30 minutes later
Joey
Everything was coming along beautifully so far for this little lunch I was making for us. A grilled Mediterranean chicken salad. The chickens came out looking great, the dressing looked and tasted excellent, and all the fruits and vegetables were chopped up and ready to go. I did save an avocado to keep on the side and freshly mash and season as a special little surprise for Rebecca, who was in the bathroom washing up after a much-needed nap. The poor girl fell out right on my couch as soon as she got comfortable on it. I didn't have it in me in any way to disturb her. I wanted to stay focused on the food, but I still can't believe she was here in my house. There were so many questions I wanted to ask…but I knew better than to bombard her off the bat.
"Ahh. Perfect!" The bread I was toasting was done. I placed them side by side and spread the avocado cream nicely across the bread. That little surprise I mentioned? It was one of Becky's favorite treats that she always raves about. "Ready to serve, Bex!"
"Oh! I'll be right there!" She yelled down the hall from the bathroom. I finalized Rebecca's plate with the slices of avocado toast, and voilà! Both of our plates were looking amazing and ready to be eaten. I quickly turned around to see my lovely guest had finally arrived at the table.
"Oh, may I get that for you?" To the surprise of no one despite Bex looking a little confused, my silly gentleman side came out again as I hopped over to pull her chair out for her, complete with a goofy bow.
"Oh my- Haha! Why thank you, good sir!" With a hearty laugh, she returned my silly bow with her own and seated herself. "So, what is the chef's special today, my gracious host?" I couldn't help but let out a little, hearty laugh of my own. I always loved us acting like goofs together.
"I'm glad you asked!" I began as I grabbed both plates and made my way to the table. I kept her plate out of view to hide the toast surprise just for a bit longer. "What I have for you today is a Mediterranean grilled chicken salad." I showed her my plate first to show off and toot my own horn. Rebecca took a look and donned a look of surprise on her face.
"Wow! Look at you trying different things! Oh wow, this looks amazing. Smells amazing, too!"
"Why, thank you! But…" I moved my plate away from her and onto my spot on the table. She had the only confused look on her face as she was ready to dig in. I wanted to laugh, but I felt bad teasing her like that. But it was about to work out just fine. "...that was my plate. Here is yours." I presented her with her plate, and her face quickly changed from confused to just bright joy.
"Oh, you freaking goof! You didn't!" Just as I thought, she loved the avocado toast surprise. "Aww, Joey… Thank you. That is so sweet." She said as she had that adorable "touched'' look on her face. I was about to become a blushing, smiling mess at that very moment. But, there was no more waiting. It was time to eat!
"Bon appétit!" As soon as I announced it, we both dug in at about the same exact time. Bex was enjoying the meal so much with her own moans of "this is delicious'' and it was making me smile even more. This was the first time I took a crack at this dish and hell, I have to pat myself on the back! It came out amazing!
"Oh my lord. Joey, this is amazing. How'd you come up with this?"
"Thank you! Well, you know how over the pandemic I've been wanting to learn how to try to cook new recipes, right?" She nodded in response. "I was out shopping one day and came across this nice-looking cookbook. I took a scan through it, and it had some delicious-looking recipes. I bought it, studied it, and just treated myself to some great meals from time to time."
"Mmm! Impressive! And you're totally not redeeming yourself from the great Christmas dinner travesty?" She said with such a snarky, teasing tone as she bit done on her toast. Why did she have to remind me about that…
"Haha! Oh, my lord! You are NEVER going to let that go, huh?!"
"You had ONE job! To cook a nice juicy ham! We trusted you and Mox! Haha!"
"I am not accepting 100 percent of the blame and neither will Mox! We were screwed! Sabotaged!"
"So, you're still going to blame Blue? How do you sleep at night?"
"Number 1, yes because that dog is too damn adorable, and you know I'm a big dog person. Number 2, don't you…already know tha-"
"Ahh, that was a rhetorical question!" We shared another great laugh reminiscing that damn tragedy. Long story short, the great Christmas travesty took place last year when Jon and Renee invited Rebecca, Colby, and myself over for Christmas dinner. We all had our roles to help prep the dinner. Renee and Bex were in charge of the sides, Colby covered the drinks and set the table, and Mox and I covered the ham. We had a cookbook to follow, but boy, was it a freaking mess. No matter how careful we were with everything, everything that could go wrong did. We confused the regular mustard we used for the Dijon mustard, the ham was almost knocked over while basting and the juice got on our clothes, and it may or may not have been…a little on the burnt side because Jon and I were too busy goofing off and messing with their dog, Blue.
"I don't want to remember that ever again." It was a funny as hell day looking back at it, but it was an embarrassing day for me as a cook, and Becky's failed attempt at holding back her laugh was not helping at all. "Hey, thank god I don't ever cook for thanks-" A realization hit me smack dab in the middle of my sentence. A sad one at that. Becky immediately noticed and looked concerned.
"Joey, What's wrong?"
"I, uh, just realized Thanksgiving is tomorrow." As I completed that sentence, Becky's eyes widened. The realization hit hard like a freight train as well. The light and upbeat tone we started the dinner with had changed so abruptly into a more sad one.
"Shit… I completely forgot about it." Becky said with a saddened tone in her voice with a frowning face to match. "So much going on in our lives. It really knocked the thanksgiving spirit right out of us, huh?"
"Yeah. As if not being able to be with our actual families wasn't enough." God, I hate these depressing mood turns. I wanted to change it back so badly. A new topic did come to mind. The only problem was it wasn't that much of a better topic, but…this was something that needed to be discussed. To finally get that elephant in the room out of here. "Speaking of families…" Becky looked back up at me when I spoke again. "... I know it's not the best timing, but I think we need to finally talk about the future for us here."
"Heh, yeah. Not really the best timing there, Kennedy." Well, great start already. "But no, you're right. We need to talk about this. Best to get it out of the way quickly." I nodded in agreement.
"I agree and to be completely honest, I don't think there's much to talk about, really." I could tell I caught Becky quite off guard when I spoke. Her face told the whole story.
"Really?" She asked. I nodded with a hint of a smile on my face.
"It honestly wasn't even difficult to think about. I mean, look at us now. We are a hell of a team. We're able to get along no matter what. If something goes wrong, we're quick to work it out together. There's just no beating around the bush, so I'm just gonna get right to it. Rebecca, I want to be a part of Roux's life. I have full intention to be the best damn father I can be to my little girl. I've been ready to be a father and be there for her AND you every step of the way. Only if you are willing to let me, of course."
Rebecca
I couldn't help but sit and look like a doofus again right in front of Joey. I heard every word he said clearly. I believed every word he said. Deep down, I already knew and believed this is what he wants, but yet I was still stunned that this wasn't a dream. Although I was still tempted to pinch myself to make sure I still wasn't dreaming back at Pam's house.
"Joey… Oh my god, you dope, of course I'd let you!" If I could describe the look on Joey's face right now, it was like a kid ripping open his wrapped Christmas present and getting what he wanted. He was so happy. "Did you think I wouldn't let you be there for us?"
"No! Haha, I just…honestly didn't know what to think. I just know this is what I want. I'd love for you to live here with me. I want to take care of you. I want to help take care of our daughter." Damn it, I've been crying so much these past few days. I really can't get a break. But I'm so touched by Joey's words, his willingness to take me in (not like he was going to leave me out in the cold anyway.), and his determination… At least these tears were tears of joy.
"I would love all of that." I held my arms out to hug him. He left his chair and gladly accepted. This is all I wanted. This is all I needed. "Woah!"
"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
"No! No!" I held my stomach firmly to confirm what I thought it was, and when it happened again, I was sent flying over the moon. "She's kicking again!"
"Really?!" Joey reached out slowly, wanting to feel the kick. I could tell he was nervous about it.
"Here." I took his hand and guided it onto my stomach. "Last time she kicked was back on the plane. I think I figured out her sweet spots." We moved together around the sweet spots where Roux would tend to kick. It didn't take long at all to find one.
"Woah!" We looked at each other with such smiles of joy. This was truly a beautiful moment for us…and then it hit me. This was the first time he felt Roux move around in my belly, and the first time for him to feel his daughter kicking around. "Wow, she's really active, huh?"
"Oh yeah, she usually is during the day. She can kick hard! Even for a baby! She's already proving to be a fighter."
"Just like her mother." What a cheeky goof. Just had to find a way to charm me. And, I hate to admit, it still works as I started blushing like a tomato again.
"And her father." Joey immediately blushed as he looked at me again with a warm...loving, genuine smile. I can tell he truly appreciated that. We still were just staring into each other's eyes, getting lost in them, our faces slowly getting closer to each other. It was almost like we were back at the Grand Hyatt...where we almost kissed for the first time. Dear lord, I wanted to... But… I couldn't. I had to turn away.
"Oh god. I'm sorry. I-uh..."
"No! Don't be. It's just… After everything that's happened...with Colby especially… I don't want to feel like I'm rushing into anything right now."
"Yeah. You're right." I appreciated his understanding, but I still felt like crap about it. It wasn't that I thought any less of Joey in any way. Absolutely not. I just...don't think I have any romantic bones in my body right now. After the way Colby just…ripped me apart verbally and…rightfully so, I'm just not 100 percent comfortable thinking about that kind of stuff right now.
"Ow! Wow, Roux!" That was the hardest kick I think I've ever felt from her. Where did that come from?!
"Jeez! Haha! Maybe she wants us to work on that romantic side." An obvious humor attempt as he had that sly smug of his again. Cheeky devil…
"Or maybe she's tired of us being so down."
"Good point. Can't say I'd blame her." Joey said while focused on Roux in my belly. He got back on his knee again, not breaking line of sight. What was he doing? "Hey, kiddo. It's-uh...great to speak to you again." As he put his hand on my belly, I realized what was going on… He was talking to her again. "It's crazy how last time we spoke like this, I was pretty much a stranger to you. A month later, it turns out I'm your father. Heh, what a twist. But I hope you heard everything I just told your mom because I mean every word I said. I am going to be the best dad I can be for you. I'm going to take good care of you and spoil the hell out of you when you get here. I promise." Joey was truly getting into his new dad mode quite well already. He is just so damn precious.
*Joey & Rebecca gasp*
"Oh my lord, Joey!" Roux was gently pushing my belly, right where Joey's hand was. It was like they were touching hands.
"Holy crap! Haha! I don't wanna jump the gun here, but…"
"It seems like we're all in agreement. I'm glad."
"Me too." I didn't want this moment to end. If I could stay like this with him all day, I'd be perfectly happy with that. "I don't suppose you have your hospital bag with you?"
"Sadly, I never got the chance to get it from my house. I could ask Pam but… I'm afraid of them getting into it over me, and I'm not sure that she would want to do me any favors after scaring the holy hell out of her."
"How so?" Oh, I know he's going to enjoy this story. I broke it down to Joey about how Pam took me in right after her match Sunday and provided me a safe haven. I explained how I wanted to get a good night's sleep last night, but I just couldn't. Everything from the wounds from Sunday still hurting to my worry about Joey's mental state at the time kept me up to the point I said screw it and made the trip out in the middle of the night. "Wow… Holy hell, girl. You are a menace!"
"Haha! I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult."
"I'll let you figure that out." I didn't tell him about the dream that I had of us as a whole family. Maybe I'm overthinking again, but I feel like I would've come off as the biggest cornball ever. "You should call Pam as soon as you're ready. Tell her you're ok, and I'd like to say my thanks for looking after you two." I took a look over to the couch, where my phone was in my purse. I should call her soon. It's only right.
"I will. Maybe we both can convince her to try to get my hospital bag sent here."
"That's right. What are you missing that we can't get here?"
"Personal stuff and hospital papers?"
"Ahh. Well, if Pam's unable to, we may not be screwed when it comes to the baby." My eyes darted back to Joey, who had a shy smile on his face.
"What do you mean?" He held up his finger telling me to wait and rushed over to his bedroom.
"To be honest with you, I may have jumped the gun a bit earlier today." I got up from the chair, still looking towards the door, as confused as ever. What is he up to? He finally stepped out of his bedroom…with Target bags… It finally clicked in my head. Oh my god, he didn't… "Right before you showed up, I did a lot of…necessary shopping, I'd say. You're welcome to grade my performance." He planted the bags in front of me, allowing me to open them & dig through them. I let out a hell of a gasp out of pure shock. The bags were full of baby stuff. Diapers, wipes, toys, towels, clothes, and sneakers I had to pick up and look at closer.
"Oh my god! These are so freaking cute!" I finally was able to speak. Of course, these sneakers looked like Joey's P.F. Layers. "Like father, like daughter, huh?" Joey laughed with a more proud smile on his face.
"You better believe it! When she goes out with us, she goes in style!" I wanted to roll my eyes at him, but that got a good giggle out of me. "Oh, and if you want to see the crib, you're gonna have to go see it yourself because I'm not dragging that thing back and forth."
"What?!" A crib?! He got a freaking crib too?! I sprinted over to see for myself…and there it was. I…had no words.
"It's actually a really nice model." Joey explained as he walked behind me. "It has a nice diaper changing station on the side, and you can change the whole thing into-" I stopped him with the biggest hug I can give him in my state. I was truly shocked. All of this effort to be ready for us, to make sure Roux has everything she needs, in so little time, and we only just talked about working things out together. He didn't need to say anymore.
"Even after all this time, you still find a way to amaze me, Kennedy."
"Ditto, Quin."