Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
B riar
The past week went by in a blur of Aaron sleeping in my bed every night to him leaving for the Frozen Four. He wanted me to come with him to Minnesota, but I had two shifts at Black Jack’s, and it was still important for me to pay for my room in the house. I did watch the game online and Riverside kicked Boston’s ass in the final, even though there were a few moments I held my breath.
Now it is ultrasound day. Aaron has his mom on FaceTime as the technician squirts a warm jelly on my belly.
“We will be checking the baby’s growth and development and looking at all the organs,” the technician explains.
“By organ, do you mean sex of the baby?” Aaron asks.
Aaron and I spoke about it and we want to know the sex of the baby.
“We can let you know, but the clinic has a policy of giving you the results in an envelope at the end of the appointment,” she clarifies.
“We would like to know,” I confirm.
Aaron smiles at me. “Maybe you can see the results when the tech checks the baby. Your dad and I could tell you were a boy, if you know what I mean,” Mrs. Murray says on FaceTime.
“We’ll try to see,” Aaron says, and he winks at me.
His mom has been slowly losing use of her right arm. Her deteriorating situation has been so hard on Aaron. She’s also really excited for the baby, so we thought it would be nice to include her in on the appointment since she couldn’t be here.
The tech moves the ultrasound transducer she is holding over my belly.
“Nugget looks like a real baby now,” Aaron observes.
I sigh, looking at the screen. I was so disappointed when I had to stop doing gymnastics, but this nugget has brought joy to my life. Nugget has also brought Aaron and me closer together. He’s been there for me and that feeling, although new and scary, feels really good. Life isn’t lonely these days since I’ve been living with Aaron and my friends. They all keep trying to feed me and take care of me.
“This is the area between the legs,” the technician points out with a grin. She’s showing us the sex of the baby without showing us.
“If you don’t see anything there, it’s probably a girl,” Mrs. Murray chimes.
“Holy shit, Mom, there’s a penis. Look, Briar, do you see the penis?” Aaron asks. He’s grinning wide and he looks like he just won the lottery.
“I see it.” I laugh.
“It’s a boy,” Aaron cheers. “Even though, for the record, I would’ve been happy with a little girl too. As long as the baby is healthy.”
“Everything looks good,” the tech smiles.
“Wow, this is so exciting. They’re having a boy,” Aaron’s mom says. His dad appears on the screen a moment later so Aaron pulls the camera off me, which I appreciate.
“Congratulations,” his dad says.
“We can’t wait to see you guys this weekend,” Mrs. Murray adds.
“Us too,” I say, although I don’t know if they heard me.
“All done,” the tech states. “The envelope will be at reception. You can get dressed.”
She leaves and Aaron leans over and kisses me.
“I’ll talk to you guys later,” he says to his parents. He ends the FaceTime call with them.
“Now we can start thinking of names,” I say.
“Definitely, even though Nugget was kind of growing on me,” he says.
Who would have thought that this sexy Adonis of a man and Riverside U’s heartbreaker would be so adorable and mushy inside.
* * *
“This is my cousin, Daniella, and her older brother, Zack,” Aaron says as he goes around to his cousins. Daniella is about ten and her older brother looks like he may be about thirteen.
“Aaron said you’re a gymnast. He said you can do backflips and frontflips,” Daniella gushes.
“That’s true,” I reply.
“Can you show me how before the egg hunt?” she asks.
“No, Briar isn’t doing any flips now,” Aaron answers for me and he ruffles the hair on her head.
“Fine, but can she join us for the egg hunt?” Daniella asks.
“That’s up to Briar,” Aaron replies.
“I’d love too,” I say.
Aaron looks at me with a warm smile. I’m feeling overwhelmed in the best way with all his family around. They are so warm and loving.
“Aaron, introduce us to your girlfriend,” a woman in her late thirties says to Aaron. We haven’t really discussed a title for our relationship, other than we are exclusive.
“Aunt Helen, Uncle Stewart, this is Briar Halle,” he says, placing his hand on my lower back.
Since we’ve entered this house, Aaron has found a way to always be touching me, whether it is holding my hand or placing his palm on my lower back. It feels good to have this closeness to him.
Helen hugs me. “It’s so good to meet you. You’re so pretty,” she says.
I blush.
“Nice to meet you.” His uncle, Stewart, shakes my hand.
“You too.”
From there I am introduced to both his grandmothers. Grandma Irene and Grandma Martha. They tell me how excited they are that Aaron and I are making them great-grandmothers.
“This is my uncle, Ethan, he’s dad’s brother. He played in the NHL too,” Aaron explains.
“That was a long time ago,” his uncle says. “It’s nice to meet you, Briar. I was looking forward to meeting the girl who got our Aaron’s attention. My wife wanted to meet you too, but she wandered off somewhere.”
“These are my cousins Lisa, Jordy, and Davis,” Aaron says. These cousins look to be our age.
“Nice to meet you,” they say. “We’re all at Westfall.”
“Oh nice,” I reply.
“Davis is on the hockey team there,” Aaron explains.
“Wow, the whole family is into hockey,” I note.
“We’re definitely a hockey family,” Davis confirms.
We all sit down for a huge meal. Aaron’s parents’ home is quite large, and they have a dining room table set for about thirty people.
There is roasted lamb, pineapple chicken, glazed ham, and a huge variety of colorful vegetables.
Aaron sits beside his mom, while his dad sits at the head of the table. I’m sitting beside Aaron.
“Do you guys have a name for your baby?” Daniella asks.
“No, for now we are calling the baby Nugget,” I say, holding my stomach.
“When do you find out what you’re having?” Grandma Irene asks.
“We’re keeping it a secret,” Aaron answers and winks at me.
“To a healthy baby,” Mrs. Murray toasts, lifting a glass of wine.
It slips from her hand and clatters to the table. She gets embarrassed and I see the worried looks on everyone’s faces. Her muscles are growing weak, which means the disease is progressing.
“I’m a mess,” she says. “Sorry, everyone.”
“You’re doing amazing,” her sister, Helen, says.
“We think you’re a superhero, Catherine,” Stewart says. “You stay strong.”
The rest of the meal goes by with laughter and good conversation. I notice how Aaron’s dad holds his wife’s hand as they both eat. Aaron comes from a close-knit, loving family. It’s something I’ve never experienced. They have also welcomed me with open arms.
“Okay, who’s ready for the egg hunt?” Uncle Stewart asks.
“You really don’t need to participate,” Aaron says.
“I want to,” I assure.
We all put on our lighter spring jackets and head outside. Thankfully it’s a sunny day.
They have a huge property and its mostly green grass, except for a pool area that’s enclosed with a fence.
“Here are the rules for the newbie,” Uncle Stewart says, looking at me. “You can divide up into pairs. Whoever finds the most eggs are the winners.”
“Can you be my partner?” Daniella asks me.
“Sure.” I smile.
“It’s me and Zack then,” Aaron says.
The whole family is lined up at the top of a small hill. Except for the grandmas, who sit off to the side in lawn chairs under an umbrella. Even Aaron’s parents are a pair.
Daniella and I go running down the hill. I’m a lot slower than her as I break into a brisk walk. We find eggs as we walk along. Sometimes another pair makes it to an area before us and cleans the area out of eggs, but Daniella is resourceful and fast.
We reach a hill, and she takes my hand. “Oh, we better slow down,” I say since I am a little out of breath.
Aunt Helen waves to us. I’m not paying attention and my ankle rolls. I lose my footing and fall, but it’s only grass. Within seconds, Aaron is by my side.
“Briar, are you okay?” he asks and he’s panicking.
“I’m fine, but I rolled my ankle. It’s pretty painful.”
His parents walk up to us. “Maybe she should get looked at, just to be safe,” Catherine suggests.
“That isn’t a bad idea,” Helen confirms. “You did take a fall. Might want to check the ankle and the baby.”
“I don’t think I broke anything. I’m used to taking tumbles with gymnastics all the time,” I say.
Aaron takes my hands and lifts me up. I try to step on my foot and yelp from the pain.
“We’re getting that checked,” Aaron asserts as he swipes me off my feet, cradling me in his arms.
“Aaron what are you doing? Put me down,” I insist.
“Murray men are protective of their women,” Catherine explains like it’s no big deal that her grown son is carrying me like a child.
“Just humor me so I don’t worry,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “Fine.”
Aaron carries me all the way to his Bronco parked outside on the front driveway. He’s also huffing and puffing because it was quite a trek.
“I don’t think it was all that necessary,” I say as he places me in the passenger seat.
“Taking care of you and the baby is completely necessary. You can’t walk on that ankle.”
He closes my car door. We drive to a hospital close to his house. They do an ultrasound and tell me the baby is perfectly fine. They send me for an X-ray. Turns out I have a hairline fracture and need to wear a boot for the next three weeks.
We head back to his parents’ house. Everyone gushes over me when I walk through the door.
“I’m sorry, Briar,” Daniella says.
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” I assure her.
“But I pulled you down that hill,” she says.
“That’s not why my ankle rolled. I’ve become clumsy since I got pregnant,” I assure. “How did we do with the egg hunt?” I ask to move away from the subject.
“We came in second. Davis and Jordy came in first.” She frowns. “But we still won a pinata filled with candy. We can share.”
“I want you to have it,” I say to her. Her face lights up and she runs off to tell her parents.
“Come on, let’s get you seated,” Aaron says, guiding me to the family room where there is a large beige sectional. It’s so plush and soft I sink right into it. Aaron makes me elevate my leg.
His family pours in one by one to check on me and say goodnight.
With everyone upstairs or in one of the guest rooms in the basement, Aaron asks, “Should we watch a movie?”
“Sure,” I reply.
Aaron and I cuddle into each other on the couch.
His parents walk into the room. “Ah, Princess Bride ,” Catherine says. “A solid choice.”
“I kept calling her Buttercup in Punta Cana.” Aaron shrugs.
“I definitely see the resemblance,” his mom says. “You kids have a good night.”
“Thanks, you too, Mrs. Murray.”
“Please, call me Catherine,” she says.
“Okay, Catherine. Good night.”
“Night, Mom, love you,” Aaron says.
My ovaries burst. There’s something about a big handsome guy like Aaron, who is also a jock, not being shy to tell his mom he loves her.
We get back to our movie. Aaron has his arm around me as I lean into his side. He places his hand over my belly protectively.
“Wesley always loved Buttercup; it just takes her time to come around,” he whispers to me.
For some reason his words feel deeper than a simple explanation.
“Thanks for bringing me home with you. I’ve never celebrated a holiday like this before with family.”
“And fractured your ankle,” he adds.
“It isn’t that painful and I have you doting on me. A girl could get used to this.”
“Anything for you, Buttercup.” He leans in and kisses me.