:Chapter 25:
I peeked open my eyes, and had to shut them again. The sunlight streaming in through the sheer curtains was blinding. Slowly I reopened my eyes, and looked down at the head of chestnut hair that lay against my chest. I've noticed that every time I wake up and see Susannah beside me, or laying near me, I can't help but smile to myself and acknowledge that I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
Carefully I tucked a few stray locks of Susannah's hair behind her ear, and kissed the top of her head. She stirred, scrunching her face before carefully lifting an eyelid. She spotted me looking at her contently, and a smile appeared on her face.
"How long have you been up?" she yawned, opening her other eye. I pulled her closer to me, and sighed "Just a few minutes."
"Why didn't you wake me?" she asked, raking her fingers through my hair.
"You looked so peaceful; I didn't want to disturb you" I replied, nuzzling my face against her outstretched arm.
"I don't want to get out of bed today. Can we just stay here all day and enjoy ourselves," she whispered seductively, running a finger over my abdomen. I shivered and kissed her cheek, gently, then trailed small kisses all over her face before gently pecking her lips.
"Hey Jesse" Susannah beamed, "I changed my mind. I think I'm just a tad bit hungry. And you know what? Your delicious huevos racheros sound heavenly."
I must have let out a little grumble, because Susannah gave me a sympathetic kiss before squeezing my arm and smiling "You don't have to get up and make them just yet."
"Oh really?" I asked sarcastically, "And when does her highness want her huevos rancheros done by?"
Susannah stuck out her tongue at me but replied "After I'm done with you." Then she basically jumped me; "querida" I groaned as she reached her hand into my boxers. "Relax Jesse. I'm only getting started."
The beeping of my cell phone broke the comfortable silence between Susannah and me. We'd just collapsed onto the mattress for about the second time, and the beeping was getting annoying.
I looked at Susannah who just let out an exasperated sigh before reaching over me and answering my cell phone. "Hello" she said, feigning pleasantness.
"He's in the shower, can I just have him call you when he gets out?" she replied to whatever the person on the other line had said.
"Yes, I understand, but that isn't even his department, can't you get someone else to come in?" she asked, her voice changing in tone from polite to annoyed.
"Can I talk to your supervisor?" Susannah questioned sternly.
I quickly tried to take the phone from her but she grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go. With my other hand I tried, but she let go of the hand she was holding and reached between my legs. "Jesse, don't make me do something we'll both regret" she whispered, her grip tightening. I must have let out a whimper because Susannah sent me an apologetic look, before turning away and listening intently.
"Yeah, hi Dan, it's Suze. Oh no, I'm fine. Yeah, everything is great. How are Sarah and the kids?" she asked politely. "Oh, no, nothing really, it's just that I was assured Jesse would have weekends off. With his promotion to head of the pediatrics department, doesn't that limit some of the hours he can work? Besides it isn't even his department."
"Listen Dan, I just found out I'm pregnant-" Susannah sighed, sounding like she hadn't wanted to mention her pregnancy.
"Thank you. Oh just a few weeks, but we just found out and I'd like to spend some time with my husband. Now if you really want to get Jesse to come in today, I'm just warning you that I may let this slip to Sarah. And you know how much she hates it when they call in people to help out in a department they don't even work in" she stated with fake sweetness.
"Great, you'll see Jesse Monday morning at eight. Thanks Dan, oh and give Sarah and the kids my best."
"Umm hmm, buh-bye" she replied before hanging up and handing me back my phone.
"How do you do that?" I asked, noticing my voice was higher by about an octave. Susannah noticed too, and released her death grip on me.
"Sorry, but you weren't cooperating" she replied, "and as for Dan, I've known his wife since you guys were in med. school together. He's a real pushover when anything about Sarah getting mad at him comes around."
"But Susannah, Dan is my supervisor too, how could you just talk to him like that?" I asked completely astonished.
"Jesse, he's not my supervisor. Besides his wife talks practically nonstop about him. I probably know more about that guy than you do" she answered. I smiled, despite the fact that I was still in pain, and pulled Susannah into my arms.
"Still hurting?" she asked after about a minute.
"No" I replied defensively. "Jesse" she sighed with a slight smile on her face. "Okay, yes, but just a little" I admitted. "Well, I think I know a way to fix that" she said with a mischievous smile, before ducking under the covers. "Ohhhh, querida" I moaned as her lips made contact.
"Hmmm" Susannah breathed as she hungrily dug into her plate of huevos rancheros.
Just then our phone started ringing and I got up mumbling "Five minutes, can't we just have five minutes without someone calling." Slowly I picked up the phone and answered "Hello" with fake enthusiasm.
"Dude where are you guys!" Adam asked nervously.
"Uhh, at home. Why?" I replied awkwardly.
"You guys are supposed to be here at the mission. Father Dominic is freaking out that you guys aren't here yet" he explained.
"What's going on at the mission?" I questioned, trying to remember about any sort of event Susannah and I are supposed to help out at.
"It's the Junipero Serra festival. You and me are supposed to be manning the booth with all the booze, and CeeCee and Suze are supposed to run the kissing booth. You guys were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago," he said in an eager voice.
"Nombre de Dios" I sighed running my hand through my hair. "Has it started already, or are you guys just setting up?"
"No, we're just setting up, but I've been covering for you and Suze with Father D ever since we got here" Adam replied, "How fast can you guys get here?"
"Uhh, we can be there in twenty minutes. Do you think you can handle Father Dominic for that long?" I asked hurriedly, noticing Susannah had stopped eating and was by my side with a questioning look on her face.
"Umm, yeah, I think so. Do you want me to make something up, or do you guys wanna tell Father D something when you get here?" Adam questioned.
"We'll come up with something, and Adam, thanks" I sighed.
"Don't mention it man, you'd do the same for me. See ya in a few" he said before hanging up.
Quickly I put down the phone and grabbed Susannah by the hand, pulling her behind me up the stairs. "Jesse, what's going on?" she asked urgently.
"Querida, we were supposed to be at the Junipero Serra festival half an hour ago to help set up. Adam and CeeCee have been covering for us, and we have to get there before Father Dominic gives himself a heart attack" I answered, pulling Susannah into our bedroom and quickly helping her out of her sweats, before ridding myself of my pajama bottoms and t-shirt.
"Jesse" she said in a soothing tone, "you're freaking out. Relax. We'll get there when we get there."
"Susannah, you know I don't like being late, and Father Dominic was depending on us to be there" I answered, grabbing a pair of jeans from my side of the closet.
"Yeah, but it's just a festival Jesse, it's not like it's the end of the world. Now relax, and wear one of your button down shirts, you know Father D doesn't like regular t-shirts, he thinks they're too sloppy" she replied, carefully selecting an outfit from her side of our walk-in closet.
"Now, what are we supposed to do at the festival anyway? Cause if I have to serve old guys some food I can't even pronounce again, Father D is gonna get an earful" Susannah said a few minutes later, doing the straps on her sandals.
"No, you're going to be with CeeCee at some booth. I can't remember which one Adam told me, but I don't think you're working one of the food booths" I answered, looking for a belt.
When I finally grabbed one Susannah calmly said "Not that one" from the other room. "Querida, you haven't even seen the belt" I defended, poking my head into our bedroom.
"I know I haven't, but I know you grabbed that funky brown leather one that you happen to think goes with everything" she said turning to face me from her vanity, a smug smile on her face. I quickly put down the 'funky brown belt' and grabbed my other black one.
"Not that one either. Wear the new black one I just got you" she called, going back to applying her make up. I turned back and looked where my other belts were. "Querida, where-?"
"Next to your other belts, behind the tie you're touching" she answered.
I hadn't even noticed I was touching a tie, but sure enough, when I pushed back the tie, I saw the new black belt Susannah had brought home for me on Tuesday. "How do you do-"
"Magic" Susannah interrupted again, appearing in the closet doorway, all ready to go. She had another smug smile on her face, and looked at her watch before saying, "Hey, it only took us fifteen minutes to get completely dressed and ready."
"Good, now we have five minutes to get there" I said gently pecking Susannah's lips and grabbing my wallet. We headed down stairs and grabbed our keys before rushing through the door and getting into the car.
"I told you we shouldn't have pulled over" I whispered to Susannah as we approached the mission. She held my hand loosely, and wore a giddy grin on her face, much like my own grin. Even though we were running even later than we said we would be, I couldn't exactly be mad at Susannah.
"Oh fine then, next time you're in the mood when we're out, you're just gonna have to wait" she replied, while straightening out her skirt.
"Querida, we weren't out, we were driving down the highway" I corrected. Susannah pretended not to hear me and gave me a once over before pulling me into one of the empty breezeways and zipping up my fly. "What would you do without me?" she sighed contently.
"You mean besides be on time to the festival? Well, I'd probably be having a lot less sex, too, but other than that…I have no idea" I joked. Susannah mock punched my arm before grabbing hold of my hand again and leading me towards the festival.
"Where have you two been!" Father Dominic exclaimed when he spotted us walking towards the festival and rushed over.
"Uhh" I said trying to think of an excuse. "Sorry Father D it was my fault, really. It's just morning sickness really takes it out of you and Jesse didn't wanna wake me up this morning, and I just really messed up our schedule. Sorry" Susannah said.
"Morning sickness? Susannah does that mean, what I think it means?" he asked, his face completely unreadable.
Susannah's face lit up and she happily nodded her head, squeezing my hand. I noticed my face had brightened up as well, and I had a goofy smile on my face.
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I never thought I'd live to see the day" Father Dominic exclaimed before pulling Susannah into his arms and sending me a happy smile. "Congratulations" he said after releasing Susannah and giving me a brief hug.
"Thanks Father D" Susannah cheered, "Now, what booths are we at?"
He looked down onto a clipboard and scanned the paper for our names. "Susannah you're at the kissing booth with CeeCee, and Jesse-"
"Kissing booth?" I asked, "Father, the mission has never had a kissing booth before."
"I am aware of that, but some of the students thought it would be a good idea, plus it costs twice as many tickets as anything else. Susannah and CeeCee are going to take the first shift. Now Jesse-"
I interrupted him for the second time, my teeth slightly clenched, "But Father, I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with this. I mean Susannah-"
"Honey, it's fine. Don't worry okay. I'm going to go find Cee and finish helping set up," she said in her soothing voice. "Come find me after your shift is over. I love you" she reassured me before pecking my lips and rushing off into the crowd of volunteers.
"Jesse, I know you may not be comfortable about this, but Susannah is a big girl, she'll be fine. Besides we specifically chose her and CeeCee to take the first shift because we knew they wouldn't stand for any foul or inappropriate behavior. Now, you need to go help Adam set up the booth with the alcoholic beverages. And remember if the person looks even a day less than thirty, you must check their ID. I don't want any under-aged drinking here" he instructed me, before patting my shoulder and heading off towards the mission. With a slight grumble I headed into the crowd in search of Adam and our booth.
"Hey man, our shift just ended, let's go find the girls" Adam said, pouring his last beer and handing it to a man who looked to be in his early to mid fifties. I nodded before handing a woman her wine cooler, and following Adam out of the booth.
"You've been kind of quiet ever since you got here, something bothering you?" he asked as we tried to make our way through a large crowd of teenagers.
"It's just…did you mind when they told you CeeCee was going to be running the kissing booth?" I asked.
"At first, but I talked to Cee about it and she made it real clear that I was the only guy she really wanted to be kissing" he replied with a smirk, "besides I trust her. Don't you?"
"Trust CeeCee?" I asked, "I guess."
"Not Cee, Suze. Don't you trust her?" he questioned pausing right in the middle of a crowd.
"Of course I trust her, she's my wife. It's the people that are paying to kiss her I don't trust" I answered truthfully.
That's when I noticed we had stopped right in front of the kissing booth. I looked into the booth, but a curtain separated the kissing area from the ticket buying area, so I couldn't see anything except a long line of guys holding money in their hands and smiling. The ticket seller, a young girl wearing all black, and that had more piercings and tattoos than I could count, gave an annoyed sigh and stood up before announcing "Guys you can't come more than twice in the shift. And you're not allowed to ask for a specific person!"
Adam and I gave each other questioning looks before shoving our way to the front of the line and taking out four dollars each. "Hey man, we were here first!" a few of the guys behind us shouted, "Yeah, wait your turn!"
We turned around and glared at the guys who had yelled and said through gritted teeth, "Those are our wives. Do you really wanna start something with us about them?" The guys looked at each other nervously before mumbling "No, we're good."
We handed our money to the ticket girl and said, "I know we're not supposed to ask for a specific person, but those are our wives in there and we really want to surprise them."
The teenage girl looked us over as she handed us our tickets and said "Alright, but only cause you look hot enough to be married to them. Suze is in the first room, and Cee is in the one right next to it. But, you have to wait until the guys they're with leave."
"How long have they been in there?" Adam asked sending me an angry look.
"I don't know, a couple minutes maybe" she said looking bored.
"Well, how long do they get?" I questioned gruffly.
"However long Suze and Cee let them stay in there. It's up to them" she answered glancing at her fingernails, which were painted black and shined in the late afternoon sunlight, as did her many piercings.
"Keisha, we wanna take off, do you want us wait for our replacements, or can you handle the guys?" Susannah called through the curtain.
"Uhh, do you guys think you can take two more before you go?" the girl, apparently named Keisha called back.
"Urgh, fine but if they try and get too friendly we're kicking them out just like those last guys" CeeCee yelled, "Unless of course it's Matt coming to visit Suze again."
"Shut up! That poor kid is like ten" Susannah defended, "besides, he's kind of cute." Adam sent me a worried glance before we made our way back through the curtains.
Susannah didn't even glance up when I came in, just started an apparently well rehearsed speech, "Alright sit on the stool. Now, no touching if you don't wanna loose any fingers, and if you even think of sticking your tongue in my mouth I'll break your nose."
I couldn't help the burble of laughter that escaped my lips, and calmly went and sat down on the stool as I was told to do so.
"Seriously dude, don't even think I won't hurt you" she said, before finally turning around and facing me. However Susannah was rummaging through her purse, and when she finally did look up she dropped it. I reached down and retrieved her purse for her before mumbling "Hi." She sent me a giddy smile before taking her purse and setting it down on the small table behind her. "Hi yourself" she giggled.
"So, is this the part where I get to kiss you?" I asked, unable to hide my grin.
"Depends" Susannah sighed. "On what?" I questioned, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.
"If you paid Keisha the four bucks it costs to get to kiss me" she grinned caressing my cheek with her hand. I placed my hand over her's and fingered her wedding ring delicately "I paid" I stated leaning towards her and capturing her lips with my own. The kiss was brief and gentle, nothing too heated seeing as how we were at the mission.
I brandished the ticket Keisha had given me and Susannah tucked it into a small box beside her with a smile. "I missed you" Susannah cooed, pouting her lips. "I missed you too" I replied, "but I hear a young man kept you company. Matt, I think his name was." Susannah smiled an innocent smile and laughed. "Jesse, Matt is like ten years old. Although he is quite cute, and if I were you, I'd watch for him. He's a real tough guy."
I sent Susannah a skeptical glance and said "Oh really? Am I going to have to warn him that you're mine, and that he has to stay away from you?" I joked.
"I don't know, I may like him better" she teased, "you know he was looking real hot in his kids GAP jeans and kids Ralph Lauren polo."
"Really" I chuckled, "better looking than you think your husband is?"
"Jesse" Susannah sighed scooting her stool closer to mine, "that's not possible." I smiled at her and pulled her into my lap before kissing her again.
"Alright you two break it up" Adam joked as he and CeeCee burst through the curtain into Susannah's small room. We quickly broke apart and Susannah jumped down from my lap as I grabbed her purse and handed it to her.
"Yeah we know it's tempting, but at least wait till you're back in your own car" CeeCee said, suggestively wiggling her eyebrows.
Adam sent me baffled glance while CeeCee and Susannah laughed amongst themselves before taking each other's arms and walking out through the curtain. I could feel heat on my cheeks and tried desperately to stop blushing as I followed Adam out of the booth.
"The car? What are you, sixteen?" Adam teased, "You know that's how people our age break hips." I chuckled and replied "I know, but it seems that pregnancy is making Susannah's hormones and desires go wild."
"Really?" Adam asked, "Cause Cee has been acting kind of weird too. I mean last night before went stopped by you guys' house, we went to her parent's house for dinner, and after dessert we crept up to her old room, I was thinking we'd fool around a little, but she wanted the whole deal, and she's never normally like that."
"Well, I can't speak for CeeCee, but Susannah is driving me crazy. Every time she's near me it's like I can hear her thoughts, and they all entail us doing very inappropriate things" I answered.
"Dude, I don't think its Suze's thoughts you're hearing" Adam said nudging my side. I laughed and replied, "You know what? Maybe."
Just then we reached one of the food booths and noticed that Susannah and CeeCee were already picking at a plate of food.
"I still can't believe you haven't told him" Susannah was saying, "he's gonna find out sooner or later."
"Yeah, you're probably gonna let it slip" CeeCee half-whined, half-giggled.
"When have I ever let something slip?" Susannah asked with fake astonishment.
"When you told Adam I'd already bought a prom dress when he hadn't even asked me yet, when you joked about how cliché it was that we'd lost our virginity on prom night when I'd promised not to tell anyone. Oh and of course your latest slip, when you told Adam he might as well propose cause I'd already put a wedding dress on layaway at the same store you bought your dress. That's when you've ever let something slip" CeeCee replied knowingly.
"Jeez, what are you, the memory keeper?" Susannah sighed teasingly. They both laughed until a young boy in a polo and jeans went over to their table.
"Hey Suze" he beamed. "Oh, hey Matt" she replied sending him a warm smile.
"I went to go see you at your booth but Keisha said that you had already left with some guy" he said nervously scooting closer to Susannah.
"Yeah, my husband, Jesse. He's around here somewhere" she responded looking around a little. Luckily she didn't spot me and Adam standing over by one of the food booths.
"Oh, right, Jesse. Why isn't he here, with you? I mean, if I was married to you I'd go with you everywhere" he sighed, almost dreamily.
Susannah smiled awkwardly finally noticing how close Matt had gotten to her and tried to scoot closer to CeeCee. "Uhh, Jesse's around here somewhere. He and Adam probably just stopped at one of the booths to get something to eat," she said, sending CeeCee a pleading glance.
"Well, do you think maybe I could take you to a movie or something, sometime?" he asked placing his hand over Susannah's.
"Can you believe that kid?" Adam asked sounding genuinely shocked.
"No. I mean he knows she's married and still he asks her to the 'movies or something'. Should I go over there?" I questioned anxiously.
"And do what, punch the kid? Nah man, wait it out. Once he leaves we'll go over. Do you wanna get something to eat while we wait?"
"No, I'm going to keep watching, you can go if you want though" I said distractedly.
"No, it's probably best if we don't separate. But seriously, we're right in front of the Mexican food booth, and you can honestly tell me you don't want any?" Adam prodded.
"Yes, I'm not really hungry right now" I answered in hopes that he'd stop talking so I could hear.
"Maybe not hungry for food" he teased, "I see that look in your eyes." I shot him an agitated look before turning my attention back to the little kid hitting on my wife.
"Matt, while the offer is really sweet, I'm gonna have to say no. I mean, you're a great kid and all, but I'm kind of old for you, don't you think?" Susannah pointed out.
"Suze, age is nothing but a number. Besides, I think I love you" he stated.
My eyes must have bulged out or something to indicate that I was angry and surprised because Adam was tugging at my arm and murmuring something about Mexican food again. But I stood stick straight and just held up a finger to silence him.
Susannah coughed for a while before finally being able to reply. "Umm, wow. Listen Matt, I'm flattered, really, but I'm very happily married. Besides, somewhere out there is a great girl who you are gonna make so happy one day. Trust me" she added with a smile.
"But Suze" he whined, "I wanna make you happy."
"Matt, sweetie, you're kind of young to be thinking about making anyone, except maybe your parents, happy. Right know you need to concentrate on school, okay?" Susannah said.
"If I concentrate on school, will you be my girlfriend afterward, when I'm old enough?" he pressed on.
Susannah sent him a patient smile and answered, "Well, no, but I'm sure you'll find someone even better to be your girlfriend." Matt seemed crushed by this, if his actions were any indication, because he launched himself into Susannah's arms and seemed to be crying.
For her part Susannah handled the situation very calmly, patting his back and whispering that everything would be all right. When he'd finally stopped sobbing he hugged Susannah and thanked her for being so nice to him. She in turn gave him a sweet peck on the cheek before ruffling his hair and sending him off to play with his friends.
"Oh my goodness" Susannah said to CeeCee after a few seconds.
"I told you there was something up with that kid" CeeCee replied very matter of factly; "no kid looks at someone like that unless they've got sugar."
"And what do I look like, the sugar fairy?" Susannah asked.
"No, that kid was after another kind of goodie."
"Ewhh" Susannah whined, "That's just wrong. He's too little to even be thinking about stuff like that." That's when Adam and I decided to join the girls, and we swooped in very casually.
"Well, the wanderers returnth" CeeCee teased.
"Really, where did you two sneak off to?" Susannah asked.
"Nowhere" we said taking the seats across from Susannah and CeeCee, "we were gonna get some food but the lines around here are ridiculous." "Thanks for waiting for us by the way" Adam added sarcastically.
"Hey we were hungry" Susannah whined, "besides I didn't even get to finish my breakfast. And remember we're both eating for two now." Susannah gasped and whispered back to CeeCee "Sorry." CeeCee promptly smacked Susannah's arm and mumbled "And now this I can add to the list."
"Eating for two?" Adam laughed, "No, that's just how much CeeCee always eats."
Susannah laughed nervously before standing up and reaching for my hand. "Well, this has been loads of fun, but I just remembered me and Jesse have dinner reservations" she said before waving goodbye and leading me away from the food booth and towards the parking lot. "Querida, it's only 4:30, where are we eating, Sizzler?" I turned and asked Susannah once we were out of earshot.
"Nope, we don't have reservations" she answered as we reached our car.
"But then why did you say we do?" I questioned as I held the passenger side door open for her.
"Because I let it slip about the whole eating for two thing, and CeeCee has to tell Adam that she's pregnant now, otherwise he'll put two and two together" she explained sliding into the passenger seat.
I went around and hopped into the driver's seat, not starting the car and asked, "That's why you took CeeCee with you, huh?"
Susannah smiled wistfully for a moment before turning to me and answering "Yeah. I was already pretty sure, but CeeCee was just starting to think she might be. So I dragged her with me."
"You already thought you were pregnant, and you didn't tell me?" I questioned feeling kind of hurt.
"Jesse, I told you, I didn't wanna get your hopes up in case it turned out I wasn't. Pregnant, I mean." I reached over and took one of Susannah's hands in my own. I brought her hand up to my lips and laid a gentle kiss on the back of her hand before sighing "Let's go home."
"Home?" Susannah whined, "but Jesse it's Saturday night. I wanna go out, do something."
"Querida, it's been a long day, aren't you tired? Besides I don't think going out is such a good idea" I replied.
"Oh come on Jesse, we might as well start living it up right now cause it's gonna be a while before we'll get to go out again after the baby is born," she pleaded, pouting her lip and batting her eyelashes.
I gave a relenting sigh, and asked, "Where do you want to go?"
Susannah gave an excited squeal and said happily "Let's go dancing. We haven't gone in forever."
"Dancing? Are you sure querida?" I questioned skeptically.
"Positive" she grinned giddily.