"Ruthy," Saul takes Austin's hand. "This here's Austin."
"Ma'am," Austin tips his Stetson at her.
"Ruth Anne is my baby sister," I feel the need to explain as Saul takes my hand, holding onto both of us now. "Ruth, Austin is-"
"Reverend Harris?" Dr. Knight saves me from having to add fuel to the chaos.
"Calvin!" Daddy sits up straighter in the wheelchair. "How're my girls?"
Calvin looks a bit ruffled, as if he'd been running laps around the hospital. "I got here just as they were wheeling her in, but I got an update from Dr. Browne. The baby got her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. This happens sometimes with an early water break, so we're going to do a C-section to help Tabi and the baby out."
He pauses for an inhale, then smiles. "They're going to be just fine, Reverend. It looks like they caught it in time where there shouldn't be any issues with the baby's health. We-"
"Dr. Knight?" An older woman in scrubs calls as she approaches.
"Here, Dr. Browne. This is the family for Mrs. Harris-Witt."
"Ah, good," the woman smiles. "Congratulations - it's a healthy baby girl! And a big girl, too! Eight pounds, five ounces. No wonder she wanted out of her momma so badly!" Dr. Browne chuckles. "Mrs. Harris-Witt is sedated right now, and a very elated father is with the baby. Would you all like to see the baby girl?"
"Yes!" is the elated consensus, Ruth breaking into tears.
We're ushered down the hall to a larger private room divided by a curtain. I can see socked-feet on the other side of the curtain, recognizing Tabi's secret addiction to toed-socks. A hush falls over us as Jerry comes around the curtain holding a large bundle in his arms along with a huge grin plastered on his face.
"I got me a new baby girl!" he whispers, his eyes wet with tears. He presents the baby to Tessa first, who reaches for the bundle curiously. "This here is your new baby sister. Say 'hi' to Tori."
Tessa gurgles, with an attempted word, while I try to come to terms with what I just heard. I feel hands gasping my shoulders; Austin; and an arm looping through mine; Saul; and I've never felt so much joy. My whole heart is filled with it, and it leaks out as a tear sliding down my cheek.
"Tori," Jerry whispers to the baby, "this here is your Grandaddy. He's gonna spoil you rotten and teach you all about the Lord upstairs."
"She's beautiful," Daddy chokes out while digging out a handkerchief from his pocket.
Jerry stands back up and takes Tori to Joey and Ruth, who are both rubbing their eyes. No one is safe from the contagious sniffles. "This here is your Uncle Joseph - he's a real joker who'll teach you how to laugh. Your Auntie Ruth, well, she's a smart woman who teaches school. She's gonna teach you to be smart, too."
"That I will," Ruth tickles the baby's noise then hiccups. "Soon as I stop crying."
All smiles follow the baby as Jerry stops in front of me, with Austin still at my back and Saul right by my side. "Hope you don't mind the name," he ventures. "Ruthy and Tabi - was their idea and I'm happy as a lark to have another "T" in the family."
"I-" a sob chokes me.
"Tori," Jerry whispers so softly, we all lean in to hear it. "This here is your Aunt Victoria, your namesake, and a woman whose strength has always helped hold our family together. May she teach you to be that strong."
"I promise," I whisper back, holding a hand near the baby, but not touching her. I've never been comfortable handling babies. None of that matters as the tiniest little hand I've ever seen reaches up and grabs my finger. If it weren't for Saul and Austin holding me up, I might be on my knees.
"I think she approves," Jerry winks then looks up to Austin then Saul. "Saul, good to see you."
"You, too, Jerry. Congrats on your baby girl. She sure is pretty."
"Thank you," Jerry beams as I'm still trying to gather myself.
"This is Austin," Saul introduces as I continue to have trouble with my words. "He's..."
But Saul hesitates, just like Austin had. The three of us haven't even labeled it yet, much less figured out how to explain it to the mainstream population where pairs are the approved norm. All I know for certain is that I love them both. Saul has always been mine, and now Austin is...
"Ours," I hear the word leave my mouth then see the confusion on Jerry's face. I glance to Ruth, but she seems to already get it. "He's Saul's and mine. We're... The three of us are in a committed relationship," is the best way I can think to explain it without using the sexually charged 'we're a threesome' description or the clinical polyamourous label they may not understand.
"Oh," Jerry's brow skews, then relaxes as his eyes go wide. "Oh... Well, uh, in that case," Jerry inhales then smiles openly. "Welcome to the family, Austin."
Austin's fingers dig into my shoulders and I hear him clear his throat. Glancing up, I see water in his eyes, washing away the remaining uncertainty. Saul's sporting a huge, prideful smile as he leans into both of us.
"Thank you," Austin calmly manages, but I can hear how tight with emotion his voice is.
"Tori," Jerry whispers into his baby's ear. "This here is your Uncle Saul and Uncle Austin. They're from Texas, so maybe they can teach you how to be a cowgirl."
"You bet we can!" Saul says a little too loud, his excitement bouncing through me. "Uh, sorry," he lowers his voice as everyone else laughs quietly.
And simple as that, Jerry's accepted Austin into our fold without judging our relationship. I didn't think it could be this easy. I guess I should've had more faith in my family.
Family is family, and I don't think I've ever felt the truth of that more than today.
Austin
I think I'm still in shock. The air in my lungs hasn't quite caught up with how fast my heart's been beating since Saul jumped outta the SUV. My breathing is tight, my palms are sweaty and my eyes sting. When Jerry looks at me, I expect he'll glare disapprovingly. Instead, he smiles.
The man just smiles at me and presents his baby girl to me and Saul as if there's nothing odd at all about two men and a woman being in a relationship. The man welcomes me to the family, for Christ's sake. How does this make any kinda sense?
I was expecting drama. Yelling. Curse words and punches thrown. A glare from her father, or words of scripture quoted and tossed at my head. Revulsion. Ignorance. Hate.
But, all I feel is love.
It puts me so off balance, I'm not sure how I'm still standing in my boots, or how I'm not crying from the weight of it. As they all crowd around the baby, I take a few steps back. When Dr. Knight comes back in, I use the chance to duck into the hallway, mumbling something lame about not wanting to crowd the baby.
Leaning against a bare white wall, I exhale a big breath in an attempt to steady my heartbeat. The baby-photo collage on the opposite wall fuzzes in and out of focus. A nurse in pink scrubs passes by with a smile. I think I manage to smile back. Why am I so nervous?
Because, that was too damn easy, and nothing in my life has ever been that way.
"Austin?"
I feel a light touch on my shoulder and look down to see Ruth watching me. "Ma'am."
"Just Ruth is fine, sugar," she smiles. "You alright?"
"I think so. I just..." I take my hat off and twirl it in my hands, a nervous tick I've always had. "I guess I'm just overwhelmed."
"Not used to babies?"
"Nah, I love kids. Your family is just... I was expecting..." I hate stuttering and fighting for words like I don't speak English. "Well, I'm not all that sure what I was expecting, but certainly not an open, warm welcome."
"Oh, sugar," she frowns with compassion in her pretty amber eyes and her hand gently patting my shoulder. "Now, I won't say I understand it, or even that I fully agree with it, but what's right for me isn't necessarily right for other folk. It's how Daddy raised us kids. All that matters to us is Victoria - that she's safe and happy."
"I want her to be happy, and Saul, too. That's the most important thing to me. I love them both, so much. They're... They're my family."
"Well, now, so are we," she grins up at me then gets serious again. "I'll warn you that Tabitha won't like it, and she won't hold back on her opinion about it, either."
"She'll get over it," Joseph's voice joins us from the doorway. "Oh, she'll make a big, dramatic scene, I'm sure, but that's all. She knows Daddy won't put up with a divide being wedged into the family, and Daddy always takes the side of love."
"Speaking of," Ruth turns her smile to her brother. "When do we get to meet Alex?"
Joseph's grin turns sheepish. "Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!" Ruth squeals.
"Shh!" Joseph grimaces. "I aint told Pops, yet."
"Told me, what?"
We all turn to look at Mr. Harris' raised, frosted eyebrow as Joseph stammers to explain. "Well, Pops, see... Alex thought he'd come to New Orleans on his way back from Houston, then we could drive back to school together, and... he'll kinda be here... tomorrow..."
The corner of Mr. Harris' mouth ticks upwards. "Then he's coming to dinner tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, sir!" Joseph nods. "I mean, if it's no trouble?"
"Of course not, son." Then Mr. Harris looks at me a long moment. "Can you cook?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good," he smiles. "Because it's going to be a full house tomorrow night and Tabi usually handles the big dinners."
I smile back, because I can see this for what it is. It's not just him asking if I can help with dinner. He's inviting me in, expecting me to help because that's what family does. I almost let the emotion overwhelm me again but manage to clear my throat and reply.
"I'd be more than happy to help. Saul and I can probably rustle up something. Do y'all like Tex-Mex?"
"Oh, praise Jesus!" Ruth looks up to the ceiling with a raised hand.
Joseph laughs so hard he nearly doubles over before taking in a breath to explain. "We like Creole food, but we all grew up on Tex-Mex. Not a decent Tex-Mex restaurant around here and none of us can really cook it, so we've been craving authentic Tex-Mex something fierce since mom passed."
"Did someone say Tex-Mex?" Saul's tall figure joins the crowd in the hallway then stares at me.
"You and me are in charge of dinner tomorrow."
"Awesome! Call yer sister and get her chicken enchilada recipe. And, speakin' 'a food, when did you last eat."
Uh, damn. "That half a McGriddle, but-"
"Dangit, cowboy!" He narrows his eyes at me as his hands go to his hips. "Well, at least if yer sugar tanks and ya' pass out, we're in a hospital."
A few Spanish words slip past my lips as I eye the ceiling, but I know he's right. "Alright, darlin', I'll find a vending machine."
I freeze. I just called Saul darlin' in front of everyone and... I blink. They don't seem the least bit phased by it. What the heck?
People like this actually exist? Families like this exist? It tilts my world a bit more, a dizzy spell coming on.
"You a diabetic, son?" Mr. Harris asks, and that last word makes me weak. Son. The true, fatherly concern is in his eyes as I nod and wonder how I'm not on my knees.
I run one sweaty palm down the thigh of my jeans. "Dietary only, sir. No insulin."
"Yet," Saul grumbles. "You keep missin' meals an' you'll be on them shots." He turns to Mr. Harris with matching concern. "He gets these dizzy spells, Reverend, and-"
"Saul," I sigh. The whole world doesn't need to know my medical history, even though I know he's only trying to help.
"What?" He bats his long eyelashes innocently, knowing full well what it does to me. "It's better they know."
I glance down to Mr. Harris, and I have to agree. They deserve to know everything about me. God, how do I tell them about being incarcerated? I'm sure that's just the type of person Reverend Harris wants hanging around his daughter, or that new baby girl in there.
"Why not take my princess and Saul out to lunch?" Mr. Harris verbally prods when my brain stalls on the horrific image of me trying to explain to these wonderful people why I was in jail.
"Sounds like a plan," Saul says cheerily. He's pulled Victoria into the hallway now and loops his arm around my elbow. "We should talk, the three 'a us, anyhow."
"Agreed," Victoria nods solemnly then glances to her father.
I can tell she's in shock at the acceptance, too. Saul's just grinning like he knew all along it wouldn't be a problem with her family. I wish I could have his confidence when it came to things like this. Instead, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop - the shoe where I say I'm an ex-convict and Mr. Harris gives me the boot.
Mr. Harris keeps on smiling, like this is all normal. "My house aint that big, so why don't you three stay at one of the way-over houses? I think Blue Bayou's empty right now."
My head cocks to the side, and I try to add something to the conversation so I can shake away this fear that's got a sharp grip on my heart. "Way-over house?"
Joseph jumps in. "Pops and a few other community leaders use them to help encourage families to come back to live. Families can stay in them for a few months while their house is being fixed or rebuilt."
"My Joey helped design and fix up a few of them," Mr. Harris says proudly. "They's simple houses, but functional. Helps people get themselves sorted."
"Sounds like what we need," Saul snorts. "Ta' get ourselves sorted."
"Right after we get Austin something to eat," Victoria smirks at me slyly.
Laughing helps combat the demons. "Ai, not you too."
"Yes, me too," she swats my arm before looking back at her dad, ghosts of uncertainty floating back into her expression. "Want us to drive you home?"
"That's okay, princess. I think I'd like to stay with Jerry and that beautiful baby a bit longer."
"Alright," she kisses his cheek after a hesitation I can tell he noticed, but he doesn't say another word.
I'm a bit worried that there's unspoken truths that need to be aired between them; that her dad is trying to be okay with all this even though he's not. I'm sure me being a complete stranger who suddenly has a complicated relationship with his daughter isn't helping. When I glance back to Saul, he takes my hand and gives a quick nod. He can see it, too.
Saul's right though - we still need to get ourselves sorted. Then maybe we can sort out the rest.
Ruth's warning about Tabitha follows me to lunch, eating at my stomach as I try to eat my blackened catfish. Joseph's seated next to me, rattling on to Saul and Victoria about this Blue Bayou house he's going to show us after lunch, and how excited he is that Alex is coming tomorrow. I'd known Victoria's brother was gay, but learning their father had accepted it with an open heart had me hopeful that things between us and her family wouldn't explode.
The last thing I want is to put a hole in Victoria's family. Her dad is trying to understand, but I can't expect him to trust me the same way he trusts Saul. It's something I've got to earn. I have a feeling that the storm named Tabitha that's brewing on the horizon might give me a chance. If I can just hold everyone together, then maybe we can all get through it as a family.
Family. If we survive this, the three of us, I've still got to face the music at home. My sister Annabelle knows I'm in love with Saul, but she only thinks of Victoria as competition for her older brother's happiness.
And Nana? Ai. How do you tell an eighty-six-year-old woman who practically raised you that you're involved in a threesome without giving her a heart attack?
"Austin?" Saul prods me under the table with his foot. "You gonna eat the fish or just continue skewerin' the poor thing?"
"Sorry," I glance up from my thoughts to find all eyes on me. "Long day, is all."
Saul gives me that bratty grin of his that unravels me every time. "Maybe we should'a gotten more sleep last night, cowboy."
"Saul," I warn as I fight off the blush flooding my cheeks.
"Not that I expect it ta' be any different tonight," he continues.
"Mercy," Victoria rolls her eyes as Joesph chuckles.
But he just keeps grinning. "
Should be three times the fun, I'd wager."
Joseph reaches for his wallet. "Twenty bucks says- Ow!"
"Joseph Francis!" Victoria scoffs.
"Francis?" I can't help but laugh, and Joseph joins me as he rubs his bruised shin.
"You know, like the saint."
"Yeah," Victoria replies sarcastically. "Daddy obviously named you right."
Saul giggles. "Don't feel bad, Joey. Austin's middle name is- Ow!" The table thumps upwards, jostling the plates as I give Saul a harder-than-intended nudge. He retaliates by batting those damn eyelashes at me again before cooing "Wilfredo."
"Ouch," Joseph winces as Victoria snorts behind a hand that's trying to conceal her laughter.
"Was my Granpapi's name," I argue, but I'm laughing, too. It's an awful name.
"Shoot," Joseph exhales the last of his laughter while wiping his eye. "Alex has both us beat, brother. His middle name is Ferdinand."
Brother. I try not to choke on my fish but end up coughing into my water glass. How I wish... "Ferdinand?"
"Like that storybook?" Saul giggles more. "The bull who smells all them flowers?"
"Suits him, too," Joey nods.
"Ferdinand, Frances and Wilfredo," Victoria shakes her head. "Sounds like a recipe for trouble."
"Funny you should say that," Saul smirks across the table at me. "Since trouble's my middle name."
And don't I know it.
Saul
We stop by the good Reverend's house ta' grab Victoria's stuff and the keys for this way-over house. I'm jumpin' outta my skin a bit with anticipation, but I'm doin' my best not ta' show it. Joey heads for his car to lead us there, but I hate him havin' ta' escort us alone, an' I'm not ready to be alone with Vickie right yet, so I hop into the passenger seat 'a Joey's car 'fore anyone can say anything about it.
Joey and I used ta' be tight - best friends almost. He's way younger, but he was a smart, fun kid. Still is, really. His big, goofy grin is smiling at me as he gets into the car, an' I can tell he's happy I didn't make him drive alone. He says the place is a short drive, so I make the most of it as soon as we pull onto the road.