A/N: I've got a busy weekend and so I'm gone until Sunday at the earliest. I know I've spoiled some of you w/daily updates – so take your time. Read slowly. :) LOL! Until 82! xox-G
Chapter Eighty-one
"I keep thinking you should just stay here too." Rafe said with a sigh.
"Dad. NO. We've been over this. I'm coming with you. You leave me here and I'll just follow you. Don't even try it."
Rafe gave him a smile. "Are you threatening me?"
"Yes." Grant said confidently. Rafe narrowed his eyes at him. "No." Grant said, feeling uneasy. Then he realized his father was kidding. He gave Rafe a smile back. "Maybe."
"Alright. I get it. You're coming. You promise me something." Rafe said softly as he stared into his son's eyes. "If something happens…"
"Dad." Grant's heart sank just hearing the words.
"Grant. If something happens you save yourself. Do you hear me? If something happens to me your mother will need you."
"Dad…"
"This is not open for debate. She and Becky are over there all alone. You agree or I'll find a way to leave you behind." Rafe promised.
"OK." Grant almost whispered. "OK. I'll do it."
"OK." Rafe said as he exhaled and moved to grab his bag. "When we come back, if all goes as planned, we'll be bringing Kate with us."
"And Colin too?" Grant asked then.
"Yeah." Rafe said, though not quite as sure. "Colin too."
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"Mother. I don't know what to tell you. You LEFT him – not the other way around. If Chris is acting hostile he has every right."
On the other end of the phone, Elizabeth protested and whined a bit. "But he hates me."
This is why you're such a good mother, Alison. She said to herself. You had tons of practice. "I'm not going to say this again. I haven't gotten much sleep and I've got to tell you – I'm losing my patience. Go and talk to him. Be a grown up for once in your life."
"You don't have to be all smug because you have the perfect marriage." Elizabeth muttered, her feelings hurt.
Alison sighed heavily. "If it appears perfect it's because we work very hard at it. Mother, please. Do yourself a favor. Suck it up and go and see Chris. The worst he could do is slam the door in your face."
"Or he could invite me in for a martini." Elizabeth's voice brightened a bit.
"Yeah. He could. Good luck. I'll talk to you later." Alison said as she rolled her eyes.
"Bye sweetheart." Her voice a bit dejected. Elizabeth knew she was getting on her daughter's last nerve.
"Bye Mom." Alison couldn't help herself from adding. "You know I love you – right? Even though you drive me crazy?" She said with a laugh.
"I know you do. I count on it." Elizabeth said with a smile on her face.
Having dealt with one "child", Alison hung up the phone and glanced over at Becky. She was sitting on the floor carefully diapering a doll. Alison had signed Becky up for a babysitting class at the hospital. She was the youngest kid there and they really didn't think she could watch a baby on her own, but she and Rafe had discussed it and decided it couldn't hurt to have her learn the proper way to care for a baby, just in case.
Their youngest child was beyond enthusiastic about it all. "How's that?" Becky asked as she held up the doll proudly.
Alison rubbed a hand over her stomach and sighed. "That's perfect, sweetie. You're going to be such a big help to me when the baby is born."
"Now that I know how, I can change the baby by myself. I'll help you with the diapers, Mom – even if they're the stinky ones." Becky looked over to her and grinned. "The baby can't help it."
Becky never ceased to make her smile. "You're right and thank you honey. I'd appreciate it."
Satisfied she'd mastered diapering, Becky took a blanket and carefully wrapped her doll, placing it gently in the miniature cradle beside her. "Shh. Baby. Go to sleep." She whispered, making Alison's heart melt.
Smiling widely, Becky scooted onto the couch and curled up next to her mother. Alison put her arm around her and sighed.
They sat quietly for a few minutes until finally, Becky spoke. "Hey Mommy?"
"Yes sweetie?"
"Does Daddy still think the baby's a girl?" She asked as she placed her hand on Alison's stomach.
'Yes. He does."
Becky leaned over and pressed a kiss where her hand had just laid. "What about you? Do you think I'll have a baby sister too?"
Alison smiled and ran her hand through her hair. "Maybe. Why don't we wait and be surprised?"
"OK." Becky agreed. Surprises were fun. She still had more questions though. "But whatever the baby is, do you know what you'll name it?"
Alison sighed. This had become a constant debate lately. They were having such a hard time with names this time around.
She ran her hand over Becky's hair again as she replied, "To tell you the truth honey, we still haven't decided."
Becky shifted to sit up and looked hopefully at Alison. "Can I pick it?"
Alison was lost in thought and didn't quite hear her. "What sweetie?"
Becky's little heart beat faster at the mere idea. "Can I pick the baby's name? I'll do a good job – I promise."
Alison had to bite back a laugh. Becky had a habit of naming her toys in the simplest ways possible. Her three favorite toys were named Bunny, Bear and Dolly. This could be a bad idea. Alison thought with a smile. We might as well just call the poor kid "Baby" and be done with it.
Still, her little girl looked so serious and honestly how bad could it be? Rafe wouldn't even discuss a boys name and his ideas for a girl left a lot to be desired. Had he honestly once suggested Matilda? Alison laughed, remembering. She looked over at her youngest child and suddenly had an idea.
"I'll tell you what." Alison pulled Becky onto her lap and hugged her tight. "We have a book here with lots of names. You can look at it and write down some of your favorites. Then your dad and I will look at them with you and we can all decide together. Does that sound good?"
"That sounds great!" Becky said, her eyes lit up like stars, anxious to get started. "I should look at it soon so Daddy can see my list when he gets home."
Just hearing her words made Alison miss Rafe even more than before. Her eyes began to tear up and she fought to keep them at bay. Her attention turned to Becky again as she heard her say, "Is Daddy coming home soon? I miss him and Grant and Katie too. It's too quiet here without them."
"I know. I feel the same way." Alison hugged Becky once more and tried to reassure her - as well as herself. "Soon, baby. They'll all be home soon."
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"Are you ready?" Caleb asked his son.
"Whatever." Colin replied with a shrug.
"Can't you drum up at least a little enthusiasm?"
"For my life coming to an end? No. Sorry." Colin looked out on the grounds again and tried to ignore him.
It wouldn't be easy. "God, you're so dramatic. Trust me. This isn't the end of your life – it's the beginning."
Colin had learned to have little or no trust in his father. He blocked out his voice as his mind swam with images. He could see Katrina's beautiful face. He could swear it was like she was talking to him. As hard as he tried, he couldn't stop the thoughts from coming – of what he'd lose once he took this step. A lifetime of being with her and loving her would be gone forever.
It was so hard to let it go, but he knew to keep her safe he had to. He'd do anything to make sure she lived the rest of her life in peace.
Colin whirled around and glared at his father. "Listen to me. You're getting what you want. Now you'll give me what I want. I want you to leave me alone. I'll be downstairs at midnight for your sick little ceremony. And once it's complete, I expect you to give it a rest."
He turned back around and looked out the window again, catching a glimpse of Livvie walking through the garden below. It looked like she was crying. "Mom's upset." He whispered.
Caleb stood beside Colin and saw what he already knew. She hadn't been herself since the plans were made. He knew she was having a hard time with all this. "I should go to her." He sighed.
Colin's eyes were lit with fury as he replied. "Yeah. You should, because I sure as hell don't need you."
He didn't let it show, but Colin's constant rejection wounded him. "We're not finished here." Caleb promised as he walked out the door.
"We'll see about that." Colin said softly as it closed behind him.