Echo

August

​It's the second week of August and I have another appointment today and so does Jessica. Trey has been gone for a week now, working on the slope, so us girls have had plenty of bonding time. Nichole decides to tag along. Again I'm in the waiting room but this time I'm not alone. I have my family.

"Kayleigh." I stand up and Nichole follows. "Hello Kayleigh how are you feeling?" Dr. Mossberg grabs my elbow. "You are really starting to show. You ready to see your boys?" I nod my head, "I'm doing good, really happy, I can't wait to see them." Nichole waits in the hallway as I take my shirt off and slip on the gown. I make myself comfortable on the bed, she puts the gel on my stomach and brings Nichole inside, "Ready to go this show on my road." She turns to the machine, "There they happy, happily moving around, you can expect the movement to pick up a lot, especially now that you are approaching the 18  week mark." Time seems to be flying by, "Do you have a good support background Kayleigh, twins can be a handful." I nod my head, "I believe so. I'm excited." She laughs, "That's good.  That's very good. Being excited is one of the amazing steps of motherhood." I smile and look at the screen again. "I'll get you some more pictures."

Nichole puts the her hand on my leg, "I have an idea." She doesn't say anything after that but thinks hard, "Well you are good to go."  She hands me more pictures, and wipes the goo off.
​In the waiting room, Jessica is just going back, "I'm hungry, we are going to run and get food. We will be back soon." She nods and disappears. In the van we pull into McDonalds.

Inside Darren sits with a girl at a far table and notices when I walk in. He reaches over and kisses the girl softly and grins at me after. My heart breaks, my body begins to shake. I feel like I just stood hours on a boat. Nichole sees him and whispers, "Go wait in the car." In the car I recline the seat and close my eyes. My phone rings, and I know the name on the phone without looking.
>>Darren: It hurts doesn't it.
It wasn't a question, he was aiming to hurt me. Nichole get's in the car, "We should probably go get Jess." I nod and turn the radio up loud. I park outside the front door right as Jessica walks out. She climbs into the back seat, "Did you get me something?" Nichole hands her food, "Can we just go home." Everyone nods, but doesn't say anything.
​
I lie in bed, with Chaos at my side when the door opens, "Trey, we weren't expecting you yet." He kisses Jessica, "Surprise, where's my sister?" She points to my bedroom door. I close my eyes and fake to be asleep, "You have always been bad at that Kayleigh, what's wrong?" I look at him and my eyes start to water, "I miss him Trey, I miss both of them." He puts his hand on my leg, "Text Tanner, but do not talk to Darren, please, for them." He puts his hand on my stomach, "You look good by the way, the baby bump really fits you." I smile at him, "Now come eat I brought a feast."

The dining room aromas fill the air, ham, mashed potatoes, and fresh rolls. The smell makes my mouth water. I pull the chair out at the table to sit down when the doorbell rings. Trey throws his hand up at me, "I'll get it." He opens the door and in comes Jimmy, "Sorry I'm late, hey Kayleigh." He smiles and takes  the chair next to me. Just as Trey closes the door, the doorbell rings again. This time Chaos is barking at his feet. Mom pushes through the door just barely stepping over Chaos. Amanda follows behind her but picks the dog up. Dad comes in last hugging my brother at the door, "Thanks for inviting us to dinner son."

Everyone gathers around the table like we are some big happy family. Everyone sits around the table as Jessica sets the green bean casserole on the table.  Mom pushes her plate away, "Why did you want us here Trey, spit it out." Trey just shakes off mom's words and clears his throat, "I know this may seem weird to everyone, but I have been thinking about it a lot," he turns and faces Jessica while pulling a small box out of his pocket, "Will you marry me?" Jessica bursts into tears and nods her head, crying to hard for words. He slips the ring on her finger and kisses her softly. Mom pushes away from the table and walks outside, "Well Trey, good for you. I'm proud of you buddy. I'm sorry your mom is acting this way. It's all just really hard on her." He stands and pushes in his chair and moms, "Thanks for inviting us anyways." He throws a wad of cash on the table, "Engagement present, come on Amanda." Amanda stands with her head hung low, "sorry guys." They both walk out the door while Nichole walks in, "Whoa did I miss the party." She laughs and sits at the table. I grab the money and hand it to Trey, but he pushes my hand away. "You keep it." Jimmy sits next to me, with his hand on my thigh and a blank expression across his face as if he trying to process everything that happened. "Let's eat." No one says anything but the area is loud with scraping of forks against plates and the sound of opening beer bottles." Jimmy slowly runs his hand up my leg, and I blush.
​
Nichole climbs into her bed that she made on the couch after a few too many beers. Trey pulls Jessica to her feet, "Let's go to bed." They walk off hand in hand to their room. Jimmy leans in close and whispers, "Maybe we should retire too." I nod my head and pull his face into mine, "You are really beautiful Kayleigh, I hope you know that." I kiss him again and he scoops me up into his arms. He is a lot stronger than I thought. He lies me down on the bed, closes the door and turns the light off. We slide our shirts off barely letting our lips leave another. When I feel something go terribly wrong.