Don't Rain on My Parade, Tag: Open

Thursday, January 13th, 2011 @ 11:00 am

Shane would probably be mad. Evan would probably be mad... everyone who knew her would glare and tell her to go back home and get back on that damn couch. What they didn't understand was being on that couch or in bed for all hours of the day was driving her insane. Since the contractions a week ago, Devin had felt nothing besides the usual kicks. She didn't know if she'd be able to take another two months of this. She had tried knitting and failed miserably. There were only so many things on the internet that could keep her occupied. Already she had finished the few books she had left and didn't want to read anything more about babies and birthing because instead of feeling secure, she got frustrated about how easy every other woman in the world at it. So... she snuck out to go into town and to the bookstore.

Devin made sure to avoid the garage not wanting to let Shane or one of his employees see her car. She knew if that happened she’d get tattled on and a phone call would be coming ordering her back to the couch or worse than that would be Shane physically escorting her himself. That would be why she was wearing sunglasses in the middle of winter. Though with as pregnant as she was, it was hard to be stealthy. Still she snuck into the book store knowing that just being out of the house for an hour would be nice. No one needed to know. She’d come in, look at a few novels, maybe purchase a few, and then get herself back home where it was warm and onto the couch for when Shane came home for the afternoon.

Normally she’d be in the classics but right now she was browsing a couple of fantasy and a few recent pieces. A Nicholas Sparks novel was in her hand and she knew Shane would tease her for it. Who needed to read about romance and true love when she had it? But Devin was a sucker for two lost souls finding one another. Talk about taste imitating life. Most of her friends here in Evergreen knew she wasn’t supposed to be out and in a small town like this, Devin couldn’t be entirely sure that the rumor mill hadn’t taken over and spread that she was on bedrest to everyone. So far she had met no resistance or scowls from anyone and was taking that as a good sign.

Sampson had found the book store and he was home. He'd spent nearly an hour there already, just browsing and skimming. He had three volumes under his arm already and he certainly wasn't done. He grabbed a book from the shelf and turned it over in his hands, the paperback glinting in the florescence. How to Love Your Woman Right it said. His brow furrowed and he scoffed, pushing it back in it's place. He'd never fall in love, not with who his parents told him to and not with who The Vow told him to. He didn't know who this woman was he was engaged to and he didn't care. She would be his wife, but that didn't mean he had to like her.

He turned the corner and found a belly blocking his way. Jesus, she was a planet. "Whoa, sorry, I didn't mean to.. bump your baby or anything." He smiled a little, raising his hands palm forward in a sign of peace, then attempted to shuffle behind her down the aisle. She was really pregnant. Why was she out? Weren't they supposed to be bed ridden or something. He thought about it for a moment. He bet that little booger was ruling her life right now. He smirked. It was amazing how a fetus called the shots.

Someone bumped into her and Devin knew it wasn’t because they couldn’t see her. She was a walking house and no matter what sweet things Shane said she was still a house, if not in his eyes a beautiful one. Immediately one of her hands went to her belly to protect her child as any mother’s reaction would be. Instead of getting angry, Devin who always thought things were her fault or that she was in the way looked down and offered a small smile. “It’s okay… I think he’s used to it by now.” Now of course he didn’t have much room to move but that wasn’t exactly her fault and more his; or Shane’s. Once more she inwardly curse her luck at getting a baby that seemed to already be taking after his father’s side of the family and less like hers.

Shifting herself to let him by better, Devin rubbed her hand on her stomach wincing a bit at a big kick. So maybe leaving was a bad idea but she was going to get out of that damn house. If she could hear the thoughts going through the head of the guy that bumped into her, Devin would have agreed that indeed the little guy was ruling her life right now. He even had her using the bathroom on command. “You don’t strike me as the romance type,” she stated a bit teasing at the fact he was in that particular aisle.

He slipped by her then down the pathway, perusing the shelves filled with covers of bare-chested men and women with anguished looks. “You don’t strike me as the romance type." He turned his head to her, then at the books. "Are you kidding? How can you not love.." He picked a book at random "Pleasuring the Pirate." He read slowly, then stared at it a moment longer with a look disgust. He looked to the woman, then back at the books, then back at her. Pleasuring the pirate. Seriously? Who makes this stuff up? He snorted a laugh then tossed it back on the shelf with a grin. People really read this stuff. They had to, how else would it get published. It made him sad, that so many people wasted their money on stories he was sure they could write themselves.

"Top stuff." He raised his brows sarcastically. He glanced over at the cover of the novel she held in her hands. "What is it you're reading then?" Damn, she was big. He wondered why it was women felt compelled to have another human grow inside them. It struck him as a little creepy. He wouldn't want a little person inside him. It was very men-in-black-esque.

Well that wasn’t exactly the type of book that Devin would buy. She wasn’t for the cheesy romance novels with the damsel in distress saved by the rippling, muscular, Fabio-wannabe while aboard a pirate ship, or in the castle, or a number of other locations that made no sense. Still, the Nicholas Sparks book in her hand was quite incriminating. Most people who read these were teenagers or young twenty-somethings who still longed for what she already had. But these books took place where she grew up, where she lived and it made her connected to them to know about the places he described and talked about. Like in the Notebook, the house with the blue shutters… Devin knew a house that looked exactly like that. It was probably like someone reading Interview with a Vampire and being from New Orleans, or a Mark Twain book and being from Missouri.

“Well someone does,” she said giving this guy a quizzical look. Not that she would read something like that but it wasn’t up to her what people liked. Some people found Dickens and Austen boring where she ate up their works like she couldn’t get enough. Classics had always been her area of interest and her minor in literature definitely showed that. She focused primarily on Regency Literature, but she had a soft spot for some of the American classics as well. But this time, while on bed rest, she just didn’t think she could stand reading something like Sense and Sensibility. She wanted something light hearted and easy, and these books provided that. For a moment she felt like she should hide Confessions of a Shopaholic that was also in her arms.

“Just some easy reading books… things to stave off boredom,” she stated meekly holding them closer to her chest so the covers wouldn’t be shown. The way he kept looking at her made Devin uncomfortable like at any moment he thought something from the movie Aliens was going to pop out of her. Yes, she realized she was pregnant, and yes, she realized very much so, but the way people stared and looked at her did nothing to make her feel more comfortable in her own skin. “What are you looking for?” she asked. “I might be able to help you find it.” She didn’t exactly want to feel helpful but as usual, Devin was trying to be nice to someone who didn’t exactly deserve it.

"I see." He said slowly, leaning his shoulder on the shelf, watching her for a moment. She didn't like him. He could tell. Why was it women who didn't have boyfriends loved him, thought he was the greatest thing since sliced bread, then women with husbands or boyfriends suddenly were repelled by him. noticed her movement as she clasped the books to her chest. So, she was a romance lover. He figured she hid the books because she knew he'd scoff at her. Too late, he already was.

She was just another try-hard house wife who probably wasn't getting enough 'sexy time' from her oaf of a husband, especially after he impregnated her and made her a whale, and therefore is getting her pleasure elsewhere. He smirked. Usually thinking of a woman doing that was hot, but he doubted she could even reach over her enormous belly. Because, seriously, no one would want anything to do with.. that. It seemed wrong, like a crime. Her husband had made her fat, willingly, and then probably refused to touch her after, feeding her some bullshit excuse about feeling weird with the baby around. Hah! He almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

"I'm fine, actually, got what I was looking for." He raised the books he'd found in the air then tucked them back under his arm. He shrugged, looking down the aisle at the door. He'd already purchased his wares. He gave her one last look of disbelief, then saluted. "See you around." He turned on his heel and made his way down the aisle and to the door where the bell chimed happily as he left.

((I figured just a quick meeting would be better, if that's ok with you? Then there's not enough time for Sampson to see her be offended and feel bad! ))

Autumn was happily wandering through the bookstore doors. It seemed like whenever Johnny was away working, she was out and about shopping in town. Mostly for baby stuff but sometimes for new things for her to wear or toys for the puppies or even a little something for Johnny. She tried not to spend too much of course since she didn't want Johnny to have to work more hours. But it was true, Autumn was a shopaholic!

This was a little more important, however. She wanted to find herself a book on parenting so she and Johnny could read through together. And so off to Everbooks she had gone! Although she was a little lonely these days. She used to run into Devin quite frequently around town but since the woman got put on bed rest, their visits weren't quite as often. Although keeping her baby healthy was most important, after all. As Autumn shopped through the parenting books, finally selecting not one, but two, she decided today was a good day to see her friend. On her way home, perhaps. She'd stop by the bakery and pick up a few cookies. Well, maybe more than just a few since she could always leave them for Devin to share with Shane!

But her dark almond shaped eyes fell upon a familiar face on the way to the cashier that threw her entire plan out the window. She had to back up a few steps to make sure it wasn't wishful thinking or her eyes deceiving her. Unfortunately it was neither.

"Devin!" Autumn huffed, carrying her twenty weeks pregnant self over to the other much further along woman. Her arms folded over her chest, above her rounded stomach, book tucked under one of her arms. "What are you doing! You should be laying down!" She accused, her huffy pout causing her cheeks to puff out slightly.

He… and… Devin felt insulted. This person reminded her of everyone her father had associated with who thought they were so much better than everyone else. ”Good riddance,” she thought to herself as the guy left her to her browsing once more. It was people like that who made her appreciate her friends here, the friends she made after being kicked out, and her husband so much more. They weren’t like that and Devin didn’t think they ever could be. She was glad Shane wasn’t there, sure he would have had choice words share at least.

Browsing the aisle some more, Devin heard the bell over the door go and… well it was her worst fear in that moment. Well her second worst fear because Shane walking in would be the first one. Seeing Autumn stepping in the door and angling herself towards the self-help and parenting section, well Devin decided to go to the other aisles at the opposite side of the door. The sight of a pregnant woman sneaking around a book store as if she was a spy in some Cold War movie had to be something that anyone would laugh at. She was sure that she was garnering attention from some of the patrons but as long as she could get to the door before Autumn could see her… well… she was hoping for that. Of course she still had to pay for her books.

Just when she thought she was clear there was a petite, pregnant Asian woman standing there with glaring eyes blocking her way. The shock almost made Devin drop what was in her arms but instead she just place her hand against her chest trying to breathe.

“I… I…” She was a horrible liar. Everyone knew that. The only lies she could tell were white ones that made people feel better. “I… was hungry… and, well… Shane hasn’t done the grocery shopping and I thought… well I thought I’d get something in town and get some books and go back to the couch until Shane got home?” She knew it didn’t sound believable and Shane had done the grocery shopping. She was sure that Autumn was going to tattle on her.

Autumn continued her puffy cheeked pout as Devin attempted to explain away her appearance in town when she should be relaxing and keeping off her feet for the sake of Connor! Understandably, she imagined that Devin was rather bored and all but in Autumn's book, it was not an excuse to bed up and about when she should be in bed rest! No need to put extra strain on either baby or mother.

"Oh, you're such a liar!" Autumn accused since the lie Devin had come up with was not only transparent but a pretty lame little story. Autumn imagined that making up a cover story was a little difficult to do while standing in the bookstore. Especially if there were no grocery bags in sight! Not a single piece of evidence suggesting that Devin had indeed been to the grocery store like she claimed.

Shifting her book to one hand, Autumn pointed a thin finger towards the cashiers, "Go pay for your book!" She insisted, seeing as she needed to do the same thing! And she was going to see that Devin made her way back home after this. Although she was unsure if she'd 'tattle' on Devin to Shane. He'd probably be pretty upset! And Autumn didn't want to cause extra trouble. She imagined that it was enough strain on the man knowing that his poor wife was confined to the sofa or bed while he was working and all. But Devin didn't need to know that it wasn't her intention to rat her out. Not yet, anyway.

"Crazy," Autumn told Devin with a slight shake of her head, although being cooped up in the house all day wasn't fun and a new book would be luxury and all. She sighed, "Next time, call me?" She suggested, "I can be your errand girl if you need it." She suggested.

Her shoulders dropped as Autumn caught her in her fable, and Devin ashamedly tried to hide her face away. She hated lying and didn’t even know why she did in the first place. There was just this feeling of pressure that everything she did would have some monumental result. No one else knew what it was like to be her in this situation. All she could think about laying their on that couch were all the fears going through her mind that no matter what she did, taking it easy or working around the house, she’d lose this baby too.

Of course she was sure that a few buildings down Shane was working away and not worrying at all. Or maybe he was worrying too much. Still there was that threat that Autumn would just march her down to the auto shop and push her off onto her husband like some child who needed to be punished. She wouldn’t put it past Shane to tie her up, make some quip about it being kinky, and then forgetting that she still had permission to at least use the bathroom on her own. That or he’d hire a bunch of babysitters.

“It’s not about someone getting me stuff, Autumn,” Devin side, pushing her hair behind her ear and wanting to curl up in her husband’s hold right then. She definitely didn’t know how to talk to someone other than Shane about the things she was feeling. Then again, Autumn would know soon enough she was sure. It wasn’t about getting things to keep her occupied but feeling trapped with only her thoughts behind those four walls.

“It’s boring but it’s also… well I had to get outside… just… out. For a little bit. I was going to go right home before Shane got there and be back on the couch. “ Devin, always so sure she wanted to be a mother, wanted this more than anything else in the world was now having cold feet. If there was a way to keep Connor in there by force she’d do it, but now that reality was there and Connor soon to be, she could feel that acidic burn in her stomach signaling nervousness. “I just keep thinking about everything that could go wrong and I tried to keep occupied but it didn’t help.” She’d show Autumn the bundle of yarn that was supposed to be a baby blanket if she wanted proof.

Honestly, Autumn felt bad about busting Devin like she had. Especially after the woman deflated like she just had. Autumn bit her bottom lips slightly as she worked to keep her pout on her face. But it was quickly melting since it really did seem like there was more to it than just being bored. Little did Autumn know but she'd also get the full experience in but a few months time. But for ow she was determined to make the experience a little less nerve-wracking for her friend and neighbor!

The petite Asian exhaled as she took a step closer towards Devin, arms wrapping around said woman to give her a hug. Although it was a little difficult since their round tummies were the first parts to touch. But Autumn gave Devin the best hug she could. Sure, it probably wasn't as good as a Shane hug but Autumn was a fairly decent hugger!

While she couldn't completely relate, she understood how being left to one's own thoughts could be more stressful than anything else. What Devin needed was distractions and someone she felt comfortable talking about her worries with. And if the latter was not to be Autumn, she was definitely capable of being a distraction. "I'm sure everything is going to be fine." She assured her, not that she knew for sure. But if anyone in Evergreen deserved to be a mother, it was Devin. She was going to be a great mother, Autumn could just tell.

Autumn knew nothing of Devin's past pregnancy experiences. But even without that knowledge, she could definitely understand how nerve wracking the situation might be! First thing was first, though. "Let's pay for the books and get you home before Shane somehow finds his way down the street and sees you here." That would be their luck! "I bought some cookies so I'll makes us some hot chocolate and if you want, I'll bring over Alfie! He's really cute and sweet!" Hopefully Fritz wouldn't mind. And maybe Devin would feel comfortable enough to share some of her worries. It might lighten the load!

Hugs were a luxury now and Devin always joked it was a good thing that Shane had long arms. It was almost impossible with Autumn and not to mention Evan. There were some days where she just needed two arms wrapped around her and a voice telling her that everything was going to be okay. Usually that was a job for her husband but it was nice when it was someone else who didn’t feel that it was their job and role to make sure she was happy at every moment of the day.

“It’s just… so… so… frustrating!” Devin exclaimed. The one thing she took pride in these days was how good of a wife she was. Now she was failing at that! It was bad enough that looking at Autumn… at seeing Evan who was carrying twins… that it was unfair she was the one on bed rest. Why did her friends have to have it so easy? Have to false starts couldn’t she get a break?

“You don’t know that,” Devin muttered to herself as Autumn spoke of how everything was going to be fine. Wasn’t that what the doctors had said so many times before? Nothing was wrong with her, she was fine. There was no reason why they couldn’t have children at all. But here she was with the doctor reassuring her that everything was okay and that this was just a precaution and that everything was normal about it. So why was everyone treating her like glass if it was normal? Why did the treat her like she couldn’t do anything without endangering Connor’s and her life?

“Fitz is going to hate that,” Devin told Autumn but was managing a smile. She remembered coming back to find Johnny (who was almost if not the same size as Shane) walking a dog that was the size of the palm of his hand. “But I’d like that… and Autumn?” Devin asked toeing the floor like a four year old who had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar. “Please don’t tell Shane. He has enough to worry about than me sneaking out of the house.”

Of course Autumn didn't know if everything was going to be okay or not. But she was an optimist! Even if the situation was bad, Autumn would like to think that someone was wonderful and sweet as Devin would be able to be a mother and that there would be no complications or anything of the sort. Devin deserved to be able to be a mother of a healthy baby boy and so that was what was going to happen! Autumn wanted to be sure of that, even if that wasn't how the world worked. But the world could shove it!

Some pregnancies went smoother than others, which was strange really. Of course, no one knew what the future would hold for the two women but Autumn hoped it involved to healthy baby boys! That way they could grow up and play together! How cute would that be! But first they had to get through the pregnancies!

Maybe it was the hormones on top of being stir crazy from house arrest, but Autumn just hugged Devin again, one of the sideways kind of hugs since it was easier with their rounded bellies. "I'm sorry, Devin." She murmured, and not in a way that was trite. Autumn was very sorry that Devin had to go through all of this! But it would be worth it upon the delivery of a healthy Connor, right?

The woman was about to gesture for her pregnant buddy to follow her so they could pay before letting out a sigh. The puffy cheek pouty face was making it's return at Devin's request to withhold their meeting from Shane. She thought about it for a moment before nodding. "It will be our little secret." She promised, nodding. No need to add extra pressure. "C'mon! Alfie wants to make friends with Fitz!" She joked, knowing very well that wasn't going to happen!