Chapter 42
Ty slept for four hours. It was not what Stephanie had expected when she had told her to nap. That was more like an hour or so, but when she came out of her bedroom, finally she was showered and looked like a different woman.
Now it seemed she was ready for company and was in a pale yellow polo shirt, tucked in to faded, well-worn jeans. Her dark curls were tamed and, though still plentiful, they were no longer out of control.
In the hours they waited together with the two babies, they had managed to feed and diaper better than she had expected with only a few YouTube tutorials and trial and error.
During that time, Court had told her about how a teen mom, whom Ty had mentored, had decided that she wanted Ty to raise her babies so she could return home.
That her parents wouldn’t be accepting of grandkids born out of wedlock.
Ty hadn’t been expecting that to happen, she had expected to help a new mom for a few months and get her life in order before walking away from the little family.
But had suddenly found herself a single mom with newborns.
But Ty would never complain about any of it, never even think about it.
The babies were hers for a reason, and she’d enjoy every moment of it.
Court had said she came by her personality naturally because she was from a religious family that took care of those in need.
Unless, of course, that someone was gay.
Then they washed their hands of the person and never looked back.
That was something Ty would never do. She was true to those in need, to a fault.
To this day, she was working at the shelter that they had ended up in years before. Now as a board member and councilor. On top of that, she was raising the babies alone. It was no wonder the woman was run down. She was running herself too thin.
“I'm so sorry for sleeping so long.” She said, but the bags were smaller under her eyes, not gone by any means, but smaller.
Stephanie didn’t want her to feel like she had taken advantage of them, not after all that Ty does for others. “No problem, Ty. We enjoyed pretending to be parents for a few hours.”
“Are you two ready to make it real?” Sitting down on the side chair, she glanced around. The room wasn’t any cleaner than when she went to bed, but she didn’t mention it.
“NO!” They both said in unison and then laughed at their twin reaction.
Even Ty laughed as she took the baby from Court, who was closest to her. “Just be ready, you never know when your family will happen.”
“It already did.” Court pulled Stephanie closer to her.
The fact that they had talked about little beyond Ty and the two babies didn’t mean that nothing was said about the future. Her being at Ty’s spoke volumes, didn’t it?
Settling the sleeping baby in her arms, she asked, “Did you want to talk?”
“No, I think I figured out what I needed to figure out.” Court assured her.
“What did you figure out?” Stephanie asked, needing the words. Hadn’t she left her apartment saying the relationship between them would never work? What had changed that?
Court turned to her. “That I don’t care who your parents are, I want you to be a part of my life. Even if we have to spend every holiday with your parents and siblings and be ignored or worse. But the worst day with them will be worth spending every other day of my life with you.”
“We can spend half at the Ellis’s, Court.
They’re your family. Nothing that happens with Calvin will change who they have been to you when you needed someone and he wasn’t there.
They will forever be your family,” Stephanie said, knowing that no matter how good a relationship Court could have with Calvin, the Ellis’s would always be more important.
They were there when she needed someone, and that would always top blood, “But I don’t know if I’ll be invited to holidays, anyway.
Since I told my parents that they either have to accept you or not see me.
Which means that I might just be without a family from here on out myself. ”
Court scooted closer to her, caressing her cheek. “I don’t want that for you, babe. I want you to have the perfect life and a family who loves you. Them and me.”
Stephanie didn’t know why Court couldn’t see she wanted the same for her, wanted more. She wished her past not to have been so bad. To have the memories be dulled with time. But she knew nothing was going to make that happen. But together they could make each other’s life better.
“Too bad. If they can’t accept the woman I love, they don’t accept me.
It’s that simple. I want you, and if they can’t see us as a couple.
That’s their loss, not mine or yours. I love you, Court Morrissey.
” She had to say the words, even if Court wouldn’t say them back, she had to tell Court what she felt about her.
There was no one else out there for her. This was it.
“Love you too, Stephanie Bexley, so much it sometimes hurts.” Court said, her voice choking up.
“Okay, stop with the mushiness. Save it for when you’re not corrupting young innocent eyes with your mushy words.” Ty said, snapping them back to reality. Back to Ty’s living room.
Stephanie chuckled at her words. She knew how to break up something great, didn’t she? “They’re both asleep.”
“I meant me.” She got to her feet, heading back to the baby’s bedroom with the sleeping infant.
Court called after her, “One day it’s going to be you, Ty.”
Coming back out, Ty stated, “Not a chance, love is for the young and you people.”
“We should leave you alone, and head back to our place.” Stephanie said as Ty took the baby from her.
“Our place?” Court asked with interest.
“Well, yours or mine, either really it doesn’t matter.” She corrected.
“I like the sound of our place.” Court took her hand and almost pulled her to her, but stopped when Ty cleared her throat.
Ty opened the door. “Thank you for watching the babies for me. This week has been a disaster for them. As much as I love them, they are a lot of work all the time.”
“I’ll keep that in mind if and when we decide to have one of our own.” Grinning, Stephanie patted the baby on his back as she walked by him. She had had fun today despite the circumstances of their being there.
Ty laughed, “You’ll forget everything about today when you decide to have a baby. And it will be worth every hardship, every hurdle it takes to hold one of your own.”
“Bye, Ty.” Court said, as if talking about actually having babies was making her nervous. An odd reaction after actually spending hours with them.
“Bye, Ty,” she mimicked her, ready to get Court back alone, because they still had a lot of talking to do. Talking that might lead to more, and it was better not to be at Ty’s for that.
“Bye guys, see you at the wedding.” Ty stood in the doorway. “I can officiate if you need me to.”
Court lightly punched her in the arm that wasn’t holding onto a baby. “Babies, weddings, we’re not there yet.”
“I don’t have time for anything more than I’m already doing.” Stephanie admitted she wasn’t ready for more than she had on her plate right now. Even with Court there to back her up.
Ty leaned against the doorjamb and said as they walked away, “When it’s right, you find the time.”