Chapter 25
Myles
Valentine’s evening is here, and we are all dressed up casually. We have grabbed three tables, which we pushed together to make one large one where we can all sit together.
Oren is next to me, and Clem is on his other side. Dan, Synthia, Cassian, Ellen, and Annabelle are all here and relaxed. We have piles of food on the table, and I watch as Oren digs into a burger that I’m not sure he’ll be able to finish.
Whitney is speaking to Synthia about settling into the apartment, and Maylee is talking to Ellen about something, but then claps her hands, gaining everyone’s attention.
“Attention, Cassian and Ellen have an announcement to make,” Maylee grins.
Cassian, I think, has a damn blush on his face, and Ellen looks a little embarrassed. Clearing his throat, Cassian boldly states, “We’re pregnant!”
Now, a pregnant pause, yeah, it’s a pun, right before everyone shouts congratulations. We celebrate their news, and I know they have been waiting a long time to have a child, despite not being as settled as they would like.
“Has it helped that you have a job with us now, Cassian?” I ask and think I know the answer.
“Yes. We weren’t sure if Ellen was pregnant, but getting the job at the garage has taken the worry off us.
Ellen will leave her job as soon as she feels she needs to.
I don’t want her working if it’s going to cause a health risk to her or the baby.
” Cassian is firm in his reply, and I’m more than happy to hear they have decided.
“I’m going to open my own business later in the year.
I want Synthia and Ellen to come work with me.
I will give all the training that’s needed.
We can build a package for health care and everything,” Whitney adds, and although I knew she had been thinking about starting her own business fully, with an office and everything, I didn’t think she would at this time.
Oren jumps out of his seat and dashes away. I stand ready to follow until I see him come to a halt in front of Lily. Yeah, Lily, his little school friend.
Maylee, giggles. “He’s got a soft spot for Lily.”
“Well, keep a watch. I don’t want him disappearing into the crowd.”
Maylee squeezes my hand. “He’s not a fool, Myles. You’ve taught him well. He’ll not go far now, so come on, let’s dance.”
We all dance, eat, drink lots of soda, and repeat. Oren is dancing nearby with Lily, and Lily’s parents are watching them with the same soft look on their faces that we have on ours.
Annabelle, I notice has a dance partner in Greg Evans. Now, he’s a great guy. His wife died in a pileup, and it’s taken him around six years to socialize again. I’ve not seen him dancing with anyone before mind you.
“That’s interesting, Maylee,” I mumble as we dance. I keep hold of Maylee to my chest as I turn us so she can see what I was looking at.
“Oh, that’s nice…”
“No, don’t start matchmaking. We’ll see what happens. But Greg’s a good guy and deserves a second chance at happiness,” I add, right before swirling her around.
The end of the evening comes for us as we know Oren will be tired by now. We searched for him, as he had been dancing with Lily a few minutes ago in front of our table.
Lily’s parents are looking too, and when her father asks if we’ve seen then I shake my head. “Nope, but let’s split up.”
“OREN BARSTOW, LILY TAYLOR!”
I rush over, and so does Lily’s father. What we see has us both stopping, and I cover my mouth to stop the grin that is forming.
Maylee has her hands on her hips and is pointing at Oren. Lily’s mother is shaking her head at Lily. What the heck have they done?
“We are going to get married,” Oren states, and Lily nods her head in agreement. Then they grab each other's hands and look at each other, smiling like they won the lottery.
“Oh, fu…” Lily’s dad stops when he gets a warning look from his wife.
“What’s going on here?” I ask, and then I’m astonished, then amused with the reply.
“Well, seems Oren and Lily think it’s okay at their age to be kissing. Yes, kissing each other,” Maylee says in an astounded tone.
“Oh…”
It’s all I get out before Oren states loudly. “Well, you all kiss all the time, and if we are getting married, then we can kiss too.”
“Yeah,” Lily adds as she grabs Oren around the waist and tucks herself into him. But the funny thing is he throws his arm around her shoulders, just as I would if it were Maylee.
Maylee, however, isn’t finding this amusing. “Oren, let go of Lily and come here. We are going home. You are not getting married until you are forty-four.”
I snort-laugh, along with Lily’s parents. Whitney and Clem, along with the rest of our table have arrived and are laughing at that ridiculous statement.
“Okay, Mom, I’ll wait. Lily, you wait for me, okay?”
“Okay, Oren,” Lily replies with an exaggerated sigh.
We head home, and I laugh until tears fall when Oren eventually gets into bed. I look at Maylee and state, “Forty-four!” right before laughing some more.
We officially open the new side of the garage, and after taking more clients' vehicles on the schedule we can say this is going to be successful.
Dan has a list of repairs to keep him going for three weeks, and I’m sure it’ll not be long before he has as much work as we do.
Cassian is maintaining the garage, keeping the books up to date, which he is damn good at, and he’s making sure our schedules are not overloaded.
Dan has suggested that his sons work with us once they finish their next tours, and I would be okay with that as long as we have the work. But Banner may be better working with Whitney as he’s a good one on the computer, tech-wise, but it’ll work itself out I’m sure.
Climbing out of the truck when we arrive home, Clem stops and points across the way. I’m stunned when I see a for-sale sign in Mrs. Bradshaw’s front yard.
“Never thought I’d see the day the old bid would up and leave,” I comment.
Clem laughs, “You reckon Maylee has something to do with it? After she had that run-in with her Mrs. Bradshaw has been quiet, and if I’m honest I’ve not seen her at all of late.”
“No, I haven’t now you mention it. But it wasn’t much of an argument. Been worse around here over the years I think.”
Mr. Kendrell wanders over when he sees us looking at Mrs. Bradshaw’s place. “She’s going to live near her son in Florida. Poor bastard has to put up with her nagging, gossiping and generally being a bitch from now on.”
“Why?” I stupidly ask.
“Seems she feels it’s not working in the neighborhood anymore. But she’s right because she upset not just Maylee, but five others in less than a week. Now that she’s been blackballed by everyone, she’s making a run for it.” Mr. Kendrell is grinning and finding this all highly amusing.
“I had no idea,” Clem replies, rubbing his chin, then grins. “But you know if we get any new neighbors that’s bad, we’ll just get together and make them leave, too.”
“It’s a plan,” Mr. Kendrell replies, and we all laugh as we head inside our homes.
Later that week, Whitney organizes a meal at their place. We head inside, and the table is laid all fancy, and Whitney is smiling broadly, face glowing.
I look at Maylee, and she’s looking at Whitney with a ‘what’s she up to’ look on her face.
We eat the meal, which is great, but both Maylee and I are watching Whitney and Clem closely. I agree with Maylee’s suspicion that something is going on.
“We want to announce and celebrate with you that Whitney is pregnant,” Clem states, and he has such a proud and happy look on his face. I jump to my feet and wrap Whitney in a hug, kiss her cheek, right before smacking Clem for not telling me earlier.
Maylee hugs Whitney and whispers to her, which makes Whitney’s eyes water. They hug again, and we all take our seats. Oren is looking at everyone with a shocked face, but before he can say whatever is about to pop out of his mouth Maylee surprises me.
“Well, that is all well and good, but you know we are pregnant too.”
I turn slowly to look at Maylee. She’s said nothing to me, not a hint. “What!” I stupidly say.
“We’re pregnant, going to have a brother or sister for Oren,” said so calmly that I blinked a few times before my real reaction hit.
I grab Maylee and kiss her solidly, thanking her for being my wife, mother to Oren, and to the new one in her belly.
Whitney and Clem hug us, just as we had them a moment before, but we all stop and look at Oren when he states loudly, “Holy shit, we’re gonna have two babies. I’m going to have to call the wife!”