The Cruiserweight (39 page)

“Hell,” he replied. “I swear to Christ, I’d
rather put out a cigarette in my eye than go through that shit
again.”

“Surely it wasn’t
that
bad.”

“You weren’t there to try on two thousand suits
ten miles too long and then had to model them in front of Ma and a
bunch of old lady salespeople.”

“You posed almost naked in front of the world
once and thought nothing of it,” Karen reminded him with a knowing
smile. “Who’s to say those same old ladies didn’t subscribe to
Men in the Raw
at the time?”

“Very fucking funny. Glad you’re enjoying my
pain.”

“Anyway, did you find something?”

“Yeah. Ma helped me pick a nice black suit, but
it has to be altered. Another advantage of being short.”

“How well I know. In my case, even the
so-called ‘women’s petite’ is still too long for me.”

“Short people in a tall world. The story of our
lives, huh?”

“I guess so. How long will Pilar and your
brother be in town?”

“Until Wednesday night. By the way, she and
Nick are coming for dinner and Ma wants to see Little Bit. Okay
with you?”

“Silly question. Your family’s welcome to visit
any time they like. I may need your mom’s opinion on a few wedding
things anyway.”

Brett groaned. “Good luck with that. Hope you
have more patience than I did.”

CHAPTER 76

“Honey, you made your Washington Beef!” Pilar
said during dinner. “I haven’t had this in ages, and forgotten how
delicious it was.”

“Karen made this round,” Brett replied. “I just
gave her the recipe and talked her through the cooking
process.”

“Give me
some
credit,” Karen said. “I
knew how to cook from the time you were still shitting your
diapers.”

Brett grinned. “That’s why things like your
stew and lasagna are so awesome. I’m telling you, Ma, I found me a
keeper in this woman.”

“I agree.” Pilar picked up Autumn from her high
chair. “My, you’re getting to be such a big girl and look more like
Daddy every day.”

“She burps and farts like Daddy too,” Nick said
with a laugh.

He was rewarded with a slap on the back of his
head from Brett. “No one asked for your input, asshole.”

“I’m not the one whose mommy bought him his
wedding clothes.”

Brett glared at his brother. “You’re really
asking for me to tell Karen the story of you wrestling as the
Possum Queen when we were kids, aren’t you?”

“Possum Queen?” Karen asked.

“Yeah, when I was sixteen and Nick ten, would
gather up all of Sharon’s stuffed animals for the audience and put
on these impromptu wrestling shows,” Brett said. “I’d get some of
Ma’s hair gel to make Nick’s hair stand up, put a Burger King crown
and one of Sharon’s dresses—”

“Stop right there!” Nick said, blushing. “I’m
going to kick your ass, Brett.”

“You couldn’t beat me back then. What makes you
think you can now beat the current Orlando Wrestling TV
Champion?”

“Park Perry should’ve broken your neck instead
of just spraining your wrist.”

Both started to laugh when they saw the look on
Karen’s face, indicating their joshing wasn’t anything
serious.

“Do they always go around like this?” she asked
Pilar.

Pilar nodded. “Don’t even get me started on how
these boys used to torment poor Sharon. Oh, by the way, I brought
some things to show you.”

“Good, because I wanted your advice on a few
ideas for the wedding.”

“This isn’t exactly wedding related, but I’m
flattered you value my input, Karen.”

“Oh, God. Ma, you didn’t drag along what I
think you did,” Brett said.

“Of course. If Karen’s going to be part of our
family, it’s only right she gets to know all of us
better.”

“Kill us now,” Nick said with a
groan.

“Yeah, no kidding,” Brett replied. “Come on,
dude, let’s clear off the table and then maybe make a sneak getaway
before Ma embarrasses the shit out of us.”

“Load and start the dishwasher first,” Karen
said.

The women walked into the living room, where
Karen put Autumn in her baby swing. “Where’s your laptop?” Pilar
asked, pulling a pack of CD’s from her bag. “I had everything
converted onto these.”

“What a nice concept. Brett probably left the
laptop in our bedroom.”

Brett came from the kitchen and glanced in his
mother’s direction before he turned back. “Nick, we’re safe,” he
said in a low voice. “She didn’t bring the baby pictures scrapbook
after all.”

*****

"I was thinking maybe a holiday theme for
wedding colors without going overboard," Karen said. “ I also found
the cutest little Christmas-themed dress for Autumn." She flipped
to a page she had marked for dresses. "Now I have heard horror
stories about tacky dresses, but this style has Phoebe written all
over it.” She held up the book.

"I love it," Pilar said. She held Autumn, who
enjoyed the attention her grandmother lavished on her. "Have you
picked a dress for yourself yet, dear?"

“Oh, yes. I chose the accessories and
everything. They’re hidden in my locked closet, so your nosey son
won’t see them before the wedding. I have an appointment for
another fitting for my dress next week, since I finally lost all
the baby weight.”

“Sounds lovely. Have you considered a
veil?"

“I don’t think that would be appropriate for a
courthouse wedding. Also keep in mind that Brett and I have a
child, as well as living together. I think a veil would be a little
hypocritical.”

“Courthouse?” Pilar asked, a little surprised.
“Brett didn’t say anything about that.”

“We don’t want anything fancy. Just family and
a few close friends.”

“I’m still glad you asked for my
help.”

Autumn began to fuss in Pilar’s arms. "I think
someone wants Mommy."

"She’s probably due for a change," Karen said,
taking the baby. “Brett, could you do me a favor and check Autumn’s
diaper?”

“Sure, sweetheart, no problem. Come on, Little
Bit.” Brett reached out to take Autumn from her before Nick
interfered.

“Let me give it a try,” he said. “Hey, pretty
girl. You want to spend time with Uncle Nicky? Huh? What’s that?
You want Uncle Nicky to change you?”

Autumn smiled at her uncle as Brett shook his
head. “This should be a barrel of laughs.”

“What, you think I can’t take care of a kid?”
Nick blew raspberries on Autumn’s stomach, making her
giggle.

“Dude, Jesus, what are you doing, trying to
swallow her whole?”

“He’s not hurting her, Brett,” Karen said. “Go
on, see if the baby needs changed. Your mother and I still have
some work to do.”

*****

"Need help?” Brett asked.

“Hand me those baby wipe things when I need
them," Nick replied as he opened up Autumn’s soiled diaper. "This
isn’t so bad. The way you and Patrick carry on, one would think
this girl emitted toxic waste all of the time.”

"Well, you’re not around Little Bit as often as
Karen and I are. As for Pat, he makes a big deal out of
everything.”

"It’s not so bad if you breathe through your
mouth.” Nick took baby wipes from Brett.

"I’ll remember that next time.”

“Time for the princess‘ fresh diaper," Nick
said. He slipped it under Autumn. “There you go, sugar. Feel
better?“

Autumn giggled and began to pee just as Nick
was bringing up the front of the diaper to fasten it on her.
"Jesus! Brett, bring me another diaper, will you?”

"Too bad she isn’t a boy," Brett replied as he
started laughing. "You’d made great target practice.”

"Just get me a diaper and save the smart ass
comments,” Nick said before he cleaned up the mess.

*****

"Bed," Brett said with a groan as he lay down
on his side of the bed. It had been a long day and he was
exhausted.

Karen returned from the nursery, baby monitor
in hand, and set it on her nightstand. "Poor guy," she said, seeing
him sprawled out on the bed, his arm across his closed eyes.
"Autumn’s asleep.”

"Good," he said, smiling and removing his arm
to look at her

“Guess the evening with Grandma and Uncle Nick
wore out the little thing.”

“Nice to have them visit, but nice when they
leave too. You can pick your spouse, but you can’t pick your
relatives.”

“Your relatives happen to be very nice,” Karen
said. “I enjoyed spending time with your mom. She gave me some good
wedding ideas.” She got into bed with him. “By the way, I should
also mention what an adorable baby you were. She’s right; you
looked just like Autumn, only with peach fuzz on your
head.”

Brett let out a long groan.
Ma, I swear if I
didn’t love you so much, I’d have to kill you
…

CHAPTER 77

The day after Pilar and Nick returned to
Olympia, Brett and Karen attended a cake tasting appointment,
leaving Autumn with a sitter. They sampled several choices before
taking a break.

Karen requested more water. “I didn’t think
there were so many kinds of cake in this world.”

“You’re telling me. I like cake, but damn, I
think I died and went to heaven.” Brett replied. He let out a loud
belch.

“Brett!”

“What?”

“Were you brought up in a barn? You just burped
in public.”

“Would you preferred the other end?”

“Good lord. This isn’t the Orlando Wrestling
locker room. Any particular cake you like?”

“Did we really need to go through all this
trouble for only thirty people?”

Karen gave him a look. “Okay,” Brett said, “I
can’t speak for both of us, but I’m leaning toward the white cake
with that kick ass strawberry filling.”

She smiled. “You know, I rather liked that one
too. Think you can behave for five minutes while I place the
order?”

“Jesus, now you sound like Ma. You’ve been
around her too long the last couple of days.”

“You’re so cute,” Karen said, pinching his
cheek.

“Karen, come on.”

“Relax, just messing with you. Hand over the
Visa.”

“How rich.
You
drag me to a cake
tasting, but it’s charged to
my
card.”

“You’re getting married as much as I am,
mister, and most of the people coming are your friends and
relatives anyway. I’ll be right back.”

Brett looked around while she placed and paid
for the cake order, tasting more of the sample remnants.
What
the hell, since I’m paying for this shit, I may as well enjoy some
more.

He stood at the store’s entrance and smiled
when Karen returned from her task. “Ready for lunch?” he
asked.

“Surely you’re not thinking about food after we
spent all afternoon cake tasting.”

“Well, yeah. Cake isn’t a real
lunch.”

“You must be a bottomless pit. Now I know where
our daughter gets her appetite.”

“Oh, yeah, need to check with the sitter since
you brought up Little Bit.” He pulled out his phone and began
punching numbers.

Karen smiled and shook her head. “Sometimes,
you’re worse than I am when it comes to the baby.”

“I don’t like leaving her with
strangers.”

“Mrs. Holloway isn’t a stranger. She came
well-recommended with excellent references.”

Brett gave her a nod before turning his
attention to the call he‘d made, talking for a few minutes before
he put the phone in his pocket. “All is well.”

“I could’ve told you that.”

“She’s sleeping. Sitter just gave her a
bottle.”

“Oh, good, Mrs. Holloway found the note I
left.”

“You leave notes for everybody?”

“In case you forgot, Autumn’s a baby. Babies
have schedules.”

“Speaking of schedules,” Brett said with a
grin, “it’s time for
this
baby to eat.”

Karen chuckled and walked with him toward a
food court.
Good thing he wrestles for a living or this man
would weigh far more than I do, or even when I was
pregnant.

CHAPTER 78

The weeks before the wedding passed, and before
anyone knew it, the holidays arrived. Between Christmas plans and
last-minute wedding preparations, Karen worried something would go
wrong.

She had no need for concern; whether by phone,
email, or instant messaging, Pilar and Phoebe were always on hand
at the right time. When Phoebe called Karen the morning she was
dressing Autumn for a visit with Santa at an area mall to let Karen
know Phoebe’s dress arrived and it was a perfect fit, Karen was
relieved.
One less worry for me. How would I’ve survived without
her and Pilar?