Chapter 14 #2
"He's living at the ranch, and he hates the idea of going home. Do you think that it's absolutely insane to ask him to move in with me?"
She lifts a brow with her cheek, sort of smirking. "It might be. Wasn't he living with Shelly? Didn't they hop on that train a little too fast, too?"
I feel foolish and a little deflated. "Maybe you're right."
"Maybe I am, but maybe I'm not. He didn't love Shelly.
All you can do is ask him if he wants to move in with you.
" Trisha reasons. "But you have to ask yourself if you're ready, or if you're just being impetuous.
Remember that you've never lived with anyone other than your folks before.
" She lifts her arms. "Not that I'm an expert.
I've never lived with anyone, either. I just want you to make sure that you're ready, so that you don't screw up the first real relationship you've ever had. "
"I should give it time. You're right." I say reasonably. "I mean, we don't know each other that well, and we only just stared our relationship last night."
"Exactly. Fools rush in, Lennie. Remember that."
I hug her. "That's why I love you, Trisha. Because you're happy for me, but you tell it like it is, and I appreciate your honesty."
She hugs me back and then releases me, eyes lighting up again. "So, what are you doing tonight?"
"Well, I'm going for a ride at the ranch with Levi. Do you want to come?"
She's game. "Let me help you pack up for the night."
Levi is saddling up the horses with Turner when we arrive.
We came in Trisha's car, because I know that Levi can drive me home and to work tomorrow, if things work out and Trisha leaves before me.
Trisha takes one look at Turner and sticks out her hand for him to shake. "Trisha. Lennie's best friend."
"Turner. I'm just new here."
"Really. Where are you from?"
Levi rolls his eyes. "I'll give you his number. Look, I'm dying to get out on a ride. Are you guys coming or what?"
I'm not sure what's bothering him, but he seems agitated. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure." He follows me outside the stable.
As soon as we're out of earshot, he says.
"Look, I'm sorry for that. I'm just all over the place because my dad got out of jail today, and he's supposed to go to rehab.
I'm just waiting for the call from the sheriff, letting me know that he's escaped or something. "
"But isn't that the agreement? Isn't he supposed to get out of prison for attempted murder by going to rehab?"
"Yes, but you don't know my dad. For an older guy, he sure has a keen sense of entitlement."
I kiss him quickly on the lips. "It will be fine, Levi. Just have faith."
He pulls me close just as I step away. "Hey, where are you going?"
His lips are on mine again. "Now, that's better."
“It is, isn’t it.” I kiss him again.
“Okay. We ought to get back in there before we have to put out another fire. Did y’all catch that look Trisha gave Turner?”
“I’m glad I have someone to back me now.” I wink.
“Yep. That’s right. We’re on our way.” Levi says, as he slides his jeans on, on a call. I put the last of my camera equipment away and toss his mail on his placemat at the table, so he can pay the last of his daddy’s bill once we get back.
He hangs up. “You got everything? Need a hand?”
“No. I’ve got everything in your truck. Let’s just hope that Crystal doesn’t go into labor before I’m done taking the photographs.”
“Well, she’s due anytime. Goodness, y’all would think that she would have been on the ball with that sooner than her actual due date.”
“She would have, but this free photo shoot is in thanks for Cassidy helping y’all move in here, remember?”
“How could I forget.” He murmurs, pulling me close.
“Come on. Let’s go before she really does go into labor.”
“So, you’ll catch the next kid.”
I chuckle, pulling him towards the door.
His drafting table sits happily by the window, where he is working on his final project before he writes his exam and finally gets his diploma.
I'm so excited. I haven't done a photo shoot in a long time, especially a maternity one.
I'd love to the do baby's first pictures, too, and a family photo shoot, but we'll wait until a little bit later for that.
His hand is in mine the whole way to the ranch.
Piper, Jade and I have set up a spot where pictures will be taken inside the old ranch house.
We've got soft lighting, a couple of outfits, some picture frames with dates, and an antique baby crib specially finished by Buddy.
Crystal is already in position when we arrive.
How she's still carrying that baby is beyond me.
Luckily, her skin is still clear, and very little touchups will be required.
"Okay, now, stand facing the window and I'll adjust this umbrella.
" I explain, trying to filter out some of the natural light, so that her eyes are accentuated in the shot.
We've already taken a bunch of pictures, even some with Cassidy, who was more than willing to model with the love of his life.
"There. That's perfect." I tell her, before heading back to the camera on the stand.
She's in a white gauzy dress that's tasteful but shows her very pregnant belly beautifully.
Jade helped do her hair in soft, natural curls, and very little makeup.
"God, you are so beautiful, darlin'." Cassidy comments, admiring the mother-to-be.
I take the shot, and everyone glances at each other. "What's wrong?" I ask.
"Y'all got a bottle of wine stashed somewhere?" Levi asks. "I could swear I just heard a cork pop open."
"Uh, no." Crystal chuckles. "That would be my water that just broke."
My hands go to my cheeks as I smile. "Are you sure?"
She steps out of the way, and I see the puddle of water on the floor. "Well, yeah. How else do y'all explain that?"
"My word! It's time!" Cassidy says, with a huge smile erupting from his face. "Let's get you to the hospital!"
"Well, just wait now." Crystal mutters. "Let's let Lennie here finish taking the pictures. Lord knows I ain't getting myself into this predicament a second time. No one's going to see my gut sticking this far out ever again."
I laugh out loud. "I'm done. You go on now and have that baby!"
Jade is prepared. She's got a spare pair of pants in hand that she had tucked away in a bag in the office. There is already a screen in the room both for the photos and to use for changing clothes. Crystal and Jade disappear behind the screen.
"Alright, so who's coming to the hospital?" Cassidy says.
Wyatt is dumbfounded. "You mean y'all don't have that figured out yet?"
Crystal sticks her head out from behind the screen.
I'm guessing it's for my benefit, so that I can see what she's saying.
"I wanted to choose on the fly, because y'all irritate me.
Just wanted to figure out who's irritating me the most before I go and shit this kid out.
" I see her wince. "Fuck, I think those cramps I had earlier were goddamn contractions. These are way stronger."
"Shit, darlin'. We ought to go then." Cassidy urges.
"Well, goddamn! Let me get my pants on for chrissake! I ain't going to no hospital in my underpants!"
She reappears in fresh pants. "Now, who's coming with us?" She asks, clearly through a contraction.
Cassidy raises his hand.
"Darlin', I love you and all, but can you kindly get your dang head out of your ass? Of course, you're coming!"
"Sorry, love." Cassidy says sheepishly. "I just wasn't sure."
"Fine. Now someone go get me a goddamn sandwich, because I am not pushing this kid out on an empty stomach, and I'm damn near starved!" She says, through another contraction.
I murmur to Levi. "Um, am I the only one that's noticing how close the contractions are?"
He slides his hands in his back pockets and speaks through a sigh. "Um, no, baby, you are not. But I don't think that anyone is brave enough to argue with this one."
Jade and Piper have already darted into the kitchen. I follow them, grabbing the stuff to make the sandwich in record time, while I watch both of them looking over towards the living room, where Crystal is. I can only imagine that she's having more contractions.
Just as we bring her the sandwich, she's halfway through bellowing. "Where are we on that food???!"
How the hell she eats through a labor pain I have no idea. But I watch that sandwich disappear in about three minutes, as we try to look busy, since she screams at us for staring at her. "What am I, a fucking unicorn?!"
"No, no, you're not, darlin'." Cassidy says, speaking to her and taking her empty plate as though she's an alligator just ready to snap his arm off. He actually backs away the second that he has the plate in his hand.
She screams, and I can see the veins popping out of her neck.
"Okay, let's make tire tracks, people! Every man for himself!
" Cassidy says, as he picks Crystal up and carries her, kicking and screaming, to the truck parked outside.
It's a small town, so eight of us pack into Cassidy's truck, which is the closest to the road.
All the sheriff has to see is that Crystal's about to spew this kid out in the middle of the goddamn street and he'll let us go, even though we're packed in here like we're about to go to a tailgate party and the bed of the truck is a converted pool.
Wyatt has the sense to call the hospital on the way, and alert them that we've got a woman in active labor, who is just about ready to deliver any second.
Two nurses are waiting for Crystal, with a wheelchair, and they wheel her in, practically running, with Cassidy in tow.
It's like a bloody cartoon. Billy rakes a hand through his hair. "Jesus Christ, that was close."
Jade and Piper have gone in with Cassidy as well, so it's just the boys and me. "It sure was. She must have been in labor for a while and didn't know it."
Levi's eyes bulge. "I thought I was going to have a stroke when she wouldn't leave without eating first."
Billy adds. "Well, I imagine delivering a human baby isn't much different than delivering a calf."
Levi snorts. "I don't see Crystal letting us bring her baby into the world from the stable."
"She'd kill us all first." Wyatt interjects. "Hey, anyone up for coffee or some food? Hospitals make me nuts."
Everyone shakes their heads no, so he waves them off, and still goes. Alone. "Why don't we go and have a seat." Levi says to me.
"I'm too anxious. I think I'll just walk."
He comes with me but tells Billy to send us a text message if he hears anything while we're gone.
We walk and walk, saying nothing, just holding hands. We're outside, getting some fresh air, and when we return, Billy and Wyatt are standing up, and they see us and smile. "We have ourselves a new baby girl." Billy announces proudly.
I can't help the smile. "Already? Oh my gosh?"
"Yeah, she came out fast." Wyatt states.
"And Crystal is okay?" Levi asks.
"She's fine. We can go in and see her in a few minutes. Piper was just about to burst. She had to come out and tell us right away." Billy states.
"Well, let's go wait in the hallway." I suggest. "We've been around the hospital for a couple of rounds. We know our way now."
"Sure. Sounds good." Billy says, as we walk, single file, down the hallway, to the maternity ward.
I've never seen anything like it. Crystal is sitting up in bed, holding a little bundle, while Jade and Piper stand over her, one on each side, mooning over the tiny baby. Cassidy is next to Piper, rubbing Crystal's legs.
"Congratulations." Billy says.
Crystal looks up. Her face is serene. She does not look like a woman that just gave birth at all.
I've seen some women that look like they just came back from battle.
In fact, I think Crystal actually looks better than when we left.
For starters, she doesn't have that sour puss on her face anymore.
"Thank you. Come and meet Amber Cassandra Barnes. "
"Oh, I get it." Levi says. "Because Jade is your sister, you're Crystal, so this is Amber, in keeping with the tradition."
"That's right." Crystal says. "I didn't think that she'd suit the name, but she sure does. Just look at this red gold hair on her sweet little head."
"She's beautiful." I tell her, admiring the big blue eyes on her, too.
"Thanks, doll. Do you want to hold her?"
"Oh, gosh, no." My eyes widen. "She's too tiny. I'll break her."
"What about you, Billy?" Piper asks. "Do you want to hold her?"
"I am good from over here. I've seen what things spew out of babies. I like them better when they're in a stable, frankly."
"Levi? What about you?"
Just as I look over at Levi, Nash comes barreling in, out of breath. "Jesus Christ! I missed it!"
"You just missed it." Crystal corrects. "But it's okay. You're just in time to hold her."
Levi pipes up, good-naturedly. "Now, hold on a second here. I believe it's my turn first. I was on time."
Nash smiles. "I was taking daddy out to get some new clothes."
Levi walks over to Crystal and takes the baby, like he was born with them. "New clothes? He hasn't bought new clothes in years."
"I know." Nash says with a slight bow. "And the house is as clean as a whistle. Braylynn's over there now, helping him organize the damn kitchen cabinets."
"Wow, your daddy's really come a long way, Nash." Piper notices.
"He has. He's been dry for almost six months now. He's looking forward to getting his six-month pin. That's how come he wanted to get a new outfit."
"No kidding." Billy is impressed.
But all I can do is watch my love holding the baby.