Chapter 42
Chapter forty-two
Emma
Hideous, atrocious, revolting… I don’t even have words.
~ Three Days Later ~
The boys won their game last night, which means they’re officially going to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Let’s just say they were beyond ecstatic last night and still are.
When Grey called me after the game, the joy he was radiating was blinding and contagious.
I had never seen him so happy. It was like a dream come true for him.
Which I guess it is, since that’s pretty much the goal when you become a professional hockey player.
Today is Sam’s first official nanny day with us.
Even though Cecilia and I will both be around today, we still asked him to come in and spend some time with the kids.
They already seem to like him a lot even though they’ve only met him once, and it gives us all an additional chance to get to know him better.
The boys are meant to be home later this afternoon, and we’ll be celebrating together over dinner and drinks later tonight at Morgan’s.
Minus Aubrey and Ronnie since they're working this evening. We had also planned to have a girls’ lunch before they needed to head out for work, but Morgan canceled on us, claiming she wasn’t feeling well.
“Do you think something’s up with Morg?” I question Cecilia as we drink our coffee in the kitchen. Sam is running around us with the kids and Daisy chasing after him, while Milo sleeps in the corner on Daisy’s doggy bed.
“I’m not sure. I tried to call her earlier, but she sent me straight to voicemail.” She chews on her lip, which is her tell that she’s worried.
“Is that not a typical behavior for her?” Sam asks, listening in on our conversation as he continues pretending to run away.
“No, not really. Even when she’s sick, she always picks up her phone,” I inform him.
“Even yesterday she seemed off when I saw her, but when I asked if something was wrong, she just smiled and said there was nothing. But it wasn’t her usual smile, like she was faking it,” Cece adds.
“Do you girls want to go check on her? I don’t mind staying here with the kids. I mean, it is my job.” He smiles with a wink.
“We should all go, with the other girls, too. A little intervention might do her some good and help get to the bottom of what’s going on,” I agree with Sam.
“I’ll call Aubrey and Ronnie, see if they’re still free. Then we’ll go over.” Cece picks up her phone.
“Sam, could you change the kids and get them ready? I’ll go make a bag for Gracie and come back to help if you aren’t done,” I ask him.
“Sure thing. Come on, little kiddos. Let’s get you two ready for your auntie’s house.” He picks Gracie up in one arm and Dante in the other, carrying them like potato sacks as both kids shriek with laughter.
Okay, so Sam might not be the most professional nanny there is, but I think it’s exactly what we needed for the kids. We really didn’t want someone super uptight and strict with them.
Thirty minutes later, we’re all on our way to Morgan’s.
Cecilia took her car with Dante, and I took mine with Gracie and Sam.
We park up the driveway as Ronnie arrives behind us with Aubrey in the passenger seat.
Just as we exit our cars and Sam retrieves Gracie from her seat, someone we all recognize comes jogging down the street.
We all turn to watch as he stops in front of us. “Good morning, ladies.” Jessie smiles.
“Hi, Jessie,” we say at once.
“So what’s the plan today? Girls’ party? Am I invited? I promise not to tell your husbands.” He winks, sliding a hand through his drenched hair. He’s shirtless and wearing gray running shorts. He’s clearly been at it for a while with how his body glistens with sweat.
“You know, Jessie, one day you’ll get in trouble for relentlessly flirting with unavailable women,” I tell him, giggling.
“It’s okay, I can take him,” he beams. Yeah, I’m not sure he could. I’ve seen Greyson fight. And that shit isn’t pretty.
“You sure you don’t want to try out the deluxe package? I’d make a fine stepdaddy,” he adds, and all I can do is smile and shake my head. This guy is ridiculous.
“So that’s a no? What about the girl party?”
“There’s no girls’ party; we’re just checking on Morgan,” Cecilia tells him.
“All right then. I understand, you all need more time to wrap your heads around this. I’ll wait.
I’m a patient man.” He sighs with fake sadness, then smiles.
“Well, I hope you beautiful ladies all have a splendid day. Cotton Candy, give me a call sometime and we’ll go for another round.
” He winks at Ronnie and jogs up to his house across the street.
“Wait, wait. You left the gala with Jessie?” I ask, astounded.
“I did.” Ronnie laughs, turning toward the house.
“How was it?” Sam asks. We all turn to him with wide eyes, not expecting that question. From me? Yeah, I totally would have asked. Him being the newcomer? Not so much. “What? Too much? Not very professional, I’m guessing.”
Cecilia and I start laughing uncontrollably. This guy is going to fit in perfectly with us crazy folks. “It’s fine, you just surprised us a little,” I say through my giggles.
Ronnie wraps her arm around his, dragging him up the front steps.
“You’re one of the girls now, you’re free to say whatever crosses your mind.
By the way, ten out of ten. That man is packing and knows how to use it.
I might take him up on that offer for another ride.
Although fair warning, if you think you’ve been sore before, no, you haven’t,” she laughs.
“I would definitely take him up on that offer,” Sam adds, to which we all laugh, except for Aubrey, who shakes her head with a blush over her cheeks.
We enter the house and find it eerily quiet and dark. “Morg?” I call out, but no answer follows. Her car’s outside, so we know she’s here.
Aubrey goes farther into the house toward her office while Ronnie checks the basement. They come back shaking their heads, indicating Morgan isn’t there. Just then, a pang sounds from upstairs, and we all look up.
“Sam, can you stay down here with the kids while we check upstairs? There are toys for them under the TV in the living room,” I tell him. Morgan and Clay always keep some close by with how often we’re here.
He nods, guiding the kids to the toys as we make our way up the stairs. When we get to Morgan’s bedroom door, we can hear someone crying through it, and my heart instantly aches at the sound. Cecilia pushes the door open slowly, and we find Morgan curled up on her bed, crying into a pillow.
“Oh, babe…” I say softly as we all rush over, climbing onto the bed around her.
“Oh God. I’m s-sorry, I’m a-a mess. You guys sh-shouldn’t be seeing m-me like this,” she sobs while sitting up and wiping her eyes and nose with her arm.
Aubrey quickly scoots off the bed and heads into the connected bathroom, returning with a box of tissues and handing it to her.
“Don’t be ridiculous, we’re your friends, Morg,” I tell her, kneeling in front of her.
“Still, it’s stupid.”
“There’s nothing stupid about you being upset over something,” Aubrey says in that delicate voice she always carries while placing her hand on Morgan’s knee.
“Plus, you’ve seen me have more meltdowns than I care to admit, and you were by my side the whole time. There’s no way we’re leaving you on your own when you’re clearly going through something,” Cece adds, pulling strands out of Morg’s face and placing them behind her ear.
“So tell us what’s going on. Whose ass do I have to kick?” Ronnie asks with her hand rubbing up and down Morgan’s back.
She giggles slightly through her tears at Ronnie’s comment, then takes a deep breath before speaking up.
“I thought I was pregnant…” It comes out as a whisper, and we all quickly understand what’s going on.
“I was late, so I took a test, but it came back negative. So I had blood tests done with my doctor because I still haven’t started…
” She starts sobbing again in her hands.
“She called this morning to tell me there were no signs of pregnancy. That I’m probably just overstressed, and that’s why I’m so late. ”
“Oh, sweetie…” My heart hurts for her. I lean in and wrap my arms over her shriveling form, the rest of the girls joining in shortly after. “These things take time. It’s normal that it doesn’t happen right away,” I try to reassure her as we pull away.
“Is it really, though? It only took you one time to get pregnant with Dante.” She looks to Cecilia, then to me. “And it took Greyson one time without a condom to have Gracie. Clay and I have been trying for two years now, and not once has it happened. What am I doing wrong?”
“Nothing. You aren’t doing anything wrong, babe. Maybe there’s a reason why it’s taking this much time. But it will happen. I don’t doubt it for a second,” I tell her truthfully.
Life works in weird ways. She’s right; it isn’t fair that she has to wait so long to have what she’s craving so desperately. But I’m sure when it comes, it will be worth the wait.
“Have you thought about seeing a fertility doctor? Maybe you and Clay just need a little extra help. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that,” Cece says.
“We talked about it. If we still aren’t by the end of hockey season, we’re gonna see a specialist.”
“See, that’s good.” I smile. “There are so many options out there, Morgan. You’ll get your baby. I promise.”
“How can you be so sure? What if they tell me I can’t have kids?” she cries.
“Then you’ll adopt. And you’ll be the best thing to ever happen to that baby,” Ronnie says matter-of-factly.
“However this baby comes to be in your arms, you’ll still be the best mama it could have asked for. Honestly, you’ll outshine us all,” Aubrey adds sincerely, then looks at Cece and me with a blush. “No offense. You guys are wonderful mothers.”
We both laugh as I say, “none taken.” We get it, we’re here to make Morgan feel better, not play who’s best.