunched her eyebrows together. “But I’m not due for another two weeks.”
Tenley laughed. “That doesn’t mean anything.” She pointed to Alex’s belly. “That baby in there is like a ticking time bomb. They aren’t like a package being delivered on a specific date. When they are ready, they’re going to come.”
“But the pains I’m having aren’t contractions,” Alex argued. There was no way she was in labor. She couldn’t be. Ace wasn’t home.
“Labor comes in all different forms. I’m just saying, if the pain continues, you might want to get it checked out.”
Alex caved, nodding her head. “I promise, if it gets worse, I’ll call my doctor.”
Tenley grinned like she had just won the argument. “That’s all that I ask.”
Another hour passed, and after plenty of laughs, the wrapping was winding down. Piles of gifts, sorted by family, lined the room, the floor practically carpeted in wrapping paper scraps, tags, and little red and green ribbons.
Alex was about to sit down and rest when Derek walked in, his expression a mix of surprise and awe at the sea of presents filling the room.
“Well,” Derek said, chuckling as he took in the sight. “Looks like you all went a little overboard. Santa’s toy shop has nothing on you ladies.”
The room erupted in laughter as Derek walked over to where Alex was standing.
“How are you doing, kiddo?” he asked, pulling her in for a hug. His brows knitted when he noticed her wince as another pang hit her lower back.
Alex smiled up at him, though it was weary. “Hanging in there. My back’s just sore from all the standing and walking. Just need a warm bath and maybe a few hours off my feet when I get home.”
Derek’s concerned gaze softened, though he looked unconvinced. “You’ve been doing too much, Alex. You’re supposed to be taking it easy, remember?”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “I know, I know. Don’t worry. I’m planning to kick back as soon as I’m through here.”
Derek chuckled, but his tone grew serious. “Actually, I stopped by to deliver some good news.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Ace and the team are on their way home.”
Alex’s heart skipped with happiness. Relief filled her, knowing Ace was coming back safely. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day,” she said, her voice barely containing her excitement.
Derek smirked. “I thought that would make you happy. They should be home sometime tomorrow. I was hoping I could get them back late tonight, but they had some weather issues.”
“I think I can handle things alone until tomorrow,” she teased, giving him a wink. “Can I tell the others?” she asked.
Derek nodded, and Alex turned to the ladies, practically beaming. “Guess what? Our men are on their way home!”
Cheers erupted around the room, but as everyone celebrated, Alex felt another sharp pain shoot through her back. She gritted her teeth, forcing a smile, not wanting to worry anyone. They were nearly finished, after all, and she just had to make it a little longer.
Anna Grace and Campbell took over organizing the gifts, creating neat stacks, and carefully labeling each pile by family. They were ready to call the local Santa, who’d volunteered to deliver everything the next day, on Christmas Eve.
After the room was finally tidied up, everyone began to gather their things and head home.
Derek waited until Alex was ready, and he walked her out to her car.
“Are you sure you’re doing okay?” He asked, and Alex gave him an odd look, wondering why he asked that—unless….”
“Did Tenley talk to you?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.
He grinned. “Maybe.”
She sighed. “I’m fine. I told her that if the pain in my back continues, I’ll call my doctor.”
He held up his hands. “Alright. I just wanted to make sure. I care about you and want to make sure that both you and my grandbaby are good.”
She smiled. “I know, and I appreciate it. I just need to get off my feet and rest.”
When they got to her vehicle, he put her bags in the passenger seat and then walked around the driver’s side where she was standing.
He pulled her into a hug. “I love you, honey.”
She hugged him back. “I love you, too.”
When he released her, he looked at her. “Call me if you need anything.”
She smiled. “I will.”
He opened her door, and she carefully slid into the seat. With one last wave, he shut the door, and she started the engine. She watched as Derek got into his car. He looked over, and she waved again before pulling out of the parking lot.
By the time she pulled up to her house, Alex was more than ready to call it a night. She trudged inside and greeted an energetic Zuma. After giving him some love, she let him out to do his business and fixed herself some decaf hot tea.
As soon as her tea was ready and she had poured herself some trail mix to snack on, Zuma was ready to come inside. Together, they headed up the stairs. Every step on the staircase was a challenge, her back throbbing and her body exhausted. When she finally reached their bedroom, she felt as if she’d run a marathon.
She went straight to the bathroom and peeled off her clothes. She filled the bathtub with warm water and a generous scoop of some lavender Epsom salts. She set her teacup on the edge of the tub before climbing in. A faint sigh escaped her as the warmth of the water enveloped her, soothing the ache in her back and easing the tension in her legs.
As she lay there soaking her exhausted body, she rubbed her belly, whispering, “You know, you’ve got one brave dad, little one. He’s a Navy SEAL, just like Grandpa. And he’s on his way home to us right now.” She chuckled softly. “So, if Aunt Tenley is right and you are ready to meet us, I need you to hold off just a little longer, okay?”
After a while, the exhaustion pulled at her, and she was ready to crash. She climbed out of the tub and dried off before slipping into her pajamas. But as she turned to leave the room, another pain shot through her back. This one was strong enough to almost send her to her knees.
Breathing heavily, she steadied herself and managed to get up, making her way to the bed.
What in the hell was going on? She asked herself as she sat down.
She waited as a few minutes passed, and when nothing else happened, she waved it off and got under the covers.
Zuma hopped up and took his usual spot next to her. She reached over and gave him a good scratch.
“Enjoy it now, buddy, because your dad will be home tomorrow.”
With both of them content, she closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.