No Place Like Home

Chapter 18

Ally's POV
I held my cell phone up to my ear as it continued to ring.. once...twice... "Hello?"
"Hey Trish." I said glancing over at the clock on the stove, 7:34 a.m.
"Hi girl, why are you calling so early?" She asks, sleep evident in her voice.
"I was up early and wanted to know it you'd like to have breakfast together?" I ask as I fill the coffee pot with water.
"Sure, I'd love to Ally."
"Great! I just need to make Austin and Kinsley something before I leave. Want to meet up at Starbucks at 8:30?" I say, placing the pot in the coffee maker and turning it on to brew.
"Yeah, that'll work." Trish says.
"Okay, I'll see you there! Love you girl." I tell her.
"Love you too, see you at 8:30." She says, and then a beep sounds the end of the call.
I lay my phone down on the counter and go to the refrigerator to search for the pancake mix.
When I find it, in the back hidden by all of the leftovers, I dive into the coldness to retrieve it. Once I have it, I turn around to close the door, and I almost run smack into my husband.
"Austin!" I exclaim, startled.
"Goodmorning." He says with a sly grin.
"What in the world? Why did you sneak up on me like that?" I ask as I run a hand through his messy hair, trying to straighten it.
"Well, why did you leave me in bed all alone?" He counters.
"Touche." I say smiling, "Want to help me make pancakes?"
"I'd love to." He says, looking in the cabinet to find a bowl.
"So," I say, beginning to open the box, "I'm going to have breakfast with Trish in an hour."
"Yeah, I heard you talking to her." He says, placing the bowl in front of me.
"Eavesdropper!" I say, whacking him on the arm with a spoon.
"Ow!" He jokingly cries while grabbing his arm.
I erupt into laughter at his childish behavior.
"Come here missy." He growls, jumping at me.
I try to run from his grasp, but his arms are too strong for my measly attempts.
He plants a kiss on my cheek while holding me captive.
"Austin, please let me go." I half-heartedly beg.
"Why should I?" He asks.
"Because, I need to make breakfast." I tell him.
"That can wait." He whispers into my ear.
His warm breath against my skin melts away any pancake making plans I had previously thought of.
I turn around in his embrace and wrap my arms around his neck, leaning my head against his.
"Austin, I have to meet with Trish in an hour baby." I tell him, trying to convince him to stop.
"That means we have a full sixty minutes to ourselves." He says before melting his lips on mine.
I pull away between kisses, trying to explain my situation.
"I haven't...gotten dressed yet...I need to make...breakfast...and I still need to...wake Kinsley up."
I can't even get a complete sentence out before Austin's lips are back on mine, not that I matter, but I needed to get ready.
Austin winds his arms around me, lifting me up, and I wraps my legs around his torso as he carries me upstairs.
"I can make breakfast and wake Kinsley up." He says before planting lingering kisses on my shoulder.
I give in, dizzy from his touch, as he walks us into our room and shuts the door.

Austin's POV
I leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my beautiful wife's forehead.
"Austin?" She asks.
"Yeah baby?" I reply, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"What time is it?"
I glance over at the clock, 8:03.
A sigh escapes my lips, "Three minutes past eight."
Ally nods her head, "I need to get ready. I've got to leave in twenty minutes."
"I know." I say.
Ally reaches up and places her hand on my neck, "I love you."
"I love you two Alls." I tell her, our lips meeting for one more kiss.
Ally gets up and heads toward the bathroom as I lay back down onto my pillow.
A smile crosses my lips as I think about her.
It seemed to me that she was the most beautiful in the morning. Of course she would disagree, but there was something so hypnotic about waking up beside her as she dreamed.
"Nothing's quite as pretty as Ally in the morning." I softly sing.
I get up and wrap my robe around me as I make my way over to my guitar in the corner of the room, softly humming.
I sit down in the chair by the window as I begin playing with a few chords.
"Nothing's quite as pretty as Ally in the morning, when through the sleepy haze I see her lying there."

Ally's POV
Thirty minutes later, I was pulling into the Starbucks' parking lot. As I cut off my car, I pull down my mirror and run a hand through my still wet hair. Austin, I'm going to get you for having to make me take another shower this morning.
A few minutes later, I see Trish's jeep pull in beside me. I hop out and run over to her. "Trish! I'm so happy to see you!" I say, wrapping my arms around her.
"Ally, you just saw me two days ago at Kinsley's birthday party." She says with a laugh.
"I know."I say as we walk into Starbuck.
We soon order our breakfast and have a seat.
"So, we really didn't get to talk the other day. How's everything going Trish?" I ask her from across the table.
"Um..you know. Same ole same ole." She says with a nervous smile.
"Are you sure? You know I'm here for you, no matter what the situation."
She nods her head and looks out the window.
She doesn't say anything for a couple of moments, just blankly stares out at the traffic around us.
I reach across the table and place my hands on top of hers, "Trish, please talk to me. I know something's wrong."
She takes a deep breath and then looks at me, "Has Austin told you?"
I slowly nod my head. "He came to bed really upset the other night. He wasn't gossiping. I promise you that Trish. He's just really worried about you. We've all been friends for a long time." I tell her.
"I'm sorry. I should've came to you. It's just..."
"I know. You thought I wouldn't understand, but Trish, if you are ever troubled, please don't hesitate to come to me. You've been there for me since the very beginning, and I want to be here for you, if you want me to." I tell her.
"Of course I want you there Ally. You're my closest friend. You're the sister I never had. I don't know; I was just feeling really down in the dumps, and playing with Kins only reminded me of what I would never have." She says, tears starting to appear in her eyes.
"And you just needed to talk to someone. I understand." I tell her, getting up to go wrap her in a hug.
"I love Kinsley, I really do. I mean she is my niece, but the pain was just really fresh. I had just found out that morning." She says.
"I'm so sorry. I don't what it feels like, knowing you'll never be able to have your own children, but I do know what it feels like to lose one. I promise you Trish, it will get easier."
"I know. I just feel like I'm letting Jace down. He deserves to be a father."
"And you deserve to be a mother Trish, but maybe God has different plans. Maybe there is a homeless child out there that needs someone to love them, and God has already appointed you and Jace as their parents. Maybe this is how your lives were suppose to turn out." I tell her, trying my best to encourage her.
"I've never thought about it like that. Ever since we found out, all of my thoughts have become a haze. Maybe adoption wouldn't be as bad as I thought. There are plenty of kids out there that deserve love and deserve parents, just like we deserve a child." She says with a smile appearing on her face.
"See, everything's going to be fine." I tell her.
A few minutes later, everything has calmed, and I am devouring my spinach wrap I ordered.
"So, do you have any big plans for your birthday next week?" Trish asks me.
I swallow my mouth full of food and answer, "No, not really. Austin and I are going on a picnic."
"Who's watching Kins?"
"We haven't asked anyone yet, but I'm sure Carrie and Dez could." I tell her, sipping on my coffee.
"Nonsense, let me and Jace watch her." She surprises me by saying.
"What? Trish, no, I couldn't ask you to do that with everythi-" I'm cut off my Trish holding up her hand.
"Ally, Dez and Carrie have their hands full with Daniel. I wouldn't want them stressing out. Please, let us keep her."
I silently chew my food, considering the thought.
"So?" Trish anxiously asks.
"Okay, I guess you can keep her." I say, a smile playing on my lips.
"Great!" Trish exclaims before digging into her oatmeal.
My phone buzzes on the table, and I pick it up to find a text from Austin, Miss you baby, me & Kins can't wait for you to get home.
"Austin?" Trish asks.
"Yeah." I reply.
"That boy couldn't go one day without you." She says, shaking her head as I giggle.

ausllyfied: I am in the biggest writing mood, so here I am updating again :)