Chapter 127

**Artemis**


This week has been hell. My grandfather and parents did not want to leave this world without one last special, and I’m hating every second of dealing with it. Still for my sisters it means closure even though our relationship with them was strained. Then there’s the whole matter of the will. Honestly, I don’t want to know what my grandfather has left me to deal with. If what’s happened in the last few months are only a piece of what I have to face then I’m going to hate the rest even more.

My sisters are happy to let me handle it since they don’t want a thing from my father or grandfather. As much as they feel a sense of loss, they also feel relief. The last die-hard Rhodes are gone and we can all move on. My charity work with blue has been a lot more rewarding than any of the other work I’ve done, and seeing her smile is all the payment I need.

Fuck. I haven’t been able to spend much time with her thanks to all this, but as soon as it’s over I am taking the five of us on a trip. There is so much shit going on that I’ve tried to keep away from her. She has so much going on already and besides she didn’t have much time with my parents or grandfather. Why should I put her through the stress of their funerals when she barely knew them. No this is one family matter I’m happy to leave her out of.

We have just finalized everything, and my sisters leave. Lilly is still at school and the triplets are napping so maybe I can steal some time with Blue. I walk down the hall to our room and hear the shower going. There is a big urge inside me to strip down and join her but I don’t want the first moment we’ve gotten to spend together for the past few days to only be about sex. We’re explosive in that area, but I don’t want us to be only about that.

So, I move into the bathroom and lean against the counter watching her through the glass of the shower. There’s a fogged glass section covering her best bits, but I’ve seen everything plenty of times that I can imagine them in extreme detail. She’s been feeling weird about her stretch marks and saggy skin since giving birth to the triplets, but I admire it. It’s proof of the lives she’s brought into this world, but I understand her dislike of it. So, I’ve been researching a place that uses natural therapy to help the skin tighten and the stretch marks to lighten in color. It’s completely safe and requires not harsh drugs or surgery.

I’m hoping it will help her feel a little better.

“Hey.” I say carefully so I don’t scare her when she looks my way.

She still jumps and curses which makes me laugh. Her dirty mouth is a turn on, but so is everything else about her. I’m hooked on her, and I never hope for a cure.

“You scared the shit out of me!” She says.

“Sorry. I wanted to warn you, so you didn’t jump out of your skin, but it seemed to happen anyway.”

She huffs and returns to washing her hair.

“I feel like we haven’t talked much.” I say testing her mood.

“I know. You guys have been busy.” The way she says it sounds…off.

“Well, it wouldn’t be a Rhodes family even without some sort of spectacle.” I cross my arms and grind my teeth trying to fight my annoyance.

“I bet although I haven’t bee in your family long so I can say much on anything.” She sighs and I know something’s wrong.

“Are you okay? Did something happen?” I hate when she’s upset and doesn’t tell me.

I know sometimes she thinks it’s not a big deal and is trying to move on, but she’s used to keeping her feelings locked inside. With me I never want her to feel that way.

“It’s nothing.” She turns and rinses the soap out of her hair.

“You sound upset so it isn’t nothing. Come on, talk to me.”

She sighs again and drops her arms. “I heard you guys talking. You said somethings and…it sounded like you don’t want me involved in the funeral stuff because I’m not really a part of the Rhodes family. I married into it, but I’m not one of you.”

What? She heard us?

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” I ask.

“Because it’s dumb! I’m not one of you, and I know that, but I thought…I thought that I was really getting close to everyone, and I guess that was just my imagination.” She looks down at her feet.

“Nothing you feel is dumb, but you’re right.” Her eyes snap up to mine and there is so much disappointment and sadness that I open the shower door and walk in with clothes on and everything.

I cup her face and rest my head against her’s. “Not in the way you think. It’s true you’re not a Rhodes in that sense and I’m glad you’re not because that would make our marriage weird as shit. But it also means you don’t have to put up with this shit show of a funeral. The requests are ridiculous but almost everything is preplanned, so there isn’t much we can do but make sure everything goes smoothly. This will all be over soon.”

Blue looks away from me and starts to bite her lip. I drop my hands and watch her fidget nervously.

“Is there something else bothering you?” I ask her.

“There’s something I need to tell you, well more than one something. I just don’t know how you’ll react.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” I tease but the anxiety she’s basically broadcasting tells me this is serious. “Like I said, you can tell me anything.”

“Well, I haven’t been feeling well this week, so I went to the doctor today.” She says and immediately I go on alert.

What could they have told her that has her this worried? Is it serious? If it is she will get the best treatment available. I won’t lose her without a fight.

“She said…I’m pregnant.” Blue blurts out and squeezes her eyes shut like she’s expecting me to blow.

“You’re pregnant?” I ask keeping my voice as calm as possible.

“Yes. I know this wasn’t planned, although we haven’t been using any protection. I didn’t think I could get pregnant this soon after the triplets, but I guess it’s possible. I’m so sorry Artemis I know this is probably the worst time to tell you this but I couldn’t keep it a secret.” She starts rambling and I can’t stop myself.

I smile and whoop excitedly before pulling her into my arms and spinning her around. “We’re having another baby? Or babies?”

“The doctor says its just one this time.” She says with a smile, and I lean in and kiss the fuck out of her.

“This is amazing Blue!”

“It is?” She asks still seeming uncertain.

“Of course! This news just made my day.”

She finally relaxes and wraps her arms around my neck. “There’s one more thing, but I need to have the whole family here to explain.”

Okay…”Now?”

“I want to get everything out in the open.” She says.

“Okay. I’ll call them and let you finish up.” I set her down but she doesn’t let me go.
She smirks. “How about you stay and have a shower to.”

Hell yeah!

First, we get dirty and then quickly clean off. I will be celebrating with her naked more later, but she has a mission and there is no stopping Blue on a mission. I get dressed and send a text to my sisters. Iris is staying with Rhea right now she she’ll come with her. I’m waiting for everyone in the living room when Blue joins me. She looks nervous again and sits next to me but starts fidgeting almost immediately.

“Whatever you’re going to tell us…no matter what everything will be fine. I promise.” I tell her.

She nods but it doesn’t get her to relax. Once everyone arrives, we all sit in silence waiting for Blue to speak.

“Okay, so yesterday I got a call from a lawyer.” Blue starts. “He asked to meet me and said he was the estate lawyer for your grandfather.”

My siblings and I give each other confused looks.

“I met with him today to listen to what he needed to tell me, and to say I was shocked would be an understatement. Anyway, he told me that your grandfather had changed his will recently.” She breathes in deeply. “Your grandfather signed everything…and I mean everything over to me.”

Silence. Stunned silence follows.

“I want you guys to know I’m just as confused as you and I would never have imagined this happening. The lawyer said your grandfather felt guilty about the pressure he put you all through and didn’t want to leave the responsibility of handling his estates and business matters after everything. So, he wanted me to handle it. I’m so-“

Blue’s words get cut off when all of us start laughing. She looks so confused but she has no idea what this news means to us.