A/N: Well! The last several months have been quite a journey. My husband woke up from his coma, and against all odds, remembered me, and has started a long journey of recovery. A few of you know that during all that crazy, I had a cancer scare, and can report that I am cancer free, and don't have to have more testing for another month! Yessss! I have been limited to my cell phone for several months, because my laptop bit the big one and I finally got a new one for my Birthday. Thanks again for being so patient... life has been keeping me on my toes lately, that is for sure! Hopefully I am back, and have a fair amount of time to update a lot more regularly. Fingers crossed! Also, this is a pretty rough copy of this chapter, I will edit as I have time, so overlook the inevitable mistakes, I just wanted to get something out there for the sweet ones who have encouraged, and stood by me during my issues at home. xoxo*
*All characters belong to Janet Evanovich. I make no profit, all mistakes are mine.*
The Jamaican sun reflected off the beads of water on my Cuban Sex God's more Mocha than usual chest as he made his way over to me sitting under my umbrella sipping on my Ginger Ale. Sunshine really agrees with that man. Sweet baby Jesus, I am lucky! He had on a pair of dark blue board shorts that were hanging deliciously low to my nirvana, and a wolf grin that would make a lesser woman run scared. Just as I was devouring him with my eyes, he was taking his time appreciating the ridiculously skimpy bathing suit that I was popping out of everywhere. Pregnancy boobs start early, and are no joke.
I had splurged on a few surprise pieces of "clothing" for our honeymoon on a shopping trip with Val several weeks ago, so my boobs then compared to now are vastly different. The bathing suit that had my man's eyes turning impossibly dark as he swaggered over to me is something I would have never normally worn. White with fringe on the teeny tiny triangle top, and an "I'm glad I waxed myself bare" pair of white bottoms with sides that tie. Although heavily lined, it left very little to the imagination when wet.
Right when he sat down on the other part of the double lounger, and started tracing the lines on my bikini top, I hear a loud beeping noise to my left making me yelp, and sit straight up, promptly causing me to run towards the bathroom to expel everything I had eaten the last 12 hours since I last threw up.
Damnit! Why is it Monday so quickly?! I miss Jamaica already. Sex,sleep,food,more sex, more sleep, more food. Carlos shirtless 99% of the time... you can't make up that type of perfection.
I was brought out of my musings by dear sweet husband putting a cold cloth on the back of my neck, and pulling my hair back out of my face.
"What happened, Babe? Were you having a nightmare that caused you to startle awake quickly?"
Ugh.
"No... the opposite. I was having a perfect dream about Jamaica, and the damn alarm clock ruined it."
"Did you happen to be wearing that sexy white bathing suit that nearly gave me a heart attack?"
Of course he recalls the white suit... he ravaged me about 5 times in 2 hours when I had that thing on...
"What do you think? Okay... time to brush my teeth, shower, and get ready. I have 8 million things to do today. Shower with me?"
Since we returned late Saturday evening, I have spent a majority of my time daydreaming about the perfection that was our Jamaican honeymoon. I had no idea where we were going, but we ended up in a waterfront private Villa that had the most gorgeous views of Negril. Somehow, I got a slight reprieve from my all-day sickness, and didn't have too much trouble unless I got too hot, ate anything with mango, or was within smelling distance of bug spray. All lessons learned the hard way. Not sure if I will be able to see a mango without dry heaving for the rest of my life. Live, and learn.
Most of our time was spent resting in a beautiful canopied lounge area on the beach, in bed, or wading in the crystal clear waters. I can't wait to go back again, but next time I want to bring Julie, and the new baby. Not going to lie... with my hormones all haywire, I spent an embarrassing amount of time crying over missing Julie, and checking in with her about 10 times a day. I guess I'm one of "those Moms." Oh well... I love my kid(s), at least I'm not a crazy bitch like my Mom.
I feel so lucky that I am married to this amazing, understanding man who doesn't even bat an eye at my hormonal meltdowns, and is such a calm influence on my crazy. If I were him, I would be looking for a way to annul his way out of my crazy... but not him. He is just as in love with me, as I am him, and he is so over the moon about the baby, that he is willing to put up with all kinds of hormonal mayhem for the sake of love. Bless his precious, Cuban heart.
After a nice hot shower for two, I sent the hubby downstairs to start breakfast while I attempted to get ready. I'm not sure what we were thinking, but today I have an off-site meeting with Lester at a Jewelry store downtown at 8:30 am, so that means Carlos is taking Julie, and Angie to school. It's not an ordinary day though... today is the start of spirit week at their school, and it is Decade Day.
I am not familiar with this craziness, but apparently, the week of Halloween, they have a spirit week at the Middle School, that coordinates with the local High School's spirit week leading up to some rivalry ballgame on Friday night. Hearing it from Julie, and Angie it is literally a life or death type of serious. Oh the joys of parenthood.
Thankfully, Val did a little shopping while we were in Jamaica, and coordinated with Ella,so she took the brunt of the drama...thank God. Julie, Angie, and two other friends from school Xan, and Olivia (that have been thoroughly checked I might add) are dressing like the Pink Ladies from Grease. Not gonna lie... their outfits are pretty adorable.
Unfortunately for Carlos, he gets to deal with taking our two girls to school, and rendezvousing with Xan, and Olivia at the car, because it would be an absolute travesty for the Pink Ladies to not walk in together. Cue dramatics.
Taking it in stride is the calm, cool, and collected Cuban who has laughed his sexy ass off at the drama 4 teen girls can have over Spirit Week.
I kissed my sweet family goodbye, made sure to remind Carlos to take pictures of the girls, and headed out the door to meet Lester at Rangeman. This week is going to be stressful on all fronts. On top of getting back into gear with work, and making up for the week of our Honeymoon, we have the aforementioned Spirit Week, and Thursday mid-morning, Carlos, and I go to my OBGYN, Dr. Phillips to confirm my pregnancy. Did I mention I have never been so exhausted in my entire life ?
After a longggggggggggggggggggg drawn out meeting with Alfred Asher, the jewelry store moron who after 3 hours of explaining the same things over, and over, finally went with our suggestions for his store, and got a prompt set-up date for tomorrow at 9 am... you know, a meeting that should have taken 30 minutes, making me cranky, because I was nauseated during breakfast, and I am fucking ravenous right now.
After texting Carlos, and finding out that he was on his way to a meeting with the PD about an upcoming takedown, I had Les run me by Subway for a veggie salad that I have been fantasizing about during the last hour of the meeting (I know... Carlos' kid loves vegetables-I'm shocked.) and grab a sub for Val, then head to the office to do a thorough catch up session with Val while eating, and catching up on my paperwork. Well... that was the plan at least.
After waiting in line for what felt like an hour, and standing by the soda station waiting on Lester's food, when my order was done, I heard a huge BOOM, and felt the entire building shake. The next thing I know, there is a body covering me, and I am crouched on the ground attempting to not squash the baby that nobody has a clue about yet. I hear sirens wailing in the background, and finally after doing a thorough sweep, am aloud to stand, and assess the damage to my damn salad. Don't judge me, I'm pregnant, and starving.
When I get to the window, I see arguably the most hilariously bizarre scene I have ever witnessed... and that is truly saying something. Joyce Barnhart wearing what appeared to be a leather bustier with a goat on a leash, and some majorly fried hair wailing at the top of her lungs. Beside her was a disheveled looking Vinnie trying to find some sort of an escape.
I couldn't stop the giggles that burst out. For once, there was a bomb of some sort, and it wasn't my vehicle, or my fault. It appeared that Vinnie, and Joyce were having a "secret" tryst involving a goat at the seedy hotel at the end of the parking lot, and someone wasn't pleased with them. I have a feeling this little incident is going to send Vinnie into hiding, because if Harry the Hammer didn't know about his disgusting sexual conquests before, he would know now.
Feeling much better knowing I didn't cause a disaster, I had my salad remade, fielded a call from a frantic husband, and headed back to RangeMan. I never thought I would be happy for a desk job, but damn if I'm not relieved to have a little calm in my life after the hot mess of a morning I just had. Maybe being Stephanie Manoso gives me better luck than being Stephanie Plum. God I hope so.