Chapter 10

Kenzi leaned back into the passenger's seat of their rented SUV and fired off a text message to Nate. She and Bo had been on the road for two weeks now and last night's St. Patty's Day reprieve only made her miss home even more. She found it funny, just a few weeks ago she would have reveled in getting wasted on green beer and partying down with her bestie, but now, ugh. There is nothing more depressing then being the only sober person in a bar surrounded by happy drunks. No wonder Lauren always looked bored whenever they went out.

Kenzi stretched her back, she was still experiencing the morning sickness, albeit sporadically, the bloating and back pain was the worst. That coupled with the fatigue was making her realize that after the Memorial Cup Tournament was over in May she was done. She needed to start looking for a different job. She couldn't stick Nate with the baby while she was out on the road for weeks at a time. It wasn't just Nate though, Kenzi wanted to be there. She knew what it was like, having grown up without parents herself, she was determined to never put her kid through that.

Living with Bo had been great, but Bo was more like a big sister than a mother. Kenzi had always wondered how different things would have been if her mother had lived. Would her parents still be married, it was doubtful, her father had about as much warmth as a brick wall. From what she could remember her mother seemed like a nice person. She used to bake cinnamon rolls on Sunday mornings and knit Kenzi funny looking hats. Her mother was a drug addict so there was probably of lot of things Kenzi had blocked, the most clear memory of her mother she actually had, not that she even saw her, was of the day she died. Kenzi remembered she had been upset that day because some mean boy at school had teased her and called her a dirty Jew, which was odd because her family was Catholic, but whatever, kids and all that. She had seen the ambulance from down the street, her father was standing in front of the house waiting for her. It was the only time Kenzi could remember him hugging her, he had tears in his eyes and told her mommy was gone. Then he dumped her off with one of the neighbors and followed the ambulance to the hospital.

He came back three days later and stuffed her in a way to small black dress for the funeral. Kenzi and a couple of the other kids took to playing in the casket room, not really understanding what was going on. She felt so lost, all the adults were crying and talking softly amongst themselves, her father was nowhere to be found and everybody had kept telling her to sit down and be quiet. After that her father never really spoke to her. She spent her time with babysitters or neighbors. Kenzi vowed her child would never feel like that, he or she would always know love and feel loved. She would be a fixture in their life, not just window dressing that occasionally baked yummy treats or bought them something expensive.

Her thoughts drifted to Nate, she wondered what kind of father he would make. He was basically a good guy, kind of irresponsible, and immature at times for a 27 year old. He also lacked ambition and could be really lazy, opting to spend his free time playing video games rather then working on his music. The band he was in, The Raptorz, were good, not recording contract good, but still good enough to earn a decent living. Yeah right, decent for a single guy living in a one room apartment with no furniture and a mattress on the floor. Ugh, he needed to get a real job, motivating him to do it was not going to be fun. Kenzi made an alright living, but she was also college educated and had good work experience, so upgrading wouldn't be the struggle for her that it will be for him. Even if he just got a job at McDonald's it would be something and they were going to need steady money from both of them to stay afloat. Kenzi sighed, this whole adult thing looked good in the brochure, but now she wanted a refund.

Kenzi was pulled from out of her head by a grumpy Bo laying on the horn and cursing at traffic. Ahh, Bo, her crazy bestie, they were getting back to each other, things had been ugly and awkward, but she had never lost confidence in their relationship. Bo could be a thoughtless ass that let her emotions dictate her behavior, she wasn't a bad person, she just had her moments. Whatever else, they had always worked well together, it made potentially leaving her job that much more difficult. Kenzi stretched her back and groaned, ugh they needed to get to the hotel and quick. She was dying for a soak in a tub and this place apparently had whirlpool jets in each room. Whatever, Kenzi just hoped the place was better than the last rat trap they had stayed in. Sleeping in hotels, another thing to put on her list of why she needs a new job.

"I'm sorry Kenz, we should be there shortly," Bo slammed her hands against the steering wheel. "If these cocksuckers would GET OUT Of THE FUCKING WAY!"

Kenzi had to laugh, damn Bo needed to get laid. Sexually frustrated Bo was right up there with monster hangover Bo and I have a cold and am a big baby Bo as her least favorite Bo. "It's fine, the traffic isn't your fault. I'm just tired."

"I know that, but we were supposed to have been there an hour ago," Bo gripped the steering wheel tightly, "I should already be showered and passed out by now."

"I know," Kenzi leaned back and sighed. This trip had taken to much out of her. She closed her eyes, one more week then I am home, one more week then she was done. Kenzi dozed off only to be startled out of her dream a short while later, "What the fuck?" She blinked a few times willing her eyes to focus. What was going on, why was she in a car?

"Kenzi, hey Kenzi," Bo shook her shoulder gently, "wake up we are here."

Kenzi shook her head a few times to clear out the cobwebs. She looked around and realized they were parked in front of the lobby of a hotel. "Um, yeah OK." She went to stand up and froze, her back felt like it was tied in a knot. This was no big deal, pregnant woman worked, she refused to let that be any excuse. Gingerly she stepped down out of the vehicle, instantly relieving some of the pressure. Fuck this, Kenzi needed a massage like nobody's business, Bo would just have to get over it, tomorrow she was having a spa day.

"Kenz, you comin'?"

Kenzi nodded, "Yeah right behind you." Kenzi trudged slowly foreword, everything was stiff and sore. Damn this kid, not even born yet and already giving their momma grief. She was looking down at her feet trying to hide the pain on her face. Not paying attention, she crashed into Bo's back, "Oompf! What the hell Bo?" Kenzi froze, was she really seeing this, yes she was. She broke out into a huge grin, there in the middle of the lobby stood Lauren.

"Hi guy's, where've you been?"

Bo just stood there in wide-eyed disbelief. Kenzi had to chuckle, seriously kids is this how we are going to play this? She looked back and forth between them then elbowed Bo in the ribs for encouragement, "Lauren, uh, you look, wow, you are here!"

Kenzi shook her head, smooth Bo, real smooth, "I think what she means to say is 'Hello Lauren, I am so glad to see you, I have missed you so much.' Isn't that right Bo?"

Bo looked at Lauren and nodded vigorously, "Uh, yeah, hi."

"Hi," Lauren stepped foreword and pulled Bo into a tight hug, "I hope it's OK that I'm here, I have really missed you."

"It's great, so great. I missed you too." As Bo melted into the embrace, Kenzi could see the tears forming in her eyes.

"Good I'm glad," Lauren was wearing her million dollar smile, she looked lighter somehow, airy even, "I know that you have to work, but I can just keep myself busy tomorrow. I'm sure this place has a museum or a coffee shop I can hang out at."

"So you are staying tomorrow night to then?" Kenzi grinned, Lauren had contacted her the night before, or rather super early this morning asking for their hotel information, how long they would be staying, etc., still she was stunned the "plan my life down to the second" doctor actually showed up.

"Yeah if that's OK."

"It's great." Bo gasped.

"I'm glad," Lauren pulled back placing a soft kiss on Bo's cheek. "Why don't I let you two get checked in and Bo you can bring your bags around, I'm staying in 210." She turned towards Kenzi, "I hope you don't mind flying solo for the next two nights Kenzi, but my wife and I need to spend some time together."

Mind? Hell no she didn't mind, having the room all to herself meant more naked time for Kenzi. "Fine by me doc, this one snores like a trucker."

Bo blushed, "Kenzi!"

Lauren smirked, "She's also a cover hog."

"Lauren! Damn, feelin' the love here guys, thanks." Bo was grinning from ear to ear, this was exactly what her bestie needed. Bo could act tough all she wanted, but Kenzi knew these last few weeks not talking to Lauren were miserable for her. "Not that I'm complaing, but what are you doing here?"

Lauren shrugged, "I'm a woman who knows what she wants and is lucky enough to have the bank roll to finance a last minute flight, reserve a hotel and book a rental car." She glanced over at Kenzi, "And you are lucky enough to have a best friend willing to e-mail me your itinerary at 3:30 in the morning. Now go, do what you need to do and I will order us a pizza or something. Room 210 Bo, hurry." She winked then kissed Bo on the cheek once more before heading off down the hallway.

Bo turned to Kenzi after she had finished oogling her wife's retreating backside pulling her into a crushing bear hug, "Kenzi, thank you so much!"

Kenzi let Bo squeeze the life out of her for a solid minute before pushing back, "It's all good Bo," she pointed to the reception desk, "the reservation's under your name let's check in, so you can go, um, meet your wife."

Bo nodded and practically skipped over to the desk. Kenzi was happy for Bo, she and Lauren were amazing together, they were just being, uh, difficult, and stupid, let's not forget stupid. When Lauren had called her last night, it was pretty obvious she was drunk. She told Kenzi that she had gone out with Ciara and her ex and that the woman had apparently crashed out in the guest room, Bo was just going to love hearing about that. Lauren said nothing happened, and Kenzi believed her, but that she was tempted and in the end all it did was make her miss her wife. She asked for their travel info then said goodnight, in all honesty Kenzi had just thought it was drunken ramblings that would be forgotten by the time Lauren woke up. Kenzi was really glad the doctor had surprised her and judging by the way Bo was gushing over there at the counter so was she. Kenzi smiled, "Spa day here I come!"