The Boot - Next Steps (Book 2)

Chapter Seventeen

JOHN'S POV:

I'm already kind of regretting agreeing to this as Henry places the plate in front of me. He sits down next to Abigail once we all have our food. "Bon appetite,"

I pick up my plate and place it on my lap. I try to mask the expression of disgust from creeping through.

I blink and both Abigail and Bailey had already begun to wolf down their food, finishing it in what felt like only five seconds. Bailey turns to me and pouts. "Can I please have yours?"

"You- You want more?" I try to hide my surprise. I can't say that I'm not relieved. While I'd be willing to try each and every one of Bailey's cravings in solidarity, I was really, really not looking forward to this one in particular. She nods eagerly, and I try to hide my excitement as I hand my plate over to her.

Abigail excuses herself to the bathroom and Henry picks up both his and her plate, bringing them to the sink to wash them.

Within seconds of me handing the plate to her, Bailey has already scarfed the food down. I lean towards her and whisper into her ear. "Damn, babe, you feed that baby,"

She narrows her eyes and flashes me a suggestive smirk. "Mr. Nolan, are you trying to tell me that I'm turning you on right now?"

I laugh softly. "Maaaayyybeeee."

She gives me a quick kiss and grabs both plates. She starts to get up but I stop her. "John-"

"It's okay, I've got it," I tell her, grabbing the plates from her and crossing the room to the kitchen, joining Henry at the sink.

We stand beside each other in silence for a few brief moments before either one of us even dares to speak. I still have no idea what the hell to say, so I am relieved when it's Henry who decides to be the one to break the silence.

"So... This has been... interesting."

I nod in agreement. "Yes. Interesting. Let's go with that."

"Are you, uh, excited to be a grandpa?"

I think for a moment. "While I wasn't expecting it to happen for a while, and I did find the news rather shocking... beneath that shock, yes, I'd say I'm excited. But I'll be honest, it's going to take a bit for me to completely get used to the idea."

"I get that, I don't blame you. Your little boy is about to have a little boy of his own."

I laugh. "That's one way to put it."

We fall back into a comfortable silence until a few moments later, only this time, it's me who breaks that silence. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you excited to be a big brother?"

"I mean, for the most part, yeah."

"For the most part?"

Henry sighs. "I don't know. I feel like it's a little different for me than it is for you."

"How so?"

"Well, you knew I might have kids at some point and it's about the time in my life where you might start to expect that."

"But...?"

"But... and I mean this in literally the nicest way possible... I wouldn't have ever expected you to have more kids."

"Because I'm old."

"No! Well, sort of, but no. I didn't mean it like that, dad, I-"

"No, Henry, it's okay. I understand. At your age, when you're at the point in your life where one might start having kids, you wouldn't expect your parent to have another kid. I get it."

"I'm sorry. I should have phrased it better."

"You don't need to apologize, Henry, I get it."

A beat later, Henry smiles subtly at me.

"What?"

"We were thinking about baby names for our son."

"And?"

"The top contender right now is Pete,"

"What?!"

"After Uncle Pete,"

"Are you crazy? I mean this in the nicest way, but do you seriously want to name your kid after Pete of all people? I get that he's your uncle, but he hasn't exactly been a major factor in your life at all, and as far as I know, you hardly even know him. Obviously, I respect your and Abigail's decision and it's completely up to you what you end up naming your kid, but-"

Henry starts laughing. "Dad, I'm just messing with you. Of course I'm not naming my kid after Uncle Pete."

"Oh, thank goodness. I love him and all, but he's-"

"I know, dad. I get it."

We are both silent for a beat before I clear my throat. "So, in all seriousness," I say, and Henry looks up from the plate he's scrubbing briefly to make eye contact with me. "Do you two actually have any names planned?"

"I'm not sure yet. We've been talking about names, but we haven't narrowed it down much. Our list is mostly just names we both like or at least don't hate."

"Ah."

"Was mom, um..."

"What about your mom?"

"Was she a bit indecisive when you guys were picking out my name?"

"Oh, you have no idea. Every time I thought we had THE name; she'd change her mind. It got worse in the last few weeks especially. In fact, she changed her mind I think seven or eight times while she was in labour, at least two or even three more times when she was actually delivering you."

"I see."

"Let me guess. You have a few names that you both agreed you liked, and you are quite happy with, but Abigail just can't seem to narrow it down past, like, ten possibilities."

"Yes! I love her with all my heart, but it's getting to the point where I'm worried that we might never pick a name."

"Well, if worse comes to worst, you could always name him after your old man," I tease.

"Ha, ha," Henry rolls his eyes. I'm about to speak when I hear gagging, or wait, no, vomiting. Henry looks at me. "Which one do you think it is?"

I respond instantly. "It's Bailey."

I set down the dish that I was working on and begin to make my way to the sound. Henry follows, dumbfounded. "How on earth could you tell?"

"She's been pretty sick recently, so I've grown accustomed to what it sounds like. Besides, she's much earlier on than Abigail is. She's in her third trimester now, isn't she?"

He blinks at me. "Yeah, thirty-three weeks and five days."

"It's far less common for someone to experience morning sickness past the first trimester, especially in the third."

"Huh,"

I reach the bathroom and instantly I'm squatting down beside Bailey, holding her hair back with one hand and using the other to rub her back soothingly.

QOTC: Do you prefer hot or cold weather?