The Wall

“Well?” asked Kayleigh.


“It’s awesome, but I’m not sure a milkshake qualifies as a breakfast for anyone other than the Squirrel or Hadlee.”


“It’s a rocky road protein shake.” said Kayleigh “Meets all your nutrition stuff.” He broke into a smile. Kayleigh leaned in and kissed his cheek “Take care of both our girls.” She whispered.


“Thanks, KK.” he replied “You know I will.” He turned to Brad “This beats cinnamon toast crunch.”


“Blasphemy!” yelled Brad.


“Nice shirt by the way, bro” teased Jeff “You lose a bet, or Kayleigh has you balls in her purse?”


“Leave your brother alone.” admonished Mrs. Marchand “It’s cute.”


“Yes, I am cute.” crowed Brad “I have been here since 4:30am. I am Kayleigh’s assistant.”


“You have been baking?” quizzed his sister.


“Yes.” he said exasperated “I’m not bad eh, Doll?”


“He did really well.” replied Kayleigh from her place beside Miller “In fact, those donuts you are eating Brad made.”


Hadlee had the better portion of a Bergy donut in her mouth. She was in heaven. Hadlee didn’t even like Captain Crunch. But chocolately Captain Crunch was awesome. And she had a blue velvet cupcake.


“This Captain Crunch one is epic” called Hadlee.


“You hate Captain Crunch.” said Caroline.


“But I love this.” answered Hadlee. She picked up her cupcake. She broke it in half and made a sandwich. She was about to take a bite when the smell of cream cheese overwhelmed her stomach. She immediately dropped the cupcake in the plate.


“I’ve never saw anyone eat a cupcake like that.” said Cooper. Hadlee slid the plate towards him.


“It gives you the best icing to cake ratio.” explained Hadlee “Try it.” Cooper tried the blue confection. He made moaning sounds. Hadlee pouted. Kevan smiled at her. Hadlee picked at her donut. “They're my favorite.”


“Are you sure you want to marry Marchand?” asked Cooper looking at Kayleigh.


“Yes!” replied Brad and Davey at the same time. Brad looked at the rookie and then high fived the kid. Everyone else started laughing. Davey flushed bright red. Kayleigh ruffled his hair.


“Yes, I'm very sure.” announced Kayleigh “Move your ass Marchand, we have orders to fill.”


“You see how I get treated, Ma?” pouted Brad following Kayleigh like a pup towards the kitchen.


“She loves that idiot.” stated Freddie “She really does.”


“Yes,” laughed Dougie “We were all amazed as well. She is so quiet. And he’s….well so Marchy.”


“Bradley Keith is a sweetheart.” defended Hadlee.



“He is,” replied his mother “But Brad can be difficult. Kayleigh takes it all in stride.”

“Does she have a history of mental illness?” asked Jeff. Caroline smacked him in the chest. “She hit me.” Jeff rubbed his chest.


“Yep!” called Miller, Hamilton, and Davey in unison. Caroline eye balled Jeff.


“And you are on your own.” said Freddie.


“You all make me so happy.” replied Mrs. Marchand “I am so glad you all have each other.”


Kayleigh and Brad came out of the kitchen with trays. Kayleigh was handing out plates.


“Caroline hit me!” tattled Jeff.


“Good,” said Brad “Saves me time.”


Kayleigh handed Hadlee a plate of cheese toast and sat a closed SugarBaker’s cup in front of her. Kayleigh gave her a wink before giving Kevan his plate. Kevan immediately laughed. He had a plate of green eggs and a country ham. She placed plates in front of everyone else. In the center of the table she put out biscuits, various breads, jams, jellies, and apple butter. She put out ham and cheese biscuits. Serving bowls of scrambled eggs and another of sausage gravy. Brad passed out the drinks.

“Why is that green?” asked Desi making a face.


“Because Kayleigh knows me well enough to know what I like. It has spinach in the eggs.” answered Kevan. Hadlee was looking at his plate. The green eggs and spinach smell played havoc on her already touchy stomach. She excused herself from the table and headed straight for Kayleigh’s private bathroom. “Not for everyone.” said Kevan staring after her.


“Kayleigh this looks great!” said Kevin Marchand “I’ve always enjoyed the big Southern breakfast.”


“You enjoy food.” said Jeff.


“Does she cook like this all the time?” asked Freddie “I’d be a whale.”


“No,” smiled Brad “She keeps us on plan. I get lots of shakes and stuff. But they all three can cook.”


Kevan was staring towards the back of the bakery. He was getting ready to go after Hadlee. When Baby K stood up and grabbed both his and Hadlee’s cups. “We need refills. I check on Hadlee.”


Davey came into the kitchen and sat the cups on the counter. He made his way into Kayleigh’s office. He heard Hadlee throwing up. Davey knocked on the door. “I’m fine!” called Hadlee.


“No, not fine.” said Davey.


“Yes, I’m fine Baby K.” replied Hadlee. Davey wet a few paper towels in the sink and handed them to Hadlee. Davey just smiled at her. He sat down in the floor beside her. “I’ll be out in a few minutes. It’s okay.” Davey didn’t move.


“Miller know?” asked Davey.


“Know what?” quizzed Hadlee her eyes wide as saucers.


“Know baby Miller be here for Cup games?” smiled Davey “You not drink coffee, that not normal. Then you not eat your cupcake, even weirder. Then you take one look at KK’s cooking and you run. More weird.” Hadlee stared at Davey. How the hell did he get so smart. "It's okay, lots of babies in my family. I excellent babysitter." Davey smiled at her again. Hadlee started laughing and crying at the same time. "No, not cry, Miller kill me."


"I can't help it. I cried over a Target commercial yesterday." she replied sniffling.

"Yeah ok," said Davey "But no cry on me. So, Miller?"


"Yes, Kevan knows."


"But no one else?" asked Davey


"Well, the girls know." she answered


"Wait, Desi know?" he questioned.


"Yes, she does."


"Her no tell me." replied Davey


"Good to know she can be trusted." said Hadlee "Would you go grab my purse?"


"Yes." he said shaking his head. She heard him muttering about Desi not telling him as he made his way through the kitchen. Hadlee started laughing. She was still sitting in the floor when Kevan came in with her purse. Kevan looked at her sitting in the floor and smiled at her.


"You sitting in the floor is getting to be a thing, Hadlee Belle." teased Kevan. He sat her purse on the vanity and hauled her up on her feet. He tilted her face up to his "You okay?"

"Of course I am." she said "My baby apparently doesn't approve of her daddy's breakfast choices." Hadlee rummaged around in her giant purse and produced a tooth brush, paste, and of course lip gloss. "She's gonna run on sugar like me."


"No, Ma'am." replied Kevan "Boy or girl I'm going to save them." Hadlee was brushing her teeth and pouting at Kevan. He laughed "You can sparkle her and fluff her, but I'm going to make her eat her veggies." Hadlee finished brushing her teeth and turned and beamed at Kevan. "What?"

"You called the baby a her." said Hadlee in a sing song voice.


"Purely an accident." he stated.


"Nope, you know it's going to be a girl." replied Hadlee sitting down on Kayleigh's office couch. Kevan sat beside her and shook his head no.


Hadlee nodded yes. She laid her head over on his shoulder. "I'm tired, Miller."


"You've been up since 5:30." he answered "Maybe take a sick day. Go home, rest. I'll meet you at the doctor’s office as soon as practice is over. Or I can skip practice."


Hadlee didn't have time to give him an answer before Brad began asking questions. "What's wrong with Hadlee? Is it so bad you need to miss practice? Do we need to take her to the hospital? Let me get Kayleigh and Caroline." Brad's eyes were darting between Kevan and Hadlee. Brad looked panicked. "I knew something was wrong when you refused coffee."


Hadlee immediately began laughing at Brad. Laughing to the point that she cried. Kevan then started laughing. He pulled Hadlee over in to his lap and motioned for Brad to come sit.


"She's hysterical, Miller." said Brad looking at Kevan.


"Nah," laughed Miller "She's just a little emotional right now."


"She's sick." he replied.


"How is that Baby K figured this out quicker than you?" asked Hadlee


"What did the damn rookie figure out?" asked Brad


"That he's going to be a big brother." replied Hadlee smiling at Brad.


Brad looked more confused than usual. He was processing what Hadlee had just told him. Kevan was watching Brad slightly concerned that the Squirrel was grinding gears. Brad jumped up and ran over to Hadlee.

"You're pregnant!" yelled Brad. "You're really pregnant!!" he yelled louder "I'm going to be an uncle!?!?!"


Kayleigh and Caroline both looked at one when they heard Brad yelling. Kayleigh could barely make out the muffled words. However Brad yelling I'm going to an uncle was unmistakable. Everyone at the table was listening to the commotion coming from the back of the bakery. All the family members were glancing around at one another. Kayleigh and Caroline both sprang from the table and headed to the office.


"Brad, be quiet!" yelled Hadlee "No one knows but the girls and Baby K!"


"Damn it, Marchand!" called Kevan.


"Too late Tall, Hot, and soon to be a daddy." laughed Caroline from the doorway.


"Not how I wanted to tell your parents." said Hadlee looking up at Miller "Are you sure they heard?" she asked.


Kayleigh came to rest beside Brad and smacked his arm "They heard him in Providence." she admonished.


"I was excited. I'm going to be an uncle. He's going to love me." said Brad dragging Hadlee into a hug "I'm totally going to be the favorite."


"The hell you say, Marchand. Favorite Aunt's right here." groused Caroline "And she will be awesome."


"We shall see, Rader." said Brad smiling like a lunatic "It's a girl, you know it's a girl."


"Brad, you're squishing me." said Hadlee as he sat her down on her feet "No, I just found out. We know nothing yet. We're going to the doctor today."


"What time are we going to the doctor?" he asked.


"We are going at 1pm." laughed Kevan "You are not going." Brad started to protest but Kevan glared at him.


"Fine, but I am going to buy him stuff." said Brad pouting.


"You don't even know if it's a boy or girl." said Caroline "What could you possibly buy?"


"A tiny Marchand jersey, a hockey stick, and a Bruins bear." replied Brad.


"So one of your game worn jerseys." smiled Caroline.


"You see!" said Brad pointing at Caroline "She is mean to me, Kayleigh."


"No sympathy." replied Kayleigh.


Dougie ventured into the back and looked at all the people. "So...." he said.


"Yes." said Hadlee.


"We're at the point where we are going to have to sedate Miller's mom if someone doesn't tell her something. She is a tad bit excited." explained Dougie. Kevan nodded. The girls all exchanged looks. Hadlee started looking a little pale. Kayleigh herded everyone out of the kitchen.


"You ready?" asked Kevan


"No," she answered "I think we should just go out the back door."


Kevan laughed "They already love you."


"Well in that case." said Hadlee shrugging.


Kevan and Hadlee sat back down at the table. No one was talking. He should have asked Hadlee how she wanted to do this. He watched her eyes dart around the table. He wasn't used to Hadlee not being outgoing. Kevan couldn't help but laugh. Kevan stood up behind Hadlee and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He nodded at Brad. "In case you missed it, Brad has an announcement." Hadlee immediately relaxed and laughed.


Brad grinned from ear to ear "We've got a Cup to win!" he replied "Baby Miller's going to need somewhere to sleep!"

Notes