Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
That one I had blown up to a 10X14. I even considered having it blown up as an industrial print.
Another of my favorites was of Gabe changing his first blowout diaper. I’d come just in time to hear him gagging from the back part of the house where Cora and Luca shared a room. I, of course, pulled out my phone and took picture after picture. Gabe had his t-shirt up over his nose, and he was standing as far away from Luca as he could get.
Gabe offering sexual favors couldn’t even keep that one off the wall. All admired it, and I would never take it down. He even promised he would never again bitch about the Twilight comforter I bought for our bed.
In the place of honor on the mantle sat a picture of Sam. His face looked like we’d kicked his puppy. Face pale, lips in a tight grimace, he glared at the camera. From his knees down were wet. It was the one Gabe managed to get right after my water broke on him.
Cora’s screeches filled my thoughts. “Mama, mama, mama.”
Before I could get up, Gabe stood and went for her. My heart was full to bursting in my chest. She’d just started calling me ‘Mama’ on purpose this week. We were at Cheddar’s for Sidney’s supervised visit when it happened. Sidney was reaching for Cora, and instead of going into her arms like she did with everyone else, she buried her face into my neck and held on with a death grip.
Sidney, being the bitch she was, took her from me anyway. Cora was having none of it, and started screaming ‘Mama’ at the top of her lungs while reaching for me. Big crocodile tears rolled down her cheeks, and everyone in the restaurant watched curiously.
Sidney’s face went from a shade of nicely hued tan to a mottled red in about three seconds flat. Gabe, sensing her hostility, took Cora back before Sidney could do anything stupid. That straw broke the camel’s back. The next day our lawyer called to tell us that Sidney terminated her rights.
Good riddance, we thought.
We were never able to prove that she set us up the day of the accident and kidnapping. Although we all suspected, nothing was done. Luke went through every gang member that was arrested, and didn’t get a single word out of them about Sidney.
Therefore, when she was released from jail last month, the judge made us do supervised visits. It was a horrid experience seeing Sidney with Cora. Something about the cold way she treated Cora left a bad taste in my mouth even after the visit finished.
On a positive note, after a whole bunch of digging, the benefactor that paid Sidney to leave Gabe and lie about the baby was none other than Gabe’s very own stepfather, Dorian. The day Gabe found out, he hopped a plane to Michigan to speak with his stepfather face to face.
Dorian never confirmed or denied, but Gabe left that day with peace in his heart. He made a deal with his stepfather. Gabe wouldn’t pursue the case if Dorian allowed Gabriel to move his mother to her rightful resting place next to his father. He agreed, and Gabe had it done before he left. We had plans to visit Michigan later on in the year.
Gabe and Cora just crossed the threshold of the living room when the monitor by our door pinged. Every house had this installed. When the new addition was completed, they put in a new security system. When someone pulled up at the front gate, the alarm would tell us that someone was there. The camera that was monitoring that part of the compound would shoot a signal to our panel and we could see who was there; we could choose to open it automatically, or refuse entrance.
On the monitor, we watched as James went to the gate to speak with the woman waiting at the entrance. His slow gate filled the screen, and then his voice asked politely, “Can I help you?”
The woman eyed him, and then nodded in confirmation and handed him a pack of papers. “James Allen. You’ve been served.”
Ω
Watching six grown men bounce on trampolines had to be the highlight of my life.
Okay, well maybe the birth of my child came before that, but not by much.
Their muscles contracted and bunched with each bounce on the trampoline. Swear to god, I was tempted to use Luca's bib to wipe my drool.
"This is one hell of a birthday for a two year old." Blaine said from beside me.
Her eyes were glued to the eye candy as well. Cheyenne stood at my other side, watching silently.
“Gabe got a little carried away. He wanted her to have the moon, and he settled for Air U after I explained that she would find no enjoyment out of the party he had planned.” I explained.
“Sounds like Gabe. I’m surprised James is in such a good mood. I thought for sure he would be pissed off the rest of the day.” Cheyenne observed.
I completely agreed. “You and me both, sister.”
“Did he say what exactly it was?” I asked.
“No, he’s being very quiet about it. I assume it has to be about Janie and Janie’s mother.” Cheyenne said.
I completely agreed. Janie’s mother was a right bitch. I hope that she never has to experience the horridness that is that woman.
The rest of the party went off without a hitch. By the end of the day though, I was ready to get the hell out of there. There is only so much screaming one can take, and in an enclosed gym with six million kids running around, I was lucky to escape with my sanity.
Max helped me load the gifts into the car while Gabe stayed with Cora who had finally given up the ghost and fallen asleep on his chest. Luca was asleep in his car seat, and I silently wished they would go to sleep early tonight to give me a little alone time with Gabe.