Chapter 60
“Oh wow, this looks nice so far!” Montana praised when she peered in on the progress of the baby’s room. “And to think you hid all this talent from me.”
“Mon, what are you doing up here?” Paul asked. “I’m painting and the fumes from this shit could hurt the baby if you breathe them.”
“I don’t think checking on something for two seconds is going to hurt me. Will you stop being a worry wart? You’re worse than I am and I’m the one having the baby.”
“Still, you saw it. Now get your ass back downstairs.”
“Fine, I’ll go if it means you not fussing at me. I need to fix the girls lunch anyway.”
“That’s mi mami buena.”
That man is going to drive me insane, Montana thought, heading back downstairs where the girls were playing a video game.
“Why aren’t you guys in the yard?” she asked. “It’s a lovely day out.”
“We’re bored,” Kira replied.
“Yeah, and Papi won’t let us help with the baby room,” Mac added.
“Well, that’s partially my fault; I gave him total control over it. It’s not like he’s around very often. In the meantime, I’m sure you girls can find something to do outside; you just got new bicycles for your birthdays. Scoot. I have to make lunch.”
“Okay, Mami,” they replied.
She then made a face toward a noise coming from upstairs that resembled some kind of crude caterwauling. “For the love of God, Paul, stop singing! You’re making my ears bleed!”
“Perdón, mi amor,” he called back down, followed by a loud belch.
Montana rolled her eyes, heading toward the kitchen. This was going to be a long weekend.
Later that day:
After lunch, the girls had gone back outside to play; it was enough having her husband making noise getting the nursery together without two kids running back and forth up and down the stairs checking on the “progress” every five minutes. Besides, it was a beautiful afternoon, other children were also out, and she could use some quiet.
Montana sat on the front porch, keeping an eye on Mac and Kira to make sure they didn’t go into the street while they played ball with two boys from a few houses down. She had to eventually break up a scuffle when another child began to tease Kira and Mac pounced on him.
It was that scuffle that had Montana make a new friend in the boy’s mother when a woman that appeared in her early forties sprinted out of the house across the street, sending the child inside with “and your grandmother will deal with you, young man!”
“I’m terribly sorry,” Montana apologized after scolding Mac and sending the girls into the house. “Mackenzie gets a little overprotective of her sister. She tends to get it from her father.”
“It’s quite all right,” the woman answered. “Brady’s been told about teasing girls how many times. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He’s been a terror since his dad and I split up.”
“Well, don’t worry; Mac’s father will soon be dealing with her. She’s been told about fighting.”
“You’re Paul’s new wife, right?”
“Uh….yes. Where are my manners? Montana.”
“I know,” the woman laughed. “It was kind of a hot neighborhood topic that Paul was finally getting married again and then my mother saw you moving in shortly before your wedding. I’m Beverly, by the way.”
“Good to meet you. So when is your baby due?”
“A few more long months,” Montana laughed. “It’s a boy.”
“Oh my. I bet the husband is doing backflips over that one,” Beverly said.
“Close enough; he’s doing the nursery as we speak.”
Montana then turned toward the house, where she heard Spanish being spoken hastily, followed by a “Perdón, Papi.”
“That is, when he isn’t scolding Mackenzie,” she added. “Anyway, it was good meeting you; I need to figure out what to make the crew for dinner.”
“Sure,” Beverly said cheerfully. “Come over for coffee sometime while the kids are in school.”
Montana then made her way back into the house, where she found that both girls had been sent to their room.
“And where did you go?” Paul asked.
“I was right outside talking to the boy’s mother. I am guessing you talked to Mac?”
“Yes, both of them are on time out.”
“Kira didn’t do anything; she was the one being teased. And for the record, your older daughter pounced first.”
“Yeah, I rather figured that. So what’s for dinner?”
“Actually, I was about to work on that idea.”
“Okay, as long as it isn’t any more of that crazy stuff you did last night. I know you’re pregnant and have weird food cravings, but Jesus, even the kids thought it was bizarre and they eat about anything.”
“This coming from a man whose idea of dinner is usually Doritos and ice cream right from the carton.”
“I like ice cream right from the carton. Look at it this way; it’s one less bowl for you to wash.”
“Good, I’ll get you your own personal carton next time and you can live with your own cooties.”
“Jesus, you’re as bad as Brian.”
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Yes?” Montana asked. “Who is it?”
“Special delivery from Spanky’s House of Everything Dinner,” Brian called from the other side.
“Oh, isn’t that sweet!” Montana replied, inviting him in.
“Oquela, talk about Satan in midget form and he shows up,” Paul joked.
“Love you too, PL. So did you guys eat yet?”
“I was just thinking about making dinner. Your timing couldn’t have been better,” Montana nodded.
“Yeah, the girls and I may have been spared from another night of Hawaiian pizza, dill pickles, strawberry mousse, and potato salad,” Paul added.
“Dude, seriously, you need to leave kitchen duties to your wife.” Brian made a face.
“That was from my wife,” Paul replied.
“You ate it, didn’t you?” Montana quirked an eyebrow.
“Yeah, it was either that or starve to death.”
“Right. I’m not running a restaurant.”
“Well, hopefully Mrs. Carrier of Mini PL and Her Funny Looking Half will enjoy feasting on ribs, baked beans and home cut fries.”
“You picked something up to bring over here?” Paul asked.
“No, actually Mimi made it. This stuff is the bomb; I didn’t think the woman had in her given her track record of usually only doing microwave shit. And she usually burns that.”
“Just keep the beans away from Paul,” Montana laughed, getting out plates and utensils and setting them down.
Paul shot her a look. “Gee, Mon, thanks a lot; I love you too.”
“Good idea,” Brian nodded “Wouldn’t want you to suffer in bed tonight from the bombs he lays.”
“Like you never ripped any, Spanky,” Paul retorted.
“Sure I did. They just didn’t smell like dead burritos.”
Montana laughed harder. “I’ll go get the girls while you two can set this stuff out. Then we can all enjoy a nice dinner.”
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