Bayou Stix Series: Bayou Stix Limited Edition Box Set (94 page)

I laugh at her use of the old Cajun words. She’s called me “boug,” meaning boy, for as long as I can remember and now she’s calling Clove “Gaienne”, or my girlfriend.

Well shit, Liam. She is. Hell yeah, she is! She’s not my girlfriend, she’s my love.

Shaking my head to clear out all of that nonsense, I chuckle, and follow Verna out the door.

Paw and Clove are quietly talking. I hear her talking about the website endeavor. She’s telling him all about how it works and explaining it in terms he can understand. She’s going to be an amazing mother.

She sees me approach and a smile lights up her face as I draw near. Leaning down, I plant a soft kiss on her lips. Paw watches the whole scene and Verna sighs and clutches her hands on her chest as she softly smiles.

Paw says he needs my help with something upstairs and Verna asks Clove if she’d like to accompany her into the house to have some girl talk. Clove agrees and I turn to see what Paw needs help with.

He tells me to follow him upstairs and off we go. I have no idea what he could need. Everything is kept downstairs for the most part since the stairs are hard for him to navigate with his cane.

We get to the bedroom that Paw and Maw occupied before she died and he stops to catch his breath. What do we need to go in here for? As far as I know, Paw hasn’t even been up here in a few years.

I open the door at Paw’s insistence and he proceeds me into the room.

It looks the same. The same floral quilt is on the four-poster bed, the same gauzy lacy curtains hang at the window, and the same rugs are on the floor. Her knick knacks and makeup are still spread out on the counter. It looks like it’s just waiting for her to return from town.

I look at Paw in silent question and he walks to the closet. Opening the door, he points at the top shelf. Maw’s jewelry box is up there.

“Go on, boug. Get that down. I can’t reach it and I’m too old to be climbing on a ladder.” He says gruffly.

Standing on my tip toes, I’m able to grab the old carved wooden box. Tucking it under my arm, I turn and wait for instructions.

Why does he want this? What’s in here?

Paw walks over to the bed and pats the mattress, so I set the box down and step back.

He traces the rose pattern carved into the box before lovingly raising the lid.

I can’t see what’s in the box, but his shoulders start to shake as he takes something out. Turning, he holds out his hand.

Uneasily, I look as he opens his hand. Tears are running down his face. I get choked up too as I gaze at the treasure he’s holding. It’s Maw’s wedding ring. The beautiful rose gold is filigreed and lovingly cups an oval diamond. The band is delicate, yet beautiful. The detail on the ring is amazing and for as old as it is, it looks like it was created yesterday.

I look up at Paw with a question.

He smiles. “Take it, boug. It’s yours.”

Stepping back in shock, I shake my head. “No, I can’t take that. That’s Maw’s ring. It’s the ring you gave her. I can’t take that. Why are you giving me that?”

He shakes his head and says firmly, “It’s yours. I want you to have it. She would want you to have it. I did give it to her. I gave it to her sixty-one years ago when I asked her to be my wife. The day I asked her to share my life. And she did. I loved her. She loved me and we had a good life. She’s gone and she’d want you to have this, Liam. You have someone in your life now that you love.”

My mouth drops open in shock again and I can’t form words. I’m so choked up my throat feels tight.

“Yes, I know you love her. You brought her here to meet me. You have never done that. Not one time. Take this ring, Liam. When you’re ready, use it. You deserve the happiness Vivian and I shared. You can have that with the girl downstairs.” He swallows and his watery blue eyes challenge me to deny what he’s saying. “You already have it with her.”

He drops the ring into my hand and my fingers instinctively close around it. I shake my head again. “Paw? I do love her. But am I enough?”

His voice raises in anger. “What in the Sam hill are you talking about, boug? Are you good enough?! Don’t be a fool. Stop overthinking everything and feel. Listen to your heart. It will not steer you wrong. What does it say?”

I look at him and all of the worry, insecurity, and shame in my life is clearly on display. “I’ve been with hundreds of women. I’ve done some stupid things. She’s so good and amazing and perfect and I want her. I love her, but I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t know what I’m doing here. I love her. I love us. I can’t even sleep if she’s not in my arms anymore, but what if that’s not enough? I want the baby.” I start pacing. “It’s
my
baby. I want it. I want both of them. I want to be his father. But I’m so scared I’m going to screw up.” I look at him beseechingly. “What if I screw up?”

Walking over to me, he takes my shoulders and he shakes me one time. “Look here, Liam, marriage is hard. Life is hard. It’s work. A successful marriage is one that the people in it work on every single day. There are times you will fight, but you never go to bed angry. Fighting is normal. Fighting means you have passion. As long as you are fighting, you are loving. You will both screw up, but you learn from that. Being a parent is the scariest thing you’ll ever experience. It’s also the most fulfilling. I raised you, boy. I raised you right. Everything you are and everything you know, you know from Maw and me. Use those values. Teach them to that babe in her belly and to future babies.” He shakes his head again and smiles. “If you are this worried you’re going to screw up, then you are ready to be a husband and father. If you weren’t scared then you aren’t prepared.”

A tear escapes. This man is brilliant and I’m so lucky he raised me.

I nod at him. He smiles and claps me on the back, “I’m proud of you, boug. I couldn’t be any prouder of you that I am right now.”

He asks me to pick up the box in the closet and hands me a bag for the ring. Tucking it into my pocket, I help him down the stairs. Verna meets my eyes and winks at me.

We stay until the sun starts to set. I see Clove getting tired, we say our goodbyes, and head for home with promises to be back soon.

Clove falls asleep as soon as the truck is in motion and I think over everything Paw and I talked about on the drive home as the woman I love softly snores beside me.

Clove

I
can’t believe I passed out in the truck last night. It was so good to meet Liam’s grandfather and Verna. They are the cutest, sweetest old people I’ve ever met. It makes me sad that I never had that, but I’m so glad that Liam had them growing up.

I have another appointment with Dr. Bird today and tonight is our shindig for Rock With Us. I’m so nervous. People from everywhere are coming and everyone from music to movies and everything in between will be there. I’ve never been around so many famous people in my life. Bayou Stix doesn’t count. They’re my family. I’ll also be there with Liam and he’s warned me that the paparazzi will be there and to be ready for photos and questions.

Being in the public eye so much scares me to death. If I’m going to be with Liam though, I need to thicken my skin and get ready for it and I very much want to be with him.

He’s still asleep and he looks so boyish in his slumber. The scruff on his face is the only thing that makes him look manly. In sleep, his face softens and he just looks like he’s too perfect to be real. He is real though and he’s mine…

He smiles and says in a voice gravely from sleep voice, “Stop staring at me.” He opens his crystal blues and winks.

I swoon and smirk. “I can’t help it. You’re so pretty, Mr. Christianson.”

He sits up faster than I can blink and pulls me up and over him. My chest is pressed against his and my breathing is ragged.

My nipples bead against his chest and he traces them with his finger as he chuckles. “Damn you’re so responsive. But look here, pretty boys don’t make girls swoon. Pretty boys don’t leave you panting. Pretty is not something you call a man!”

Laughing through my moans, I reply, “But baby, you are just too pretty for words.”

He flips us and leans over me as he chuckles. “Ok, you can call me pretty. As long as pretty works for you.”

He takes my mouth and sweeps me away into sensation.

Two hours later, we’re both fully sated and ready to go. Dade is in the kitchen on the phone as we walk through to grab me a banana. Whoever he’s talking to, he’s pissed. “I understand your policy, but I just gave you the dates and all the information you need. All I need from you is the last name!”

I look at Liam and he shrugs showing he doesn’t know either. Dade says, “Yes, fine. Thank you for nothing.” And disconnects the call. He turns away from us and groans in frustration. Then turns back and smiles though it doesn’t meet his eyes.

I walk over and hug him. He hugs me back and asks, “Where are you two headed?”

He already knows this. I guess he forgot. “My appointment is today.”

He smiles sheepishly, “Oh, right. I’m sorry, baby girl. A lot on my mind.” He looks at Liam. “You going, too?”

Liam pulls me into his body and wraps his arms around me, crossing them just over my stomach. He rests his chin on the top of my head as he answers Dade, “Yup. That ok?”

Dade laughs and says, “What if I said it wasn’t?”

Liam pulls me closer. “Wouldn’t matter.”

I melt against him. I love him. I smile at my brother. He winks at me and says to Liam as he walks out the door, “Yeah, I know. Which is why it’s ok.”

Liam chuckles. “I thought he was going to punch me.”

Turning in his arms, I wrap mine around him. His hands cup my hips. Leaning up to kiss his chin, I mutter, “No you didn’t. He wouldn’t hit you.”

He smiles down at me and laughs. “Oh, yes he would. If I hurt you, he will.”

I keep my smile in place as my heart beats faster. “So, don’t hurt me.”

He hugs me close to him and breathes into my hair as he mutters, “I don’t plan on it.”

My heart is racing. Is that his way of saying he loves me? God, please let him love me like I love him.

He pulls back and tweaks my nose. “Let’s go so we aren’t late. I want to see how much little man has grown.”

Smiling, I follow him out. Little man… I love it.

About an hour later, I’m staring at the scale in horror. “What do you mean I’ve gained seven pounds in a month?! Is that normal?” I feel like crying. Seven pounds…

The older nurse chuckles and says, “Clove, relax. It’s fine. You can’t gain seven pounds every month, but its fine. You’ve only gained ten pounds total. Trust me, you are fine.”

Liam has a look of shock on his face as he watches me almost break down. I see that way the nurse keeps glancing at him. He’s making her nervous.
Yes, Ma’am. Look all you want. He’s all mine. He’s gorgeous, huh!?

The nurse inclines her head towards me and chuckles, “Tell her she’s beautiful and not to worry. Babies need nourishment.”

He smiles at her and I can see her sigh.
Mine!!!!!
Then he looks at me and smirks, “She is beautiful. More beautiful every day. She can get totally fat and I’ll still want her.”

The nurse sighs again and this time I join her.

Damn gorgeous sweet talker!

We head into the room and she hands me a paper gown and paper sheet and tells me to get undressed with the opening in the front again and smiles at Liam as she says, “Dr. Bird will be in shortly.”

I chuckle as she leaves the room and we’re alone. I decide to just undress right here since it’s just the two of us in here.

Liam watches me disrobe and asks, “What’s funny?”

Licking my lips as I shimmy my pants and panties down my legs, I chuckle again. “You. She was eating out of the palm of your hand. You smile and panties melt away.”

He smiles at me as my panties hit the floor and grins lasciviously.

I mutter, “See.” I point at him. “You smile.” I point at the floor. “Panties gone.”

He whoops in laughter and pulls me buck naked against him and palms my rear as he plants a steamy kiss on my lips.

I want to jump him in my doctor’s office. My stomach starts to clench and I feel my thighs moisten. Pushing him away, I mutter, “Behave. She has to look down there and now you have me all aroused.”

He laughs even harder and winks at me as I swat at him. “I could take care of that really fast and you’d be all cleaned up before she even gets in here.” I swat at him again and slip the paper gown on as he bends down to grab my clothes.

Just then, we hear laughter and a knock at the door. His cheeks redden as I call out to come in. Dr. Bird is standing there and she’s laughing. I think she heard.

I’m enjoying Liam’s discomfort, so I ask, “Did you hear him?”

She nods and says, “I did. I can honestly say, I’ve never walked into an exam room while people were having sex, yet.”

Liam starts coughing and I start laughing even harder.

Dr. Bird smiles at us both and then she asks the normal questions. She has me lay back on the table and she checks me and then she asks if we are ready for the ultrasound. Both Liam and I nod enthusiastically.