Т Нован - Exposure Season 3

Good morning to you too, Mama. "Getting there."

"Eggs at the bottom, sausage at the right, potatoes to the left," Mama informs me. "I was about ready to smack you upside the head. Seeing you put your wife through that …" she trails off, obviously too irritated to continue. "You may be blind, but you are not disabled. You are one of the most talented people I know. You will find your way."

"I will."

"Good."

Glad we got that settled.

"I am tired of the moping around. Your office needs to know how you are doing and when you will be going back to work," she starts up again.

"Mama — " I begin to protest.

"No! I have been quiet for two weeks and that was long enough. You need to dig deep inside yourself and find the courage I had hoped your father and I instilled in you. You think you are the first blind person involved in the media? Hardly!"

I nod, mutely.

"Eat! Are you not hungry?"

I can’t keep from laughing. Only a mother can yell at you and then get mad you’re not eating while being yelled at. "Oui, Mama. I was just afraid."

She snorts and I imagine the look which must be on her face right now. "You should have been."

"Come on, Tabloid" She tugs on my hand. "Let’s go out and sit in the backyard. I have something I want to talk to you about."

"Anywhere but the hammock. It’s too dangerous." I nearly killed my damn self getting out of it last time. I certainly don’t want Kels getting into it again. I was stupid to let her the other day but I couldn’t see past my own nose then.

"Agreed," she groans. "A hammock is no place for a pregnant woman. The birds who saw me struggle out of it the other day were so scared they still haven’t come back."

I can’t help but snort a laugh at the image. It earns me a playful slap as we walk slowly out to the porch and down the steps. She holds onto my hand, guiding me out into the yard. "How about under a tree?" she inquires.

"Sure."

She helps me settle down with my back against the trunk. Then she joins me, sitting between my legs, relaxing against my chest. Kels brings my hand to rest in the spot where our babies are most active.

"Brennan is really going at it today, isn’t she?" I ask, knowing I have no way of telling if it’s our daughter or Shy Baby Roo. I love the feeling of them playing and moving under my hand.

"I think she needs a sedative," Kels offers, snuggling into me.

"What do you suggest?"

"I think a story might do the trick. I think it’s time for us to start reading to them, Tabloid."

"I guess that’ll be up to you now, sweetheart." That admission breaks my heart. I wanted to read them. I wanted to tell them bedtime stories. I have so many books already ordered for them. Now, I guess Kels and the nanny will get that privilege. Oh well, I will just have to make up better stories.

"Don’t be to sure about that." She brings something up and places it in my hands.

Feeling it carefully, I can tell it’s a book of some kind. Upon further examination, I can tell it’s an early childhood book. They’re always made from cardboard and have thicker paper. Then my fingers graze across something I’m not familiar with. "Kels?"

"It’s ‘The Cat in the Hat,’ Harper. A special copy. Not only does it have the words in it, but it’s got Braille marks too." She places my fingers over the marks. "If it should come to it — and I still don’t think it will —, I know you’re going to need formal training, but I thought this might be a good way to start. I’ll read it and help you follow along and you can learn how to read this book to them."

God, I love this woman. I lean in and nuzzle the back of her neck. "Love you, Little Roo. Let’s read this book to our babies."

At six o’clock, the house is full. All of Harper’s brothers and their wives have come over and are now seated in the living room. The kids are over at Gerrard’s house, being babysat by the elder grandchildren. Tonight is a special brand of Kingsley humor. I hope I’m ready for it. Papa told me to just relax and let the good times roll. Oh, and to bring Harper downstairs.

That I can do.

She’s in our bedroom listening to music, relaxing. Music does calm the savage beast. My savage beast, though. I think I’ll keep her. "Hi there, stud."

Harper looks up and gives me quite the grin. She’s been on her best behavior all day. I wonder what’s up? "Hey, Little Roo."

"Want to come downstairs with me? I was going sit in the living room and watch a video. I’d love to have your company."

She pushes herself up to her feet and extends her hand. "Ohh, an excuse to neck on the couch," she says happily.

" Like we’ve ever needed an excuse before." I begin leading her downstairs, the whole time her free hand is tugging at the back of my shirt. It’s amazing how dexterous she is even with that cast. "Calm down, Tabloid."

"Oh yeah," she husks. "I’m gonna calm down. That’s not the only thing I’ll be going down, though."

My darling spouse has to say that exactly at the moment we cross the threshold into the living room. As the laughter erupts, I turn beet red and Harper stands shock still.

"Oh my God," she mutters.

"Perhaps, you should have gone to a podiatrist today, Harper Lee, to see about getting that foot removed," Robie calls out, recovering first among the siblings.

I note that even the tips of Harper’s ears are red. "Umm, perhaps I should have mentioned …"

"It’s a family council meeting, eh?" she asks.

Papa puts a chair in the center of the living room. "Come on in and have a seat, baby girl."

I lead Harper to the seat and she sits down. She tries to make a grab for me, but I dodge out of arm’s reach.

"You’ll be safe over here," Rene calls out, patting the chair beside her. Robie slides out of it and onto the floor between her legs.

Papa smiles over at me benevolently. "We’re here to lend you a hand with this stubborn one, Kelsey, see if we can get a bit of sense drilled into her." He touches Harper’s shoulder. "The Kitchen Conspiracy has been hard at work this week coming up on things to help you adjust to your current predicament. So, without further ado, let the game begin!"

"Harper," I call out quickly, "my love, I swear to you, I didn’t have a clue." Perhaps my laughter isn’t helping my case much.

She wags her finger in my direction. "I think thou dost protest too much. But I’ll get you later."

"Perhaps I’ll just sit here and be quiet," I mutter. Rene reaches around the back of my chair and squeezes my shoulders.

"All right," Katherine says, rising from her seat. She motions for Gerrard to move one of the small tables over in front of Harper. "Since you seem convinced that your eyesight isn’t going to return — "

"A belief we don’t share," Lucien calls out from his seat.

Go, Lucien. My brother-in-law gains several big points in my mind with that comment. I also notice that Rachel is now gracing her husband with more affectionate looks. I think Harper’s injuries and may have helped the healing process start for them. I’m sure everything we’re going through has made them take a second look at what could be taken away without any notice.

"We decided you would need some help transitioning. So, we’re here to have a feel-a-thon tonight." A round of cackles meets her declaration.

"Sounds like that’s what she had planned for Kels," Jean snickers from the couch.

"Something you should be good at," Robie teases, "if you can live up to your reputation." Oh no, the gauntlet has been more than thrown down. My beloved’s participation is assured.

"If you are successful, you win a pair of dark sunglasses and a cane," Katherine continues.