Part 608
“You sure you don’t want me to stay?”
“Billy, go home. There was no reason for you to pick us up, man, we could have grabbed a cab.”
“When Howie called, I told him it was no big deal, Nick. I was just sitting around tonight anyway. Becca, wait, don’t lift that.” He snatched Becca’s bag away from her, seeing that she also had the baby’s carrier balanced on her other hip.
“Billy, I’ve got it,” she protested in vain.
“Fine. Just let me help you get the stuff in and then you’re on your own until next week. Can you stay out of trouble till then?” He grinned in the darkness and Becca bit back a giggle at the look on Nick’s face.
“Gee dad, I dunno. Maybe you should hide my car keys.”
“Good idea. Hand them over.” He held out his hand, waiting patiently for Nick to comply.
“You suck. Go home, Billy.”
“I could carry the stuff upstairs for you-”
“GOOD NIGHT Billy!” Nick and Becca chorused, laughing as Billy backed away down the front sidewalk.
“See you next week, boss.”
“In New York?” Nick asked, puzzled.
“No, the OTHER boss. You seem to forget who I work for, Carter.”
“Monday afternoon, right? See you then!” Becca waved as Billy started the car and backed out of the driveway.
“Monday?” Nick asked, fumbling with the key to the front door.
“Billy’s coming over after you fly out. We’re going to the Youth Center to find a ‘Mommy and Me’ play group that Sarah told me about.”
Nick was still laughing as he set their bags down in the front entryway. Just the mental picture he had of big, hulking Billy in a room full of mommies and babies was the funniest thing he’d thought of in ages.
“Nick?” Becca was standing very still, looking around at her house for the first time in months.
Sighing, Nick put his arm around her, taking it all in. “Looks like we never left, huh?”
“That’s what I mean.” Becca looked puzzled. “The air is on, look – there are fresh flowers in the living room.”
Nick sniffed the air. “Something smells good, too. Wonder what-”
“Nick, there’s a note on the banister.” Sure enough, an envelope was tied onto the railing of the stairs, anchored by a helium balloon that said ‘Welcome Home’. Becca was juggling Garrett against her shoulder, so Nick did the honors.
Scanning the contents quickly, he began to smile. “Listen to this: Sarah called us last night to let us know you’d be arriving tonight. We knew you’d want to be alone and would probably be tired, so we took the liberty of getting the house ready for you. The house is aired out and the a.c. is turned on, and there’s a casserole in the oven. Just pop it in the microwave when you’re ready to eat. Sonja let us in and helped, hope everything is all right. Give us a call when you’ve rested up and we’ll get together. It’s good to have you all back.
Love,
Mom, Dad and Aaron”
“That’s so sweet!”
“Yeah, it is.” Nick sighed. “Let’s get this stuff upstairs and maybe we can get GT settled in for the night."
An hour later, Nick was cleaning up the remnants of their meal. It was fall in Florida, and cool, but once the baby had fallen asleep they’d taken their plates out onto the patio where they’d eaten in the dark, quietly enjoying both the humidity and the nocturnal sounds that were native to central Florida. Now that all was said and done, Nick turned off the last of the lights and made his way quietly up the stairs. The only light he found was the soft glow of the night light that spilled out of the nursery. He paused in the doorway to watch as Becca stood motionless beside the white enameled crib that he’d put together all those months ago, the crib that held their sleeping infant. He thought back on all the memories that this house already held, and how many more it would hold through the coming years and he wiped away the tear that escaped to roll down his face.
In that sixth sense that every mother has, Becca sensed his presence and turned with a smile, holding out her hand. Pulling him close to her side, she looked down upon their son. “Isn’t he perfect?” she whispered.
Nick found no way to answer above the lump of emotion that sprang to his throat. He simply held her as they watched their baby breathe. Time stood still as they watched and listened, and as she began to relax in his arms he found enough will to say, “Welcome home, Becca.”