I'm leaving for my summer camp job! I'll be gone June 8-August 2. The likelihood that I will update is very, very slim. I'll miss you all so much!
Fanning the Flames
Kevin sighed, his fingers laced in Tina’s, as he looked at their schedule for the next few weeks. “Home from our honeymoon for a week and it’s straight back to work.”
Tina laughed. “Yeah, well, maybe if the Jonas Brothers would quit being so popular, you wouldn’t have to work so hard.”
“Oh, you love it. You adore all the attention.”
She kissed Kevin’s neck and purred, “Only from you.”
“Ooh, okay, I like that.” He closed his eyes as she continued expressing her affection against the skin of his neck.
“Geez, you two.” Nick rolled his eyes as he walked in the room. “A whole week alone and that wasn’t enough?”
Kevin slit his eyes open for just long enough to look at his brother, deadpan. “Tell me, bro. Would a week be enough for you?”
Nick went brilliant red and mumbled, “Heck, no.” He looked around. “Speaking of which, where’s my girlfriend? She’s the reason I came in here to begin with.”
“Check with Niki. They were out back together.”
“Thanks. And get a room.”
“Whatev.”
Nick strolled out their back door and, sure enough, saw Kenna’s brilliant red hair set off by the leaves changing colors around her. Niki sat next to her in a big sweatshirt stretched over her very pregnant stomach--and her bare feet were in a plastic bin full of ice water. Nick raised his eyebrows. “Uh, Niki, why--”
She glared. “Don’t ask. My feet were hot, OK?”
“Don’t argue with a pregnant lady about to pop, baby,” Kenna warned, standing and kissing him softly. “It’s a losing battle.”
He slid his arm around her. “So I’ve heard. So--you, me, dinner tonight?”
“You, me, dinner every night, babe.”
He grinned. “Yeah, well, special dinner, just us.”
“Mmm, I can do that.”
“I’ll pick you up at your room at six.” That was one of the silly, sweet gestures Nick had made habit. Whenever he wanted to have a date night, he insisted on “picking her up” by walking from his room to hers, knocking, and waiting for her to answer so he could walk her to his car. He knew it made Kenna feel special and precious, and that was why he did it. The light in her eyes, the sweetness in her smile, kept him wanting to do those things. Every tidbit of approval he could earn from her made his heart swell with pride.
“Six it is,” she said, and winked. She looked over at Niki. “I’ll send Joe out. I have a date to get ready for.”
Niki nodded and Kenna headed inside on Nick’s arm. Moments later, Joe appeared out the door, smile on his face and guitar in his hand. “Hey, darling. How are you feeling?”
“Fantastic,” she said sarcastically, then grinned. “No, I’m fine. Just pregnant. I want this thing out of me.”
Joe laughed as he sat down beside her and put his arm around her waist. “Soon, sweetheart. Soon.” Then he held up the guitar. “Can I play something for you?”
She smiled and looked up at him eagerly. “When do I ever say no?”
“Well, there was that one time--”
“It was three in the morning and you woke me up!”
“Because the song idea was so good!”
“Whatever. I let you play it for me, didn’t I?”
“After fifteen minutes of convincing. Fifteen minutes for a song three minutes long.”
Niki sighed and laughed. “Play me your song, guitar boy.”
He beamed and said, “I wrote it for the baby.” Niki’s interest was piqued instantly, and she leaned towards him, hand on her stomach, as he began to play. She watched his face sober as he slid into the passion of the music. Then he started to sing, a soft, sweet, lilting tune.
Hey, little one, can you hear me singing
Do you know what I’m saying
Can you hear me say I love you?
You and your mom keep my smile burning
Make me fall in love, little more every day
I’m giving up my heart all over again
Hey, little baby, hey little baby, I love you
Oh, little love, I can’t wait to see you
Hold you in my arms and
See your eyes and beautiful smile.
You and your mom keep my smile burning
Make me fall in love, little more every day
I’m giving up my heart all over again
Hey, little baby, hey little baby, I love you
I love you, I love you, hey little baby
He played a few more chords, then looked up at Niki as the last note faded, emotion filling his eyes. She had one hand on her stomach, the other pressed against her mouth. Her eyes were filled with tears and she took in a long breath before sighing, “Oh, Joe.”
He smiled sheepishly. “You like it?”
She turned towards him as much as she could and wrapped her arms awkwardly around him, her belly putting more space between them than she would have liked. “He’s not born yet and you’re already the best father ever.”
He smiled into her hair. “How do I rank on the husband scale?”
“Oh, no one compares.”
