The Journey Home

Maddie slapped me and pushed me away, then turned Lily’s highchair back around.

“That’s right, baby girl,” she said, pointing to the window. Maddie had put birdfeeders all around our house. “That is a bird! Good girl. Say ‘bird.’”

Lily smiled her big, adorable smile and flailed her arms. “Birda!”

I sat next to Lily. “Bird. Say ‘bird’ for Daddy.” Lily’s hair was starting to get lighter and curlier, but her blue eyes seemed to be fading to a blue-green. When Lily’s eyes met mine, something happened. It was as if she was looking into my soul. No one other than Maddie would ever make me feel the way Lily does.

She giggled and then said, “Dada…bird.”

MADDIE CARRIED LILY as we walked up to the table where Jack and Monica were sitting. “Hey guys!” Jack said as he pulled out the highchair for Lily. Of course the big fabric thing had to go in first, but not until Monica wiped it down with antibacterial wipes.

Once Lily was settled with a bunch of Cheerios, Maddie and I sat down. We both looked at Jack and Monica. They just stared back at us, smiling.

“Well?” I asked.

Monica shrugged. “Well, what?”

Maddie sighed in frustration. “Don’t play games. Boy or girl?”

Jack took a deep breath and said, “Both.”

I stared at him. “Huh? What, do you have a mutant growing in ya?”

Maddie giggled, then said, “No.”

Monica smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

Maddie and Monica both jumped up and squealed as they jumped up and down. Lily got in on the action and tossed a handful of Cheerios in the air. I looked around at everyone, but couldn’t figure out what in the hell was going on.

I looked at Jack, confused, as he laughed.

“Twins, dude. We’re having twins.”

I stood and reached across the table to grab my best friend.

“Congratulations, Jack. I’m so damn happy for you.”

He pulled back and blinked his tears away. “It’s a miracle.” He shook his head. “It’s a double miracle.”

WHEN MARY AND Monica walked into L’Fay Bridal, I stood outside the door feeling panicky. I couldn’t believe I’d let them talk me into flying to New York City for a damn wedding dress. The Berta dress I’d found in a magazine was perfect, and Monica had made it her goal to get me that dress. I would have married Cale in a paper sack, to be honest. This whole show of buying a dress was just not me.

I pushed the doors open and walked into the ultra-modern boutique. The wood floors and white furniture made me want to take off my shoes and not touch a thing.

By the time they pulled the dress down and ushered me into the changing room, I was in a full-out panic attack. I hate doing this kind of thing.

“Deep breaths, Maddie. It’s not that big of a deal.”

My best friend was smiling as she rested her hands on her six-months-swollen belly. I shook my head.

“Monica. We’ve flown to New York City to look for a stupid dress I saw in a magazine. Do you know how much I could have saved by just buying something local?”

Monica shrugged and pushed me into the changing room. “Stop being such a whiney bitch and try the damn dress on.”

I forcefully pulled the curtains shut and turned to look at the breath-taking lace dress hanging before me. Stripping out of my clothes, I slipped on the dress. I looked at myself and gasped. I looked beautiful. Really, the dress looked beautiful. It fit me like it had been made for me. I turned slightly to see the sexy, low back. “Oh my,” I whispered.

It barely covered anything—if it went down another inch, you’d see ass cleavage. The train hung low, adding just the right touch. The dress was romantic, sexy, and still classic looking. I pushed the curtain open. Monica and Mary both sat on a white bench talking to Suzie, the bridal consultant who was helping us. She was a tiny little thing. I bet she wasn’t even five feet tall. Her dark, bouncy curls and dark-framed glasses matched her spunky personality. The three of them all looked up and stopped talking.

Suzie smiled and adjusted her glasses. “That is the dress, Maddison. The way it fits your body is perfect.” She turned to Monica and Mary. “Ladies, don’t you agree? This dress was meant for her.”

Mary wiped a tear away. Monica grinned from ear to ear and cleared her throat. I knew she was choked up.

“You look beautiful, Maddie.” Monica said. “Just beautiful.”

I looked down at the dress and I chewed on my lip. I peeked back up and asked, “Yeah? You think so? Do you think Cale will like it?”

I picked up the train and turned around slowly. When they saw the back, Mary and Monica both gasped. My nerves were finally settling. It appeared I’d found my dress.

“Holy shit. I can practically see your ass! Cale is gonna faint.” Monica said, fanning herself.

Mary giggled and said, “If you aren’t already pregnant, you will be by the end of your wedding night.”

I felt a blush moving across my cheeks as I looked down at Suzie. She winked and said, “It’s perfect.”

I nodded and said, “I’ll take it.”

Monica skipped and did a little fist pump. “Yes! Now let’s go have lunch. I’m starving, and these babies must be having a rolling over contest in here.”

We spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the details of the wedding. It was going to be small, very small. Only family and close friends. Craig and Diane, Jack’s parents, had done an amazing job having an arch built for the beach.

I’d turned fifty shades of red when Cale said he wanted the arch to placed in specific location on the beach. My heart soared when he pulled me to him and whispered in my ear, “This is the exact location I first claimed you as mine.” It took everything out of me not to beg him to take me again, right there on the spot.

“Is everything ready for Lily’s party?” Mary asked.

I took a sip of tea and nodded. “Yep. I ordered the cake months ago. All the decorations are set and ready. Did Mitchel order the bouncy house?”

Mary rolled her eyes. Cale’s father, Mitchel, had insisted on a bouncy house. Lily wouldn’t be able to go in it without one of us with her, so I figured Mitchel secretly was using Lily’s birthday as an excuse to get one.

“Yes, the damn thing was ordered weeks ago.” Mary said, sighing.

Monica and I giggled, but Mary said, “Don’t laugh, your father got all excited about it, too.”

I almost choked on my tea as I busted out laughing. “Did you know Daddy has been dating?”

Mary waved me off like what I’d just said was old news. “Please, I set them up.”

I gasped as Monica leaned in closer and said, “Do tell, Mary. Do tell.”

She wrinkled her nose and said, “Well, I had a friend who just moved here from LA. She went through a terrible divorce a year ago. Her ex was starting to call and show up at her house, so she decided she needed some time away from California. She used to be a teacher, years ago, so I talked her into applying at the university. She got hired and she is loving it. She’s also loves dating your father.” She wiggled her eyebrows.

Who is this person sitting before me? The older Lily got, the more relaxed Cale’s parents became. They’d even bought tickets for a train ride across Canada to celebrate their anniversary.

I rolled my eyes and looked away. “Gross.”

My mother popped into my head and I was momentarily saddened by her not being with us. I pulled out my phone and went to send her a text message. She hadn’t responded yet to the wedding invitation. Daddy hadn’t wanted me to invite her, but I just couldn’t do that. I didn’t invite her to Lily’s birthday party, though.

I looked closer at my phone.

Mrs. Jones: Please contact me as soon as possible.

I had a text from Zoey’s mother. My heart pounded and I instantly felt sick. Why was she texting me? Why did she want me to contact her?

“Maddison? Honey, is everything okay?” Mary asked as she r

eached for my hand.

I felt tears building in my eyes as I looked up at her. “It’s Zoey’s mother. She wants me to call her.”

Mary’s face dropped. She reached for my phone. “What? Let me see that.” She read the text, then took a screen shot of it and sent it to someone before picking up her own phone and making a call.

“Mitchel? I just sent you a screen a shot of a text that was sent to Maddison’s phone. Okay, good. Call Jonathon and have him get on it. Yes. I know.”

Monica looked just as confused as I was. I couldn’t help but wonder why Mary was having Mitchel call their lawyer?

Mary handed my phone back to me as she continued to talk to Mitchel.

“What’s going on, Maddie?” Monica asked.

I shook my head and whispered, “I don’t know.”