Go Baby Grow

Chapter 56 – Time

Monday, June 22

Evening

While Amelia attended AA, Owen and the kids ate dinner. Guessing that Nolan and Lissa would want to see as much of Ryder in the coming days as they could, Owen invited them over. Nolan had not yet arrived. Attempting to hide her disappointment, Lissa played and interacted with Molly.

"Highs and lows?" Owen suggested. Everyone grumbled a reluctant agreement. Smiling and trying to keep the group focused, he announced, "I'll start."

"My high… I had two," Owen began. "Ryder and I had a great talk this morning – that's my first high. My second one was watching Ria in PT." He looked at her and praised, "Ria, you worked so hard today. Great job!" Ria beamed and sat a bit taller.

"What about a low, Daddy?" Anna inquired.

"Hmm… I wish Mom and Nolan were here," he announced. "Olivia, why don't you go next?"

"High: ungrounded!" she called out as she waved her arms in the air. "Low: I can't get a hold of Gwen. Julie?"

Julie paused. She knew how to play the game, but hadn't considered her answers ahead of time. "Umm… I'm not so sure about today specifically, but it's been a pretty interesting few weeks. I had a chance to speak to my brother last week. It was fantastic to hear his voice. The big news at our house is that my dad's getting married on Friday."

Redirecting Julie, Annabelle pointed out, "Those are highs, then? Because you didn't say. If they are both highs, what's your low?"

"I forgot," Julie smirked. "Those were highs. My low? I've been missing my mom lately." She looked at Ryder to indicate he would go next. Before he began, he patted Julie on the shoulder.

"My high and my low are the same. I leave for the Academy in six days. I'm stoked beyond belief and I'm scared as hell. Luke."

"You said a bad word," Lucas pointed out. He looked over at Owen and inquired, "Can I say a bad word too?"

"No," Owen scoffed as he shook his head. "Let's keep it clean. Sailor-boy down there can work on his language too."

Nolan came through the front door and called out a hello. Molly immediately began squirming in an attempt to escape her high chair.

"Sit down, Molly," Lissa offered calmly and clearly.

Nolan set his suitcoat on a chair and slipped off his tie. Running up to his eldest, Nolan hugged his messy daughter and kissed her before whispered, "Listen to Mommy."

"Up," Molly whined as her hands reached for Nolan.

"Oh, Nole, look at your shirt," Lissa sighed. Molly's dinner was all over his crisp white shirt.

Shrugging, Nolan responded, "It'll come out, won't it?" He pulled out his chair and sat down as he motioned to Molly to encourage her to sit down.

"Spoken like a guy who never does his own laundry," Ryder quipped.

"It makes me laugh when you do your mean daddy look, Nolan," Ria giggled as she watched Nolan shoot a warning glance Molly's way. Owen joined in, unable to hold back his reaction to Ria's unexpected words.

Nolan spread his napkin on his lap and responded flatly, "Watch out, Mini Mia, or I'll bring out my mean big brother look."

With her hand waiving in the air toward her brother, Ria giggled and commented, "You're not the scary big brother. I'm not worried."

Sputtering, Ryder interjected, "So I'm the scary one?"

"When you get mad, yeah," Ria reported. "But usually you're super nice to me."

"Hmm," Ryder huffed. "You're on my list, Victoria Rose."

Ria rolled her eyes playfully and questioned, "Whose turn was it?"

"Mine," Lucas announced. "Nolan took my low away because he's here now… I guess my new low is that Ryder's leaving soon."

"Aww, Little Man, thanks, Buddy," Ryder responded. "I'm going to miss everyone."

"Even me?" Olivia grumbled.

"Especially you, darling Olivia Elise," Ryder offered with an overly saccharine voice. Olivia threw a glance upward and resumed eating.

"It's still my turn!" Lucas pointed out insistently.

"You're right, Luke. We're interrupting each other a lot tonight, aren't we?" Owen observed. "Go ahead."

"My high is that Bogey played fetch today," Lucas smiled proudly.

"Really?" Ryder sought to confirm. "Wow… where is the poor old dog?"

"Outside," Lucas reported. "Sleeping."

"I want his life," Ryder commented.

Nolan quipped, "Six days, Ry. You'll pretty much be living like a dog in six short days."

"Ha ha," Ryder deadpanned.

Lucas called out Lissa's name. Still giggling at Nolan's comment, she stated, "My high is that my husband made it over for dinner and that the babies are both sleeping, which means I can sit down for dinner. My low?" Lissa paused. She glanced over at Molly and continued, "My low was when a certain someone threw a fit at lunchtime today."

"Nole, you ate lunch at home today?" Ryder teased.

"Yeah, Ry. Came home just to throw a fit for Liss. I wanted to make sure she'd have a low to share tonight," Nolan responded dryly.

Lissa called on Anna who announced, "My high was helping and taking care of Mommy today. My low was having to wait so long for my turn tonight. Nolan, your turn."

"My high was making it over here so I could spend the evening with my family," Nolan shared. "My low is that Ryder and Julie are leaving soon."

Pretending to cry, Ryder sniffled, "I love you, too, man."

"Julie leaving is the hard part, actually," Nolan stated coldly, playing the straight man to Ryder's comedic antics. Julie smiled, knowing Ryder would be antsy until he offered a comeback.

Without skipping a beat, Ryder leaned over and looked at Lissa, "I'm gonna miss you, Sis." Nolan threw his napkin at Ryder and Molly giggled.

"Nole, let's not model bad manners," Lissa requested with a hint of desperation.

"Sorry," Nolan smirked. Ryder gazed across the table at his brother and mouthed, You're in trouble. Nolan responded by lowering his eyebrows and grimacing.

"Julie, tell us more about the big wedding," Owen urged. "This Friday?"

"This Friday," she confirmed with obvious discomfort. "It will be a really small wedding – just the chaplain, my dad, his fiancé, his fiancé's friend and me."

"Are they planning a honeymoon?" Owen inquired.

"After I-Day, I think," Julie explained briefly.

"Which reminds me," Owen called. "Mom and I have been talking about everyone going to Annapolis and making a vacation out of it. How's that sound?"

"We'd get to see Ryder's school?" Lucas asked.

"And his new haircut and uniform," Owen offered. Ryder and Julie exchanged glances. "Are you ok with that idea, Ry?"

Shrugging, Ryder responded, "Sure. I'll be pretty busy that day, but I'm fine if you want the whole crew to go."

"Do we get to fly?" Anna asked with anticipation.

"We do," Owen confirmed. "Nole – you guys are welcome to join us."

"I'm not sure I can slip out of work, Dad," Nolan sighed.

Lissa's usually soft blue eyes were steely as she made eye contact with her husband. To her, a significant family event was a much higher priority than another day at the office. Under her breath, but loud enough for Nolan to hear her, Lissa mumbled, "What's new?"

Surprised by the comment, Nolan set his hand on Lissa's leg and rubbed her thigh. While the Littles peppered Owen with questions about the trip, Nolan leaned toward his wife and whispered, "What's up, Blondie?"

"Later," Lissa grinned as she quietly answered.

Nolan glanced at Ryder, wondering if his brother understood what was going on. Trouble, Ryder mouthed as he pointed his forehead toward Nolan. Nolan raised his shoulders, befuddled by the situation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

"Dad! I finally talked to Gwen. Can I go out tonight?" Olivia requested as she bounded down the stairs at 8pm. Owen, Ryder, and Julie were sitting on the couch talking.

Glancing at his watch, Owen frowned and pointed out, "It's a little late, Livs. By the time she arrives and the two of you leave…"

"Please," she begged. "I can be home early. I haven't seen Gwen in two weeks!"

As Owen and Olivia went back and forth discussing the possibility, Ry leaned over to Julie and imitated Olivia as he whispered, "And I've only talked to her on my contraband phone once or twice a day."

Julie smiled softly and whispered back, "Cut it out. You're rotten."

"It's true," he insisted quietly.

"I suppose," Owen relented. "Home by 11:30. This is an opportunity to build trust, Olivia." After hugging her father, Olivia ran upstairs to prepare for her date.

"Pffft," Ryder exclaimed.

"What?" Owen chuckled with surprise.

"You would've never let me loose that easily," Ryder commented.

"C'mon…" Owen protested.

"You come on," Ryder laughed. He turned to Julie for confirmation. "JJ, in the year you've known me…"

"I'm not weighing in on this one, Flyboy," Julie laughed. "But I'm having fun listening to the two of you."

"He's exaggerating, Julie. Life has not been as tough on him as he likes to purport," Owen jested.

"Now he's exaggerating," Ryder stated. "Dad's been a hard ass the last ten years."

"Are you two trying to convince me one way or the other?" Julie chuckled.

"How about your dad, Julie? He's pretty strict. Would you have been allowed to leave the house at 8pm on the first night after being grounded?" Owen quizzed.

Widening her eyes and inhaling, Julie explained, "Grounding at our house – like everything else – has a military term. He calls it restriction. It's more than having to stay home. If I'm not doing chores, he expects me to sit on the edge of my desk chair, doing homework or staring straight ahead. No napping, no electronics… it's effective, I'll give you that."

"Wow… what do you have to whine about, Ryder? The Captain has me beat for sure," Owen emphasized.

"At least you've been a benevolent dictator," Ryder smiled as he spoke with sarcasm.

Owen rolled his eyes and threw a pillow at Ryder. "You have it so tough," he kidded.

"I'm giving you hell, Dad. You know I love you," Ryder winked before turning to Julie and asking, "Shall we head next door? Didn't Lissa tell you that she wanted us to stop by?"

"She did," Julie confirmed. "Besides, I need to head home soon anyway." All three stood, and Owen and Julie hugged. "Thanks for dinner, Dr. Hunt. It was great."

"Anytime, Julie. You're always welcome here," Owen patted her back. "If I don't see you before I-Day, make sure you enjoy the last few days in Seattle."

"Will do," she grinned as she and Ryder made their way to the door.

"And congratulate your father for me," Owen called out. "Will your step-mom join us at Ryder's goodbye party?"

Julie cringed internally as Owen named Tessa's new role. Tessa was fine to have around, but Julie did not want to consider her to be a parent of any sort. Instead, Tessa was her dad's girlfriend… or soon-to-be wife. "I'm sure she'll come along," Julie hunched.

Just outside the front door, Ryder studied Julie's face and inquired, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, why?" Julie responded quickly with a forced air of nonchalance.

"Your face when Dad called Captain Rice your step-mom… you froze and kind of cringed," Ryder shared his observation.

"Oh," Julie replied with surprise, unaware her body language had spoken her feelings. "Nobody except my dad has referred to her that way yet. I weird out when she's referred to as my step-mom."

"Race to Nolan's?" Ryder smirked.

"You win," Julie deadpanned. "I'm walking."

"Fine…" Ryder droned. "We'll walk."

After the two turned onto the street from the driveway, Ryder asked, "What's Friday going to be like? Any idea?"

"Not really. Sam is refusing to be there. He and Dad seem to be in another hate-hate phase of their relationship. Or maybe it's more fair to say Sam's in a hate phase and Dad doesn't know what to do about it. Some friend of Tessa's is flying in on Thursday. Dad will probably expect me to behave like a fine young lady and be a hostess," Julie grumbled.

"If she's hot, you'd better introduce me," Ryder pressed.

Julie laughed, "She's probably as old as your mom, RB!"

Waving his head from side to side, Ryder joked, "Well… still." He opened Nolan's front door for Julie and the two stepped inside, realizing right away that they'd entered an argument zone. The girls were all asleep and hushed but frustrated voices were heard from the Master Bedroom.

"All I'm saying, Nolan, is that every once in a while, I'd appreciate it if family came before work," Lissa stressed.

"For God's sake, Liss. Didn't that happen tonight? I left my staff in charge of a crisis so I could make it to dinner. I don't think you understand the demands I'm under," he huffed.

"Isn't that why you have a staff, Nolan? So you can trust them to take care of emergencies when you aren't present?" Lissa argued. "I have a hard time believing the airline expects you to live in your f #$ing office around the clock so you can fly in to save the day every time a damn airplane arrives at the gate late."

"My f #$ing office pays for this house and your car and your ridiculously expensive hair appointments, Larissa," Nolan yelled.

"Wake the girls, Nolan, and I swear I'm leaving the house for the night," she warned.

Whispering, Ryder suggested, "Let's slip out and give them a few minutes. How about if we go find the dogs?"

"Sounds good," Julie agreed readily, thoroughly uncomfortable standing in the Tremblay Hunt entryway and listening to them fight.

Lowering his voice, Nolan exhaled loudly. "What would you have me do, Liss?"

"Balance your time," she stated clearly. "The man I married was never late and now, if he shows up at all, he's always late. I know your job is important, Nolan, but am I still important? Are the girls and I a priority for you? Because, frankly, you aren't proving it through your decisions. And as far as the rest of your family goes, they almost never see you," Lissa concluded with a relatively calm tone.

"Ouch," Nolan sputtered softly. "Shit, Lissa. That… umm… that hurts to hear."

"Imagine living it," she insisted. "I don't want to hate you or resent you, Nolan. I love you. But the longer you're in your corporate job, the less I like you." She began to cry and added, "I feel like an accessory, not your wife."

Nolan plopped on to the edge of the bed and slumped as he sat. "I… I…" he stuttered as he ran his hand through his hair. "Umm," he swallowed hard. "Babe, I love you. This is hitting me out of left field. I'm… I'm so sorry." He stared at the floor as guilt overwhelmed him.

After a minute of silence, Lissa stepped in to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. She wiped off her mascara stained cheeks and returned to the bedroom. With Nolan's back to her, she mentioned softly, "Your brother and Julie should be over any minute. I asked them to stop by. I thought maybe we could schedule a time for the four of us to go out to dinner before they leave.'

"I'm not up for Ryder right now, Babe," he commented. "How about if I text him instead?"

"I was looking forward to hanging out with Julie for a while," Lissa mentioned. Reluctantly, she added, "But, ok… I guess a text is fine."

"If you want to be with them alone, that works. I'm… I need to be alone right now," Nolan explained softly as he stood and walked out to look out the window.

"Go ahead and text him," she encouraged. "We'll talk more later?" Lissa sought to confirm.

"Absolutely," Nolan agreed.