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B.J Sandburg Part Twenty-Three.
"My father?" he repeated stupidly. "Here? Why?"
Blair shrugged. "He was looking for you." The young woman winked up at him impudently and rubbed his slight swell. "He found us instead."
Jim stooped over and picked up his comb, thinking furiously. "I suppose he had to know sometime," he said slowly. What on earth had his father thought?
"He's a pretty sharp guy," Blair observed. "And he doesn't waste time on small talk. He was only here five minutes, and he pretty much came straight out and asked whether his Jimmy-boy had knocked me up."
Jim blinked. "What did you say?"
"Told him to ask you." Blair tilted his head to one side thoughtfully. "He seemed to take that as a yes."
"Great," Jim sighed. "It's not bad enough I have Simon telling me I should keep my pants zipped up, now my Dad's gonna get in on the act." He tucked his comb in his pocket. "I'm too old for this."
"Simon said...?" Blair laughed merrily. He wiped his eyes. "I wish I could have heard that."
Jim surveyed him sourly. The kid sure was in a good mood tonight. "I'm glad you think it's funny. I'm nearly forty, I don't need lectures on the birds and bees."
Blair stood up, stroking his hand over his belly. "You don't?"
Jim made a face at the wicked glint in his partner's eyes. "I guess I'd better call him," he said reluctantly.
Blair smiled seductively. "You could do that," he murmured.
Jim watched Blair walk up the stairs to the bedroom. After a beat he gave up and followed him. His father could wait.
********
Next morning Jim climbed out of his truck and stood uncertainly in front of the house he'd grown up in. It seemed wiser to face his father than listen to his lectures over the phone. Long distance he might be tempted to hang up on the old man, and he couldn't really afford to offend him. It was just possible he might have to go to him for money after all.
Jim's hands clenched at the thought of asking his father for anything, but if it came down to a choice between bending his pride or risking Blair's safety, then there was no contest.
Still, it... burnt.
His key opened the front door, as his father assured him it would after they had patched up their differences the year before. He'd never had cause to use it before.
"Dad?"
"Jimmy!" His fathers greeting was not quite what he'd imagined. The old man's face was suffused with joy at the sight of him. "I was just about to call you!"
"I, uh, thought I'd drop by," Jim began uncertainly.
"I'm glad you did," William said, patting him on the back heartily. "Come into the kitchen, there's coffee on."
Jim followed his father, a puzzled frown creasing his forehead. This was not quite the disapproving attitude he'd been expecting.
"Well well," his father said, eyes twinkling merrily. He grabbed a couple of mugs and began pouring. "I must say, you could have knocked me down with a feather yesterday."
Jim accepted a cup of coffee numbly. "I can imagine."
"I mean, you could have told me, Jimmy," he said reproachfully. "Instead of letting me find out like that." Then he grinned again. "But I forgive you."
Jim's brows shot up. "You forgive me?"
"Just tell me I was right, and that pretty little thing is carrying my grandchild?"
Jim stared into his father's hopeful face. He had completely misread his Dad's reaction. There was no disapproval here, just joyful anticipation and... pride?
"I, er, yes," he finally said.
"I knew it!" his father said triumphantly. He engulfed Jim in a huge hug. "Well done, son!" He thumped his back enthusiastically. "Well done!"
Bemused, Jim accepted the rare hug. "Thanks," he said automatically. "I mean, I didn't do anything, Dad."
"Don't be so modest," his Dad twinkled. He rubbed his hands together. "A grandchild! I can't believe it."
Jim shook his head. This was a side of his father he'd never seen before. The old man was practically glowing. "I thought you'd disapprove," he said honestly.
William chuckled. "Are you kidding? I'm the only guy in my club without pictures of grandchildren to wave around. I'm thrilled! Although." He tapped Jim on the arm. "I must admit I'd be happier if you married that girl."
"We are getting married, Dad," Jim informed him.
"That's my boy!" his Dad praised. "I knew you'd do the right thing."
Jim decided to give up and just ride along on this moment. Instead of a stern lecture peppered with the occasional threat, his father was treating him like he'd discovered a cure for cancer. He figured he might as well make the old man's day.
"Actually, Dad. B.J's having twins."
William's eyes widened and to Jim's shock filled with tears. "Twins," he repeated. Then he slapped Jim on the back again. "That's my boy!"
Jim sighed.
********
"So, time to talk business," William said briskly.
"Business?" Jim repeated warily. His father had calmed down a bit, and was now just smiling and nodding and patting him on the back.
"With two grandbabies on the way, it's time to think of the future," William chided. "How soon are you two getting married?"
"Soon," Jim promised.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get that girl down the aisle, Jimmy. Before she changes her mind."
"She won't change her mind," Jim said with certainty.
"For her protection then," William pointed out. "What would she do if anything happened to you on the job? I learned first-hand how dangerous it can be."
Jim tilted his head thoughtfully. Everything he owned would go to Blair if anything happened to him, but Blair was still a few months away, and B.J was the one who was carrying two babies.
His babies.
"You're right, Dad," he nodded. "I'll arrange something right away."
"Good, good," William approved. "Now for details. Last night I was on the phone to my lawyer, Ken Stuckey. You remember him?"
Jim did, vaguely.
"Well, he's coming over tonight, and we're going to set up a trust fund for the babies right away."
"Hold on, Dad," Jim protested, alarmed. "Aren't you getting a bit ahead of yourself?"
"Wait til I tell Ken it's gonna be twins," William gloated, rubbing his hands together.
"Dad," Jim said firmly. "I'll take care of my family."
"Of course you will!" William exclaimed. "But they're my family too."
Jim considered this. He and Blair had been so concerned with just surviving this, the wider implications hadn't yet sunk in. These babies would have grandparents, and an uncle.
Hell, he was only just getting used to the idea of them as babies.
"I know they are, Dad," Jim allowed.
"Then let me do this for them, okay?"
Jim narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the sight of his Dad's quivering lips and eyebrows. He'd been on the receiving end of enough of Sandburg's patented puppy-dog eyes to suspect he was being conned.
William was looking back at him innocently, and Jim decided to let him get away with it. After all, he'd escaped an embarrassing lecture and could now be pretty sure that his Dad would help out if they needed money. In fact it might be a problem getting him to keep some of his money.
********
Blair was asleep on his bed downstairs and Jim was watching TV when Naomi arrived.
"Hi, Jim," Naomi said absently, handing him her coat and scarf as she walked by him into the loft. "How's it going?"
Jim looked down at the pile in his arms, bemused.
"Where's Blair?"
"He's napping." Jim hung up her coat, glancing at his watch. It was ten thirty PM, only Naomi would show up unannounced like this. He went to close the door behind her when a grizzled hand pushed it back open. He found himself looking into three sets of faded blue eyes.
"Oh, Jim," Naomi said casually. "These are my aunts."
So Jim stood there again, letting himself be piled high with hats and coats.
"This is Aunt Loretta, Aunt Jeannie, and Aunt Jane," Naomi introduced. "Aunts, this is the one I told you about."
Jim attempted a smile. The three aunts were all clones of each other, short grey hair, wrinkled skin, blue eyes.
"Nice to meet you," one said, stepping forward. "I'm Jane Critchberg. This is my sister Jean, and our cousin, Loretta."
"Nice to meet you," Jim murmured, wondering what he'd done to deserve this.
Blair appeared in his doorway, rubbing his eyes. He was wearing his soft denim overalls with a green sweater underneath. "Hi," he yawned. "I thought I heard your voice, Mom."
"There's our Blair!" one of the aunts exclaimed.
"Hi, Aunt Loretta," Blair said uncertainly. He raised an eyebrow at Jim as the aunts descended on him.
"Look at you, sweetheart!" Aunt Jeannie said, taking her turn at hugging him and then laying a hand on his belly. "Full of babies, your mom tells us."
"Uh, yeah," Blair got out before the last aunt took her turn.
"And just blooming like a rose," Aunt Jane observed. She hugged him then drew back a little. "But are you getting enough sleep, darlin'?" she observed. "There's some dark patches under those pretty blue eyes."
Blair raised a hand to his cheek, turning a pathetic look on Jim. But Jim was staying well back, hanging up coats and hoping the aunts had forgotten he was here. One at a time he could have handled maybe, but altogether they were like a tidal wave.
"We're sorry to descend on you like this," Loretta said comfortably. "But we had this four hour lay over here in Cascade and Naomi said you wouldn't mind us dropping in to see our little Blair here."
Naomi put her hand over her mouth. "I did remember to call, didn't I, Jim?"
"Isn't that just like Naomi," Jean tutted. At least Jim thought it was Jean. "But you should be sitting down, honey," she said to Blair, wrapping an arm around his waist and leading him to the couch. "Don't want those feet to swell up, do we?"
"Swell up?" Blair said in alarm. "I'm only five months pregnant."
"Can't be too careful, honey," the other aunt agreed.
"I blew up like a balloon with my girls," Jane said wisely. "Hands and feet."
Blair was looking down at his hands nervously and Loretta patted him comfortingly. "Don't let her scare you, Blair. You'd think she was the only person in the world who ever got pregnant to listen to her."
"And how would you know Loretta Bowermann?"
Aunt Loretta rolled her eyes. "Here we go. Just because I wasn't inclined to pass the Bowermann Curse onto a whole new generation... No offence, dear," she said to Blair, patting his hand again.
"It's the Critchberg Curse," Jane said tightly. "And I'll have you know my girls had the best time during their year."
"It was the Bowermann Curse long before it was the Critchberg Curse," Loretta said loftily.
From Blair's rolling eyes and Naomi's sighs Jim deduced this was an old bone of contention.
"It's the Sandburg Curse for this generation," Naomi inserted calmly. She patted Blair's belly. "And these two may very well be carrying the Sandburg Curse into the next millennium."
"They'll be Ellisons," Jim felt obliged to remark.
"The Ellison Curse," Blair chuckled, winking at Jim. "How does it feel to have a curse named after you?"
"Mother would be so proud," Jim said wryly.
"Hmm," Naomi said thoughtfully. She turned to Blair. "Honey? Have you thought about keeping your own name?"
Jim bristled. "No, he hasn't," he said firmly.
"I was a cowboy," Aunt Jeannie said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at her sitting demurely. She flushed, pale cheeks colouring prettily.
"Again with the cowboy story," Jane sighed.
"It was 1962 and I was a thirty year old school teacher who'd never been out of New York City. Everyone told me I had to leave for that year, and I'd been saving my whole life." She wrinkled her nose, pretty blue eyes sparkling. "It was my big adventure."
"I love Aunt Jeannie's cowboy story," Blair defended.
"I called myself Buck," Aunt Jeannie confided. "And I drank whisky and spat, just like a man."
"And rode horses?" Jim asked, delighted by this little bird-like lady.
Aunt Jeannie looked thoughtful. "I never did warm up to horses, as it happens. But I'd spent years watching films with Mr. Audey Murphy and Mr. John Wayne." She smiled demurely. "I had the most marvelous time."
********
An hour later Jim was sitting on the floor next to Blair's legs, laughing helplessly as Aunt Jeannie demonstrated her cowboy walk for the third time.
Loretta looked at her watch in dismay. "We have to go!" she exclaimed. "Oh, this has been such fun."
"You'll come back, won't you?" Jim invited impulsively.
"After those babies are born," Jean promised.
Jim handed out coats and various other paraphernalia while Aunt Jane got in some last minute terror tactics.
"Remember to look out for dizziness, I fainted at the drop of a hat. And I got so ditzy! All those odd hormones you know."
Naomi grabbed her arm and manhandled her into her coat. "Time to go, Aunt," she said firmly.
"Oh, and my gums swelled up too, and started bleeding. And don't even get me started on the back pain!"
Blair's eyes were getting wider and wider and Jim cursed under his breath, joining Naomi in ushering the old lady out the door.
"I better write and tell you all this stuff," Aunt Jane fretted.
"It was lovely meeting you all," Jim said firmly.
"Don't you terrorise poor Blair," Aunt Loretta said, wrapping her scarf around her neck. "He's got enough to go through, poor thing."
"You're not helping," Naomi whispered. "Bye, honey!" She hugged Blair close. "Now don't you worry, everything's just fine."
Blair leaned against Jim and waved weakly as Naomi herded the Aunts away into the elevator. As the door closed Jim could still hear Aunt Jane protesting. "But I didn't tell him about the pelvic bones spreading..."
Jim looked down at Blair, hoping he hadn't heard that last part.
"I think I've changed my mind," Blair mumbled.
"Come on," Jim said bracingly. "Piece of cake, remember?"
Blair was rubbing his hands together. "Swollen hands?" he said nervously.
"Come on, Blair," Jim chided, leading him away from the door. "You researched all this."
"It just seems more real with Aunt Jane telling me about it," Blair confessed.
"I'll make you some hot chocolate and then we'll get some sleep," Jim said comfortingly. "And tomorrow we'll start organising the wedding."
Blair collapsed on the couch and covered his face. "The wedding," he moaned. "This is just getting weirder and weirder." He peered at Jim. "I feel like I'm in this hole and I'm trying to get out, but all I'm really doing is digging myself in deeper and deeper."
Jim chuckled, shaking his head. "It'll all be over soon."
"You mean when I change?" Blair shook his head solemnly. "No, Jim. That will just be the beginning."
End of Part Twenty-Three.
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