26. Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

C annon held one of the gifts as Jesse tore the paper off. With his arm in a cast, they'd quickly decided instead of taking turns, they'd open them together. He'd hold them and she'd unwrap them.

When they'd walked in, he'd been floored with how many people had shown up. The whole Nelson clan had shown up. The fact they'd all taken the time out of their Sunday had amazed him. He'd known Hennessy would be here. When they'd finished up on Friday night, Cannon had heard Hennessy was making a trip to Wichita. Cannon asked Hennessy to pick up some items for him. Heck, Hennessy had even made sure they were wrapped, so Cannon didn't have to figure that out.

For once, his head didn't feel naked. When they'd walked in the door, Jesse had left for a minute and returned with his favorite ball cap. She'd put it on his head, then smiled. Whether she did it because that's how she liked him or because she wanted him to be comfortable, he didn't care. She'd smiled at him.

Roam had texted his therapist and Cannon had an appointment on Monday. He wasn't looking forward to it.

"Cannon," Jesse's whisper brought him back to the gift they were opening. It looked like a bunch of papers laminated in a 3-ring binder.

"What is it?" he asked.

"So, needless to say, when we started having sons and none of their moms stuck around, Burt, Bill, and I had to learn fast," Peck said.

"Oh yeah, talk about being thrown into the deep end. As we started figuring stuff out, we wrote it down or we wrote down stuff the nice women from Bluff Creek clued us in on," Burt said, smiling and touching the bill of his hat toward Regina.

"It's a copy of the book, but Vivi organized it by subject with the additions the next generation has learned," Burt said.

Vivi started giggling. "I may have included some anecdotal instances to help you realize everyone messes up with their kids."

"Hey, let me see that," Whiskey said as Hennessy came closer too.

Jesse laughed and held the book to her chest. "Back off boys."

"It better not have anything in there about me!" Hennessy grumbled.

Jesse flicked over the open book. "You mean like remember anything that smells bad going in — smells twice as bad coming out . Ask Hennessy how many times he's puked changing Bailey's poopy diapers. "

"Vivi, you were my favorite sister-in-law," Hennessy said, pouting.

Cannon chuckled. The fact that Vivi was his only sister-in-law was too funny.

"You definitely want to check out the area on gas. Dad's notes about Schaefer's gas is as informative as it is funny," Hennessy said.

"Way to deflect bud," Schaefer said.

"Thank you, I'm looking forward to reading it. I've been around Joey a little and now Matthew but having two is kind of scary," Jesse said.

"I'm sure you're better prepared than we were but honey, you'll be wonderful. Love your little ones, and you'll get through it."

Cannon swallowed, holding back the tears because knowing Peck thought they could do it touched him. His own dad had always thought the worst of Cannon. Here was a man who he knew from poker nights and the bar. He had a higher opinion of Cannon than his own dad had.

Hennessy picked up a couple presents and brought them over to Jesse.

Jesse started to hand them to Cannon to have him help.

"I'm happy to hold them if you need but these are from me to you," Cannon said.

He wasn't sure what Jesse thought. She glanced at the package and then started opening it. The first was the largest and as she pulled the tape off, the lid opened. Two body pillows had been stuffed into the box. She pulled them out and looked toward him.

"Thank you. I'd been planning on buying these when I went to my next appointment."

He nodded because he honestly wasn't sure what to say. She picked up the next box and opened it. There was a note on top that said there were two other sizes of these if these didn't fit. She opened the box and pulled out one pair of the motorcycle boots he'd had Hennessy pick up.

"Since you couldn't be there, there are a couple of different styles and sizes for you to choose from."

She nodded and picked up the next box. It was larger, and he'd had Hennessy buy multiple colors and the next two sizes available in the Converse shoes she liked. She started pulling boxes out. When she saw the hot pink ones, she immediately started toeing off her shoes. She slid one of the shoes on, then the other. The smile on her face let him know she was pleased.

"I love them. For the first time in a while, my feet don't hurt inside shoes," Jesse said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. She slid the large box of shoes over.

"If it's okay, I'll try them all on later."

She picked up his last present and ripped the wrapping off. He'd paid an extra rush fee to have the embroidery place in Wichita get the items done before Hennessy got there. Jesse pulled out the two infant size pink coveralls. He'd had the woman embroider the logo for the bail bonds along with Next Generation under it.

"Oh, these are perfect," she said, sniffling. Then she pulled out the pink Converse shoes for infants he'd bought to match hers. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I love them, thank you."

"Hey, I picked up all the stuff. I didn't get a kiss," Hennessy groused.

Cannon glared at Hennessy. "I appreciate you picking everything up, but you're not getting a kiss. Find your own woman."

Hennessy rolled his eyes, then glanced around the room. "I'm working on it."

Jesse had taken a bathroom break and then gotten right back to opening presents. Everyone had spoiled them. Her sisters and dad had gone overboard. She wasn't sure how many outfits the girls now had, but she didn't think they'd have to wear the same outfit again for at least two months. Sarah had offered to wash them all, along with all the bedding they'd received for the girls' room.

Bear had crocheted blankets for the girls. Winnie said he'd stayed up late to make sure they were done. Since Clara crocheted, she and Bear had discussed so they wouldn't duplicate. Clara had crocheted cute little hats and sweaters for the girls.

Jesse had to laugh a little at herself. She'd never been one for dresses or dressing up, but the thought of putting the girls in darling little outfits had her almost giddy.

Of course, the presents that had blown her away today were the ones from Cannon. He'd bought her fifteen pairs of Converse in different colors and styles, and he'd bought the girls some matching pink ones along with motorcycle boots that were close to the style Jesse wore.

She and Cannon had the cribs she'd picked out along with matching dressers and changing tables. Roam and Sprite had bought them a rocking recliner. It was the same one that Roam and Sprite loved at their house.

The amount of toys for little girls that would not be old enough to play with them yet was astronomical. War's face had blushed when she opened the card to go along with the breast pump she'd wanted. Remi had only put War's name on it. Remi had put her name on the double stroller with detachable car seats War had researched. Mrs. Hall had bought extra bases for the car seats so they wouldn't have to move the bases between vehicles. She'd also bought the girls identical stuffed bears with Bluff Creek T-shirts and little cuts on them, plus bail bonds T-shirts to switch out with.

Flick was the sweetest with his basket of baby medicine, thermometer, and anything to keep the girls healthy. Stella, Rose, and Tasha had gone together and bought two bouncy seats and two swings so the girls wouldn't have to share. Jesse had to wonder if they could fit all this stuff in their house.

"Okay, let's go out and see all the animals and have dessert outside," Regina said.

Jesse got up and waited for one of the guys to push Cannon out there. Flick pushed Cannon's chair beside a table under the shade, then pulled a chair out for her. Once she sat, Flick turned another chair sideways and then lifted her feet onto it.

"What do you all want to drink? I'll grab those, then get you snacks."

"I'd like some of the lemonade," Jesse said.

"Me too. Thanks, Flick," Cannon replied.

Jesse waited for Flick to walk off. It was the first time they'd been alone since they'd opened gifts. She'd kissed Cannon's cheek, but it didn't adequately express how the presents had made her feel.

"I love the gifts. They were thoughtful, and it's like you know me."

"I had some help with trying to think of what you'd like. I didn't grow up in a family like yours. Relationships aren't something I'm familiar with, but tomorrow, I have my first appointment to help me figure out the person I need to be. I'm glad you liked them. The smile on your face made me realize I want to put smiles on your face, not tears. One of your sisters asked me if I'd apologized yet and I've gone back over our conversations. I know you didn't want to talk about anything before until I'm off pain pills, but I know I haven't apologized. I also know there is probably more than just being angry and yelling at you at lunch that I need to apologize for. I think that talking with someone will help me. I promise you I will apologize but I want to make sure it's not an empty one that's just a checkmark for us to move to the next step. I want it to mean something and for it to mean something, I think I need to talk about some things."

Jesse listened to Cannon and her heart ached for the boy he was and the man he'd become who now sat before her. Jesse had never doubted she was loved, no matter how much she and her mom disagreed. She and Cannon were coming from two completely different backgrounds. If he needed some time, she was more than willing to give it to him. She'd taken her own sweet time and hadn't told him about the pregnancy.

"I will wait as long as you need because I'm in this for the long haul. Now, how about we enjoy someone else's disagreement?"

Cannon leaned closer. "What do you know?"

Jesse smiled. "Let's just say those animals for our shower aren't on loan for today."

Cannon glanced over at the miniature horse, miniature cow, two goats, and a rabbit and started chuckling. Then he slapped his good leg and laughed harder.

Jesse adored seeing him so carefree and happy after the heaviness of their talk. Honestly, she found it funny too that even after all the years they'd been together, Regina and Baron still disagreed on things. Jesse might share a lot with Cannon, but she'd probably keep Regina's comment about blow jobs to herself. She could see it nauseating Cannon too.

Flick dropped off their drinks and Tasha brought plates for them with a variety of snacks. When Blake, Grant, Phoebe, and David headed to wash their hands to have food, Jesse noticed Baron looking at the animals and the food table.

"Hey Regina, shouldn't the kids wait to eat? When will the animals be picked up?" Baron yelled across the lawn.

"Papa Baron, Snoball, Oreo, Bluebell, Toffee, and Snickerdoodle are home," Phoebe called.

"Who's Snoball, Oreo, and the rest of those you said?" Baron asked.

Phoebe and Blake left their plates and ran over to Baron, each grabbing a hand. The area was quiet enough that it wasn't a problem at all to listen in.

"Papa Baron, Snoball is the white goat, and Oreo is the black and white goat," Blake informed Baron.

"Yeah, and Bluebell is the cow and Toffee is the horse," Phoebe said.

Blake pulled Baron a little closer to the side. "And that is Snickerdoodle. My rabbit at my house is Chocolate Chip. I told Nana Regina that we might need to get a donkey because Daddy Roam read to me that they help keep goats safe from coyotes."

Baron nodded his head and turned toward where Regina was standing. Jesse bit her lip, holding her laughter in, though she didn't know why. Half the people outside were quietly chuckling. She was positive they were trying to keep it down because Baron's face was calm. Jesse would love to know what he was thinking.

"Is this because of the sourdough starter?" Baron asked.

Cannon laughed until his chair shook. The laughter from everyone else was so loud Jesse would not have been able to hear Regina's answer if she had. Jesse adored her family and couldn't wait for her girls to be here and be a part of this.