Chapter 4
Maternity leave
Patton high-fived another man's hand. "Good luck with the baby." Said one of the officers. Patton grinned. He couldn't believe he was going to be a father. His close friend Nigel, had been describing the amazing feeling of holding his son for the first time, last night on social media. He described it as the feeling of his first battle for KND, but much better.
Patton gripped his Khaki duffle bag closer to his shoulders. He exited the large battle ship. It had just docked into the Cleveland Harbour. Other men, who were much older than Patton were also leaving the ship on maternity leave. As the sun brightened and blinded him for a short moment, the sense of excitement and happiness overwhelmed him. He strolled down the metal boardwalk that connected the ship to the port. Looking closely into the small crowd that had gathered at the foot of the boardwalk, Patton got a glimpse of red hair. Patton grinning, he sped up his pace, he wanted to hug her so badly. Reaching the end of the boardwalk his smile turned to sorrow. It was Fanny's brother Shaunie. Patton shrugged his shoulders. He brought his right hand out towards Shaunie. Shaunie smiled and grasped it. He brought Patton into a hug instead of a handshake.
"How's my favourite brother-in-law?" he said as he let go of Patton. Patton chuckled.
"I'm your only brother-in-law." He replied. Shaunie smiled softly. "Exactly." He winked.
"Where is he?" said a red-headed woman as she stared out the window. She was pacing the floor, waiting for her fiancé.
"He'll be here. Your brother is getting him." Her mother calmly said.
"Sit down Francine, you're making me motion sick." Her father grunted from his armchair. He grabbed his lighter and cigar.
"Not in here." Francine's mother snapped. She motioned towards the woman and her bump. Mr Boss rolled his eyes. He stood up from the armchair abruptly and headed towards the backdoor. Mumbling to himself about his wife's rules. "Thanks mum." Francine while rubbing her stomach. She could feel the kicks from her unborn child. They were hitting her bladder. "Dammit." She said while waddling to the downstairs toilet. Nature calls or when her baby makes her go.
Drying her hands on the towel, she shut the door behind her. The front door creaked opened. "Patton!" cried Francine. Shaunie's head popped through the gap. "Not you, ya stoopid boy." She shouted. Patton followed behind him. The woman waddling towards her fiancé with her pink slippers sliding off her feet. Putting both arms around his neck, she frantically kissed him. "Fanny." Smiled Patton as he returned the affection. Fanny's huge bump pressed against lean his stomach. The baby excitedly bounced against her stomach. "Hey. My little soccer player." Grinned Patton. He pressed his hands on the bump. The baby continued to play in his mother's stomach.
"You're encouraging him now." Fanny said with a frown.
"Would you rather me scorn him?" Patton asked questionably. Fanny rolled her eyes as she slowly made her way to the kitchen. Her father had just come back in from the backdoor with half of a cigar. "Patton." Her father nodded his head towards his daughter's fiancé. He walked past the man and headed towards his favourite seat, in the living room. "Shaunie, my boy-…" the rest of the sentence was continued in the next room.
"Your dad will never like me." Patton said blankly. He grabbed a bowl and spoon. Fanny opened the overhead cupboard. "He will. Maybe when you marry me." Giggled Fanny. She grabbed a box of fruit loops. Pouring the cereal into the bowl, it rattled the bowl.
"But he's known me for three years now. You'd think he would grow to like me now." Patton grabbed himself a bowl. He began pouring cereal into it while Fanny poured milk into hers. "It might be because you got his little girl pregnant before you had put a ring on it." Fanny flashed her left hand towards her fiancé. She swished her hips like the celebrity Beyoncé.
Patton rolled his eyes. "At least I'm still here." He replied as he munched the cereal.
"When you're not on a ship." Fanny replied huffily. Small tears rolled down her eyes as she played with a spoon inside her bowl.
"Fan?" Patton softly said through the cereal. He swallowed the food down his throat hard. "I miss you." Fanny said. Her hormones were sky high.
Almost choking, Patton pulled Fanny into a tight hug. He caressed her hair gently. Smelling like strawberries, Fanny cried into his strong shoulder.
"I'm here now. You've got me for a few months." Smiled Patton. He wiped her tears away with his finger. Fanny mumbled something. "What?" he asked questionably.
"I said, you've already got me crying, stoopid boy." She wiped her wet face on his uniform. The man stuck his tongue out towards the one he loved. She pulled her cereal towards her.
"I wonder how the others are?" Patton slurped his cereal. Fanny cringed at the sound.
"Well, tonight I hear Nigel is taking Rachel out without Charlie, which is something. Abby is getting huge. I mean huge. The twins are keeping her on her toes. She's keeping Hoagie on his toes. Kuki is missing Wally. I know how that feels…" Fanny trailed off the sentence. Patton had clasped his hand on the bump.
"I can't wait to meet you… again." Patton whispered. Fanny smiled softly. Placing her hand on his, his soft manly hands. She embraced his touch. She had missed his warmth, after two long months.
Huffing and puffing, a frustrated four-months-old fell on his bottom. He had spent the past week; trying to crawl. His face had a frown. His mother had an upside-down frown. "You'll nearly there, sweetie. You almost had it." The young mother hugged the baby gently.
"Rachel?" called a voice. Rachel placed her mobile phone to her ear. "Sorry, Nigel. But he almost had it." Rachel kissed her baby's cheek. He squealed with excitement. "That's my boy. Anyway Rachel the birth certificate won't be able to change until Charlie is eighteen." Nigel replied.
"But can't we say, you were unfit state to do the birth certificate?" Rachel tickled Charlie with air kisses. "Not until he is a lot older and he does it himself. The judge thought it was hilarious that I messed up." Nigel sulked in his office chair. "Well I'll guess we'll name Louise after your father or my father." Rachel chuckled. It was only a middle name. She was sure he would appreciate the name and story behind it. If not, he could sort it when he turned eighteen.
"Still on for tonight?" Nigel questioned. Rustling of papers could be heard. "Mr Uno, your next client is here." Said his secretary. "Of course. My mother promised she would look after Charlie." Rachel replied. Nigel was mumbling requests to his secretary. "Brilliant. See you at six, Miss McKenzie." He said.
Rachel tutted. "Don't you mean Mrs Uno." Chuckled Rachel. Nigel blushed over the phone. "See you then. Love you." He mumbled quickly, as he hung up. Rachel blew a kiss to the phone.
Rachel danced around the room with Charlie in her arms. She was excited for this romantic dinner. Some alone time with her husband. "When will your daddy tell everyone beside Fanny about our secret wedding." She bounced Charlie into the air. He giggled. Rachel ended with the bouncing with a smooch on Charlie's forehead. The ringing of Rachel's mobile phone interrupted the happy moment. "Hello?" asked Rachel. She was slightly out of breath from the dancing and bouncing.
"Rachel, dear, have you been running?" her mother asked. "No, just playing with Charlie." She replied as she placed her son into a play den. Sitting beside Charlie was soft toys and wooden blocks. He clapped his hands with happiness.
"I can't babysit Charlie tonight. Sorry dear, but your father has pulled a muscle in his hip. I have to help him." Her mother stated.
Rachel's happiness toned down. She felt disappointed. "Is dad okay?" Rachel replied.
"Yes, other than not moving his bottom half, he's perfectly healthy." Her mother responded.
Rachel sighed. "It's fine mum. Just help dad to get better. We're sending our love." Rachel turned towards her bundle of joy she shared with Nigel. Her mother said her goodbyes. "What are we going to do?" Rachel said. She brushed her son's dirty blonde mop of hair. A knock at the front door, made Rachel jump. Charlie, however was too busy playing with his blocks.
"I'm not in the mood." Kuki crossed her arms. She slumped against the front door. "C'mon Kuki, I know you're missing Wally, but you have to get out of the house at some point." Ai stood on the porch. She was standing beside a blue bench that faced the sidewalk. "But." Began Kuki, as Ai pleaded with her hands. Her eyes turned from normal to puppy dog in an instant.
"Mum, I'm meeting Sandy in ten minutes!" shouted Mushi.
"I told you, you're grounded until Friday." Her mother shouted back. Doors slammed shut inside the house. Stomping and screaming could be heard. Kuki winced. She could feel the triplets wriggling inside her womb. "On second thought, I think I'll come." Kuki grabbed her pink leather jacket. She pulled the door over as quiet as she could. "Yes!" fist pumped Ai. She pulled Kuki closer to her. "You're the best!" the excited Ai said as she kissed her on the cheek. Her cousin was the best. No third-wheeling for Ai tonight.
Patton pulled up to the restaurant's carpark. The family run restaurant looked bright and homely as customers chatted and smiled together while having a good time. As he placed the handbrake up, Fanny winced. Her green flowery dress outlined her bump perfectly. "Are you okay?" Patton asked worryingly. "Yeah, just Trevor kicking his mummy again." Fanny placed her hands on the bump. She breathed in and out, to calm herself down.
"He must know we're about to eat." Patton smirked.
Fanny turned towards him. "Just like his daddy." she said. Patton chuckled.
Pushing the door open, he clambered out. Slamming the door shut and running towards the other side of the car. He opened her side of the door with care. Placing a hand out to help Fanny out. She swatted his hand away. "You nearly deafened me." The woman grumpily stared at her fiancé, he awkwardly scratched his head. Pulling herself out, she glanced down at her stomach. Patton closed the door, but this time softly.
He clasped her hand. No objections from her, this time.
"I look like a whale." Fanny stated. She could barely see her toes in her white sandals.
Pulling her chin up, he met her eyes with his. "Honey, you're nine months pregnant. Nearly to give birth. You are the most beautiful woman I've met." He said gently. She melted into his brown eyes. Thinking on instinct, she kissed his lips. Pulling away, she looked up at her fiancé. Her love.
"Save that for tonight." Patton licked his lips and waggled his eyebrows. Fanny blushed.
"Good evening, Sir. Madame. Table reserved?" A waiter asked with a clipboard in his hands. He was standing at a podium. "No, em… Shit." Whispered Patton. He had forgot to reserve the table. "It's going to be a half an hour wait." The waiter stated. Fanny's stomach rumbled. "It's fine. We'll go somewhere else." Fanny suggested. Patton's eyebrows cocked up.
The pair were turning when a voice caught them in their tracks. "Patton. Fanny!" Kuki squealed. She was sitting at a booth with Ai, Ace and Henrietta. "Kuki." Fanny grinned. The pair walked towards the booth.
"Come join us." beckoned Ai. "Really?" asked Patton. Kuki nodded. Henrietta stared at the bump. "Wow, you're getting big. Can I feel?" she asked through her German accent. Without a word, Fanny took Henrietta's hand and placed it on the bump. Trevor excitedly moved as he felt the warmth from her hand. "Wow." She said fascinated. Ai looked away.
"I don't know if they'll let you sit with us, but I'll pull some strings." Ace said as he cracked his fingers. He squeezed past Patton and headed towards a waitress that was serving a nearby table. Henrietta looked up. She crossed her arms. "Of course, it's a woman." She said huffily.
All eyes on Ace, he shuffled away from the woman awkwardly. She however placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered something into his ear. Henrietta's face began to turn red. Ace's eyes bulged as the woman let go of his shoulder. He blushed and walked back to the booth. He gave the thumbs up. Another waitress strolled over with extra chairs for the pair. The woman grinned and waved at Ace.
"Isn't this nice?" Kuki said. She held hands with Fanny. Fanny however did not enjoy the closeness. "Yes. Just very close." She replied. Kuki grinned.
"Just wished the others were here." Kuki sighed. Her tone changed to sadness. Pulling her mobile phone; she looked down at the screensaver. A photograph of Wally and her holding a scan photo and Wally's acceptance letter to Massachusetts. A tear rolled down her cheek. She sniffed. Ai pulled Kuki into a hug. "He'll call tonight. I'm sure of it." She reassured her cousin. "But-…" began Kuki.
"Hi guys, sorry for your wait. The special today is clam chowder and sirloin steak. Followed by the very creamy cheesecake." It was the waitress from earlier. The woman winked towards Ace. He blushed. Henrietta stood up from the booth. She grabbed her denim jacket. Ace turned towards his girlfriend. He grabbed hold of her hand, but she batted it away. "No. Why don't you hold her hand." The blonde German woman said frustrated.
"What?... You mean Claire and I?" He said confused. Henrietta huffed.
"You know her name!" she began swearing in German. Storming towards the exit, Ace followed her suit. "Wow, did not see that coming." Said the waitress. Her caramel skin shone in the dimmed lights. Her bright pink hair was wrapped in braids and beads. It gave her a cool feel to her.
Patton cleared his throat through the awkwardness. "Do you mind me asking-…" began Patton.
"How I know him and what I said to him?" the waitress replied. Patton weakly nodded.
"We are in the same college and all I said was; that he's a lucky guy to have a hot girl like that. If I wasn't taken I would definitely go for that piece of ass." The woman replied. The second waitress with her frizzy black hair strolled by. She slapped the waitress' bottom. The woman blushed.
"Aw, you're not with Ace. You're les-…" began Kuki when Ai placed her hand over her cousin's mouth.
"Yes, a lesbian. A homosexual. A carpet muncher. Call it what you will. Anyway can I take your order?" the woman said as she pulled out a notepad and pen out of her pinafore apron. Ace and Henrietta could be seen arguing in the carpark. The woman had lots of rage for a tiny person.
Leaning back Patton placed his hands on the back of his head. His stomach was truly full. Henrietta was looking at her feet rather than Ace and Ace was trying to look at Henrietta but no luck. Kuki and Ai were talking about family. Fanny was staring into space. "Everything okay?" asked Patton.
"Yeah. Just thinking." Fanny replied. Patton took hold of her hands. "You worried about the delivery?" Patton asked. Fanny worriedly nodded. He pulled her closer to him. "Aw." Kuki said. Ai smiled. The other pair were still in a bad mood.
Giggles caught the attention of the group. Rachel and Nigel were holding hands and heading towards their own booth. "Nigel." Smiled Patton. He waved for them to come over. Smiling they accepted his silent invitation. "Rach." Fanny hugged the woman tightly. "Where have you been hiding?" asked Ai. Rachel laughed. "I've been busy with work and Charlie. I started back last week." She replied.
"Speaking of Charlie where is he?" Kuki asked excitedly. She looked behind Rachel and Nigel, just hoping he was hiding. "My brother is looking after him." Rachel replied. Nigel nervously scratched the back of his head.
"Harvey?... The kid who doesn't let anyone touch him. Is looking after Charlie?" Patton said shocked. Rachel nodded. "He was there and I convinced him with a few Mr Hamiltons." She could only imagine the pair were doing the now. Screaming? Fighting? Or maybe sleeping? She would prefer the last one.
"Oh." Said Fanny. "Oh, indeed." Patton replied.
"No, ye stoopid boy. Oh, as in Oh!" she said with pain on her face.
"Why are my feet wet?" asked Henrietta. She lifted the table cloth up from the table. Staring at her feet and at Fanny's dress, she put two and two together. "Baby is coming!" cried Henrietta. Patton almost fainted.
"Don't do that again." Fanny replied. She slowly stood up from the table. She was doing her breathing exercises she had learnt from the mid-wife. "Right time to get to hospital. Like now," Patton replied. He placed a twenty and a ten-dollar bill notes down on the table. "We got to go." Patton shouted. Everyone was in a panic except from Rachel and Fanny.
"Patton, I'll go to Fanny's house for the hospital bag. You take Fanny to the hospital. We'll visit soon." Rachel commanded. Her supreme leader instincts were showing. Nigel was finding it very attractive. "Yes, Mam." Patton saluted. He waddled Fanny towards the exit and towards the car. Hopefully she won't give birth in the car. It was a rental.
Screams were heard from a hospital room. Nurses were running around with medical equipment. "If you tell me to push one more time." Cried Fanny. She was using gas and air. "But you're almost there." Explained the doctor. Fanny shook her head. Patton winced. "Please let it be over." Patton prayed. His left hand was dead from Fanny's pressure. "One more!" the doctor exclaimed.
Both Fanny and Patton screamed. The cry from a baby calmed everyone.
Nurses checked his weight, his heart and other vital organs. Everything was great. Fanny turned towards the crying baby, she smiled softly. "Mummy is here." She called. One of the nurses placed Trevor in a towel and placed him in Fanny's arms. Patton was trying to sooth his almost broken hand. "He's beautiful." He said. Fanny nodded. She kissed the baby softly, the tears rolled down her son's face. His face turned from a scowl to a smile. Fanny lovingly rested her nose on his nose. "He's perfect." She said with tears in her eyes. The door to the room opened and revealed the pairs best friends. As they huddled around the beautiful baby, Patton took a step back. Admiring the scene before him, he wiped tears from his eyes. He was so proud to call this his family.
Ta, da. Another chapter. Just another year later… Oops sorry guys, but it has been updated. I took inspiration from my nephew, who is a ball of energy. As I remember visiting him in the hospital when he was born. This chapter almost made me cry as I imagined the scene. I'm sorry if I typed it too close to each other. Another chapter will be coming soon, stay strange guys.
Littlemissfg.