The Journey Home(72)
Author: Kelly Elliott

“What the hell is that?” Mary asked as my father laughed.

Cale was holding a camel. A giant camel.

“Wait, where was that thing?” I asked as I walked over to him. He frantically looked around. He pointed and said, “Your purse. Maddie, get your purse. We have to go.”

I shook my head. “Right now, I’m more curious about the giant camel in your arms.”

He looked at me like I was crazy. “The camel?” he asked, surveying the room.

I placed my hands on my hips. “Daddy, up. Up!” Lily said, pulling on Cale’s jeans.

“Yes, Cale. The camel. What’s the story with the camel?”

He looked down at Lily and smiled. He dropped the Camel to the ground and she laughed and crawled all over it. “Well, it’s kind of a joke,” he said. “Er, um, well…not a joke I care to share right now.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Cale…”

“Really, Maddie now might not be…”

“Oh just tell the joke, for Christ’s sake,” my father said.

Cale ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “Fine. The first time Jack ever saw Monica, he made a joke. She was wearing these tight pants…and, well…”

The moment he said it I was taken back to the night we meet Cale and Jack. “I think we should go now.” I blurted.

“Oh no, I want to hear this joke now.” Mary said.

Cale sighed. “Jack looked at Monica and said, ‘To hell with kissing that girl under the mistletoe, I’ll kiss her camel toe instead.’”

I closed my eyes and shook my head as my father and Cale’s mother both laughed. “You are not bringing that to the hospital. Are you insane?”

“What? He’ll never see it coming.” Cale said with a smile.

My phone buzzed, notifying me of a text message.

Monica: Please tell me you’re on your way. I’m about to kill my husband.

Me: Same here. Leaving now. Don’t worry. It will all be okay!

I looked at my father and Mary. Mary smiled. “Go. I’ve got Lily. Go be with Monica and Jack.”

I bent down and kissed Lily. “Mommy loves you, Princess.”

Lily waved bye-bye and I waved back. Her light brown, curls fell to her shoulders and her green-blue eyes lit up as I waved back. She was the spitting image of Cale.

Cale went to grab the camel when I pulled him away from it by the arm. “No, Cale.”

“Aw, Maddie. Don’t be such a killjoy.” Cale whined.

I walked out to the car and got in first, followed by Cale. He started the car then told me he’d forgotten something. He jumped out of the car and ran back into the house. When he came back out with the camel, I rolled my eyes. I’d clearly lost this fight.

I COULDN’T BELIEVE how insanely beautiful the twins were. Monica and Jack named them Craig and Lucy. Craig had been named after Jack’s dad and Lucy was named after Monica’s grandmother. I glanced up and saw Cale holding Craig. I looked down at Lucy and smiled.

Lucy yawned and made the sweetest sound. My heart slammed in my chest as I thought about the child growing in my own stomach. “Hey there, little one,” I whispered. Welcome to this crazy world.”

Jack came into the room and smacked Cale on the back of the head. “Get that damn camel out of this room. Now.”

Cale laughed as Monica asked, “What’s with the camel anyway?”

Cale went to explain, but Jack stepped in front of him and said, “Don’t even think about it, Cale Blackwood.”

I giggled and shook my head.

“How are you feeling, Monica?” I asked.

She adjusted herself in the bed and said, “I feel great. I really do. It’s nice to have my body back. I wouldn’t trade a minute of any of it though.”

I smiled warmly at my best friend. She looked beautiful. She didn’t have an ounce of makeup on. Jack was still asking why he’d had to run and get the makeup if she wasn’t even going to wear it.

“I can’t wait for Lily to meet Craig and Lucy. She is going to have so much fun with them.” Cale said as he stood and rocked a cranky Craig.

I also stood and walked around with Lucy in my arms. She was so tiny, and I couldn’t get enough of her smell. I kissed her head before I placed her back in her bassinet. “How long do you have to stay here?”

Cale placed Craig, now asleep, in his bassinet, too. He stood, staring at both babies.

“I’m hoping I’ll be home in the next day or two,” Monica said. “Everything went great with the delivery, and the twins are as healthy as can be. I think we’d all be more comfortable at home.” She looked up and Jack smiled. He leaned down and kissed her.

“I love you, Monica,” he said. “Happy Mother’s Day, baby.”

I watched as a tear rolled down my best friend’s cheek. I couldn’t help but stare at the two of them. The way they looked into each other’s eyes, it was clear how much they loved each other. I pulled my eyes away and saw Cale watching me. He smiled and I smiled back. He pulled me into his arms. Cale’s lips moved across my neck, sending a chill from my head to my toes. When he found his way to my ear, I had to grab onto his arms to steady myself.

“I want to make love to you, Maddie,” Cale whispered as he kissed around my ear, which always drove me mad. His voice was laced with desire, which only blossomed my own want.

“Okay,” I whispered back. He stepped back and grabbed the camel.

“I’ll take this home and keep it safe for y’all, then bring it over once you get home.”

Jack shot Cale a dirty look. “Bastard.”

Cale threw his head back and laughed before giving Monica a kiss on the forehead. “We’re gonna let you rest now, sweetheart. The babies are beautiful, like their mother.”

Monica smiled and nodded. “Thanks, you guys, for coming and staying with us. You’re next!”

Monica pointed at me. I placed my hand on my stomach and giggled. I kissed Monica goodbye, and then Jack.

“We’ll be back tomorrow! Love you both!” I called out as I walked out the door.

Driving home, I couldn’t stop thinking about our baby.

Cale reached for my hand and squeezed it. “What are you thinking about?”

“The baby.” I glanced over and smiled weakly at him. “I’m…scared.”

He looked at me, concerned, before quickly looking back at the road. “What are you scared about?”