"Princess dinosaurs," Joel says, pretending to look the other way while Spencer examines the stuffed giraffe and if it ends up in the cart, he absolutely doesn't notice. He's too busy maneuvering their very full cart up toward the registers and that combined with talk of a baby shower takes all his attention. "You know, that's exactly the sort of party theme I just might find myself on board with. Most especially because it will probably annoy my mother to no end."
He's never been a particularly bratty son. He'd never felt the urge to tease either of his parents or give them a hard time and not only because he's been fairly serious for most of his life. Charlotte had been a handful from the time she was born and Joel sometimes wonders if he hasn't attempt to overcompensate in some ways, if maybe he's gone out of his way to be easier for his parents to handle because his sister was always getting into trouble or falling out of trees or coming into the house screaming at the top of her lungs that the neighbour's cat had scratched her and she was going to kill it. And while Charlotte has always been the one they had to go running after, Joel finds that he's enjoying this new sort of relationship he's developing with his parents. They're no longer quite so worried about him and he's no longer entirely bent on keeping everyone out of his life and it's resulting in a lightness he's never really known before.
Once more, all the positive changes in his life loop right back around to Spencer. Without him, Joel's parents would still be worrying. Without him, he knows he wouldn't be able to make these jokes or laugh about things with his mother the way he's starting to. Without Spencer, this entire life wouldn't exist and Joel smiles over at him, happy and affectionate.
"No, you're right, we'll have to make a very specific no touch policy. Maybe we can build her a fence," he says. It isn't his body, but the thought of anyone touching Erin's stomach without her permission makes him wrinkle his nose slightly. He certainly hopes people aren't doing that to her already and not only because it's their baby growing inside her. There's nothing in the world he wouldn't give to make sure she is as comfortable as possible during this entire pregnancy and that includes not being touched without her permission.
"Do people really do that?" he asks as they get in line. "That seems so presumptuous and... well, it seems awfully creepy, too. What person wants to be touched by strangers at any time, never mind when they're pregnant and possibly in a vulnerable state?"
no subject
He's never been a particularly bratty son. He'd never felt the urge to tease either of his parents or give them a hard time and not only because he's been fairly serious for most of his life. Charlotte had been a handful from the time she was born and Joel sometimes wonders if he hasn't attempt to overcompensate in some ways, if maybe he's gone out of his way to be easier for his parents to handle because his sister was always getting into trouble or falling out of trees or coming into the house screaming at the top of her lungs that the neighbour's cat had scratched her and she was going to kill it. And while Charlotte has always been the one they had to go running after, Joel finds that he's enjoying this new sort of relationship he's developing with his parents. They're no longer quite so worried about him and he's no longer entirely bent on keeping everyone out of his life and it's resulting in a lightness he's never really known before.
Once more, all the positive changes in his life loop right back around to Spencer. Without him, Joel's parents would still be worrying. Without him, he knows he wouldn't be able to make these jokes or laugh about things with his mother the way he's starting to. Without Spencer, this entire life wouldn't exist and Joel smiles over at him, happy and affectionate.
"No, you're right, we'll have to make a very specific no touch policy. Maybe we can build her a fence," he says. It isn't his body, but the thought of anyone touching Erin's stomach without her permission makes him wrinkle his nose slightly. He certainly hopes people aren't doing that to her already and not only because it's their baby growing inside her. There's nothing in the world he wouldn't give to make sure she is as comfortable as possible during this entire pregnancy and that includes not being touched without her permission.
"Do people really do that?" he asks as they get in line. "That seems so presumptuous and... well, it seems awfully creepy, too. What person wants to be touched by strangers at any time, never mind when they're pregnant and possibly in a vulnerable state?"