Chapter 4
Kinsey didn’t think he cared for being rich.
Before he had any money, it was easy to make decisions about things.
He didn’t have any money, and there was no point in speculating on whether or not they could afford something.
He didn’t know how people did it all the time and didn’t go insane.
He was driving himself crazy with making a decision on every little thing.
He looked up from his computer when Meggie entered the room.
“How are you feeling? Still getting sick all day, I noticed.” She said she was feeling better today, but that might be a one-time thing. “I’m sorry that you’re sick all the time. If I could make you better, I would. But we’re going to have a baby, and that makes it all worthwhile.”
“I’m sick of being sick all the time, but the doctor said that I’m doing fine and the baby is too.
I can live with a little sickness so long as the baby is fine.
When do you want to tell your family? I’m thinking sooner rather than later, so they don’t think that something else is wrong with me instead of being pregnant.
Do you think they might have guessed what it is?
” He said that he didn’t think they’d figured it out, but he didn’t know.
“I’m going to tell my mom the next time I talk to her.
She’ll be thrilled, I think. I find that she’s slightly annoying at times.
But that could be just me. I don’t have a lot of patience with people nowadays. ”
“I’ve noticed that you seem to be rolling your eyes a great deal.
Not that I think anyone notices. But I do because I’m in love with you.
” She started to cry, and he came around the desk to be with her.
“I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to upset you again.
Please tell me what it is that I can do for you, and I’ll give it to you. ”
“Nothing. I’m just so touchy lately. I hope this passes, too.
I’d hate to be around someone who gets me crying for no reason.
I’m beginning to feel like I’m always crying about the stupidest things of late.
” He said that she wasn’t that bad. “I’m sorry, did you just tell me that I’m touchy about shit? ”
“No. Never that.” He decided to change the subject to something less intense.
“Did I tell you that Wylie put an offer in on a house? He’s renting a condo now.
He felt that he was putting us out by living here with us.
I can’t say that I blame him. It was nice having them all here, but it was a bit much with you having trouble being around them all the time.
” She glared at him. “I’m going to keep my mouth shut from now on.
At least until the baby is born and is in college. ”
“They’ll leave us someday.” He held her until she stopped crying.
Every little thing would set her off, and he wondered if that was normal.
Not that he’d ask her, but he did worry about her feelings.
“Oh, Kinsey, what am I going to do with myself until the baby is born? I’m going to be dehydrated from crying so much, and you’ll leave me because I can’t seem to stop crying all the time.
You should run for the hills before it’s too late. ”
“It’s already too late. I’m too much in love with you to ever leave you.
” She cried a bit more, but they were tears of happiness instead of her thinking about their unborn child leaving them someday.
“How about we go out and see a movie? It might be nice to get out of the house for a couple of hours. I know that you’re still working, but we can do something fun for a change. ”
“I’d like that.” She stood up, and he pulled her into his arms again. “I’m sorry that I’m so touchy about everything. Hopefully this will pass too, and I’ll be back to my old self again.”
“I think any day now you’re going to look back on this and wonder what all the fuss was about.
” She didn’t look ready to cry after he told her that, and was happy.
He had to be on his toes with her heart being so tender.
He thought maybe if she were to tell the family about the baby, they’d be less stressed around her.
With her crying about everything, they were avoiding her.
He knew she didn’t like that either. “There’s a new comedy out, and that might be just what we need to get out of the house about.
Also, before I forget again, David and Alice have invited us over for dinner on Friday night.
I told them I’d have to ask you. It might be the perfect time to let them know about the baby. ”
“I think you might be right. I was with Alice the other day, and she kept asking me if I was all right. I think she thinks I’m dying or something along those lines.
I felt bad that I couldn’t tell her anything.
” He said that he felt the same way about David when he was around.
“Did I tell you that they’re about moved into their new home?
They just need to hire new staff who didn’t go with them. ”
“I’m glad that most of the staff decided to stay with us.
It sure does make it easier on us when we’re both working so much.
How much longer do you think you’ll be training your replacement?
I’m betting that he’s getting it all down pat, verily easily as he’s been working for you for a while now.
” She said that she was going to be letting him run the place next week, with her there, then she was finished, but for corporate outings.
“Yes, you said that he wanted nothing to do with that part of the job. It might be nice to get out and about all dressed up once in a while.”
“I’d like to keep my hand in things, and that seems like the best way to do it.
I’ll still go into the office once a week, but that won’t be full-time, and I’m looking forward to that.
I just want to stay at home and make babies with you.
So long as I’m not sick all the time like I am with this one.
Perhaps it’s because it’s a girl. I hope so. ”
Secretly, he hoped for a little girl himself.
He’d been around males all his life and wanted a little girl to hold his hand.
It would be wonderful to have a son too, but he didn’t care so long as they were healthy.
He would be thrilled with one of each, but they’d not gotten that far yet.
He just wanted her to get through this one.
It was taking its toll on all of them, and they didn’t even know that he was going to be a father yet.
Father. He couldn’t wait to be called dad.
Or whatever version that the baby came up with.
He’d be happy with Dad most of all, but he wouldn’t say anything.
He’d never had a good role model for a parent and was thinking that he’d love it just to be able to do the things for his child that his own parents hadn’t done for him.
His mother had been all right, but the older he got, the more he realized that she was just as bad as their father.
She could have left him at any point, and that would have made their lives so much better.
Instead, she stayed with him until he killed her, and that put him in prison for the rest of his natural life.
They were headed out the door when he heard from Wylie.
He knew that he’d been seeing Rosie Donaldson, but he didn’t know that it had become serious until he said that the two of them had bought a house.
He nearly missed the entire conversation in thinking that his little brother might be getting married soon.
“It’s a nice house, and we got it for twenty percent less than they were asking.
I think that it needs very little work, but we’re going to have the kitchen updated while we’re waiting for them to move out.
Apparently, they never use the kitchen and didn’t think about it needing new appliances and new countertops.
” He asked for the address and told him he knew where that was.
“I thought you might. It’s not too far from you, about twenty minutes, but it’s got a nice inground pool that we’re both going to love, and there is plenty enough room in the dining room for us all to have a meal in.
You should see the living room. It’s going to be perfect when football season rolls around.
And I have a renter for the other house I bought.
The rent from it will cover the cost of the house payment as well as some of the house payments we’re going to have with the new house.
I think I’m going to love being a landlord if it’s this easy. ”
“Don’t count on it. I’ve heard of horror stories, the same as you have.” He laughingly told him thanks for bursting his bubble. “I’m sorry. But you know how people are. I hope you’re a better landlord than some I’ve heard of, too. What am I saying? Of course, you’ll be great. You’re a Pennington.”
“Thanks, I needed that.” They were in the car when he rang off with his brother. They were headed to get something to eat at a fast-food place, then the movies.
Kinsey hadn’t been to the movies in so long that he was shocked by the prices.
But he kept his voice down when Meggie started to fuss at him.
He just thought that twenty bucks to see a movie for two people was a great deal to pay.
Then there was the bucket of popcorn that they were going to share, as well as two drinks.
However, he did remember to say no ice, or he’d have nothing but ice after a couple of sips.
But he paid it and kept his mouth shut. It was that or make Meggie upset with him, and he certainly didn’t want that.