Chapter 94
“You won’t believe it,” Mariah said when she came from the doctor one afternoon.
“What?” Montana asked. “Is everything all right?”
“More than all right,” Mariah answered with a tone of excitement. “It’s a boy!”
“I thought you didn’t want to know,” Shaun said, puzzled.
“At first I didn’t, but then the curiosity was starting to kill me,” Mariah grinned. “So I gave in and had to ask.”
“I felt the same way with Michael,” Montana nodded. “So are you going to tell Papa or is this going to be a big secret?”
“I’m still debating on that one,” Mariah replied, “but I guess he’s bound to find out sooner or later, so no use torturing him.”
“Eh, torture him for a week or two,” Shaun laughed. “It will be fun.”
“It would, but I think Brian’s suffered enough between me being restless in bed and all the night time food runs he’s made for me. Plus he’s been a trooper with the nursery even if Paul had to come in and fix up some of the mess Brian had made.”
“Beats hiring a contractor,” Montana smiled. “And you have to give Bri kudos for at least making the effort.”
“Exactly my sentiment,” Mariah agreed, nodding. “And contrary to what he thinks, I still say he’s going to be a great dad.”
“Amen to that,” the other women chimed.
“Considering he’s practically a kid himself, I don’t think it will be too difficult for him to adjust,” Shaun grinned.
“Not in the least,” Montana added. “But you may want to keep an eye on him with the feeding and changing issues.”
In the next room:
“Come on, Mikey,” Kira said, encouraging her baby brother, who smiled up at her. “On your knees like this. You can do it. You’re a big boy.”
“Sissy, what are you doing?” Mac asked.
“Teaching Mikey to crawl.”
“Sissy, you can’t teach a baby to crawl. They do that by themselves when they are big enough.”
“But he’s already up on his tummy and pushing up with his arms,” Kira pointed out. “I think he’s ready!”
“Girls?” Montana called. “What’s going on in there?”
“Kira thinks she can teach Mikey to crawl,” Mac said, coming in and rolling her eyes.
“I can!” Kira cried from the other room.
“Sweetie, she’s not yet five; she doesn’t know any better. You know how Kira loves spending time with Michael. If she thinks she can show him how to crawl, let her.”
“I still say he’s too little,” Mac shook her head.
“Well, he’s had plenty of tummy time lately, so you never know,” Shaun reassured her.
“And pushing himself up a few times,” Mariah nodded. “From the books I’ve been reading, it should be about the time he should be crawling soon anyway, right?”
“So they say,” Montana nodded, “but each baby is different and it’s known that boys tend to develop slower than girls.”
“Well, that explains Brian,” Mariah laughed.
“And perhaps Paul at times,” Montana replied, joining in on the teasing.
“You two are awful,” Shaun chuckled, shaking her head. “Hey, where are those two anyway?”
“Fixing more of Brian’s nursery disasters,” Mariah answered. “I feel so sorry for Paul, I sometimes think that I should give him some kind of hazard pay, especially the times when Brian calls him his Mexican slave boy.”
“I don’t think Paul really minds,” Montana said, stirring a pot in the kitchen. “He’s always enjoyed all that handy stuff. He did Michael’s entire nursery himself. I have a feeling we will have two very ravenous men when they do get back here, though.”
“Judging from that smell, they will all over whatever is in that pot out there,” Shaun said.
“Homemade beef vegetable soup,” Montana responded. “It’s Daddy’s recipe. He got it from his mother. It was one of my and Sly’s favorite things when we were kids. It’s probably one of the few non-spicy things that Paul actually eats without complaint that doesn’t come from a fast food joint. I just helped Dotty make and freeze some of this the other day.”
“It smells goooooooooooooooooooood,” Mac said. “I can’t wait to have some.”
“Well, you’ll have to wait until Brian and your papi get back here,” Montana replied, “plus it needs to simmer for at least another hour.”
“Provided they survived the latest disaster,” Mariah laughed.
“If Paul’s there, they will,” Shaun nodded.
Meanwhile:
“Jesus, Spanky, you ever hear of when in doubt, read the directions?” Paul asked. “I had to take this whole damn crib apart and put it back together right.”
“They were in Spanish,” Brian shrugged. “I had to kind of wing it.”
“Dude, the English ones were on the back,” Paul said, pointing to the sheet.
“Guess that explains why I had parts left over, huh?”
“That would be a sign you screwed up somewhere, yeah. But on the good side of things, you did a kick ass job with the painting.”
Brian glowed from the praise. “Yeah? You like the yellow?”
“It’s a good color. Not so bright it‘s scary, not too dark. It’s perfect.”
“Well, there was this chick at the paint store that helped me pick it. Mimi and I don’t know what we’re having so we figured if we painted this room yellow, we won’t fuck up, no matter what the baby is.”
“Good idea,” Paul nodded.
“Thanks for fixing the furniture and all the other shit I messed up, man. I should have known better than to take something like this on.”
“No problem. What are friends for? Besides, a contractor would have charged you up to the balls for all of this.”
“Speaking of what are friends for, Mimi and I are going to need witnesses.”
Paul was taken aback. “Huh?”
“We discussed it. As soon as she pops the kid, we’re going down to the courthouse and make it official. We need witnesses. So are you and Montana in?”
“Can’t speak for the wife, but as for me, hell yes!” Paul replied with a wide grin.
A short time later:
“You’re getting married?” Montana asked.
“As soon as I have the baby,” Mariah replied. “It’s nothing fancy; we’re just going down to the courthouse.”
“That’s not going to be much of a wedding, Mariah.”
“No, but that’s what we want. I’m not into all the pomp and circumstance, and I figure we’re already going to have a baby, so why have a major gala? On top of that, all the gossip sites won’t get hold of it, either.”
“Well, at least let Paul and me throw you two a party,” Montana offered.
“I guess that wouldn’t hurt, but just a few people.”
“Of course.”
“Mami!” Kira called. “Come here quick! It’s Mikey!”
Montana grew anxious, heading into the next room. “Oh God, Kira, what is it?”
“Look!” Kira’s eyes were glowing with pride.
Michael was crawling!
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