Chapter 58
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Knox
“ H e’s amazing. How is it possible I had anything to do with creating him?”
“Well, you see... the man puts his penis in the woman’s vagina.” Charlie forms a circle with one hand while moving her forefinger of the other in and out of said circle.
Not only is she my brother’s wife, but she knows me better than almost anyone.
Charlotte Carruthers, Charlie to her friends, was not just the band’s lawyer for over a decade, she’s part of my inner circle.
And now I get to call her sister. Cal hit the jackpot when he found her, thanks to me.
They really don’t give me enough credit for that.
“Shut up. You know what I mean. He’s just so perfect. I got to experience my first minor tantrum today. Guess what? He’s still perfect.”
“Because he’s yours. You and Mia are a pretty great combo as far as baby making goes.”
Charlie shifts, trying to get comfortable in the rocking chair she built from scratch a few months ago.
I sit in its twin, watching her in awe. She still has two weeks to go and looks incredibly uncomfortable.
It’s the middle of August and even though the sun has set, it’s hot out.
But she insisted on waiting for Cal on the front porch.
He was called into the store for some sort of lumber emergency.
So here we sit with Ruby, their blue pittie, sleeping at her feet.
“She said she has the paperwork to add me to his birth certificate.”
This gets her attention off her discomfort and the lawyer in her peeks her head out. “And what did you say?”
“I told her to wait until my name has faded into oblivion.”
“Is that really what you want?”
“Not at all, but you know how it is.”
“I do.”
“If you were still my lawyer, what would you advise?”
“Well, the friend in me says you have every right to want it now. The lawyer in me knows the smart thing to do would be to wait a year or two. At least if you want to keep TMZ away.”
“That’s what I told her.”
“I’m sorry, Knox. It’s shitty you have to worry about these things, but you did the right thing.” She stands. “Here, let me get you a refill. I need to move.” Reaching for my empty glass of lemonade, she freezes with her hand a few inches away. Her eyes go wide as Ruby springs to her feet.
“What is it?” I follow Charlie’s line of sight to the light stream of liquid trailing down her legs. “Is that what I think it is?”
“If you’re thinking my water just broke, then yes. Yes, it is.”
Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!
“Okay, what do I do, Charlie?”
She sits back down, picking up her phone while I pace in front of her. We need to get Cal. We need to get to the hospital. I’m panicking yet, she’s as cool as a cucumber, rocking in her chair as she relays the news to my brother.
When she hangs up, she says, “He’ll be here in five minutes.”
“What do I do, Charlie? Do you have a bag I can grab? What about Ruby? Do you need a glass of water? Are you in pain?”
“Not in pain. Just freaking out a little.”
“So, you’re saying my panic isn’t helping?”
“Bingo.” She points to her nose.
“Understood.”
“My bags and the car seat are on the floor in the bedroom. You can grab that for me.”
“On it.”
I’m about to offer to take Ruby with me, but she’s sitting at attention at Charlie’s feet. She’s not going anywhere.
Rushing inside, I gather the car seat and the bags.
On my way out I look around the house trying to figure out what else to do but come up short.
By the time I push through the front door, I run into Cal, who brings Ruby in.
He shuts the door behind him and stands frozen in place, white as a ghost. He’s scared shitless, and I don’t blame him.
“It’s time, brother.” I hold up the baby gear in my hands .
“I think I might be sick and she’s cool as a cucumber.”
“Why do you think women have the babies? We can’t handle this kind of shit.”
He throws a treat into Ruby’s crate and locks her in. “Sorry, baby. It’s gonna be awhile, but someone will be by to let you out later.” He pats his front pockets, his back pockets, and the non-existent pockets on his dark blue McKinnon Hardware T-shirt. “What am I missing?”
“Uh, your wife melting out on the front porch.”
“I need to get my shit together.”
“You’re good, bro. Just breathe and take care of Charlie. I’ll drive.”
“Thanks. I’m so fucking glad you’re here.” He pulls me into a fierce hug.
I don’t know if it’s the reality of the moment or the mutual feeling, but my eyes sting. “Me too. Now, let’s hit the road.”