Chapter 1:
Rae was sitting in the living room when a knock sounded on the door. She waited for the sound of feet heading that direction, but none came. Sighing, she pushed herself off the couch and walked slowly over to the door. Trust that when she wasn't feeling quite up to par, her family would forget to answer the door.... She pulled it open.... and stared, slack-jawed at the company that stood on the porch. "I...uh...oh dear..." She said.
"Hello Rae," Said Mississippi Wayne. Behind him, stood every one of his brothers and sisters, along with Blank and Shadow. "Blank and my sister wanted to.... get married up here."
"Come in," she said, not knowing what else to say.
One by one they filed in. Blank smiled a bit sheepishly. "Sorry there Rae.... we just got off the train and... you were the closest one we could think of."
She hit him on the shoulder. "Next time give me some warning," she hissed.
"We sent a telegram!"
Not too long after he uttered those words, a young boy dressed in a snappy coat and hat raced up. "Telegram for the family of the house!"
Blank grinned sheepishly. "I... guess we beat it."
"SPOT!" Rae yelled.
"What?" he said, running into the hall a moment later. "Is something wro- ... okay, what is going on?"
"Would you give the boy some money for the telegram that Blank sent?" she asked.
"What telegram?"
The suited boy waved his hand, bouncing on the balls of his feet to be seen over the heads of the multiple guests crowding the hall.
Spot handed the boy a coin and shut the front door. "What is going on?" he asked Rae.
"I don't really know...." She shrugged and gestured to the group. "Ask them."
"It's my fault," North Wayne said quietly.
"BOTH of our faults," Blank interrupted.
"They decided that they wanted to get married here," Sippi explained. He sent them a look. "But they didn't think about where all of us were going to stay."
"Well.... we have a lot of things to plan! We can't remember everything!" Blank said with a huff. "It's not like you are helping much."
"No fighting in the house," Rae said. "I not feeling up to cleaning any blood you two leave laying around."
They both looked at her rather sheepishly. "Sorry Rae," they said in unison.
Rae looked to Spot for help.
He sighed, glancing at them with a look that read 'Why now?' "Well," he began, tucking his hands in his pockets. "We have an empty room upstairs... and then a couple in the attic... if you can find a space you'd like, then... I guess you're welcome to it for now."
"Thanks," Sippi said. "I know this must be difficult..."
With a shrug, he shooed them off.
"I'll show you the empty rooms," Rae said, slowly walking over to the stairs.
'Sippi was staring at her rather surprised. "Rae.... are you.... pregnant?" he asked, stating the blindingly obvious, considering she was far larger than he had remembered.
She paused and sighed. "Yes."
"How many babies do you have in there?" Blank said playfully, stepping up next to her.
"Would you like a place to stay or not?" she hissed.
Blank held up his hands. "Hey, hey.... down. I didn't mean to upset you..." She glared at him and turned to make the painfully slow climb up the stairs. He frowned and nearly made a face at her, but North gripped his arm tightly. "Er... Rae, need any help?"
"No!" she snapped.
North bit her lip. "Look.... I'm sure we can find a place in town to stay... Come on, Andrew... Let's leave them alone."
Rae sighed. "No...you're more than welcome to stay...I'm just cranky...it's normal..."
"Are you sure?" she asked, still uncertain.
Rae nodded. "I'm sure."
Slowly, North nodded. "All right." Then she poked Blank. "No more rude questions, Andrew."
"What? I wasn't... oh, all right."
Rae began to climb the stairs again. "Maybe I can get you all settled and back down before Molly has dinner ready."
"She cooks now?" Blank laughed a little. "She used to hate it so."
"She's been a big help, thank you very much."
"I was just say... oh forget it... I won't talk anymore, I get it." And Blank fell silent.
"Don't worry about it, Blank," Chris said appearing at the top of the stairs with Sam and Kendra. "She's been snapping at everyone."
"I hadn't noticed..." he mumbled.
Chris turned to Rae. "You are NOT going up to the attic."
"And why not?"
"Those steps are too steep."
With a glare, she folded her arms over her round belly. "Then YOU show them."
"I will," he said, turning and leading the way down the hall.
Rae stalked- as much as she could, considering her walk was near a waddle- back downstairs.
"Why don't you sit down, sweetheart. Take a breath and calm down some?" Spot suggested. Sighing deeply, she eased herself back onto the couch.
He went over to her and squeezed her shoulders gently. "Feel any better?"
"A little. My back hurts really bad."
"Why don't you lie down for a while, give that back a rest?" he suggested.
She nodded. "I think I'll just go lay down in the study...I really don't want to climb those stairs again any time soon..."
With a nod he stood and held out his hand to help her up. "Call for me if you need anything- somebody is likely to here, considering the number of people we now have here."
"Did you tell Molly that we have company?"
"I didn't have the time... but Chris probably brought it up to her."
She nodded. "Where are the twins?"
"Playing in the playroom. Or, they were last I checked... I'm surprised they haven't ripped each other to shreds."
"Maybe they'll behave better now that they have a few more playmates..."
He smiled a little. "Hopefully."
She sighed. "I'm going to go lay down now."
"All right. Rest well." He kissed her softly.
She padded down the hall to the study and eased herself onto the couch.
Shortly after, 'Sippi walked in. "Oh... I'm sorry... I was looking for the bathroom..."
"It's the next door."
"Okay... thanks..." There was a short pause and he glanced at her. "So... how are you? I haven't really had a chance to talk to you for a while..."
"Well...I'm as big as a horse."
"But a very lovely one," he said with a small smile.
"Liar."
"I would never lie about something like that to you."
She smiled slightly. "Such a gentleman."
"It's one of the few things I have going for me," he said with a smile.
"So exactly how many people did I just invite to stay in my house?" she asked.
"Twelve." He gave her a sheepish sort of grin. "If you want, we could leave. It was Blank and North's idea to come out here, so you wouldn't have to haul everyone to New York for their wedding."
"I can barely haul myself down the stairs in the mornings," she said with a slight laugh.
He smiled. "How do you like it out here?"
"It's a lot quieter than Brooklyn...we aren't fighting sickness as much...I can't imagine moving back permanently."
"Does.... does Spot treat you well?"
"I think he's trying to spoil me."
"Well, that's good."
"Don't worry. He's not mistreating me."
He nodded with a smile. "I'm glad to hear that." Then he headed for the door. "Well... I'd better make a stop at that bathroom now."
"Alright."
With a final smile, he slipped out of the room.
Kendra came into the room and moment later. "Momma?" she said excitedly, crawling onto the couch with Rae.
Rae groaned faintly and opened an eye. "What is it Kendra?" she asked.
"There's lots of people here!"
"Yes. Yes there are."
"Who are they?"
"Well, there is Blank, he is Molly's older brother. Shadow- she's Molly's sister. And the girl he is going to marry is North. And the rest are her family…"
"They're scaring Pape."
"Well, why don't you take her somewhere nice and quiet and play with her gently so she'll calm down?"
Kendra nodded. "Where?"
"Momma and Daddy's room will be good."
She nodded vigorously. "Okay!" And away she scampered.
Rae sighed and closed her eyes again. And then she was startled awake yet again when she heard Molly exclaiming in the hall "Andrew!? When did you get here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
Then she heard Blank yell in response. "How many times do I have to say it? I SENT A WIRE!"
"Can I not get some peace and quiet around here!?" Rae bellowed. When there was no answer she stood and walked back out into the hallway.
They were both staring at the door. "Er... were we bothering you?" Molly asked sheepishly.
"Just a little bit, Molly."
"Sorry!" she whispered squeakily. Grabbing her brother's ear, she hauled him out of the hall.
"It's too late now," Rae muttered, walking toward the kitchen.
Spot looked up from the huge pot of stew he was slaving over when she entered. "What's the matter? Couldn't sleep?"
"It suddenly got noisy in this house."
He slipped his arm around her and kissed her forehead gently.
She smiled. "Thanks."
"Not a problem."
"Need any help?"
"Sure... Here, take this glass."
She nodded.
"Fill it with water."
"What next?"
"Sit down and drink it." He grinned.
"Spot..."
"I mean it. Sit."
Sighing she sat in the chair.
"Happy?" she asked.
He smiled. "Very. Just relax, okay?"
"I can't."
Leaning over, he kissed her forehead. "Well, try."
"Fine."
He smiled and turned back to the stew. Rae moved in her seat and tried to get comfortable. "I can't stand just sitting here!"
"Well," Spot said, still stirring the stew, "on Trent's last visit, he said you should be resting as much as possible. And you aren't."
"You try resting when you can't get comfortable and have to lug a baby around all the time!"
"You don't need to snap at me."
She sighed. "Sorry."
With a smile, he kissed the top of her head. "Stew's done. Would you like the first helping?"
"Please."
Taking a stack of bowls from the cupboard, he ladled a generous helping into the first one hand handed it to her with a spoon. "Hope it's good."
She took a bite. "Hmm..."
"Don't tell me it's that horrible."
"It's wonderful."
Grinning, he nodded and leaned out of the kitchen. "Soup's on!"
"Put the younger ones in the dining room and let the older ones eat in here," Rae said.
He nodded, ladling stew into each bowl. "Kids in the dining room. Kids in the dining room," he repeated to each of the younger ones that came through the ramshackle line.
"Are you sure there is enough?" Blank asked.
"We'll make it be enough."
"Alright," he said, taking a bowl of stew. Finally, everyone was served and Spot ladled out the last bit for himself and went to sit near Rae.
"I can pay you for all this..." Sippi said.
Spot smirked. "I'm expecting a generous payment."
Rae elbowed him.
"Ow... I'm only joking, Rae."
She turned to Sippi. "You don't have to pay."
"But I feel terrible already for imposing all of us on you..."
"We have this big house...there's plenty of room..."
"But it's such an awkward time. I mean you're expecting and everything..." She sent him a look. "Well, you are," he pointed out.
"I know that!"
He sighed in frustration and stabbed a vegetable with his spoon.
"We're glad to help."
He nodded, spooning some stew into his mouth. "Well.... thank you. Thank you very much."
Annie crept into the room and came over to Spot's side. "That boy is being mean," she whispered.
"What boy?"
"I don't know his name..."
"What is he doing?"
"He and Andy are making fun of me and that girl," she answered.
"Why are they making fun of you? What are they saying?"
"They said we're ugly..."
Sippi and Spot stood at the same time. They stared at each other. Spot narrowed his eyes very slightly. "Well... Come on. I'll give them a talking to," he said to her.
"Jackson!" Sippi bellowed and a moment later the boy poked his head into the kitchen. "Outside," He said, pointing toward the door. He frowned a bit and slunk outside.
Spot walked into the dining room. "Andy..."
He gave Spot a guilty sort of look. Andy sighed. "I know...go to my room...right?"
"In a second... Why were you calling Ann and 'Sippi's sister ugly?"
Andy shrugged.
He gave him a warning look. "I'm waiting."
"I don't know..."
"That's not the answer I'm waiting for."
"But I don't!"
Spot folded his arms over his chest. "Well, people normally don't make fun of others for no reason."
"He started it," Andy said quietly.
"And you felt like he'd make fun of you or something if you didn't join in?"
"I guess..."
"Well... I think you owe Ann an apology. You really hurt her feelings."
Andy hung his head. "Sorry Annie."
She was quiet for a long time before nodding. "Okay..."
"And Sippi's sister..." Spot said.
He pouted. "Do I hafta?"
"Andy...." Spot said with a warning tone.
Andy heaved a great sigh. "Oh all right," he mumbled, shuffling off to Virginia. "Sorry..." She huffed and turned her little nose in the air. "Hey! I said I was sorry!"
"I'm not talking to you."
"Well, fine!" And he stuck his tongue out at her. Spot thumped him on the head. "She started it!"
"Upstairs! Now!"
Grumbling under his breath he stalked upstairs.
"And plan on staying up there all day tomorrow!"
"Fine!"
Spot followed the boy.
He stalked upstairs with very firm stomps. "I say I'm sorry an' I still get in trouble..." he grumbled.
Spot grabbed his arm. "Stop it right now or you will be in serious stouble."
"What did I do now?" he whined.
"First off you were talking back..."
He stood there, pouting very hard.
"That's not going to work Andy."
He remained pouting.
Spot sighed. "Just go to your room."
With pout intact, he went into his room and plopped into bed.