Chapter 12 #2
Then another face appears from the plane. "Wait, you're pregnant?!" My sister Liv shouts. "Is that why you left?"
Stone looks at me. "Oh, yeah. Your sister's here, too. But she was in the john, so she missed all this."
"Liv?" I shout, smiling. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"When my sister goes missing and her boyfriend finds her, and he has access to a private jet, you can bet your ass that I'm coming on a trip to goddamn Paris to get you!"
Jagger looks at Bowie as I hug my sister hello. "Are you pregnant, too?" He asks, half joking, in a chuckle.
"No, baby, I'm not. And it looks like we're going to have our work cut out with two pregnant people."
I turn to Liv. "So, you know each other?"
She smirks. "No, I just hop on planes with strangers. Of course I know him. He came to my store looking for you."
I look at Stone. "You did?"
"Lucy didn't know how else to get in touch.
We were worried since you just left without any details.
And when you didn't answer your phone for the last three days, that was it.
Once I heard from Jagger that you were here with the girls, and all this bullshit about some guy fucking around on Wesley and Jagger's territory, I came with them to look for you. "
I look at Bowie. "So you knew that he was coming."
She smiles. "I did. I figured that if you knew, you might not be willing to come and meet with him. It was for your own safety. I hope you’re not upset with me."
Stone's hand is in mine. “You are truly one of the sweetest women I’ve ever met, Bowie. How could I ever be mad at you?”
Jagger chimes in. “I say that we officially call this a diversion of plans. We’ve got extra security on board here, and I think that all this calls for a celebration. After all, we are in Paris."
Stone interjects. “Here here."
Jagger calls our driver, and we all head inside the limousine, with another limousine in tow, carrying our security team, and those that wouldn’t fit in this limo with us. This all seems like a dream. A dream that I never dreamed I would dream, if you will.
“Can we get a round of your finest grape juice, please?" Jagger states playfully to the waiter. “We have two pregnant ladies at the table tonight, sir."
The waiter nods gallantly and asks if there’s anything else that we would like. “Pregnant ladies like bread. Please bring out your finest choices of bread and butter." Jagger adds, equally playfully. He’s so happy. It’s nothing like what I thought it would be.
Liv is glowing. She looks like she’s about to burst. “So, how far along are you?" She says it loud enough that the whole table can hear, and everyone seems to be on the edge of their seat, waiting for my answer. I don’t realize it until I start talking, that I’m smiling.
“The ultrasound technician said that I'm about eight or nine weeks. "
Liv's hands go to her face. She’s so excited. It’s contagious. "You mean you’ve had an ultrasound? Do you have a picture?" She practically squeals.
Izzy interrupts. “Well, you're one up on me. But I’m probably further along than you are. Since I don’t remember when the last time I had a period was."
This is when I figure the boys will cover their ears.
Steve hated when I went into details about my cycles or anything to do with female reproduction.
I just thought that all males behaved that way.
It’s funny what being in different company can do to one’s perspective.
“I have it here. She put it in an envelope for safekeeping. "
I show it to Liv, because she just about rips it out of my hand.
I can’t help but chuckle. I watch as Stone leans over to take a look as well.
It warms my heart that he’s so into this.
I had no idea he would feel this way. I sort of feel like a fool.
Liv wipes a tear away before handing the picture to Stone.
He slides his arm around my shoulders as he looks at our unborn child.
“This is fucking amazing. I’ve seen these before, but it’s really cool when it’s your own. "
Jagger Interjects. “Please. Who are you kidding? “He teases. “Twenty bucks says you can’t tell what the hell you’re looking at."
“I don’t give a shit if I can tell or not. That’s my kid in there. That’s its first picture and that’s pretty damn cool."
I look at him and he looks at me. He leans in and gives me the sweetest kiss on the mouth.
Jagger whines. “Okay, we didn’t ask to see how you made that thing in there. God, we’re gonna be eating soon."
Stone laughs. “Fuck you, too."
Then he does the thing that makes my heart melt. He places his hand on my belly and says. “Sorry, baby. Daddy will try to watch his tongue."
Thoughts of not wanting to have this child are suddenly dissolved.
I realize the only real reason why I ever had doubts was because I didn’t know how Stone would react.
The truth is, deep down, I always did want to have a baby.
Steve just crushed that for me. I know that now.
This wonderful, beautiful man, has restored one of my dreams. And I love him for it.
The grape juice arrives in wine goblets. We all toast to the future, with babies, weddings, and lots and lots of love. I fill up too much on the delicious bread, so I only eat a little bit of the food. “I’ll bring you back here someday. I’ve never had the pleasure myself." Stone says.
“Only if I can come, too." Liv says.
“Of course you can come. Wait, who’s watching the store for you?" I ask.
“There’s only one way to tell if Geena has the chops to hold down the fort without me."
“Have you had any nine-one-one calls yet?"
“Not yet."
"Well, have faith." Jagger states. "She'll just burn your shop down."
Liv shoots him a shocked look. "Bite your tongue."
He winks at her.
Stone looks at me. "Don't worry. They were fucking around on the plane. She's already aware that my cousin's got a sick sense of humor sometimes."
Those eyes. The way that he looks at me.
I. Could. Die.
And it's like, now that I'm pregnant with his baby, that look is more intense.
As if it could be more intense.
And then he does it again. He places his hand on my belly. "I'm sorry, baby. Again, daddy will try to tamp down his tongue."
I start to picture him lying on the bed, reading stories to the baby in my belly, talking to the child like it's already here. My heart melts. It's like I fall in love with him all over again.
What's more. I fall in love with my baby.
Rush looks at his watch. "We should go. The jet's going to be leaving shortly."
All the boys reach into their wallets and together, they leave a pile of bills on the table, and we head out to the limousines, that are waiting for us. I really do feel like this is a fairytale.
"Now I guess the only question is where are you guys going to live, huh." Rush suggests on the plane ride home.
"Never mind." Izzy says facetiously. "Where are we going to live? I mean, just alone, I have two houses."
Rush shakes his head and frowns. "So, we'll have baby stuff at all the places. It's no big deal. We live where we want to live, when we want to live there. There are no rules."
"I guess the same goes for us." I suggest.
"As long as we're together, baby, it doesn't matter what our address is." Stone says levelly, and then he kisses me tenderly on the mouth.
Jagger whines again. "Would you cut it out?" He's chuckling.
Rush gives Stone a thumbs up. "The nice thing about being pregnant is that you can't get pregnant when you're already pregnant."
"Gross." Jagger snuffles, laughing.
I'm looking at Stone, and I can't help but think, all this time, I thought not only that I couldn't have kids, but that I didn't want them, either. And now that I'm carrying the right man's baby, I'd get pregnant a dozen times if it means that I can have him look at me like this always.
And he does.
Every single day afterward.