HH01 - A Humble Heart (30 page)

He opened the door to a very stunned pizza boy. “Er……” The young man took in his wet appearance and smirked.

“Dana’s order. My Dad told me to tell her he put enough pineapple in the container to keep her happy until tomorrow night.”

“Thank you.” Edward pulled out his wallet and paid him with a generous tip. The kid had saved him from a trip to the all

night grocery store after all.

“Wow, thank you, sir!” the kid said. “Oh, before I forget, my mom wanted me to tell Dana that Monday night we’re having

a BBQ and she’s expected and to bring and I quote ‘those two adorable babies of hers and her fiancé so she can check him out

to make sure he’s good enough for her.’” He gave Edward a sheepish look. “Sorry, man, I’m just the messenger.”

Edward chuckled. “I’ll tell her.”

“Alright, see you Monday then.” The teenager took off.

Dana was already getting things ready at the table when Edward placed the food down. “Before I forget the pizza boy said

Monday night we’re all invited to a BBQ at their house.”

Her eyes shot up. “Ah, I guess they want to check you out. Make sure you pass inspection.”

He cocked his head to the side and studied her for a long moment. “Yes, how did you know?”

“I’ve been friends with the family for a year now. I know how Daniel works.” Her eyes locked on the plastic container on

top of the pizza. “Is that the pineapple?” She picked up the container and grabbed a large chunk and began to nibble on it.

Edward chuckled in disbelief as he set two plates. He placed a slice of pizza on her plate and prepared her salad for her

before he grabbed himself any food.

The sound of small feet slapping against the wood floor caught their attention. Cole walked into the room, dragging the

teddy bear Edward bought him. Without a word he pulled a chair out and sat down. He yawned as he reached into the box and

pulled out a slice of pizza.

Dana and Edward watched with great amusement as the little boy devoured the entire slice. When the crust was the only

thing that remained he handed it to his mother and without a word stood up, pushed his chair in, and turned to leave only to

pause. He turned around and grabbed the huge brownie that was wrapped in plastic wrap and left the room.

“So much for dessert.” Edward chuckled.

“Taking junk food from a pregnant woman, that boy is brave,” Dana said in mock disgust.

“I’ll go get it,” Edward said, standing up.

She grabbed his arm to stop him. “Edward, he’s a three year old boy that has ill gotten chocolate. The brownie is already

gone and most of it is on his face and in his bed. The battle is lost.”

Edward gave her a doubting look and decided to go look for himself. Sure enough Cole was already passed out. He was

covered in brownie and so were his sheets and pillow. He walked back to the kitchen stunned.

“I’ll clean him up in the morning,” she said, nibbling on her pizza.

“Damn,” Edward gasped as he sat down.

********

Edward slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. He felt something placed on his lap. The aroma of eggs and bacon teased his

senses. He opened his eyes to see a breakfast tray on his lap with a plate filled with sliced fruit, toast, eggs and bacon. Dana

placed a large cup of orange juice on the tray for him.

She leaned in and kissed him. “I wanted to make you breakfast before I had to go.”

“What time is it?”

“A little after ten.”

“You let me sleep in?” He was touched. He knew there was a lot to do in the morning with the kids.

“Of course. Elizabeth has already come and gone. She’s at school. Deana is off for the morning until Elizabeth needs to be

picked up from school, but she’s going to drop Elizabeth off with me and then she’s free for the weekend. I have the little man

all day. We have a thousand and one things to do today so I’m taking my little man with me as my personal bodyguard as he

likes to put it.” She grinned. “The security team is here. Tyler is assigned to me. He seems good with kids. He let Cole beat

him twice this morning at Mario Kart.”

Edward nodded, taking a sip of juice. “And you, sir, have a completely free day. I checked with Amy, she said you have

nothing but some regular errands to run and Cole and I have volunteered to handle those. I believe we are picking up your dry

cleaning, dropping your mail at the post office, picking up a package from UPS and we’re stopping by your Mom’s to help pick

berries so you my dear have a completely free day to spend as you wish.”

He was shocked. He couldn’t remember the last time he had a free day. There was always something to do. This was a

great gift she was giving him. Damn she was treating him like a king.

“Oh, since it’s been a long time since you had a guy’s night out or day or whatever. I called Seth up. He decided to close

the shop and hang out with you today. He’s excited about it actually. He said it’s been years since he had a guy’s day.”

“You called Seth for me?”

“Yup, he’s in the kitchen eating us out of house and home. He pouted after Cole beat him on Mario Kart, but he was easily

cheered up with some extra bacon.” Her eyes were filled with humor. “You men are so easy.”

“Thank you….this is…wow, I don’t know what to say, baby, this was really nice of you.” He leaned over and kissed her.

“Enjoy your day and don’t rush home. Go and relax. I’ll be fine and so will the kids. I’m taking them to a water park

tonight so don’t worry about anything and have some fun.”

She stood up and pulled four tickets out of her back pocket. “I almost forgot. I guess one of the Dodgers is a fan of mine.

He had four tickets couriered over this morning. They’re for tonights inter league game against the Yankees. I’m not really sure

why that’s a big deal, but the courier, your security guy and Seth were all drooling out there. Do you want them?”

Edward stared at the tickets shocked beyond words. Did he want them? Hell yeah he wanted them. He tried to get tickets

weeks ago while he was in England only to discover they were completely sold out.

Dana watched Edward’s frozen expression. She moved the tickets from side to side. Edward’s eyes were fixed on them.

“Okay, if you don’t want them I’ll guess I’ll take the kids. They might like it.” She shrugged and slowly went to put the tickets

in her pocket. Edward reached out and snagged them.

“No, don’t worry I guess I’ll go.” He tried to sound cool about it. He wasn’t fooling anyone.

“Uh huh, do me a favor, when you find out which player sent them, tell him I couldn’t use the tickets, but I’m sending him

tickets to the premiere of
Rogue
if he would like them.”

He nodded, not really listening. His eyes were taking in the tickets. Damn they were good tickets. Any man would sell his

left nut for these tickets and this woman was tossing them at him like they were confetti.

Edward was barely aware of Dana’s kiss on his forehead or her soft chuckle. He was pretty sure he heard her said

goodbye. He didn’t snap out of it until Seth snagged the tickets out of his hand.

“Edward, we’ve been best friends since kindergarten, right?” Seth asked.

“Yeah,” Edward said, while he shoveled food in his mouth his eyes remained fixed on those four glorious tickets.

“Okay good. Then as a friend I thought I would give you fair warning. I realize she’s carrying your babies and we have

been friends for a long time and I respect that, but I have to be honest. I’m planning on stealing her from you. It doesn’t bother

me that she’s carrying your babies. Any woman who can cook the way she does, baby a man, looks that fine
and
can score

sweet tickets as good as these is worth tossing aside a twenty-two year friendship. I just thought I should let you know.”

“No, I totally understand, man. I appreciate the warning,” he said in a daze. His thoughts weren’t on the game anymore,

well that’s not true, the pure guy part of his brain was already contemplating how many beers he was going to have tonight, but

the other part of him was thinking about Dana. She was the best thing that ever happened to him. He loved her so much and she

clearly loved him.

“I’m marrying her,” Edward blurted out.

Seth chuckled. “Yeah, that’s the idea behind being engaged.

“No, I mean I’m marrying her this weekend. I’m not letting anymore time slip past us. I’m going to set it up for tomorrow

and you’re going to help me,” he said, looking into Seth’s eyes.

“I suppose for these tickets I could do that. Tonight can be your bachelor party.” He grinned.

“Yup, no girls though,” Edward said. He wouldn’t do that to Dana.

“Not a problem,” Seth said. Edward trusted Seth. He was a guy's guy, but he was also extremely respectful of women. He

was raised by his mother, three aunts and his grandmother. He was pretty sure Seth had never even been to a strip club.

“Call up Lucas and see if he wants to come too and the other ticket goes to my security guy. What’s his name?” Edward

asked. He pushed the tray aside and stood up. Seth took it as the signal that he was done with the tray and sat down on the bed

to finish it.

“You want to invite the guy that had a sex scene with your future wife?” Seth asked around a mouthful of food. “And the

security guy’s name is Bret. He said he used to work for you.”

“Yeah, he’s a good guy.” Edward smiled just thinking about all the innuendos and comments he could say to Lucas about

the little incident he wasn’t supposed to know about.

“Daddy!” Cole yelled as he burst into the room.

Edward picked Cole up and hugged him tightly. “I thought you were leaving?”

“I am,” Cole said seriously. “I wanted to say goodbye. Plus, I wanted to see if you could get me a finger.”

“A finger?” Edward asked confused.

“Yeah, you’re going to a bassball game?” Cole asked in the cute toddler slur that made Edward smile.

“Yes, I’m going to a bassball game. You want a foam finger?”

“Is it big?”

“Yes.”

“Then I want one.”

“What do you say?” Edward prompted the little boy.

Cole’s face scrunched up as he searched for an answer. “You’re the best?”

He chuckled. “No.”

“Oh I know! Peease, Daddy?”

“That’s better. Okay, I’ll pick one up for you and one for your sister so we don’t start World War three.”

Cole gave him a big kiss on his cheek and then squirmed out of his arm. “Bye, Uncle Seth,” he yelled as he ran out of the

room.

“I think you should know that your son cheats at Mario Kart,” Seth said.

“Oh yeah?” he asked, amused that his friend was beat by a three, almost four, year old.

“Is if official yet? I mean with the kids.”

“Yes, we signed papers three days ago. Mom pushed them through quickly.”

“What did that asshole Jeff say?”

“She didn’t have to call him and tell him, but you know Dana, she doesn’t do anything behind anyone’s back. He

congratulated us and hung up.”

“Prick.”

“My sentiments exactly,” Edward said, pulling on his clothes.

“So, are we really going to spend all day running errands to arrange this wedding?”

“Well, not exactly. I have to make phone calls, but we can go and have fun. I’ll call while we’re out.”

“Phone calls? How are you going to plan a whole wedding in less than a day on a phone?”

“I’ll call the women up. They’ll be glad to help I’m sure.”

“So, what you’re saying is you’re going to pretend to be over your head in details and confused so they take over the

whole thing so you can surprise Dana without actually doing any of the work?” Seth surmised.

Edward nodded. “Pretty much.”

“Sounds about right,” Seth said, finishing the last of the juice.

Chapter 15

“What an asshole,” Edward muttered.

“What? It was mine turn. I didn’t cheat,” Seth said as he bent to take another swing at the colorful golf ball.

“Not that, and yes you did. I just got off the phone with Dana’s father. Apparently he disowned her over this video

nonsense and he’s refusing to come out tomorrow.”

“Damn. She probably didn’t want to upset you,” Seth said. “They rigged that clown’s mouth. I should have made that

shot!" He sighed. "It’s your turn, Bret.”

The security man took his turn and got it in on the first shot.

“Damn it!” Seth said.

“Who am I going to have walk her down the aisle now?”

“What about that kid, Sebastian? Is he coming?”

“No, he can’t make it. He wants to come, but his Grandmother broke her hip and he’s taking care of her. He’s just happy

we’re getting married and that she’s happy. He did threaten to kick my ass if I hurt her so I guess that counts as a blessing.”

“Have Cole walk her down the aisle,” Seth suggested, stealing Edward’s turn, again.

“I guess I could.” Edward thought about how cute that would be.

“Your Mom, Amy and Deana are taking care of everything else, right?”

“Yes, when I told Mom I was planning the wedding she freaked out. She’s afraid I’ll end up wearing jeans and a tee shirt

and serve beer and nachos at the reception.”

Seth shot him an accusing look. “Only because you played stupid and led her to believe you were doing just that.”

He laughed unashamed. “Of course. She canceled the berry picking with Dana. They’re dropping the tuxes off at your

house tomorrow. I’ll bring Cole with me.”

“How about her dress?” Seth asked.

“I called Eric. He has her measurements and is contacting a designer to get a white gown.”

“You’re a lucky bastard,” Seth said.