Chapter Twenty Two

Stephen

We’d been in our new place for just over a month, and we were finally starting to settle into our new way of life. The kids were loving the warmer weather, and it was heartwarming to see them forming the same kind of bond their fathers had growing up, and now our wives.

The kids had become fiercely protective of each other. Seeing Willie and Nate being so protective of Livy and Belle made my heart swell with pride.

Mia was due any day now. While the excitement was building, poor Mia was having a hard time with the heat. Clint, on the other hand, was loving it. He kept reminding her that he wouldn’t mind if she walked around naked to cool down.

I woke up early today to the sound of Jay mumbling over the monitor. I got up, picked up my youngest pea pod, and took him downstairs with me so his mom could get some rest. As Jay and I walked into the kitchen to get a coffee, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Stephen - HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Oh fuck! I love it hahahaha you can never give me shit ever again.

Clint - Fuck!

There in front of me was Clint with Mia bent over the kitchen counter, giving his wife the ride of her life.

Stephen - I'll just take this and head outside until you are finished hahahahahaha.

I grabbed his forgotten coffee off the counter and headed out back with my boy, laughing my head off as I heard Mia trying to tell Clint to get off her. He just asked her for a few more minutes.

Stephen - HAHAHA May as well let him finish now babe, nothing else left to see.

Mia - Fuck off Stephen.

Stephen - Wait until I tell Trinity about this one hahahaha.

I took my boy outside and we sat down in the sun. I pulled up cartoons for him to watch on my phone while I enjoyed my coffee. After about 20 minutes, Clint came out, his pants now back on.

Stephen - Aww mate, I am disappointed, I was looking forward to seeing your white ass again.

Clint - hahaha fuck off you gronk.

Stephen - Can you hold Jay for me while I go fix his bottle?

Clint - Yeah bro no worries. Come to Uncle Clint, chubby boy.

Stephen - Did you just call my boy fat?

Clint - But he is. I loved it with Willie too, those chubby little thighs they get just before they start getting moving. He's like the Michelin Man with his chubby rolls.

Stephen - Don't worry little man, Daddy will punch Uncle Clint in the mouth for you if he keeps calling you chubby.

Clint - hahaha.

I went inside to fix his bottle and make myself another coffee when my baby girl came wobbling into the kitchen, her eyes still full of sleep. She saw me and started crying to be picked up.

Stephen - Livy, what's wrong baby girl, come to daddy.

The moment I picked her up, she stopped crying and cuddled into my shoulder, wrapping her arms around my neck as I finished making the coffees.

Stephen - You wanna hop down princess and come outside with daddy?

She shook her head at me, and I knew she didn’t want me to put her down. So, I carried her outside with Jay's bottle, passing it to Clint to feed him while I went back in to grab the coffee.

Stephen - So, very good morning to you, brother hahaha.

Clint - hahaha are we calling it even now?

Stephen - Not even close.

Clint - hahaha fuck off man, you remember what it is like when they are in their last trimester. She won't leave my dick alone, I am an innocent victim in this.

Olivia - Dick.

Clint - HAHAHAHA out of all that, Uncle Clint's little princess chooses to copy that word? You trying to get me into trouble, cheeky chops?

He reached over to tickle Livy's feet, making her giggle and try to pull herself up my body.

Clint - Believe me though, I am not complaining. I would happily accept that sex drive all the time from her.

Mia - I heard that Clint!

Stephen - hahahaha.

Clint - Good! So will you take it under advisement?

Mia - Fuck off Clint.

Stephen - hahahahaha.

The three of us were sitting down, chatting and having a coffee, when we heard my wife screaming from inside.

Trinity - STEPHEN!!! Quick, run!

I raced inside with my princess on my hip to see what was wrong. I found my wife standing in front of the TV, holding Nate on her hip.

Stephen - Babe, what is it?

By this stage, Mia and Clint had also raced in to see what was going on. My wife pointed to the TV where the news was on. I saw the news headline along the bottom before I registered what the reporter was saying.

Reporter - We are live out the front of Chicago Supreme Court, where a shooter has opened fire prior to a scheduled hearing this morning. Early reports suggest one female victim has been rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries after receiving two gunshots to the abdomen. We will stay live with this developing story.

We watched the scene unfold before our eyes. In the panic of people rushing around in the background, I saw something that made my heart sink to my stomach.

Stephen - Where's the fucking remote? Someone give me the damn remote.

I found it over on the kitchen counter. I rewound and paused.

Stephen - There!!! Right there! Is that Benji?

Clint - Fuck! Bro! Why is he covered in blood?

I looked closer, trying to figure out why he was there and what was going on.

Trinity - Oh my god! Someone needs to ring Lachie. Is Benji injured? Why is no one helping him?

I ran back outside, grabbed my mobile, and started dialing the number the marshals had given us for emergencies. After speaking with their office, I left a message for Lachie to call me urgently. I explained that I had seen the news report and I saw Benji there.

It was an agonizing wait for the call back. Over an hour had gone by while we watched the live footage on TV, waiting for the call. Finally, my phone rang and I answered it quickly.

Stephen - (Phone call) Lachie! What is going on? We saw Benji on the TV covered in blood.

Lachie - (Phone call) He is fine, Stephen! Not a scratch on him.

Stephen - (Phone call) Oh thank god for that.

Lachie - (Phone call) It's Maddie.

Stephen - (Phone call) NO! What! Is she okay?

Lachie - (Phone call) Stephen, she was shot twice entering the courthouse. Both bullets lodged in her abdomen. She's in surgery now.