CHAPTER THIRTEEN
DUCHESS
I bought my husband a brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycle in February!
When I decided to get this gift for Whiskey for his birthday, I knew it wasn’t the optimal time of year to buy it, but the timing of his birthday isn’t something I have any control over. He was born when he was born. I can’t change that.
As I wait for him to get through all the riddles and clues that will lead him here to me in the back storage garage, where all the Brothers and many paying customers, store their bikes for the winter.
After I left the Harley dealership, receipt in hand, I rushed home and found Hammer to ask for his help.
He arranged for the bike to be delivered a few days later, hiding it back here where he knew Whiskey wouldn’t see it, then left the part of surprising my husband with it to me.
So here we are.
I hear the door handle start to turn, so I shrug out of my coat, toss it off to the side, fluff my hair a little, and wait for Whiskey to see me.
Not only do I see the shock in his eyes, and a huge smile on his face, I can feel the happiness radiating from my Old Man.
A low, long whistle fills the cavernous space around us. “Damn, woman. Look at you on that hot ride.”
“You like it?” I rub my hands over the chrome handlebars, down to the silver painted gas tank, them over the skintight jeans that are hugging mu thighs.
“I don’t just like it, Duchess.” He sets the helmet and stack of envelopes in his hand on the seat of a bike the next row over, then lifts me off his Harley and straight into his arms. “I love everything happening right now.”
“Really?”
“Really, really.”
“I was hoping you’d like it.”
“Which part are you talkin’ about?” I unwrap my legs from his waist and he lowers me to my feet. “All the riddles, the meaningful gifts, the Harley, or you in this bangin’ outfit? Woman, you in black lace does somethin’ to me.”
He leans down for a kiss, so I give him one. “All of the above.”
“I love all of you, Duchess. The gifts are just a bonus to being your Old Man.”
“I was hoping you’d love everything. Especially the bike.”
“Is this really the Harley I’ve been eyeing at the dealership for months? How did you know I wanted this one?”
“A little birdie may have told me.”
“Who?”
I give him a soft, playful shove. “You did, ya goof. You came home from meeting at the dealership with someone, I don’t remember who, and you did nothing but go on and on about it for days.
I went over a couple days later and bought it.
Hammer helped arrange for it to be delivered, and here it is. ” I do a little Vanna White wave.
Whiskey circles the bike a few times, looking at it from all different angles. “I wish I could take it for a ride.”
“I wouldn’t advise that until all the snow has melted.”
“This baby won’t see the outside until we’ve had enough rain to wash away all the road salt too.
” When he circles back in front of me again, he scoops me up and spins us both in circles.
When he stops, he buries his face in my neck and smothers me with skin-tingling kisses.
“Thank you, Duchess. I love you. This has been the best birthday yet.”
I tap him on the shoulder and he puts me down. “I’m not quite done just yet.”
“What do you mean? What else could you possibly have gotten me that I would love more than this?” He points at the Harley.
The door opens and Angel pops her head in.” Hi, guys. Happy birthday, Whiskey. Bye.” She waves and is gone.
Krew rounds the corner into the aisle and wobbly runs toward his dad holding another envelope.
“Hi, Krew,” I kneel and he runs into my arms. “Can you give that to your daddy?”
He turns to give it to Whiskey, who is also kneeling beside me. We both then sit on the floor.
Whiskey opens the envelope with eight pink heart stickers on it and reads the card inside.
The riddle will be stuck in my brain forever.
Lots more giggles.
Lots more fun.
Our family is growing.
But not just by one.
“Flip it over.”
So he does.
“Holy sh—.” He starts to say shit, but stops, remembering our son who is in my lap. We try not to swear around him, but it doesn’t always work. Whiskey’s eyes are as wide as dinner plates. “Holy moly, Duchess. Are you sure?”
On the back of the card is an ultrasound image of the two babies in my belly right now. And the best part . . . I had the ultrasound technician type ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!’ right on the image.
“Yup.” I nod as I hug our first-born.
“How did this happen?”
“It seems like twins run in the family.” I shrug. “Twice in one generation.”
He hasn’t stopped looking at the ultrasound. “Do you know if it’s boys like Sunshine’s?”
“I’m just twelve weeks today so the ultrasound tech couldn’t tell yet. But I can tell you we do have the same kind of situation that she did.”
Whiskey looks up. “What do you mean?”
“What kind of twins did she have?”
If his eyes could pop out of the sockets, now is the time they would? “Do you mean identical?”
“You got it.”
“Our babies are identical?”
I grab the card from his lap and draw my finger over the image. “See how both little circles are in one sac. That means it was one egg that split. They’re identical.”
He lifts the wiggly Krew from my lap and sets him in his. “When do we get to figure out what they are? Do you wanna know again?”
“Absolutely I do,” I say affirmatively as I rest my hands flat on the floor and lean back a bit. “We have to get two of everything this time. I need to know what kind of clothes we need, how to decorate their room, all of it.”
“But how did you get this far along and we didn’t know?” I watch his eyes travel along my body and stop at my stomach. “I mean, I know your body really well, Duchess, so how could I not have noticed?”
I shrug. “I asked the tech that and she said it could be this thing called a retroverted uterus. It’s when the uterus is tilted backward toward the spine a bit. It doesn’t hurt the babies or anything, but it just takes a bit longer for the bump to show.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Did you have that with Krew?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You sure it won’t hurt the babies. Ya know, squish them so they come out lookin’ funny?”
“Nope.” I can’t help but laugh. “Everything in there will move around enough as they grow, especially with two, and they will be just fine. They probably will squish each other a little, but that’s why we will have extra appointments and ultrasounds just like your sister did to watch how these little munchkins grow. ”
Whiskey stands Krew up between his legs and points at my belly. “Can you believe it, Krew? Your momma is gonna have two babies?”
“Two?”
“Yea.” I hold up two fingers. “You got it.”
Whiskey scoots over and rubs his hand over the lace of the black body suit covering my stomach. “Can you say hi to the babies, Krew?” Then he leans in to kiss my belly. Krew kisses it too.
Whiskey jumps to his feet, picks up Krew and holds out a hand for mine. Once he pulls me up, he wraps his free arm around me, I loop my arms around my guys, and we have our first family of five group hug.
As we step inside in clubhouse, Whiskey hands Krew off to Blue and pulls me down the hall toward his office. “Your Valentine’s Day gifts are in my office. I didn’t have time to go grab them before you started having me do all this running around.”
I sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk as he walks around and unlocks the bottom side drawer. “That’s fine.”
“And you definitely outdid me on the size of gifts this year. A new Harley AND two babies. I definitely didn’t win the ‘Hubby of the Year’ award this year.”
“I’m sure whatever you got me is perfect.”
“Did you tell anyone else about the babies yet?” Whiskey asks as he circles back around a leans his butt against the desk in front of me. One boot on each side of my shoes.
“Blue guessed I was pregnant, but doesn’t know about it being twins. Angel does though, because she went with me to the ultrasound appointment.”
He nods as he scratches the side of his beard. “That makes sense.”
“What does?”
“Blue helped me a little with your gift. You’ll see what I mean when you open it.” He hands me a pink envelope.
I rip the flap and pull out a card with a bouquet of pink and blue flowers on it.
Happy Valentine’s Day
To My Smokin’ Hot Wife Old Lady
The word ‘Wife’ is scratched out with pen, and he wrote ‘Old Lady’ beside it.
Opening the card, I read the poem. It’s in his chicken scratch handwriting, so I know he wrote it, but I have no doubt that this is part of what my sister helped him with.
Born from metal,
built to run,
I’m useless ‘til my work’s begun.
With circuits, gears, and wheels so wide
I have more seats for tiny humans inside.
Love, Whiskey & Krew
I look up and he is holding out a small box with a red bow on top.
“What’s this?”
“Your Valentine’s present.”
I slowly reach out to grab it from his hand, then lift the lid off. It’s a key fob. I look up again quick. “What did you do?”
“Remember when you ambush questioned me about getting a bigger vehicle?”
“Maaaaybe.” I smile as I remember.
“And how you said you wanted a minivan like Angel’s?”
I am on my feet in a microsecond with my hands on his crossed forearms. “Whiskey, you did not buy me a minivan!”
“Yes, I did.” His chest puffs up like a proud peacock. “A red one. It’s parked inside over at Rebel Repairs.”
And my heart melts. “Red like my Dragon was?”
“It’s not the exact same shade as your truck was, but I met your sister at the dealership and she said this one was close enough. She even checked out all the features and doodads and bells and whistles on the inside to make sure it was a model you’d like.”
“Not that this was a competition, but you definitely win the ‘Hubby of the Year’ award now. You gave me two more babies and a new ride. You in, Whiskey. You win.”
“Of course I win, Duchess. ‘Cause I got you.” He opens his arms and crushes me to his chest.
“Damn right you do.” I wrap my arms around him and squeeze him as tight as I can. He is as rock solid as a brick house, but hugging him is one of my favorite things.
I feel Whiskey kiss the top of my head. “Is there anything else you want for Valentine’s Day? I’m sorry I didn't get you flowers or anything.”
“Nope. I’ve got you and Krew.” I look up and rest my chin on his chest. “And now Cupid brought me another double shot of Whiskey. I have everything I've ever wanted and more.”
THE END!