CHAPTER SIX #3
Before Branson can say anything back to me, the doors to the emergency room open, and I see Mike, Jon, and most of the family walk into the waiting room.
Branson’s eyes widen in surprise. “What are you guys doing here?” Jon hears him and walks over to him.
He sits down next to Branson on his other side.
“You and your brother and sister are family now, and this is what family does.” I can tell Branson feels this, but like the little man he already is, he just nods and leans back in his chair, no doubt getting his emotions in check.
Anna and Linnea both come and check on the kids.
They find out that with everything that happened, the kids haven’t eaten dinner.
Linnea gets out her phone and is going to message Ry to have him and Nicky bring some food up here when the doors open to the waiting room again.
Whoever comes in has an effect on both Bailey and Branson.
I look over and see a woman standing there looking annoyed.
Her hair and makeup look overdone and exaggerated.
I know some guys find that look attractive, but it’s never done it for me.
I feel like it’s often a mask to hide who the person really is.
I watch her look around the waiting room, and when she lands her gaze on Bailey and Branson, she huffs and walks toward them.
Stopping in front of them, she puts her hands on her hips.
“Where’s your dad? You all took off and left me there.
” Bailey chimes in from my lap. “Bentley was sick, and Dad had to take him to the ‘mergncy room. You know it’s not all about you.” I duck my head behind Bailey, who’s still sitting on my lap.
It’s almost painful to keep my laugh in.
She huffs and ignores Bailey, looking over at us all.
She zeros in on Asher, who’s sitting next to me.
She bats her eyes and holds out her hand, expecting him to shake hers.
“Well, who do we have here?” He gives her a look of disgust. “Someone who couldn’t be any less interested and who’s focused on the boy who’s back there because you couldn’t be bothered to listen to his parents who told you he was fucking allergic.
” Oh, had I mentioned that both Logan and Asher have spent time with all three kids and that they’ve even planned for them to have a sleepover at their place next month?
No? Oh yeah, the kids love them and have a blast with them all the time.
I decide to nip this shit in the bud. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve actually been introduced.
I’m Ben.” When she doesn’t say anything, I continue, “And you would be?” She puts her hands on her hips again, apparently annoyed that I don’t know her name.
Kimbra’s never said it, preferring to refer to her as that “bottled blonde” when talking about her—out of the kids’ ears, of course.
“I’m Brittani. With an I.” Oh good lord.
She continues on, “I’m Brian’s girlfriend, though soon-to-be fiancé.
” Branson makes a scoffing noise, and she looks down her nose at him.
“What?” He looks up at her with a look of disgust that would’ve rivaled Asher’s from a couple of minutes ago.
“You’ll be lucky if Dad doesn’t break up with you.
He may not be the best dad, but he takes things like this seriously.
You could’ve killed Bentley by making him eat that pizza, even though he told you he was allergic! ”
Brittani-with-an-I rolls her eyes at Branson and crosses her arms. “I still think he was exaggerating. I mean, it’s just tomatoes. It’s not like I gave him peanuts or he got stung by a bee. Your mom coddles you kids too much. That’s why your dad doesn’t get you all of his weekends.”
While Brittani-with-an-I was spewing her bullshit, she failed to notice that Anna and Linnea had stood up and were working their way over to her, both looking like mama bears ready to pounce.
Anna, who’s gotten particularly close with the kids since Bailey often plays with her granddaughter, Daisy, speaks first. “What in the hell are you talking about? First off, allergies like that can be for almost anything, not just peanuts and bees. Second of all, where do you get that she coddles her kids? She’s an amazing mom, and they are great kids.
” Brittani takes her life into her own hands when she rolls her eyes at Anna.
“Of course, you bikers and people in that club would back her up no matter what, but I know she overreacts about every fucking thing about her kids. I don’t know why Bentley’s still here.
He’s fine and would be fine if people didn’t coddle him.
” This woman really doesn’t pay attention to her surroundings.
While she was spewing her latest bullshit, Brian had come out and was standing behind her, listening to her dig her hole of bullshit deeper.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Who needs theater when you can watch it live in front of you.
Brittani-with-an-I turns around so fast that I’m surprised she didn’t fall off her high heels.
“Oh! You’re out. I just…I mean…I think your ex overreacts about your kids.
I mean, it was just an allergy. I—” Brian puts his hand up.
I don’t really know the guy, but anyone with eyes can see he’s livid with her and done with her antics.
“Just go home. I can’t deal with you right now.
I have to take care of my kids and make sure Bentley is good.
You need to leave before I say something I can’t take back.
Go to your place tonight. I’ll call you when I’m ready to speak to you.
” I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a grown woman stomp her foot and pout just like a five-year-old before, but that’s just what Brittani does before she stomps off.
Brian looks at his kids, and before he can say anything, Bailey speaks up.
“Her mommy should send her to bed with no dessert for stomping her foot like that.” These kids are going to have me biting through my lower lip at some point because damn, if that didn’t make me want to laugh.
I can hear quite a few people trying to hide their laughs.
Even Brian is biting his lower lip, though he finds his voice pretty quickly.
“Thank you all for caring for Bentley so much. He’s going to be fine and will be going home in a few hours.
” He looks at me, and I know whatever Kimbra said to him hit him hard.
He glances over at Branson. “Will you walk with your dad for a few minutes so we can talk?” Branson's face gives away his surprise. He nods, stands up, and follows his dad. Bailey squirms in my lap, reminding me she’s there.
I look down and see her concerned face. “Is Dad mad at Branson?” I shake my head.
“No, he just wants to talk to him, but he’s not mad.
Did he look mad to you?” She shakes her head.
“No, but Dad never wants to talk to us. We’re supposed to have quiet time when we’re with him.
” Anna swoops in, picks up Bailey off my lap, and sets her down next to her.
“How about you and I go get something to drink at the cafeteria? Ry is bringing some food to eat for dinner, but I’m sure he won’t remember a drink.
” Bailey excitedly takes Anna’s hand, and they go off toward the cafeteria.
Jon leans forward, places his elbows on his knees, and looks over at me.
“I know you want to go over there and punch that fucker in the gut, but you gotta remember two things. One is that there are way too many witnesses around here, and second and more importantly, that man, no matter how good or bad he is, is their dad. If you are as serious about their mom as I know you are, you’re going to have to get along with him for years to come.
” Fuck, he’s right. I lean back and glare at him.
“Does Jane appreciate it when you point out useless things like facts in a conversation?” Jon bursts out laughing.
“She does when she’s not pregnant.” Fucker.
I stand up. “I’m gonna go check in on Kimbra and Bentley.
I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Jon gives me a chin lift as he’s still chuckling at me. Jackass.
Kimbra
Last night was more eventful than I care for.
Brian didn’t argue when I wanted to bring the kids home with me.
He actually agreed and told me he would stop by today with their backpacks.
I really do hope he does make some changes, but only time will tell.
I slept in longer than I meant to. The other side of the bed is cold, so I know Ben’s been up a while.
I have a feeling he’s made the kids breakfast, as that has kind of become a weekend tradition of theirs.
I get up and go to the bathroom, running through my morning routine and putting on some leggings and a sweater.
I slip my slippers on, walk out of the bedroom, and head down the hallway, where I can hear voices.
The question I hear Bentley ask has me stopping at the end of the hallway to listen in.
What? You would do it, too, if you could. Don’t judge.
Bentley must have said something before that I couldn’t hear.
“...and I think we need to work on the treehouse since it’s nice out.
Ben?” I hear shuffling around, and Ben answers him.
“Yeah, Bud?” Bent must be figuring out his words because it takes him a moment to speak up again.
“I know you and Mom talked to us about you moving in here, and we all think that’s good …
but are you gonna marry Mom?” Bailey chimes in.
“Yeah, we think you should ‘cause then Mommy and I can wear princess dresses!” I can feel the eye rolls of my boys without even looking. Bentley ignores what his sister says about dresses. “I think you should because then you would be like our dad. Well, I mean, we have a dad, but if you marry Mom, we’ll have two, and that’s twice as good!
” I love his logic sometimes. Other times, it gives me a migraine.
I hear shuffling around. “I was thinking I’d like to marry your mom, but I have to ask her first, and I was looking to get help from all three of you. ”
Branson speaks up for the first time. “You have to make it special. Asking her and the wedding. I’ve seen the pictures from Mom and Dad’s wedding.
They just went to Vegas, and it was just them.
She likes people, so you need to invite them.
” I realize I don’t want to overhear them planning everything and that I’d rather be surprised, but I’m also a little shocked at the knowledge that if I walked out there now and he asked me, I would say yes without an ounce of hesitation.
Somehow, he’s worked his way into my heart and my world.
I don’t want to think of our life without him because he belongs here with us.