The Boot - Next Steps (Book 2)

Chapter Twelve

A/N: Thank you for being so patient with me, I'm going to try to get updates out as often as I can, but this summer is and will continue to be quite busy for me. I can't promise everything, but I'm going to try to post an update *at least* once a week

JOHN'S POV

"What the fu-" I mutter before Bailey cuts me off.

"John, step aside and let them in," Bailey tells me. "It's so good to see you both. Please, come on in. Make yourselves comfortable."

They both smile politely as I step aside to let them in. They enter the house, Henry carrying their bag and dragging along their suitcase. At the very least, I know that I raised a gentleman. Henry leaves their luggage by the front door, then helps Abigail waddle her way to the couch.

"So," I close the door behind me and make my way over to them. "Is, uh," I clear my throat. "Is this the surprise that you were telling me about on the phone earlier?" I nod to Abigail's stomach.

Henry beams, moving his hand to rest on her belly. "Yes, dad. We're expecting."

I nod, taking a deep breath as I allow myself to take a moment to process this. "Congratulations. I'm very happy for you two. This baby is very lucky to have such great parents."

"Thank you," Abigail blushes shyly. "I'm not going to lie, I was a little worried about how you were going to react. That's why we didn't tell you sooner. Henry wanted to, trust me. Hell, he wanted to tell you and Bailey from the second we found out, but..." her voice trails off.

"But...?" Bailey encourages.

"I wasn't ready. I kept thinking of excuses to put it off. But please don't be mad at Henry. It was my decision to wait so long to tell you,"

"That's okay, I understand," I say calmly.

All three of their heads whip up to look at me, all sporting matching shocked expressions. "Really?" Abigail asks.

"Of course. Yes, it's shocking. But you're both adults, capable of making your own decisions. You're married, and old enough to start your own family. I'm happy for you both."

"I guess you're going to have to get used to someone calling you grandpa, huh?" Bailey teases. I give her a pointed look and grab her hand. She takes the hint of what I'm silently trying to tell her and nods her approval. I glance up to make sure they are paying attention.

"And I guess you're going to have to get used to someone calling you mommy," I say, earning a gasp from them both. I lean in to whisper into her ear. "Someone besides me, that is."

Bailey gasps, having clearly not been expecting me to say it that way. She playfully slaps my arm. "John!"

Henry's eyes narrow as he glances between us. "You too?"

I nod, putting my arm around Bailey's shoulder. She repositions herself to cuddle within my embrace. "Yep."

"Our kids are going to be best friends," Abigail says excitedly to Bailey. "I just know it."

"Am I, uh," Henry struggles to find the right words. I can tell just how much this news has caught him off guard. "Am I going to have a brother or a sister?"

"We don't know yet," Bailey answers. "But what about you?"

"It's a boy," Henry smiles, resting his hand on Abigail's bump. "I'm having a son."

"I can't wait," Abigail chimes in. "I am so excited to take him to practices and games, I'm hoping for soccer, but y'know, he can play whatever he wants,"

"He doesn't have to play anything," Henry reminds her, planting a kiss on her cheek.

"I know, but a girl can dream, right?" her smile suddenly turns into a frown, earning a matching expression from Henry.

"What's wrong?" Henry asks.

"All of the sudden I'm having the weirdest craving," Abigail says.

"Oh? What for?"

Abigail blushes shyly. "I- uh- graham crackers with a pickle juice drizzle and whipped cream,"

Henry laughs. "Not your weirdest one, I'm on it," he moves for his keys, but I stop him. "What?"

"We have all of that here," I tell him.

"Seriously?" 

"Yeah, you're not the only one with 'weird' cravings," Bailey says, "Speaking of which, that actually sounds really good,"

I raise my eyebrow at her. "Really?"

"Yeah..." she blushes.

"I'm on it," Henry says, "Do you want one too, dad?"

"What?"

"Since Abigail has to be sick and miserable with our kid, and I can't take that pain away, I figured that the least I could do is try out all of her cravings with her so that she feels less alone,"

"That's a great idea, whip me up some of that- uh- what was it again?"

"Graham crackers with-"

"Ah, yes, pickle juice drizzle and whipped cream,"

"Four plates, coming up," Henry says.