Chapter 23

Paul rolled over and groaned as the noise in the adjoining bathroom woke him up. He slowly opened his eyes and winced as he heard yet another thud off the tiled floor. Throwing back the covers, he got out of bed to investigate, shivering slightly at the breeze which blew through the open window. He literally froze in the doorway as he surveyed the damage in front of him. "You have got to be kidding me." he muttered.

Paul shook his head in disbelief at the mess on the bathroom floor. There were bottles of shower gel, bubble bath and shampoo scattered across the room not to mention an array of cotton buds. The icing on the cake was the talcum powder which looked like it had exploded on impact. As he glanced over towards the bath tub, he spotted the culprit sitting on the floor chewing on a sponge. His navy pyjamas were white where he'd crawled through the talc. Despite the mess he had caused, Paul couldn't help but smile as he walked across to his son.

"Jacob Paul Levesque, what have you done?"

Jake turned round at the sound of his father's voice and grinned, scrunching up his nose as he did so. Paul chuckled at his funny expression as he crouched down beside him and ruffled his brown hair.

"You're quite the little character, aren't you?"

He removed the sponge from his hand and lifted him up as he got back to his feet. Paul kissed his cheek.

"Mind you, you're not so little anymore."

He wore an almost sad expression as his finger grazed Jake's cheek lightly.

"I can't believe my baby boy is one year old already."

Jake's chubby fingers clutched the strands of his father's hair as he garbled some nonsense before finishing his sentence with a word that definitely sounded like bad. Paul grinned as he disentangled himself from his son's grasp.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did Daddy forget to say happy birthday?"

He threw Jake up in the air causing him to burst into giggles.

"Happy Birthday Jake!"

Just then Paul heard a gasp behind him and he turned round to see his daughter standing in the doorway. She shook her head at her brother before talking to him in a sing-song voice.

"Jakey, you're in trouble."

Jake shrieked at the top of his voice flapping his arms around wildly. Paul grinned across at his daughter.

"No threatening your brother on his birthday. He doesn't like it."

Ellie giggled as she tiptoed through the mess on the floor to stand beside her father. "What will Mommy say?"

"Nothing if we get this cleaned up before she finds out." Paul bent down and placed Jake back on the floor before turning to smile at Ellie. "So, Miss Ellie, will you help me?"

Ellie nodded her head, her curls bouncing up and down. She bent down picking up a bottle of bubble bath that lay at her bare feet. "Mommy already shouted at Jake this morning."

Paul looked up from where he was collecting the cotton buds. "Why? What did he do?"

"He got into the cupboard where Mommy keeps the cereal. He emptied Cocoa Bears all over the floor."

Paul burst out laughing as he replaced the buds back in their plastic container.

"I'm glad you find it so amusing."

He glanced up to see his wife leaning against the doorway as she held Jake in her arms. Although she wore a stern expression on her face, he could see the twinkle in her eye.

"At least I can see now why my son is crawling around covered in talcum powder."

Ellie held up the bottle in her hand proudly. "I'm helping tidy up Mommy. Daddy wanted it clean so you wouldn't find out."

"Thank you, sweetie." Stephanie looked over to smirk at her husband. "Out of the mouth of babes, huh Levesque?"

Paul scowled as he replaced the container back in the cabinet. "Ellie, remind me to teach you about loyalty."

Ellie scrunched up her face in confusion. "What's loyalty, Daddy?"

Stephanie interrupted. "Never mind, honey. Come on, let's get you dressed." She walked across and handed Jake to Paul. "Here, he's all yours."

Paul frowned. "But I'm cleaning up in here."

"You can finish that while Jake is playing in the tub." She reached up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "Ellie and I have some shopping to do for Jake's party this afternoon. Unless, of course, you want to come with us?"

She laughed as Paul made a face and vehemently shook his head. She knew how much he hated shopping of any kind.

"That's what I thought."

She waved her hand in farewell as she picked up Ellie and left the room.

Paul watched her leave before turning and smiling at his son.

"It looks like it's just you and me, little man."

Jake grinned before resting his head against Paul's shoulder causing him to smile. He'd get to spend the morning alone with his son and that suited him just fine.

"Hello, is there anybody home?"

Patricia popped her head round the door and frowned. She picked up an envelope that lay on the floor as she walked into the living room. Her frown soon turned to a smile as she surveyed the scene in front of her. Paul was sprawled out on the sofa with Jake lying across his chest. Both of them were fast asleep despite the television blaring loudly. She switched it off and seeing her husband walk through with their bags, she motioned for him to be quiet.

"They're sleeping." she whispered.

"Well, what will I do with these?" He lifted up the bags that he held in his hand and

Patricia scowled at him. "I don't know. Just leave them at the bottom of the stairs or something." She shook her head in disdain.

"Ma, stop nagging him."

Patricia jumped at the sound of her son's voice. She looked round to see Paul smiling as he carefully sat up, trying his best not to wake up a still sleeping Jake. "I thought you were sleeping."

"I was until your scolding tone woke me up." He yawned before smiling at his father as he walked back through. "Hey, Dad."

"Hiya son." He bent down and rubbed Jake's back affectionately.

"So where are Stephanie and Ellie?"

Paul made a face at his mother. "Shopping." He glanced over at the clock on the video recorder. "Although they should be back shortly. They left over three hours ago."

Paul Snr looked round the room admiring the balloons, banners and streamers. "Someone's been busy."

Paul smiled. "Yeah. Steph and I decorated the place once the kids went to bed last night." He shifted his body forward and stood up from the sofa. "I'll just lay Jake down in his room. I'll be back in a second."

Patricia nodded before remembering the envelope in her hand. She held it out to Paul. "Here. I found this at the door when I came in."

Paul smiled as he took it and adjusting Jake in his arms, he carried him up the stairs.

Jake was still fast asleep as Paul lay him down in his cot. He leant over and caressed his face with his hand. "You get all the rest you can, little man. You'll need it. You've got a busy afternoon ahead of you. Not to mention the fact you'll not only have Grandma Patricia cooing over you but Grandma Linda too."

He chuckled to himself as he pulled the covers over his son and glanced down at the envelope in his hand and frowned. It was addressed to him in an unfamiliar scrawl and had obviously been hand delivered. He was about to open it when he heard the car pull up in the drive. He walked across to the bay window and shook his head in amusement as Stephanie began to haul out several large bags. He left the room to help her, closing the door gently behind him. He folded the envelope and placed it in the back pocket of his jeans without giving it another thought.

Paul watched Declan out of the corner of his eye. The young boy had only been here half an hour but he'd already caused an uproar. He had broken one of Ellie's favourite dolls by ripping off her head. Of course, Ellie had forgiven him once she had calmed down. No-one else got a look in when her favourite cousin was around.

"It's a pity your sister couldn't make it."

Paul turned round and smiled at Shane. "Yeah but both she and the kids are laid up with the flu. By the sounds of things, they've gotten it pretty bad too." He took a sip of his beer before reaching across to pat Shane on the back. "So I hear you're getting a daughter this time round. Congratulations, man."

Shane grinned. "Thanks." He watched his son play with Ellie. "Let's just hope this one is better behaved than Declan."

Paul shook his head. "He's just a little hyper that's all." Shane made a face and Paul snorted with laughter. "Okay, maybe he is a monster at times. But I have a feeling he's not going to be the only one."

"You mean Jake?"

Paul nodded his head. "He's into everything. This morning he decided to demolish the bathroom and that was after he had poured a whole box of cereal over the kitchen floor. Steph blames me of course. Apparently I'm a soft touch when it comes to the kids. When I'm around they think they can do whatever they like."

"And is that true?"

Paul grinned at him. "Oh yeah."

Just then Paul felt a tug at his trouser leg and he looked down to see Jake holding up his arms. He grinned and bent down to pick him up. "Here's the birthday boy."

Shane reached across and ruffled Jake's hair. "Hey little guy. You're getting big, huh?"

Patricia appeared beside him. "There he is." She held out her hands towards him. "Are you coming to see your Grandma, Jake?"

Jake made a face before burying his head in Paul's shoulder. Paul chuckled as he rubbed his back affectionately.

"Grandma is pretty scary, isn't she?"

Patricia smacked Paul on the arm playfully. "That's enough from you, young man. Hand my grandson over."

Paul held on to him tightly. "No. Jake said he doesn't want to go to someone who abuses his father."

Shane laughed and shook his head. "I have a feeling that if you don't hand him over, the abuse could get much worse. I should know. I have a mother who is exactly the same."

Patricia laughed. "It's only because we love our grandchildren. Speaking of which, I hear Linda has another one on the way. Congratulations."

Shane beamed at her. "Thank you."

"Marissa looks really well too."

Shane nodded his head. "She's feeling great now she's gotten past the morning sickness."

"Well she looks it." She turned to Paul and smiled. "So what are the chances of me becoming a grandmother again?"

Paul grinned. "I don't know. Why don't you ask Lynn?"

Patricia smiled. "I would be wasting my time because I know for a fact she doesn't want another child."

Paul shrugged his shoulders. "Well, maybe I don't either."

His mother wore a know-it-all look in her eye. "Well, if that's the case, you'd better tell that to Stephanie. I can see by the way she's looking wistfully at Marissa that she doesn't feel entirely the same way."

Paul said nothing as he looked in his wife's direction. She was laughing with Linda about something and was looking far from wistful to him. "Stop trying to wind me up, mother."

"I'm not. I know what I saw, Paul."

Shane touched Paul on the shoulder to get his attention. "She did tell me she wanted more kids."

Paul frowned. "When?"

"The day I went with her to Ellie's class. I'm not entirely sure how we got on the subject but she did mention wanting at least one more."

Paul bit down on his lip thoughtfully as he rocked Jake in his arms.

Shane grinned at Patricia. "I think we've spooked him."

Paul couldn't help but smile as he kissed Jake's hair affectionately. He failed to notice Stephanie who had just appeared beside them.

"Hand the baby over to your mother, Paul. I need you in the kitchen."

Paul frowned as he reluctantly held Jake out to Patricia. "I want him back, you know."

He saw his mother grin at him as Stephanie led him by the hand to the kitchen.

"Will you get the candles from the drawer and put them on the birthday cake?"

Paul nodded his head distractedly. She reached into the fridge and pulled out the bottle of champagne.

"Marissa looks great, doesn't she?"

Paul raised his head slowly. "Yeah, she does."

"It will be really exciting to have another baby around, don't you think?"

"Yeah but we've still got Jake."

Stephanie leant against the counter across from him. "Yeah, but he's not going to be a baby for much longer. Our little boy is growing up."

Paul said nothing as he took the teddy bear birthday cake out of the packaging. He definitely detected a wistful tone to her voice but he didn't know if he was perhaps reading too much into it. After all, he was feeling pretty sad himself at the thought of Jake getting older. That didn't necessarily mean he was ready to have another child though. Damn his mother for putting ideas in his head.

Stephanie watched as Paul stood still just staring at the cake. She frowned and walked across, wrapping her arms around his waist. She rested her head against his back. "What are you thinking about?"

Paul slid his hands over hers. "Nothing really. It was just what you said about Jake growing up."

Stephanie released him and stepped back. She touched his shoulder and he turned round to face her, pulling her into his arms. Stephanie let out a sigh as she nuzzled into his chest. She wasn't sure whether to broach the subject or not but it was definitely something that had been on her mind ever since her discussion with Shane. And after talking to Marissa today and seeing the tiny baby on the scan picture, she was definitely having serious thoughts about having another child. She just wasn't sure how Paul felt. They hadn't really discussed having any more children since Jake was born. But she decided it might be better to find out. After all, there was no point in pinning her hopes on another child when Paul was happy with the family he had. She lifted her head and smiled as she looked into his deep brown eyes.

"Paul, do you think we'll have another baby?"

Paul saw the hopeful look in her eyes and realised his mother had been telling him the truth. Stephanie did want another child. The question was did he? He honestly hadn't thought about it until now. It hadn't been deliberate. He just figured the discussion wouldn't come up so soon. After all, there was four years between Jake and Ellie. But as Paul saw that hopeful spark in his wife's eyes begin to fade, he realised he'd better find an answer. Although, to be honest, he knew the question was a no-brainer anyway. He smiled at her reassuringly as he tightened his hold around her waist. "Well, I do remember a certain conversation we had where you told me you wanted at least five kids."

Stephanie's eyes widened in surprise. "We were only dating at that time. You remember that?"

Paul brushed her hair from her forehead. "I remember everything. Every date, every word and every kiss." He lowered his head and kissed her softly.

Stephanie smiled as they broke apart. "So, you must remember your answer then."

"Of course. I told you that we'd have as many kids as you wanted."

Stephanie lifted her hand and played with the collar of his shirt. "But you know I'm not holding you to that, right? I mean that was almost seven years ago. A lot has changed since then."

"The only thing that's changed about us is the fact that we're married and have two amazing kids. But my feelings about you and our future haven't changed. If anything they've only gotten stronger."

Stephanie swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked into her husband's eyes. She couldn't doubt the love and devotion that was there. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and her fingers played with his soft hair. ""So does that mean we're going to try for number three?"

Paul smiled. "I guess so but only if you're sure that's what you want."

Stephanie grinned as she nodded her head. "It is. The only doubt I would have had was maybe coping with three young children but with you being home a lot more, it's not really going to be an issue, is it?"

Paul shook his head. "No. I guess not." A slow grin crept across his face and he winked at her. "I think we should start trying straight away. What do you say to right now?"

Stephanie burst out laughing and was about to reply when Ellie ran through the door.

"Daddy, you need to come quick. Jake needs his diaper changed and Grandma Patricia says you've to do it." She scrunched up her pretty little nose. "He really stinks."

Paul shook his head as he released his wife. "One minute the woman is fighting to get him off me. The next she can't get rid of him quick enough."

Stephanie chuckled as Paul took Ellie's hand and followed her into the living room. She was just about to place the candle on the cake when there was a knock at the back door. She placed down the box in her hand and went to answer it. She quickly stepped outside and closed the door behind her as she saw Mark standing on the path.

"Mark. What are you doing here?"

He smiled and held out an envelope. "I know its Jake's birthday today so I thought I'd bring over a birthday card." He shrugged. "I came to the back door. I didn't want to cause any trouble."

Stephanie smiled tentatively. "Well thanks for bringing this over. It's very kind of you."

"No problem."

There was an awkward pause as Mark lingered on the path, his hands in his pockets.

"So how is Chloe?"

Mark nodded. "She's good now she's getting over that cold. She's with my mom over at the house. She's been really great you know. Mom, I mean. She's really helped me the past week or so."

Stephanie reached out and touched his arm. "I'm glad."

Mark smiled. "Listen Steph, I just want to say thanks for everything you've done for me. I might not have shown it but I really appreciate it."

Stephanie sighed as she nodded in acknowledgement. She didn't know why but Mark always had the uncanny knack of making her feel sorry for him. She also felt guilty at abandoning him and their friendship but at the end of the day she had no other choice. She had to keep her distance from him for his sake as well as her family. She shifted her feet awkwardly and gestured towards the door. "I guess I'd better head back in."

Mark nodded his head. "Maybe I'll see you around some time?"

Stephanie smiled. "Sure. Goodbye Mark."

She opened the door and let out a shaky breath as she placed the card down on the counter. That was a close call. A few seconds earlier and Paul would have still been here and no doubt have blown a gasket when he saw Mark was at the door.

She glanced up as she heard the kitchen door swing open and smiled as her mother walked through.

"Paul mentioned you might need a hand in here."

Stephanie smiled at her gratefully. "Sure. Can you grab the tray with the glasses and I'll bring through the birthday cake?"

Linda nodded and picked up the tray, following her daughter through to the living room.

"Yay! Birthday cake! Mommy, can I help Jake blow out the candle?"

Stephanie smiled at her daughter who was jumping up and down. "Sure, sweetie. Where is your brother anyway?"

"He's right here." Paul smiled at Ellie as he appeared with Jake in his arms. "One little monster clean and ready for birthday cake."

Linda held out her arms and Paul handed him to her. "Hello sweetie. Are you going to get birthday cake?" Jake grinned as they walked off towards the sofas where everyone was gathered.

"Daddy, I get to help Jake blow out his candle."

Paul grinned as he swept her up in his arms. "Oh, you do, do you? And what about me? Don't I get to blow it out?"

"No. I do. You got to blow out lots of candles when it was your birthday."

Stephanie grinned. "That's right, Ellie. There were lots and lots of candles, weren't there?"

Paul stuck out his tongue at his wife. Ellie quickly clamped her hand over his mouth.

"You can't do that Daddy. It's rude!"

Stephanie laughed at her daughter. "Paul, I forgot the champagne. Will you go and get it?"

Paul nodded and carried Ellie with him through to the kitchen.

"Am I allowed the shanpane?"

Paul chuckled. "You mean the champagne?"

Ellie nodded.

"No. You have to be a grown up to drink that stuff."

Ellie pouted. "Well what will I have with my cake?"

Paul set her down on the counter and kissed the top of her head. "Orange juice."

Ellie scowled. "But I don't want orange juice."

"You don't? But Aunt Marissa is having orange juice. She'd like it if you had it to."

Ellie shrugged her shoulders. "I guess."

"Good."

Ellie kicked her legs back and forward as she watched her father pick up the bottle which was beside the fridge. As she looked down, she spotted the envelope addressed to Jake. She held it out towards Paul. "Daddy, who is this card from?"

Paul frowned as he took the card from her hand. "I don't know toots but I'm sure I've seen the writing before."

"Can we open it and see who it's from?"

"Sure but let's get some cake first. We can open the card later." He threw the card down on the counter and lifted Ellie up carrying her and the champagne back through to the living room.