Fred
Fred
A fter six unsuccessful attempts at knotting this tie, I knock on Dad’s door. “Can you help me with this?”
He yanks the door open, and it’s obvious he’s nervous.
“You look sick in your suit, Dad.”
He contorts his face. “Sick?”
“It’s good, Dad. You look great. Daphne’s going to love it.”
A smile stretches across his face, and his shoulders relax. “Good. I’m a tad nervous.”
“I never would’ve guessed.” I hold out the tie. “I have watched three YouTube videos, and I cannot figure this out.”
Dad gets it around my neck, then stands behind me, and ties it, walking through it step by step.
Then he looks around like he’s making sure he hasn’t forgotten anything. “Are we ready?”
“I am.” I tap my pocket. “Rings are right here. And I want you to know that it means a lot that you asked me to be your best man.”
He wraps me in a hug. “Don’t make me cry today, Fred. I’m one breath away from bursting into happy sobs.”
It’s funny seeing him like this.
My job until the wedding starts is making sure Dad stays calm. And to have the rings there. That’s important too. I’m still a bit shocked he’s trusting a fourteen-year-old with the rings. But I won’t let him down.
The next couple of hours are a bit of a blur, but finally we are at the front of the chapel. Daphne and Dad are getting married. And I’m really happy about it. I didn’t think I’d cry, but seeing tears on Daphne’s face and hearing my dad’s voice crack during the vows is making it hard not to.
Bailey waves at me, and I look away from her, focusing on the ceremony. She always wants to hang out. Maybe I should be nice and ask her to dance. But I won’t tell her that she looks pretty because that might make her think I like her.
We’re friends. I don’t want it to be weird.
When Mad Dog, the pastor, asks for the rings, I spare Dad my joke of pretending I can’t find them. He might not think it’s funny right now. When Dad turns around to get the rings, I see the tears brimming in his eyes. So much for not crying.
I sniffle and blink, hoping I can control my emotions.
And I’m thankful when Mad Dog says, “You may now kiss the bride” because it’s easier not to cry when cheering.
They walk down the aisle, arm in arm. Then I hold out my arm to escort Rose out of the chapel.
She leans in closer as we walk. “You look really handsome, Fred. And I think someone else agrees with me.” Rose nods toward Bailey, who is enthusiastically waving at me.
I flash her a smile and walk a bit straighter. “Thanks.”
Once the reception starts, Bailey finds me. “You look handsome, Fred.”
“You too.” I stare at my feet. “Well, not handsome. Pretty. Your dress is pretty.”
She watches as Daphne and Carson make their grand entrance, then turns to face me. “When I get married, I want my bouquet to be made of cactus.”
I laugh. “That’s one way to find out how desperate your friends are to get married.”
“Huh?” She cocks her head. “I don’t get it.”
“Daphne is going to throw the bouquet. And the person who catches it will be the next to get married.”
Bailey shakes her head. “That’s just silly. I plan to catch her flowers, and I’m way too young to get married.”
“Why do you want to catch them then?” I’m not sure I’ll ever understand Bailey.
“They’re pretty. Duh. Girls like pretty flowers.” She points to a table. “Want to sit by me?”
“Sure.” That’ll make it easier to ask her to dance later.
On the days Daphne works from home, she picks me up from school. And it beats riding the bus. Especially on hot days. Like today. There are only two weeks left of school, and I’m ready to be done.
Next year, I’ll hopefully be driving to school. I’m almost sixteen, and I already know how to drive. I have my learner’s permit, and Dad and Daphne have both been teaching me.
When Daphne pulls up, I nudge Bailey, then shout at Mason, “My mom’s here. Let’s go.” I open the door to the back seat, and Bailey slides in.
Running toward the car, Mason shouts, “Shotgun.”
I roll my eyes and sit in the back seat. Every time Daphne picks us up, he and I try to get the front seat. Today, I just forgot to call it.
But sitting with Bailey isn’t bad. Not at all. Mason and I will always be best friends, but Bailey is on that same level. And lately, she and I have been hanging out more. She’s fun to be around.
The three of us are quiet as we buckle our seat belts, and that’s when I hear Daphne sniffle.
“What’s wrong?” I’m a little worried. She doesn’t really cry a lot, and this is probably the third time this week.
She looks at me in the rearview mirror. “You called me your mom.”
Now I feel like I’m going to cry. “Yeah. Cuz you are.”
She wipes her face. “I’m sorry for crying. I just… I had my window down and heard you, and I can’t make it stop.”
Bailey leans forward in her seat. “That’s okay. My mom cried all the time when she was pregnant with my brother.”
Daphne freezes.
Mason whips around to look at me. “You’re going to be a big brother!”
I stretch across so that I don’t have to shout at Daphne. “If you want, Mason can sit in the back seat. You can sit in the passenger seat, and I’ll drive us home. I can even stop by the store on the way if you need anything.”
She reaches for the door handle. “That’s a good plan. And the store is a good idea.”
I point at my friends. “Do not breathe a word of this to anyone until I say so.”
Bailey grins. “I can keep secrets.”
Mason slaps a hand over his mouth, then laughs. “I won’t say anything. Not even to Mom or Dad.”
“Thank you.” Daphne buckles her seat belt. “Make sure you adjust your mirrors.”
“I will.” This is the first time I’ve driven with both my friends in the car, so I pay careful attention to the road. I want them to be impressed.
After a stop at the store, I drive back to the ranch. Once I’m home, I close myself in my room to get my homework done. I mostly stay in my room so that Daphne has some time to herself. What if Bailey is right?
Mason loves his little sister, and Bailey talks about how fun it is to have a younger brother. I find myself hoping that Daphne is pregnant. And I’m grateful I didn’t keep Dad and Daphne apart. I liked it when it was just Dad and me, but this is so much better.
A while later, Daphne knocks before pushing open the door. “Instead of going to the mess hall, we’ll eat here. I made spaghetti.”
“Yum.”
I’m sitting in the kitchen when Dad gets home. He sniffs the air and looks at Daphne. “You cooked.”
“I’ve been craving spaghetti, so I made that tonight. I hope it’s okay.”
Dad better say yes because a no will have her in tears, and I am not prepared for that twice in one day.
“Of course it’s okay. I love spaghetti.” He glances at me, then steps closer to Daphne and lowers his voice. “Craving, huh?”
She nods, then wipes her eyes. “And Fred referred to me as mom when talking to Mason and Bailey, and I’ve been crying on and off ever since.” She buries her face in his chest.
Dad looks at me, and I shrug.
“That’s a good thing, right? That he referred to you as mom?”
“Very good. It makes me happy.” She picks her head up. “And there’s something else I need to tell you.”
Little crinkle lines appear around Dad’s eyes as he smiles. “What’s that?”
“We’re going to have a baby.” She drops her head against his chest again. “I’m so happy.”
Dad is beaming. “I can tell. All the tears make you seem really happy.” He looks at me, eyebrows raised, and I know he’s gauging my feelings on the revelation.
I give him a thumbs-up.
Having a baby around can’t be too much worse than taking care of a kitten. Oreo was a handful when we first got her.
“Can I tell my friends?”
Daphne nods against Dad’s chest.
I take a step toward the hall, then decide that sharing the news can wait. I stand next to Daphne and Dad. “Love you, Mom. And I’m excited about being a big brother. I’ll even babysit sometimes.”
She wraps one arm around me, pulling me into their hug. “I love y’all.”
We stay that way, all huddled together until the fire alarm starts screaming.
Daphne runs to the oven. “The garlic bread!”
Dad grabs the pan and carries it out the back door. “I hope you weren’t craving the bread.”
Mom laughs. “Just spaghetti.”
I shoot off a message to Bailey and Mason, then take a seat at the table. I love our awesome little family.
Keep reading for a BONUS epilogue that gives a peek at all the ranch hands many years down the road.