All you know and love belong to J.E.
Big thanks to Christi (Christibabe) for all of the amazing help!
I know you all are getting sick of my "I'm sorries", but I am. It seems everything hits at one time and it delays my story, I am truly sorry! Keep leaving the reviews I love reading them!
CHAPTER 21
RPOV
It seems as if everything is coming together nicely. We found a house that we both love, the babies are both healthy, we're having at least one boy, and the other twin is shy. I love the picture of the perfect little foot.
Steph and I are getting ready to have lunch with Val, where we'll pitch her our idea. It will not only help her, but us as well.
"I'm ready to go." Steph said, coming to my office.
"Ok. Lunch is ready and Ella has it set up on seven. Let's go on up, Val should be here any minute." I said. We'd decided to have our little meeting in our apartment to help everyone relax.
"I'm a little nervous. What if she doesn't like our idea of helping her?" she said.
"Babe, it'll work out. If Val doesn't like the idea, we'll look for another way to help her." I said.
We got up to the apartment and my phone buzzed. The front desk was letting me know Val was here. I told them to let her up.
Steph went to the door to let Val in.
"Hey, Val. How are you doing?" Steph asked, letting her in.
"Hi, Val. Thanks for joining us." I said.
"Hi. Thank you for having me. It's nice to get out of the house every so often." Val said with a small laugh.
"Well, let's eat. Ella has the dining room all set up for lunch and I'm starving." Steph said.
We headed into the kitchen where everything had been set out. Taking our seats at the table, we made small talk while we ate. Once we'd finished, Steph and I cleared the table.
"Not that I don't love spending time with both of you, and it was a wonderful lunch, but I have the feeling there's something more to this than just lunch." Val said. Her expression turned worried as she asked, "Are you guys moving away?"
"God no! What gave you that idea?" Steph said.
Val shrugged. "I know how much you both enjoyed having Julie here and I know you've been missing her since she went back home. I just thought maybe that's why you asked me to come today, to tell me you'd decided to move closer to her."
"We love Julie very much, but I don't think I could be so far away from mom or you with babies on the way. I'm going to need all the experienced moms I can get." Steph said.
"We did find a house, but it's only a short way from here. You're right about there being a reason for asking you here today though. There's a business proposition we'd like to discuss with you." I said, smiling to put her at ease before continuing, "Shall we go into the living room where it's more comfortable?"
Val's POV
I was a little confused, what could they want to talk to me about? I sat in a chair, Steph and Carlos sat on the couch. They were both smiling, which made me feel a little better.
"Val, when I asked you to be in my wedding, you let me know money was tight for you. I've been trying to think of a way to help you." Steph said.
She was right. I'd almost told her no because I didn't know how I'd pay for the dress. Even the cheapest dress would've put us in some major debt.
"Stephanie, came to me with an idea right before the wedding and I loved it. I've been working out some of the details of her plan. If you accept, we'd like to put the rest of the decisions in your hands." Carlos said, I was now more lost than ever. I sat there just staring at them, waiting for them to tell me.
Stephanie finally started talking. "My idea was that we open up a day care here in the building. That way the babies would be near to us. I'd want someone here that I can fully trust. Val, we'd like you to be in charge of the day care. It'd have mom hours so that you could get your kids to and from school. When they're on vacation from school, they could come with you."
I could feel my jaw dropping as Carlos continued, "You would have a salary, expense account, vacation time, sick and personal days, and of course medical insurance. You'd have the same benefits as all the other Rangeman employee. You'd have full use of our gym, I'd like you to have some self-defense training as well as some training with a gun."
They both just sat there staring at me, I didn't know what to say.
"You want to hire me?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes, even though the babies aren't here yet, We'd want you to start as soon as you can. Stephanie and I would like to hear your ideas on the set up of the day care area, including the playground. I'd also like to start your training as soon as we can, of course that is if you'd like the job." Carlos told me.
"We want to help you, Val. This would help all of us. What do you say?" Steph asked.
"Could I bring in another mom to help? That way if I couldn't be here, everything would still be covered?" I asked.
"Well, they'd have to interview with us and we'd have to do a background check." Carlos said.
"Well, the person I'm thinking of is very close to all of us already, and I think the extra money would help her family too. I was thinking of Mary Lou." I said smiling.
"That's a wonderful idea!" Steph said with excitement." Does this mean you accept?"
"Well, I want to talk to Albert, but yes, I'd love too!" I said. "This means so much to me. Thank you both so much for this opportunity." I was starting to tear up and I gave them both a hug.
"I'm so happy you said yes!" Steph said, also crying.
"Ok, well, you go talk to Albert and I'll have everything ready for when you're ready to start. I'll also get everything ready for Mary Lou and if you want, she can start with you. We can ask her or you can." Carlos said smiling.
"I think Steph and I should ask her together." I said
"We could ask her to meet us, and put the question to her tomorrow before we go shopping." Steph said.
"Sounds good to me. Girls day!" I said.
I couldn't believe what'd just happened. I couldn't wait to tell Albert. They walked me down to my car. Steph said she'd call Mary Lou right away. After saying our goodbyes, I was on my way home feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
SPOV
After Val left yesterday, I was so excited. I loved her idea of asking Mary Lou to join her. As soon as I got to my desk, I called Mary Lou and arranged for her to go shopping with Val and me today. Carlos had told me to take the day and work on a plan with the girls for the day care.
I was on my way to pick up Val, then we were headed over to Mary Lou's house. We'd tell her the plan and go from there the rest of the day.
"Good Morning, Steph." Val almost sang as she got in the SUV.
"Good morning. You're in a good mood today." I said.
"I'm so excited about everything. This is going to help me so much and I'll feel like I'm being useful." Val said excitedly.
"I'm so happy you accepted and brought up the idea of Mary Lou." I said pulling up to Mary Lou's house.
We got out and in true Burg fashion, Mary Lou was standing at her door waiting for us. She had a big smile and was waving excitedly at us as we got out and waved back.
"Hey! Come on in and we can talk." Mary Lou said.
We walked in and took off our coats, setting them down.
"Omg! Steph where did that belly come from?" Mary Lou asked.
"It was just there one morning, I feel like it happened over night. I guess this is what I get for having twins." I said with a laugh.
"I think it looks beautiful!" Val said.
"That's because you're the aunt!" Mary Lou said to Val, then she turned to me, "How'd your appointment go? Do you know their sex?" she asked me.
"It was great! They're both healthy and only one showed the goods." I said with a smile.
"And...?" Val urged me to go on.
"Well, don't tell anyone yet, but baby A is a boy." I said, then added, "Baby B is a little shy and kicked the wand."
"Aww, Baby B is shy, like its mommy." Mary Lou said with a smile.
We all sat down around her table and Val and I started to tell her the plan. Mary Lou sat wide eyed and nodded ever so often. By the time we were done telling her everything, I wasn't sure what she was thinking.
"So, where do I sign up? I've always wanted a job, but so many aren't friendly to mom hours." Mary Lou said, "Plus a little self-defense and gun training could be fun." She was smiling from ear to ear.
"That's great! I'm going to call Carlos and tell him the good news." I said.
After my phone call we decided to keep our day going, and headed out to do our shopping, or well window shopping really. We wanted to make a list of things we wanted for the day care and I wanted to see if I could find anything for the nursery for our new home.
Our first stop was Babies R Us. It seemed like we were walking around forever and it was hot in that store, so my coat was off not long after we walked in the door. Val had the pen and paper to make a list of stuff we liked and would need. We looked at everything from cribs, toys, bath stuff, clothes, and all things safety. The list seemed endless.
For some reason while we were walking around my spidy sense was going wild.
"Do either of you feel like we are being watched?" I asked
"People are probably looking at us because we are only sporting a pen and paper and not buying anything." Val said.
"You're probably right." I said.
We continued our trip when my phone rang.
"Yo" I said smiling.
"Babe, that's my line." I could hear Carlos smiling over the phone.
"How are you?" I asked as I found a glider and plopped down in it.
"I'm good. Are you and the girls having fun?" He asked.
"Yes, I didn't know we would need so much stuff." I said.
"When you ladies are done, could you ladies swing by here?" he asked.
"I'll talk with the girls, but I don't see it being a problem. I think we'll be leaving soon." I said.
"Ok, love you, Babe." he said.
"Love you too." I said and then he hung up. I really need to have a talk with that man about his phone manners.
I talked with the girls as we finished our trip and then headed for Rangeman to see what Carlos wanted.
Unknown POV
I saw her today. I finally found the perfect person. I followed her to a place called Rangeman. It was time to form a plan. I can't let her slip through my fingers, my timing has to be perfect. I have waited too long for this moment. I can't believe she was just looking and not buying anything. What luck that I was here the same time as her. She looked to be close to the end of her pregnancy. As I drove away from the building I started to form my plans, I felt excitement for the first time in months. Soon I would have everything I'd ever wanted.