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He spent the rest of the day cleaning out cupboards to make space and using a measuring tape to figure out what would fit where for the crib, because he knew Kodi wasn’t practical like that.
When the front door buzzer sounded, Lennon had his coat on and the tubs piled by the door. Seeing Kodi’s grin filling the small screen, he pressed the screen and released the lock. He opened the door and bent to heft up the stack of tubs, only to pause at Kodi’s shout, “Are those heavy?”
Lennon smothered a chuckle when Kodi came to a stop, giving him a serious stare. “You’re not supposed to lift anything heavy in the first trimester.”
Someone clearly took everything they read to heart.
“It’s cake and cookies, they aren’t that heavy,” he said, humoring the man continuing to assess the weight of the tubs.
“That may be so, but all together, that could be too much for our little peanut.”
“Peanut?” Lennon questioned, locking the door behind him as Kodi held onto all the tubs.
“The baby, it’s about the size of a peanut,” he explained in a patient tone, taking the stairs. He looked over his shoulder, all rosy-cheeked from the cold and sparkling eyes.
Heck, he was a charmer. “I see. Do you plan on calling it all different vegetables throughout my pregnancy?”
Kodi rolled his eyes, holding the door open for Lennon to pass through, out into the icy wind. He snuggled deeper into his winter jacket while Kodi pressed the fob to unlock the car as they approached. “I like peanut.”
The lower lip poked out and Lennon was back to smothering his laughter at the obvious pout. “Peanut it is.”
Kodi placed everything he had in the trunk, and Lennon caught sight of several gaily wrapped parcels. “What are they?”
“Gifts,” Kodi replied noncommittally.
Lennon got into the passenger seat and buckled up before Kodi got in. “Give me the address and I’ll put it in the sat nav.”
On their way a couple of minutes later, the radio playing classic eighties rock music, Kodi sang along with some of the songs proving that it wasn’t a random selection. Lennon relaxed, his back aching more than a little from all the activity. He’d lifted more than those cake tubs. He kept that to himself.
His mind working through all the things that needed to get done, he didn’t initially notice that they were driving through neighborhoods that he wasn’t familiar with. “Are you sure you put the right address into the sat nav? I don’t think I’ve driven this way before.”
He stared out the window at the gorgeous homes decorated for the season. They were so pretty, and Lennon didn’t think anything of it when Kodi slowed. “Look how pretty that house is.”
The car engine switched off, and Lennon glanced at Kodi in confusion. “My parents don’t live around here.”
Kodi tapped at the steering wheel, his face in shadows from the street lights. “I’m just making a detour.” Kodi got out of the car and walked around the hood to open Lennon’s door, letting in the cold. “I want to show you something.”
“Can’t you show it to me from the warmth of the car?”
“No. I need you to come with me.” Kodi didn’t sound like himself, so Lennon got out of the car and took the icy hand Kodi offered.
He locked the car and strolled up the drive of the house Lennon had called pretty. It was three storeys, with big windows decorated with festive lights. The porch looked like a wraparound, and there was a porch swing big enough for the large, illuminated Santa sitting on it. Lennon dragged his boots. “If the folks look out the window they’re gonna see us.”
“There’s nobody home,” Kodi replied, keys jingling in his hand as he all but dragged a confused Lennon up the steps.
“How do you know that?” he puffed from the struggle to hold back when Kodi was having none of it.
“Because they moved out yesterday morning after the contracts were signed.”
Lennon tugged his hand free and folded his arms to hide the shaking they were doing that wasn’t because of the cold.
“Contracts?” he whispered, seeing Kodi’s look of uncertainty.
“Yes, contracts. I bought this house. It was where I was last night and today. Cleaning.” He held up his hands. “Don’t go kicking my ass for jumping the gun. I started looking for my own place when I returned to Hazardville. I sold the property I had and hired an agent to find me a house, only it took longer because I didn’t like anything they showed me, until this place. And you’re right, it is pretty. And when I saw it, I…” He looked down at the porch and kicked at a stray leaf.
“Yes?” Lennon managed to squeeze out of too tight vocal chords.
Kodi looked up. “I knew it was perfect for you. For us. I could see us here, and I’m sorry I didn’t consult you on this and I might have gone about this the wrong way. Except we’re here now and you’re expecting a baby and it couldn’t be more perfectly timed.” Kodi tugged at his wind ruffled hair. “Please say something… fuck, anything.”
