Part 266
"Are you sure Julie's going to have room for all this stuff?" Kevin was unloading the last box from the pickup truck that Billy had rented for them.
"I guess so, it was her idea."
Nick's face was set in a perpetual frown this afternoon and Kevin couldn’t help but feel bad for him. "You okay?"
"Okay? In less than twenty-four hours I have to walk away from my wife and newborn son. No, Kev, I'm NOT okay."
"I'm sorry, Nick."
Nick stopped and turned to face Kevin. "No, man, don't be. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I just think I've used up all my 'happy' trying to keep Becca's spirits up today."
"I take it she's not handling it."
"No, she IS, and that's what worries me. I know her, Kev. She's trying to keep me from feeling bad so she's making this major effort to hide what she's feeling and it's all gonna fall apart after I leave and I won't be here to catch her."
"Nick-"
"Hey you guys!" Julie came bouncing down the steps, waving.
"Jules! Whassup?" Nick pasted on a smile as he turned to find himself wrapped in a hug.
"I've been waiting for you guys. Did you bring everything?"
"Everything?" Kevin asked raising his eyebrows. "No. There's still a bus full of stuff parked at the hotel. I think I managed to convince him that the toys and books could wait a month or two."
"Toronto has stores. If we need something we'll just go shopping," she shrugged.
"Shopping?" Nick shuddered dramatically, remembering some of Becca's previous shopping trips with Sarah. "Bec's too sick to go out," he reasoned brightly.
Julie laughed. "Lucky for you, huh? No, I meant Lynne or I could go."
"Speaking of Lynne," Kevin asked.
"I told her I'd call her when you got here."
"I expected her to be waiting in the street from what you told me," Nick grinned.
"Oh. Well, ummm ... She kinda doesn't know you're coming."
"What do you mean 'doesn't know'?" Nick asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I mean I didn't tell her who was staying with me. Just that a friend who was in town had delivered unexpectedly and I needed her help for a few days." Julie blushed.
"She has no clue about Becca? Or me or Kev?" Nick smirked.
"She's about to find out." Julie looked past Nick as Lynne made her way across the front lawn to greet Julie's guests.
"Showtime," Kevin smiled, picking up a small box and preparing to greet Lynne.
"Hey guys, what can I do?" Lynne asked cheerfully.
"Carry this?" Kevin said turning and handing her the box of baby things.
It was priceless and fortunately Nick had handed the camera to Julie so he could be part of it. Lynne stood frozen in place, a mixture of shock and what appeared to be horror on her face.
"Hi, you must be Lynne, I'm Nick." Nick took the box from her before she could drop it and flashed his most brilliant smile.
"Yes …" she said, stumbling over the single syllable. "And you're-" she looked up in to Kevin's emerald eyes.
"Kevin. Nice to meet you, Lynne." He smiled down at her wrinkling his nose and it was all Julie could do not to wet her pants as she held in her laughter.
"Tall," Lynne whispered. "I was going to say 'tall'."
"Nah, I'm taller than he is now," Nick teased.
"You wish, Kaos," Kevin retorted. "I'm still older and I can whip your butt."
"You're too old to catch me, gramps," Nick laughed.
Julie was hysterical by now. "Yo! Time out you two!"
"What?" they both answered, stopping their horseplay to look at her.
"We have work to do so that you can actually spend some time with your wife, Nick."
"Wife?" Lynne asked in confusion. "You mean –"
"I really appreciate you helping us out, Lynne. When they said Becca couldn't travel yet, I wasn't sure what to do."
"Julie graciously volunteered your services for the next week." Kevin said.
Lynne must have realized that she looked like a goldfish out of water, so she snapped out of her daze and set to work helping them move things into Julie's spare bedroom. As they worked, Julie explained what had happened with Becca and how Becca and Sarah were actually on the email list with them.
"You mean Becky-"
"Is really Becca, Nick's wife."
"Oh my god," she said, turning bright red remembering some of the things she'd posted to the list in the past six months. "Does she ever share her mail with you?"
"Not directly," Nick said.
"But Howie and Sarah like to read the fan fiction out loud at small gatherings," Kevin added with a twinkle in his eye.
Lynne swallowed nervously, suddenly grateful that her screen name had nothing to do with her real name. Looking at Julie she said quietly, "I will kill you for this."
After everything was inside and organized, they all gathered in the living room to get better acquainted. Nick explained more of what had happened with Becca's delivery as Lynne made notes of things to ask Dr. Anthony. She also made sure that Nick had her credentials to take back to the doctor.
"I really need to get back home. What time will you be here tomorrow?"
"Probably pretty early. We have a show in Ottawa tomorrow night and I want to get Bec and Garrett settled here before we go."
Lynne laid a hand on his arm. "Nick, she's going to be fine. We'll take really good care of her for you."
"I know you will," he said quietly and the girls could see how torn up he was over leaving. "Oh, I almost forgot. Kev, where are those disks?"
Kevin reached into his back pocket and pulled out three floppy disks with the pictures that Howie had taken in the hospital. "These are the ones you can post to the list while we're gone."
"You mean she's going to tell everyone who she is?" Lynne was astounded.
"We talked it over," Nick said, "and I think it will be good for her to have some real friends."
"I still can't believe this," Lynne laughed.
"How do you think I felt yesterday when I made a phone call and Nick answered?" Julie said.
"You all are really cool about this," Kevin agreed. "It means a lot to us as a family that Nick and Becca have someone here to help out. We're really grateful for what you're doing."
"Okay," Julie interrupted. "Picture time!" The four posed for as many combinations of pictures as possible before finally enlisting Eddie's help in taking some group pictures to mail to the list. It was settled that Julie would make all the necessary explanations before Becca's arrival and then once she was settled in they would set up a group chat. "Nick, you'll have Sarah's laptop on the road, won't you?"
"Sure, I guess so Julie, why?"
"Instant message, silly. You can chat with Becca every night till you come back."
Nick grinned. "Great idea, Julie. Thanks!"
"Look, I hate to break this up, but we have to get going." Kevin moved toward the door, and turned around to say goodbye. "Lynne, Julie, thanks again. We'll see you tonight."
"Tonight?" Lynne asked.
"Tickets, baby, front row!" Julie laughed.
It was all Lynne could do not to squeal. "Ohmygod…" she breathed. "Thank you SO much!"
"The least we could do," Nick said and hugged her tightly. "Just take care of my babies, okay?" he whispered hoarsely.
"I will," Lynne promised, watching his back as he hastily walked to the truck, wiping his eyes.
"This isn't going to be easy for either of them, " Kevin said. "Call me if you need me." He pressed his cell number into Lynne's hand before hugging her and Julie goodbye. "See you tonight!" He waved as he strode down the walkway to join Nick.
Lynne watched him go, her gaze fixed on the vehicle as it drove away.
"Lynne?" Julie asked. "LYNNE?"
"Oh. My. God."
"Come on girlfriend, I'll tell you all about MY day yesterday." Giggling like teenagers, they walked arm in arm back into the house in search of the pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream that Julie had hidden two nights ago before all this insanity began.