Chapter Two-Hundred-Ninety-Nine
By the time Ashley finished talking to Spencer and getting him involved with Dakota, Sarah, Elenore, Josh, and Chris Kori and Wiley had come back down and she was talking to someone she has not seen since the day before her parents died. Ashley’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Mrs. Lane?” she asked incredulously, causing Mrs. Lane, Kori, and Laney to all look her way.
“Ohhh look at you, you have gotten so big! The last time I saw you, you were just twelve years old.”
“Oh my god I can’t believe you are here! What a wonderful surprise” Ashley replied while going over to the old woman and throwing her arms about her like a child hugging her grandmother. “Do you still live next door and everything?”
“Of course I do I never left, dear. This young man here was such a gentlemen and invited me over here to join all of you,” she explained while indicating toward Laney. “The children all came to my door and sang to me.”
“Laney is always kind that way,” Ashley replied while looking at the security guard on the brink of tears of happiness from this little reunion and her eyes clearly stated thank you.
“Why don’t you sit down Mrs. Lane? Would you like some pizza and maybe something to drink?” Wiley offered and he pulled out a chair for the old woman.
“Yes thank-you,” she replied while sitting down. “Come sit down girls we have so much to catch up on,” she added and Kori and Ashley did just that. Kori explained to Mrs. Lane all about what happened to her when she disappeared and much to her relief the sweet old woman didn’t judge, but instead welcomed her home with her whole heart. She introduced her to Spencer who Mrs. Lane instantly claimed as her great grandson. After Kori was through Ashley told her story and introduced her to Nick and her three girls and her adopted mom and brother. Both girls did a lot of crying. They also learned though that their ‘grandmother’ too was affected by the whole situation very deeply. When their parents died and both girls disappeared she stopped leaving her house as much and she stopped opening it up to all of the neighborhood kids too. And eventually people got to the point where they didn’t know how to handle her sadness and were suddenly way too busy to stop by anymore. Ramsey Orphanage’s little carolers were her first real visitors in five years and she even admitted to going up in her room and crying after accepting Laney and Kori’s invitation to join them as she was overwhelmed. It had been a long time since anyone cared for her at all. After their little reunion when it was completely dark outside Brooke and the boys started a bonfire and started organizing s’mores. After having s’mores they had them settle down in the grass either on blankets, or in bean bags and they started Christmas movies for them all on the big projector screen they set up. While that was being taken care of, Ashley went over to Laney and she slid her arms around him and pulled him into a bear hug – something she normally only does with Marcus. Laney slid his arms around her and returned her hug while rubbing his hand over her back.
“You are one of the sweetest, most caring, and sensitive guys to ever grace this planet Laney. You know that right?” Laney chuckled slightly.
“Well that’s quite a compliment coming from someone who used to be scared of me.”
“Yeah well…there’s definitely a great man underneath the tough security guard look that’s for sure.” Laney chuckled some more. It was all he could do without getting emotional. Ashley has a way of grabbing hold of one’s emotions and not letting go and he doesn’t think she even realizes that she does it sometimes.
“Shhh…don’t say that too loud you might blow my cover,” he told her while winking. She giggled some.
“Your secret is safe with me I promise.”
“Good,” he replied in mock relief and he leaned forward and planted a kiss on her cheek. Suddenly she heard a baby fussing, and knowing it could only be one baby she sighed.
“It’s feeding time for Bells. See you later Lan.”
“See ya sweetheart,” he smiled and she walked off to retrieve her baby who she left with Jerald. Laney suddenly felt eyes on him and he looked around for the source and suddenly saw Nick a couple of feet away witnessing the whole thing.
“You have a great girlfriend Nick.”
“Don’t I?” Nick bragged, his eyes twinkling with a happiness Laney has only seen him have when he is either talking about Ashley, thinking about Ashley, or is with Ashley. No other girlfriend has ever put that happiness there. And Laney has been around for them all to know the difference. He has never once seen Nick walk around with a shirt that reads I (heart) my girlfriend either. That’s pretty serious He thought while eyeing Nick’s new shirt that he had worn proudly all day.
“She should really be careful though. She knows how to make even the toughest man cry sometimes. She has a way of grabbing hold of someone’s emotions and not letting go and I don’t think she realizes that she does it. All she does is say what’s in her heart.”
“Yeah, but that’s my Ashley for you. She knows just the right thing to say” Nick replied, suddenly thinking back to the time where she had called him perfectly unperfect. Who comes up with stuff like that? And she had said it at just the right moment when he needed to hear it most too.
~A Week later~
“DAMNIT Brian! We forgot my makeup at home. Didn’t I ask you to grab my makeup?” Riley snapped as she rode along side Brian in Brian’s own car. It is just the two of them because Josh and Chris wanted to ride with the other kids and there wasn’t any room in his small car. It is now a week before Christmas and they are on their way up to Kentucky. They had left bright and early in the morning and have been driving all day. They plan on stopping at a restaurant when they reach the halfway point.
“I’m sorry honey…I must’ve just forgot it. I had a million other things in my hands and was dealing with two children at the same time. We’ll stop at Wal-Mart when we reach the halfway point okay? I think we’re stopping at Burger King – there’s a Wal-Mart right there.” Riley said nothing, she only turned her head and stared out the window with a hard look on her face, and her arms crossed over her stomach and she looks like she could burn a hole through the window if she wanted to. Brian regarded her feeling utterly perplexed. What in the world happened to his sweet and loving Riley, he has no idea. All he knows is she’s been very bitchy and demanding since the moment they woke up earlier that morning and has not stopped since. And not just toward him, but to the boys too which isn’t good at all. He just finally got a maybe out of them the other day and they promised to give him their final answer when they arrived in Kentucky. Nothing is going to jeopardize his Christmas present toward her. Nothing. He has got to calm her down some how. He reached over and carefully placed his hand on her knee as if afraid she might swat it away. To his relief, she didn’t.
“Riley…please…I really am sorry baby.”
“I wanted my makeup,” Riley told him, her eyes suddenly watering up.
“I know…but I fucked up. I’m really truly sorry. Please forgive me?” He pleaded. When she didn’t answer him he brought his hand up to cup her chin but she swatted it away.
“Let me be!” she snapped before turning her head back to the window again and leaning against it. Brian sighed heavily.
“I don’t know what your problem is today but-”
“My fucking problem is YOU Littrell! Can’t you see I just want to be left alone?”
“-But you are not going to take it out on the boys,” Brian went on. “You’re upset with me, fine. But it’s not their fault so please leave them out of it.”
“Fuck you,” Riley replied, and Brian left it at that. The two of them were silent the whole way to the halfway point. Brian eventually turned the radio on in hopes that it would ease some of the tension. It worked a little and eventually Riley had fallen asleep. Good…sleep Brian thought quietly to himself when he had noticed. Maybe that’s it. Maybe you just need sleep. When they arrived at Burger King three hours later, Brian stared at his girlfriend cautiously. Sure three hours is plenty of rest but what if it wasn’t enough to cure her mood? What if he wakes her up and she is still a fire-breathing dragon? After thinking about it for a couple of moments he turned his car off and opened his door and he got out. He closed it behind him and walked around to Riley’s side. He opened the door being glad that she isn’t leaning against it and he carefully gathered her into his arms cradling her. She slid her arms around his neck sleepily and nestled her head in his chest not in the least bit ready to wake up. She had gotten plenty of sleep last night, she did. And Brian’s lovemaking made it all the more better but for some reason since the moment she woke up she has felt nothing but tired and stressed – and grumpy and she just wants to crawl into a small cave somewhere and hide from the rest of the world. Feeling the bright sun on her eyes Riley buried her face deeper into Brian’s chest as he stood there and waited for everybody else to get out of their cars.
“Whats wrong with her?” Kevin asked confused.
“Lord knows” Brian answered, starting to get a little grumpy himself. “Use stealth when around her though, she’ll snap if you say or do the wrong thing.”
“How late did you two stay up last night?” AJ wanted to know, wriggling his eyes at Brian playfully.
“None of your damn business” Riley muttered into Brian’s chest groggily. AJ raised his eyebrow at Brian.
“What part of stealth did you not understand?”
“Sorry” AJ replied, backing away with his hands held in the air.
“And for your information we both got nine hours of sleep last night.”
“And she’s acting like this?” AJ spoke in a low voice. Brian shrugged and he turned around and headed into Burger King now that everybody was starting to approach. When he got in there he looked down at Riley.
“Riley baby,” he spoke gently.
“What?”
“Are you hungry?”
“No.” Brian bit back his protest before crawling into the nearest big booth and he scooted back and leaned against the cushion with his feet up on the seat and his legs slightly bent and he shifted Riley so she is nestled against his chest. She turned so her entire face was buried in it as she tightened her arms around him. Bitchy, yet very cuddly. What in the world is going on?
“D will you do me a favor and buy my kids and I some food? I’m gonna stay here and hold Ri.”
“Yeah sure” Howie replied while eyeing Riley with deep concern. “What do you want?”
“Anything really…a hamburger and fries.” He looked down at Riley suddenly. “Make that large fries.”
“Okay,” Howie replied and Brian looked at Josh and Chris.
“Hey Boys…go with Howie and he’s going to take care of your lunch okay?”
“Is Riley sick?” Chris questioned suddenly.
“Don’t know buddy…but I’m gong to get to the bottom of it okay?” Brian replied, feeling relieved when he noticed the worry on his youngest son’s face. Maybe his plan isn’t completely lost after all. Chris nodded and he turned and followed Howie. Brian looked down at Riley and he rubbed his hand over her back and kissed her forehead softly.
“I don’t know what you are going through…but I love you,” he whispered, and she said nothing. Jackie who had sat down at the table and sent her husband to get their food sat there eyeing Riley suspiciously. Not the kind of suspicion a mother would get when they want to interfere with their child’s relationship, but a genuine concern for her soon to be daughter in law. Something is going on, and she has a feeling she knows what that something is.
~*~*~*~*~
Later on that day when they arrived in Kentucky, Riley’s mood didn’t prove to be any better. Infact, the moment they arrived she ran up to Brian’s room and slammed the door shut behind her in order to get away from him and by the look on his face, everybody can tell that they had been arguing – probably the rest of the ride there.
“Oh I give up!” Brian exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. “I don’t know what the hell I did wrong, but she is starting to piss me off.”
“She’s probably PMSing or something” Kori replied. “Ash gets that way too when she is, as you all know.”
“I don’t know, but at this point I am through with trying to figure it out. Does anyone want to go out with me? I need to calm down.”
“What’d you have in mind?” Nick asked curiously.
“The mall. Maybe do some last minute Christmas shopping.”
“Sounds good, I’m in. Ash?”
“Sure. Are we taking the kids?”
“Why not? They can tell us what they want for Christmas so that we can finish shopping for them later.”
“Kay,” Ashley replied and he helped her get Bella into her stroller and such. Brian looked at his mom.
“If she comes down tell her I love her and I’ll be home later okay?”
“Will do,” Jackie replied, though she has no desire to wait until she comes down. She is going up to her and getting to the bottom of this.
“Thanks,” Brian replied and he pulled his mother into a hug. When Ashley and Nick were ready he grabbed hold of Josh and Chris’s hands and they all walked out of the house headed for the mall. Jackie waited until they were completely gone, and then she grabbed her purse and went on upstairs. When she got up there she walked down the hall, reached up and got the key from the top of the door and she began to unlock it. When she heard it click she pushed it open and Riley who had been lying on the bed staring at the ceiling looked at her incredulously.
“My son used to lock himself in his room all the time when he was little and angry at me. I’ve had years of practice of getting inside.”
“I want to be alone,” Riley replied softly. No matter what mood she is in, she could never be mean to Brian’s mother.
“I think we need to figure out what’s going on with you dear.”
“I don’t know the first thing about what’s going on with me.”
“I think I might have an idea,” Jackie replied and she pulled an ‘at home’ pregnancy test box out of her purse and showed it to her. When they stopped at Wal-Mart so that Brian could buy Riley some makeup she had secretly bought a pregnancy test for her so that she could take care of her suspicions when she got the chance. Riley gaped at it in surprise.
“I really don’t think that I’m…”
“Pregnant? Why not? As far as I can see you have all of the symptoms. You are grumpy, tired, fatigue…you’ve been sleeping with my son every night and I know this is a very personal question but when was the last time you’ve had your period hon?”
“I was supposed to have it last week,” Riley admitted softly.
“And you didn’t?” Jackie questioned, and Riley shook her head.
“Take the test sweetie. I really think that I am right about this. Afterwards, no matter what the results are, I will take you straight to the hospital and they will take a more accurate test on you.”
“What if I am?” Riley wanted to know.
“What do you mean?”
“What if I’m pregnant? Would you hate me?” she asked softly, and she looked down at the floor nervously. “Brian and I aren’t even married after all…”
“Hate you? Of course not. Honey I would just be thankful that you’ve made me a Grandma – again. There isn’t any greater gift then that.”
“But…”
“Riley if you haven’t noticed I’ve accepted you into this family with open arms the very moment I met you. You make my son very happy and I love you for that. I’ve never seen him so in love with anyone like he is with you. I can’t wait until he finally asks you to marry him because I want you to officially be a member of this family. And there is no doubt in my mind that he is going to do it either.”
“Really?” Riley asked softly, her eyes suddenly full of tears and Jackie nodded.
“So take this test honey because I really want to know whether or not I am going to have myself a grandbaby in the next nine months.” Riley smiled some and she took the box from her, opened it up and headed out of the room and straight to the bathroom.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Here's the next chapter.
Enjoy =)
Enjoy =)
