“It’s about Ella,” Noah said, sitting across from Roni with little Jack. “She’s the Disney fanatic.”
“It’s not so much that she’s a Disney fanatic,” Roni explained. “It’s their thing.” She turned away from their little one, who was giving her a hard time, and looked at Noah. “I’m gonna need a high chair for Noah.”
“No!” Little Noah looked up at his mom with those big puppy dog eyes.
“Okay then,” Roni smiled, leaning over and kissing him on the forehead. “You be good and sit still on the chair like a big boy.”
Little Noah settled down especially after Noah gave him the look. Hector chuckled until Charlee started talking.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” she said. “I mean talk about romantic. That wedding . . . my God.”
“Our wedding was romantic,” Hector said, turning to her.
“It was, baby,” she said, slipping her hand in his, “but I just mean the whole Disney theme, especially because that’s where he first told her he loved her and then took her back and proposed at the very spot. Then flying everyone out to Disney World for a big princess Disney wedding. The horse and carriage she arrived in . . .” She sighed. “It was just very special especially after everything they’d gone through.”
This was true. But Hector still thought their wedding had been the bomb. Charlee had fallen in love with France after a chess tournament she’d flown out there for. So Hector had suggested a French-themed wedding, and all the girls had run with it. He’d spared no expense then surprised her with a month-long honeymoon in France.
But he guessed a Disney princess wedding might be dreamier. “Daddy look!” Hector glanced down at little Hector’s plate. “All gone!”
“Damn!” Hector said then felt Charlee nudged him. “I mean wow. You want more?”
His son nodded, holding up his plate for Charlee to see too. “Very good,” she said, smiling big. “We’ll get you more.”
“I got it,” Hector’s mom said just as Charlee began to get up. “You stay with the baby.”
His mom and little Hector walked off to the massive and extravagant buffet. His son turned to look at Hector as he held his grandma’s hand. Hector gave him a thumbs-up, smiling proudly, and his boy quickly lifted his thumb in the air too.
Hector was still staring at his boy and his bright blue eyes. He remembered all through both Charlee’s pregnancies everyone kept wondering if his kids would inherit her hair. Hector had already looked it up; the chances of that happening were slim to none. Charlee had let him in on something she told him not to tell anyone because everyone was a little too excited about the possibility. She was really hoping none of her kids did. She’d always hated her red hair, even though Hector called her crazy for that.
“Now as an adult I can appreciate it, and I actually like the uniqueness of it,” she’d explained. “But while I was growing up, it made my life miserable.”
Hector didn’t care either way, but he had been relieved for her sake when, as expected, both were born with his dark brown hair. The surprise and consolation to those who’d been hoping for a redheaded Ayala were little Hector’s bright blue eyes. The new baby’s eyes were almost black like his, and Charlee said she loved that. She said already, at only a few months old, they were big, dark, and intense like his daddy’s.
Charlee leaned into him. “Since the baby’s asleep and your mom’s here now,” she murmured in that way that already had Hector squeezing his legs together, “how about we say we forgot something in the room and go back and get it?”
This was their last day at Disney World. The entire time they’d been there that week they’d only been able to sneak in a few quick ones in their room. With the kids in the same room, it’d been nearly impossible, but, of course, they’d done their best and managed a couple of times. Still they’d been real quick. Hector could go for something a little longer, and he knew with everyone here still waiting on Felix, the kids would be fine for a little while.
As soon as his mom and little Hector were back with a couple of loaded plates, Hector was on his feet. “Ma, Charlee wants to change her shoes. She thinks these are gonna bug her, and we have a long day of walking. The baby’s asleep. You think you’ll be okay with them for a few?”
His mom immediately nodded, waving him off, and Nellie assured them they’d all help his mom with the kids. Abel gave him a look so Hector turned away, quickly pulling Charlee behind him. “Aren’t those running shoes she’s wearing?” Abel asked.
Hector smirked, feeling Charlee squeeze his hand. “Oh my God,” she gasped under her breath as they heard a few chuckles. “You should’ve said something else. How embarrassing. They probably all know we’re full of it.”
“Nah, don’t worry about it,” Hector chuckled, looking back at Abel, who was now sitting down feeding his baby in the high chair. “They’re all probably just pissed they didn’t think of this first.”
The second they were alone in the elevator on their way up to the room, Hector pinned his beautiful wife against the wall and devoured her mouth. Damn, she tasted good. Sex during her pregnancy was good, but Hector couldn’t help feeling like he might hurt her the last few months. Once the baby came, forget about it. Even his freaky wife was too exhausted or dealing with the kids for anything longer than a quickie. But she’d finally started coming around in the past few weeks, and clearly she was back to her old self now.
The elevator opened and they rushed out. When they got to their room door, Hector fumbled with the key because his equally aroused wife was all over him. He gave up on the door for a second, giving in instead to Charlee’s kisses until she wrapped her hand around him over his pants. “Oh shit.” He chuckled then turned back to the door in a hurry to get it open.
They practically fell through it as soon as he was able to get it open. The moment they closed the door they were all over each other. Charlee immediately undid his pants button and pulled down his zipper. In the next second, she was down on her knees. Hector’s legs nearly gave out as he felt her lips, mouth, and tongue take him in completely. He let his head fall back against the wall with a groan, bringing his hand down to caress her beautiful red locks. “God, I love my freaky wife!”
~*~
Noah
It’d been a slight disappointment when they found out they were having yet another boy but only for a fleeting moment. So far they’d been blessed with two easy, non-eventful pregnancies, which produced two healthy boys. This third one was looking to play out the same way, and they were already excited about it.
All the moms of 5th Street so far were grateful to have the gym where the boys could blow off some energy. Roni loved her boys, of course, but she admitted their constant wrestling and restlessness wore her out. And now they’d have three.
“Well, I’ll stay fit, that’s for sure” had been her reaction when they’d been told they had a third boy coming. But they were done. At least that was what Roni was saying. Secretly—Noah dared not say it now that Roni was dealing with swollen feet and an active baby who enjoyed kicking her in the ribs—Noah wouldn’t mind trying for a girl one last time.
Noah was helping Jack spread the jelly on his toast, half listening to Roni and Bianca’s conversation. They’d been talking about their pregnancies as usual. But he’d been glad to hear they’d gone off on a different topic. Roni said Bianca was so paranoid about her pregnancy sometimes Roni would inadvertently say something that might worry her for no good reason.
Gio had already told Noah that Bianca wouldn’t be going back to teaching at the school once the baby was born. She’d take a few months off then devote herself completely to the program at 5th Street.
“Oh my God, I keep meaning to ask you something. The last school board meeting I went to . . .” Bianca began just as Jack threw a tater tot at Reina.
“Hey!” Noah said, stopping his hand before he picked up another one.
Jack smirked. “She threw one first.”
Reina was just ge
tting off her chair now and pushed it back in, looking at Noah. “No, I didn’t,” she said very sweetly.
Noah began to look back at Jack, who was ready to protest adamantly. “Maybe it was one of the boys,” Noah offered. “Either way you don’t—”
“Trust me,” Nellie said, lifting her brow. “She probably did. Sorry about that, Jack.”
Jack started off his chair too. “Where you going?” Noah asked.
“To get dessert,” he said, not even looking back as he rushed after Reina, who was already on her way to the buffet too.
Noah watched, hoping he wouldn’t do anything rude like push her or start some kind of food fight by the buffet when Roni and Bianca’s conversation got his attention.
“You and Kratz, really?” Bianca gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God! I wondered why he kept asking so much about you, but he just said you two went way back. He didn’t specify. Wow, that’s crazy.”
Roni nodded, smiling as she handed little Noah his juice. “That seems like a lifetime ago,” she said. “I didn’t know he was a principal now.”
“He just took the promotion I wanna say a year ago,” Bianca said, pushing her plate away from her. “Oh that was good,” she said, patting her belly, and then continued. “It was just so weird because I’d never actually met him since we didn’t work in the same school, but I’d seen him at a few of the school board meetings. I’d heard what a hard-ass he was, so I never bothered to introduce myself because he looks so mean, right?” Bianca laughed. “That’s why I was so surprised how smiley he was when we spoke of you.”
Noah peered at Roni, who was still busy helping little Noah with his breakfast. “Wait,” she said, looking back at Bianca for a second before bringing her attention back to little Noah. “That’s right. I did know he was a principal now.”
Really?
As far as Noah knew, it’d been years since she’d spoken to the guy. Bianca didn’t say much more beyond that about Kratz before going back to their baby talk and names they were considering. It wasn’t until the boys were done and off and running to the playground area of the restaurant that Noah got a moment alone with Roni.
“So Kratz is still asking about you?” he asked, staring at her as he sat down next to her and pulled her chair closer to him. She seemed surprised. “Yeah, I heard,” he continued. “How’d you know he’d been promoted if that happened just last year?”
Roni stared at him for a moment then smiled, pulling a spiraled strand of hair behind her ear and glanced away. “I have lunch with him every few weeks.”
She laughed when Noah squeezed her hand tightly. “Ow!” she said, exaggerating.
He hadn’t squeezed it that tightly, but he kissed her hand anyway.
“How’d you know?” he asked again.
“I heard through the grapevine.”
Roni stretched to look for the boys and then relaxed when she had them both in sight. Noah knew he had nothing to worry about, but it still irritated him a little especially since the asshole was still asking about her after all this time. Apparently it made his hard ass smile all weirdly too.
“Why would anyone think you still wanna know anything about him?”
Roni turned to him, her expression a bit surprised again. Then she laughed and kissed him. “No one thinks I still wanna know anything about him, honey.”
He stared at her still-smiling lips then looked up at her eyes again. “So why’d they tell you?”
She took a deep breath, when she realized he wasn’t going to let it go. For a moment, she appeared to be trying to remember. “Oh, yeah, it wasn’t even a friend actually. Last year at one of Noah’s doctor’s visits for his vaccinations one of the ladies in the waiting room was telling me about her older son being in trouble at school. She said the principal was a real asshole and had it in for her son.” Roni laughed, shaking her head. “When she said Kratz, I nearly spit out my coffee, but I didn’t even mention I knew him.”
His beautiful wife touched his face and smiled then brought his hand down to her belly. The baby was kicking again. “You see”—Noah grinned wickedly—“even he got worked up.”
She laughed again. “For no reason at all.”
“Oh, you don’t know the half of it.” He smirked half playing half serious. “I was getting ready to go ask Bianca what the hell else this guy wanted to know about you.”
Roni’s smile flattened as if he might be serious when their conversation was interrupted by loud squealing from the play area. Reina was running away from Jack as he ran after her with one of the many foam balls from the playground. He looked ready to beam her with it from behind.
“Jack, no!” Noah called out, standing up.
Jack turned to him suddenly, his big smiling expression falling. “But she threw one at me first!”
Noah shook his head again, reiterating that Jack shouldn’t throw that ball. This was going to take some doing, but he’d teach his son one way or another. It doesn’t work that way with girls.
~*~
Abel
“I never used the word bad,” Nellie was saying under her breath. “All I said was your little angel is not always as sweet and innocent as you think. You can even ask your mom. She’s seen it and she’ll tell you.”
“Nope,” Abel said, staring out at his daughter, who played happily in the play area.
Nellie laughed. “Well, I can see you’re gonna be reasonable.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Wow, just wait until she’s a teen. You’re in for a rude awakening.”
Abel smirked but didn’t respond to that. Nellie and his mother could make all the outlandish insinuations they wanted about his Reina. She was as sweet and as beautiful as her mother. So she was a kid and liked clowning around and throwing things. What kid didn’t? He watched as Noah, who’d been on his knees saying something to Jack, got up and watched Jack walk away. Noah wore that same enamored and proud expression Abel knew he wore anytime he watched his own kids running around.
He had so much to be grateful for. There were times when he’d start to feel bad for Felix. The shit he’d gone through with the loss of his kid and then the hell he went through with Ella getting sick were rough. But Abel had to remind himself of something Felix was always quick to point out. He had his Ella back and that’s all that mattered. Abel knew damn well the feeling of thinking you might lose the love of your life. So he understood completely. It seemed having nearly lost her made Felix appreciate everything he had that much more rather than complain about what he didn’t have and probably never would—kids.
It just seemed like such a damn shame, being they were such Disney fanatics, that they’d never get a chance to take their own kids to the happiest place on earth. Since it wasn’t in Abel to get into any one’s personal business, he didn’t even know if it was because they couldn’t or they didn’t want to. All Abel knew was whenever anyone else brought it up Felix was quick to can the subject.
Abel rarely asked such personal questions, but he could ask Nellie anything without worrying about her telling anyone. He leaned into her. “Do you know if Felix and Ella can’t have kids or are they just afraid to?”
Nellie shook her head. “I don’t know if she’s ever been told she can’t,” Nellie whispered. “All I know is she’s terrified of passing on her high-risk genetics to her children.” Nellie winced. “I can’t say I blame her after all they’ve been through.” She lowered her voice even more. “It’s why Gio and Bianca weren’t going to have any more. But then”—she tilted her head smiling and shrugged—“everything happens for a reason, right?”
Reina’s loud squealing interrupted their thoughts as they both turned to see her running up the ladder of the big play set, wearing Jack’s ball cap. Jack nearly caught up to her, and she screamed even louder as she made it onto the slide just in time.
“The way she riles that boy, I think she has a crush,” Abel’s mom said, walking up to them, holding their baby in her arms.
Abel tur
ned to his mother with what he knew was more than a disgusted expression. It was exactly how he felt. “Who has a crush?”
Nellie laughed. “I think we both know who she’s talking about, and, I dunno . . . I’d have to say it’s classic behavior.”
“She’s in kindergarten,” he reminded these two crazy women.
He saw his mother and Nellie exchange glances. “I think it’s cute,” Nellie declared, taking a sip of her fancy coffee. “I had my first crush in kindergarten.”
“Is that right?” Abel asked in a demanding voice. Then it dawned on him how ridiculous it was to get wound up about that. This whole conversation was ridiculous.
“Uh oh,” Nellie said, and Abel annoyingly followed her gaze.
Little Abel was walking toward them, squeezing his crotch area shamelessly. Nellie looked up at Abel. “Do you wanna take him?”
Abel nodded, still feeling his feathers all ruffled, and held out his hand to his son. “Gotta go?” The question only made his son hold on to his crotch area tighter, but he nodded. “Let’s go then. Hurry.”
He needed to get away for a few minutes anyway. Reina was still squealing, and he had a feeling his mom and Nellie weren’t done with their crush talk. As if his baby girl even knew what that meant!
“Honey, can you please talk to him again about not waiting until the last second so he has to walk around doing that? It’s embarrassing.”
A few minutes later, Abel stood in the men’s room blow drying his kid’s pants because he didn’t quite make it to the urinal. As he did that, he tried explaining to his boy about not waiting until it was too late. The water in the sink had been running just behind Abel, but he hadn’t thought much of it until he turned around to see his son’s shirt half soaked from him trying to wash his hands. “Dude! I just dried these.” He held up the short little pants.
Nellie was going to flip if he saw him like this. “C’mere,” he said, kneeling down to help him get his pants on, then pulled off his shirt. “Don’t turn on the water.”
He tried to give him that raised brow warning look but had to laugh. This was what it’d come down to.