The luckiest

Chapter 2

“Vermont?”  I squeal.

“Yes, Vermont.”  Charlie smiles shyly as he fingers the rim of his water glass.

I’ve managed to sit down and contain myself somewhat.

“When do we leave?”

“Well, I want to get the bar sorted, so, say, in two weeks?”

“Great!  Oh, baby, I’m so excited.”

He reaches for my hand, “I’m glad.  You know, there are a few nice night spots there.  I was hoping you would bring one of those ridiculously short dresses of your’s along.”

I flush, “Charlie!”

“What?  I met you while you were wearing one of them and God help me, I liked taking you out of it!”

I love Charlie 2.0.  He seems genuinely excited for our getaway and its as if he’s read my mind.

“How did you know I was thinking of a mini-break for us?”

“Thing is; I’ve watched you be a stay-at-home Mom for the last eight months and I know you.  Especially, when I said something really stupid the other morning about you and the past.  I noticed how it affected you.  I’m sorry.”  How on earth have I been blessed with a man this amazing and he hasn’t figured out I’m slightly crazy yet?

“You know you’re kind of perfect, right?”

“I try to keep up with you of course and the fact that you have two brothers who could likely kick my ass.”

I squeeze his hand, “I love you, Charlie.”

“I love you too, Ginny.”

Charlie decides to stay home on the Sunday, still snuggled in bed, while I make breakfast.  The girls are awake and in their bouncers.  Both are a bit niggly, but their soothers do a quick job of getting them to calm down.

I set the table for the waiting waffles and bacon.  Before I can head to the bottom of the staircase to yell for Charlie to come down, he’s in the doorway, stretching his arms.

“Mmm, smells good.”

“Thanks.  Grab a seat.  Coffee?”

“That’d be great.  Thanks.”

I pour us coffee and join him at the table.  The girls are wiggling about excitedly as they watch us.

“So, what shall we do today?”  I ask.

“Well, Mrs King, it’s a balmy high of twenty-one today.  Beach weather, I think.”

I laugh at his mock enthusiasm, “Gosh, its been miserable.  I can’t wait for summer.  Let me know when it gets here.”

“I was thinking of calling round my folks today, but they’ve made lunch plans with Emma.”

Emma was not my favourite person and Charlie knew it.  At best, we were civil and made sure we only saw each other when necessary.  I couldn’t imagine having to deal with her more than what I already had to.  Christmas was a hoot of course.  She critiqued everything, from my outfit to Mrs Forbes’ dessert.

“I see.  Do you want to invite them for dinner on Thursday before we leave?”  I ask him.

“That’d be great.  I’ll call Mom tomorrow.”

“So, Mom has asked if they could come through earlier on Friday because Dad wants to get here in time for Pirates game.  Is that OK?”

He mumbles what sounds like a yes with a mouthful of waffles and bacon.

Charlie cleans up while I get comfy in the living room, the girls in the play pen.  My phone buzzes and it’s my brother, David.  He’s checking in to see if we’re home next weekend.  I reply that we’re going away and he texts back with tongue out emoticon.  I reply with the same emoticon. 

Still giggling, my phone rings shortly after my text banter with David.

“That did not warrant a call.  What’s up?”  I laugh.

“Hey Ginny.  How are you?  I’m good, thanks for asking.”

“Hello David.  How are you?”

“Great.  Listen, it was actually Holly who wanted me to call you.”

“Yeah?  What’s wrong?  Is Liam OK?”

“Yes, he’s great!  Busy, but great.”

“So, what’s up with you Cleary’s then?”

“Ginny!”  Its Holly who’s taken over the call from David.

“Holly!  What’s going on?”

“I’m pregnant!”  my stomach turns right then and I feel absolutely gutted for her.

“Oh Holly, I’m sorry!”

“What?  No, its great news!”

“Oh, yeah, sure.  It is!  I’m happy for you guys.”  I lie and I couldn’t be sadder for her.  Here I was, hoping Holly would be my wing woman on a night out after the Vermont trip.

“How far along are you?”  I ask the questions that come to me automatically.

“About eight weeks.”

“You have clearly been busy!”  I tease.  Their son, Liam is two months younger than the twins and I realise he won’t even be a year old when they have the new baby.  I decide not to alert Holly of this fact.

“Ginny!”  I can just picture her going all crimson, “But yes, we have been.  I think that six week wait after Liam was born nearly killed both of us.”

“TMI!”  I shriek.

One of the girls lets rip with a loud cry.  I look into the play pen, its Cara.  Charlie comes in just then and heads straight for her.  He looks at me questioningly while he rocks her to and fro.  I peek over at Caitlin, who is still preoccupied with her feet.

I chat with Holly a bit more about the pregnancy and then to David again.  They both sound thrilled.  David sounds completely chuffed with himself in fact and I think about all the sleepless nights.  I chastise myself for begrudging them and try to sound as cheery as possible.  What is it with me?

“I’ll tell Charlie you both said hello.  Yeah, maybe the weekend after we come back from Vermont.”

I hang up after what seems like forever.  Running my hands over my face, I peek through my fingers at Charlie, “Can you believe Holly is pregnant?”

“What?”

“Crazy, right?”

“No, its amazing!  Your brother has said before he and Holly want a big family.  I’m happy for them.”

I shrug, thinking that the two girls are enough and I can’t wait for them to be a bit older so I can really enjoy them.

“I guess you’re right.  Holly is over the moon and already hoping for a little girl.”

“I think David is probably offering up prayers for a boy again.”  We both laugh.

“Anyway, I was wondering if you would mind them coming around the weekend after we get home.”

He looks at me as if I’ve grown another head, “Of course!  We haven’t seen them in a while.  Besides, I want ask David about extending the deck out back before summer.”

“Oh.  You are? “

“Yeah, more room for family time.  Besides, we’ll need it for our family right here.”  I risk whiplash the way I turn to face Charlie.  He can’t possibly be thinking of another baby right now.  Maybe in about ten years, but then I might not want to go back to diapers and teething again.  Also, what if I end up with twins again?

He winks at me and I know he’s having a go at me.  I swat him playfully.  He’s successfully rocked Cara to sleep.  I look over at Caitlin and she is still a little livewire.

“Wanna try that one too?”  I test him.

“Nah-ah.  I am going to have a shower and then I’m hoping my hot wife will make an appearance in there.”

He’s full of it this morning and I feel like wiping that smirk off his face, but his offer is so tempting, I decide to try and get Caitlin down too.

“Give me ten minutes.”

“Now tell me, are you looking forward to Vermont next weekend?”

I can’t help, but flush at a naked Charlie, giving me the pro’s for next weekend.

“I could do a weekend away with you.”

“You could, huh?”

“Yeah, I’d manage.”

He crooks his finger at me, “Come here.  Lay with me a bit.  Just while the girls are still napping.”

I join him on the bed again, our bodies both warm and sweaty.  It’s a good feeling though.  I wish we had more time to ourselves.  I love those babies, but there are days I want to just devour my husband for hours on end.

“Ginny?”

“Yeah?”

“You really don’t want to have more kids yet?”

I prop my head up on my hand and narrow my eyes at him, “I knew it!”

“What?”

“You’ve been thinking about it!”

“Nope, just now.  With David and Holly having another one, I thought maybe we ought to think about keeping the age gap smaller too?”  he tries looking nonchalant.  It doesn’t work.

“Charlie; these girls are amazing and I want to make sure they have the best we can offer them.  Another baby or two isn’t on my agenda right now.  In a few years, yeah, but not now.”

He shrugs, “I guess you’re right.”

“I’m always right!”

He kisses me, “I won’t argue with you because you’re really hot and I’m hoping you’ll let me get to round two before the girls wake up.”

“Anytime!”

The week before our four-day weekend flies and its only on Thursday morning that I remember the Kings are coming for dinner.  I hastily search the Barefoot Contessa website for traditional Irish meals, not wanting to bother Mom.  Even Holly cooks Irish for David.  Me, I made Charlie bring food home from RiRa’s if he wanted something traditional.

Charlie’s parents were great.  His mother was very soft spoken and his father, a typical Dad with bad jokes and worshipped the ground his baby girl walked on.  Emma was still treated like the proverbial princess, but hey, it was their daughter.  Who was I to judge?

I settle on Shepherd’s pie and call Charlie to ask him to bring home some apple cake.  No way would I have time to bake and look after these two.  I look down at the girls in their play pen, the teething issues at bay for the time being.

Mom calls me just as I put the shepherd’s pie in the oven.  Its half an hour before Charlie’s due to get home.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hello, Ginny.  I was wondering if you could perhaps add two more place setting.”

This floors me.  The knowledge that I don’t have enough shepherd’s pie and the fact that Mom hates apple cake hits me, but I smile, “Sure.  Why?”

“Well, the oddest thing happened.  Charlie’s Mom called and asked me to join them at your place for dinner.  I told her I’d ask you first.”

“That’s odd, Lynn would have called me.”

“Well, I’ll see you later, honey.  It isn’t a problem, is it?”

“Mom!  Of course not.  I’ll see you later.”

I hang up and call my husband, my nerves shot.

“What’s up, babe?”  he answers.

“You busy?”

“Uh no, I actually meant to call you, but got side tracked with work.”

“Huh?”

“David called and said they’re joining us for dinner.”  My irritation peaks as he says this.

I love my family, but this is ridiculous, “Yeah, Mom called and said they’re coming too.”

Charlie laughs, “Yeah, more the merrier!  Hey, I wonder if we should ask Jamie and Emma around too.”

“No!”

I sigh and ask Charlie to bring home a Guiness and Ale pie if they have it and a cheesecake along with the apple cake.

“Sure babe.  I’ll see you in a bit.  Are the girls OK?  They were a bit fussy when I left and you looked slightly terrified.”

I feel like reaching through the phone if I could to slap Charlie, “I’m fine.  Girls are fine.  We’re all fine!”

“OK!  I get it, you’re fine.”

Silence.

“Wait.  Are you fine as in everything is great or the female version of fine?  I’m not talking to you for a week kind of fine?”

“Wait and see, Mr!”  I’m annoyed, but not mad at him.  I rarely get mad at my husband.

He sighs, “I love you, Ginny King.”

“Yeah. Yeah.  Just get home.”

“See ya in a bit.”

I’ve set the table for eight of us, my nerves on edge for dinner.  No matter how great I know the food is, I know our mothers and their standards.

The babies are asleep and I decide to dash upstairs for a shower.  I decide to dress up a bit for dinner, after the effort that pie.

Just as I get out of the shower, I hear Charlie calling at the bedroom door.

“In here.”  I call from the closet.

“Oh.  I’m just going to have a shower.”

“OK.  See you in a bit.”

I manage to get dressed in record time and go check on the girls.  Still asleep.  I bathed and did a feed just a while ago, so they’ll sleep soundly until their eight P.M. feed.  I’ll let the grandparent’s take over then.

“Hmm, you’re looking delectable.”  Charlie is behind me in the nursery and has his arms around me, his hands splayed over my mid-section.  The butterflies on my stomach are enough to make me moan slightly.

“Quick one?”

“Charlie!  Everyone will be here in the next five to ten minutes.”

“Really quick one then?”

I turn to face him and relent, “OK.  Quick!  No foreplay!”

“Score!”  he fist pumps the air.

I shake my head at him, “Charlie!  No.”

We surface from our bedroom fifteen minutes later, to a ringing doorbell.  I rush downstairs and Charlie follows, heading to the cellar to get some wine.

I tuck my shirt into my skinny jeans and quickly smooth down my hair, taking a peek in the entrance hall mirror.

Opening the door, I’m greeted by a frosty looking Emma and a serious Jamie behind her.  Confusion must show because she snorts as she hands me her coat, “I planned this dinner.  Don’t look so stunned.”

Uh, no, bossy boots, I planned it and you weren’t invited.

“Hey sis.”  Jamie kisses me on the cheek.

“Hey Jamie.  Charlie’s just getting some wine.  He’ll be up soon.”

“God!”  Emma proclaims, “You took forever to open the door; I’m frozen.  Did you two not get the memo to stop humping like rabbits?”

I immediately flush and groan at the same time.  Charlie is at my side before I can give Emma a lashing.  He strokes my hand gently and I let him take the lead.

“Emma.  You’re under my roof as a guest and I’d appreciate it if you acted with good graces of one.”

She flips her hair and saunters into the kitchen, where Charlie’s left the wine.  We follow closely, watching her examine the bottles with disgust.

“Really?  American wine?”  she moans, “Well, I hope you got the champagne we asked you to.”

“For what and who is we?”  I eventually blurt.

“For Jamie and I, silly!  We’re engaged!”

My mouth is literally agape and I can’t find the words.

“Congratulations would be the order of the evening, Ginny.”  Emma seems quite smug and I see Jamie practically cowering behind her.

“Congratulations, then.”  I offer.

“We’re thinking of a summer wedding.”  She carries on, “I was thinking of Mountain House in Newry.”

“Oh, great.”  I try to sound politely interested.

Luckily the doorbell chimes again.  I rush to go and answer.  Its Holly and David.

Holly envelopes me into a hug and David kisses me chastely on the cheek, heading towards Emma’s shrill voice.

“Hey, Ginny.  You look upset.”  She holds me at arm’s length.

“Yeah, well, I am.  Its that person inside.”

Holly rolls her eyes, “Is that Emma?”

“Yes and she’s soon to be Emma Cleary.”

“What?”  Holly covers her mouth.

“I know, right?”

“So many things happening this week.  Well, this one sure is a surprise.  Weren’t they off more than on the last few months?”

I nod, “Yeah and now this.”

“Do you think she’s pregnant?” we both gasp at this notion, just as the doorbell rings again.

Both sets of parents arrive at six on the dot.

Everyone mills in the kitchen around Emma and Jamie while Emma tells their story.

I pull Holly into the living room to help me with the extra place settings.

“I forgot to congratulate you and David personally!  I’m so sorry.  This kind of threw me.  I didn’t even know that this had turned into their celebratory dinner.”

“Oh no, Ginny!  Did Charlie know?”

“Turns out he did.”  I feel like ringing his gorgeous neck!  I consider throwing him down a slope in Vermont, but then remember we’re not skiing, but at a lake.  Hmm, local pub owner drowns on Vermont lake holiday.  I giggle, knowing I wouldn’t touch a hair on that man’s head!

“Forgive him.  He’s been steam rolled into this I bet.  I would say, let’s drink it away, but that’s not happening.”  Holly rolls her eyes.

“How did that,”  I start, pointing her tummy, “happen so quickly?”

“My doctor says after the first baby, its super easy and I was off the pill because of breastfeeding and you know your-“

I raise a hand, “Oh my God, don’t go any further!”  we both laugh.

The dinner is jovial, Jamie even smiling, especially when he looks at Emma.  Different strokes I guess.  David and Holly clearly aren’t telling anyone about the pregnancy yet, because when I nearly blurt it out, David gives me the stink-eye.  Holly laughs, knowing me all too well.

Dinner is a hit and so is dessert.  The girls wake just after eight for their feed and both grandmother’s head up to the nursery to do it.  Holly and myself are in the kitchen, clearing up, when Emma joins us.

“Thanks for having us, Ginny.”  She says coolly.

“Then I’m sure you won’t mind giving us a hand in here.”

I am pleasantly surprised at the quip from Holly, to which Emma giggles, “No, that’s what being a hostess is.  Imagine, asking your guests to clean up.  So silly, Holly.”

I have to grab Holly by the forearm as Emma flips her long ponytail and sashays out of the kitchen, “What has gotten into you?”

“Testosterone.” She says deadpan and I nearly wet myself with laughter.

The Kings are the first to leave.  Mrs King, as always is polite and very generous with her hugs.  Mr King seems somewhat stoic and I think its because of how Jamie and Emma’s engagement.  I don’t blame him.  He pumps Charlie’s hand and kisses me on the cheek.

“Lovely dinner, Gin.”  He says quietly.

“Yes, my dear, absolutely delicious!  Your apple cake was amazing, thank you.”  I smile guiltily and wonder if she’s mocking me because I’m sure she spied the RiRa’s boxes in the kitchen.

“Thank you, Lynn.”  I offer meekly.

“You must bring the girls around when the weather is better.”  She offers.

“We’ll do that.”

My parents are next and my Dad looks at me sternly, “I’ll see you tomorrow and Ginny?”

“Yes, Daddy?”

“Be nice!”

I roll my eyes and I swear he looks as if he wants to bend me over his knee, “OK, I’ll give it a go.”