CHAPTER FORTY

Kicks

A short while later, someone knocked at the front door. Nick jumped up to answer the door.

Sam stood there, the four boys in tow.

"Come in," Nick said, holding the door wide open.

"Papa's home!" Andy yelled gleefully and hugged Nick's leg.

Nick picked up both boys and hugged them. Before he put them down, he motioned to Sam. "Come on into the library."

Sam followed Nick, and the four boys trailed behind.

Sam took off his hat and nodded at the ladies. "Heath!" He went over and offered his hand to Heath. "Good to see you."

"You too, Sam." Heath shook his hand.

"Wait, wait, wait. What happened to your arm?"

Heath shrugged. "Just a flesh wound."

"I'd say. Who shot you?"

"Sweeny."

Sam took a step back. "Seriously?"

Heath nodded. "Yep. He and Diego and O'Connell tried to break into the big house. Nick chased Diego off Margaret's balcony and Sweeny surprised me in the backyard."

"So they're still at it?"

"Sure are." Heath sighed. "That's why we brought Margaret back here."

"You gonna be off work for a while?"

"Two weeks—well, only a bit more than one left now—and then I gotta see the doc."

"You goin' back to JR's?" Sam asked.

Heath glanced at Margaret. "I think me and Margaret are gonna stay here."

Sam's brow wrinkled.

"They're getting married," Nick explained.

"Congratulations!" Sam's easy smile filled his face. "When?"

"October twentieth," Heath answered. "You and your family is invited."

"Thanks." Sam took a step back. "I'm really sorry about your arm, Heath."

"Don't feel too sorry for him," Nick stated. "He's gonna get fat and lazy."

Heath laughed. "Yeah, Nick. Just like you."

Sam frowned. "So, is JR expecting me to come back?"

"We trained Harris to step up to the foreman position," Nick said. "It's your decision, of course, but we want you to stay here."

"I already know what Jeannie wants." Sam sighed. "I know she misses having her family close by, but she hates not having access to a decent doctor. And she loves the house here, and she has adopted your family as her own."

Nick's dimples threatened to escape. "So you're staying?"

"You think JR can make it without me?"

"Better'n we can." Nick's dimples appeared. "With you here, me and Heath can get by with a day off once in a while. And I know McColl will be happy that it don't always got to be him covering for us."

"Maybe you can even get caught up with the paperwork," Jarrod said.

"Heath's gonna do that while he's babying that arm," Nick decided, pointing at Heath. "Ain't you, boy?"

"Whatever you want, Nick," Heath said, releasing a sigh. "Whatever you want."

Nick laughed and stepped behind Heath. He slapped him on the shoulder. "Heath did a good job at JR's of lettin' the men know what's expected of 'em, and the ones that are left are stepping up."

"How many did you get rid of?" Sam asked.

Nick looked sharply at Sam, who'd already realized he shouldn't have worded his question in that manner.

Heath smirked. "Just the deadweight. Sweeny, O'Connell, Diego, and you."

Nick turned his glare to Heath.

Sam smiled. "Good answer to my badly phrased question."

Nick relaxed. He wanted Heath and Sam to get along.

"Sam, would you like a drink?" Jarrod asked.

"Thank you, but no. I need to get these boys home before dinner gets cold and Jeannie comes looking for us."

"We will see you at church tomorrow," Victoria stated.

"Yes, ma'am." Sam went to the corner where the boys were playing. "C'mon, boys. It's dinnertime."

"Awww, can't they eat over?" Levi asked.

"Maybe tomorrow, okay?" Sam pointed at his boys. "C'mon. Let's go."

James and Jack reluctantly followed Sam out the door, which Nick held for them.

Once Sam was gone, Nick strode to Heath. "That was totally unnecessary."

"What?" Heath asked.

"Calling Sam deadweight."

"Well, I thought his question was a bit offensive."

Nick stepped closer to Heath. "I ain't puttin' up with no nonsense between you and Sam."

"He started it."

"Yeah." Nick pointed at Heath. "And I'm gonna finish it."

"Nicholas, that's enough," Victoria stated. She stood. "I imagine dinner is ready. Let's go eat."

XXXXX

After dinner, Nick got the boys bathed, put in bed, and read to. He listened to their prayers, then gave them hugs. He sat with them until they were asleep. With a smile, he went to his room.

"Thank you." Isabella turned the covers down.

"They're my boys too, and you've had more than your fair share of turns lately." Nick smiled. "Besides, I enjoy it."

"They love it when you put them to bed because you read to them."

Nick canted his head. "You don't read to them?"

Isabella looked at Nick for a long time. "I did when they were smaller. But now I don't want to confuse them."

"Confuse them?"

Isabella took a deep breath. "Nick, I can't read or write English very well."

"But you speak it better than most Americans do."

"Speaking comes easy to me, but I struggle to read and write."

"Well, we'll just have to start working on that," Nick stated.

"I'd like that." She smiled at him. "Remember when I had to stay in bed and you'd read to me?"

Nick nodded.

"Would you finish that book?"

"Oliver Twist." Nick went to his bookshelf and picked up the leather-bound copy. "I still have our place marked." He went over and locked the bedroom door, winked at Isabella, and then stripped and got in bed.

Isabella grinned at him. She stripped too and snuggled next to him.

"If you want me to read, though, you can't distract me," Nick warned, his dimples growing. He put his arm around her and opened the book. He started reading.

After four chapters, Isabella rolled slightly to her back. "Nick," she said quietly.

"Yeah, Izzy?"

"The baby is moving."

Nick tossed the book and turned to face her. He lightly put his hand on her stomach. "Boy howdy, he sure is movin'!"

"Boy howdy?" Isabella asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Just seemed like the appropriate thing to say." Nick shook his head. "Heath must be gettin' into my head." He held still. "He's kicking my hand."

"He—or she—is all over the place." Isabella still spoke softly, reverently. "It must be an elbow over on this side. I think you got a knee or a foot."

"What's that feel like on the inside?" Nick whispered.

"Just like a soft kick from the inside—at least, right now." She moved her hand more to her left. "Levi was a fairly quiet baby, but Andy about broke my rib. His kicks hurt."

Nick put his ear on her belly and listened. "I can hear him moving around," he whispered.

"Probably looking for food. Like his papa."

Nick hugged her swollen belly and continued to listen. "I think he just passed gas."

Isabella laughed. "Just like his papa."

Nick rolled out of bed and turned out the light, then got back in and snuggled against Isabella. "I can't wait to meet this little guy—or gal."

"Me, too!" She sighed happily. "It's so much fun watching their personalities grow."

Nick put his hand back on her tummy. "I'll bet Andy and Levi will be excited too."

"You think they will?"

Nick shrugged. "I was thrilled when Mother had Audra and Eugene." He smiled. "And Jarrod says the day I was born was the best day of his life."

"Awww. That's so sweet."

Nick made a face. "Well, he actually says it was the best day of his life—and the worst."

Isabella laughed.

"And he still thinks he's the boss."

Isabella shrugged. "Seems to me he is."

"We just let him think that," Nick said, his hand roving over his wife's body.

"Mmm." Isabella squirmed at his touch. "I love you, Nick."

Nick leaned over and kissed her long and passionately. "I love every inch of you, my beautiful wife." He moved his lips to her ears. "And I love that tiny, kickin' baby we made."

"That baby is going to love his papa, too."

"And his mama."

XXXXX