Chapter Twenty-Two

Today was a big day for Rachel Caine. Her training wheels came off her bike.

"Are you ready?" Her dad asked her.

Rachel shook her head. They were starting with the driveway. Rachel was scared she would fall even though she was wearing her helmet. Parents thought elbow and knee pads were overkill, like bubble wrap for kids. Helmets were the law now even through generations had survived riding a bike without one. "I might fall," she said.

"But I'll be here," Horatio told her. He was going to make sure she didn't fall too hard but his little girl had to learn to fall and get back up, as much as daddy didn't like it either. "You're tougher than you think, remember?"

Rachel nodded and started pedaling.

Calleigh and Eric were over visiting today. Inside the house Calleigh was ready to start plotting Eric's murder because she was feeling so smothered. Hunter was in his swing and Eric was playing with Cheyenna in the backyard. Aimee had made Eric change Hunter's diaper. The boy had started solid food so his godfather was even less fond of the task.

"Been there, done that three times over," Aimee told her friend, sitting on the sofa.

"How'd you not kill Horatio?" Calleigh asked.

"You can't say it's not sweet at times. Plus, when you get even further along you'll appreciate it."

"I know you got him fixed but you and Horatio ever think about havin' more?"

Aimee shook her head. "We're good. Unless he and I were to switch places."

Calleigh laughed. "I'm not sure any man, even Horatio could take that. He seems to be handling the bike riding well, she said gesturing to the bike riding the driveway.

Both women knew that Horatio was going to cringe if Rachel fell. But he had to learn to handle that just as Rachel did. Rachel made it through the riding lesson without falling. She even went part way down the sidewalk and back. Hopefully that would help her confidence, and her daddy's nerves.

Rachel got to pick what to have for dinner tonight as a treat. She wanted burgers on the grill and corn-on-the-cob. She was excited to tell Kyle how well she did when he got home from playing basketball.

"See? I told you you'd do good!" He said, giving her a high-five.

"Maybe, I don't want kids right now. That was chaos."

Kyle had bought a friend named Pete home this particular evening. Pete and his girlfriend were trying to get pregnant. Now Pete thought children, babies in particular, weretoo much work.

"No. That was dinner," Kyle said. "That was organized actually. You want chaos, stay till 7:30. Dad will be gone to work and mom will be putting those two and Hunter to bed."

His sister bickered about who got what cup. Hunter had another dirty diaper right before he ate. Aimee and Horatio Caine didn't blink. They were even laughed.

"So it's always that noisy?"

"Six people at the table eating, trying to catch up on the day isn't silent, you knpw," Kyle said. "You didn't find it fun?"

"Well, your sisters play duel with their forks was cute. They forgot the cup argument quick. Does your baby bro always get that excited about food?"

"Yes. That goop is tasty. I'll take his word for it."

"And always that happy to see you?"

"What can I say? He's my pal."