Lead Me Astray - Updated Every Monday

Chapter Forty Two ~ Hunter

When I got back from dropping Frankie off, I took my boots off and went to see if my (other) family was still up.

Most were. Mom and Dad were in the den, on a couch, watching TV. Park was in a chair while Trev was on the floor.

"What are you guys watching?" I sat on Mom's other side.

"Just the news." She pulled me into a hug.

"What's this?"

"I'm so happy for you."

"Why?" Did I miss something?

"You're having a baby."

I smiled. "Yeah."

"My baby's having a baby." She squealed.

My smile widened. "Want to see pictures?"

"You have sonograms?!"

That was loud but- "Yeah."

"Go get them!"

She let me go and I went up to my room to get the pictures that I put in my drawer for safe keeping. I came back and saw Mom had turned on every light in the den. I plopped down next to her and showed them off.

She squealed as she looked at the first one. "It says Baby Daniels."

Dad started crying again.

Park leaned over the back of the couch behind Mom. "How would you know if it was a boy?"

"Our doctor says that it won't show up until Friday but it'd be there if Junior doesn't turn." I pointed.

Mom gave Park the first picture then looked over the second. "I think he's going to stay. He wants his name."

"What name do you have for a girl?" Trev asked.

"We don't." I shrugged. "But we feel like it's going to be a boy."

"What's his name?"

"Hunter Marco Daniels Jr." I stated with pride.

Park patted my shoulder. "Good work, little brother."

"Why Marco?" Trev wanted to know.

"After her oldest brother." I watched as Mom cried over the last picture. It might have been her favorite.

"What about us?!"

Mom glared at him. "Trev!"

Dad looked like he wanted to laugh. "I'd like a namesake."

"They're having more kids." Mom rolled her eyes.

I got excited by that. I'd told Frankie I wanted a lot of kids and I meant it.

Dad smirked. "Let's just prepare for Junior. We'll get to the other kids later."

≠

I woke up early the next day. I was going to take Frankie to her mental health appointment before hanging out at her house. Today was gonna be great.

≠

I helped Frankie into Precious before hurrying to get behind the wheel. I took her directions to her clinic then found a parking space. I helped her out and inside.

It'd been a quiet ride as she'd played light music.

Now that we were inside the building, she pulled me to the waiting room on the correct floor and we sat. She waved to the receptionists but didn't approach either.

That was weird, right?

We sat as we read (different) books and stayed cuddled up.

Suddenly a woman walked up. "Frankie?"