CHAPTER THIRTY SIX…OUR WEDDING!
I turn from my brother's arms to find my bride to be holding something in her delicate hands but wearing a very sexy smile. I walk over to my Madison as she begins to inform me while never taking her eyes off me when I hear her say "Honey we are going to have a baby". I take the white plastic stick out of my bride's shaking hands while I stare down and see a blue plus sign in one of the indented circles. With Madison already crying I too begin to cry and then so does our sister in law Avery. My brother shouts out my bedroom door for our mama's as we hear several footsteps coming up the stairs at once. With more cries filling my bedroom my sister Sofia and Madison's best friend Kate say in unison "Tears ladies…stop…don't ruin your make up".
After a few moments of celebration in my bedroom upon hearing the news that my soon to be wife is pregnant thanks to my brother, my family and Madison's best friend leaves the two of us alone. Standing in front of the large bay window in my room I am holding my Madison close to my body. Then before we break the holds we have on one another Madison rests her forehead against mine and says while we watch more guests arrive through the bay window "Well I guess I had better go and get ready". Before she leaves my sight my wife, in two short hours, places the palms of her hands on my cheeks and says lovingly "Hey wifey and new mama of mine, I love you and will see you outside very soon". I kiss Madison tenderly at first but then the kiss becomes more sensual and when it becomes borderline soft porn my fiancé halts my progression. Taking a couple of much needs breathes Madison says "Mari…my sweet gorgeous Mari…please save that passion for later".
Sizing myself up in my full length mirror of my off white colored wedding dress with the slight pink vest and scarf that is part of the color scheme of our wedding attire, I hear more car doors slam shut and the sound of some friendly voice outside. I walk out onto the second floor porch and I scream "Hey M&M, it's so good to see you both…and you too Thatch and Marky Mark". My sister Sofia's half siblings arrive as I shout out to them from up above and all four children…well two teenagers and two twenty year olds…shout and wave "Hello" back to me. Within a few seconds the four of them are standing in my room exchanging hugs and kisses along with some loving best wishes for me…and for my Madison.
Uncle Mark and Aunt Lexie, who still live on the Pacific coast in Malibu, had four children of there own. Thatcher Grey Sloan and Meredith Christina Sloan are twins and are the oldest at twenty two years old. Thatcher is attending Columbia University in New York City and studying journalism and pre law. Meredith is attending Dartmouth, just like her aunt and namesake, as she is studying pre med. Then there is Mary Caroline Sloan, named after Lexie's mother, who is a senior and Marcus Jr. who is a sophomore and are both attending Malibu High School. Ever since all of the Sloan children were able to they attended our family summer camp Sofia was so happy when they all, one by one, began coming to the camp and we all became one big happy family. Between the four Sloan children and the three of us, Sofia, Matty and me along with our cousins Tim Jr, Carlos and Callie, we always had our own baseball and football teams…and outplayed every other team at camp.
A knock at my bedroom doors from my brother Matty and my sister Sofia signals that my wedding is about to begin. Exchanging hugs and kisses with the Sloan Four as they like being called the four of them leave my room to find their seats with their parents. Matty and Sofia do some last minute pampering to me and when we hear the music begin playing the three of us head out the door and down the stairs to the back of the house. Seeing the backs of everyone's heads from my view at the back door I am brought out of my reverie when I hear my beloved say from the top of the stairs "I love you Marisol" to which I instantly say without any hesitation in my voice whatsoever "I love you too Madison". With that tender interlude complete between the two of us my brother and sister escort me out the door and to the altar that my Uncle Tim along with my brother-in-law Christopher made for Madison and me…and for this very special occasion…our wedding day.
Today is the day…the last day that Madison is teaching a class at Mariposa Elementary School. With much debate on both of our parts…Madison has agreed to take off the rest of the school year from Christmas break on…until next August. The babies…yes I said babies…are not due until after the first of the year…so from today forward until late August of next year…my wife will be a stay at home mom. With some changes being made at the ranch house since our wedding…our new home is now in the converted barn house…that has been remodeled with a nursery.
Christopher and I have just finished up on a surgery on a horse with an enlarged heart. My brother in law looks up at the clock on the wall and says to me "Hey little sis, you had better be going if you are going to help Madison clean out her class room before she leaves today". I then look up at the clock and say "Holy shit you're right big brother" as I grab a towel off the counter to wipe off my hands and arms then say to Christopher "See ya later bud". Waving goodbye and then I jump into my Jeep and head into town. Sitting at a red light at one of the three traffic lights that adorn this picturesque metropolis I see that I have received a text from my sister saying that she is running a little late to which I laugh a bit…because if anyone knows my sister Sofia…being late is her specialty…her super power.
Walking into my wife's lonely classroom to find her deep in her own thoughts I walk up behind her and place a feathery kiss on the back of her neck as I wrap my arms around her pregnant body. With the sweet sound of a hum of approval leaving my wife's lips she turns in my arms to kiss me and say "Hey baby". I smile and say while I make my way a little south of Madison's lips to kiss my wife's protruding belly and say "Hey you two, it's your mama…just checking in and saying hello". With another kiss on my wife's belly and then moving upwards to finish off the round of kisses by kissing my wife's lips when we are suddenly interrupted by our nieces Callie and Arizona. Each little girl takes each of our hands in theirs and begins to lead my wife and me out of the empty classroom and down the hall.
By the time the four of us reach the gymnasium the two doors open and every child that attends Mariposa Elementary School is standing in the bleachers cheering and shouting our names. Standing in the middle of the gym floor are all of our relatives clapping and cheering as well. Madison and I have just walked into the biggest baby shower ever given to two human beings. Sofia along with my mamas and Madison' mother and grandmother all stand but it is mama that says "This began as a quaint little baby shower on your last day Madison…but when the students here found out about what we wanted to do for the two of you Marisol and Madison…well we just could not say no to all of these children and their families". The gymnasium air begins to fill with some more cheering and hollering from the student body.
Marisol and I are totally exhausted and are very thankful that Christopher and Matty thought to bring the Robbins Torres Camp bus with them tonight. After several hours of the world's largest baby shower being held at my school the bus came into good use with the hauling of all of the baby gifts that Marisol and I received tonight. We both along with our twins that are still inside me are very blessed…not only with a wonderful and understanding home life and close knit family…but with a community and student body that seems to think my wife and are pretty terrific too. Once all the gifts and packages are neatly tucked away inside the camp bus Matty asks my wife and I "Ok ladies, I am going to park the bus in the pole barn for tonight. Then tomorrow after everyone has had a good night's sleep tonight then we will remove all of the baby shower gifts and find some room for everything in your home. Sound like a plan"? When my sweet and adorable brother in law, who is as cute as a button just like my wife, receives the two thumbs up he is waiting for from me and Marisol, Matty and Christopher drive off and back to the ranch. With everyone saying their goodbyes for the night to everyone else, my wife helps me into our Jeep and we both tell everyone we love them and that we will see them all tomorrow as we make our way home for some much needed and a much deserved goodnight sleep.
The week before Christmas is a hectic one to say the least. First on Monday morning Madison and I have a doctor's appointment because now that it is getting close to the birth of our twins, this becomes a weekly event. The babies have dropped quite considerably in the last month or so and even though mama tries to encourage the two of us that this is normal for first time expectant mothers, my wife and I are still reasonably concern. But Dr. Miller eases our fears as she too agrees with what mama has been telling Madison and I. Madison is going over her schedule with for the rest of the week while we are riding back to the ranch. Realizing that I may be a little overprotective I calmly suggest to my wife "Honey, I know that since you have taken a leave of absence from teaching that you do not have to consume every waking minute of your time off with having something to do. Please can't you simply take it easy until after the holidays and not have so much on your plate". My wife slam shut her appointment book suddenly. Then things become very quiet for the rest of our ride home…when this sort of thing has happened in our past…I know that I am in trouble…very big trouble.
Parking the Jeep in front of our home Madison opens her door first without waiting for me to help her out of the vehicle. By the time I make my way to her she has exited the Jeep and is making her way into out home without saying a word to me. I try to say to my wife before she disappears into our happy home "C'mon honey let's be reasonable…at least talk to me about what I said"? Without receiving any kind of response from Madison I am now getting a little mad when I say rather loudly without realizing that most of my family is outside and within hearing distance "Dammit Madison, you know I cannot stand it when you ignore me. Now talk to me". We all watch my wife enter our home still without saying a word back to me. Then I crash my hand down hard on the hood of my Jeep in anger.
"Y'know…hitting a equally hard surface with the soft flesh of your hand…is only going to hurt your hand…and in the line of work you are in…your hands are your business" my Uncle Tim says to me as he is walking from the barn down the path to his truck. I shake my hand just a bit to try to curb the hurt I feel when I ask my uncle "Is that so uncle…and how are you such an expert on the subject"? My favorite uncle laughs a bit and says "Well between your Aunt Aria and your mami, I have seen that special Latin hardheadedness up close and personal…and so has your mama…and now…so has your wife". I too begin to laugh and shake my head at his connotation about the Latin blood that runs through my veins just like my mami and my aunt when I ask my uncle "Any kind words you can give me to make this right with my wife, sir"? I watch my uncle slide into the driver's seat of his favorite pick up truck when he kisses my cheek and says "Apologize my dear…apologizes all night long if you have to…but Mari…you'd better mean it".
I walk into our home and take off my boots and hang my coat on the wall hanger. I begin my journey into the kitchen calling out my wife's name but receiving no answer in return. Walking though our office I notice my wife's appointment book laying haphazardly in the trash container like she tossed it there on her way out of the office. I pull the black leather bound book out of the trash as I slide the palm of my hand across the leather binding relieving the wisps of paper and scraps of other materials that have clung to its surface. I place her book down on the table top in front of our computer. I call out my wife's name again only to receive no answer again but then I suddenly hear water running. Standing in the doorway of our large luxurious bathroom with the double headed shower spray I stare at the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my life. Bare…naked…and raw…I watch as my wife is cleaning her large protruding stomach that is housing our babies. My wife is cleaning off the gel that is still on her flesh from today's ultrasound when she looks my way and catches me staring.
"Well…are you just going to stand there and watch me shower…like some creepy stalker…or are you going to get that cute ass of yours in here and help me shower our children"? My wife asks me this question and in about 3.5 seconds flat I am too naked and standing behind my wife while the sensations of the double headed shower heads are sanitizing our bodies. "I'm sorry baby for hurting your feelings earlier…please don't get rid of you appointment book. I guess I am just acting like a new mom…well because…I am one…and so are you…and I don't want anything to happen to our babies. I love you". And with that honest proclamation to my wife, Madison kisses me tenderly…and then…the kiss…becomes quite heated…and after a couple of rounds of shower sex…the lovemaking continues well into the night.
Christmas Eve morning…Christopher and I are on staff at the Barkley Ranch in Stockton. We both take turns looking in on the cattle and sheep that consume their spacious 25.000 plus acres of land in central California. This morning we both receive individual phone call from the matriarch of the family Victoria Barkley and her son Heath. Seems that the Victoria Barkley's other sons…Nick and Jarrod…are in Ft. Worth Texas purchasing more long horned cattle for their ranch. The cattle should be arriving by noon today by train in Stockton. Mrs. Barkley's strict orders from her son Nick are to see that my brother in law and I meet the train and help with the caring of over two hundred heads of long horn cattle and make sure they all make it to the ranch safe and sound. Christopher and I communicate between our homes through walkie talkies when I tell him I will meet him shortly out by our trucks. Then I turn over in our bed and wake my wife up with a passionate kiss.
"Why Marisol…Why…do you have to go out today"? My wife cries from the comforts of our bed while she watches me getting dressed. "Honey, it is only going to be for part of the day. I…we…Christopher and I…will be back home by the time Christmas Eve dinner is on the table…I promise". I sit on the end of our bed and am putting my boots on when my wife sits up in our bed to face me and cries out to me "Mari, you know I am a hormone casserole carrying our twins with only less than a month left in my pregnancy…how can you even think of leaving me in this state". I make my way to her side of the bed as I sit next to her facing her when I say softly "Baby, you are my hormone casserole and I love you beyond measure". I lean her back in our bed as I make my way down to her protruding belly to greet my children when I say "Hey, you two in there…what do you both say…for today…you both take it easy on your momma and just chill and relax until I return home". Kissing and rubbing Madison's belly until she laughs because my kisses, according to her, tickle her as I make my way back up to her smiling face. Exchanging very passionate kisses with my wife for the next few minutes until I hear our front door open and my mama politely says from the bottom of our stairs "Hey girls, you both awake"? I smile as I finish kissing my wife to say to my mama "Yea mama, we're upstairs" then I place a soft kiss on the tip of my wife's nose as I leave.
I am in my mother in laws massive kitchen at the ranch house helping with tonight's Christmas Eve dinner. I have been here since my mother in law Arizona came to our home this morning just as my wife was leaving to head to the Barkley Ranch. Callie and Arizona along with Marisol have decided that since my wife has to work today that I should not be alone. So Arizona and Callie came to "fetch" me as I call it this morning but I must say they have fed me and the twins very well today. Beginning with a marvelous breakfast and now we have completed a very healthy lunch. Sofia has just come into the house to find me to tell me that her son Danny has sent a video from his phone to her phone to show that he and his father along with his aunt are working very hard to round up the long horned cattle from the train station and lead them to the free range pastures of the Barkley Ranch.
Sofia and I watch the video as sixteen year old Danny narrates what is going on with the cattle drive when we both hear another voice and see another horse ride beside my young nephew. Sofia and I hear Danny say "Oh hi Victoria" as he points his phone to the young blond haired and blue eyed girl riding along side of him. With a hearty smile and wave the young lady says "Hey Danny, who are we talking to on your phone"? With both Danny and Victoria Barkley's face now on the camera screen when I ask Sofia "Victoria Barkley…I thought she is the mother of the Barkley clan"? Sofia just laughs at her new sister-in-law and says "She is silly…this Victoria Barkley that my son is talking to in the video is Jarrod Barkley's daughter…and named after her grandmother".
Danny and his horse trots up the round up a bit to find his Aunt Mari when Sofia and I hear him say "Hey Aunt Mari, you want to say hi to everyone back home. I'm video taping our journey for my mami and my grandmas". I gently take the phone out of Sofia's hand when I see Danny talking to my wife as he trots up behind her and she looks into the camera. "Hey honey, hope you are feeling fine. I love you and will see you soon. Hey mamas and Sof, take good care of my beautiful girl and my babies. Love you all and see you soon". And just as fast as Marisol appeared on the small phone screen…she was gone. Felling kind of tired after eating lunch my mother in law Callie was the first to say "Baby girl, why don't you go lie down for a while and take a nap. Then before you know it…Mari will be home and we all will be sitting down and having Christmas Eve dinner". I decide that I would take my mother in law's advice and without saying a word my other mother in law Arizona appears out of nowhere and helps me to bed.
Sometime later, about five hours later, I wake up to a searing pain in my lower abdomen. I try to sit up but the pain becomes worst and worst with every movement I make. I lie flat on my back and place my feet firmly on the floor and pull myself up into a sitting position as I cry out in more pain. Before my bellowing ceases both of my mother in laws and my sister in law are standing in the door way of my room. Arizona is the first to me when she begins asking questions about my pain level and where the pain is centered. But I can not answer her because all I can do is hear myself yelling back at her is "Marisol…I need Marisol…I need my wife…dammit…where is my wife". Then I feel Callie and Sofia lay me flat back down on the bed while Arizona lifts my dress up to my waist and then I hear her tell her wife and her daughter frantically "Callie…Sofia…we need an ambulance…now".