Chapter Four-Hundred-Eighty-Nine
“So, who all is coming to the park with us?” Kevin wanted to know as they all stood outside the court house and he had his arms wrapped around Kristin’s waist as they stood together, preparing himself to say goodbye to her for the first time in weeks.
“I thought that was just going to be you and Jerald,” Nick pointed out while looking at Jerald who stood there holding a thrilled Ellie who was loaded up on adrenaline from winning. She had gotten to say goodbye to Sean and Trevor before they left and while they did that Nick took Ashley and brought her outside while they waited as she wanted nothing more to do with the two men who destroyed her life.
“It was, but after this morning it feels more appropriate that we have the whole family together. So anybody can come if they would like” Jerald insisted. “And Kev and I will get to play basketball either way so it’s all good.”
“Yeah why don’t we have a family Barbeque?” Kevin suggested. Nick looked at Ashley then silently asking her if she wants to attend with his eyes.
“We’ll need to go home first to get the kids,” she pointed out. “And change clothes, and I want to see what all of the fuss was about earlier with my family.” Nick looked at Kevin then.
“We’ll go home, get the kids, change, and meet you at the park is that cool?” he asked, the two of them sharing wary looks at the mention of the argument going on at the orphanage amongst the McLean family, minus one who without a doubt would not be clued in whether she likes it or not.
“Yeah that sounds fine. Jer, Ellie, and I will have to stop at home and the store if we’re planning on barbequing anyway.”
“An’ I wanna change into play clothes” Ellie insisted while looking down at the dress she is wearing. “An’ gets Lil’ Rok an’ Diego.”
“Mhm,” Kevin agreed while leaning over and kissing his daughter on the cheek affectionately and she beamed a little. “Right when we get home it’s overalls for you Princess. I don’t want you playing in the sand in that dress.”
“Kay we’ll see you later then,” Nick replied while studying his girlfriend and sensing they need to talk. He slid his hand into hers and gently squeezed it as he began leading her toward their car and Kevin looked at Jerald.
“I’m going to walk Kris to her car, I will meet you and Ellie at ours okay?” Jerald nodded and while Kevin and Kristin were walking away Jerald remembered something and leaned forward and whispered into Ellie’s ear and Ellie spoke up.
“Kristin waits!” Kevin and Kristin paused and looked back at her and Ellie reached for her. “I didn’ts get to hug you goodbye” She quickly made up so that she would take her into her arms. Kristin laughed a little.
“Oh that’s right, silly me…how could I forget to hug Ellie goodbye?” she asked and walked over and gently took Ellie from Jerald and Ellie slid her arms around her neck and gave her one of her Velcro-like hugs. Kristin hugged her back and as she did Ellie spoke softly.
“Loves you Kristin.”
“I love you too, sweetie” Kristin smiled. She then whispered in her ear and Kevin arched his eyebrow as she did and when Ellie was done whispering, Kristin whispered back and then Ellie kissed her cheek before Kristin handed her back over to Jerald, turned around, and took Kevin’s hand and Jerald stood there listening to their conversation as they walked away.
“What was that all about?” Kevin wanted to know and Kristin smiled and shrugged.
“Secrets between us girls.”
“Oh I see how it is. Already ganging up on me and everything.”
“That’s just the way it is, honey” Kristin laughed and when they were far from hearing point Jerald looked at Ellie questioningly.
“Purple an’ white.”
“Thanks Munchkin, that was good Detective’s work on your part” Jerald told her while going in the direction of their car so that he can put her into her car seat. Ellie raised her eyebrow at him.
“Why’d you wanna knows her favorite color com…binations?” she asked as she tried to pronounce the word Jerald had given her earlier. Jerald shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant way.
“I was curious.”
“But you don’t even likes her Uncle Jerry,” Ellie accused while giving him a look to let him know that she is onto him.
“That’s not true,” Jerald insisted honestly.
“Since when?” Ellie interrogated.
“Since always.”
“Liar…then why are you always so mean to hers?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Cut the bologna Uncle Jerry. What are you up to?” Ellie demanded as she was placed in her car seat and he worked on buckling her up.
“None of your business kiddo – shall we listen to Nick Lachey and drive your father bananas?”
“Duh, an’ everything is my business when will you learn?” Jerald ignored her at this point and as soon as he had her situated he planted a kiss on her forehead before shutting her door and getting into the passenger’s seat. He turned the car on and began putting the 98 Degrees CD in and turning it on full blast hoping she won’t question him anymore that way.
“I’LL FIND OUTS YOU KNOW!” she shouted over the music. “I ALWAYS DO! THEY DON’T CALLS ME BIG EARS FOR NOTHIN!” Jerald shook his head smiling and then began singing along to Heat It Up. Ellie stared at him for a long moment, and then just as he hoped she took the hint and began singing too. Grinning at the fact that his distraction was working he began moving to the music too while looking back at her through the rear view mirror and she began to copy him in her car seat. He grabbed up his cell phone and while singing into it like a microphone he tossed her Kevin’s cell phone and together they jammed to 98 Degrees.
~*~*~*~*~
“Okay baby…we’re alone. What’s wrong?” Nick wanted to know when they got in their car and were situated. He all but turned the car on and drove out of the parking lot wanting to be able to have his full concentration on her while they talked. She was sitting with her arms wrapped around her legs as her feet were on the seat so he knows she is definitely feeling insecure – she always sits that way when she’s trying to protect herself.
“Jerald and Kevin are acting like this family get together is a celebration,” Ashley replied while looking out the window as if she thought she could hide her emotions from him that way. “What are we celebrating Nick?” Nick now getting the gist of what’s on her mind and completely understanding thought about this for a long moment before replying.
“Family,” he answered while reaching out and gently taking one of her hands into his and lacing their fingers together. “The fact that we’re alive, we survived the storm, we survived Sean, we’re together, and we can put everything behind us and go on.”
“I don’t know if I’m quite there yet…”
“I can understand that. You suffered from this more than all of us put together…it’s going to take you sometime.”
“I want to move on, I do” Ashley insisted. “I want to put Sean and Trevor behind me, I want to start over fresh and never think of them again. I just don’t know how…they’ve been a huge burden on me for so long…and I also expected them to be put in prison behind bars. I knew I would feel safe that way...but this situation…it’s a little scary.” Nick moved to the middle seat then and shifted so he was facing her while she sat facing forward and he wrapped his arms around her protectively, allowing her to lean into him. He kissed her forehead affectionately before resting his own against the side of it.
“It’s just going to take some getting used to…in time you will learn to feel safe again I promise.”
“I just don’t know what to think about it. Behind bars they would’ve had a harder time escaping but they’re living in a house. A house Nick…”
“With a huge gate – bigger then Harold and Jackie’s all around it that will probably be electric and an ankle bracelet that will track where they are at all times – remember the one Kori and Scott had to wear in Jersey? And security bigger and stronger then Marcus, as crazy as it sounds will be there all the time. They will never leave them alone.”
“It’s just going to take me some time to warm up to the idea I guess…”
“Well you can take all the time that you need,” Nick insisted while placing his finger to her chin and delicately tilting it up so she is looking at him and he rested his forehead against hers, gazing into her eyes. “No one is going to rush you. If I can help you at all please let me how though okay? I want to make it as easy as I can for you.”
“You are already helping me by being here.”
“I’m always going to be here,” Nick reassured gently. “I’m not going anywhere baby unless you make me. I’m in this with you forever.”
“I’m holding you to that you know,” Ashley insisted while shifting so that she is facing him and she lay back against the door pulling him on top of her. Nick smirked and slid his arms around her waist as she wrapped her legs around him. “You promised to marry me Nickolas.”
“And I intend on keeping that promise. I’m just waiting until the timing is perfect – I want everything to be perfect for you.”
“Nothing is perfect,” Ashley insisted as he placed feathery light kisses along her jaw.
“You are,” Nick argued gently. “And I want nothing but the best for you.”
“Well just so we’re clear…” Ashley began while cradling the back of his head in hers and bringing his lips so they were just inches apart. “There is nothing I want more then forever with you.”
“Duly noted,” Nick told her before bringing his lips down on hers and kissing her. Well, he promised Denise he’d talk to her without any hints….that was easy enough. “What do you say we go get the kids huh?” He asked between kisses. “Bella is probably beginning to miss her mommy by now.”
“Kay, and I need to talk to my mommy. And my brother, and my sister. Something fishy is going on around here.”
“How about we let them figure it out for themselves?”
“Knowing your siblings, I’m sure it’s just the same old stuff. Do you really want to get into that?”
“Since when do I ever let people figure things out for themselves?” Ashley asked while rolling her eyes playfully.
“Since I just asked you to….just this one time.”
“I get the feeling you and Kevin would appreciate that a lot...why?”
“Maybe I just want your attention all to myself right now…did you ever think of that?” Ashley narrowed her eyes at him playfully and he continued. “I might have some issues of my own for you to sort through…”
“And what issues could you possibly have right now?”
“…I’ll let you know. They could be really big though.” Ashley laughed as he grinned at her mischievously. “I love you,” He told her sincerely.
“You are lucky I love you more or I wouldn’t be letting you and Kevin get away with keeping secrets from me.” Nick scoffed playfully and kissed her lightly on the nose before pulling away from her and starting up the car.
“Come on sweetheart, let’s go get the kids” he insisted and she sat up and reluctantly put her seatbelt on. She was highly enjoying the position they were in.
~*~*~*~*~
A couple of hours later Nick, Ashley, Brooke, Riley, and the suspiciously quiet McLean family walked onto the playground where they met everybody else. Kevin, Jerald, Tim, Ann, Brian, Jackie, Harry, Audrey, Brooke’s siblings, Brandon, Jennifer, Doctor Johnson, Annabelle, Howie, and Lindsey and the kids were all playing on the playground. Dakota slid down from Ashley’s arms and grabbed Sarah’s hands and the two siblings ran on over to join their friends with Abbie and Lily chasing after them barking. Nick and Ashley watched as Dakota tackled Ellie to the ground instead of just simply hugging her and laughed.
“Yup…those two are definitely back to normal.” Nick kissed Ashley’s cheek and gently squeezed her hand before letting go. “I’m going to go join Kevin, Jerald, and Brian on the courts – you going to be okay?”
“Mhm, I’ll stay and talk to the women.”
“Kay,” Nick replied and then started to walk away when a voice spoke from behind him.
“Not so fast, Carter” AJ replied and Nick stopped short but didn’t turn around to look at the frightening man.
“Well, I’m not going to wait on you forever McLean, so keep up will you?” He asked smartly.
“Kori and I would like a word with you before we go over there,” AJ replied calmly keeping in mind that Ashley was watching them with a raised eyebrow.
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“In private, please” Kori replied.
“Sure,” Nick replied readily and he looked over at Marcus.
“Yo Marcus will you accompany AJ, Kori, and I in a little chat please?”
"I'll go," Kevin piped up suddenly, having had seen his baby brother get cornered by the McLean siblings. Nick shrugged his shoulders, not really caring who went with him, just so long as they did so there would be witnesses. AJ and Kori started for the car and Nick followed with Kevin, Denise, and Marcus close behind. As soon as they got to the van AJ opened the slide door and stepped to the side before motioning for Nick to go in first. Nick cautiously did as told and moved to the very back seat. After Nick, Marcus and Kevin got in and they took the seat on either side of him acting as bodyguards. AJ, Kori, and Denise all got in the middle back seat and all sat so they were facing Nick, Marcus, and Kevin in the back and they shut the door so that no one on the outside would hear what they were saying.
“You know, mom, we could take these seats out and sit on the floor...they can easily be put right back in when we’re done” AJ pointed out.
“I don’t know, I think I like the seat between us” Marcus insisted warily. AJ rolled his eyes.
“Please…if I wanted to hurt Nick I could easily jump over it and get to him.”
“But it would slow you down at least. And why make a big show like this if you aren’t planning on hurting him? I feel like I’m in the middle of a drug deal right now.”
“Yeah, me too” Nick replied. “I feel like we should be sitting in a limo right now.”
“We just want to talk to you without the risk of Ashley over hearing,” Kori insisted as AJ got up and began removing the seats. As soon as he had them situated the three of them sat on the floor across from Nick, Marcus, and Kevin so that they were leaning against the back of the driver and passenger seat. AJ took a moment to decide the best approach, and then decided it would just be easier to be blunt.
“We don’t think you should propose to her right now.”
“Tell me something that I don’t know,” Nick said while rolling his eyes.
“I must emphasize right now,” Kori replied. “We do eventually want you to…but it’s just too soon right now. She’s eighteen, you’re twenty and she is just starting to get her life back on track. Give her sometime…wait till college graduation like we originally planned.”
“I know you think you are ready Nick, but trust me you aren’t – neither of you are. Don’t jump into this” AJ pleaded.
“You don’t know anything,” Nick argued irritably. “Neither of you can tell us whether we’re ready or not. Only we can do that.”
“But the thing is you aren’t thinking with your head, you are thinking with your heart. You are in love…we get that. There is no need to rush anything.”
“So what if they’re thinking with their heart? Sometimes that’s the best thing you can rely on” Kevin spoke up for the first time. AJ narrowed his eyes at him.
“What are you saying Kev? You are saying you are okay with this? I can’t believe you of all people would support this.”
“He’s a changed man ever since Kristin walked into his life,” Marcus commented casually.
“It has nothing to do with Kristin,” Kevin insisted. “I mean yeah I have a better understanding about love now, but Nick came to me for my blessing a week ago and I gave it to him. We discussed it, I know he’s ready.”
“And what gave you the idea that he might be ready?” AJ demanded, looking like he might send a knife through Kevin’s back while he is sleeping.
“Because he loves her and he’s never been more serious about anybody in his life.” AJ was silent for a long moment before replying.
“I don’t care he’s not proposing to my baby sister any time soon,” AJ demanded firmly. “She’s not ready, plain and simple.”
“That’s not what she told me today,” Nick replied calmly while crossing his arms over his chest and Kori was the one to narrow her eyes this time.
“What the hell did you do Carter?”
“I didn’t have to do anything yet,” Nick replied in a reassuring tone when he saw that even Denise was getting upset with him upon hearing his words. “We were in the car talking like Denise wanted me to do. She reminded me that I promised her I would marry her and that she was holding me to that promise. She told me that there was nothing she wanted more than forever with me and I told her that I plan to marry her someday but I was just waiting for everything to be perfect because she is perfect and I want the very best for her. I want her brother’s blessing because that’s what she wants.”
“Fine, if it’s my blessing you want then wait for graduation. I’ll even help you plan the proposal and everything. But just not right now. Nick I love you, you are my baby brother and I want nothing more than for you to be my brother n’ law but not right now.”
“I don’t want to wait for graduation and I shouldn’t have to. What’s the point in waiting when we both know what we want?”
“You may know what you want, but she doesn’t. She is still just a child” AJ snapped.
“She is not a child she is eighteen years old that makes her an adult.”
“And I’m afraid I have to correct you on that comment too, Alex” Denise spoke up for the first time. “Ashley has always known what she wants. I met her when she was just seventeen years old and right away I knew that she was the most grownup seventeen year old that I’ve ever met. She doesn’t do anything unless she is absolutely sure about it and she is very responsible about it too. And that is why I allowed her to adopt Bella.”
“She has her immature moments like everybody else, but even so she knows exactly what she wants and that’s always been Nick” Kevin agreed. “From day one.”
“She also wants to finish school and have a big time career, remember?” AJ demanded.
“You are right she does,” Denise agreed coolly. “Nick and I have discussed this and I’ve given it a lot of thought since then.”
“And?” AJ asked, feeling very confident that his mother was about to back him up.
“And I think we should stop arguing about Ashley and let her make the decision for herself.”
“What?? Mom you can’t be serious!”
“Why wouldn’t I be Alex? Were you not just listening to me? She’s more grownup then you give her credit for.”
“But you know what her answer is going to be!”
“And I also know that a lot of thought will go into it. She’s had a lot of time to think about it and believe me if I know her at all, she thinks about it every waking second of the day. Most likely even every second she’s asleep too.”
“Have some faith in her AJ,” Marcus urged. “She’s a very smart girl…she doesn’t make stupid decisions and she can get through anything. I have no doubt that she can juggle being a wife, a student, and career woman if that’s what she wants.”
“And a mother?” AJ asked pointedly.
“She’s going to mother those girls whether they’re married or not, so why not just let her go the whole nine yards?”
“And she’ll have me,” Nick added. “She’ll never be alone. Parenting is all about being a team – there will be a mommy and a daddy. I will make sure she stays on track.” AJ sat there in silence for a long time, and everybody else sat in silence just waiting on AJ to finally say something. Every now and then he would narrow his eyes at Nick as he mulled things over in his head and after a long ten minutes he finally spoke up.
“I will make a deal with you,” he began. “Hold off on proposing to her - just for now…I’m not saying until graduation, it would just be for a little while. I will let you know when and I want you to take the time to prove to me that you are ready to marry my sister…it would be like a test.”
“Prove to you how? It is very hard to get you to see reason.”
“I’m not going to tell you how…it’s a test. You show me how you think a husband should act.”
“I think that’s fair,” Kevin spoke up. “If you think you are ready for the commitment…show him. Prove it to him.”
“And her” Kori put in, as she sat there beside AJ with her arms crossed looking very un-amused with the fact that AJ was even considering it.
“Fine…I’ll go along with it. I can’t propose to her right now anyway…she brought it up. I want her to be completely off guard when I finally do.”
“Just so this is completely fair on both sides,” Denise cut in while narrowing her eyes at her son. She could see him dragging this test on for years. “Give him a deadline.”
“Okay fine…It’s in the middle of March right now…I’ll give him till May.”
“May what?” Nick wanted to know.
“first.”
“Okay,” Nick nodded.
“Fine.”
“May I go now? I don’t want to spend the whole barbeque in this van arguing with you.”
“And I’m afraid if I spend any more time in here, I’m going to have to invite Jerald to join the party. I’m supposed to be spending time with him, that’s why Kris isn’t here right now” Kevin added.
“Mhm, I need to get back out there too. I heard Laila squealing for me a few seconds ago,” AJ replied and he got up and after he had the seats back where they belong they all returned to the park to join the party. Nick went over to Ashley and who was sitting with the women and Brandon under the tree talking while keeping a close watch on the children too. He sat down beside her and slid his arms around her waist before pulling her into his lap and as she wound her arms around him he rested his forehead against hers and brushed his lips lightly over hers.
“Hi baby,” he greeted.
“Hey…what was that all about?” She asked and he noticed her eyeing AJ in the corner of her eye as he stood nearby holding Laila and pretending not to be watching as he busied himself with her.
“Don’t worry about it; it’s been taken care of. What have you been up to?”
“Just talking to the girls. Riley, Brooke, Jackie, and Audrey have all decided that Riley’s wedding will be moved to April 3rd now and we girls are going to do dress fitting tomorrow. Kota is one of the flower girls, so we’ll need to take her with us.”
“That’s great,” Nick grinned and he smiled over at Riley.
“It’s about time we’re going to have a wedding huh?” And Riley nodded eagerly.
“I am so ready for it to happen. I will be upset if anything gets in my way again.”
“Nothing is going to get in your way this time, I promise. April 3rd is a perfect time” Brooke reassured while sliding her arm around her best friend’s shoulders and Riley rested her head against her shoulder. “You will be marrying Brian soon enough honey.” While she and Brooke went on discussing plans, Ashley spoke to Nick again.
“And Brandon and I have decided that the Beauty and The Beast play will take place March 26th. That’s the day before we head on up to Kentucky for the wedding and it gives us three weeks to set up for it. He still has school however, so he will be taking props back and forth with him to get done and we’re going to set up a team to help him do it too.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Nick agreed. “But before you get too busy, can I make a request?” Ashley looked at him curiously for a moment, and then nodded.
“Of course you can.”
“Will you make some time to sit down with me and discuss school? Now that you are free from Sean I think it would be a good idea if you really started focusing on that too. Denise told me that she met a tutor…why don’t we invite her to our apartment for lunch tomorrow and you can get to know her? How long will you girls be spending on dress shopping?” He looked at Riley then for the answer.
“It shouldn’t take too long we could have her back by lunch if we went in the morning.”
“Then I could get the apartment and lunch ready for a visitor by the time you get back. Sarah and Denise could help me do it and all you would have to do is greet the tutor when she arrives and enjoy yourself and relax. Tonight you and I could sit down and discuss this with each other so that we’re on the same page and then call her. What do you think baby?”
“Do you really think now is the best time? What with the play, the upcoming wedding, and everything? And what about the girls?”
“Yes I do,” Nick urged gently. “Your education is very important to you, and so it makes it important to me and there will be no better time than now. We’ll set some time aside every day for your schooling and while you are doing that I can take care of the girls. We’re a team, we will figure it.” Ashley looked at him for a long moment in silence, and the nodded.
“Okay, if you really think so. We’ll talk about it more tonight okay?”
“Agreed,” Nick replied and he tilted her chin up and kissed her lips softly. “Now I will leave you alone to your girl time and go play a little bit of basketball before we eat.”
“Kay,” Ashley smiled and she moved to the side so she was sitting in the grass allowing him to get up. He did just that and she watched him leave, taking great care to smack his butt playfully as he did and smirking mischievously as he laughed that corny laugh of his that she loves so much on his way to the courts.
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