| ~ Chapter Thirty-Five ~ |
| John was sitting on the porch of his parent�s house, and called his wife outside. Carey came out and said, �What is it honey? I am trying to clean up the house.� �Sit down with me for a few minutes.� John said, as he patted his hand on the chair next to his. Carey walked over and sat down, and said, �What is going on?� �Look!� John told her, as he pointed at the gray pick-up truck that drove by. �That is the fourth time that Chris has driven by here.� �So let him drive by. Your sister and Jeff are on their way home to North Carolina, so it doesn�t matter anymore.� Carey got up and went back into the house. Chris drove by one more time, only this time he decided to stop. He rolled down the window on the passenger side of his truck, and yelled, �John!� John got up and walked over to the truck. �Didn�t we make it clear last time that you are not welcome here?� John asked. �Yes, but tell me, is your sister really pregnant?� �Chris, if you so much as walk within fifty feet of my sister or her fianc�e, I�ll kill you myself.� �Chill out John, I was just asking if she was pregnant. And you never answered me.� �Frankly, it�s none of your damn business. Now get the hell out of here.� John turned around and walked back up to the porch, and Chris squealed his tires out of the driveway. �I aught to chase his ass down and kill him right now.� John thought to himself. Carey opened the door and said, �Would you get your ass in here?� John went into the house and Carey continued, �I know how much you love your sisters and all, but you are going to end up in jail. My god John, don�t you think Ryann can take care of herself? She is 25 years old, and she is engaged. It�s Jeff�s job to protect her.� �She�s my sister Carey, and Chris is a psycho. He was just asking me if she was pregnant. Like that is any of his business.� �So what. Maybe he was curious. You need to lighten up John; both of your sisters can take care of themselves. Ryann is a wrestler, so I know she can hold her own, and Jessica chases the boys away herself.� �I am not going to argue with you about this.� John said, and he stormed out of the house. He got into his mother�s car, and tore out of the driveway. Ryann and Jeff were on the road, two hours into their fifteen-hour drive back to Cameron. Ryann was staring out the window, and Jeff was concentrating on the road, and listening to Pearl Jam. The rest of their ride was the same. Neither one of them spoke too much. Jeff pulled into their driveway at quarter after one in the morning. Ryann was fast asleep, so he carried her inside and put her in bed. He dragged the bags into the house, and left them in the living room. Jeff went to his room and got Ryann out of her clothes. He put her pajamas on her, and covered her up. He then changed himself, and climbed into bed. Within minutes he was fast asleep. Ryann woke up the next morning, and felt really happy to be home in her own bed. She was so happy that she wasn�t going to have to see Chris. She threw her arm around Jeff and whispered, �Good morning Jeff.� Jeff opened his eyes and looked at her. �Good morning.� He said. Ryann kissed Jeff, and then rolled out of bed. �It�s such a great day!� She said. She grabbed some clothes out of her dresser, and went to the bathroom to take a shower. Jeff turned onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. �I think she�s lost her mind�� Jeff thought to himself. He sat up, and climbed out of bed. He looked at the clock, which said it was 8:30am, and then walked to the kitchen to make coffee. He entered the kitchen and saw someone sitting at the table, and he knew it wasn�t his fianc�e. He yelled, and jumped back out of the kitchen. He looked back in and saw Matt sitting at the table. �You scared the hell out of me Matt.� Jeff said, as he walked over to pour a cup of coffee. �Sorry.� Matt replied, and continued to read the paper. �What are you doing here? I thought you and Lexi were in Myrtle Beach?� Jeff inquired. Matt looked at Jeff from over the top of the newspaper and said, �I thought you and Ryann were in Vermont until Friday. What happened to that?� �Long story. Is everything ok with you and Lexi?� �We�re fine; we just decided not to go, because we thought we�d have the house to ourselves.� �Well I am sorry if Ryann and I spoiled your plans, but we do live here too.� �It�s ok Jeff, calm down. What happened in Vermont that sent the two of you home so quick?� �Her Ex, Chris. We ran into him again, so Ryann decided that she wanted to leave early.� �That�s awful that she has to deal with that. So when are you going to pop the question?� �I already did. I asked Ryann to marry me on Tuesday, and she said yes.� �Congratulations Jeff. So when are you going to tell Dad?� �Soon. Ryann�s family knows about everything, and they are happy for us. Now we have to tell Dad. I don�t think he will freak out or anything, I just know how he his.� �I can see it now.� Matt said, and then he started to mimic his father. �The two of you haven�t known each other long enough and you are both still so young�� �Blah, blah, blah�� Jeff interrupted. �Dad is just going to have to accept it. Nothing is going to stop me from marrying Ryann.� �I know Jeff.� Matt told him. �I think dad will be ok with it though. He�ll be excited to hear about his first grandchild on the way.� �I hope so.� Lexi walked into the kitchen with four grocery bags, and dumped them on the floor. �Matt, go get the rest of the groceries.� She said, and then noticed Jeff sitting at the table with Matt. �Oh, hey Jeff. How was the drive?� �Long�� Jeff replied. �Where�s Ryann?� �In the shower, I think.� �How is she doing? Is she still having morning sickness?� �Not this morning. She is in a very good mood. I think she�s glad to be home.� �Well I am glad the three of you are home too.� Lexi said, as she started to unpack the groceries. �The three of us?� Jeff asked. �You, Ryann, and your soon to be child.� �Oh�� Jeff said. �So why didn�t ya�ll go to Myrtle Beach?� �We just decided that it would be nice to spend some time at home instead.� �Did you and Matt decide to play house?� �Actually, we are thinking about moving into our own place. We�ve gone to look at a couple of houses already.� �Oh. Have you found anything you�ve liked?� �We looked at the house that is two houses down from your father, and Matt loves it. It�s nice, but I just haven�t decided.� �Well good for you guys.� Jeff said. Ryann came into the kitchen, looking very happy. She sort of had this glow about her, and both Jeff and Lexi noticed. �Hey Ry, how are you feeling this morning?� �Great!� Ryann said. �I am so glad to be home. I really missed this place.� �So do you want to run over to my office and have that exam today?� Lexi asked. �Sure. You will be able to tell me how far along I am and stuff, right?� �Yes, I will. I�ve never had a patient that was a close friend before. This should be interesting.� �I want to come too. I should be there, right?� �Well, you don�t have to be there, but it�s nice to see a man that wants to be involved with his soon-to-be wife�s pregnancy.� Lexi said. Then, she realized what she had said, and covered her mouth. �Oh my god. Jeff, I am so sorry.� Lexi pleaded with Jeff for forgiveness. �Lex, I already asked Ryann to marry me, its ok.� Jeff said. Lexi sighed. �Thank God! For a second there, I thought I had blown it for you.� �You knew?� Ryann asked. �How long did you know for?� �A day.� Lexi replied. Matt walked back inside with his arms full of grocery bags. �Lexi just gets all the good gossip, doesn�t she?� Matt dropped the bags in the middle of the floor. �Matt?� Lexi said as she shot him a glare and went to pick up the groceries that were now all over the kitchen floor. Ryann bent down and started to help. �So we�ll go over to the office as soon as we get Matt�s mess cleaned up.� Lexi told Ryann. �Where are you going?� Matt inquired. �Jeff and Ryann are going over to my office so I can give Ryann an exam and see how she�s doing, and how the baby is doing. Is that ok with you dad?� Lexi said sharply. �Well don�t get all huffy Lex. I was just asking a question.� Matt said, and walked out of the room. Jeff followed him. Ryann and Lexi picked up the groceries and put them away in the cupboards, and then Lexi grabbed her keys. �Do ya�ll want to ride together?� �Sure.� Ryann said. �Let me go find Jeff.� Ryann went out back and found Jeff and Matt talking at the picnic table. �Jeff honey,� Ryann said. �Lexi is ready to go. Are you almost ready?� �I�ll be right out Ry.� Jeff replied, and turned back to his brother. �Matt, everything is going to be fine.� �I hope so.� Matt said, and walked into the house. Jeff walked with Ryann out front, and the two of them got into Lexi�s Honda Passport with her. Lexi drove out, and headed for her office. |
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