I know it's been a while since I've posted, and I've actually had most of this chapter written for a little bit now. School is in full swing, sigh, and I have a lot less time than I thought I would. So read this one, listen to Breathe by Anna Nalick while you're reading, and send a review my way if you want.

Chapter 32

After a few months, Kevin and Beth were getting the hang of parenthood. They had worked out their schedules and were now getting a passable amount of sleep at night. Kevin's job was working out well, and he had been asked to reprise his Paralympics broadcasting role. He'd declined at first, but Beth encouraged him to go to London. She and Liam would be fine without him for two weeks, she assured. So he had gone in mid-September and had been back home for an eventful few weeks. The house in Connecticut sold, and they were now actively looking for a house of their own. Kevin was pretty sure that he had found it. It was a brick Colonial-style house on a corner lot. He'd been sure that Beth would love it. The realtor said it had five bedrooms, three bathrooms, hardwood floors. It wasn't perfect, but it was close. Of course, there would need to be modifications and additions, but he thought it would work out well. He couldn't wait to show Beth. As he had imagined, she loved it. They set the process in motion and finally were on the way to their own house for their new family.

Joan's wedding was rapidly approaching, and Joan was rapidly breaking down. Details and plans were piling up. She had originally thought it would take place in October, but the date had been pushed back to Thanksgiving, and then Christmas. Joan was hoping that she could put it all together in time, although she was having conflicting thoughts and needed someone to help her sort them. It was the middle of the night with just over six weeks to go until the big day, and she needed to talk to Beth. She walked across the hall and knocked softly on Kevin's bedroom door.

Beth cracked the door and shielded her eyes from the light. "Joan, what's wrong?"

Joan was sorry that she had woken her sister-in-law, who probably didn't get enough sleep anyway, but Beth was the only person she knew who could tell her what she needed to know.

"I'm sorry to wake you Beth, but I need to talk to you. If this is not a good time, we can do it later."

Beth's smile turned into a yawn. "No, it's ok. I'm already up and Liam will be hungry in a little while. Let's go in your room so we don't wake anyone else, ok?"

They were situated on the bed amidst all of the wedding stuff. Beth leaned back against the headboard, supported by a few pillows and tried to stay awake. Joan faced her from the foot of the bed. There were so many fears swirling in her head. She had to vocalize them, and while she had been ready to do it earlier, she was finding it hard to do so now.

Beth broke into her thoughts, "Joan, what is it? I want to help you, but it's 2 am. I get another hour of sleep before the baby wakes up, and Kevin gets to sleep through this one. It's my turn."

"Sorry, Beth. I thought I was ready to do this, but it's harder than I thought. I need to ask you something, and it's personal, and you don't have to answer, and I'll totally understand, but I just thought that you..."

"Joan! Just ask me the question!"

"Okay. I need to know how you knew that you could trust Kevin enough to marry him, even after he had cheated on you."

Beth sat up and crossed her legs under her. "Well, I didn't think that I could… why are you asking me this? Adam? When?"

"It was junior year of high school. There was this girl, and he said it didn't mean anything, but he slept with her when I wouldn't. We broke up and it was after college before we even were anything close to serious again. Kevin didn't tell you this?"

"He's pretty self-centered. That's mean. I don't think he even knew. If he had, I doubt he would have agreed to go to, much less be in, the wedding."

"Oh, yeah. Luke knows about it because of Grace and all, and I guess I just assumed that Kevin knew, too."

"He's never said anything to me about it, but anyway, your question. How did I know that I could trust Kevin? I asked myself that one about a billion times. That's kind of why I left, why I stayed away for so long. I loved him, but we obviously weren't ready to be serious, and then the accident happened. I saw that as a sign that I needed to stay out of his life. A million other things happened, and we ended up back together. He had changed, but he hadn't. Rebecca broke up with him because he kissed another girl. When you called, I was a mess. Jake had left because I told him to go. I wanted to see Kevin. I knew that feelings were still there on my end, and then when they were with him, too, there was a lot to deal with. I hoped that he would be the same but different. Like I said, he was. He dated Lilly while I was out of the country. He was very much the same Kevin in that respect. He came to live with me while he was in school. That was an important time for us. We had the time to sort out what had happened and where we were to go from that. I guess that was when I knew I could trust him. I won't say that there aren't times when I get insecure or accuse, but he understands that it takes time. He's patient and he's been faithful. There wasn't any specific thing. It was just a feeling that he loved me and that he wouldn't do it again."

"I don't know if I trust Adam."

"Has he done anything else to make you doubt him?"

"No, but what he did was enough. I don't know if I can marry him."

"Well, that's the decision you have to make. It's forever, and it's the most wonderful thing, sharing your life with the person you love. And babies, Joan, having babies is indescribable. If that's what you want, you want to make sure you have the right guy. I can't begin to tell you what to do, but I'll stand behind whatever you decide."

"Thanks, Beth. I appreciate everything you've done to help me out with all of this. I'm so glad that you and Kevin made it work. It makes me think that I should try, but Adam and I aren't you two. I have to make myself remember that and not push too hard for something that isn't right for me."

Beth hugged Joan as she stood from the bed. "You'll make the right choice. I'm sure that you will. Get some sleep, Joan."

"Good night, Beth."

Beth went back into the room where Kevin and Liam were sleeping. She checked on her son before crawling back into bed with her husband. Kevin turned to her as she snuggled close to him.

"Where were you? I woke up and you were gone."

She kissed him and pressed her body against his. "Joan needed to talk. She has some stuff to work out about Adam. I hope I helped, but I'm not sure. Did the baby wake up?"

"No, he's been asleep, but he'll probably be up soon."

"I'm going to try to sleep while he is."

"I'll take him this time, if you want."

"No, I'll nurse him and you can give him a bottle when you get up for work."

"Okay. Go to sleep. He might be out for a while."

"If he's any relation to you, he just might sleep through the night one of these days."

"I love you, Beth."

"I know you do, Kevin."

Liam slept until almost five. Beth was fairly happy with this development as she brought him into the bed with her to nurse. He was taking a bottle most of the time now, except at night, and Beth had enjoyed the special bond with her son up until that point. However, she was looking forward to when he would take a bottle all the time and Kevin could get up with him, or better yet, that he would sleep through the night.

He fell back asleep after he had eaten, and Beth kept him with her until Kevin woke up about three hours later. Kevin took the baby, changed him, dressed him and made his bottle. Liam stayed with his daddy until 8:30 when Kevin had to leave. Beth had gotten ready in the time that Kevin had spent with the baby, so by the time he was ready, Beth was too. Kevin handed off to her and left for his work day. The rest of the Girardi family was up and around and off to work between 7 and 9. Beth had some errands to run for Joan, but other than that, she and Liam had the day to themselves. She thought that she would begin to do some work on the new house. It needed to be cleaned thoroughly and painted, too. She couldn't paint with Liam around, but she could clean. Mother and son spent most of the morning and afternoon at their new home. Beth cleaned the windows and bathrooms while Liam amused himself with toys in his seat. As she was cleaning, Beth happily surveyed all the work that the contractors had done, and noted that only the minor details remained on the house's modifications. They could begin moving in very soon.

In fact, it was a little over a week later, during Thanksgiving break, that the big move took place. The entire family offered assistance as much as they could, and the movers took care of all the big stuff. Helen was fortunate to have the entire week off, so she worked with Beth on setting up the rooms and getting everything ready. They had finished most of the living room, dining room, and kitchen, so they decided to have Thanksgiving dinner at Kevin and Beth's house. They called a local supermarket and were overjoyed to find that there was still time to have the affair catered. That would give Beth and Helen even more time to prepare the house. Kevin was more help in the evenings, as he didn't have as far of a commute to the new house from work. He and Liam explored the neighborhood and even took in a few football and soccer games at local parks while Beth, Helen, and occasionally Joan worked on the move.

By Thursday morning, everything was perfect. Beth's parents, as well as Annie and Clark had accepted invitations. Beth had also invited Grace's parents, making the total count 16. They were planning on using the dining room table as a sort of buffet line and had placed chairs and smaller end tables around the front room, dining room and kitchen. Kevin was working on last minute decorative details assigned to him by his wife when the phone rang. He hurriedly left his task to answer it. The caller was Joan. She said quite simply and succinctly that Adam would not be coming to the meal. Kevin didn't ask any more questions and got back to his decorating. A few moments later, Beth breezed through the room and Kevin thought to tell her about Joan's phone call.

"Did she say anything else?" Beth asked.

"Nope, just that Adam wasn't going to be able to make it. I hope everything is okay."

"I seriously doubt that it is," Beth finished.

Kevin looked questioningly at his wife. "What aren't you telling me?" he asked.

"Well, let's just say that it's a good thing you're sitting down for this," answered Beth.