J.J. turned over to her other side with considerable effort. She was excited for D.J. to have a little brother or sister. But she was not a good pregnant woman. Everything felt alien. At least the first time around, she’d had months and months before she even looked preggers. This time, well, the basketball was turning into a beach ball with every passing day. This baby was Tucker-sized from the get-go.
But luckily, D.J. was finally sleeping. J.J. slowly drifted into rest, even if it wasn’t deep sleep.
Dean was out with his buddies. If he woke up D.J. when he stumbled in, well, he could deal with it.
When the phone rang, J.J. looked at her bedside alarm clock.
It was three in the morning.Did I sleep, even two hours?That was something, at least.
The phone rang again.
She picked it up and struggled to use her elbows to get into an upright position.
“Hello?”
“Hey, J.J., it’s Earl Shot.”
Earl was a Lenawee County Sheriff’s Deputy who worked in Irish Hills. J.J. went from half asleep to fully awake and ready to throw up.
“I’m sorry to wake ya. I know you’re preggers again, but, uh. I have Dean here.”
“What, oh my God, is he dead?”
“No, sorry, didn’t mean to scare you that way. He’s alive. He’s okay.”
“Good, okay, wow.”
“But it’s not all good.”
Earl was an old friend. He was a family friend. He’d even dated Jackie once or twice. He’d showed up to this very house to help scare off a few of her more aggressive admirers. Jackie should have married Earl Shot, J.J. often thought. But he was too stable to be attractive to her chaotic mom.
“It’s okay, Earl. What’s happened?”
“Uh, Dean got a bit, over-served over at the Wagon Wheel. And then he got, uh, belligerent about whether or not soccer was a real sport.”
“Oh, Lord.”
“He doesn’t think it is, if you’re wondering.”
“I’ve heard, yeah, okay. Is he under arrest?”
“Yeah, there was a brawl. He threw a punch, not just him, I’m told. But by the time I got there, it was confusing.”
“I bet, but I can get him?”
“Yeah, they’ll ask you to post. He’s going to be charged with assault, probably.”
“Thanks for the heads up, I’m on my way.”
“Well, drive safe. He’s asleep last I checked.”
J.J. debated what to do. A big part of her wanted to leave Dean there and get him later after she’d dropped D.J. at Playdoodle. But she didn’t. She got up. She found her maternity leggings, her stupid pink maternity t-shirt, and a sweater that didn’t button over her stomach. She packed a few things for D.J. and then went to his room.
“Mama, what’s happening? Is it the gastroid?”
“No, honey, no, we have to go get Daddy. He needs a ride home.”
“Okay.”
