I Do's and Don'ts
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Motherly Instinct
Mandy slowly walked inside and saw Nick sleep sprawled across the bed. One hand behind his head the other on his chest. She smiled to herself knowing that Nick had been exhausted and it had finally caught up to him. Mandy jumped in the shower to finally wash up from working out and to give herself a moment to absorb all that had just happened.
What was she suppose to do? Should she give Liam another chance, at least for the kids' sake? But they already have a grandfather, her stepfather was their papa and he was a great grandfather. Where does that leave Liam? Mandy couldn't forget all that Frank had done for her. He had treated her as if she was his own, and that was more she could say for her birth father. She wanted to give Liam another chance but she knew her mother wouldn't support her… She felt troubled.
Mandy throws her towel in the hamper just as she heard Nick toss and turn in the bed essentially knocking off all the pillows. Mandy smiled to herself and sighed, he was lucky he was so cute when he slept or else she would get angrier with him regarding his sleeping habits. She watched him roll over again and saw his phone slide across his chest as it lit up with a new message.
Mandy got a very curious look on her face. It was very late and Nick wasn't on call. Nick was not even a big texter, so yeah this immediately grabbed Mandy's attention. She went to take it from him and plug it in and maybe take a look at who was texting him. When she went to take he woke up in a fright.
"What are you doing?" Nick asked startled and very much half asleep.
"Jesus, you just scared me. Why is Catherine texting you right now?" Mandy asked, and Nick looked at her as if she had six heads.
"What? Uh… its nothing… how's your ma?" Nick asks making room for Mandy. She hesitantly joined him.
"My mom isn't pleased to say the least. She wants to come down here and kick his ass." Mandy said cuddling against Nick.
"Well, it's good to know that I'm not the only person that's ass might get kicked by your ma." Nick chuckled as his eyes started to struggle to stay open. "What else did she say?"
"She doesn't want me to have anything to do with him." Mandy said and Nick sighed.
"That might not be a bad idea." Nick mumbled sleepy.
"If he went through all this to find me. I at least owe it to give him a chance." Mandy said with conviction. Nick chose to bite his tongue and not say the first thing that came to his mind. Saying the first thing came to his mind often got him in trouble.
"You're right. I will support you in whatever you do." Nick said smiling, kissing her forehead.
"It will be alright." Mandy reassured him snuggling close. "Maybe I can get my mom, to chill out a little bit at my fitting?"
"Good luck." Nick chuckled. Mandy shook her head and poked Nick at his sides, knowing how ticklish he was. Nick squealed slightly and squirmed a little, as he quickly pulled her hand away from her side. "Come on, babe. I'm too tired." Nick said with a sleepy smile.
The next morning Mandy gently slid out of Nick's grasp, leaving the sleeping bear to sleep the day away. She got Lily ready for school, and got the boys ready. They were going to spend the day fishing with their papa and Mandy's stepbrother, Junior, or Uncle JuJu. Mandy scribbled a note together letting Nick know where she was and where the boys were.
"Papa!" Beau yelled letting go of Mandy's hand as he ran to his grandfather.
"What? Nana, doesn't get any love?" Mandy's mom, Patricia, said pinching his stomach. The little boy squealed but grabbed his papa.
"Nana." Mason said pulling on his Nana's purse. "Up." Mason said putting his little hands up. Patricia picked him up.
"Boy, oh boy. You boys look more and more like your father every day." Patricia said touching little Mason's face.
"My boys are handsome." Mandy said ruffling both of their hair. "Are you ready to go ma?" Mandy said smiling.
"Yes. Junior, come take Mason." Patricia said handing Mason to Junior.
Frank and Junior were the example of father like son. Frank had sleeves of tattoos, a scruffy beard, a ponytail, and a gut. He had the body type of an older biker guy with the personality to match. While Junior certainly had the look but not so much the personality. Junior was a successful mechanic at Frank's shop.
"Thanks, Frank." Mandy said hugging Frank and kissing Beau's little forehead as he poked Frank's tattoos. "Thanks, Junior." Mandy said hugging her stepbrother while kissing Mason's forehead.
Once they get to the wedding dressing shop, they met up with Wendy and her stepsister, Chelsea. Everyone was excited to see Mandy in her dress because only Patricia had seen her in her gown. Mandy was excited to show it off.
"Are you guys' ready?" Mandy said feeling herself getting nervous, excited, and anxious. The fact that this was really happening, her and Nick were finally going to get to marry Nick. They were finally getting married it was a little surreal they had been together for so long and been through so much. They had earned this wedding.
"Yes! Yes, come on!" Patricia squealed with excitement. The dress consultant pulled back the curtain and everyone was struck in awe. Mandy was gorgeous her gown wasn't too much, it was simple but beautiful.
"Mandy, you're beautiful." Wendy said getting emotional.
Mandy was wearing a white fit and flare gown with thick shoulder straps at the request of Mama Stokes. Mama Stokes wanted to see Mandy in a southern elegant gown, and Mandy was able to meet her someway. However it didn't matter because Mama Stokes too thought she was gorgeous in her gown. The gown also had some lace, not a lot but just enough and a light blue sash to go around her waist.
"You're going to make Nick a drooling fumbling man," Wendy teased wiped her eyes. Chelsea was left speechless, looking at her older sister.
"If he doesn't cry, I'm going to punch him." Mandy said wiping her eyes.
"He will…" Patricia said fanning herself crying. "Mandy, you are beautiful." Her mother cried hugging Mandy.
Afterwards the girls go out to the local coffee shop to enjoy the rest of their girls' day. However it was mainly to talk about Mandy's newest upcoming dilemma with her father back in the picture.
"So, let's talk about your father? What happened?" Wendy asked ripping off a piece of her bagel.
"Well, Nick had just finished a 36, so he goes to go to bed when we hear this knocking at the door… also frantic on our door. Nick tells us to go to our bedroom because he doesn't know him. Nick restrains him, and has him pinned against the railing… and is patting him down by the time I got out there. Nick wouldn't let him inside and was staring him down, and he wasn't too pleased." Mandy says chuckling a little.
"You know I never thought I would say this, but I like the way Nick handled that." Patricia said leaving everyone at the table speechless for a couple seconds.
"Me either…" Mandy and Chelsea said in unison. All the ladies laugh but Patricia doesn't find it as funny as everyone else.
"Well, I'm going to meet with Liam later for dinner to catch up." Mandy says, and Patricia's face fell as she almost dropped her coffee. Mandy noticed her mother's face change drastically.
"Ladies, can you give me and Mandy a chance to speak alone?" Patricia asked, Chelsea and Wendy both nodded and quietly left. Once they left, Mandy quietly sighed and rubbed her hands on her pants nervously.
"So, you and Nick finally see eye to eye on something?" Mandy only half joked.
"Mandy…" Patricia says but trails off, shaking her head.
"Why can't you support me in this? At least Nick says he will… why don't you like any of the men in my life?" Mandy argued.
"That's not true. I love my grandsons, your step brother too, and that step father of yours…" Patricia says winking at Mandy, adding a little emphasis to the word step. Frank and Junior had always been her father and brother but now it seemed to be different. "And even my future son in law has his moments…" Patricia said grimacing.
"Nick will be glad to hear that." Mandy joked.
"Don't tell him, I don't want him to think were best friends." Patricia joked, but then the mood turned serious yet again.
"Listen, Mandy… I know you feel obligated to now Liam, he is your birthfather, but please don't forget what Frank has done for all these years. I don't want to see you hurt. He left before and he will do it again. I want you to have your guard up and the answers you deserve. He owes you, you don't owe him anything. I want to support you but if he hurts you, I'll have to kill him." Patricia said, however in her own way left a little mystery in her tone.
What do you think of Patricia's warning? Is it just or not? The next chapter will include the dinner date with Liam, as some friction may start between our favorite couple. Please Review!