The Commitment (9 page)

Chase

While it took us a few days to finally get things settled, I couldn’t be happier to finally be home. As far as work trips go, Houston had been fun for the most part. However, with Sophie already more than halfway through her pregnancy, we really needed to get things set up for the baby.

JT was happy to be back in Rockport as well. While it would still be an adjustment, he’d spent time here with us over the summer. Since his room was still pretty much intact, it was much more familiar than a hotel room.

Since we were closer to the office, Drake had helped Sophie get set up so she could work from home two days a week. While it was an adjustment not seeing her throughout my day, it was definitely better for JT.

We’d been trying everything we could think of to help him feel at home here. After talking to Jack, Sophie had decided to sign him up for T-Ball. He’d just started going to practice last week and I’d worried Sophie would cry through the entire season once she’d seen him in his uniform.

After being home for a few weeks, things finally seemed to be falling into place. As I hear Sophie securing JT’s door, she stops in the kitchen for a bottle of water before joining me on the couch.

“Hi Baby,” I smile, taking in her ever-growing bump as she reaches for a handful of my popcorn.

“Hey Puddin’ Head,” she responds, biting me gently on the bicep before resting against my shoulder. “So I was thinking that we should definitely get married before the baby comes.”

“Seriously?” I ask, unable to hide the shock from my voice.

I’d been trying to talk to her about the wedding for a few weeks now. However, the fact that we’ve been living out of a hotel meant there wasn’t much we could do as far as planning. When we got home, everything was so crazy we’d all but agreed to wait until after the baby.

Needless to say, her words aren’t what I expected.

“Yeah,” she nods, tossing a bite into her mouth. “Is that okay with you?”

“Absolutely,” I tell her, kissing her hair. “I’d marry you right this second if I could, I’m just surprised. What made you change your mind?”

“Well, I wasn’t in a big rush because I never really believed a baby was a good reason to get married,” she starts. “Not that the baby has anything to do with it, but I think you should only marry for love, no other reason.”

“I agree.”

“So that’s why I wasn’t really too worried about rushing. I don’t think either one of us is very picky as far as the ceremony goes,” she continues, turning to see me shake my head. “I’m just not crazy about getting married at the courthouse. I want us to have something more than that, not to mention I think a courthouse wedding would kill Ana,” she says, both of us smirking. “If we wait until after the baby comes, we’ll be crazy busy and we’ll either put it off and never get married…”

“Too late, sucker. You already said yes,” I tease, cutting her off and making her chuckle. “We’re getting married.”

“Or, we’ll end up getting married at the courthouse on your lunch break,” she continues, facing me. “Which would do the trick, but then I don’t get to wear a pretty dress and eat cake.”

“We can’t have that,” I grin, brushing the hair away from her face. “So, what do you have in mind?”

“I say you call your parents and ask them exactly when they’re coming down for the baby,” she starts. “Ask them if they can manage a few extra days before then and then we’ll do a small ceremony while they’re here.”

When I pull my cell from my pocket, she smirks as her cheeks slowly begin to redden.

“What?”

“You’re calling right now?”

“Hell yes I’m calling them now,” I laugh as I put the phone to my ear. “I’ve been waiting for you to pick a date for like three months! If you were closer to your due date, I’d be ripping your pants off and inducing labo- Hey Mama.”

“Oh my God,” Sophie gapes, twisting my nipple hard as her cheeks flood.

“Ow! Shit! I’m sorry, Baby! I didn’t think she was gonna answer so fast,” I laugh, kissing her hair as I turn my attention to my phone call.

After talking to my mom, there’s no wiping the dorky grin off my face. Not only will my parents be here for the baby’s arrival, my mom’s already looking up plane tickets so that they could arrive a week early.

“Now, I know Sophie’s daddy isn’t with us anymore,” she says through the line. “Do you two need any help paying for the ceremony?”

“No, Mama,” I tell her. “We’re good. Sophie doesn’t want anything elaborate and I’ve got some in savings. Thank you, though.”

“Well, are you sure?” she starts. “Babies aren’t cheap, son. If you need help, you’d better tell us. I want y’all to have something you’ll be proud of down the line.”

Glancing at my girl as she smirks at the television, her hand resting over the bump in her belly, I brush the hair away from her face. When she turns and gives me a flash of her rogue dimples, her emerald eyes knocking the breath out of me, I’m overwhelmed with emotion.

“I’ve already got her,” I say into the phone, clearing my throat. “I’m good, Mom.”

Sophie

There aren’t many things I love more than a house full of people I love.

Much to my happiness, JT’s first T-Ball game is tomorrow and he couldn’t be more excited. Not only has he been going to practice for weeks now, he’s going to have a row full of people there to cheer him on.

Not only will Chase, Drake, Ana, Jack and I all be attending, Heather is planning to come and my Aunt Deb and Matty are making the drive as well. They’d all known how important it was to him and when I told him they’d be there, he couldn’t contain the massive grin.

“They’re all comin’ for me?” he’d asked and I smiled, my heart in my throat.

“Of course, Baby,” I said, kissing his hair. “Everyone loves you so much, Sweet Pea. They wouldn’t miss it.”

When I hear the knock on the door, I dry my hands off and giggle when I hear him calling out from his room.

“Aunt Sophie, who’s here?”

“I don’t know, Lovebug,” I smile. “It sounds like an Aunt Debbie knock, though.”

Pulling the door open, I’m happy to see I’m right. Although she’d called about an hour ago to let me know she was nearly here, I’m relieved to see her face. It’s the first time I’ve seen her since we found out about the baby and after grabbing my cheeks, she reaches straight for the belly.

“Oh, my sweet girl,” she starts, her eyes filling with happy tears. “Let me get a look at you!”

After fawning over me for a few moments in the entryway, JT rushes into the room, shouting her name in a cheer.

“Aunt Debbie!” he calls out, rushing into her arms. “Did you bring me cookies?”

“JT! Let her in the house before you start making demands!” I scold him with a laugh before facing her. “Seriously, did you bring us cookies?

“You two just cut right to it, don’t you?” she laughs, walking into the house. “And of course I brought cookies. What kind of an aunt would I be if I didn’t bring cookies to my babies?”

When we make it to the kitchen, she pulls the Tupperware container from her bag and our eyes light up.

“Cookies!” we both cheer, making her laugh.

“You save some for your Uncle Chase,” she chuckles down at JT.

“No way,” I laugh, biting into a peanut butter dream. “He knew the risks when he went to work this morning. You snooze, you lose, sucker.”

“You’re such a brat,” she chuckles, pulling me to her side. “I can always make more. We gotta get this baby of ours extra cute and fat.”

After Chase calls to tell me he’s heading home with Drake, Ana and Jack following closely behind, we sit and visit for a while. Although I speak to her regularly, I’m happy to have a few quiet minutes before everyone arrives.

When I went to stay with my aunt after my dad passed away we didn’t know each other very well. However over the years, she’s become a mother to me. Not only more loving and nurturing than my own mother, she’s seen me through the darkest days of my life. She took me in when I thought no one else wanted me and no matter what life has thrown my way, she’s always been in my corner. The day I went to live with her, I was terrified and broken. I’ve come to realize that it’s one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Had it not been for her, I would have never found the life I have now.

As I’m struggling to keep from crying at this revelation, the garage door swings open and Chase walks in, already smiling as his eyes find mine.

“There are my girls,” he says beaming as he drops his work bag by the door and makes his way over to the table. “Hi Aunt Deb,” he smiles, giving her a hug before leaning over to kiss me. “Hey, Gorgeous.”

“Hi Babysaurus,” I smile.

“Hi Peanut,” he says quietly, affectionately rubbing my stomach. “Where’s Little Man?”

“He’s in-”

“Uncle Chase!” he calls out, making me chuckle.

“His room,” I continue, taking a bite from my cookie.

“You brought cookies?” Chase asks Aunt Deb, his eyes lighting up until he sees the empty container.

“We ate ‘em all,” JT says, giggling as he comes into the room.

“You didn’t save any for me?” he asks, feigning offense and causing JT to shake his head with another laugh before he glances down at me. “You either?”

“I’m sorry, Lovebug, I had to,” I manage guiltily, my mouth full of peanut butter goodness as the sound of my aunt’s laughter fills the room. “The baby wanted them.”

“The baby wanted them…” he scoffs, shaking his head and smirking at me. “You’re so full of crap. You’re lucky you’re cute, you know that?”

“I know,” I sigh, taking the last bite of my cookie.

“Hey!” Ana says, walking into the front door, Jack and Drake behind her.

“We’re in the kitchen!” I call out, unwilling to move in my cookie induced slump.

When she makes her way around the corner, she greets us with a hug, gaping as her eyes find the empty container.

“I’m not even sorry,” I grin. “Hi.”

“Hey,” she smiles, returning my embrace and moving to my aunt.

“Hi Sophie,” Drake smiles as he kisses me on the cheek before making his way toward the refrigerator.

“Hey Beautiful Girl,” Jack says quietly, pulling me close to hug me and kiss me on the temple.

“Hi Jack,” I smile, hugging him tightly.

“Uncle Jack?” JT calls out from his bedroom. “Is that you?”

“Yeah!” he calls back, laughing quietly.

“He’s in his room,” I tell him. “Do you know where it is?”

“No,” he admits.

“Come on, I’ll show you,” I say, grabbing his hand and leading him down the hallway.

“You’re showing more,” Jack says, giving me a small smile as I face him.

“Yeah,” I say, resting my hand on my bump and blushing slightly. “I officially outgrew all of my clothes and had to go clothes shopping today in sweats, so I’m starting to get a complex.”

“Nah,” he whispers, kissing my hair. “You’re as beautiful as ever.”

“Thanks,” I smile.

As I push the door open, I savor the giant grin that spreads across our godson’s face when he takes in my first love.

“Hey man!” Jack says, beaming at him.

“Uncle Jack!” he cheers, grabbing his hand and pulling him in. “Will you come and play with me?”

“Absolutely,” he smiles, taking in the Marvel themed bedroom with a smile. “Pretty sick pad you got in here, dude.”

“Yep,” JT agrees easily, making us laugh as he reaches for his Lego box.

He gives him a smile before meeting my teary eyes. Before I realize what I’m doing, my arms are wrapped around his neck.

“You okay?” he whispers, returning my embrace.

“Yeah,” I sniff. “I’m just really happy you’re… I can’t let myself think about it much because I just… I’m just so glad you’re here, Jack.”

“Me, too, Babe,” he whispers, hugging me a little tighter as he kisses my temple.

“I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Soph,” he says in a soft voice, pulling away to wipe my cheeks clean, pressing his lips to my forehead. “I’ll love you forever, Beautiful Girl.”

Once I leave them, I pull myself together and join the others to start working on supper. Cooking every night wasn’t something I thought I’d miss when I agreed to join Chase in Houston. Surprisingly though, it’s been one of my favorite parts of returning home.

As I toss the fresh garlic into the roux and begin sautéing it, he tells me about his day while Ana and Drake sit at the table, catching up with my aunt. The hearty aroma of the chicken and sausage begins to fill the room. I hear Jack’s voice filling the room as he comes around the corner to meet Matty, who’s just arrived.

“Are you making stomp?” he asks, the excited look on his face causing me to grin.

“Yep,” I chuckle.

“I was just about to ask you what you’re cooking,” Chase smiles. “What’s stomp?”

“It’s Cajun, kind of like gumbo,” I tell him. “It’s an old family recipe that my dad taught me.”