Fleetwood Mac-Part III of Fritz Series

Dreams

June 1976(Nova's first birthday)

"Tell mommy which one you want baby, blue or red?" Nova chews on his fingers pointing at the red pair of shorts Stevie's holding "Can you say red? Say red baby" smiling around a mouthful of digits my son eyes his mother "Bahbahbah". Stevie slumps a little but keeps her face bright tucking our son's chubby legs and arms into his shorts and t-shirt "Sara had her first word at nine months, Nova's a year old and nothing..." I rustle my newspaper looking at patio furniture. I'm turning into quite the domesticated male. Patio furniture?

"I think I read something about boys being a little slower at things" Stevie stands Nova up and he takes cautious steps holding her hands "But not three months slow Linds, do you think-maybe there's something wrong with him? Developmentally?" as if I can tell just by looking I drop my paper again. He looks fine to me he's got light blonde hair and brown eyes like Stevie's, his gait is normal he's got slender fingers and long legs like me. I don't see anything wrong with his development "I think maybe we should give him some more time, just because he's not spouting poetry and synthesizing the human genome doesn't mean he's...slow" clucking her tongue Stevie hands him off to me and I lift my son into my lap.

"That's right buddy, you'll be talking in no time. You know my mom said I didn't really talk a lot when I was a baby." The pattern continues to this day. On a daily basis I can count on one hand the number of conversations I have with people. Today I've had four, one with Mick on the phone. One with Mom and Greg arranging a car to get them from the train station, one with Barbra and Jess to do the same and this one with Stevie. I think again...nope I had a conversation with Sara about what she wanted for breakfast so five conversations.

"But you still could say at least a couple of words by the time you were nine months old I wager. I'm worried Linds, Nova didn't exactly have the best start in the world...when we were taken" my hands grip my sons as I try and block the memory of my family's ordeal from my mind. I've done my best to bury that dark time in the recesses of my mind. "Maybe we should take him to a speech therapist" I cringe she used the T word. "I guess it couldn't hurt" Nova uses my shoulders to pull himself into a standing position in my lap "Babhahba".

"That's right big guy it's your birthday" Sara skips into our bedroom jumping onto the bed to watch Stevie sort through her outfits for the party "Daddy is there gonna be a clown?" I shudder to myself balancing Nova on my knee "No way kiddo clowns are creepy" Stevie snorts looking back at me "Linds-come on they're not creepy" The hell they aren't. "I've got a juggler and a petting zoo, no clowns" the house is going to be full for the first time since we've moved out here. Both of our families, and a bunch of our friends from back home are expected. Nova's little feet kick as Stevie tries her best to put socks and shoes on them. Smiling she catches both on one hand and he squeals happily "Uncle Jeff is here!" looking up I see Robin and Jeff's Volkswagen Bug pull into the drive.

"I'll get it! I'll get it!" like a flash of light Sara zooms to the door to let two of her favorite people into the party. The next time I see her she's sitting on Jeff's shoulders as he walks into our bedroom with Robin "Hey Steph, Linds. Oh look at the birthday boy and his adorable little outfit!" Nova ceases looking down at his shoes to smile up at Robin "Bah!". Jeff shakes my hand his meaty paw covering mine, he's still the incredible Hulk even with his new found peace and love personality. Apparently, there's nothing more relaxing than deadlifting four hundred pounds while smoking a joint. I'll take his word for it.

"Okay Nova let's go get you a popsicle" his eyes light up and he takes Robins hand to walk into the kitchen "Let's grab a brew bro" sounds like a plan. It's scorching outside, and I have to grill food for about thirty people. About thirty minutes into the party another car pulls up, it's shiny like it just left the lot and I figure it's probably a rental. Greg, Elise, Jordan and Mom climb out of the shiny auto taking in the scenery of our rental home. My eldest brother, dressed as usual in crisp slacks and a button-down shirt gazes around the place absorbing his environs.