Page 44 of Kierstie
“Let’s go get some grub.”
“Hell yeah. Anna’s lasagna isn’t to be missed. It’s a food group all on its own.” We both go and get in line behind the last of the brothers. After piling our plates high, we each grab a beer and find a seat at one of the tables. Grant’s across from me with Ben and Mike next to him. After a few minutes of stuffing our faces with the cheesiest, meatiest, sauciest lasagna you can imagine, Tripp asks a question.
“So, like I said, Ben’s filled me in on quite a lot, but one thing I was curious about was I know she didn’t give you his last name, but what did she give you for your middle name?”
“She said she named me just ’cause she liked the names together, but my middle name is Hunter.” As soon as I say that, I can see his eyebrows go up in surprise.
“That’s my middle name. She knew that too.” Erik’s sitting right behind us. He turns around and starts to speak.
“You know, I knew Gretta pretty well over the years. She had a lot of positive traits, and she had some ones that were on the self-destructive side. One of those was her stubborn streak. Once she made a decision, that was it. Even if later she realized she was wrong, there was no going back. Maybe she even knew soon after that Tom was the wrong choice, but she just couldn’t admit it to anyone, even herself. This was her way of giving you two a connection. We, of course, can’t ask her. You add to that the fact that her and Tom never actually got married speaks pretty loudly, don’t it?” His observation leaves us in thought for a few minutes before Juan gets all our attention by yelling out that Jane’s going into labor.
Jon, Rory, and Mike all follow him, hurrying out the door. We all look at Pa who’s still eating dinner. He finally notices all eyes are on him.
“Ma messaged me. She’s just starting labor. We’ve got time. I’m gonna finish this, have myself some dessert, and give my woman a call to see if it’s time to head to the hospital yet. These things are a marathon most of the time.” As everyone finishes eating, my phone pings with an incoming text.
It’s my woman asking me to get home so she can go to the hospital since she doesn’t want Grace back there with all the germs. I see the prospects and a few of the brothers are cleaning everything up. Pa finishes his coffee and looks over at Ry and Max.
“Sons, let’s go. It’s time to bring a couple more Westons into the world.” You heard the man. Let’s go welcome some more babies.
EPILOGUE
Shane
Five years later
“Gorgeous! You ready to go?” Kierstie comes out of our bathroom looking like the goddess she is in tight jeans and her leather jacket. Her boots are in her hand.
“I’m almost ready. Hold your horses.”
“I’m just excited for you to get on the back of my bike again, love. It seems like forever since we’ve been for a ride.” She gives me that look that says she’s not amused.
“It’s your fault I haven’t been riding in a long time. You keep knocking me up every chance you get. I still need to make an appointment for you to get snipped, Mister.”
Okay, so maybe we have three kids who are five and under, but if you saw how hot my wife is pregnant and how great a mom she is, you’d do the same thing. I bend down to kiss her as she sits up after putting her boots on.
“I told you I would if you’re really ready to be done havin’ kids, gorgeous. I’ll do it if you want me to.”
“I’ll let you know when I decide. Let’s get goin’ while we can.” We walk out to the garage, with the house being eerily silent.
“The house is too quiet without all the chaos.” I get on the bike and wait as Kierstie gets on behind me and adjusts.
“That chaos has a name since it’s your boy. He’s our own Tasmanian devil, and he’s only three and a half. I think he might just talk Tripp’s ear off tonight since he just learned that you and Tripp have his name as your middle name. Before you argue, there’s a reason both Grant and Tripp are watchin’ him tonight. He wears both of them out before his bedtime.”
“They both love it though. They’re gonna bring him back here for bedtime after their adventures. Ma’s got the baby and Tyson’s gonna bring Gracie home after the movies and their diner-dinner date. Grace told him just ’cause he’s got a girlfriend now, he can’t skip their dates.” She chuckles as our Grace isn’t one to let somethin’ like that slide.
“I’m just glad he’s gotten control of his life and has been able to be a part of her life for as long as she can remember. She did go up to his girl the other day when she met her and told her that we're knights and maidens in shining armor till someone hurts our family, then we release the wrath of Valhalla on those who dare to do us harm. I’m gonna kill Juan for teaching her that already. For fuck’s sake.”
Trying to stifle my chuckle, I remind her, “Our kids have more family and love than I ever imagined possible. We do too. I still thank the gods every day for you ordering that Dirty Shirley Temple that night.” She kisses my back as she holds on, ready to go.
“Me too. Now let’s ride.”
“As you wish, my love.”
THE END
