Go Baby Grow

Chapter 59 – Just Try It

Tuesday, June 23

"Have a sip," Jana encouraged Julie as the two lounged on the deck of the beach house. Ryder and James had run to town to pick up a pizza.

"Nah, that's ok," Julie dismissed casually. "I don't drink."

"Ever?" Jana inquired with surprise. "When I first met you, I thought you were so… I dunno how to say it… experienced? But I mean that in a good way."

Julie laughed as she gulped down some water. "Experienced in a good way…" she mused. "Such as?"

"You seemed, and still seem, so put together and mature. I figured you'd had your share of guys and knew how to party without becoming a messy lush," Jana explained.

"You called that all wrong," Julie chortled. "I've never had a drink, never tried drugs, and the furthest I've gone with a guy isn't even close to sex."

"Why?" Jana questioned.

"Why not?" Julie challenged.

"I'm sorry – it's none of my business," Jana apologized.

"It's ok, but why do we wonder why someone doesn't drink or have sex instead of why they do? Isn't that weird?" Julie wondered.

"I guess it is strange," Jana agreed as she drank more of her rum and fruit juice mix.

The two gazed toward the ocean and slowed their breathing. Although the sun was shining, the Washington Coast weather was windy and had a slight chill. Wrapped up in blankets, Jana imagined college and whether she and James would stay together through the transition, while Julie pondered Plebe Summer and hoped she'd be assigned a good squad and company.

Twenty minutes later, Ryder leaned over the back of Julie's lounge chair and held out a Big Gulp cup. "Try this," he suggested. James' fake ID had worked without a problem and mixed drinks would be the order of the night.

"Oh man… that's delicious," Julie cooed after sipping the drink and then taking another drink almost immediately. "Can I have it?" she begged with a grin.

"It has rum in it," Ryder warned her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Julie protested with a surprised smile.

He shrugged and explained, "I didn't think you'd actually try it, JJ. Honest." Julie stared at her friend, trying to determine her next action. Ryder looked at her apologetically, "Really… I didn't think you'd take me up on the invitation."

"I believe you," Julie stated flatly. "Now make up for it by giving me the damn drink."

Ryder roared, "Are you sure, Virgin Drinker?"

"Do we really have to use that phrase?" Julie shook her head as she sipped the drink.

Walking around the chair and squirming his way next to her, Ryder slid under the blanket and set his head on her shoulder. He replied, "No. What phrase would you prefer, Caldwell?"

"Princess? Your majesty? Beautiful, darling, adorable one?" she suggested.

"How will I choose just one?" Ryder chuckled.

In the next chair, James straddled his girlfriend and kissed her. "Pizza's in the oven. Fifteen minutes, Janey Jane."

"Thank you," Jana smiled as she wrapped her arms around James and pulled him on top of her.

Ryder glanced at Julie and rolled his eyes at the PDA. In response, Julie smiled and slightly shrugged before resting her head against Ryder's. Fully at peace, Ryder realized he could live the rest of his life cuddled next to Julie and watching the waves slide onto the shore.

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

"If I have to use a wheelchair the whole time, I want to stay in Seattle," Ria pouted uncharacteristically as she sat on her bed with a parent on either side. After Ria shared at dinner that she had decided not to travel to Annapolis, Owen and Amelia had sat down with Ria to try to reframe the situation into something desirable.

"That's not like you, Victoria," Owen commented with sadness. "You're my brave girl who doesn't let anything stop you."

"Except a stupid wheelchair," she sulked.

"What makes it so stupid, Baby Girl?" Amelia questioned.

"It's embarrassing. Everyone looks at me weird and stares. People make dumb faces like this," she explained as she frowned mightily and lowered her chin while keeping her mouth closed.

Owen forced himself not to chuckle at her adorable face. He stared at his daughter, attempting to seem expressionless. "Who cares what other people think, Ria?" he nudged.

"I do," Ria exclaimed with increased volume. "Daddy, I don't like it when people stare at me or look all sad when they see me." Her eyes were beginning to pool with tears, her humiliation rushing to the surface.

Leaning over and wrapping Ria in her arms, Amelia kissed her daughter's temple and ran her hand over her hair. Owen's approach that was focused upon dismissing the actions of others wasn't working, and he gazed at his wife with desperation. "I'm sorry it feels embarrassing and uncomfortable, Ree Ree," Amelia sympathized.

Weeping, Ria mumbled from her mother's embrace, "I don't want to go and I don't want to talk about it."

"Oh, sweetie…" Amelia sighed, becoming teary herself. "We don't have to talk about it right now." Ria's arms tightened around her mom, and Amelia swayed back and forth. Owen reached out and rubbed Ria's shoulder.

The moment was interrupted abruptly from down the hall when Olivia shrieked at Lucas, "Get Out of Here!"

"I was following Barkley, Stupid," Lucas argued at full volume.

Owen inhaled and whispered to Amelia, "I'll check it out." He walked down the hall as the screaming continued. Olivia shoved Lucas, attempting to force him out of her bedroom, while Lucas rooted himself firmly on the floor and refused to budge. Barkley howled and barked with fervor and Anna sat in her doorway across the hallway watching the scene unfold.

Before entering Olivia's room, Owen queried, "What's going on, Annabelle?"

"They're fighting again," Anna sighed. "He went in to get the dog. She woke up and flipped out."

"Enough!" Owen hollered as he stood in Olivia's doorway. "Lucas – sit down right there. Olivia – sit on your bed."

"It's my room," Olivia screamed violently. "Everyone get out."

"Olivia…" Owen warned firmly as he lowered his chin and locked his glance her way.

"Out! Everyone! Everyone means everyone! Stop violating my space," Olivia screeched.

"Lucas, I changed my mind. Go to your room. I'll be down there soon," Owen ordered calmly.

"But I came for the dog," he whined.

"Then take her with you," Owen grumbled as he whistled at the dog and pointed her down the hall.

As he stomped down the hallway, Lucas protested, "I didn't do anything wrong. I better not be in trouble. This whole thing is dumb."

"Anna, how about if you head over to Ria's room? Mom's in there with her," Owen suggested as Olivia sat on her bed breathing rapidly with tightly folded arms. Once the audience was disbursed, Owen closed Olivia's door and sat on her desk chair.

"OUT!" she yelled loudly.

"Olivia…" Owen said slowly and calmly.

"GO AWAY! LEAVE ME ALONE," Olivia screamed.

Repeating himself, Owen stated, "Olivia… deep breath." He modeled a slow, deep breath intentionally, hoping she would imitate him unconsciously.

"Go!" she called out with tears flowing down her face. Her voice and resolve were weakening. Owen stared at the floor and did not respond.

After a full minute, Olivia sobbed, "Why does he constantly bug me? I want privacy. Is that too much to ask?"

"No…no, it's not too much to ask," Owen shook his head. "However, it's pretty tough for a 9-year-old to understand."

"He's not stupid," Olivia stated as she dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

Owen grinned playfully, "I won't tell him you said that."

Crying and laughing simultaneously, Olivia commented, "Thanks."

"Are you going to be ok?" Owen queried.

"Yeah. I have a headache. I want to sleep," Olivia sniffled.

Owen smirked and promised, "I'll do what I can to keep him out of your hair." He stood and walked toward the hall, closing the door behind him.

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

By the time they'd consumed the pizza and commenced drinking games, all four of the recent graduates were happily, playfully drunk. Music blared from the nearby speakers, creating ample opportunities for dance breaks.

Julie's lack of alcohol tolerance was balanced out by her beginners' luck at quarters. Each time she nailed another toss, James was her victim. When Ryder redirected her and urged her to choose another person, Jana began drinking more heavily.

"You're kicking my ass, Caldwell," James laughed. "Nobody beats me at quarters."

"Apparently, I do," Julie smirked.

"I suggest a different game," James slurred.

"Vikings," Jana called out cheerfully.

"You always go down fast with Vikings," Ryder laughed. "Why would you choose that?"

"It's fun," Jana giggled.

"How do you play it?" Julie asked eagerly.

Ryder explained, "The first person makes Viking horns by setting his or her thumbs in his or her ears and wiggling all fingers. Then the person claps and points to another player. That person makes Viking horns, but the players on either side of the second person have to row the boat. The one on your left, rows left and the one on the right rows right. Then the Viking claps and chooses another Viking. Whoever misses their cue to be the Viking or rows the wrong direction has to drink."

"I'm kicking your asses," Julie threatened with a healthy buzz.

"Then you start, Princess," Ryder jested.

The game only lasted about ten minutes before the participants were laughing too hard to focus. James and Jana made their way to a bedroom, leaving Julie and Ryder behind. The soon-to-be-Plebes headed out to the porch and wrapped up in a shared blanket. Julie sat on the deck between and wrapped her arms around Ryder's legs. Leaning against his chest, Julie craned her neck so she could see Ryder's face.

Laughing at her awkward positioning, Ryder asked, "What?"

"You're my favorite best friend," she smiled with a goofy, drunken grin.

"Do you have other best friends?" Ryder chuckled, only slightly buzzed.

"Nope," Julie responded, popping her lips loudly as she pronounced the 'p.'

Ryder commented with a gleam in his eye, "You're a pretty adorable drunk, Julie Caldwell."

"I'm pretty adorable no matter what, Mister," she insisted with a slight slur.

"Yes, you are," Ryder agreed as he grasped her drink. He hoped to set it down and out of sight.

"Nooooooo," Julie whined as she leaned toward the moving cup. Had Ryder's leg not been along her side, she would have fallen over. She collapsed into the giggles, imitating a fish.

"You're done for now, JJ," Ryder stated as he brushed her hair away from her face.

"Not done… Not yet," she protested.

Ryder kissed her forehead, "Take a break. How about some water?" He tried to hand her his water bottle, which was immediately pushed away.

"That makes me pee. I want the one that makes me silly," she insisted with a giggle.

"You are silly," Ryder smiled down at her, her head still contorted upward.

Clumsily turning and sitting on her knees, Julie repositioned so her body was chest-to-chest with Ryder's. Ryder slid his legs up a bit and grinned, wondering what she was planning. Meaning to sexily lean toward his mouth and kiss him, Julie fell toward him with her face against his chest. She burst out in giggles, unable to speak.

"What are you up to, JJ?" Ryder inquired with a laugh.

"Come here," she urged. She scooted beside him and leaned in to kiss him. The two kissed repeatedly and Ryder soon found himself on his back with Julie on top of him. He ran his fingers through her seldom-down long hair as her hands squeezed his arms while they continued to kiss. Ryder was barely drunk and knew he'd stop her at this step. There was no way he would go further with JJ's judgment off kilter from drinking.

As he enjoyed the kissing and became aroused, he gasped when he felt her hand on his bulge. "JJ… hands to yourself there, girl," he chuckled.

"Why?" Julie questioned. "You feel nice."

"So does your hand, but we're not doing this," Ryder stated gently as he stroked her hair.

Julie pulled back with a devastated frown, "You hate me."

"No, I don't, Silly," Ryder smirked. "I love you enough to stop you even though you're an easy lay right now."

"Now I'm easy?" she challenged as her hands rested on her hips.

"JJ, you've been drinking like a fish. You aren't qualified to make any decisions of a sexual nature," Ryder stated seriously and with care.

"Pffftttt," Julie laughed. "You sound all official and serious, RB. That's rid… reh… red…"

"Ridiculous?" Ryder offered.

"That! Exactly," Julie nodded.

"Julie," Ryder stressed, "let's down some water and head to bed. It's late."

"I thought you didn't want to do that," Julie questioned with confusion.

"To bed…to sleep, not to sleep together," Ryder clarified. "Trust me – drink water and you won't feel as crappy tomorrow morning."

Julie wrapped her lips around the top of the bottle and peered up at Ryder seductively. She swallowed a gulp of water and pointed out, "See what you're missing?"

"You're nasty," Ryder shook his head. "Believe me, Julie, it isn't that I don't want to."

"You confuse the hell out of me," Julie declared before drinking more water.

Once Ryder was satisfied that Julie was sufficiently hydrated, he guided her to the bathroom and then to the bed. He kissed her cheek and turned out the light before heading out of the room.

"Wait," Julie whined.

"What? Do you need something?" he asked tenderly.

"I want to snuggle," Julie begged.

Rock hard and aching, Ryder forced himself onto the bed and leaned against the headboard. He wrapped an arm around Julie's back and insisted, "Snuggling, fine. Keep your hands to yourself, Grabby Girl."

Within minutes, Julie was deeply asleep. Ryder slid her down onto her side and made his way to the sofa. Hoping to drown out James' and Jana's laughter and whispers, he turned on late night TV and fell asleep to the groans of a bad monologue.

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

Back at the Lake House, Owen leaned against the wall of the Master Bedroom balcony. Between Ria and Olivia, he was fully spent. He ached as he recalled their pain and struggles, especially saddened by the PT's order to keep Ria wheelchair dependent until the surgery that was just over two weeks away. His eyes were becoming heavy, but he was too tired to move.

Lucas hurried into the master bedroom wearing only his Batman underwear. Glancing toward the door after hearing little footsteps, Owen spotted his youngest. He called out, "Luke?"

"Shhh," Lucas whispered as he stealthily headed toward the balcony, checking behind his shoulder more than once.

"What's up?" Owen asked quietly.

"Mom," Lucas nodded insistently.

"What about Mom?" Owen inquired.

Lucas checked over his shoulder once again, then reported, "She thinks I need a bath, but I don't."

Trying to suppress a grin, Owen whispered, "Do you think she'll change her mind if you hide?"

"I'm not hiding," Lucas offered emphatically but with a low volume. "I'm escaping."

"I see," Owen grinned.

"What are you doing? Are you escaping from Mom too?" Lucas wondered.

"Nah, I already took a shower this morning. She's not after me," Owen detailed.

"Oh," Lucas nodded. "So you're sitting out here?"

"I like listening to the water after a busy day," Owen shared.

"Why?" Lucas asked.

"The water is peaceful. Sometimes a breeze flows through the trees and the leaves rustle. I like listening to that," Owen stated. "Sit with me and listen," Owen encouraged as he scooped Lucas onto his lap. Leaning back onto his father's chest, Lucas sighed happily. The two sat and invited the sounds of nature to fill them.

"Are you cold?" Owen wondered when he saw goosebumps on Luke's naked arms and legs.

"A little, but you're warm," Lucas commented as he nuzzled deeper into Owen's chest.

"Well, well," Amelia said as she clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and rubbed her baby bump.

"Not now, Mommy. We're relaxing," Lucas explained as he slowly lifted a hand into the air. Owen gazed upward with a grin.

"Baths can be relaxing, too, Lucas Owen," Amelia pointed out.

"This is better," Lucas opined with closed eyes and a chin pointed toward the sky.

Owen kept one arm wrapped around Luke and extended the arm nearest his wife. "Join us, Mia," he encouraged.

She grabbed an afghan and knelt down, cuddling up to Owen. She rested her head against Owen's chest and Lucas' head as she spread the knitted warmth over the trio. Owen hummed with relaxed delight and partially closed his eyes as he kissed the top of Amelia's head. The brief moments of bliss filled Owen's soul and lightened the weight of life's chaos.