I want a go home

 Was she only six months pregnant? It felt longer to Ruby. Everything felt worse these days. She was tired. And now her feet were swelling.

"What am I doing wrong?" She only had Gabby to talk to, and of course, Gabby had never been pregnant. 

They were in a new mega grocery store, and now Ruby knew it was a big mistake. The heat was on. Gabby's car couldn't keep her cool enough. Besides, they had Carrie with them, and she was getting cranky too. She kept reminding Gabby that she wanted ice cream. Unfortunately, she was screaming about it while Gabby was trying to get Ruby situated at the blood pressure station. 

Ruby was beginning to wonder why she even took the afternoon off. KC sent her home because she was so irritable and possibly in the way. He told her she should rest, but of course, even now, she was fighting him on it, and he wouldn't even know. She guessed she was fighting with herself. No way did she want to stay home then, but now she did.

But soon Gabby had her arm in the correct position to take her blood pressure. The band sucked around her arm to the point she yelled, "GET IT OFF." It was so intense, Ruby thought she might die in the grocery store while their baby boy kicked like the Karate Kid.

It was a battle of the wills. Carrie continued to fuss, pulling at Gabby's maxi skirt, exposing her underwear. Thankfully, a nurse practitioner rushed in so Gabby could tend to Carrie.

It wasn't long before the practitioner walked Ruby to the small medical corner, where people usually received vaccinations or tests.

She told her she was calling the ER.

"THE ER?" Ruby was in shock. "What's wrong with me?"

Of course, the medical person was asking the questions. When was her last doctor's visit? Had she been overexerting herself? When was the last time she ate? Did she remember what she'd eaten? The woman made Ruby feel she hadn't been taking care of herself. But Ruby knew that wasn't true. She'd been fine being pregnant until now.

When you thought there was no one

 It was a whole new world to Tammy. Well, she'd never been in such fixes in all of her life. Of course, it had been pretty lonely, until now.

The boys showed up on the Fourth by eleven in the morning, bringing all sorts of food from watermelon to fried chicken and cold salads. She didn't have to do a thing.

"Well, isn't that the way it should be?" Carol asked later once the party was done with Naoki and Tyra included. Somehow, Tammy ended up at Carol and Tom's in the evening. She really hadn't meant to go there, but Naoki insisted since Tom (Tyra's dad wanted to get to know her).

"I guess." 

Although, Tammy felt she needed some time to herself. Have a couple glasses of red wine and sort it all out. And of course, wondering if the kids went to visit Boone's mom and Tammy's horrible ex. Of course, Alfie said they were going straight home before the fireworks were in full force. They didn't want the baby to get sick. 

But she was surrounded by more food. This time a comfort casserole and lots of salad. Of course, that's went the coupling began. Jo, her next-door neighbor was there. They'd met briefly when she moved in. He'd even taken a look at her water heater and her air conditioning just for good measure. She was slightly suspicious of him then with that quick smile of his. He smiled so much, she couldn't even see his eyes.

And then to have him there eating like a teenage boy.  Of course, Tom was giving her twenty or so questions about her and Naoki and how hard it must have been. It only made Tammy more quiet.

Finally, Naoki and Tyra left, and the men went outside to look at a motor in Tom's garage that he wanted to fix so Tyra would have her own vehicle. Of course, it hadn't run since 2019.

"Why did you invite him?" Tammy's eyes sprang open as if she swore she would never go on a blind date.

"I'd hardly call it that," Carol shrugged at the matter. "You've met him. He's all alone. You're all alone. His auto repair business has lasted, well since I've been here. He's just a neighbor. A confirmed bachelor, I reckon. Besides, he's been raising his sister's kids."

"Kids?" Just what she needed some horrible teens showing up.

"Relax, they got families of their own. You know, they'd rather be out with friends, just like our kids." Carol told her as she was putting the leftovers away. Before she knew it Carol had a glass of red wine poured for her. At least they had that in common.

83. When someone tells you they miss you

 Mercer missed the old gang, but was happy to be with Sterling to take care of the baby at Tess and Riley's so they could get out and have some fun on the Fourth. Of course, they weren't gone long. They were back before dark. 

"We just can't stay away from, Mae," Riley was happy to see she wasn't any trouble. 

Even then, Mercer could tell Sterling had wanted more alone time with his daughter, but he was being quiet about it.

Tess and Riley brought them home plates of food from the potluck they went too. "I bet we could see plenty of fireworks from the back yard," Tess said about the finale of the Fourth.

"Oh, I think I've seen plenty of fireworks to last me a lifetime," he told them about last year spending the evening with Brick.

"I bet he never does that again, either." Mercer mentioned they did some drinking and a lot of walking in the neighborhood. "I'm surprised we didn't get really sick."

But then he remembered seeing his old friend. It was really the high light of the evening seeing Ed back then, and they said they'd keep in touch, but they hadn't.

Mercer felt bad about it. All this time, he thought he was good at keeping friendships. He'd been there for Sterling, but then again, Sterling was always there. And now they lived together. It wasn't like Sterling depended on him for everything. After all, it was Sterling who could drive.

Mercer went to look Ed's number up on his phone and sent him a Happy Fourth text. To Mercer's surprise, the text bounce back. That phone number didn't work anymore.

It made him a little uneasy. Maybe he wasn't on top of everything like he thought he was. Of course, none of his friends texted him to see how his Fourth was going and he guessed he shouldn't either. 

There was a feeling of loneliness. He wondered how he could do things differently. Suddenly, his phone rang. It was Rafe.

"Hey, dude, we miss you being here," he said.

"We?" Mercer winced as if this must be a joke.

"Ruby and me," he then mentioned that Boone and Maddie stopped by. "We were thinking of going on the rooftop here, to watch the fireworks." He mentioned they didn't want to get out on the street with all the smoke and soot. He said they might get ran over by a drunk driver or something.

"I don't guess you guys heard from Brick," Mercer said.

"Nah, but I think they are around. They haven't gone back to Lincoln yet." Rafe said there was still time to all get together.

"Yeah, that would be great," Mercer felt like it was a promise. He told Rafe he was glad that he'd called. Mercer had a feeling Rafe had to spend time with his twin brother Cade, but Rafe wouldn't mention it. It was funny, they were better friends now than when Mercer was with Cade.

I will save your heart from breaking

 

"Don't bring this up now," Boone turned to Alfie as if he needed to think about the moment, not about mom and dad.

"You just don't get it," Alfie was being honest, even if he had no business being in the back of the bakery watching Boone get out cupcakes so they could be decorated in patriotic colors.

"I get that, OK," Boone said. He knew Alfie had been through a lot with his broken family.

"I don't want to be them," Alfie shook his head, no. "I remember how he was with me when I was little. He didn't like me, even then." Alfie told Boone the only reason he was being nice to his dad was because of Boone. "I..I thought he needed to know who you are."

Boone did his best to smile, but blew a breath. He was in a sweat. The humidity was getting to him. He remembered the forecast saying what a washout  Friday the Fourth would be, but the sun was shining strong at the moment, and the air conditioning was not getting any better in this old bakery.

"Let's just get through the holiday. We can't take sides. We'll just be at Mom's at noon and then go to Dad's later," Boone suggested as he got on his silicone gloves and grabbed the hot pans of muffin cakes. 

"I don't want to."

Alfie was adamant. He wanted to go to Gage's and have the Fourth there.

"At least see, Mom."

Boone looked at him blankly. He could see that Alfie hated the idea.

"She's expecting you. She wants to see all of you. Not just the baby," Boone said he would be there for support. "We'll do it together. You won't be alone."

"I guess Naoki will be there too," Alfie sounded as if that was another reason he didn't want to do this family Fourth.

"You have to be thankful, Tyra and her family have been helping out," Boone told him. He didn't think Naoki was that bad. He said that Naoki had been taking care of their mother these last few years.

Alfie practically rolled his eyes at that. Boone could see his brother was letting his true feelings show. This was no time to ask why he felt this way, but then again, Boone knew Alfie had spent plenty of holidays all by his lonesome. 

"It'll be OK," Boone said, giving Alfie a half hug. "I'm here for you, I am."

Boone was serious. He had always wanted a brother like Alfie.