Part 333
Jane had just poured her first cup of coffee when a bright chipper voice sounded right behind her.
"What's for breakfast?"
Jane choked on her coffee, the hot black liquid spilling down the front of her imported silk kimono. "Fuck…" she mumbled.
"My mommy says that's a very bad word. I said it once, she washed out my mouth with soap."
"Who are you?" Jane asked, dabbing at herself with a napkin.
"Jessica Paige Dorough," she smiled. "Who are you?"
"I'm Jane. Jane Carter."
"Carter? That's my uncle Nicky's name. Are you his sister?"
Jane grinned, she was going to like this child. "No, I’m his mother."
"Uncle Nicky's mother? Jane? Oh! I know all ABOUT you! My mommy says you're-"
"Jesse! You're up early," Becca said sweetly, turning the precocious child and pressing her face into her tummy as she hugged her tightly. Fortunately, the rest of Jesse's pronouncement about Sarah's opinion of Jane was muffled by Becca's fuzzy green bathrobe.
"Becca! Good morning!" Jane gushed, reaching to embrace her daughter-in-law. "I'm sorry we weren't around to greet you when you arrived this morning."
"Don't be silly, Jane, it was still dark out. No sense getting everyone up that early, especially since Aaron had a show last night. I hope we didn't disturb him."
Jane laughed. "Are you serious? Waking either of my sons is like waking the dead. I’m sure you know that well enough by now."
"Very true," she laughed and stepped back from Jesse, suddenly realizing that Jesse was struggling to breathe.
"Aaron?" Jesse asked, her eyes wide. "Aaron's here?"
"You're a fan?" Jane smiled down at her.
"I have his poster in my room at home, and Uncle Nicky gave me his CD. Sometimes I listen to it on the bus."
"I'll bet your daddy likes that," Becca chuckled, rolling her eyes.
"He says he tol-… toler-… tolerates it 'cause he loves me."
"Kids," Jane smirked. "Gotta love them. Can I pour you some coffee?"
Becca groaned. "I'd love some, but I can't. All that caffeine would get passed to Garrett and then he'd be wired. Just some juice would be fine," she sighed.
Jane opened the fridge and reached for the pitcher of juice. "Where is my grandson, anyway? I’m being as patient as I can, but-"
"Well, if you'd turn around, you could take him off my hands for a while." Nick was leaning against the kitchen doorway, Garrett snuggled against his shoulder as he sucked on his tiny fist.
"Nick! Oh my god, Nick, he's beautiful." Becca's juice all but forgotten, Jane reached for the baby, but before Nick would give him up he pulled her into a one-armed hug.
"Hey mom, how are you?" he smiled down at his mother, who had promptly relieved him of his son and was busily assessing all his fingers and toes.
Jane completely ignored him, lost in the wonder that was her first grandchild.
"Think she knows we're still here?" Nick whispered to Becca.
"Nope. We ceased to exist about thirty seconds ago," she laughed easily. "G'morning," she smiled, looking up into his eyes.
"Morning, baby," he sighed as he gather her close and kissed her.
"Yuck," Jesse said, wrinkling her nose. "Mommy and Daddy do that all the time, too."
"They must love each other very much," Jane said, watching her son and his wife with a smile.
The door to the kitchen burst open as Aaron wandered in sleepily, running his fingers through his hair.
"Can't a guy sleep late on his day off?" he mumbled, then spotted Nick and Becca kissing. Whapping Nick on the rear end he said, "Knock it off you guys, there's a little kid here."
Barely breaking the kiss, Nick shoved him away with a grin. "You're not that young, dork, go away."
"Not ME, dweeb. HER!" He pointed at Jesse, having no idea who she was.
Becca giggled, thoroughly breaking the mood, and Nick groaned in frustration.
"How many more weeks?" Nick whispered in her ear.
"Not quite four, baby, hang in there." Becca laughed, ruffling his hair as he buried his head on her shoulder. "Aaron, meet Jesse, Sarah and Howie's daughter."
"Hey Jess," he said with a grin, as Jesse just stood and looked at him.
Nick was watching in amusement. "A child of Sarah's speechless? Get the camera, Bec," he smirked.
Becca swatted him and would have given him a hard time, but Garrett began to fuss. "I think I need to feed him, Jane. May I go outside?"
"The patio doors are already unlocked. It's still cool out there, so make yourself at home."
Nick took Garrett and passed him back to Becca asking, "Where's dad this morning?"
"Not sure, Nick, he got up and out early. Who wants French toast?"
Becca laughed at the chorus of 'me's' that greeted Jane's question as she stepped out the back door to find a quiet place to nurse the baby.
"What’s that?" Jesse wrinkled her nose as she watched Jane mixing the eggs and milk for French toast.
"I’m making French toast for breakfast. It’s one of your Uncle Nick’s favorites."
"It looks funny. I want pancakes." She continued to stare into the mixing bowl with a scowl.
"Aw, come on, Jess, my mom makes excellent French toast." Nick was leaning lazily against the kitchen counter, grinning and watching the dynamics between his mother and Sarah’s daughter.
"Uncle Nicky, I don’t like this kind."
"Jesse, it’s the same way your mom makes it," Nick insisted.
"Is NOT. Look, there’s nothing brown floating in it." She peered into the bowl, turning up her nose.
"This is just the way we like it," Jane assured her.
"It’s gross. I want pancakes." Her breakfast order placed, she walked away and expected it to be a done deal.
"Jesse, I don’t have any pancake mix. Maybe tomorrow." Jane was trying her best to be accommodating and pleasant, but this miniature version of Sarah Dorough was fast trying her patience.
"Pancake mix?" Jesse asked, astonished. "You hafta use a MIX? My mommy makes it from scratch." She was clearly amazed at Jane’s stupidity.
"Yes, I have to-" Jane began to argue with her, but fortunately for both of them, Becca came back in with Garrett and interrupted the potential tirade.
"Something smells great," she smiled, wondering why Nick felt the sudden need to hide his grin behind his hand.
"Aunt Becca, I want my mommy," Jesse pouted, running to her and hugging her legs.
"We’ll see Mommy day after tomorrow, Jesse." Becca looked at Nick for help, but he just rolled his eyes and smirked. "What’s wrong, sweetie?"
"I want pancakes," she insisted.
"Maybe tomorrow Jess, Jane’s French toast is great."
"But… there’s no brown stuff."
"Brown stuff? Oh! You mean spices?" Becca smiled and turned to Jane and Nick. "Sarah makes it with cinnamon and nutmeg."
"That explains it I guess," Jane sighed. "Jesse, we’re just visiting here. I don’t have a lot of extras to cook with. But I can manage pancakes for tomorrow, okay?"
Jesse looked at her suspiciously. "With blueberries?"
Jane gritted her teeth and smiled. "If I can find some."
"And bacon. I always have my pancakes with bacon. It’s my very favorite-est breakfast."
Nick was laughing out loud now, and Becca gave him a look that did absolutely no good whatsoever. "All hail Queen Jesse," he laughed, raising his hands in the air and bowing.
"Nick," his mother scolded, "be nice."
"Why?" he asked, remembering all the times he’d been the target of Sarah’s torment.
"Nick!" Becca frowned.
"Breakfast is almost ready. Jesse, go wash your hands please," Jane said.
"But I-" Jesse began, but caught the look that Becca gave her. "Yes ma’am," she finished politely and scampered off.
"You’re no help," Becca chastised as Nick fell over laughing.
"Nickolas, you’re a father now," his mother said sternly. "Act like one."
Nick looked from his mother to his wife and back again, opened his mouth to say something, and then thought better of it.
"Busted," Aaron snickered and then groaned as Kathy elbowed him in the ribs. "Oww!"
Kathy looked at Becca, smiled sweetly and went to set the table.
The rest of the meal continued without incident, although having Jesse around was certainly entertaining.