~Aubree

“Oliver?”

“Hi, Mommy.”

Air rushed out of my lungs in full relief and I pushed my chair back and moved toward him. Not caring how I'd struggle to get back up, I crouched down. I pulled him into a bone-crushing hug, needing to feel him—the beat of his heart, the little whoosh of his breath, his chubby cheek against mine.

“Oh my baby,” I rasped out, feeling emotional. “I'm so sorry, Olly. I swear.”

“I missed you so much, Mommy” he whispered.

I pulled back and looked at him.

“Yeah?”

He nodded.

“How much?” I sniffed.

“This big” he holds his arms out widely.

I chuckled and hugged him again before finally letting go.

“I missed you so much too, my love. Look how tall you are now” I smiled, threading a hand through his now lengthy blonde hair.

He giggled.

“Are you growing it?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Daddy said it's okay. Do you like it?”

I sniffed.

“I love it” I confessed. “I love everything about you, Oliver. And I'm super happy to see you.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Why would you think I wouldn't be happy to see you? You're my baby.”

He smiled at me, his tiny fingers playing with the ends of my hair.

“Okay.”

I nodded, sniffing.

“Okay,” I whispered with a smile.

He brushed a hand against my wet cheek and I held his hand in place against my cheek, closing my eyes to cherish the moment.

Thank you, God!

“Sorry for not calling. I hope we're not intruding” his deep mellifluous voice rang above me.

Oh God!

My eyes automatically opened and I looked up. Blonde hair, blue eyes, just like Oliver's. Riccardo didn't look a day older than the last time I saw him... months ago.

His eyes, for a moment, I'm lost in them. Till my mother unknowingly rudely interrupted.

“Of course not, Ricky. You're family.”

“You're welcome over any time” Dad added.

“And it's so good to see our little Olly again. Come here sweetheart” my mother held out her arms to him.

He looked at me.

“Go on my love” I encouraged and he gave me a small nod before running off to hug her.

I smiled.

“May I?”

I turned and Riccardo was holding out a hand down at me.

“Oh yeah. It's a bit... tough” I confessed, taking his hand.

He squeezed my hand gently.

“Isn't it for all of us?” he asked.

I tensed up a bit.

“Ready on three?” he said next instead.

I just nodded. Riccardo helped me up and I could feel the pressure on my lower back heighten before going away.

“Thanks” I muttered to him.

His eyes roamed my body before he nodded.

“Anytime.”

“Why don't you join us for dinner, Rick?” Emmett asked.

He met my eyes.

“I wouldn't want to impose.”

“Nonsense” Mom waved his statement off. “Sit, sit.”

“Thank you, Becky. But I just wanted to bring Oliver over.”

“And thank you for doing that, Rick. Seriously” I turned to him.

He gave me a small smile.

“I think you should be thanking your sister, Aubree. She asked me to.”

Shit!

“Oh,” I mouthed.

“And Brie, I hope you'll forgive me for not replying sooner. We took a little vacation. No cellphones.”

“It's fine. I'm just glad to see you're both doing okay” Breanna replied.

I looked at my sister who was smiling at my son.

“You changed your hair, Auntie Brie?” Oliver asked.

“Oh yeah. I was starting to look a bit too much like your mom” Breanna joked.

Oliver laughed and it warmed my heart.

Apologize!

I blinked.

“Brie?” I called out.

She met my eyes immediately. My eyes darted around for two seconds.

“I'm sorry for what I said.”

“Today or all those other days?” she replied immediately.

Damn you!

“Both” I sighed. “Very immature of me. You too Nia. I'm sorry.”

My sister-in-law's mouth hung a little.

“Seriously. I'm very sorry. It won't happen again. I promise.”

Nia glanced at my brother, still in shock. I looked away from her and at my sister.

“I'm sorry, Lucille. I owe you more than I can express and I promise that I'll behave.”

Breanna shook her head at me.

“Don't. I didn't do it for you. I did it for my nephew and I wanted to see Rick.”

I nodded.

“Okay. I'm still grateful though” I told her.

She nodded and Oliver smiled at me. I returned his smile.

“That doesn't mean we're friends or anything, Aubree” she suddenly spoke up, the tiniest of smiles on her lips.

“Oh God no” I played along. “I still hate you. Imagine the tragedy.”

“Good” she nodded, making everyone chuckle.

“Sit Rick” Dad gestured to a seat at the dining table.

He was about to object when Oliver walked away from Breanna and took my hand, gently leading me to the table and back to my seat.

“Can I have this, Mommy?” he pointed to the ice cream.

“Of course. But it has pickles inside so lemme just get you a new one hm?” I offered.

“Okay,” he whispered.

“I got it” Breanna announced. “I'm headed there anyway.”

I nodded at her.

“Thank you.”

“It's still mint choco chip, right Ol?” she smiled at my son.

“Yeah. You remember!”

“Of course I do. I'll be right back.”

She walked off and I smiled down at Oliver who was swinging his legs as he sat at the kid's table.

“So, how long are you staying in town, Rick?” Emmett asked.

“Oh till after the New Year.”

I smiled secretly to myself. I had time to make things right with my boy.

“Oh, that's great! Meaning you'll be in town for the wedding!” Dove chirped.

Rick arched a brow.

“Wedding?”

Dove flashed him her ring.

“Well damn, Birdie” Rick chuckled. “Congratulations. When's the big day?”

“December” is Dove's soft reply.

“This December?” Nia asked from across me.

“Yeah,” Dove tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Who is the lucky guy anyway?” Rick asked. “I’ve never even met this person” he crossed his muscled arms over his chest.

Dove laughed.

“Haha, very funny Doctor Álvarez” Zachary smiled.

Rick smiled.

“Well congratulations, love birds. I'm sure you'll do better than most people.”

A muscle in my jaw ticked but I refused to react. I just kept my eyes on my son. Then Dove suddenly gasped.

Oh boy!

She's probably had a great idea.

“I just got the best idea!” she chirped, her eyes twinkling.

Here we go.

“Since you'll still be in town for the wedding, how about you be Zach's best man?”

My eyes snapped to my best friend's face.

Is she out of her mind?

Riccardo rubbed his wrist.

“I don't think that's—”

“I hate to be the one to point this out but having two maids of honor means you need to double the best man” Nia folded her arms.

“And didn't you say Sean wanted to be—”

“He can be a groomsman” Dove interrupted Zach. “Aubree can pair with Riccardo and Breanna can pair with her boyfriend.”

“Oh that's very smart” Nia chuckled.

“Yeah. My sister will have no choice but to finally introduce her mystery man to us” Emmett smirked.

“I'm sorry, did you just say Breanna's seeing someone?” Rick asked, very surprised.

“She is” Nia beamed.

“He sends her flowers every day” Mom added.

“And she doesn't appreciate you talking about it behind her back” Breanna let out, walking back into the dining room with Oliver's ice cream. “Food first, ice cream later,” she said to him.

He nodded and picked up a plastic spoon. Breanna walked back and took her seat at the table.

“May I know why you're gossiping about me?” she asked.

“What else can we do when you're not telling us anything, Breanna?” Mom asked.

“Mom, I told you. You'll know when the time is right.”

“Well the time better be right quickly because he's going to be the other half of Zach's groom's man” Nia smiled.

“Wait what?” my sister's eyes popped.

“Yep. Aubree's paired with Rick and you with your mystery man.”

Breanna looked at me.

“You're agreeing to this?” she asked.

I gave a half shrug.

“Emmett is right. This isn't about us.”

Breanna narrowed her eyes at me.

“I thought you said you didn't wanna share responsibilities with 'that one' Aubree” she air-quoted.

“I did, but Emmett is right. This isn't about us. It's about your best friend and my best friend getting married and wanting us to be at their side when they do. And for the record, that was before I started seeing reason.”

Breanna shook her head at me.

“How righteous of you.”

“Give it up Breanna. You're bringing your boyfriend” Nia sang, wiggling her brows at her.

Breanna shook her head.

“You're all impossible.”

“So is that a yes... or?” Dove dragged.

She looked up at her, then at Zachary, and sighed.

“Fine, okay. I'll ask him.”

“We'll take it!” Zachary cheered, giving her a big smile. “What about you, Rick? You're in right?”

I turned to him the moment he also turned to look at me.

“Well... I'd love to.”

A certain amount of relief washed over me.

“But?” Nia asked.

I glanced at her.

“There's no but,” I said.

“There's always a but” she smiled.

I narrowed my eyes slightly at her.

“She's right” Riccardo spoke up.

“She is?” mom asked.

He nodded.

“I'd love to join Zach and Birdie on their special day. And don't get me wrong Aubs, I'd love to partner up with you.”

I dropped my cutlery and turned in my seat to face him.

“But I... I have to check in with my girlfriend first.”

Emmett choked on the water he was drinking just as my eyes and everyone else's widened.

“Your girlfriend?” Breanna spoke up, breaking the silence.

He nodded. Another long seconds of silence followed.

“That was not the 'but' I was expecting to hear” Nia muttered quietly.

“But it was only a matter of time, right?” Rick chuckled.

“Only a matter of time before you got a girlfriend?” I asked, trying not to sound angry.

Riccardo looked at me.

“Yes. It was bound to happen... as a divorced man with a four-year-old.”

“And you're sure it's not just a girl-next-door crush, or your loneliness getting in your head?”

But I was failing miserably.

“My loneliness, Aubree, is because of you” he shot back immediately. “And the three of us were in Cabo together for the vacation.”

“You took her to Cabo?”

“What was I supposed to do Aubree?”

“Not let her anywhere near our son.”

“You've not been a part of our son's life for months.”

“Because you took him away from me!” I exclaimed.

“And how's that my fault when you left me no other choice?” he asked rather calmly.

I stopped angrily fidgeting with my wedding ring and stared him down. Riccardo sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“Look, Aubs, Trisha is—”

“Not going anywhere near Oliver” I cut him off.

“Sweetheart, calm down” Dad spoke up.

“Yeah, you don't even know this girl” Emmett added.

“Oh, so I'm supposed to wait for an FBI report on this Trisha girl before I worry about some rando getting close to my son?” I shot at him.

“That's not what we're saying, sis” Emmett shook his head.

“And besides it was just during the trip, Aubs. Calm down” Leslie nudged me a little.

“Yeah,” Dove nodded.

I turned back to Riccardo.

“So you didn't string her along on this trip?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“Aubree,” Mom said firmly.

“Well, I—”

The sound of his phone ringing cut Riccardo off and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. I caught a glimpse of 'Trish' with a dozen of lovey-dovey emojis and I instantly scowled.

You've got to be kidding me!

Riccardo looked up from his screen and at me.

“She means no harm, Aubree.”

I let out a small laugh.

“Of course.”

“So she's in town?” Breanna asked.

Riccardo's eyes weighed on me for a while before moving to Breanna's face.

“Yeah. She's at The Palms... where we're staying.”

Ahh, The Palms... great!

“Aubree, look I understand how you feel...”

No, you don't.

“And I get that you're worried about Oliver but Aubree, Trisha means no harm. She loves Oliver and cares about him. I've seen it. Even before we took the trip together. And Oliver likes her.”

I slowly nodded.

“Okay then.”

He gave me an unconvinced look.

“Okay?”

I nodded again.

“Yeah okay” I repeated, pushing my plate away and my chair back.

“What are you doing?” Emmett asked.

“Going to bed” I replied, standing up.

“But your food—”

“I was only staying for the announcement remember, Zach?” I questioned. “And I've heard... a lot” I glanced at Riccardo.

“Sweetheart—”

“You all have a great night” I grinned, cutting my dad off as I tossed my napkin away. “I'm going to go get my son.”

Without another word, I walked off to the kid's table and smiled down at Oliver.

“C'mon, baby. I miss cuddling you to sleep.”

He smiled back at me.

“I missed that too.”

I held my hand out to him and he took it eagerly and said goodnight to his cousins.

“Are you coming with us, Daddy?” Oliver asked as we passed his side.

I felt him tug on my hand to stop and I did. Riccardo looked at me and then at Oliver.

“Mommy's going to cuddle me to sleep. You're coming right?”

A small wicked smile tugged at my lips.

“Oh no, no, baby. Daddy's not coming” I said in a perfectly fake sad tone.

My Dad caught on quicker than everyone else and shot me a look.

“Why not?” Oliver asked, looking between his father and me.”

“Aubree?” Dad called out firmly.

“Because he's going to cuddle with Aunt Trisha” I ignored him and answered.

Riccardo looked up at me just as his phone rang again. He glanced at the screen and looked away again.

“She really needs it” I added with a tiny smirk.

I caught my dad's eye and he mouthed a “Stop it” to me.

“Oh,” Oliver whispered.

“Oh but don't worry about it baby, mommy's here. And I'll cuddle with you for as long as you want okay? I promise”

He nodded and turned to Riccardo.

“Say hi to her for me, Daddy.”

“Yeah, Rick. Say hi to Trisha for us” I emphasized as Oliver gave him a quick hug.

Riccardo let him go and Oliver said goodnight to the rest of the family before tugging me toward the stairs.

It was after I'd gotten him ready for bed that I realized how much I missed taking care of my son. From guiding him to brush his teeth and giving him a good bath, to reading him bedtime stories when I wasn't that exhausted... I missed everything.

And even though I wasn't exactly thrilled about the recent developments in Ricardo's love life, I was very grateful to him for giving me a second chance to make things right with our boy. And I had Breanna to thank for that.

Even though I put her through literal hell.

Oliver fell asleep shortly after snuggling close to my side. And after what felt like hours, the only ones awake in the entire house might have been the baby and me.

With a hand on the back of my waist, I pushed myself up and slowly crawled out of bed. Deciding not to eat at dinner was a bad idea. I leaned over Oliver and gave him a quick kiss before disappearing out of the bedroom. To my surprise, the lights in the kitchen were still on.

Who's still awake at this hour?

“Maybe Riccardo stayed after all?” I muttered, moving into the kitchen.

But the black hair-covered head that shot up when I entered and the brunette-rooted blonde hair that whirled away from the sink was definitely not Riccardo.

“Aubree!” she chirped. “Fancy seeing you here.”

I folded my arms.

“Can't sleep? Are you demons catching up with you?”

“Nia” Breanna called out firmly and then turned to me. “Why are you awake?”

“Looking for food” I replied. “What are you two doing doing up at this ungodly hour? Scheming as usual?”

Breanna fully turned away from the sink and held up empty feeding bottles to me.

“Ahh,” I whispered with a nod and moved to the fridge.

My eyes scanned through and I felt my brows bunch together automatically.

“What happened to the turkey and sweet potato chili we had for dinner?” I asked, pulling out another compartment in the fridge to check. “And the chicken noodle casserole?”

I closed the fridge and turned. Nia made a face and then turned to Breanna.

“I'll let you take this one, Brie.”

I folded my arms and looked at my sister.

“You ate it all?”

She gave me a look.

“Mom gave it to Riccardo.”

“Which one?”

“All our leftovers for dinner tonight.”

I exhaled.

“Oh.”

“Apparently, his 'girlfriend' isn't big on cooking so your mother decided to play—”

“Nia” Breanna scolded again. “Did you have to add that?”

She pursed her lips and they both turned to me.

“Mom gave out all our food to Rick's girlfriend?”

“For his sake” Breanna quickly added. “Trish doesn't cook and Mom doesn't want Rick to starve or spend all his money on takeouts.”

I pursed my lips.

“So what happens when they run out of leftovers?” I asked, folding my arms.

“Your mom's opened up an invitation for them to come over whenever they'd like.”

My folded arms automatically loosened around me.

“Oh for goodness sake, Nia!” Breanna frowned.

“What? She asked and I answered.”

The baby monitor on the kitchen counter cracked up and a shrill cry, followed by another, flooded into the kitchen.

“Oh great. We haven't even gotten started” Nia sighed.

Breanna set the now-washed bottles on the island and wiped her hands.

“Stay. I'll get them” she stopped Nia.

“But—”

“I'll wake Emmett up to gimme a hand.”

“Oh you're the best, Brie” Nia smiled.

“Yeah,” my sister muttered and looked between us. “Just... try not to kill each other.”

Thanks for reading! ✨