This is a follow up to 'Tis the Season. It has all the same characters, just a different storyline. Reading the first part might help bring you up to speed.
*
"The fuck you say. Sandy Claus. Me? Maxwell, if I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times, for a smart guy, you sure are a dumb prick."
"Come on Raj. I need your help buddy. It's just for a couple of hours at both parties, and you know that the kids will love it."
"Love it? Let me tell you something Max, they're a bunch of snot-nosed, stunned cunts. And do you know how I know? Let me tell you why. Because if you're a stunned cunt and you marry a stunned cunt, there is very little doubt that your kids will follow in your footsteps."
"Does that include me and Rebecca?"
"Well yes, and no. Yes, if the two of you were stunned cunts. No, because at worst, you're just a stupid prick. And that's what saves your ass boss, sometimes."
"Thanks for that, I guess."
"Just because I'm brown doesn't mean that I don't celebrate Christmas. Hell, I love it, but tell me how many Indian Sandy Claus's you've seen, and I don't mean the ones that piss their pants in Time Square."
"What if I promise you that Trini will sit on your lap and give you her Christmas wish list."
"Fuck that bitch. She can suck my brown candy cane. I'm still on probation for joking that I was going to sniff her chair when she wore that mini skirt with no panties last summer."
"It wasn't what you said. It's what you did."
"Fuck you Max."
"Buddy. You waited until she wasn't looking, took a picture of her snatch and then showed everyone and claimed that she was flashing you."
"Yeah, yeah, I remember, and should I forget, there is a little letter on company letterhead that's in my file to remind me. Cunt."
"Who, me or her?"
"Both. Now fuck off."
"I will, as soon as you promise me you'll be there."
"Go fuck a goat. I'll be there, but even brown kids don't think that "Santa" is brown." Raj made quotation marks above his head to get his point across when he said Santa. He had always said "Sandy Claus" for as long as I could remember, and it was unlikely to change at this stage. I kissed my buddy on the forehead and thanked him for being a team player.
"Fuck you, you goddamn homo. You better remember your promise about Trini." I was already walking away from his desk, but I took the opportunity to shoot him the bird anyway.
"You're a cunt Maxwell. A real fucking cunt. Oh, good morning Vanessa."
"Good morning Mr. Patel. I see that your anger management classes are helping."
"Yes. Yes, they are. Only 87 more hours of therapy until I'm cured. I'll be a new fucking man. Just you wait and see."
With the exception of my new job, nothing had change. Raj and I still got caught fucking around daily. Raj did have a one small indiscretion on his record, but other than that he was a good worker and much liked by the cliental that he worked with. So, many of the complaints about vulgarities were swept under the proverbial rug.
Rebecca was waiting for me at the door when I got home. In her arms was our little bundle of joy. Emma Rose Cole was born at 4:12am the morning of September 26
th
. She was expected, and on time. Rebecca's OB/GYN had picked the day early in August, and she wasn't wrong.
When spring had hit the city, the trees as well as Rebecca's belly started to bloom. It was time to find a new place for our growing family. Benjamin had suggested a small reno to his daughter's apartment, but Rebecca and I both wanted a place of our own.
Between us we had the money for a good apartment, but Beth and Benjamin wouldn't hear of their youngest child living more than a few blocks away. The Williams personal real estate broker took us apartment hunting and after narrowing it down to five potential places, we went home to make our decision.
The Williams are a tight knit family and spend a lot of time together to celebrate birthdays and holidays alike, but they are private. So, it was very much a surprise to Rebecca and me, when her parents showed up at our apartment unannounced.
I poured some wine, some bourbon and a glass of water for Rebecca and sat to talk. Both Benjamin and Beth had been to my apartment before, and not once did they comment on its size or location. I knew full well that their maid's quarters were larger than my home, but they refused to look down their noses at it.
Pulling out a portfolio, Benjamin handed both of us a folder filled with a number of property listings.
"Ralph Trucks has been working in real estate for as long as I can remember. He told your mom and I all about the places that you viewed. He took all of your dislikes and likes and threw them all into his magic computer and came up with these five properties. I know that the mortgage is a little more than you are prepared to spend on rent at this point, but Beth has some thoughts on why you should, as an investment opportunity, consider these options."
Beth started, "It's just that the places that you looked at are only 2 bedrooms. These others are 4. That way if you decide down the road that you might want a second child, you have the room. Plus, you will have a guest room."
Rebecca and I looked through the pages. We had seen these listing before, while we were in Ralph's office, but if I recalled they were not rental options, and they were way out of our price range. But currently, there wasn't a listing price to be seen anywhere.
"Mom, Max and I appreciate the generous offer that you and Dad are making, but we want to try and do this on our own. If we have to rent for a few more years and save up for a better place, we will."
Ben spoke up immediately.
"It's not a generous offer. It's a business deal. I will hold the mortgage. Max will pay it back in weekly increments. It will add up to 10% of his yearly salary."
"Dad, that would have to be the worst business deal that you ever..."
Benjamin interjected, "Rebecca, please do not upset your mother. Ralph is waiting in the car downstairs. It's going to be a long afternoon, so get your coats and let's go find a house for my new grandchild."
And that is exactly what happened. 2 months later we moved into our new home. We don't quite have the view of the park that my in-laws do, but when I look out the window, I can see trees.
"Look Em, daddy finally came home. He was probably causing trouble with Uncle Raj or chasing that mean old Vanessa around his office."
I kissed both of my women. One on the top of her 8-week old head and the other on her cherry red lips.
"Uncle Raj. Me. Trouble? Come on. You know that we never get into trouble. And Vanessa? She hates me. But that cute little number up in Human Resources, that's a different story. Maybe I can visit her until you get healed up and are ready to perform again."
Becky punched my gut and smiled. "Ready to perform? Asshole. You make me sound like a racehorse or a stripper. And you'd like that wouldn't you? Me giving you the greenlight for one of the little tramps running around the office."
"It wouldn't be permanent. Just until you get back to doing your wifely duties." I was smiling when I said it, but I knew the second punch was coming before I even finished what I was saying.
"That's it, Emma. You and I are going to burn daddy's dinner." Rebecca walked halfway down the hall and turned. "And just for the record bucko, I'm not your wife. So, you're free to go to H.R. as much as you want."
Wrapping my arms around my red-haired beauty, I softly kissed and bit her neck. "Why would I go for a beaten-up New York City cab when I have a brand-new beautiful Bentley parked in my garage at home?"
Rebecca shook her sweat pant covered ass as she walked down the hall away from me. She was a tease, and she wanted to be able to have sex again just as much as I did.
"Hey Bec, were you able to get a sitter for Friday night?" Rebecca was a little bit protective of our bundle of joy and she didn't really want anyone watching her for more than a couple of minutes.
Her answer of "Yes" surprised me, not only because of Emma, but because Rebecca wasn't all that interested in attending a staff Christmas party where everyone in attendance knew that her father was the biggest boss in the place.
"Really? Baby you're the best. Who did you get?"
"Abigail. The girl from the fourth floor."
"What, doesn't she need a babysitter herself." Ouch. I may have fucked things up without even trying, but that little girl looked like she was 10-years old.
"She's 15 and will be 16 in a few weeks. She took a sitting course, but if you'd rather go to your drunken Christmas soiree alone, I'd be more than happy to stay home."
"Wow, sensitive much? I just asked a question." She didn't turn around from the sink, nor did she respond.
We hadn't been out on a date in just over 5 months. Rebecca preferred staying in during her last three months of pregnancy and for the 2 months after giving birth, we just stayed home. So, tonight was a big step for us.
A low dirty wolf whistle let my date know how good she looked in her little black dress. The black heels, lacy nylons and her wild red hair brought the whole package together.