Chapter 238: Only seven months left
River POV
Baby Hadley is finally home. Mia has been staying with Ted and Victoria now that their house is built. She gets along with them so perfectly it's like she's always been with them.
The morning the baby comes home they sit all us grown ups all down and asked how we would feel if they asked Mia if they can adopt her.
"I already consider her my sister." Lincoln says taking his mom's hand. They have gotten really close these last few months and he already treats her like a sister.
"She will be eighteen in a few years." Pickle says always the voice of reason.
"Even if she turned eighteen tomorrow we would still wants this." Victoria says taking Pickle's hand "Everyone no matter the age deserves to have a family of their own." He smiles and nods at her. The last few months Victoria has been the face of adoption placement for Alyce's place.
They bring Mia in next and have a private talk with her before Ted comes out and says "She said yes!" We all congratulate them. I'm so happy for Mia and the Spencer's. The next few months go by to fast.
Chailor has postpartum depression so me and the guys have been taking care of Hadley almost full time for months. This week she left to do therapy and treatment at the facility Flame and Pickle used. It took us too long to notice that she was struggling. Me and Lincoln have been busy with work at the firm. They had three huge cases back to back which has meant long hours for us.
Pickle noticed first and mentioned it to Victoria after he heard the baby crying while he was in the gym during a private lesson with some rich guy. He heard her and didn't think much of till twenty minutes passed and she was still crying.
He went to the main house and found Chailor sitting in her rocking chair rocking just staring out the window while Hadley was in her bassinet behind her red and sweating from crying so long. Pickle couldn't get Chailor to respond to him so he called Victoria and together they called Lincoln and me.
Lincoln blames himself for not noticing sooner. The guy's have been amazing juggling both kids due to them having more flexibility schedules.
Finn calls every week now for the last two months since they are stationed to the same out post for a little bit of time. Nathan Burks has even been with them the last month. It's nice that they are all together but we all know it can change at anytime.
I love talking to them all especially Finn and Denalii. Me and Denalii have become pretty good friends now. Always writing each other and taking on the phone. Me and Kraizen have hung out with Randy a few times now, he still texts me but it's normal friendly talk not his creepy side.
The guys decided he's not a threat anymore and we all think me hanging out with him has calmed his crazy. August Abbott and three of his six wives are still in hiding. Lucky and Flame have started along with the police chief and the mayor a protective support system for anyone wanting to leave the church a safe way out. They still haven't been able to completely shut the churches down and probably will never be able to but now if anyone wants to leave they can legally do so and with their children.
They can do so now with the states help and support never having to leave their children behind. Right now other then a few bumps we have the perfect life I've always dreamed of having.
One year later
I walk over to the main house to show Chailor the cute video that Finn and Denalii sent me. We laugh watching it as she's feeding Hadley.
"Hey baby doll" he says to the camera. "This is just a short message to tell you I love you and I'll see you in seven short months" he presses his lips on the camera.
"Tell everybody I love them and I'll see them soon" he just stands there for a minute then he smiles as he throws in a wink.
"Ohhhh shit the panty wetter" Nunzio yells pushing his way to the camera.
He grabs the camera and kisses it too.
"I heard your a blusher Riv, "I guess we'll see soon" he says smiling at the camera and laughing. "If our boy ever makes it to the truck so we can go" they start play boxing around.
"I love you baby doll and I'll see you soon" he blows a quick kiss as the video ends.
We talk some about Annie's birthday party next month and start making some plans for Hadley's first birthday a few months after that. I kiss them both and start walking towards the gym to get a workout in before Pickle gets home.
Pickle's been gone for two days on a job with Flame. Lucky and Annie are in Mexico visiting Pinky and Maria. Ryder and Flame are heading out there tomorrow followed by me and Pickle on friday once I'm off work. Pinky's 50th birthday is coming up and we all wanted to go and celebrate with them.
As I head down the hallway to the gym doors just passed Lincoln's office m
y phone rings.
It's like a weird number like it has too many numbers to it. That's weird I think looking at it.
Maybe it's Finn!!
"Hello!" I say excitedly my hearts beating faster as I wait to hear his voice.
It takes a second then I hear static and almost like an echoey voice.
"Can you hear me?" The staticky voice says a little clearer each time.
"It's kind of staticky still but I can hear you a little bit"
"Is this better" the line becomes clearer.
"Yes a lot better who's this?" I ask it sounds like Nathan but I'm not sure yet.
"Ummm River, this is Burks" he says softly.
Okay it's Nathan probably with a update or a message from Finn. Maybe they can connect a call again. The line gets staticky again. I hope I don't lose them. If it's him the guys and Annie are going to be sad they missed him. It's been a month since he's been able to call us.
"River can you hear me better now?" His voice sounds shaky and sad maybe. I've never heard him sound anything but happy.
"Hello Nathan, is everything okay? You sound a little weird." I say trying to hide the worry I feel.
He sounds nervous.
His voice sounds harsh like he's been screaming or yelling alot.
I have a really bad feeling, why is he not his usual happy self.
Somethings wrong, he sounds like he's choking up, afraid to say something. I think he's crying, I don't like this!
"Nathan! Is everyone alright?" I demand, terrified now.
"No River, something bad happened" I hear him choke up.