Chapter Thirty-Two
Aimee hadn't seen her childhood best friend Maria since Cheyenna was an infant. They were out on the back deck. Even then her friend thought her life was 'crazy.' Well, first Maria believed marriage was 'the ruin' of happy relationships and children 'were brats these days because parents couldn't smack them.' The last thing, and something Maria only said once was she "didn't understand" how and why Aimee "loved Kyle so much" and "let" him call her "mom." He wasn't "really hers."
Maria instantly learned to keep that opinion to herself. Aimee didn't care to tell her friend that Kyle was now her son legally. Maria didn't understand why the couple had a third child either, who could literally be his father's mini-twin. That question slipped out however, but she quickly covered it up that Horatio must be good in bed.
He was. But that alone was not the reason Hunter Caine was here.
With two little girls squealing, chasing each other around the backyard climbing on the slide and swing set Maria didn't know why her friend wasn't telling the two to at least tone it down. Aimee seemed oblivious to that and to the infant boy in her arms putting his hands all over her face.
"That doesn't bother you?" she said, gesturing to the children.
Aimee shrugged. "They're kids, it's what they do. I would rather them ran around out here than inside. Did you miss the memo that kids are noisy? You would be surprised how much Horatio and I can tune out."
Maria figured out that having a girls' day out with her friend wasn't going to be a simple thing anymore. She stayed for lunch though, Aimee letting Rachel and Cheyenna eat in front of the television. Kyle was home, having worked overtime. Hunter smiled when he saw his big brother come in from his apartment, reaching out to him. Kyle took him in his arms, kissing his cheek. Maria remarked how close the brothers were.
That might have something to do with the fact Hunter's birth was sort of a 'family affair' minus the girls who were too young to handle seeing mommy in pain. "We were at the hospital but dad delivered Hunter. I held mom's hand and I cut the umbilical cord, too," Kyle said proudly.
Maria's eyes got big and she looked her friend.
"He delivered Rachel and Cheyenna, too," Aimee said simply.
Calleigh came over shortly after Maria left. Her work restrictions were beginning to get to her. She still had had ten weeks to go in her pregnancy but she and Eric had started putting together the aquatic themed nursery. One or both of the twins were doing a lot of moving today. The expectant mother let her goddaughters feel it. Rachel happily showed her godmother the denim dress and tennis shoes with sequins on them that she was going to wear to tomorrow's daddy-daughter dance. Calleigh told her that Horatio was very excited about the dance as well.
Calleigh had to admit now there were perks being pregnant.
"It's so sweet hearing Eric talk to them while I'm asleep," she said.
Oh yes. Aimee remembered much of that with Horatio. Not enough to have another baby though. So far.
Horatio wasn't the only older dad at the dance. Whenever he picked Rachel up at school there were usually moms, grandparents or babysitters. He seldom saw a dad when he did though they didn't look much older than Kyle. Maybe they were part-time dads, nevertheless all the dads and daughters seemed to have a great time. Rachel really enjoyed dancing with her daddy. Even though there were cupcakes at the dance Horatio took Rachel out for ice cream afterwards.
"That was so much fun, daddy!" Rachel said, enjoying her sundae.
"It was. Daddy had fun too."
"I'm glad you didn't get called to work."
"You know what? I wouldn't have went anyway. Uncle Speed was covering for me. It was our special day. "
