Cantrell: The Middle Years

Divided, But Not Conquered, Yet a Cantrell: The Middle Years Update-3

Since Erik was content to allow Kayleigh to determine when she was ready to have another baby, he was very pleased when she announced just a short time after Thanksgiving that they were having another baby. Once again, her timing, which in so many ways was improving, was very nearly on the mark. She went into labor one week to the day after Thanksgiving. Harmony was due to age into a toddler just two days later.  Erik stayed in that evening, helping with homework. This time he bathed the little girls. Mid-bath Kayleigh hollered at him, “Erik, we have another daughter.”
“Did you hear that, Melodie? You have another little sister.” She nodded her head.

Once he had all four kids tucked into bed, Erik walked into the primary bedroom.  He found little Cadence laying quietly in her bassinet. Kayleigh was already in bed, fast asleep. You are such a trooper, my sweet wife.

“Hello, sweetheart, I’m your Daddy. Come here and say hello to me,” he said, gently taking the newborn into his arms. “My aren’t you a beauty.” What am I going to do when all three of you are old enough to date? Erik opted to not panic over this revelation.

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

Despite having his sleep interrupted every three hours, two nights running, Erik dragged himself out of bed early Saturday morning. He had a birthday cake to bake.  Coffee. Coffee would be good. Standing in the main hallway near the top of the stairs, all was quiet.  Padding downstairs, he silently slipped through the Maid’s Entrance into the kitchen.  

He took a moment to brew a pot of coffee and then got started on the cake. A nice Winter White cake was in order. Plain, but not too plain. She was such a messy eater, Kayleigh worried Harmony would manage to spoil her new party dress. Always wanting to please, Erik settled on the classic white cake. Besides, it was a nice change from chocolate. A palate-cleansing treat. And he would use his special spice in it, give it an added little kick.

Once the confection was in the oven, he turned his attention onto the dining room. Changing out the orange flowers from Thanksgiving to purple, he also brought the Helium-filled balloons from the basement to set them in place. When the twins were up, he’d task each of them with setting one of the long tables.

Then he turned his attention to the small round table.  Hanging onto the edge of a  round purple cloth, he threw the fabric upward, snapping it back again in one easy movement, proceeding to drape it over the surface. At about this time, his timer went off. Wisely, he kept the cake out-of-sight, for fear his ravenous boys would help themselves to it. After all, they had indulged in Melodie’s cake prematurely.   His worry was not without precedence.

Then he waited.  Still torn over this world tour that loomed before him, he was seriously questioning his decision to leave his family behind. Where once he believed this was the better solution, after seeing Remington carrying on out front of the Studios Lounge, just the other evening had him second guessing things. His sudden presence presented problems, he quickly realized. Disturbing problems. He needed council.

As was his usual Modus Operandi, Erik sought many opinions to help him resolve his most recent dilemma. Seeing solutions from many different viewpoints allowed him to see the flaws in his own reasoning. Specifically, and ideally, he was looking for a legal way out of this tour. Staying home, right now, seemed like the best solution. He just needed to know if it was plausible. His lawyer and his older brother were both looking over his contract. According to his lawyer, there was no getting around it. He was contractually obligated. But what about my feelings?

He anxiously awaited the party to begin. Checking his timepiece, it was just after ten in the morning, the party set for noon. He needed to talk to Aaron, to know his opinion. Dear God, somebody find me a loophole, please.  Finally, his family began to arrive. 

After most of the family had arrived, Erik got a sinking feeling in his gut. Aaron was nowhere to be seen. Sighing, he gathered up the infant Harmony taking her out of Jamison’s arms, who was doing his best to keep her happy. 

“Okay, sweet cheeks, you get to blow out your candles, now.”

Catching her as she twirled, Erik hugged her and then set her down so she could walk to him.

“Come on, pretty girl, walk to Daddy.”

While the others flocked to the cake table, 

Erik turned around and nearly bumped into Aaron. “Hey, you made it, we need to talk, if you don’t mind.”

“Absolutely, we do.”
“Here, let’s grab a seat,” Erik said.

“I’m afraid my news isn’t what you want to hear,” Aaron began, his tone measured. If Erik had to guess, this was Aaron’s judicial tone, coming out. Oddly, he feared the sentence.

“Oh, no? Can’t be worse than what my lawyer told me already. Let me guess, I’m under contractual obligation to do this world tour.”

“At their timing and bidding, I’m afraid. They’ve got you locked in, Erik.”

“Fie!” Erik exploded, at the news. Raising more than a few eyebrows. 

“I’m little more than a slave. Now, where does that leave me? If I take my family with me, something I would prefer over being an absentee father, then I risk upsetting their educational routine. If I leave them at home, then I risk them. You know we’ve been visited at least half a dozen more times since the original theft. More, if I’m being honest. He’s all but moved in.  I’m beside myself. I don’t have time for a restraining order to be processed, even if it is expedited. Not that Remington respects any kind of order. The police can’t do anything unless he acts first. By then the worst could happen.” Erik shook his head in dismay.

“How can I give my best, if I’m worried about the Home Front? I’m seriously concerned he’ll get it into his head that nabbing one or more of my kids would make a more profitable trophy. As it means he would truly have a piece of me.”

“I need this favorably resolved and soon. I have to leave late Christmas Day.”

“I know,” Aaron said. “We’ve bounced around more than a few scenarios that might help. Now, hear me out. Take your family with you, so you’ll know they’re safe. Your kids can still keep pace with their studies via a tutor. I’ll live here, to help care for the property and the animals. All you need do is lease your home to me while you’re gone, so that I’m a true tenant. Should either of them show up I’ll catch them on security cameras and have them arrested.  I will press charges, that way you don’t have to get your Stirling Reputation tarnished by these Nutcases. And with their acts of trespass on camera, we’ll nail them. Combined with the theft and other malicious acts, they could face jail time. That’s the goal anyway.”

“You would be doing me a favor. How can I charge you for that?”
“A credit a month, is all it takes. Here’, I’ve drawn up the Lease Contract. Sign it and I’ll take care of the pests. Done and done.”
Without hesitation, Erik signed the legal document. “My brother the exterminator. How can I ever thank you? “

“No thanks needed. But I would like to hear back that you’re knocking the socks off of your International Fans, as I know you will.”
“Okay, then. I’ll do my best. You’ve taken such a huge burden off of my shoulders, you know that, right?”

“That’s what big brothers are for,” Aaron said, hugging Erik tight.

As the party began to break up, Erik took Harmony out back to let her play on the toddler gym. She was excited and clapped her hands.  Setting her on the bottom step of the slide, he said, "Okay, Daddy will help you with the steps.  Here you go. Careful now. Hang on. Nice and easy.” He smiled, seeing her sitting on the top of the slide, so prim and pretty, waiting for him. That’s my girl.

"Okay, scoot down and I'll catch you."

With Christmas being the next event, Erik realized that he could finally relax and breathe. A few gasps of air, at least.

All for now, thanks for reading!