Chapter 24

Brian came in from his shift one evening to find Lorelei and Joey flipping through what appeared to be a scrapbook, giggling.

"Must be nice for some of us to get to sit around all day while others bust their asses," he joked. Even in her heavily pregnant state, Lorelei managed to keep the house immaculate and a good meal cooking.

"And hi to you too, Dad," Joey grinned, springing up to give him a kiss. "Did you bust anyone interesting today?"

"Eh, not yet. How was school?"

"Good. I need sixty cupcakes for the PTA bake sale this Friday."

"Which she just told me about at practically the last minute," Lorelei chuckled.

"Jesus, Joey," Brian groaned. "Didn't we discuss shit like this before?"

"Oh don't be so grumpy toward the girl," Lorelei chided. "I don't mind, really."

"I'm helping anyway," Joey added. "Oh, and David's coming over on Saturday."

Brian stiffened a little at the mention of a boy's name. "And who is David?"

"Relax, Dad, he's a study buddy from school. Nothing hot and heavy if that is what you were thinking. His mom's a nurse in the ER at the hospital and he's by himself a lot. I thought he'd like to come over."

"Oh……well, I guess that won't hurt." He knew the experience of single parenthood before Lorelei came into their lives.

"He's not a molester, Dad," Joey added, guessing exactly what he had been initially thinking.

"I'm sure. So what were you two laughing like hyenas about when I came in?"

Lorelei held up the scrapbook. "Your mom got sentimental and sent this. It has all kinds of things about you in it. She thought with the baby coming I'd like to see it."

"Your baby pictures are in there too," Joey said, starting to laugh.

"Let me see that!" he cried as the two began to howl.

"At least you have baby pictures," Joey giggled. "One thing I'll never have to worry about surfacing. The joy of being adopted."

"Oh God," Brian groaned, flipping through the scrapbook. "Are you women put on this earth for the purpose of humiliating us? Ma's got about everything in here. Old wrestling pictures, my stuff from the academy? Jesus Christ."

"That ring attire was pretty sexy," Joey teased.

"Joey, knock it off!" Brian exclaimed, blushing a little. "It was a job until I got out of the academy."

"Yeah, I better quit looking at that stuff; I don't want to have impure thoughts about the guy who adopted me." She shuddered a little before adding, "even if you are kind of cute."

"Joey," Brian warned.

"I'm just ragging on you, Dad. Anyway, I'm headed upstairs for a bit. I have to do this report for school and I'm almost done with it."

"No smart ass ones about me, young lady," Brian said teasingly.

"Oh let her have her fun," Lorelei grinned before looking at another page. "Oh my God!"

"What?"

Lorelei hurriedly flipped it, blushing. "That is definitely something one Josephine should not see."

"Oh shit, is that what I thought it was?" He took the book and flipped the page back. "Jesus, I can't believe Ma put that in there!"

"Considering there's a sixteen year old in the house, not exactly something I'd put in there. But to think I married someone that did a Playgirl spread. Good lord." She began to giggle again.

"Hey, it was good money at the time and I have to admit they did a nice, tasteful job."

"Guess it made your mom proud enough to keep it."

He flexed his muscles. "What mama wouldn't want to be proud of the fantastic body they produced?"

"Okay, now it's really getting deep in here. I was expecting more along the lines of 'I was young and stupid' speech."

"I was young, but not stupid. Hey, I worked hard to get that beautiful," he teased.

"Well, let's hope your son doesn't repeat that part of history," she smiled.

Brian stopped short. "What?"

Lorelei smiled again, this time pulling something out of her desk drawer and handing it to him. "Another thing I planned to tell you," she added, indicating the sonogram picture. "It's a boy."

"A….boy?"

She nodded. "Looks like things will be evened up in a few more months. You won't be outnumbered by us women anymore."

He had a dreamy look. "Wow…a boy."

"Gee, Brian, don't be so disappointed," she teased, knowing he was thrilled.

"Well, Ma always said she hoped I'd have one just like me."

Lorelei had a look on her face that was indescribable. "Lord help us if that is the case."