Chapter 46
Layla
“We can go next weekend or the one after that,” Layla says over the noise at the
Walsh compound backyard. Actually, it’s more like the size of a football field. There are blue and pink balloons everywhere since Jeannie is having one of each.
Aiden’s sister, Katherine, is throwing the shower, and there are so many kids, she has a petting zoo off to the side. It’s a hot day, and there are water sports for the kids. Katherine has nannies on hand, but we asked Dorothy to come for a few hours to watch Jasmine. I look around the yard, and she’s getting her face painted while she sits on Dorothy’s lap.
“Okay,” Seth says about going to see his father. “I’m irritated that he went behind my back and called you about this. And do you see that clown? I don’t trust him at all.”
“What’s wrong with the clown?” I ask. When he reminds me about the John Wayne Gacy documentary I forced him to watch, I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “Anyway, don’t be upset that Pete called me. I don’t mind. He’s just lonely, and he doesn’t bother me at all.” He nods and opens his mouth to say more, but his phone buzzes. He pulls it out of his pocket and frowns.
“I’m sick of this woman,” he mutters, and I know instantly that it’s Jasmine’s maternal grandmother. “I’m going to see about getting a restraining order.”
“What does she want?” I ask. “Does she want to see her? Do you think maybe you should let her—”
“Absolutely not,” he says. “No. Something is not right with this woman when her own daughter warned me about her. I want Jazzy Girl to have a good childhood, not be bothered by others and their issues.”
I nod in understanding. Seth is consistent about one thing, and that’s making sure Jasmine does not have the same childhood he did. Jasmine comes running across the yard to us with her face painted like a fairy.
“Yook,” she says while she points at her face. Dorothy is holding a small compact mirror and Jasmine takes it from her to admire her face. “Picture,” she says, pointing at the phone. ”Mama,” she says to me, and my heart stops. Before I can react, Johnny and Vickie come to us. His face is painted like a cheetah.
“Down,” he says to his mom, who puts him down. He stands next to Jasmine, and they both smile and pose for pictures. Seth snaps some, and I take my phone and do the same. They run off to the petting zoo a few seconds later, but hearing her call me mama stays with me.
I feel tears in the back of my eyes, but I don’t let them spill. Seth puts a hand on my lap almost as if he knows how I’m feeling, and I put my hand on his. Vickie sits next to me and takes a drink from a passing server.
“I thought the baby shower my sister threw for me was over the top, but this is insane,” she says as she looks around the yard.
After doing my best to keep the tears at bay, the dam breaks and they fall. Not only that, but I let out a whimper. Seth must hear because he pulls me into his arms and I cry against his chest. He kisses my temple, and I find that I like it. It’s nice having the strong arms of a man around me. When I get myself under control, I lift my head from his chest and look around. Jasmine and Johnny are running around laughing and blowing bubbles. They are as carefree as two babies should be. I look at Seth, and he’s watching them too with a contented smile on his face.
“You did that,” I whisper to him. “You are raising a happy child who is loved.”
He puts his arms around me and says, “Not me. We. We’re doing that. Me and her porn addict mama.” Shocked by his words, I try to punch him in the stomach, but all that does is get a laugh out of him.
“You’re such a jerk. Spousal privilege. You’re not supposed to use it against me.”
“Wrong. I can use it against you. I just won’t tell anyone else about your dirty little proclivities.”
“Whatever,” I huff, but still can’t wipe the smile off my face.
“Thank goodness I’m a man, and no one can ever do that to me.” I look up to see Seth pointing at Jeannie, who is walking over to us. Aiden has his hand on her back, and she has her hand on her protruding stomach. I’ve never seen a pregnant stomach so big, but when the soon-to-be dad is almost seven feet tall and put two babies into her at once, it’s not surprising.
She waddles over to us with her big, protective husband getting closer to her at every step. He helps her to the loveseat under the awning. When a server comes over, he takes a drink for his wife and holds the straw to her lips.
“Thanks, babe,” Jeannie says before she lets out a breath. “Next time, maybe just one baby.”
“I can’t make any promises.”
“I get all this attention,” she says.
“Like you didn’t get it before,” Seth says.
“Seth’s just mad because Coach gives me more attention than him,” Jeannie says back. “Bring my goddaughter and Johnnie. I want to take a picture with them.”
“Go,” Coach says to Seth, who does a mock salute and an exaggerated walk to get the kids. The clown intercepts him and offers him a balloon animal, but Seth knocks the balloon to the ground and nearly jumps over him in his haste to get away.