“Where’s my Eve?” His eyes search the crowd as Eve comes over holding a wiggling Nicole. Edge walks over with a rosy-cheeked, giggling James Dean who leaps into Blade’s arms.
“Happy birthday to Zack.” Everyone bursts into cheers. David and Charlie bring Zack up on the porch with us. His sweet face is covered in chocolate, his dark hair the color of Charlie’s.
I stand up, my panic attack on hold as I reach for Edge’s hand.
My mom waves at me as she happily talks and smokes not far from my dad. He sits with some old-timers laughing, drinking. When I look at them, my eyes fill with tears. Neither is perfect—far from it—but then, neither am I.
Will I raise my children differently? Yes. But my parents are here and that’s more than a lot of people have.
Unfortunately, Doug is in Santa Barbara meeting Rob’s parents. Which sucks but it’s a kids’ birthday party. He likely wouldn’t have come anyway.
“Edge has some news.” I freeze. I’ve been daydreaming throughout everything Blade has said until I heard Edge.
“Wait. What’s happening?” I look at Eve who is smiling her perfect smile, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Edge smirks. “Dolly and I have an announcement…”
“Holy shit.”
My dad stands up, his hand shielding his eyes from the sun.
“We’re going to take a couple weeks and enjoy ourselves. Have a honeymoon.” Again, shouts and screams explode like fireworks on the Fourth of July. The ice cream truck pulls up and the kids are turned loose.
“Jesus.” I blow some hair out of my face. “Who cares if we go on a honeymoon? I thought you were going to tell everyone I was pregnant.”
He reaches for me, pulling me tight to his chest. My head falls back as I look at the most beautiful man on earth. “I’m crazy about you,” he growls.
“I know.” I smile and he turns, pulling me in front of him. “Oh yeah,” he calls out. “One more thing.” The music turns down. “Dolly’s pregnant.”
“Edge.” I smack his chest as everyone comes rushing forward. Eve and Blade step aside, I guess giving us our moment, which is absurd. We don’t need a moment.
“Baby Doll.” My dad pushes his way to the front. The ice cream truck’s annoying song, which makes kids lose their minds, keeps playing. But for the first time since I saw the bright pink two lines confirming I was pregnant, I don’t care.
“You telling me… this old man”—he points at himself—“and this old woman”—he grabs my mom who looks not a day over forty even with all the smoking and drinking and God knows what she’s participated in—“are going to be grandparents?” He slings his arm around her.
“Um… yes. I was going to tell you.” I stare at Edge with big eyes. “In private, but whatever.”
“My prayers are being answered.” My mom throws her arms around Edge and me, which is absurd because she’s not religious.
“Whoa… wait.” Axel comes over, frowning, his phone out. “When are you guys thinking about doing this?”
“This week. And we’re not thinking.” Edge pats my mom’s back and guides her back to my dad who is laughing and accepting all the congratulations.
He shakes his dark head. “No can do.” He pockets his phone as if it’s a done deal.
“What?” Edge pulls back and laughs. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Axel moves closer. “I guess it’s slipped your mind, but you’re supposed to be helping me while Derrick gets his knee surgery.” He lights up a cigarette and walks over to the table to grab a bottle of Jack.
“You’re kidding me. That’s what you’re no can doing about?” Edge throws back his head to laugh. “Sorry, man, but Dolly has told her clients she’s going to be gone. Doug is handling the salon. So… the time is now.”
Axel looks almost more horrified than when I shot him in the face with the water gun. Edge smirks. “I’ll help when I get back if Derrick is still laid up.”
He looks at us like we’re both crazy. “Are you kidding? I’ll have to be there every day. It’s a full-time job. This is serious. I need your help at the Pussycat.” He takes a swig and looks at both of us like that was supposed to sway us.
“Oh, Axel.” I smile and shake my head. “And you call me drama.”
“Dolly, not funny. Please have Edge postpone this trip until Derrick is—”
“No can do, brother,” Edge interrupts and laughs at himself. “I’m taking my wife on a honeymoon.”