25. Its Raining Babies
Chapter twenty-five
It's Raining Babies
Derek threw himself into the renovation project with gusto. News of the pregnancy notwithstanding, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so excited before.
When I woke up, Derek was already out of bed and working. Following my hunch, I found him right where I expected him to be; his office. Paper and blueprints were strewn about his office in a haphazard mess. As I walked in, he froze as if caught in the act, a mug of coffee halfway to his mouth.
“Whatcha doing?” I asked, a smile playing across my lips.
“Oh, um, nothing much…” There was a pause as we both knew what he was actually doing was pretty obvious. He chuckled, leaning back in his chair and covering his face with a hand.
“Can’t believe I said that. It’s pretty obvious what I’m doing, isn’t it?”
“Well, you do own a construction company. If you had told me you were working on a client’s project, I would’ve been fooled. Probably.“ Derek smacks his forehead.
“Damn, totally slipped my mind. Can you believe that? Is it too late to change my answer?”
“Hmm, you know what? I’m feeling benevolent. I’ll forget I ever saw it.” His lips curled in a wry smirk, my generosity eliciting a smirk from him.
“Wow, that’s mighty kind of you.”
Walking over to the table, I leaned against the desk while my eyes roved over the blueprints. I knew it was a layout of the house, but actually looking at it, I couldn’t make heads or tales of it.
Derek gave me a helping hand in deciphering the layout. He pointed first to the front door and dragged his fingers down the hallways and through the rooms of the house. In my mind’s eye, I could finally match the two. I was sort of in awe of how Derek navigated the layout with such ease. I guess if you’ve been doing it for a while, it becomes second nature at one point.
“Have you eaten anything yet?”
“Does coffee count?”
“What do you think?”
“All right, fair enough,” he said, putting his hands up in mock surrender. “Do you feel like going out for breakfast?”
“Sure, why not? It’ll be a nice change of pace.”
We quickly fell back into our natural rhythm, the only difference being that Derek stared down any man who came within spitting distance. I quickly told him to knock it off, or else I would sleep in the guest room.
Suffice it to say, he toned down the penetrating stare to a weak glower at best.
Progress.
Later in the afternoon, Derek went to pick up Dimitri and Lauren from the airport. Although I loved how enthusiastic they were about having another grandchild in the family, living with them for such a long time does not sound appealing.
Don’t get me wrong—I think they’re wonderful individuals—but part of me was sad that I wouldn’t have Derek all to myself at home.
To keep my mind from worrying about it, I decided to go to the bookstore. It’s been a while since I graced the building with my presence, and a visit was long overdue.
Usually, my time at the bookstore passes by in the blink of an eye. That usually happens when a bibliophile is surrounded by books. However, my visit this time was spoiled by this rather odd text message I received...
There I was, deep into an internal struggle of which books I should get, or if I should even buy more books, considering the literal pile of books I bought previously and have yet to touch. If these books were sentient, they would probably curse my name like a jilted lover.
Anyway, there I was, perusing the many choices available to me, when I felt my phone vibrated. Setting down my haul, I took a quick peek but didn’t recognize the number. I was seconds away from just ignoring it entirely, but some of the words from the preview caught my eye.
“What the fuck ?”
The message that was waiting for me was honestly shocking and even a little bit hurtful. Okay, more than a little.
Unknown Sender
You’re just a filthy omega whose sole purpose in life is to get knocked up
I immediately blocked the number and deleted the conversation. People who had the time to send complete strangers vile messages like that really needed to get back in touch with reality. Why can’t people accept others for who they are? Or mind their own damned business, at the very least?
Was that so hard to ask?
I tried to put the bizarre message out of my mind, but seeing something like that definitely killed the good mood I was in. I ended up not even buying anything, electing to go home empty-handed.
Looking on the bright side, it’s just as well that I left the store empty-handed. I had to be more conscientious when it came to money going forward. I had not only myself and Derek to think about, but our baby as well.
As I pulled into the driveway, Derek and his parents were just stepping out of his truck. Lauren shrieked as soon as she saw me. For a woman in her sixties, she had energy in abundance. She could barely hold still as she waited for me to get out of the car, and once I was out, she pounced.
If there’s one thing I have to say about this family, is that they’re big huggers. Dimitri quickly joined in, followed by Derek. Soon enough, I was enveloped in a Dreyfus sandwich.
“Hi Lauren and Dimitri, it’s good to see you guys! How was the flight?” We spent a couple of minutes in limbo where the human brain felt compelled to ask someone how their flight was, what the weather was like, and if they were tired at all. Once we got that out of the way, Derek went upstairs with his parents to make sure they were settled in and joined me on the couch.
There was a brief moment where I thought about telling him the message I received today. But, therein lies the issue. If I do tell him, I can already see what would happen. He would take the territorial knob—which is already pretty high right now—and crank it up a couple more notches. There will be yelling and crying, maybe both at the same time. Most likely, a new phone number will be procured, and that’ll be the end of that story.
So, I decided to keep that little bit of info from him for now.
“Anything interesting happened while I was gone?”
Interesting was an understatement of the year. Was this just a coincidence, him asking about my day? If so, it was scarily in line with my current thoughts.
“Nah, nothing much. Just went to the bookstore,” I said, trying to play it cool.
“Oh god. I feel like I’m the only one whose heart clenches when their partner says, “I went to the bookstore’. How much damage are we talking about?”
“ Excuse you . I’ll have you know that I walked out of there empty-handed.“ He arched an eyebrow.
“Really, that’s not like you. You feelin’ okay?”
“Yeah, just figured that I had too many books at home that I haven’t even touched yet.” Not a lie, technically. To my annoyance, he nodded and dropped the issue like that explained everything and agreed wholeheartedly about my book-buying problem. I mean hobby…
Dimitri and Lauren came downstairs and asked if we wanted to go out for dinner. Their timing was impeccable, as their entrance saved Derek from a tirade of how I believed I was one of the few people keeping bookstores up and running. I’m contributing to society, I tell you!
“Are you sure you want to eat out? I can make something here real quick.” Sarah waved away my protests with a flick of her hands.
“It’s okay! Just think of it as a little celebratory dinner for us since we missed out on the one last night. It’ll be our treat.” Once they said dinner was on them, I didn’t put up much of a fight, as free food is always a nice treat.
Dimitri and Derek were in the mood for seafood, so they wanted to take us to this really nice seafood restaurant that they swore up and down that was the best place in town for marine delicacies. Lauren chimed in, saying that it was actually pretty good, so it was an easy decision to go to the place they recommended.
Arriving outside a dive bar on the river, the smell of spices and fried food instantly had my stomach growling. Did I remember to eat lunch today? Well, regardless, I was about to make up for the calories I had lost.
Inside was a typical restaurant vibe, with low lighting and dark wood as one of the main design elements. However, the restaurant, called The Salty Sailor , took the nautical theme to the extreme. It seemed like every nook and cranny had one item or another from either a boat or matched the overall vibe of the place.
The host’s booth was cleverly designed to resemble a ship’s helm. A couple of kids were spinning around the spokes attached to the front.
Despite the active atmosphere, we didn’t wait long to find a table and were given time to peruse our menus. The menu was simple fair, but simple was all they needed, as the descriptors of the food did most of the work. The hunger could have been getting to me, but a menu item aptly named The Sea Captain’s Bounty had a little bit of everything. It had crab legs sauteed in garlic butter, with fried Cajun shrimp and a scallop and mushroom alfredo pasta. It also came with an offer of unlimited salad.
I was pretty sure there was no way I could eat all of this, but I was in the company of two Alphas. I’m sure that whatever’s left will find a home in someone’s stomach.
The waitress gave us a basket of warm butter biscuits to tide us over, and let me tell you, they were some of the best damn biscuits I’ve ever had.
Despite being placed on our table minutes after being seated, they didn’t lose their heat and came apart with the gentlest of tugs. Our group damn near polished off the entire basket by the time the waitress came back to collect our orders.
“So, Derek showed me the plans for the house. Makes sense to convert space the space you do have rather than add to it,” Dimitri said between bits, licking his fingers clean once he was done. I thought back to when Derek was outside after getting back from. If he wasn’t going to add to the house, then why stand outside? Something told me that Derek was keeping a few things to his chest. I guess only time will tell what surprise he had in store for us.
Dimitri and Derek then went on to brainstorm ideas about how the work was going to be done, how long they thought it was going to take, et cetera. I tried to follow what they were talking about, but they quickly went into a world of their own and left Lauren and I to fend for ourselves.
“Get those two together, and they eventually end up talking shop. They can’t help it, I guess.”
“At least if you have the two of them around, you’ll always have a pair of handymen on call.”
“Ha! You’re not wrong there. Honestly, These two are so alike. When I was pregnant with Derek, Dimitri did the same thing Derek’s doing right now; fixing things that don’t need fixing.” She leaned in to whisper to me, but due to how loud the dive bar was, she was basically shouting in my ear.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine, but Dimitri couldn’t keep his hands off me when I was pregnant. Especially when I was pregnant! Derek takes after his father in many ways, so I won’t be surprised if they have that in common.”
“Mom!” Derek comically pulled me back and covered my ears. He was acting like I haven’t heard worse, some of them coming from his own lips! “Can you not yell things out like that in public?”
“Sorry honey, thought I was whispering,” she said with a wink, which made me think that perhaps she did that on purpose. Was that her way of deterring Derek from doing the same?
I could only shake my head in disbelief at the antics this family gets up to, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Lauren and I passed the time by updating each other about how my classes were going and her growing interest in knitting. She’s never started and doesn’t know where to begin, so I recommended she watch some video tutorials online.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a server making a beeline to our table, our waitress bringing up the rear. They arrived in a cacophony of sizzling meats and the smells of Cajun spices. All talks of renovations and personal interests ceased as we all dug into our food.
I grabbed a lemon slice and squeezed some of the juice on the shrimp before taking a bite. My eyes fluttered close as my tongue was assaulted by a variety of flavors, the lemon juice enhancing the taste and making the taste burst in my mouth.
I could see why Dimitri called this place the best. I haven’t had much seafood, especially in Poughkeepsie, but I could definitely see that changing in the future.
Dinner was a nice, casual affair. As we were finishing up, our group split up. Dimitri and Derek went to go and take care of the bill, the two arguing which one of them would pay. This gave me the perfect opportunity to corner Lauren to ask for some much-needed advice. I remember Sarah mentioning resources available to me, as well as lessons we went over during my stay at OPS, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember a damned thing.
“Hey Lauren, do you mind if I ask you something?”
“Sure hon’, what’s on your mind?” She placed a hand on my arm and led us a short distance away from the entrance to where an empty bench sat.
“Were you prepared, when you became pregnant for the first time?” She cackled like a mad woman at the question, making me feel self-conscious almost immediately.
“Honey, I don’t think anyone is prepared to become parents. People may act like they got their shit together, but their full of… well, shit!” she said with a chuckle.
“Really? Then how’d you two do it? I thought Derek was planned?” It felt odd to be talking about a human birth in that sense, but it was called planned parenthood for a reason, right?
“God no! If you tell anyone this I’ll deny it, but Derek was definitely a surprise. A happy surprise, but a surprise all the same. I’ve read all the books I could on becoming new parents, took the classes people said I should take, the whole nine yards.
“But, all the preparations, all the planning went out the window once it was game time. I know you may be feeling like you’re out at sea with no land in sight, but we got you. Your boat may not be a yacht, but it’s well-maintained and dependable, its crew season veterans. We won’t let you sink.”
I embraced her, grateful beyond belief for her words.
“Thank you, Lauren. I mean it. I really needed to hear it, even if the metaphor was kinda on the nose,” I said, waving towards The Salty Sailor. She shrugged with not a care in the world.
“I saw an opportunity and I took it. Can’t blame a girl for trying.”
Derek and Dimitri finally joined us outside. When Lauren asked who paid the bill, Dimitri grumbled about the bill being split, Derek looking triumphant behind him. Lauren and I shared a look that I think only Omegas, and probably women in general, would understand.
If someone is adamant about paying the bill, I say, "Have at it!" But maybe that’s just me…
On the drive home, Lauren launched into her plan of throwing a proper baby shower.
“C’mon, Mom! Damon and I don’t really need a baby shower.” She snorted, leaning from the passenger seat to throw him a look.
“Trust me, you do. Create a registry and fill it with all the things you need for your new baby. That way, you have less to spend on later. This is not my first rodeo, kiddo.”
“Derek hush, let the woman speak.” People will actually gift you things? Things that you need for a kid that's not even theirs? I listened with rapt attention.
“I’m glad one of you sees reason.”
“Hey, I can see reason just fine!”
“Oh, I’m sure you’re the paragon of reason. Most of the time, at least. Reason would be to put that money going towards this renovation into a college fund or even a savings account for your baby. That’s reasonable.”
Derek wisely kept quiet the rest of the ride home, knowing when he was beaten. I thought that the idea of wanting to make space for our baby was cute though, and didn’t want to discourage him from working on his new passion project.
Once inside, Lauren immediately went into planning mode, and I was right on her heels. The potential for free gifts was a massive incentive for me.
We decided to throw the party three weeks from now. It was far enough out that people would most likely be free, but not too far out that they might forget. What came next was probably my favorite part of this whole thing; making a registry.
Now, the whole point of making a registry is so that you can add things you really want—I mean needed, and from what Lauren said, some new parents walk away with most of the items on their list purchased by friends and family. There were a couple of things on my wish list and this is the perfect opportunity to get them!
For the baby, of course.
Why does a baby need a neck massager, you ask? For when they get older, duh…
Once Derek saw the items I was putting on the list, he started to sing a different tune. By the end of the night, he was fully on board the registry express. Next stop, baby shower!
The day was finally upon us. Lauren and I planned things down to a T . Catering had arrived and was directed to the dining room—yes, catering . There were way too many people coming for me to cook for everyone—where a spread of a variety of foods was laid out on the table. If one were to take a quick glance, one would think it was Thanksgiving dinner instead of a little social gathering.
The word little may imply that close friends and family, but the word had spread, and somehow, the group that we invited had grown immensely. Derek’s friends from his college days reached out randomly, asking if they could come. Even the Omegas that I grew up with found out and demanded an invite! I assumed that Sarah had a hand in that. If she wasn’t our pick for being our baby’s godmother, she sure as hell earned the title now.
Sarah was outside helping set up the patio, wrapping streamers on the railing in a combination of pink, blue, and yellow. By the time she was done, the porch looked like a county fair had thrown up all over it.
The weather decided to cooperate, the clear day with not a cloud in sight, the breeze warm and inviting. It was the perfect weather for an outside gathering.
“Did anyone tell you you’re amazing?” I said, coming up behind Sarah and helping with the finishing touches.
“Literally all the time. I’m surrounded by sycophants, I tell you.” I swat her on the arm, causing her to chuckle. “What? It’s not my fault I’m so popular,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder as if we were at a photo shoot and not a suburban patio.
“Can I take my compliment back? You really don’t need another boost to your ego right now.” She started to pout, her bottom lip quivering while she looked up at me through her eyelashes.
“Aww, but why? Compliments keep me young and beautiful.”
We exchanged playful banter for a bit until the doorbell rang. Our guests were finally arriving.
Making my way towards the front door, I could already hear some familiar voices, friends of Derek’s that I met a few times, with maybe one or two that I couldn’t quite place. Rounding the corner, I found Dimitri acting as the host, welcoming people in with a wide grin and an easy way about him. He had people smiling the minute they set foot inside, and I was glad we had him on front-door duty.
Lauren came from the direction of the living room, directing the newcomers to the dining room, where they could grab some food and drink and socialize before the cutting of the cake.
I went to find Derek, finally catching a glimpse of him in the family room fiddling with the TV remote.
“Hey Bubba,” I said, sliding up next to him and giving him a kiss on the cheek. What’re you up to?
“Hey! I’m just putting on some light entertainment for the guys.” His idea of light entertainment was putting on the basketball game. My eye twitched in annoyance as I suspected the real reason he was putting on the basketball game was to play Fantasy Basketball. While not as big as Fantasy Football, they couldn’t resist placing bets when they all came together.
“Derek, no! If you’re gonna have that on, you might as well go down to your man cave.” He gave me a side-eye, his eyes squinting in suspicion.
“I feel like this is a trap. Can we actually go down there?”
“No trap, I promise. You can go down there with the guys and I won’t get mad. Besides, some friends that I haven’t seen in a long time are coming. I’ll probably catch up with them.”
As soon as he got the go-ahead, Derek rounded up all the Alphas and any person mildly interested in watching a game and headed downstairs. The baby shower was soon comically divided by gender, the Alphas and most of the men going down to watch the game. The rest of the group gathered in the family room, a majority of them Omegas and female Betas.
The night passed in laughter and revelry. I sat down and chatted with some of the Omegas I grew up with, enjoying the chance to catch up with them. The group melded together towards the end of the party to enjoy dessert as well as some games we decided to add to spice up the party a little bit.
Like the party’s theme, the cake was decorated in alternating colors of blue, pink, and gold, and edible baby boots made out of chocolate were artfully displayed on top.
Once everyone had gotten a piece of cake, someone started to chant Speech , the room quickly enveloped in a chorus of voices as they took up the chant themselves.
“All right! You’re all a bunch of goofballs,” Derek said chuckling. He gave me a questioning look and I nodded, a smile dancing across my lips. Hand in hand, we walked up to the head of the table, where the room cheered us on. The raucous cheer seemed more at home at a football game rather than a baby shower, but I couldn’t fault them for showing their enthusiasm unapologetically.
“I’m not good at speeches, but I’ll try my best,” Derek said, clearing his throat before continuing.
“First off, I just want to say thanks for being some of the best friends a guy could ask for. I couldn’t ask for a better group to be surrounded by. I’m grateful that you all stuck by me through the years and hope you’re there for the years to come. Cheers!”
A bunch of cheers and whoops went up, and the party seemed to resume, but my feet stayed rooted to the spot. I wanted to say something as well, but my voice left me at the most inopportune moment.
Great, just great.
Derek laid a hand on my shoulder, a soft smile on his face, absolute love shining in his eyes.
“Do you want to say something as well?” I nodded, the move jerky. My heart pounded in my chest, my palms suddenly getting sweaty to the point where I had to wipe them against my jeans.
“Everyone! So sorry, but Damon has something to say as well,” Derek said, grabbing everyone’s attention again.
Having everyone focus on me didn’t make my nerves settle at all. If anything, it made things worse. I could feel my blood rush to my head in embarrassment, but suddenly a warm weight settled against my back. Derek was still beside me, his hand an anchor I desperately needed. He gave me a nod, confident that I could do this.
Clearing my throat, I stood up straighter, trying to convey my most heartfelt feelings.
“Like Derek, I’m terrible at speeches, so I’ll try to keep this short and as painless as possible.” There were a couple of chuckles, and even though they may have been pity chuckles, I’ll take what I can get.
“Growing up in OPS, I dreamed of finding an Alpha like all of the other Omegas in there. By the time I turned twenty, that dream started to dwindle. By twenty-five, that dream was practically extinguished. I didn’t realize there was still an ember of that dream burning inside me until that fateful day I met Derek,” I said, taking his hand from my back and holding it in my own.
“Like a knight in shining armor, he whisked me away and taught me what it’s like to love and be loved, and I couldn’t be more grateful that we met when we did. The Dreyfus family has been super welcoming, to the point where it feels like it’s been years since I’ve known them. The same goes for his friends.” I raised my glass, the room doing the same.
“Thanks for not making me feel like an outsider. Cheers.”
I stood there in disbelief as the resulting cheer was probably louder than before. I quickly wiped my eyes, touched that I found this group of amazing people.
Derek pulled me against his side, planting a kiss on my head.
“Thanks for coming for me,” I said, voice thick with emotion.
“Always.”