Chapter 17 #3
“Exactly. Since then, Victoria hasn’t said a word to him.
She’s flying out in the next couple of days before Doc and Whiskey leave.
He needs to apologize. He doesn’t need a pissed-off Victoria telling Ivan.
Cole barely survived Victoria when he went after Ivan at the community center, thinking he presented a threat after all the dealings there,” Knight explained.
“When Victoria goes quiet, the devil rubs his hands together if you know what I mean.”
“I’m sure if he explains and apologizes, she’ll forgive him.
He got caught up in a stressful situation.
We’re all worried about Sparky staying there without Ice.
Ty takes him everywhere,” Gabby said, giving him a pointed stare.
“You can mention it to him today at lunch. I’m craving Ty’s chicken salad with a bowl of his chicken and rice soup. ”
“How about we have it delivered?” Knight suggested.
“I love you, but if you’re not dressed by the time Chloe arrives to watch Marcus, I’m taking lessons from Victoria,” Gabby threatened.
“Fine,” he acquiesced, taking Marcus from her and setting him on the floor to play with his train.
“I hope he has sherbert. He said he only keeps it for the summer, but I became addicted to it and banana popsicles. Lizzy introduced them to me when I kept getting nauseous. They helped immensely,” she informed him.
“I feel like I missed out again,” he said somberly. “I wanted to make up for the last time. It’s like we’re right back where we started.”
Gabby turned him to face her. “When I married you, I knew the life we might lead. We have worked hard on our marriage to get here. You’ve put in the work with counseling, and it’s helping you.
This community has taken care of me and supported me this entire time, along with Claire.
Ty brought us a special soup to help with morning sickness, Avie sent a helper to tend to Marcus while I rested, and the grans brought enough food to last for months.
Kassie and Catherine take turns dropping by.
Samantha sent over a basket of lotion and oils to prevent stretch marks and fit me in for massages.
We don’t have a community. We have a family. They’re counting on us today.”
“All right,” Knight said, conceding. “We’ll go, make our rounds, and then you pretend to have a few of those fake contractions. What do they call them again?”
“Braxton-Hicks,” she told him. “I can’t believe you’d stoop so low. They’ll worry about me.”
“Kassie will insist you get off your feet and Catherine will shove a drink in your hand and insist you rest,” Knight said, grinning. “Then, I’ll play the doting husband all night long.”
“I’ll agree to feel tired, and they’ll not think a thing about it,” she compromised as the doorbell rang.
“It’s good enough for me,” he said as she went to answer the door. Kneeling beside his toddler, he picked up another train and played with him, moving the train around the room.
“You’re only here to watch the small one. I’m taking the bigger kid with me,” Gabby said to Chloe in the doorway of their bedroom. “Let’s go, Knight. I saw Patch leading Claire to the truck. They’ll get there before us.”
“I’m not speeding with my pregnant wife in the car,” he said as he kissed his son and picked up his keys.
“Maybe it wasn’t a bad thing you weren’t here the entire pregnancy,” she muttered as they walked out the door.
Knight drove three streets over and parked the SUV. “Let’s eat, make the rounds, and then go,” he reminded her.
“Yes, I know,” she said as he helped her down and held her hand as they walked into the restaurant.
“We’re here for the Hawkins party,” Gabby told the hostess.
The woman smiled and led them to the private room where everyone called out, “Surprise.”
Gabby gasped and laughed, noticing the beautiful decorations and the cake Bryanna made. The nature-themed party fit perfectly with her nursery plans. Little bunnies decorated the two-tiered cake, with wildflowers covering the bottom.
“You ladies didn’t have to throw me a shower,” Gabby insisted.
“Every life must be celebrated,” Edie said wisely. “Come sit down in the seat of honor. We made some adjustments since Knight and Patch came home earlier than expected. Michael, Doc, Archer, and Conrad, Stormy’s father, joined us. We didn’t want you boys getting bored.”
Gabby hugged Bryanna. “You outdid yourself again. I love the cake.”
“Thanks,” Bryanna said. “You’re carrying a little low today. Have you experienced any pains?”
“Nope. I’m feeling great. Knight returning before this baby comes has given me some relief,” Gabby confessed. “How’s Catherine?”
“She’s doing fine,” Bryanna assured her. “Kassie and Samantha have fussed over her, and Ty gave her his office to rest.”
Gabby moved on to the grans, hugging each of them. “Thank you. I can’t believe you did this.”
“Honey, enjoy it. It makes us happy to see you all starting families. It’s more grandchildren to spoil,” Carol said as she led her to the other women.
Julie spoke with Kassie while she bounced Melissa on her hip. “Hi, Gabby. I’m sorry I brought Melissa. She’s cried all night, and Kassie discovered she’s teething.”
“Rub a little whiskey on her gums, and she’ll be right as rain,” Victoria advised.
“We don’t recommend it,” Kassie corrected. “Massage her gums with a clean finger or a gauze pad. Take her teething rings and put them in the fridge. It’ll help with the pain.”
“Thanks, Kassie. Bear will drive down with Tommy to get her. He worried she needed to go to the hospital, and you know once he sets his cap on something…,” Julie said.
“It’s no problem at all. Sophia and Tori teethed at the same time. None of us got any rest. John sailed through his first couple. Sara and Emma have turned into great little helpers,” Kassie said, assuring her.
“Will the boys come home for Leo’s funeral?” Julie asked softly.
“We’re hoping,” Kassie said. “We’ll have to see.”
“Gabby, you look amazing,” Julie gushed. “I love your dress.”
“Thank you. I’m finding them more comfortable at this stage of the game,” Gabby responded, hugging Julie and then Kassie.
“Catherine will return in a minute. She’s in the bathroom,” Kassie informed her. “Congratulations. Don’t worry, Ty made sure to have the chicken salad ready, and I believe he made you more of the sherbert you love.”
“You’ve made my day,” Gabby teased.
“We put you right up front with Lizzy, Claire, and Patch. Go get off your feet, and we’ll get the food brought out for you,” Kassie said, smiling.
Knight took Gabby’s hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow and walked toward his teammate.
Gabby stopped, making him halt.
“What’s the matter?” Knight asked.
“Nothing,” she replied. “The baby kicked me.”
“I imagine there’s not much room left in there,” Knight teased, placing a hand on her stomach.
“Tell me about it,” she grumbled good-naturedly. “I feel like I have a load of clothes in the washer the way this one twists and turns.”
“Your due date will be here before you know it,” he assured her, approaching Patch.
“Hi, Knight,” Claire greeted him. “Hey, Gabby. Here I thought I kept a huge secret, and they conned both of us into acting as accomplices for each other’s baby showers. We’ll at least get Avie back in a couple of months.”
“It’s very generous of them. I didn’t expect one for my second child,” Gabby said. “It seems like only yesterday I delivered Marcus. He’s growing up fast. I’m willing to help you with Avie’s shower.”
“I think they like to have a reason to party,” Claire teased. “I don’t mind. We’ve needed the distractions lately.”
Gabby glanced around the room to see Catherine coming from the bathroom. “I don’t know how she does it. I’d be a crumbling mess.”
“I imagine years of having Leo as a spouse has conditioned her to stress,” Claire said, smiling. “He came up with the craziest ideas sometimes.”
“We sure miss him,” Patch said sadly. “He never gave up on us.”
“Oh,” Gabby said, clutching her stomach. “I must be having some Braxton Hicks.”
Knight leaned closer to her ear. “Don’t lay it on too thick. We haven’t eaten yet.”
Gabby elbowed him in his ribs.
Patch pulled out Gabby’s chair. “Sit down and get those feet up before you deliver this baby.”
“You seem calm,” Claire said. “I’m a doctor, and I’m still afraid of how this will go.”
“My first pregnancy didn’t go as planned. Over the last few weeks, I’ve never felt better, and I know what to expect,” Gabby explained. “It doesn’t mean I’m ecstatic about the labor part.”
“Me either,” Claire said. “Kassie says as soon as they place the baby in my arms, I’ll forget all about it.”
“It’s the best reward for all the work and spending months without seeing your feet. I can’t wait to fit into my regular clothes again,” Gabby said, sighing.