Chapter 14: Family Time
December 2004
Watching Ashley go through the various stages of her pregnancy made me vow never to have children. Don't get me wrong I love kids I'd just rather skip the 9 months of cravings, mood swings, constant peeing frenzies and morning sickness. One particular Thursday I walked into our living room to find Ashley watching Smackdown, as soon as she heard me come in she changed it to one of those really sad Lifetime Movies. I sat down next to her you could tell she had been crying.
"These sappy movies make me cry all the time" she said.
"Ashley I know you were watching Smackdown if you want to talk about him it's ok" I said.
"I'm not crying because I'm sad I'm crying because I am mad" she said "I'm mad at him for being such a jackass but I'm mad at myself for getting into this situation"
"My little niece or nephew is better off without having that ass as a role model in his or her life" I said.
"You tried to warn me so many times that John had changed but I was too stupid to see" she sniffled.
"Hey look at me" I lifted her chin so she my looking into my eyes. "you are not stupid you aren't even close to being stupid… yes I tried to warn you about John but part of me was hoping that he would grow up, look at you, you are having a baby all by yourself not many people can do it but I know you can"
"You really think I'm going to be a good mom?" she asked.
"Duh" I replied.
"Thanks Addie" she said "you've been taking care of me my whole life haven't you?"
"That is what older sisters do" I said.
"You are only older by two minutes" she pointed out.
"Older is older" I commented.
"I should really pick out some names for this little one" Ashley said rubbing the little belly that she had. She was only 4 months pregnant then.
"If it's a boy you should name him Derek after that hottie of a shortstop the Yankees have" I suggested.
"I am not naming my son after Derek Jeter just because you are in love with him" she said.
"I am not in love with him"
"Oh Derek marry me and let me bare your children" Ashley said in a high-pitched voice. She threw her hand on her forehead for the dramatic effect.
"I do not sound like that" I insisted. "and I am not in love with him"
"Are you telling me that if Derek Jeter was at the door and he said he wanted you right her and now you'd say no?" Ashley said.
"That is exactly what I'd say" I replied.
"LIAR!" Ashley exclaimed.
"Go eat something" I said.
"Now Adrian that hurt" Ashley put her hand over her heart.
"Knock it off before I pop you one" I remarked.
"Are you telling me you would hit your pregnant sister?" She asked.
"If you don't shut up yes I will"
"You hear that sweetie your auntie wants to hit me you'd better be good otherwise she'll beat you" Ashley said to her growing stomach.
"Don't say that" I told her.
"I don't want to go to work tomorrow" she whined.
"So stay home" I said.
"I can't my office doesn't like the fact that I'm taking off time after the baby is born if I take days off before this I'll probably get fired" she said.
"They won't fire you you're the best therapist they have in that place" I told her.
"Yes I am very good at what I do" she said.
There was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it god forbid you get off the couch or anything" I said.
"Hey I'm pregnant I have to relax" was her comeback.
I shook my head sometimes I don't even know why I bother trying to argue with her. But truth be told I loved the fact that my sister was living with me. We are closer now than we have ever been. Sometimes we'd sit for hours reading the pregnancy books together… man looking back at those time really makes me see that I had the most boring life but hey we were happy.
I reached the front door and opened it. Maddie and her boyfriend Randy Orton were standing on the other side.
"What the hell are you two doing here?" I asked letting them in.
"Randy you had better brought the ice cream I asked you to get me" Ashley yelled from the living room.
"Get off your ass and come get it" Maddie yelled in return.
"I'm pregnant" Ashley yelled back.
"Does it look like I care" Maddie yelled again.
Ashley walked out into the kitchen and whacked Maddie in the back of her head.
"You are lucky you are having a baby because if you weren't I would have made you cry" Maddie said rubbing the back of her head.
"Sure Thumbelina you and what army" Ashley said grabbing a spoon before digging into her cookie dough ice cream.
"How you feeling today Ash?" Randy asked.
"I'm doing good today" she said.
"You find out what you are having?" Maddie asked.
"No I want it to be a surprise" she replied.
"Girl you are an idiot I would have found out so I know what to buy" Maddie said.
"I agree with Ashley it's better not to find out because it ruins the surprise of the whole pregnancy" Randy said.
"Who the hell asked you?" Maddie asked.
"Maddie leave poor Randy alone" I said.
"Can you believe this time next year we will be celebrating Christmas with the baby?" Ashley asked.
"You already know this baby is going to be spoiled" Maddie said.
"God help us" Ashley replied.
"It won't be that bad Ashley" Randy said.
"Oh sure you are going to be the cool uncle who brings a toy every time you come to visit Adrian and I are the ones who are going to have to deal with this child every single day" Ashley said.
"I was thinking you should name the baby Russell if it's a boy" Maddie suggested "after dad"
"I was thinking Russell Owen after our dad and brother" Ashley said.
"Wait a minute we had a brother named Owen?" Maddie asked.
"Yeah he died as a toddler and mom doesn't like to bring it up" I said.
"I feel like watching a Johnny Depp movie" Ashley announced.
"That new one where he plays a pirate looks good" Maddie said.
"Yes Pirates of the Caribbean very good movie" Ashley said.
"Well let's watch a movie" I said.
We all gathered around in the living room and watched Sleepy Hollow and A Perfect Storm. Ashley fell asleep during Sleepy Hollow but the rest of us stayed up. Once we where sure she was asleep before we started talking about John.
"So how is he?" I asked.
"I don't really know John is never serious long enough to get a real answer out of him" Randy answered.
"Does he seem even a little upset?" Maddie asked.
"Not really" Randy replied
"I talked to him the other day he seems to be holding up, of course he still has no idea that I'm dating Maddie so he hasn't brought anything up" Randy said.
"I talked to Carol yesterday he was home last week and didn't say a word" I said
"What an asshole" Maddie said "I should take Damian's 36 and pop a few caps in his ass"
"Maddie as much as that would make all of us feel better Ashley would be pissed" I reasoned.
"Yes she still isn't speaking to Damian for breaking 4 different bones in John's arm and his jaw" Maddie said.
Randy laughed "He just got the cast off of his arm 2 weeks ago, you know what he told every one he said he was in a car accident"
"Trust me if Damian had run him over the body would never be found" Maddie said.
"Yes it's good to have ties to the mob" I added.
"It's almost like he is blocking everything that has to do with the baby out of his head" Randy said.
"Like I told Ashley this baby is better off without him because he or she has so much love in it's life already" I said.
"Girl you don't even know" Maddie said.
"So when are you two getting married?" I asked.
"Wow where did that come from?" Randy asked.
"Well Ashley and I have a bet" I said. "she thinks you are never gonna propose but I say you will in about 10 years"
"It's nice this is what my own sister say about us" Maddie said.
"Get over is Maddie we are your sister so we have every right to comment on your love life it comes with the territory"
"Yeah well mind your own god damn business" Maddie remarked.
"Relax little sister" I replied.
"Well it's late" I said "I made the bed in the guest room"
"Addie you are going to need to get a bigger apartment when the baby gets here" Maddie said.
"Yeah I know I'm looking I'm thinking of moving to Long Island" she said.
"That would be nice" Maddie said.
"Randy do you think you could pick Ashley up and take her to her room?" I asked.
"Sure" Randy said as he picked Ashley up and walked away.
Randy walked down the hall and into the bed room. He laid Ashley down and put the blankets over her.
"I love you John" she mumbled in her sleep.
"He loves you too" Randy whispered "deep down he always will"
Randy didn't tell Maddie or me this until years later but he had talked to John on more than one occasion about Ashley. John had said that he made the biggest mistake of his life leaving Ashley but by the time he was ready to admit his mistake it was too late.