Baby 90 and 91 - Part 3 of 3

NOTE

Okay, I said that the post two posts before this one had swearing and it wasn't actually that foul but this one actually has a few more swear words and I feel obligated to tell you guys and this is the best grammatically incorrect sentence in this entire post which is a surprise because I tend to write a lot of run-ons and use commas incorrectly even though the rules have been drilled into my head since I could talk and please just continue reading before I embarrass myself more.

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I walk under the florescent lights to the front desk.

"Hi, can I request a visit with Mr. Lockhart," I say, not knowing at all what I'm doing.

The receptionist has very unnecessarily large breasts, I can't help but notice.  She doesn't notice me for a good minute and I find myself just standing there uncomfortably.

I'm about to ask again when she finally replies, "Just let me do my work.  It's extremely difficult to do it with you, like, right there.  It's like you're breathing right over my shoulder."

It's right after that rather rude statement when I realize who she is.  I ignore her and sit in the waiting room.  After about twenty agonizing minutes, she finally leads me down a few corridors (enough hallways to get easily lost in).  I'm actually surprised that this airhead can find her own way around this hellhole.

As we approach what looks to be a small chat room, I suddenly get very nervous.  My heart beats loudly.  It occurs to me that I'm in a very dangerous place.  I could get mugged or raped or something.  I stop walking and take a few steps back.  Who knows what kinds of criminals are here.

"Wait, do I know you from somewhere?  Have we met?" I say, attempting to make small talk while also figuring out if she's the woman I think she is.

With rolled eyes and a placid look on her face she says, "I highly doubt it," in the snottiest tone.

If she can be rude, then I can too.  Frustrated, I blurt out, "I know I've seen you.  You were the receptionist for Weston Ferris.  If you don't mind me asking, what happened with Mr. Ferris?"

"FINE!  Okay, you got me.  I was his receptionist but he got arrested for taking advantage of his patients.  Happy now??  Now just go into the room.  Mr. Lockhurt is there waiting you."

Under my breath I mutter, "It's Lockhart, you snotty bitch."  Fortunately, that little twit doesn't hear me as she is already walking away with her blackberry in her sleazy fingers.

I can already see Luke before I walk into the room (thanks to the completely transparent doors).

He immediately gets out of his seat as I walk in.  It's weird to think that he's still retained his mannerisms after all that has happened.  But after seeing my face he sits back down again.

All of a sudden, I'm not as confident as I felt two minutes ago.  Shyness overcomes my bravery and I stand silently against the wall.  Luke seems to know what to do in the situation, which make sense because I dated him for so long.  He even proposed (sort of) to me.  Where did all of the feelings go?

Anyway, he looks away as if to give me some privacy.

"Hello, Calista," he finally says in a soft voice.

I don't say anything.  My body is weak and if I say something I'm afraid I'll burst into tears.  Plus, this room is being monitored by tiny cameras and I don't want to look like a dork.  Slowly I edge myself onto a chair opposite of Luke's.

He speaks up again.  "It's pathetic isn't it.  Me, a celebrity, in jail for reckless driving.  I don't know what was wrong with me."

His words trigger something inside of me and I suddenly remember what I had wanted to ask him.

"Luke," I say suddenly (even Luke is caught off guard).  "I finally remember what I wanted to ask.  If it's okay with you, could you tell me why you ran Charlie over?  I mean, what could you have possibly been distracted by?  As far as I know you have a perfect driving record."

Looking around, Luke leans in.  Dramatically he whispers, "Do you really want to know?  It's a bit personal and the cameras could pick it up.  They will pick it up."

"If you don't want to you don't have to I suppose...."  I assume that my attempt at using reverse psychology is a fail but it actually works.

"I was just joking, Calista, seriously.  You don't know a good actor when you see one do you?"  He teases.

"You ass!"  I giggle.  I cut the giggling.  After all Luke and I have been through, I don't want to ruin it by making him think I've fallen for him again.  It's easy to see why I fell for him the first time.

"Okay okay.  So that night was the night that I hung out with... erm, the bartender.  Now that you mentioned it, I don't remember her name.  Anyway, I went over to her house and somehow she got me to make out with her.  I think... oh yes, I remember that happened because my hand was on her-"

"Ehem," I abruptly cut him off.  "Has anyone told you about too much information?"

"Sorry.  Somehow she got me drunk and kicked me out of my house.  I sat outside for a while.  It must have been a while because I was actually quite sober when I started driving.  Also, I was-" he stops and looks away.

"You were also what?!?  Luke, tell me!"  I feel a strong urge to grab his shoulders and shake him.

"It might make you uncomfortable," he finally says.

"I don't care, you're going to tell me!" I feel like saying but in reality I say, "Please Luke, it's okay.  I can take it."

"Well, I was thinking about... you."

"Me?!?!"  I say flustered.

"Who else is in the room?"  He jokes lightly.

I throw him a dirty look and he immediately gives me a face that says, "I take back what I said."

"I was thinking about you.  I was thinking about how much I fucked up our relationship.  How much I hate myself for doing all of those things to you.  And how much I hate that bartender.  God, had I not agreed to do the shift that night at the bar, none of this crappy nonsense would have happened.  Stupid woman.  As much as I'd like to say it's her fault, I know that it's all my fault."

"Luke-"

"And Calista, I've had some time to think, perhaps this is happening for a reason.  I was a vain, spoiled, jerk to you and I want you to know that there's more to me than this.  I know I've asked you this many times but I still want to be friends with you since I know you will probably not want to attempt dating me after the incident with Charlie."

I tap my hand on my lap and take a slow, deep breath.

"Luke, everything between us has been based on accidents and misunderstandings.  And that's not how relationships are supposed to work.  You're right, I don't think I'll ever date you again," Luke cringes and I realized how hard that must have hit him.  "Sorry about that.  But continuing, you're an amazing man.   Not only are you a selfish bastard at times, you're caring, compassionate, and a romantic man.  I spent some beautiful times with you and I know I won't forget the memories we shared together.  I mean, we had three kids together, Luke.  There's no way I would want you out of my life.  So I've agree with my nice side to forgive you.  But yes, we're only going to remain friends and only friends."

"You don't know how much I want to hug you right now,"  Luke says.  "But I won't because I know if I do, I won't want to let go, and the people monitoring the cameras will probably think I'm harassing you."

I laugh, "That's a good precaution to take."

It's silent but not awkward.  Sometimes moments like these need a good dose of silence.

"So, I want to say something but don't think of it as a good thing, okay?"  I say slowly.  "The guy you ran over, Charlie.  Well, he's actually a very not-so-good man.  My friend Laura was actually happy that you ran him over."

Luke raises his eyebrows.  "Are you serious?  Well that changes a lot."

"But remember, it isn't a good thing that you ran him over.  He's still a living person."

"So you're defending a man who's perhaps bothering one of your best friends?"  Luke says confused.

"Yeah!  Well, no," I say frustrated.  Gosh, why did everything I say have to conflict with all of the other  things I say?  "Gaah!  You know what I mean."

Luke stifles a laugh and I can't help but join in.

"So, how have you been doing, Calista?  Still keeping up with what you told me about staying single for the rest of the challenge or is that over?"

Damn, he's good.  I think about Adam but we're not a couple (he hasn't officially asked me out!) so technically I'm not lying.  "Yeah, no boys in my life yet."

"Hey, I don't care who you date.  All I know is that I won't be dating for a while."

"Well, perhaps if you're good they'll let you out early."

"Possibly.  What do you think they'll make me do for community service."

"Your twenty-five hours of service??"

"Oh, you saw the article.  They never get it right.  The judge told me I only had to do fifteen hours."

"Um, I'm assuming they'll probably just make you clean up trash or something."

Before I can ask him how he is (although it seems a little mean to ask given the situation), Aurora Waters taps on the door which indicates that the time is up for our meeting.  I prepare to go and Luke gets up also.

"Thanks for visiting me, Calista.  You're making it so much more bearable in this hellhole."

"No problem, Luke.  I'll try to find time to visit sometime later."

"You're amazing, have I told you that?"

"Bye, Luke," I smile as I turn and walk out the door.

It's been many months now.  My pregnancy is going well as usual (no surprise there).  Again, the kids are behaving well as always.

I seem to have caught the triplets in a very good mood because they're not fighting or complaining about having to play with the little ones.

This morning I've agreed to teach Fergus some Sim Fu moves.  Much to my dismay, he refuses to train with his shirt on which only tempts the teenage girls into our yard.

As I'm teaching him the basic blocks and punches, I occasionally hear a whistle from some fan girl of his.  It's a good thing we have a fenced in yard otherwise we'd be in trouble.  After the fourth consecutive whistle over the twenty minute period, I stop in frustration.

"Okay, we're done for today."

"But I'm hardly sweaty."

"Well, this pregnancy is taking a lot out of me.  Why don't you go hang out with your friends or something."

Fortunately, he takes the bait and I'm finally safe inside of my home.  It's creepy having girls lurking around our house.

I settle into the art room for some nice relaxing painting time.  Ivy and Adalyn walk in.

"Oh my gosh, is that really what we looked like as toddlers?"  The ask in unison, referring to my nearly finished painting.

"Yes, and you guys were cuties!"  I exclaim.

"I really should change my hair," Ivy complains.  "It's the same in the picture as it is now."

"Ew, I'm picking my nose!" Adalyn crinkles her nose in disgust.

"I think you guys were adorable.  Toddlers are always like that," I explain.

The painting is nearly finished by the time eight o'clock rolls around.  I get Fergus to hang it up in the play room.  The girls finally agree that they're okay with their "imperfections."  It's sad that they already think these things and they're still children.

Society is messed up that way.

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ADAM'S POINT OF VIEW

[Flashback: this takes place weeks before when Calista was taking her Sim Fu classes, and yes, I do realize I should have put this a bit earlier in the post but too late now.... -_- ]

Calista leaves and I stand alone in the basement, contemplating everything that has happened.  Kadie is here with me, obviously, and I feel like a bastard for not walking Calista to the door.

"Shit.  What am I doing to myself?  Here I am, obsessing over this beautiful, wonderful woman and I don't have the guts to tell her so?"  I ponder aloud.  Kadie lets out a low whine and bows her head.  I sigh.  It's really no use talking aloud to myself I think as I walk up to jump into the shower.

Before showering, I have to dig out my shampoo and my pajamas from a small satchel that I have.  Since I started the house sale, I've gotten plenty of willing customers.  Unfortunately, I'm quite picky when it comes to picking out new owners of my property and I have yet to confirm their offers.

I turn on the shower and wait a bit for the water to reach the perfect temperature.  Standing naked in the shower reminds me of Calista (I don't know what doesn't, though.  It seems as though everything reminds me of her).  I think of how stupid I was fawning over her.  Questions that have been floating around my head and bombarding my other thoughts come out.  Does Calista love me?  Is she even ready to date anyone?  Am I really feeling love towards her?

Ten minutes and I'm already out of the shower dried and dressed.  I use the bathroom and brush my teeth before walking to my bedroom across the hall.

Kadie has already made it to my bedroom and is snuggling into her usual sleeping spot.  I throw my dirty clothes into my satchel and then pull the covers off my freshly made bed.

I crawl into bed and start to talk aloud to, presumably, Kadie.

"What should I do?   I'm no expert in this field but I have a feeling that if I don't pass this friend zone stage that I'm in now, Calista will eventually find a real guy who can actually ask her on a date."

Kadie blinks her eyes at me.

"I mean, I would ask her out but I think I'm afraid she'll say no.  And I have sort of invited her on dates when I asked her to visit the house, but honestly, I wouldn't count those as official dates.  They were just pathetic attempts."

Kadie casts her eyes away.

"You're right, I should ask her.  The sooner the better."

I'm about to jump right out of bed and call her then and there when I remember that it's nearly eleven at night.  No right-minded person calls that late.

"I'll just call her later," I yawn.  "Yeah, after the pregnancy."  I mumble, drifting slowly off to sleep.

"Night Kadie, sweet dreams."

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CALISTA'S POINT OF VIEW

The girls and I are chatting with one of my older daughters (Venus) when my water breaks.

They freak out a bit but I tell them to continue chatting to Venus as I waddle my way to the nursery where I plan to give birth.  Unfortunately, I make it to the front entrance before the contractions cause me to stop in my tracks.  I eventually give birth to two boys, Parker Landen Smith and Seth Nathan Smith.

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FAMILY UPDATE

Lacie marries Conrad Lown and they give birth to a son named Clinton.

Alice marries Asher Dohrmann and they decide not to have kids but they do make awesome godparents for Clinton.

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NOTE

Thank you Megs for Parker's name.  I find it hilarious that I used Joshua Parker as the father.  Anyway, a big thanks again to Paisley Parker for letting me have Joshua as a challenge father.

Also, thanks again to Laura Johanson for letting me use the "beautiful" Aurora Waters as a receptionist and for allowing me to throw Weston Ferris to the lowliest depths of the bottomless prison.