Page 42 of Fourteen Years

Lucas rolled his eyes, “I told you the doctor said you could have a little. It's not going to hurt him. You chose to cut out caffeine.”

“Shut up and stop reminding me of that.” Becks scowled at him.

“Bad move, Lucas,” I said, moving over to get my friend a mug for her favorite tea I kept stocked. “Do not anger it.”

“It?” snarked Becks. “Should I be offended?” She directed the question to Trevor. “My best friend and husband are picking on me.”

“I’ll always be on your side, Becks.” Trevor promised, as she nodded appreciatively. “It’s safer from the hormones that way.” he added as Becks threw a magazine from the table at him.

“Jerks.” she muttered.

“So, how did yesterday’s appointment go?” I asked, setting the mug in front of my friend.

“Good,” said Becks.

“Becks.” growled Lucas. She sighed, glaring, when I looked over at him. “The doctor is worried about her blood pressure. Becks has been told to keep calm and take it easy so she doesn’t end up delivering the little man before he’s done baking.”

“Becks!” I said, “That’s something you should probably tell us.” I scolded.

“I don’t want to be babied.” she whined. “I took care of myself fine with Nat.”

“Did you have high blood pressure with Nat? Did you have me when you were pregnant with Nat? Did you have friends when you were pregnant with Nat?” Lucas ranted, hands on his uniformed hips, eyes on his wife.

I watched my friend tear up. I understood it was still hard for her to concede and accept help and peoples’ presence in her life.

“Okay.” I said. “Lucas, you need to get Lacey to school. I know what’s going on and I am working with Becks now. I got her, big guy.”

He sighed, and looked at me gratefully. Striding over he ducked close to Becks’ ear and whispered something I couldn’t hear. I watched her sniffle and nod.

“I know, I love you too.” she whispered. Lucas kissed her head before standing and nodding at me.

“Need a ride to the station?” he asked Trevor.

“If Mon can pick me up after work, sure.”

“Oh great. The cop and the fireman are taking me to school.” groaned my oldest behind me as Nat and Lexi came bounding down the stairs.

I snorted, hugging Lacey tight.

“Enjoy it. I love you. Have a good day.”

“Love you too, Mom.” I watched her, Lucas, and Trevor walk out the door after Trevor kissed me goodbye.

“Girls, in the car!” I ordered the younger ones as they ran through the kitchen with their backpacks. I stood staring at my best friend as she looked back at me.

“Ready to kick this day’s ass?” I asked, helping her to her feet.

Chapter 25

“So, things are still going well over on your end with Mon?”

Lucas looked over at me, briefly glancing before returning his eyes to the road. We’d just dropped Lacey off at school and had each barely gotten a wave out of her. Lucas had made sure to blow a kiss at her and yell her name to thoroughly antagonize her. I’d be amused if I’d known I wasn’t going to be the one going home to the repercussions later.

“Everything is good on our end. We still haven’t seen or heard anything from Richard and company. Anything on y’all’s? Surely they’ve gotten citations for something. They’ve never gone this long without one of them serving some kind of time.”

“There hasn’t been anything. It's creepy as hell because you’re right. We’re usually bringing one of the jackasses in on some kind of charge. Or we get a complaint about something they’ve done.”

“Nick is still doing well with Jackson living with him?” I asked. I’d spoken to Jackson and gotten a feel for the kid. He really reminded me of myself. Part of me was terrified because I’d been like a magnet to Monica at that age. Lacey didn’t really seem interested as more than a friend though, and neither did he. He came over for the occasional barbeque at one of our houses but most of the time kept busy with studies and his part time job he’d found.

---