Chapter Four-Hundred-Twenty-One
“Are you sure you don’t want to leave Lil’ Rok with Jerald, your Grandma, and me honey?” Kevin asked for the third time that evening since they pulled out of the driveway to their home. They had gone back there and said their good-byes to Kristin, got into pajamas, and got ready for a night and half a day with Josh. They’re now more than halfway to Brian’s house and Ellie is sitting in the back buckled safely in her booster seat with Lil Rok held protectively in her arms.
“I am very sure. I missed my puppy daddy – I haven’t seen him all day,” Ellie insisted and Kevin can hear that her nose is starting to clog up again as she talks. He knows she is going to need medicine at bedtime.
“But princess Brian already has Tyke and Chance to deal with, do we really need to add more to his stress? Plus Riley’s mother is there, Jackie too, and the house is already going to be full enough as it is.”
“Lil’ Rok stays with me daddy,” Ellie insisted stubbornly, and Kevin glanced back at her through the rearview mirror and sighed. She now has the pug in one of her death grips and a pout on her face. He knows if he wants Lil’ Rok he will have to pry him from her cold dead hands.
“Okay, okay, you win” He caved not wanting to have to deal with that tantrum and a moment later they pulled up to Brian’s gate. Ellie’s hands flew to her buckle but Kevin was quick.
“Hold it lady!” he demanded seriously, and her hands paused amidst trying to get herself unbuckled. “Hold your hands up in the air where I can see them – right now.”
“But dadd—“
“—Now Ellie.” She sighed and reluctantly obeyed.
“Do we unbuckle ourselves while the car is moving?”
“No, ” Ellie answered begrudgingly.
“Then you best wait until I’ve pulled in and parked or I will turn this car around take you straight home Elenore.” Ellie scowled but waited ever so patiently nonetheless as he rolled down the window and Raul poked his head in.
“Hey Kev,” he greeted while glancing back at Ellie. “Here for a sleepover?”
“If we can ever gets in there” Ellie muttered bitterly.
“Ellie,” Kevin replied in a warning tone and Raul chuckled. “Yes, that is what we’re here for,” He added looking at Raul anxiously. Raul smirked and pulled back and he opened the gate with the button in his hand. Kevin waited as the gate opened, and then pulled inside. When the vehicle finally came to a stop and she was sure that it was stopped for good her seatbelt was off and she was out of the car so fast Kevin didn’t even have time to blink. He shook his head in slight amusement as he watched his little girl run up the path to the door before getting out himself. By the time he had her things Brian had met her at the door before she even had the chance to knock and the next thing he heard were her excited squeals.
“JOSHY!!!!”
“ELLIE!!!!!” he heard Josh exclaim in return and then a loud crash and Chance and Lil’ Rok started barking in excitement and Kevin cringed and gave his cousin a fearful look. Much to Kevin’s relief though, Brian just laughed in amusement, his eyes sparkling at the sight of two really happy children and he gave Kevin a reassuring look.
“No worries cuz, it was only the Eiffel Tower of blocks that Harry built that got knocked over.”
“Hey, I’ll have you know I worked hard on that tower!” Harry’s teasing remark was heard and Kevin arched his eyebrow curiously.
“Harry is here? Since when?”
“Since a half an hour ago,” Brian answered while rolling his eyes playfully as Kevin finally approached the doorway with Ellie’s things and could now see for himself the five and six year old rolling around on the floor near a big pile of blocks wrestling playfully.
“Don’t look too heartbroken Harry, I’m sure Ellie and Josh wont mind helping you rebuild it” Kevin insisted after chuckling at the sight of Harry standing there looking at the two children in playful exasperation. “What are you doing here in Florida anyway? Not that I’m not happy to see you or anything.”
“Well, that would make one of you” Harry replied while narrowing his eyes at Brian. “He walked in the door and the first thing he says to me is Oh man, who let him in my house?” he added dramatically.
“The nerve of him” Kevin chuckled.
“I know, right? I know momma taught him better hospitality than that,” Harry added as Brian rolled his eyes and pulled his brother into a hug.
“So uh…what are you doing here?” Kevin repeated after a moment.
“I’ve decided that Brian has been hogging mom long enough and that I would come down here and make him share,” Harry insisted. “Dad is missing her a lot too – he’s going to come down here as well as soon as he finishes everything mom wants him to do in Kentucky.”
“He might as well kidnap Tim from that church of his while he is at it – no sense in him being there when the whole family will be here.”
“Uncle Tim?” Ellie asked suddenly, her little ears perking up at the sound of his name as she and Josh now lay on the floor in the middle of the blocks just snuggling. Jerald may be her favorite, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love her other Uncle a great deal of a lot too. Kevin smiled at her some.
“What do you say we put you on the phone tomorrow and have you beg your Uncle to come down here and visit you when Harold comes huh?”
“Yes please,” Ellie answered eagerly, her eyes lighting up in excitement though she remained right where she is. As excited as she is about the possibility of having both of her uncles around for a change, she isn’t leaving Josh’s arms at all if she can help it.
“I think its hilarious that you all are coming down here to visit now when we’re just going back up there again in March,” Riley spoke up as she, Jackie, and Audrey were sitting at a table working on wedding invitations.
“Well can you blame me? I couldn’t wait another minute to see my beautiful future sister-in-law,” Harry insisted while going over to Riley and enveloping her in his arms for a hug from behind and she smiled slightly as he placed his hands to her very much pregnant belly and kissed her cheek affectionately. “How’s the pregnant life, huh?” he added curiously.
“Meh,” Riley grumbled but still couldn’t help but smile some at the attention from Harry. She’s developed a pretty close relationship with her future brother in-law. Harry chuckled.
“That good huh?”
“You wouldn’t by any chance want to take turns carrying my baby and taking some of this morning sickness, exhaustion, and whatnot off my hands for awhile would you? Do you think maybe we could share it?” Riley teased and Brian laughed.
“I don’t think Harry would last a day in your shoes baby.” Harry scoffed, but otherwise paid no attention to his brother’s words of doubt.
“It’ll get better soon sweetie. Morning sickness doesn’t last the whole nine months, right?” he asked while looking over at his mother for confirmation.
“It’s different for everyone” Jackie answered, shrugging her shoulders.
“You are so much help,” Harry replied while rolling his eyes playfully. “Has she been this helpful all this time?”
“She’s been a godsend,” Riley insisted sincerely. “And my mother has been very wonderful since she’s arrived too. Id keep them both here forever if I could.”
“Do that and expect me and dad to be moving in right along with her” Harry chuckled and Brian arched his eyebrow.
“Momma has to go back home sometime honey, as wonderful as she is.”
“See how much he loves me?” Harry asked not missing a single thing.
“I love you very much big brother but I will never forget what it’s like sharing a room with you while growing up.”
“Brian,” Ellie suddenly spoke up, causing everybody to turn their heads in that direction.
“Ellie?” Brian asked while smiling at her sweetly and she smiled back just as sweet.
“May I have some chocolate milk, please?” Brian turned his attention on Kevin then who was talking on the phone with someone and Kevin shook his head automatically.
“Why yes you may,” Brian answered simply just to be a pain and he smirked upon seeing Kevin’s incredulous look before going over and gathering the little girl into his arms. “Who am I to deny my favorite cousin some chocolate milk, huh?”
“Does your favorite son get some chocolate milk too?” Josh asked, immediately getting up and following his father and Ellie into the kitchen.
“Him right along with my other absolute favorite son,” Brian replied easily. “Come on Chris – you can be the first to pick out one of Grandma’s home made cookies.”
“Brian Thomas! You best be hiding real good when I get off this phone or your other absolute favorite cousin will kick your butt for giving my kid sugar before bed!”
“My house my decision,” Brian insisted in a singsong voice. “Pay attention to your phone call cuz, don’t be rude now” he added before disappearing in the kitchen and Kevin scowled.
“Sorry about that Kristin…my family likes to drive me crazy sometimes,” he announced into the phone, turning his attention back on his conversation like his cousin had advised.
“I know the feeling,” Kristin laughed. “Except usually, I’m the one who is giving the kids cookies and chocolate milk before bed and making my brother and sister unhappy with me.”
“I normally wouldn’t mind it so much but with Ellie it’s a completely different story. She gets riled up easily and its hard enough to put her to bed as it is.”
“I can’t imagine that,” Kristin insisted amusedly. “She has been nothing but sweet around me.”
“Because you have this amazing charm over her that I still have yet to figure out. She loves you. You aren’t allowed to go anywhere okay?”
“I won’t go anywhere unless you make me,” Kristin promised, and Kevin silently held onto that simple little promise with all his might.
“So it’s still on for tomorrow afternoon then?” he asked after a moment. “You’re still coming over to bake cookies with Ellie while I spend some much needed time with my neglected brother?”
“Absolutely. What time do you want me to come over?”
“I should have Ellie back between two and three.”
“I’ll be there by three fifteen at the latest then.”
“Kay, perfect. Your coat will be waiting – Ellie spotted it in the car earlier and made sure to tell me it was there.”
“Auntie Kristin, you promised me you would tuck me in and watch a movie with me” Kevin heard Nathan suddenly announce.
“I know sweetie I haven’t forgotten. I will be right there okay? I promise.”
“Kay,” Nathan replied and then Kristin spoke into the phone again.
“I’ve gotta go Kev. Nate and I are going to watch Batman.”
“Okay” Kevin smiled. “I should probably go and pry my daughter from Brian’s arms anyway before he decides to make her a bowl of ice cream or something horrible like that.”
“Okay,” Kristin laughed. “See you tomorrow then.”
“Yup,” Kevin replied, and then hung up. He put his phone in his pocket and glanced over at everybody else to find them all pretending to be busying themselves in wedding invitations and such but he knows they are all listening to him.
“Okay, lets have it” he told them readily, and Riley tilted her head to the side, looked at him curiously for a couple of seconds, and then replied.
“I’m highly jealous that Brian got to meet her already and I didn’t.”
“Well, you should’ve came to the orphanage with him” Kevin insisted amusedly.
“I was busy with wedding stuff. Will she by any chance be visiting the Orphanage with you again?”
“Tomorrow evening I’m bringing her over there to wait on the Jersey crowd to get back.” Riley looked to Audrey and Jackie then.
“We’re taking time out of wedding planning to make a trip over there tomorrow evening. Don’t forget that.”
“Yes ma’am,” Audrey saluted, and Riley stuck her tongue out at her stubbornly before grabbing up a cracker and beginning to nibble on it.
“So what did she call you for anyway? Didn’t you just get done spending the day with her?” Riley added after a moment.
“She called me to inform me that she accidentally left her hoodie in my car.”
“Ooh, I see” Riley replied while smirking amusedly. Kevin arched his eyebrow.
“Well she did.”
“Oh I know I believe that,” Riley reassured, though she looked at Jackie and Audrey and exchanged knowing looks between women.
“Riley, would you like to share the meaning behind those secret womanly looks with the class?”
“Not really, no.”
“Aw, come on that’s not fair,” Kevin whined, sounding very much like he has suddenly taken on the characteristics of Nick.
“They’re a secret for a reason Kevin. If we wanted you to know what they mean, they wouldn’t be called womanly.”
“Aunt Jackie, you’ll tell me what she knows, won’t you?” Kevin asked, suddenly going over and sitting next to his favorite aunt and giving her a look that Lil’ Rok often gives him when he’s cooking or eating. Jackie laughed and just looked at her nephew amusedly but otherwise didn’t even give him the slightest bit of a hint. He looked to Audrey then.
“Audrey? I know we don’t know each other that well…but you’ll tell me won’t you?”
“And make my pregnant daughter annoyed with me for ruining her fun? Are you crazy?” Audrey laughed.
“Aw, come on! You guys can’t do this time.”
“We can, and we will. Sheesh Nick, whine much?”
“It’s kind of amusing, really” Harry replied as he stood there with his arms crossed watching his cousin curiously. “This woman must be something special to make him stoop to this level. Kevin is almost…giddy at the mere mention of her.”
“And all smiles – he practically glows. And you should’ve seen her with him earlier. He can hardly take his eyes off of her,” Brian announced as he walked out of the kitchen with Ellie on one hip, Josh on the other, and Chris hanging over his shoulder.
“How many cookies has she had?” Kevin interrogated.
“One. I didn’t want to risk you murdering me.”
“Go give her another one,” Kevin insisted, his eyes light and practically twinkling with happiness. Brian arched his eyebrow at him and nearly stumbled back in his surprise.
“What?” he asked, thinking maybe he hadn’t heard him right and everybody looked at him as if maybe he’s lost his marbles.
“You heard me. No one can ever just have one of Aunt Jackie’s cookies, it’s unheard of.”
“You have to put her to bed tonight you know,” Brian warned. “And she had a full glass of chocolate milk.”
“I know,” Kevin answered, the look in his eyes unchanged and Brian looked as though he might die of shock.
“What kind of parallel universe are we in?” Harry instantly wanted to know.
“The one where responsible Kevin has fallen in love and lightened up in the meantime. Go with it before he returns from Planet Kristin” Riley insisted.
“Yes goes with it. We don’t want daddy returning from Planet Kristin ever,” Ellie added, though she eyed her father carefully as though he might turn back into the serious one she’s begun to know and love. But she can get to know and love this one a lot better very quickly…No problem. Brian eyed his cousin for a moment longer, and then shook his head incredulously – not believing for a minute that this is real and he turned and walked into the kitchen while muttering
“I’ve gotta call Jer and report this immediately.” Kevin beamed and turned his attention on the invitations before him.
“So, how are these invitations coming along? Can I help?”
“They’re coming along quite nicely actually. I just finished yours and everything,” Riley answered. “Would you like me to make one for Kristin too?”
“I think she’d like that a lot.”
“Would you like it?” Riley asked while smiling at Kevin some and she took his hand and gently squeezed it. Kevin nodded, his eyes glowing with excitement.
“Why don’t you make her one? Then it’d be more special because you are inviting her,” Riley replied while handing him a blank invitation and another one for him to look at so he’ll know how they’re supposed to go. She handed him a special pen and everything and he grinned and got right to it. Riley sat there watching him for a long moment and then spoke up again.
“She left her hoodie in your car so she would have an excuse to call you and hear your voice.” Kevin looked taken aback – yet highly flattered upon hearing this information, and everyone at the table could pretty much tell that his heart is fluttering right about now. They know that no one has ever looked for an excuse to call him up just to hear his voice.
“At least that’s the way it seems. It’s a typical girl move – she really likes you a lot Kev.” Kevin said nothing not being able to find the words to say what exactly is on his mind right now. He just sat there quietly working on Kristin’s invitation and mulling things through. Eventually Ellie came running back out and she went up next to Kevin, slid her arms around him and hugged him tight and he smiled some, before kissing her forehead softly. After hugging him for a long moment, she ran off and tackled Josh who had settled himself back down by the blocks and soon enough Harry was over there making them help him re-create his Eiffel Tower.
Author's Chapter Notes:
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Enjoy =)
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