Just a Positive Pregnancy Test - London Casey Page 0,61
“Trust me. This goes back generations.”
I shook my head. “I’m not used to all of this family stuff, you know?”
“So you don’t know a thing about your family?” Tyler asked.
“Tyler,” Theresa snapped.
“What? It’s a question.”
“It’s a good question,” I said. “I don’t know much about my family. My father left when I was younger. My mother got involved with a guy who was… well, he was an abusive piece of shit. She couldn’t get away from him. That’s what drove me toward music. My guitar and my voice were the only chance I had to escape. So I did.”
“Oh, Silas,” Theresa said. “I can’t even imagine.”
“Yeah,” Tyler said. “We’re so close here. I mean, it’s almost a fantasy to think of having peace and quiet for a minute.”
“Oh, shut up,” Theresa said.
“Hey, Ma, how about something to drink?” Tyler asked.
Theresa pointed at him. “You can get it yourself.” Then she looked at me. “Silas, what can I get you to drink?”
Tyler stood up. “That’s just great. You favor the new guy, huh? Thanks, Ma.”
“Someone jealous?” I asked.
Tyler curled his lip. “We were just getting along so nice. Do I have to hit you, Silas?”
“You can try,” I said.
Theresa slapped a towel to the counter.
We both looked at her.
“No fighting today,” she said. “I’m not in the mood.”
“He started it,” I said, nodding to Tyler.
“Silas… I swear…”
“That’s it, I’ll handle this again,” Zeke announced.
Tyler and I watched him struggle to stand.
When he did, he held up one finger and began to stretch his legs.
Tyler and I laughed.
When Mila showed up, I thought she looked bigger. In a good way. In a beautiful way. I knew better than to tell her that. I’d keep that to myself and lock it away in my mind. I’d cherish the memory of her being pregnant for the rest of my life.
Whether we stopped after one kid or ended up with ten kids, seeing Mila walking toward me, smiling, her right hand on her belly, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life.
I kissed her and placed my hand on her hand. “How was the ranch?”
“Oh, you can’t imagine it,” she said. “Edith and Thomas showed up. Arguing. Then Cliff tried to ease the tension but Thomas thought he was flirting with Edith. Thomas started punching the air. Crosby had to get between them all.”
“Are you serious?” I asked. “You didn’t grab your phone and record it?”
“No, I didn’t record it,’ Mila said, shaking her head.
“Edith is dead set on riding a horse,” Theresa said. “And Thomas is taking his stand. I want nothing to do with it.”
“It was pretty tense,” Mila said. “Thomas really wanted to take a swing at Cliff. Poor Cliff. All he wanted to do was help. He was trying to talk to Edith about the horses and take her to see them. Thomas lost it.”
“Looks like all the fun is happening at the ranch,” Tyler said.
“You park your ass right here,” Theresa said. “Let them figure it out on their own.”
“Crosby is right in the middle of it,” Mila said.
“Good,” Tyler said. “He’s been quiet lately. Distant too.”
“His phone was going off like crazy while I was there,” Mila said.
“No more talking about Crosby,” Theresa said.
“She’s sticking up for her baby boy,” Mila said.
“Her favorite son,” Tyler said.
“I don’t have a favorite,” Theresa said.
She walked away, annoyed.
Mila and Tyler bumped fists and smiled.
“Sorry about that,” Mila then whispered to me.
“No. I love it.”
“You love it?”
“Yeah. The family stuff. The small town stuff.”
“Are you sure about that?”
I touched Mila’s face. “As long as I get to have you, I’m good.”
“You’re so sweet, Silas,” Mila said.
Tyler made a throwing up noise and pushed from the counter.
Of course, a few seconds later when Olivia came from the kitchen, Tyler ran to her, kissed her and touched her belly.
Mila made the same throwing up noise back at him.
“Why are we all sick?” Olivia asked.
“Family,” I said with a wink.
“Oh, right,” Olivia said. “Family.” She looked at Tyler. “Lucy should be here any minute. Anna took her for a little bit. I needed a breather.”
“That’s good,” Tyler said.
“How’s the house?” Olivia asked.
“Yes, how is the house?” Mila asked.
“It’s getting there,” I said. I nodded at Tyler. “All the boring stuff is getting done now. Then comes the spending even more of my money part.”
“That’s going to be my favorite part,” Mila said.
“Speaking of that,” Tyler said. “We need to talk, Mila. About windows and a few other things.”