Chapter 16

"I hope to God he didn't actually send that," Montana said when Mariah told her about the "essay."

"Knowing Brian, he probably did," Mariah answered. "I don't think I have seen anyone in my entire life throw such a shit fit about a parking ticket."

"But he didn't park just anywhere. It was a handicapped spot."

"Which, according to him, wasn't clearly marked. Who knows, Brian may have been drunk on his ass again. At least the boys got a laugh out of it."

"Oh my God, don't tell me Leif found that!"

"He did. He and Michael were laughing like a couple of hyenas and it didn't take me long to find out what was so funny."

Mariah then winced and let out a low groan.

"Mar? Are you okay?" Montana asked.

"Yeah. I think one of the girls just kicked. Hard."

"Oh wow, that's great!"

"I just hope I don't have any midnight dances like I did with Leif."

"I know what you mean. I went through kick, stomp and flip with Michael until three in the morning. At least Naomi didn't move around much."

"Yes, but now there's two of them at once to deal with this time."

"How is everything going anyway?"

"The doctor says everything is progressing nicely," Mariah replied. "He thinks I may have to be on bed rest the last couple of months though as a precaution."

"Well, being twins, it would make perfect sense," Montana agreed.

"You know, it puzzled me for awhile how I could have been having twins and then I went back into the family history. It turned out one of my great-aunts was a twin."

"Really?" Montana was intrigued.

"Yes."

"And here I thought the joke Paul made about your husband having some strong tadpoles was actually a fact."

"Maybe that is true too." Mariah began to laugh. "Where did he go, by the way?"

"Dragging Brian to look at cribs, remember?"

"Right. I'd like to be a fly on the wall for this. It was a barrel of laughs when we were having Leif."

"Not as bad as he was yelling out with wonder what a breast pump was when he and Paul were looking around for things when we were preparing for Michael."

"Tell me you are not serious," Mariah said.

"I didn't tell you about that?" Montana raised her eyebrows.

"I don't think you did."

"Well, the two of them were in this baby store one day when we were getting things ready for Michael. Why Paul had dragged him along that day I don't particularly remember now, but Brian had come across this breast pump, picked it up, and yelled across the store, asking Paul what it was and what it did. Knowing Paul, he probably turned twenty shades of red and wanted the floor to open up and swallow him right then."

"Oh, God," Mariah groaned. "Of course, my husband has absolutely no shame. I just hope he isn't doing anything to embarrass Paul today."

"Yes, let's hope there isn't any more incidents, but when those two get together, one never knows."

Mariah nodded. "That's what I'm afraid of."