Cantrell: The Early Years, Part SIX

Celebration Gone Awry, a Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Six Update

Barely home again, Erik jumped right back into his schedule. After he finished a concert, he realized if he didn’t release the album on hold down at the studios, he would surely miss the deadline.  So, off he raced.  When he got home, he grabbed up Melodie, to put her in bed, since she was busy fussing away instead of playing with her toys on the playmat.  “What’s with my girl,” he said. “Somebody’s sleepy. Daddy will put you to bed.” 

Kayleigh met him in the upstairs hallway. “Oh, you’re back, I was just coming to get her. Honey, I have some Big News for you.” She began.  Erik gazed over at her with a wry grin.

“Big News, you say. This I’ve got to hear.”
“Okay, hold onto your hat.”

“I’m not wearing a hat,” he said, placidly.
“We’re having another baby!” She squealed, not to be deterred by his side comments.

“Yay, that’s marvelous. You do realize Melodie isn’t quite a year old, yet.”
“I’m so glad you let me choose the timing.”
“Are you certain you wanted to do this now? I’m mean a baby is on the way, there’s no going back.”

“Melodie’s birthday is on Wednesday. You know it only takes three days in this crazy whacked out world. So, yeah, the timing is perfect. I won’t go through the ‘I miss my baby blues’.”
“So, is it a boy or a girl?”
“Too soon to tell. I suppose I could invite your brother over to tell us. He’s a physician, after all.”

“No, that’s okay, surprise me, unless it’s more than one.” Giving her a kiss Erik changed Melodie’s diaper and put her into her crib.  He took a moment to glance about the nursery. Hard to imagine that in a few weeks, she’ll be sharing a room with a sibling. At least while an infant.

Helping Kayleigh out, especially now that she was in the family way, tired and eating all the pizza imaginable, he got the dining room ready for the party for Wednesday when Melodie would blow out her candles and then do the Twirly thing.

A wave of melancholy crashed over him. Subject to such more often since he’d lost yet another Paparazzi friend and was still dealing with that sorrow, other life events tended to hit him harder than normal. Melodie can’t stay an infant forever.

Just that quickly, he understood what Kayleigh was trying to tell him about the timing of her pregnancy.  He decided to focus on the coming baby, realizing he wasn’t losing an infant, he was going to be gaining a newborn, and the whole thing would repeat itself. He did pray that Melodie would be an easier toddler than Andrew was being. He loved Andrew with his whole heart, but he’s the one he really wanted to see older. Banking on the fact he just may outgrow this obnoxious quirk of his. After all, Aaron did.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

Three days after the joint shower while in Tartosa, Kayleigh went into labor.  She found him upstairs in the primary bathroom. He’d just gotten in from another concert and was busy washing up. He was particularly tired. She came in stuffed into one of her dainty pieces of lingerie. He wondered if the waistband would ever snap back into shape. If not, he’d buy her a new set. He gave her the once over and grinned. Kayleigh launched into a story — her latest plotline. Then suddenly her expression changed.

“Kayleigh? Are you okay?”
“I’m in labor!”
“Wow, you’ve got extraordinary timing. How did you do that?” And then he launched into the pre-birth dance.

Within three hours Kayleigh gave birth to their second daughter, whom they named Harmony.

When Erik had gotten the other kids settled, he wandered into the primary bedroom to have a look at his new baby girl. “Hello, sweetheart. Daddy loves you. Welcome to the world my precious darling.”

*~~*~~~*~

Wednesday dawned. Picking up Melodie, Erik held her out so he could gaze into her pretty little face.  “Do you know what day it is — it’s your birthday! You are one year old today. My what a big girl you’re getting to be.”

Before long, the guest began to arrive.  Erik was particularly pleased to see Lorelei had finally decided to become a member of this family.  “Lorelei, you came. I’m so happy to see you. Thank you for coming, and please get to know your nieces and nephews.”

As soon as the family was assembled, Kayleigh picked up Melodie and helped her blow out her candles.  “Okay, big breath and blow,” she instructed.

In another moment the baby twirled and aged into a toddler. “Oh, look at you,” Kayleigh said, delight in her voice.

The family ate cake, chatted, and had a merry time.  Erik was also pleased. He loved his family and was very happy that they were all happy.

In the midst of their joint revelry, the fire alarm went off. The family ran into the kitchen just across the butler’s pan

try to see what was on fire.  Seems the caterer had attempted to make pizza with the pizza oven, despite having no experience with it.

The adults grabbed the toddlers and ran outside. Grouped together just outside the front gate, the horses also joined them.

Despite the danger of it, the chance people couldn't get out, Erik had made his home, his fortress, as secure as any man could get it. The sprinklers overhead did a fine job of putting out the flames.

But the party was over. Erik checked on the newborn upstairs grateful that in all of the confusion she was okay. He was pained deep in his soul that he didn’t rush up the stairs to grab her. Forgive my egregious error oh Lord and thank you for keeping her safe.

All for now, thanks for reading!