"Do you have a minute," Nikki asked as she picked up Tyler from Meghan. Meghan was off work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and watched Tyler for her one of the days.
"Of course," Meghan said, "tea?"
"That would be great," Nikki smiled, "I really need my big sister."
"What's happening with Brett," Meghan asked.
"Were going to that conference in six weeks presenting about our mathamagical adventures," Nikki said.
"Mom and I have Tyler I know," Meghan said, "we'll stay at your place with him."
"Brett suggested sharing a room," Nikki blurted.
"Woah," Meghan said, "are you ready for that?"
"I like him. I think I might love him. Tyler is one on the 25th but there's no way I'm ready for another baby," Nikki said.
"I'm just going to ask," Meghan said, "what sort of contraceptives are you using?"
"Right now nothing. I'm one of those statistics that got pregnant on the pill," Nikki said, "after I had Tyler I wasn't having sex so why bother."
"And you're still breastfeeding so we need low or no hormones," Meghan said, "call your OB and get a copper IUD before you go."
"I don't know if I'm ready for that with Brett," Nikki said, "I still don't really have my body back. I have my surgery scars from when I was 18 and stretch marks. I don't have abs anymore. I don't think my stomach will ever be really flat again. No one is seeing me naked."
"He loves you, he won't care," Meghan promised, "Brett is a good man. He's not going to judge your body and if he does you don't want to be with him."
"I've only been with Jeff," Nikki said, "the last time I did anything was when I conceived Tyler."
"So it's been a while," Meghan acknowledged , "what's the worst that could happen?"
Meghan didn't know that this wasn't a question you asked Nikki.
"Another unplanned pregnancy, STDs, he thinks I'm disgusting, he's repulsed by me, I haven't since before my son, do I even remember what to do," Nikki said.
"Enough," Meghan said, cutting her off.
"Meg you don't ask Nikki that," Nathan said.
"You heard," Nikki said turning red.
"I like the guy. I liked him in Kenya," Nathan said, "you deserve to be happy. You two talk I'm leaving. Faroke has soccer after tutoring."
"Thanks Nate," Meghan smiled.
When Nathan had left Nikki asked, "he's okay doing things with Faroke."
"He wants to," Meghan said, "he says our son."
"He just accepted like that," Nikki asked.
"He loves me and he fell for Faroke helping you and Teddy out," Meghan said, "I've seen Brett with you and Ty enough to know Brett cares and likes Tyler. Last weekend at dinner when Tyler wanted to walk Brett gave him his hands and helped him. I've seen Brett take Tyler to change his diaper because you were cooking with mom, Teddy and I. If the man is changing your son's diaper he's a keeper. You didn't even ask, he just grabbed Tyler and your diaper bag and did it before anyone knew."
"It's cute how much Brett likes to play with Tyler," Nikki said, "they also roll balls to each other. And I will never ask Brett to do a diaper. It's not his job."
"He cares. He plays football with Faroke," Meghan said, "he's great. Brett is part of our family when he's around. Do you want to share a room?"
"I think so," Nikki said, "it's just been nearly two years since I've done that."
"Try eight and ten with it being a guy you actually liked and were attracted to," Meghan said, "you will remember what to do. There's no rush enjoy all the little steps. You have to tell him what's okay and what you're comfortable doing before you go. You're adults, you can have this conversation."
"I need protection first," Nikki said.
"Both of you do," Meghan replied.
"What if this hurts," Nikki asked.
"Relax," Meghan said, "if it does you tell him and he stops."
"I don't want to mess up the relationship or rush things," Nikki said, "I've never had the sweet things Brett does."
"What does he do that's sweet," Meghan asked.
"He brought me coffee this morning," Nikki said, "he came over last night after Ty went to bed. 7:00 bed time is great. We worked for a bit but ended up cuddling and watching a movie. I almost fell asleep in his arms, I felt safe and protected and loved. It didn't help that he was playing with my hair. He likes to play with my hair."
"You have a lot of hair," Meghan said.
"I know it's pretty long and thick," Nikki agreed, "he keeps saying its soft and smooth."
"Yours is naturally that straight," Meghan clarified.
"It is," Nikki said, "I know it's the opposite of his but I like his hair."
"You two are opposites in a lot of ways," Meghan agreed.
"Meg I want to sleep with him but I'm scared," Nikki said.
"Get some sort of birth control ASAP and make sure he uses a condom," Meghan said.
"I know that," Nikki said, "I don't want to rush the relationship."
"How far has it gone," Meghan asked.
"Kisses lots of making out hands under shirts," Nikki said, "but at the same time he's seen me feed Tyler because Tyler won't take a bottle from me or if I'm in the room and has a habit of throwing the blanket off."
"So he's seen you nurse your son and seen all that but you haven't gone beyond kissing," Meghan said, "your okay. He knows you and loves you. Do you love him?"
"I do," Nikki blushed, "but I'm scared I've never felt this before."
"Enjoy it," Meghan said , "what's this weekend?"
"His parents are here this weekend," Nikki said.
"You've got this, they'll love you," Meghan said.
"I hope so," Nikki said, "but Tyler. Mom is watching Ty Friday night when Brett and I have dinner with his parents. Then Saturday I'm helping Brett with Dinner at his place. Ty will come to that, he's comfortable at Brett's."
"You go there a lot," Meghan clarified.
"We do," Nikki said, "there's even a few toys there now. Brett picked up some blocks and animals and a folding high chair."
"He has baby stuff at his place," Meghan asked.
"He does," Nikki smiled, "he ordered it and we went over one night and it was just there. Brett had set the table for dinner and had baby dishes, a spoon and a sippy cup at Ty's spot in front of the high chair. He keeps the baby snack pouches and rice puffs in his cupboard if Ty gets hungry and we weren't planning on being at Brett's that long. It looked like we were a family."
"If he's doing that he loves you and Tyler," Meghan said, "the three of you act like a family when you're together. Go spend the couple nights for the conference there's chemistry we all see it."
"There's chemistry," Nikki agreed, "it's taking everything I have not to act on it. He kissed me in the copy room today."
"The copy room," Meghan laughed, "we use on call rooms."
"We don't have those. I wasn't planning on it," Nikki said, "I was binding fraction flip books and he came up behind me and put his arms around me then I turned my head to look at him and he kissed me. It was good."
"Just good," Meghan asked, "you're red."
"Amazing," Nikki blushed, "most people at work know. They figured it out at the Christmas party."
"So go enjoy your conference and a couple nights with your boyfriend," Meghan encouraged.
"Will you keep Owl from losing it," Nikki asked.
"You're at a conference," Meghan said, "so we don't tell him about the sleeping arrangement."
"Teddy figured out the first time Jeff spent the night then lectured me about safety," Nikki groaned.
"Just don't tell them," Meghan said.
"They were there through the years of ups and downs with Jeff, his games and the hot and cold act, when he finally left they sat up with me all night. It was Teddy that helped me work though all the feelings and hormones," Nikki said.
"How long have you known Brett," Meghan asked.
"I was 21 when we met we did our teacher program together and the Kenya semester," Nikki said, "we were assigned to the same group and became really good friends in Kenya. He knew I was with Jeff and didn't push it. Then after Jeff left he was really sweet, he would watch my class when I needed to run to the washroom. Chocolate would randomly appear on my desk or in my mailbox when I was having a tough day. He's the only person at school who knows I love 85% dark chocolate. He kept trying to ask me out until I went on maternity leave. He asked me to have dinner the day before I left."
"He's your Teddy," Meghan said.
"My Teddy," Nikki asked.
"You two met doing work you thought was important," Meghan said, "using your skills and what you're passionate about to help others. You were totally unavailable but he was hopelessly in love with you. He waited until you were ready. He embraced your family all of us."
"Teddy didn't have to accept Owen's kid," Nikki said.
"Just you, mom and I," Meghan said, "Brett loves you. Let him love you."
"No one has ever treated me like this," Nikki said, "I don't know what to do."
"Let yourself love him," Meghan said, "let him love you. See where it goes. Build a family with him and Tyler."
Brett was tidying his apartment for his parents arrival, he folded and tucked the high chair into the corner by the table. He didn't need it when his parents arrived the next night but would need it for Saturday when he had Nikki and Tyler for dinner with his parents. He checked that the toys were in their box and the pack and play was folded under his bed. They had used it a few times for Tyler to nap while they planned and worked on their capstone projects and the book of activities they were hoping to publish. He was hoping that one day maybe after the conference Nikki would feel comfortable spending the night. She was thinking about sharing a room with him. He understood why she felt shy and anxious and wasn't going to push her.
Brett's phone rang on the counter, "hi mom."
"You sound out of breath," Joan said.
"Just cleaning," Brett replied, "making sure it's mom perfect."
"Mom perfect," Joan teased, "don't you have a girlfriend with a son you have over."
"I do," Brett said, "you'll meet Nikki Friday night after school and Tyler on Saturday."
"Still taking things slow," Joan asked.
"We are," Brett said, "she's still nervous about some things. I love her mom she might be the one. I'm really excited for you to meet her. I love Ty."
"You've talked so much about her and Tyler. I know you love both of them," Joan said, "I worry you'll get hurt. What about Tyler's father? Is there another man in the picture?"
"Ty's dad is completely out of the picture," Brett said, "Nikki hasn't heard from him in almost a year. He sends money but that's it. And that's all set up through a lawyer. I couldn't love Ty anymore if he was my own mom. He's a sweet little dude he's so close to walking mom."
"You sound like his dad," Joan said, "when does he turn one?"
"Two weeks," Brett said, "April 25th. He walks holding someone's hands or holding on to things, babbles and has some words. When you come heads up I have a high chair here and some toys. It's just easier for her than carrying it all every time."
"You bought baby things," Joan asked.
"Blocks, kid sized dishes and utensils that should grow with him, a couple sippy cups, plastic animals, a little football, a pack and play," Brett listed, "it's easier for Nikki this way. Having somewhere Ty can nap or fall asleep when we work. She doesn't spend the night here and has never asked me to stay at her place. We haven't gone there yet, I'm waiting for her to tell me she's ready."
"You should wait for her," Joan said, "it's being a gentleman."
"I'm waiting for her. We're talking about it but she's scared," Brett said, "I won't rush her. It was hard last night to leave. We worked on our presentation and then watched a movie after Ty went to bed and she was pretty much asleep in my arms. I wanted to stay at her place with her."
"Where does she live," Joan asked.
"She has a two bedroom basement suite," Brett replied, "her brother and his wife own the house and live upstairs with their three kids. Nikki has been in their basement suite since she was 19; she's comfortable there."
"Good for her to have family upstairs to help," Joan commented, "you spend a lot of time with her family."
"I do," Brett said, "her mom, Evelyn, treats all of us as her own. Evelyn wants me to invite you to Sunday dinner."
"They do Sunday dinner," Joan asked, "every week?"
"Every week," Brett said, "it's at Evelyn's this week. It's potluck, they rotate hosting. I make your cheese bread most weeks now, they love it. We could be missing one of the surgeons because they'll be working or on call but everyone else and all the kids will be there."
"What do you mean one of the surgeons," Joan said.
"Her older siblings are both army trained trauma surgeons and her brother and sister in law are cardio thoracic surgeons," Brett replied, "Nikki's end goal is her PHd."
"She broke the mold," Joan said.
"Their mom doesn't care as long as her kids can support themselves and they do something to help others," Brett said, "her and her brother are really close. She is closer to Owen than the rest of them, he's probably her biggest supporter."
"You get along with her siblings," Joan clarified.
"Owens is a good guy. I know him a bit better than I know her sister Meghan," Brett said, "I know the brother in law Nathan best. Nate was one of the doctors in the camp on the Kenya trip. He was working with doctors without borders when we were there. I did crowd control for Nathan on vaccination days and helped him move injured people around. We called him
dr Riggs there."
"Her siblings are married," Joan said.
"Owen and Teddy are," Brett said, "Meghan and Nathan are engaged they get married in July. Meghan was a hostage in Iraq for ten years and came home last May. Her and Nathan are starting over. They were engaged when she disappeared."
"You've mentioned nieces and nephews," Joan said.
"Lots of kids mom," Brett said, "Tyler. Then Owen and Teddy have three kids, two girls 8 and 4 and a half and a boy who just turned one last month. Meghan had her son while she was captive and Nathan is adopting Faroke who is 9 . So five kids at their family things."
"Busy," Joan said.
"It's chaotic," Brett admitted, "but happy and they all love each other. They're all involved with each others kids and whatever adult is closest redirects a miss behaving kid. Sunday dinner would be fun for you and dad. They're all musical. Nikki plays the violin, Owen plays guitar, Meghan is on the piano, I've been playing guitar again as well with them. We all sing. The older kids are learning to sing and play instruments."
"Sounds close," Joan said.
"It is," Brett said, "Evelyn asked me to include you but it's up to you."
"I'd like to meet them," Joan agreed, "what can we bring?"
"I'll ask Nikki," Brett said.
"Do you want me to get wine for Saturday," Joan asked, "what does she like?"
"I've known Nikki for five years and I've only seen her drink once. Nikki doesn't drink by choice," Brett said, it's not Tyler related either. She doesn't like the taste."
"Does it matter if we have a bottle on the table," Joan asked.
"She doesn't care," Brett said, "but I would be shocked if she had a glass. I think she said she only does a couple times a year with Teddy and Meghan after kids go to bed."
"They all have such typical names except Teddy," Joan remarked.
"Teddy is her sister in law, it's a nickname but I don't know what her actual name is," Brett replied, "Nikki is actually Nicole."
"I'm excited to meet them," Joan said, "we'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow mom," Brett said before hanging up.
What should Nikki do about the conference? Should she stay with Brett? What will his parents think of her? What should happen next?