Family Blessings, Part 2
1. Claudia
“Miracle Evangaline, if you are late for school again today, I’m not going to save your little butt from your mum’s tantrum this time!” I shouted from my bedroom at my niece who was banging around in the bedroom she uses when she stays with me. Elle had a similar set up at her house and of course at my parents too. We all took turns having her overnight for one reason or another, whether it was because Gisele was busy or because Mircle simply wanted a sleepover. Last night she simply wanted to sleepover with her favourite aunty and uncle.
“Chickee, move it or lose it,” I warned her again hollering at the top of my lungs. “I’ll make peanut butter and jam sandwiches for your lunch if you don’t move it now.” My threat was met with a small choked out giggle, and instantly my heart did a somersault.
That simple sweet noise was still so foreign to my ears, amazing but foreign.
A week had passed since Miracle made her first sound and her first word and still the whole family couldn’t believe it or get used to it. Miracle’s speech since that night a week ago was stilted and croaky and she was still mostly using sign language to communicate, but little giggles, huffs and sighs were starting to become more regular as the week had passed. The whole family had no doubt our little ray of sunshine will be talking non-stop before too long.
For me personally it was an absolute certainty her vocabulary would improve, but for now the beautiful sounds of my niece giggling and huffing was music to my ears.
Hearing her sneaker covered feet stomping up the hall to my room, I turned around to greet Miracle and instead I burst out laughing.
Standing in the doorway was a mess of so many colours I barely knew what to look at first. Miracle was wearing a rainbow-coloured jumper, a denim skirt with flower transfers on the pockets, red and white strips tights and light up sneakers on her feet with bells at the end of the shoelaces.
Narrowing her eyes at me, Miracle put her hands on her hips, her foot tapping the floor making the bells jingle.
“Oh, give me a break chickee, you look like you rolled around in Gigi’s craft room,” I snickered, holding my belly laughing at the sight in front of me.
Over Miracle’s head, Josh walked up the hallway, obviously to see what the laughter was for, took one look at Miracle and let out a deep chuckle. He was more controlled than I was but then again, he wasn’t born into my family, so he didn’t have the Blessing unique sense of humour. In other words, my husband had boundaries and knew when it was time to laugh at a person and when it wasn’t.
I did not.
Coming up behind Miracle, Josh bent at the waist and dropped a kiss on our niece’s blonde head. “Is Aunty Claudia making fun of you honey-bee?” Josh asked her, ruffling her hair.
“Yes,” Miracle croaked, glaring at me. It was the only word she used since saying it after Jamison ran Liam out of town last week, but it was the best word in the world.
Two days ago, our dad come back from a trip to Gracefield with the word ”YES” tattooed on his forearm. The word was in capitals and the font was simple, but it was beautiful because of the meaning behind it.
Gisele, Elle, mum, and me all planned to get the same tattoo but we wanted it pretty and feminine.
“What’s happening about getting to school this morning?” Josh asked just as our front door slammed open followed by a holler of Miracle’s name.
“Question answered,” I replied drolly, waiting for the hurricane that was my sister. Elle had one speed, full pelt.
“I’m here!” Elle shouted unnecessarily, causing an automatic eye roll form me and Miracle.
“No shit,” I muttered, gathering up my handbag and coat, then turning to shoo my niece out of the room.
“Quick sticks, before she causes more damage to my walls.” Gently pushing Miracle in front of me, we walked down the hall and came to a stop when Elle bumped into us coming the other way.
“Your late chickee,” Elle admonished, trying to look fierce but failing. In her eyes, Miracle could do no wrong. Who was I kidding, we all thought that.
Taking Miracle’s backpack from her, Elle gave her an indulgent smile as she took in her outfit for the day.
“Stylish,” Elle said hiding her laughter, but her eyes danced with mirth.
It was good to see my eldest sister looking happier than I had seen her in months, hell a year. She was still dealing with a legal mess that was mind-boggling because of her idiotic soon-to-be ex-husband, but despite that I could see that slowly Elle was starting to heal from her ordeal.
“Good morning sister dear,” I greeted Elle, “What are you up to today?”
“Morning to you too Claude, well after school drop off, I’m on at the grocery store until lunch. Gisele and Jamison wanted a sleep in this morning to do disgusting things to each other, so she isn’t on until this afternoon.” My sister Elle had her own unique way about her. Where Gisele was dramatic and overly emotional, Elle was sensible and in control. I was the most sarcastic of the three of us, although Elle gave me a run for my money, but no one had anything over our dear mother.
Georgina Grace had that trophy.
Our mother was the definition of batshit crazy, but she was also our favourite human being, the matriarch of the Blessing family and the lynch pin that holds us all together.
Looking closely at sister for any sign that she was hiding something from me, I noticed one tell-tale sign that Elle was indeed holding back from me. We all had our own tells some like Gisele’s were a dead give-away, her flair for the dramatics didn’t allow her to hold back for too long. Me, I had my sarcasm. It was Elle who was harder to read.
“Stop it Claudia,” Elle growled at me, interrupting my train of thought.
“What?” I said with as much innocence as I could muster, but fooling Elle was like winning a lotto jackpot. Almost impossible.
Coming up to me, Elle dropped a smooching kiss on my cheek. “I’m fine chickee, stop worrying.”
“Me worry about you. In what world?”
Sarcasm? You bet.
Josh, who was watching our exchange, shook his head ruefully. My poor husband was used to our bullshit and banter, he had no choice because there was no changing a Blessing woman. Something he accepted many years ago.
Not that he would ever change me. If there was one constant thing in my life it was my husband’s love for me. He adored me and I him. I was his life, and he was mine.
“Ladies, I hate to break up this wonderful sister moment, but a little girl is very late for school.”
“Strike a light Claudia Chanel, now I’m late.” Elle glared at me with a finger pointed in my direction. “You will be dealing with Gisele when the school rings her.” She demanded taking Miracle’s hand and hurrying out the front door, my beautiful niece giggling all the way down the steps and to Elle’s car.
Standing at the open door, I took a moment to relish the sound of Miracle’s laugh. After eight years it was hard to get used to.
“Amazing, isn’t it.” Josh said coming up behind me, wrapping his strong arms around my waist, clasping his hands, holding me tight.
“It sure is,” I agreed, dropping my head back to rest on his shoulder.
“Did you hear she is calling Jury, JJ?”
“I did,” I chuckled thinking how silly it was for the big hot cop to be called JJ of all things. The poor man had to endure being called many different versions of his name by my family, but JJ was the funniest and the one I believed he liked the best because it was given to him by Miracle.
“She’ll be calling him daddy before too long,” I predicted, after seeing how fast the relationship between my sister and the detective was moving. Jamison making moves to be a full-time law officer in Blessings was the best idea. It was going to be good for not only Gisele and Miracle but for the town. It was still a little while off maybe a month, but it was happening.
“Just like I will be soon too,” Josh murmured in my ear, his teeth grazing my lobe pulling a moan from my throat, his hands flattening on my lower belly.
“Joshy, I’m not pregnant yet,” I replied hoping that my voice was not wobbling, giving away my trepidation about falling pregnant, but my husband knew me better than anyone and he was not one to take my bullshit.
Tugging me away from the doorway, Josh pushed the front door closed, then gently pushed me until my back hit the wood, his hands planted on either side of my head.
“Claudia don’t pull that shit, not with me baby,” he began his beautiful dark eyes stormy and serious. “Tell me.” He demanded not letting me hide from him or myself.
“Josh there is nothing to tell, I’m —”
“I swear to Christ Claudia if you say fine then I will call in as SOS to Georgina,” he threatened and by the look in his dark eyes I knew he was serious. An SOS call to my mother was only for extreme circumstances, for Josh to think he needed reinforcements he really was seriously worried.
Shivering at the thought of my mother getting on her high horse, I blustered but decided quickly decided that Josh was not playing with me.
“You wouldn’t?” I gasped stalling for time, getting my thoughts to make sense and how to put them into words.
“Try me,” he baited me, and I knew he had won. Josh loved me beyond belief, but he knew my stubborn streak was a mile long and sometimes it took the big artillery to break me.
Wilting, my bravado quickly disappearing. Dropping my head to his chest, I allowed myself to show my vulnerable side, the side few saw. The side that was scared shitless to hope that soon I will get a chance to finally become a mum and Josh a dad.
“It’s hard to say without coming off like a drama queen,” I mumbled into his shirt, tears burning the back of my eyelids. This was why it was best not to talk about feelings and your fears, because with talking brought emotions and Gisele was the emotional one not me. My emotions were packed up tightly and reined in … mostly. It was the best way to get through life being a Blessing woman.
Chuckling softly at my comment about being accused of being a drama queen, Josh ducked his head, so we were eye level.
“Claudia Chanel Blessing-Gallow, no one who knows you would ever accuse you of that baby, trust me.” Josh grinned, his face lighting up every time he smiled at me.
God he was magnificent to look at. Six foot one of yumminess. Dark untamed hair naturally curled. A twenty-four-seven scruff covered his strong chin and upper lip. If he let it go too many days between a shave his scruff turns into a beard. I loved it when he grew his facial hair, but Josh complained if he had more than four days growth it itched him too much.
I thanked the universe every morning I woke up next to my husband.
“Claudia.” Josh growled in warning his patience with my stalling wearing thin. I knew he had to get to work, but Josh never put anything before our marriage. If he had to stand here all day to wait, then he would.
And he calls me stubborn. Ha!
Taking a deep breath, I laid it out as simply as possible without any theatrics.
“What if the miscarriage caused damage and the doctors were wrong?” I asked him, as if he had the answer. Josh, however, knew me too well.
“What if the dinosaurs aren’t really extinct and all the scientists in the world are wrong,” he countered, his lips turning up into a grin until I pinched his nipple.
“Ouch.”
“Oh, please that was a love tweak at best,” I huffed, but his stupid comment did make sense to me. I was worrying about so much that could or might happen that I was forgetting the bigger picture.
“Baby, we went through all the tests. I’m packing plenty and you’re good to go, nothing wrong with your pipes.” Josh’s eloquent description of our inner workings so typically him.
“You should really keep your day job baby; medical terms aren’t your forte.” I giggled but his silliness helped bring me down a few rungs on the stress ladder.
“And speaking of my day job,” Josh said looking at his watch. “I have a big day today. The council ride-on-mowers are coming in for full services, Troy won’t be able to handle them on his own plus the work we already have.”
Wrapping my arms around my husband’s neck, I pulled his face close to mine.
“Don’t shave tonight please,” I said by way of telling him I was okay.
Smirking at me because he knew where my mind was heading. Josh knew it drove me crazy when his beard was long enough to cause rash marks between my thighs. He also knew it made me extra horny and that meant nothing but a great night for him.
“Fine,” Josh huffed pretending he was doing me a huge favour, “I won’t shave tonight but tomorrow morning it’s coming off woman,” he said before dropping his lips to mine. Slowly he kissed me, he had a talent with kissing. His lips were so soft for a man who worked on cars and outdoors. They were almost cherry red, so sexy, I couldn’t get enough of his kisses. Never have, never will.
Letting him take control, Josh pushed his tongue into my mouth, seeking out mine. I knew this game so well, knew every silent single.
“Baby, we don’t have time for this,” Josh groaned but still he lifted me off the floor, my legs wrapping around his waist the instant my feet left the ground. We knew this dance better than we knew the backs of our own hands. It was who we were.
Josh and Claudia.