Page 132 of Creed

I bit back my own tears and gave him a nod.

“I’ll take over. Go home and get some rest.” Irons volunteered.

“I’ll assist.” Jennings spoke up.

Brace Yourself

Morgan

Josh had been acting strange ever since we came up from the bunker. He was holding Addie a lot and not really hovering over me as much as being…I didn’t know the right word. Maybe affectionate and extremely accommodating would cover it.

It had been two days, and it was time to get the community back to normal. I needed to go to work and Addie to daycare. School was still out as a precaution like every other school in the country. They still had just under fifty cells to find and nobody was willing to possibly put kids in harms way. The President asked that all concerts and large events were postponed as a safety precaution as well.

I spoke with Jake, and he was shook up more than anything. He was in fact at the movie premier, but most of the injuries were in the front of the theater. He was able to escape but quite a few actors and directors were injured. He was planning a trip home to Tennessee just to get out of California. As usual, he avoided Indiana as much as possible.

Josh wasn’t happy that I was heading back to work. I thought if he had the power he would keep us in the safe little bubble we knew as home for a very long time. Unlike him, I had to get back to my life so I could occupy my brain. I couldn’tunderstand why it was taking so long for Creed to contact us. I had a bad feeling he would have called me right away if he were still alive.

Josh went to work with me and hadn’t left my side since the morning after we came up from the bunker. He was driving me insane. Just because I was pregnant didn’t mean I needed a full time babysitter.

I left Josh outside my classroom, then I opened the door and slid a chair out before I locked it. I was mad at him because he knew something and was keeping it from me.

I turned and saw the boys and they both looked upset. “Lay it on me.” I pulled a chair out and took a seat. The boys both looked at each other then Weston spoke up.

“We’re scared we won’t get to know Creed. We waited a really long time to meet him and what if he doesn’t get to see us as men? We’re trying really hard. We want to make this work for ourselves, our brother, our mom, and Olivia. Not to mention you and the twins.” Weston took a deep breath in a pause then his eyes met mine. “We’ll both be here when we can for the babies and even…” Weston gulped. “Little Addie. We’re their uncles and they’re important. Our brother just saved the world. Literally the entire world and everybody should know it.”

I leaned forward and squeezed both their hands. “Your brother wouldn’t want people to know. He’s a humble man and doesn’t like the spotlight. As far as being here for our kids, I think it's wonderful, but right now, you have to focus on your education and what’s coming next. Karter you have a little girl that needs you and soon your mom will need both of you. The best thing you can do for everyone is to succeed. Weston you have eight months to get all your credits to graduate so you can join the Army. With the training you’ve had here, basic trainingwill be a breeze. Karter you have almost two years and you’ll go to the academy.”

Karter cleared his throat. “Do you think it’ll damage Olivia that I’m not there right now?”

I shook my head. “No, you’ll be there next weekend. Maybe when she gets a little bit older her mother will allow some video calls and that might help. I know it has to be hard to be away from her, but single dads have had to be every other weekend dads for years. Hopefully you’ll get more time with her as she gets older. Babies this little need their mommies for survival since she’s breast feeding and you have to go by her parents rules. Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you have babies so young. Just keep sending as much money as you can and try not to miss visits.”

Of course, I believed he should have had a bigger role in Olivia’s life, but Karter had a lot of growing up to do and he was becoming the man Olivia needed as a father. He needed to focus on his growth so he could be the daddy she needed later. It was the girls father that was making it hard for him to see Olivia, so he might as well use the time he had to create a better future for her later.

We talked and finally got back to work. Since school was out and they were caught up with their English we moved on to math.

We switched the boys to morning classes since school was out and I had homeschooling classes in the afternoon. I was incredibly proud of the boys, and they earned a lot of privileges since Creed left. They had been eating normal meals either in the community center or with us at the house, they also had full use of the amenities during their off hours. They were even permitted to go to public school since that was whatthey wanted, and they earned it. Our classes changed from the training center to our home after school. They still had credits to make up through a homeschooling program and were taking grade specific classes at school because they worked so hard. Creed would be proud, and I was sure when he came home he would want a true brothers relationship with them.

After the boys, I met with Felicity’s girls. My classes were growing smaller since seven of them already passed their general education tests. All seven were working in the medical center as receptionists and medical assistants. Four of them decided to take college courses so they could be licensed by the state. Until then, Zoey and her nurses had to do all the shots and blood draws. The other three were looking for work outside Creed’s Lake while they worked.

We broke for lunch and Josh followed me to the community center to eat.

“I’m just saying I don’t need a babysitter.” I was complaining all the way to lunch.

“I have strict orders to stay with you at least until we get news about Creed. Plus, you’re under a lot of stress and Zoey said there’s a chance for pre-term labor with twins.” He parked the side by side and cut off the engine.

“Alright, then when I’m done for the day you can take me grocery shopping. I haven’t been since we went down to the bunker, and I have a full house to feed.” I slowly pulled myself out of my seat then waddled into the Community Center.

After lunch I went back to my classroom at the training center. I had kids of pretty much all ages to teach, then I taught music classes for both public school kids and homeschooling kids. We were preparing for a winter concert and Melissa washelping. Although it was December, we were still experiencing warmer than usual weather. We didn’t need heavy coats to go outside. A jacket or sweatshirt was really all we needed because our daytime highs were in the 60’s and nighttime low’s were in the 40’s.

Speaking of Melissa, she was juggling my crazy life and helping with Addie from time to time. She had all my video interviews set up and she was dealing with the beach house sale. We received a few offers but turned them down. I could afford to hold on to it until I got the right offer. She was also dealing with my business manager and the studio. Both of us had a lot on our plates.

When my day was over, we went grocery shopping then headed home. Melissa took Addie home to my mom and sister and she had calls to make about a few in person interviews I was expected to do over the winter. Thankfully, mom had dinner started and I could get off my feet for a little while. I was going to miss my mom. She had to get back to work the following day because her bosses were pissed. Nursing homes didn’t have the luxury of closing, and they were already understaffed.

I went upstairs to change then went to the nursery to do a little work before mom called me down for dinner. Savannah and Addie helped me put sheets on the two cribs Josh put together before we had to go underground. As Addie put books in the little bookshelf, Savannah helped me pull tags off the few outfits I bought online. We folded them and put them in the small dressers Josh also put together for me.

It didn’t take long for Addie to get bored. She ran off outside with Josh and Nikko to play. Since we had a log home there wasn’t any painting to do, so I threw in color by putting down a really soft and fuzzy rug. Josh still had to pick up therocking chair my mother had to rock me in as a baby. Savannah and I talked about baby names and laughed when she suggest Alistair Creed III. Creed would have a fit and have it changed. The man really did hate his first name.

As I looked down at the baby clothes I imagined Creed holding two tiny babies in his strong arms. Then imagined them looking just like him as they played in the back yard as they got a little older. I imagined girls and boys because I really had no instinct as far as what I was having. I laughed to myself when I imagined Creed changing diapers.

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