Amber's dead on her feet when they finally get home. The cruise was amazing and emotional all at the same time. But Amber's glad she went. Spending that time with Joe is something she wouldn't trade for anything. Now it's time you get back to reality.
"Hey babe I'm going to go check on Sam. She's not answering her phone. I want to make sure everything's okay."
Amber's not surprised Sam isn't answering her phone. She's sure Sam just wants to make sure Joe comes to see her. After their last conversation Amber wouldn't put anything past Sam.
"Okay babe. Be careful and I'll see you when you get back. I think I'll unpack and then lay down, my feet and back are killing me." They kiss and Joe leaves.
Amber starts unpacking, but she just isn't feeling up to moving all their luggage around. She starts regretting agreeing to Joey staying with her parents another day so they'd have time to rest. She misses him something awful.
Amber gets her shoes and grabs her keys and rushes out to go get her baby boy.
Amber can barely hold back her excitement as she pulls into her parents driveway. She practically runs from her car into the house. She holds onto her baby bump all the way up the driveway. She can't believe how big she's gotten. It makes her smile thinking about it. Another baby boy.
Amber calls her son's name as soon as she opens the front door. "Joey! Joey baby, Mommy's here!" She hears his sweet voice come down the hall from the kitchen.
"MOMMY!!!"
They run to each other and Amber squats down and wraps him in her arms. They stay like this for a minute. Amber doesn't want to let him go, five days away from him was just too much. Amber tells herself she'll never be away from little Joey again.
"Well hello baby girl. You're early."
Amber looks up and smiles. "Hi Daddy. I missed him too much to wait."
"Where's Joe?"
"Yeah Where's Daddy?"
Amber smiles at Joey and brushes his curls out of his face. She kisses him again. "He went to check on Sam. He would have come with me, but he didn't even know mommy was coming. He'll be home when we get there sweetheart."
Amber's calves being to burn from squatting down like this for so long. She tightens her arms around Joey and lifts him into her arms as she stands up. Thankfully her Dad is standing right there because she almost falls over as a sharp pain rips through her abdomen.
James grabs Amber by the arm and he takes Joey from her. "Hey little man run and get grandma for me." He runs off calling for his grandmother.
James turns back to Amber. "What's wrong baby girl?" Amber stands up straight and she tries to figure out if she's okay. The pain has subsided and she feels okay now. "I'm okay Dad. I think Joey's just getting too big for me to pick up now. I'm sure there's some rule somewhere about not lifting heavy toddlers while big and pregnant. Really Dad I'm fine. Stop looking at me like that."
James doesn't let go of her though. He rubs her back and coaxes her over to a chair at the kitchen table. Susan comes running into the room. Joey's right behind her. "What's wrong? Joey said you fell? What happened?" Susan's frantically checking Amber over.
"Mom I'm fine. I didn't fall. I just stood up too fast with Joey in my arms. I think he grew too much while I was gone. Or maybe I did. Either way, I don't think I'll be picking him up anymore, at least not until this little soccer player gets here." Amber rubs her belly and smiles. "Damn, he's kicking up a storm in there."
Susan and James still look worried, neither convinced or reassured by Amber's words. "I think we should take you for a check up. Just to be sure."
"No, Mom I'm fine. It only hurt for a second and now it's fine. I swear. And Nathan is fine too. I can feel him moving around in there trying to get comfortable. So everything is fine. Will you please go get me Joey's things so we can go home?"
Reluctantly Susan goes and gets Joey's little suitcase and bag of toys. James helps her get Joey and his things into the car. He kisses his daughter and tells her to be careful. "I love you sweetheart. Call if you need anything."
When Amber gets home Joe still isn't back from Sam's. She decides to lay down with Joey and take a nap. She feels so comforted being back home and having Joey back in her arms. Listening to him breathe as he sleeps lulls her into a peaceful sleep as well.
Amber wakes up a couple of hours later. She feels rested and ready to start unpacking. She gets up and realizes it's been about four hours since Joe left to check on Sam. She starts to worry maybe something might be wrong. Amber calls Joe but gets his voice-mail. She leaves him a brief message and goes back to her bedroom.
Amber let's Joey sleep while she unpacks her bags. She separates her clothes into piles for washing and she puts all her shoes in her closet. She takes her overnight bag into the bathroom and puts all her toiletries up.
Amber checks her phone, nothing from Joe. She tries calling him again, still no answer. She hangs up without leaving a message this time.
Amber looks at Joe's suitcases and duffle bags from the cruise and decides to unpack his stuff as well. She thinks if she keeps busy she won't worry so much.
She gets his duffle bags of shoes put away first. She's never seen a man who had so many pairs of shoes. But her husband does love his shoes. Amber can't help but laugh. She turns and grabs one of his suitcases and lifts it up to put it on the bed.
The pain from earlier hits her again. But this time it's much worse. She drops the suitcase and wakes Joey with a start. He begins crying and Amber tries to stand upright but the pain hits her again. It makes her lightheaded and then she falls to the floor.
YOU ARE READING
Miss You More (A Joey McIntyre/Jordan Knight Fanfiction)
FanfictionFor two years, Joe's lived without her, a heartbroken, single father. The day Amber left him and their newborn son, Joe swore he'd be a good father. He'd raise his son to be a better man than he ever was. For the most part that's what he's done. H...