18. Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

J esse sat on her bed, getting ready to go out in the front room. She and Cannon had been living together for a week. Although they'd eaten supper together every night, they hadn't really discussed much. He'd been taking the pain pills, especially after he'd tried to get up and go to the bathroom without someone. Although he hadn't fallen all the way to the floor, he'd hit the bedside table and jarred everything. After Flick had gotten after him, they'd decided unless the pain worsened, he should be okay.

Tonight, she was paying the kids for keeping the surprise. A movie night and sleepover, along with a little gift for all of them. She worried rewarding the kids for keeping the secret would bring all Cannon's anger to the surface, but she'd promised the kids and wasn't breaking her promise.

Flick and Beth were helping, so it wasn't just her and Cannon. It was a blessing because Cannon wasn't able to do much. Although Blake hadn't been one keeping the secret, Jesse was including her anyway because she didn't want her to feel bad. Ellie's boys had a camping trip with their summer program, or she would have included them too. So it was Phoebe, David, Grant, and Blake staying the night. Oakley, Georgia, Casper, and Joey were having a special night at Regina's, so they didn't feel left out.

Bear was dropping off pizza when he dropped the kids off. She heard the front door and headed out. No one knocked anymore. They just walked in since her house was now like Grand Central Station, with people coming and going at all hours. Her dad had been noticeably absent after he'd had the talk with her. He'd taken his turn with Cannon, but she hadn't been around.

She walked in and immediately had children hugging her.

"Blake hasn't felt the baby yet. Is it moving now?" Phoebe hugged her and then danced around the room while she asked.

"Sure, Blake, do you want to feel?"

Blake smiled shyly and walked over. Jesse took her hand and slid it to where Sparky was kicking. Her grin grew when she felt the kicks.

"Does it hurt?"

"No. Are you guys ready for fun?"

"Yes!" Phoebe, Blake, David, and Grant yelled.

Bear patted her shoulder, then leaned down to kiss the kids goodbye. "Remember, Cannon's hurt, and Jesse has a baby in her tummy. Be careful with them both, and have fun. No being mean to your sister or brother."

"We will."

Bear headed out the door as Flick and Beth came in. "I think we should watch National Treasure. It's the best," Beth said.

"I think we should watch something else. How about an Avengers movie?"

Jesse sat down on the couch, listening to them bicker. "Hey guys, you actually get to pick the movie. What should we watch?"

"Well, since you said we could watch two, the boys picked one and we picked one," Phoebe said, flicking her finger between her and Blake.

"The boys picked Transformers. We picked Moana because she's fierce."

Flick and Beth paused their bickering.

"Okay, I'm good with that," Beth said.

"Me too."

Jesse stood up. "Okay, here's the first present. I have these boxes we're decorating for your night at the movie theater."

She brought them into the front room and then handed the kids markers.

"Decorate your cars while we get your food trays ready. I have four pillows for each of you to put in the back of your cars to lean against for the movies. If you decide you don't want to watch in the cars, you can still decorate them."

The kids thanked her, then started decorating their cars.

Beth followed Jesse into the kitchen. Jesse started gathering the trays of candy and popcorn.

"What should I get?" Beth asked.

"Could you get that tray of drinks and the play money?"

Beth nodded and followed her into the front room.

"Now, I have our movie concession stand. Here's your money and the prices are on the items. I know you guys might need some help with the math, but I'm sure Flick and Cannon can help. We'll take a break between movies and the popcorn is a never-ending bowl. Which means if you run out, you hold your bowl up and Beth will refill it for you."

Jesse giggled at the kids' yells. Beth leaned closer. "I remember when mom did this for us. Thanks for letting me help tonight."

Jesse nodded but didn't say anything. Stupid hormones had her ready to cry over anything. She helped the kids get their snacks. David and Grant had to ask Cannon for help adding their items up. Cannon had Grant hold up his fingers when he was adding two and two. Grant counted to four and then gave Cannon a high-five when Cannon said he was right. Cannon was patient with the kids and was even asking them questions about their favorite movie theater foods.

She was seeing a different side to Cannon. After the kids had their food and the movie was queued up, Flick and Beth got the food for the adults, and she brought the drinks. She took the seat closest to Cannon because Flick had taken her other recliner, and Beth was sitting on the couch near Flick.

She sat down and turned toward Cannon. "Do you need anything else?"

He shook his head. "Nope, I'm ready for our movie night. Which one is first?"

"Transformers!" Grant and David screamed.

"Yeah, yeah, we know you won the coin toss." Phoebe's aggrieved tone had Jesse sharing a smile with Cannon. She leaned back and took a bite of pizza. She was only having one because greasy items seemed to cause heartburn if she overate.

She watched the movie sporadically. Tonight was one of the first times since Cannon had moved in that she could just relax and think. When they spent the evenings together, she was guarding her tongue, trying not to bring up anything about before.

At some point, they would need to hash through everything but not yet. Once he wasn't on the pain pills, she'd be more than happy to talk or scream about what had happened. She didn't regret giving herself to Cannon that night, and she didn't regret Sparky. How could she? He or she was a part of both of them from the most perfect night she'd ever had.

Jesse had always planned on being a mother. Sparky may have happened before she'd planned to have kids, but maybe things were happening the way they were supposed to. With Winnie having kids already and Remi and Sarah trying, at least the kids might be close in age. Now Beth needed to find someone besides that stupid deputy. Thank goodness he hadn't shown up tonight.

"Okay, let's break between the movies. We'll take bathroom breaks and then get our snacks for the next movie. How about we all put our pajamas on too?" Beth suggested.

The kids got up and headed for the bathrooms. Beth picked up some trash off the floor and Jesse was happy to let her. With her big belly, Jesse wasn't the most graceful now, picking stuff off the floor.

"Cannon, how about I transfer you to the wheelchair and help you into the bathroom?"

"Sounds good. Thanks for all the help, Flick."

Jesse picked up the tray of drinks and went to switch them out. She'd promised Sprite and Winnie that she'd switch to water, juice or milk after the kids all had one soda pop. She arranged the juice boxes and drinks on the tray and then pulled out the flavored straws she'd bought for the milk. Strawberry and chocolate would jazz up their drinks. She didn't promise to limit the sugar, now did she?

Then she went and got their tickets for their big prize along with the wrapped gifts. She couldn't wait to see their eyes. She'd discussed with her dad what she wanted, and he'd agreed to make it happen behind her house.

The kids came back in and sat down. Beth had made sure they got in their pajamas. Flick brought Cannon back in and maneuvered him into the chair. As Flick pulled the blanket off the floor and laid it on Cannon, Grant pointed at the blanket.

"Spider!" Grant yelled.

Cannon screamed and Phoebe ran over to him. She raised her hand and smashed it on the blanket, crushing the spider.

"Phoebe, what'd you do?" Cannon asked.

"Nana Regina just smushes spiders with her hand. I know you're scared of them, so I smushed it. See?" Phoebe turned her hand over to show Cannon the smashed spider.

Jesse turned away because the smashed guts of the spider on Phoebe's hand was gross.

"Hey, Pheebs, let's go wash the spider carcass off your hand. You don't want it on your food," Beth said, leading Phoebe out of the room.

Jesse picked the blanket off of Cannon and took it to the washing machine. She dropped it in there and left it. She'd start it tomorrow with the other sheets from the kids staying over. The machine was too close to the front room to run while they were watching a movie. She wondered why Cannon was so scared of spiders. She was just glad it was an ordinary spider. She, along with her sisters, had the outside edge of their houses sprayed during the summer months to make sure they didn't get any brown recluse or black widow spiders coming in the house. The recent rains must have washed hers away because she rarely saw bugs in the house.

By the time she'd returned with another fresh blanket for Cannon, the kids were already in their cars.

"Are you guys ready for your presents?"

Amid yells of yes, Jesse handed out the presents.

"Go ahead," she said.

The presents were unwrapped, and the kids looked at her.

"I bought you all laser tag type vests and the guns that go with them. Papa Locks is going to build an area behind my house where you all can play against each other."

All the kids came and hugged her, thanking her.

"When can we play?" David asked.

"Papa Locks said he could have it ready for the holiday weekend. He's helping me in the garage with some extra stuff, but he said he'd put it top priority. Do you think you can wait five whole days, or do we need to go to the gym?" Jesse asked.

"We can wait, Aunt Jesse. You're busy growin' a baby," Phoebe said around a mouthful of popcorn. "Now, Moana time."