Chapter 12
twelve
Jade
I hang up the phone after listening to the doctor’s office’s recording three times to make sure I heard it right. Disappointment lands hard in my gut. I pull out my phone and message Henry.
The office is closed until after Christmas. The voicemail says to call the on-call doctor if anything is wrong, but no one will be in the office to do anything regarding paperwork.
The three dots appear immediately.
I’m calling the on-call doctor. They can go to the office and look in your file. Give me five minutes. We’re just getting to the airport.
The boys have secured flights, but rather than come home, they’re going to go right to the cabin.
We’ll pack their bags and meet them there.
It’s the easiest option. Eloise will drive with Bodhi and me, and Kyleigh and Tedi will drive together.
It’s not ideal, but at least the guys are on their way to us.
“Bodhi!” I call from my bedroom.
He runs down the hall and jumps on my bed, rolling around before looking at me. “Yeah?”
I have the little pink and blue jerseys out. I was going to give one to Mom and Reed for Christmas to reveal the gender of the baby. Since I’m an idiot and lost the envelope, that won’t be happening, so I fold them together and put them in my nightstand drawer until we can find out.
“What are those?” Bodhi asks.
“Little jerseys. I was going to wrap either the pink or blue one up for Grandma and Grandpa to open on Christmas. A surprise to tell them what we’re having.”
“Oh.”
There’s something in his tone I can’t quite figure out.
Disappointment maybe? It’s probably because Henry has been gone so long, and I’ve been messaging nonstop with everyone trying to figure it out.
The boys’ little Planes, Trains, and Automobiles excursion over the last twelve hours has been eventful, to say the least.
“The doctor can’t tell you?” Bodhi asks.
I shake my head and sit on the bed, running my fingers through his soft brown hair. “No, they’re closed, so we’ll find out after Christmas.”
“Are you sad?”
I shrug. Very sad, but I would never tell him. “We’ll find out eventually. But I’m really happy we get to celebrate with everyone this weekend. It’s not a big deal.”
I’m not really lying. I am happy to spend time with our friends and be with Bodhi and Henry for some uninterrupted time away from home.
“Are you packed?” I change the subject.
“Almost.”
“Want some help?”
He bolts up. “No. I’ve got it.” He runs out of the bedroom and down the hall.
As I’m finishing up packing for Henry and myself, I hear the door open, and Waylon calls up, “Jade!”
“Up here.”
He jogs up the stairs, stopping at Bodhi’s room. “Whatcha doing, bud?” I hear Bodhi’s door slam before Waylon walks into my room. “What’s up with him?”
“I don’t know.” It’s unusual for Bodhi to act like that. “I think he misses Henry.”
“As we all do. Your butler is here at your service, madam.” He makes a flourish with his hand and bends at the waist.
I stare at him, annoyed. “You’re helping your pregnant sister.”
He chuckles, picks up the luggage, and walks out of the room. I do one last check to make sure I have everything and follow him out.
I knock on Bodhi’s door. “You sure you don’t need my help?”
“Almost done,” he says.
Waylon stops at the bottom of the stairs, about to climb back up. “Oh, I thought I had to carry you down too.”
“And to think there’s no line of girls waiting to date you.”
He scoffs. “I had two in my bed last night.”
“Yeah, okay. Bags, bellboy.” I snap my fingers. “Mom and Reed would never let that happen.” Though he’s bold enough to try it, unlike Owen.
He walks out the back door with my bags, and I go to the kitchen to grab some snacks for the trip.
We’ve already arranged for groceries to be delivered to the cabin before we get there.
The place is supposed to be decorated for Christmas.
I can’t wait to see it in real life. The pictures online were amazing.
Waylon is walking up the staircase of the back porch when I open the door and throw him the keys. “Pull it around the front. We’re getting Eloise.”
“She’s not pregnant. Why am I her butler?” he asks.
I shut the door. He’ll find out soon enough that she actually is pregnant.
“Bodhi!” I yell, grabbing my purse.
“Coming!”
I double-check that everything is off and the timer for the living room lights is on, then I walk out the front door, leaving it open so Bodhi knows to come out that way.
After he parks the SUV, Waylon walks up the stairs, holding out his hand.
“Oh, how sweet of you.”
“Well, if you slip and fall, Henry will cut my dick off, so…” He shrugs.
I roll my eyes and accept his hand, carefully walking down the stairs. “Will you go find Bodhi and see what’s taking him so long?”
He bows. “Of course, my lady.”
I shake my head and see Eloise coming across the street with two suitcases. Kyleigh’s SUV’s engine is on in her driveway, and she’s bringing a suitcase out of her house. Tedi’s front door opens too.
“Waylon, bring the snack bag on the kitchen counter,” I say.
He raises his hand and flips me off, slamming the front door.
“I need one of him,” Eloise says.
“He’s for rent, and there’s another if he’s not available,” I joke.
We laugh as she puts her suitcases in the back of the SUV. “Where’s the little man?”
“That’s the question of the hour.”
I stare up at the house, waiting for the front door to open.
What is this kid up to?