*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter they were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
"How are you feeling today?" I ask Joe as I lay down next to him on the bed. Shortly after Wrestlemania Joe's family suffered the death of his older brother. He and his brother were very close despite the age difference between the two. Joe looked up to his older brother and he was going to be Joe's best man in our wedding in September. Joe was taking it all pretty hard just like the rest of his family. It was unexpected. It had been a tough week for everyone. We just returned from Pensacola and we needed to get to packing because we were supposed to start moving at the end of this week. We were so far behind.
"Numb," he answers. "I just don't get it. I miss him already."
"I know you do, Baby. I don't know what I would do without my brother," I say. "I'm sorry."
"You ever realize no matter how many times someone says sorry after a loved one or a friend dies it never really takes away the hurt and the pain of the loss?" he asks.
"I know what you mean. When my grandpa passed away a few years ago I was devastated and no matter how many times someone said they were sorry it never really helped with the pain. I don't think the pain ever truly goes away. You just learn to adjust your life and learn to live without that person. I still hurt over my grandpa's death. He was a great man. I still miss him every day. The first year is the hardest because you're expecting them to be there and then they aren't. As holidays and the years go by you just adjust."
"It's not going to be the same is it?" he asks.
"Probably not but you know you and your family are going to get through this it's going to take some time but you're going to get through it. It was great to see your whole family come together this past week. I can tell how strong your bond is as a family."
"Family is everything," he says as he wraps his arm around me as I face him and places his hand on my stomach. "Aiga," he says which is family in Samoan. "This just showed me how important it is to spend more time with my family." He says as he rubs my stomach. He is in bad shape. He hasn't shaved for days so he's growing a beard and his hair hasn't been brushed for a few days. He has been in the same outfit for the last two days. He hasn't done much but lay in our bed sometimes crying and sometimes sleeping when he's able to. He's taking it all very hard and I don't know what to do for him. "One of them is kicking," he says with a smile. It's the only time he truly smiles in life lately. "Hey there Little Ladies," he says talking to my stomach making me smile. "It won't be long until you make your appearance in the world. I'm getting more excited every day to hold you in my arms. You're going to be loved by so many but your mama and me are going to love you the most. We are going to do everything to make sure you have the world and all the love we can give you. There's not going to be a moment in your life where you feel like you aren't loved or you need more love. I can't wait to hug you and kiss you. I can't wait to see your smiles and hear your little giggles. I can't wait to see who you both are. I can't wait to feel your heartbeat when I lay you on my chest. I hope you love like your mama and you forgive just like she does. I love you both so much already. Your aiga is waiting for you to arrive as much as we are. You're going to learn that your aiga is everything. We love you so much," he says with tears in his eyes as tears form in my own eyes. I run my hand through his hair and he pulls me closer. He begins to cry on my shoulder, deep heavy sobs as I hold him in my arms. My heart is breaking for him. If I could take away his hurt I would. I wish there was more that I could do for him. The only thing I can do is be there for him and hold him as he cries. I kiss his forehead as he cries. "I'm sorry, Willow," he says with a hoarse voice and blood shot eyes.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," I say as I play with his hair. "You're okay."
"I love you," he says.
"I love you too," I say with a soft smile before I kiss his lips softly. "I'm high on loving you," I say with a smile.
"Is that the song you want to go with for the wedding?" he asks.
"Yes, I was listening to it the other day and I thought how perfect it was for us. I wanted From The Ground Up but I like H.O.L.Y. a lot better. Do you like it?"
"I love it," he says with a smile. "So what names did you want to use for the baby since you don't really like Leinani anymore?"
"I don't know I was thinking about Charlotte because of Charlotte Bronte or even Emily but I'm not sure. I want something that means a lot to us. A name that's special to us."
"What about London?" he asks. "That's in England which is a where I proposed to you and that's where we decided on forever together. Do you like the name London?"
"London and Kalea," I say. "It sounds pretty good but London what? What would be her middle name? I'm loving the name London."
"London Grace but if you really want something special. London Elizabeth or London Jane," he says. "You know because Pride and Prejudice was written by Jane Austen and the lead female character is Elizabeth and since I proposed to you on the Pride and Prejudice Bridge I thought that might work."
"It amazes me that you know so much about Pride and Prejudice," I smile.
"I learned a thing or two from you," he smiles. "So what do you think?"
"I want to go with London Jane," I say with a smile. "I think it is pretty. London Jane Calaway-Anoa'i."
"Perfect," he says with a smile before he kisses my lips softly. "Kalea and London I love it."
"Me too," I say with a smile. "But you know we really need to get back to packing so we can start moving this weekend."
"I know. We've just been a little distracted lately. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I started some packing already. I have Alani's room finished and I started packing up some things in the living room. If we work together it shouldn't take too long. We should be ready to go by this weekend."
"Yeah," he says. "I can't believe I'm moving to Houston. I never thought I would live out of Florida in my life but I'm ready for a new adventure," he says as we sit up. "Did you see the house? Everything is done and it is perfect."
"I love the story book theme for London and Kalea," I say. "My heart melted when I saw that picture. I wanted to cry it's perfect they did an amazing job. We just need to get London and Kalea done in storybook pages to hang over their cribs." The nursery we had designed for the girls was absolutely perfect and beautiful. I couldn't have asked for anything better. The walls were painted a light blue with silver and gold foil polka dots on the wall. There were white shelves drilled into the wall that would hold books, ultrasound pictures and other things. We had pictures from storybooks such as Bambi, Peter Pan, Peter Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh, quotes from Dr. Seuss books and Charlotte's Web also wall art from Where The Wild Things Are. It was perfect. I couldn't wait to put our little ladies in their nursery. I spent a lot of money and spent a lot of time on Pinterest to give them the perfect nursery. The people that did our house did a great job.
"I know," he says with a smile. "I'm in love. It is perfect. We need to add some Curious George to the mix. I always loved Curious George."
"Me too but I loved Winnie the Pooh and Peter Rabbit more. They will have a lot of classic storybooks too. I got all the books from my collection when I was little. I can't wait to read them to the girls."
"Neither can I," he says with a smile. "And the rest of the house looks just as great. I think we did a good job designing our first house."
"I don't disagree it's everything we ever wanted it's a touch of you and me. It's perfect. I can't wait to live there. I'm excited."
"Me too," he says with a smile, "but we'll never get there if we don't start packing and get that finished. It won't be long now until we are on the road."
"I know," I say, "so let's get moving."
"You mean, Joe get moving," he says. "You need to take it easy. I don't want you going into early labor or anything."
"I'll be fine," I say with a smile. "I won't move any furniture or lift anything heavy."
"All right as long as you stay safe you can help pack."
"Thanks," I say with a smile. Joe gets out of the bed and then helps me up because as I am so far into my pregnancy standing up isn't my strongest suit because I'm so big. We walk downstairs and continue working on our packing. The next couple days we bust our asses packing up our house and by Friday afternoon we are living out of boxes. Our house is completely cleaned up for the new owner and we are ready to start our trek to Houston early in the morning.
We arrive at Vanessa's house this evening to pick up Alani to bring her to our house so that she's ready to leave with us in the morning since she will be living with us in Houston. I wanted her to finish out her 3rd grade year in Tampa before moving to Houston and then have her come once school was out but Joe insisted she come with us now and start school for the last few weeks in Houston so that she can make friends and starting school next year would be easier for her. I didn't agree but it's what he thought was best. I am not sure Vanessa was too thrilled either. Joe rings the doorbell and a few minutes later Vanessa answers the door. "Hey," she says.
"Hey," says Joe.
"Hey," I greet her with a hug.
"Look at you, you're about to pop," she says with a smile. "I'm happy for both of you. Are you two getting excited for the babies?"
"I'm just ready to have them," I say as she lets us in the house. "I'm so uncomfortable. I just have to make it to May 25th then they'll be here."
"I bet," she says with a smile. "So I wanted to talk to you both about the whole custody agreement since I chose to do this out of court with both of our lawyers."
"Okay," says Joe. She leads us to the living room and we take a seat. Her son is playing with his toys quietly and Alani is playing with him. "Should we talk in front of Alani?"
"She already knows what's going to happen, I just want to make sure we are on the same page," she says.
"Of course," says Joe. "I know Alani is going to live with me during the school year and over the summer she will be in Tampa for a month, you get her on Christmas and Spring Break. I know. We're on the same page, Vanessa."
"Every other Christmas and Every other Spring Break," she says. "I don't know how I feel about all this. She's going to be in Houston without her mommy."
"Not that Willow is trying to replace you," says Joe, "but she's going to take good care of her and give her all the motherly love that she can. They get along well and Willow loves her like her own. You can call her whenever you want and you can facetime her whenever you want to. We aren't going to keep her away from you. We want you to continue to have a relationship with her and be in her life."
"Thank-you," she says. "Willow, please take care of my baby girl for me. I know she wants this and I'm not going to keep her from what she wants even if it breaks my heart. Please take care of her."
"Of course," I say with a smile. "I will take care of her even though she's 9 and can take care of herself mostly but I will be there for her and love her like my own. I already do."
"You know when you first got with Joe I was a little hesitant about a new woman being around Alani because I didn't want you to try to replace me but then I saw how much you love her and how much you care for her now she's one of the luckiest little girls because she has two moms that love her and care about her. I trust you with my daughter completely and she loves you. She enjoys being with you. I have to admit we got lucky with you because there are so many step moms out there that just want the dad in their lives and treat their stepchildren poorly but you stepped up and became a mom when you didn't have to be. You showed me that you love my child just as much as I do. I'm happy that I can share Alani with you and that you're so amazing with her. Thank-you, Willow."
"You're welcome," I smile. "Alani will always be special to me and treated as if she was my own. I love her, Vanessa. We want the same thing for her. We want to see her happy, grow up successful and make sure she feels loved. Thank-you for sharing her with me."
"You're welcome," she smiles. "So are you two ready for your move?"
"Yes," says Joe. "We can't wait. Are you coming to the wedding in September?"
"I wouldn't miss it," she says with a smile. "I hope all of you enjoy Texas. I'm going to miss you all but I know this is where you want to be so you can be near Willow's parents and family. Alani," she says.
"Yes, Mama?"
"I think it's time to go now. I think Willow and Daddy want to get you home so they can get some rest. Y'all have a long drive tomorrow."
"Okay, Mama," she says. She gives her little brother a hug and a kiss before she comes over to Vanessa. "Mama, I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too," she says. "I love you, Alani."
"I love you too, Mama," she says. "And I will text you and call you every day!"
"I look forward to it," she smiles with tears in her eyes. I know it must be hard for her to give up Alani the way she is. I know it's not easy for any mother to let their child move far away from them. I don't think I could ever do it with London and Kalea. "I love you so much," she says as she hugs her tightly and Alani hugs her back. "You're going to have so much fun and I am only a phone call away and a text message away. I love you, Alani."
"I love you too, Mama," she says with tears of her own. I imagine this isn't easy for Alani either just like it wasn't easy for me when I was younger and I was taken from my dad to live with my mom in Tennessee. It's not easy.
"All right," says Vanessa trying to hold back her tears. "You be good and call me as soon as you get to Houston."
"We will," says Joe with a smile. "Take care, Vanessa," he says before he hugs her.
"You too," she says, "and you too Willow, take care of my baby for me."
"I promise I will," I say with tears in my own eyes before I hug her. Alani, Joe and I walk out of the front door of Vanessa's home to our car. We go home for the night and first thing in the morning we pack up our dog, Alani and make sure everything is on the moving truck. We look around our empty house one last time and tears are in my eyes as we shut the door for the last time on the house. We make our way to the car and soon we're off to Houston for a new beginning and a new life together.
*A/N: What did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading. Much love to the Anoa'i family. Rest Easy Matt!