“What about you, would you consider living here?”
“In Los Angeles?” she asks.
“No, Hollywood. In this house, would you consider it? I need to be here, Josie, or the band is going to fail. I need to be in Beaumont or my family is going to grow up without me. What if we compromise? We can spend the school year in Beaumont, and the summers here. We can live here and raise the kids. Fill my grandma’s house with love and laughter. I think she would’ve liked that. I’ll still have to travel back and forth, but I’m not ready to give up my music… unless you ask me to.”
“I’ve learned my lesson about forcing or suggesting anything. I think what you’ve proposed will work. What about Harrison and Jimmy?”
“Harrison has a condo or apartment, whatever he wants to call it, south of here, but he could buy something close to us if he wanted to, so could JD and Jenna. Honestly, I think JD and Jenna are probably moving here anyway.”
“What about the café?”
Liam cups my cheeks, “Hire more people. I keep telling you that. Hire more people to cover for you. It’ll be worth it.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, let’s do this.”
Los Angeles was an eye-opener for Liam and me. We realized that we needed to work on our communication skills and stop worrying how the other might react when we have bad news. We hid stuff from each other that could’ve been very hurtful to our marriage. I still have looming questions about his past, mostly where Sam is concerned, but for the most part things between us are better than ever.
It’s been almost four months since the band went to LA to help out Trixie. In the end, the fundraiser was successful for Metro and Trixie’s call sheet started filling up again. I’m not saying it was all 4225 West’s doing, but I do believe the guys helped out a lot. Of course, being front and center for their performances was the best part. Jenna and Katelyn joined me for the last show and we rocked out like groupies, except we went home with the band for the night.
It’s the end of summer and life is winding down, or about to explode, depending on which way you look at it. I’m due in about five-weeks and instead of being home and getting ready, I’ve spent the past week and a half sitting on bleachers while I cheer my son and his baseball team on in the Little League World Series. We have one game left – the championship – and Noah is pitching.
We’re all here; Liam chartered a plane to make sure of it so we could all support Noah and Nick. Harrison, Katelyn and the kids, Jimmy, Jenna and Eden, my parents, Mr. Powell and Ms. James, Yvie and a very pregnant Aubrey... even Bianca is here. Xander has taken the position as team trainer and is on the bench, which is making Liam jealous.
“Why don’t you use your good eye, you know the one between your –” Liam’s hand clamps down over my mouth, causing me to mumble “ass cheeks” into his hand. When he finally removes it, I glare at him out of the corner of my eye.
“Jesus, Josie, you’re going to get tossed out of the ballpark. Do you want that?”
“No,” I say with a huff.
“You’d think being pregnant would calm you down, but I think it’s making it worse.”
I turn away from Liam and face Aubrey, who is holding her belly and laughing. As I look around at my family, everyone is laughing, except for Bianca - she’s giving me the thumbs up. Getting kicked out is the last thing I want, but I can’t help it when the umpire makes a shitty call and my son is batting.
But I know if I got kicked out, it would embarrass Noah and I’m not about to do that. He’s worked so hard to get where we are today. Liam’s right, I need to be on my best behavior.
“It’s okay, Aunt Josie! If I say it the umpire won’t kick me out; I’m too cute.” Peyton wraps her arm around me and sticks her tongue out at Liam, who throws his hands up in the air.
“I know, but Uncle Liam is right. I need to be good.”
Peyton shrugs and wiggles her way in between Liam and me, but leans her head on my bulging belly. Liam and I have decided to wait until the baby’s born to find out what we’re having. He thinks it’s a girl because it’ll be payback for how rotten he’s been and because Nick and Aubrey are having a boy. Liam says that this is his punishment. He says luck is not on his side and he’ll be damned if his daughter marries an Ashford. I usually just nod and agree with him, even though I think we’re having a boy.
At the end of the inning, Aubrey and I stand and stretch. Since Yvie moved to Beaumont two months ago, she’s been teaching us yoga. It’s helped a lot and I’ve been able to keep my weight gain to a minimum. Not too many expectant moms travel with their yogi, but having her on the trip has been amazing. She’s making sure our blood pressure doesn’t skyrocket from a combination of the heat, uncomfortable seating and ballpark food. I may or may not have eaten my fair share of hotdogs since I’ve been here. I blame the stress and the fact that I’m eating for two.
Noah takes the mound. He doesn’t look nervous at all, but Liam does. Liam’s hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees with his ball cap turned backwards. I know it’s hard for him to see Noah with Nick, but honestly, it’s been good for everyone involved. Nick loves coaching and has been offered the Varsity Coach spot at the high school. He’s yet to give them an answer, though; he says he needs to get through baseball first and discuss it with Noah.
Bianca, who was sitting with my mother, comes and sits next to Liam. He puts his arm around her and gives her a hug. This is another thing that’s transpired out of my impromptu trip to LA – a relationship with Bianca.
When we returned to Beaumont, he went to her and they talked for a long time. She spends more and more time at our house now, and she and I get along pretty well. I’m still hesitant in some regard, but I’m trying. It was Bianca and my mother who cleaned out the nursery to get it ready for this baby. We gave everything we had to Meredith and her son, Daniel. Meredith cried and apologized profusely, but it was the right decision. I see her every now and again at the park, but I don’t talk to her or ask to see Daniel. I’ve closed that chapter and moved on.
I asked Katelyn not to throw me a baby shower this time. One, I didn’t want to explain to everyone where the other baby was. Two, I want to buy stuff that I like and I’m waiting until I pop this sucker out before I splurge on too much. Katelyn promised me a massive shopping trip as soon as we’re back in Beaumont. It’ll be a girl’s weekend with the grandmas.
We’re tied one-one with Japan and everyone is on edge. The grandstands are split down the middle, with us having a large cheering section.
Junior Appleton is catching and as much as it pains me, he and Noah are good friends. Don’t expect me to invite Candy over anytime soon, though. I’m still not over her trying to steal Liam from me... twice.