A New Kind of Someday
Chapter 21
JE owns and loans, I borrow and return with sorrow
a/n In the previous chapter I had Ben getting 2 Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, although, a wonderful breed of dog they may not have been a good choice for a small child. Labrador Retrievers are a much better choice for a child because of their gentle nature and devoted disposition to their families.
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Previously…
We ate lunch down at the wharf sampling the local wine with our were whispering and kissing and making plans to go to the Maritime Museum when we heard laughter and hoots. Up walked a little boy, "Hi Beautiful, want to go and look at some puppies with Daddy and the guys?" and that afternoon we added two Labrador Retrievers to the family. We also learned that we had to search the car for trackers if we wanted time alone.
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"Les, you remember that tonight we have the last birthing class and tomorrow morning we have Jenny's appointment with Dr. Riley right?"
"Of course I do Beautiful. When we get home let's go online and start looking at baby furniture for the nursery. We'll need two of everything including two rocking chairs for the nursery and 2 rocking chairs for downstairs."
"Two rocking chairs?"
"I'm going to be a hands on Dad, Beautiful. These babies are our babies - our son and our daughter."
"Les, if you weren't driving this car and the guys weren't following us I would kiss you."
"Save the kiss till we get home and ditch the guys."
"We need to find them girlfriends or at least a life so they can stop focusing on ours."
"Beautiful, they all have girlfriends - just not the ones you bring home."
"That is so wrong on so many levels."
"Les, we need to think of names for the babies. Do you have any ideas?"
"Yes, I would love the little girl to be called Emily, that was my grandmother's name. What about you?"
"I love Emily and I have to admit I like the boys name Jordan and for his middle name I like your middle name Mateo." said Steph.
"Jordan Mateo Santos, sounds good, what about a middle name for Emily?"
"Ella's middle name is Grace so how about Emily Grace Santos?
"Perfect"
"Les, you remember how to lose a tail don't you?"
"Why Ms. Plum are you suggesting we ditch the guys?" grinned Les.
"Well, Mr. Santos if we want some more alone time to discuss certain subjects we may have to resort to devious behavior - I heard you used to specialize in devious behavior. Crap, I forgot about the trackers they put on the car."
"You mean the ones that while you all were looking at the puppies I took off this car and put in their car." laughed Les.
"You're so bad - I love you." We waved at the guys, Les floored it and made some quick turns and we were gone. It's hard to hide a red Mustang Convertible unless you're Les and pull into a new car lot among a red convertible sale.
"Did you get this car here?"
"Yes, and I bought you a blue one to match your eyes, it's at Skip's."
"That's hardly what one would consider a Mom car Les." laughed Steph.
"Beautiful, you are sexy and gorgeous, I want you to have a fun car. We'll get you a Mom car too. Did you know that up the road about a mile is a Dairy Queen, do you feel like some ice cream?"
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Last night we finished the birthing classes. Jenny and I passed. Les excelled. All the women in the class wanted him as a coach, he has such a calming, good natured disposition, even their husbands wanted him to help because of his running commentary. The leader offered him a job as an assistant. It will be interesting to see if his calm demeanor during the practice sessions will be here during the actual event. I know his smile will be, he can't wait for the babies to get here.
Our appointment with Dr. Riley this morning went well except for the fact he wants Jenny on bed rest for most of the time. He wants the babies to get a little bigger, they are about 3 pounds each and the longer Jenny carries then the stronger their lungs will be. I checked with him and if she stays in bed most of Saturday she can be part of the party if she promises to sit in a chair.
I know she is nervous about the Manosos coming, but both Les and I have reassured her that they are wonderful people and will in no way hold her responsible for how things turned out. She is excited to see Julie this afternoon. With the weight of the world on her shoulders we often forget that Jenny is a teenager. As soon as Julie hit the door there were screams, giggles and just smiles all around. Julie looked tired and her face and hands were all swollen, but I knew it was from the steroids she was taking. Rachel and I got the girls settled on Jenny's bed for them to talk and rest.
Everything was set up for Julie's appointment, Bobby was going with Rachel and Ron in the morning. Les and I had an appointment first thing in the morning and then I would be back to help Ella and Jesse get ready for the Manosos. Les was involved in some project he had started. I didn't know what he was doing but I sure wanted to be around and watch him work if he took his shirt off again. I told him that and he just laughed, kissed me, grabbed a couple of bottles of water and ran out.
The next day we got a call from Bobby that Julie's doctor Mary Swanson wanted to keep Julie overnight to run tests. He was staying with Julie and after talking to Rachel, she and Ron were staying also and the two other children would stay with us.
Thursday morning Tank and Hal left for Newark to pick up the Manosos and Santos. I was excited and nervous about meeting Les's Mom and brother and sister. I was very nervous about how the Manoso's would feel when Les and I told them about us being a couple. I shouldn't have been nervous.
They all walked into the kitchen Ella and Maria started talking like they had never been apart. I was hugged and kissed by Mama and Papa and then I felt Les put his arms around me and introduce me to his Mom and his brother and sister. He shook hands with Papa. Mama and Papa hugged us both and said, "We are so happy Steph, Les is a wonderful man and will love you forever. You both deserve to be happy."
The place was filled with laughter, love and music. The pool was epicenter of the outdoor activity. The catering company showed up and Skip and Tank started steaming crabs.
Ben had charmed the Manoso clan and was sitting on Abuela's lap telling her all about cloud messages from heaven. His puppies were playing with Nix and just collapsed in the grass. Tom came in with Hunter and was introduced to everyone. He sat down at the table with Les and I and Les introduced him to his sister Janie and his mother Ginny. Ben walked up looked at Janie and said, "You're pretty, are you married?"
"No, Ben I'm not married and thank you for the compliment."
"Your welcome, I'd call you Beautiful but that name is taken. Have you met my Daddy?" said Ben.
"Yes, I was just introduced to your Daddy."
"Do you like little boys that have 2 puppies?"
"Yes, I like little boys that have 2 puppies."
"Daddy, she's a keeper, she's not married, she likes little boys and puppies."
Tom and Janie sat there stunned and the rest of us broke up laughing. Tom started to apologize and Janie just waved him off. "I'm a first grade teacher Tom this is not the first time I have been interviewed by a 6 year old little boy. It is the first time it was in front of the Daddy though." she laughed. Janie was a female version of Les, golden skin, sun kissed hair and beautiful emerald green eyes and a smile that could light up a room. Tom had noticed.
John, Lester's brother walked up with Brian and sat down at the table with plates full of food. I looked at Ginny Santos and asked what formula she had used to get such handsome sons and beautiful daughter. She laughed and said Lester Sr. was the formula and she often thought he had cloned them. I was looking at Les and saw a momentary expression of pain when his dad was mentioned, but it was gone as soon as it appeared. He started to laugh and said "It's a wonder there weren't a dozen of the Santos kids, he couldn't keep his hands off Mom. We used to yell when we came in the "Kids in the house!"
Ginny blushed and laughed and said "You're just like him Les! You haven't let Steph out of your arms for one minute this afternoon."
Les jumped up and grabbed my hand. "Let's dance beautiful." Les programed into the juke box all slow songs. Hector walked up and tapped Les on the shoulder. Les turned around and looked at Hector and said "Get your own girl Hector. I hardly ever get to spend a moment with my girl."
"Steph, Les, something is wrong with Jenny I think you should come…"