Picture Perfect?

DEVLIN'S POV :

"All right then , sweetie , we're here now ." , I say , as I unbuckle the straps of Liam's carseat . "We can stop riding now ."
"Yeah , now we just have to start getting crap organized ." , Ash responds .
"Well , just be glad we already have most of our workspaces already done . I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to be running back and forth between here and downtown all day today . I know I wouldn't ."
In the last four months , since Ash first brought up the idea of moving , we made the trip to check things out in Nashville , and it turned out that he was right about everything . It's a really nice place , with lots of activities and great shopping , and plenty of things to keep Liam entertained when he gets a bit bigger , so I agreed to the move .
We also lucked out with our realtor , who not only helped us find a great house , but pointed us to a couple of buildings that were for sale in the commercial area . One of them was perfect for Ashley's offices , and the other just needed a bit of renovation for me to turn it into a studio . And as a bonus , it has an apartment on the upper floor , which is perfect for Mindy . On the day I decided to give her the news , she came to work and informed me that she and her boyfriend had split up . That , along with the fact that her parents had recently moved to Florida , made her perfectly willing to relocate with us . So , after talking it over with Ash , I made the apartment part of her compensation , the rent is basically part of her salary , so she's only responsible for her utility bills .
Ashley takes the dogs carriers out of the car , while I grab Tinsel's with my free hand , and we walk into the new house . We found a terrific place a few miles from downtown , where we actually have some land , with plenty of room for Liam to play when he's older , and an old barn behind the house that Ash is having revamped into a recording studio .
The house itself is gorgeous , with five bedrooms , six bathrooms , a huge kitchen , and a finished basement . We're using half of the basement as a family room , and my darkroom is going to be in the other half .
For the most part , it was great as is , but I did make a few changes , and got Emma to help me . She and Tony got engaged a couple of months ago , and she gets along great with the entire family . We decided on a few upgrades to the kitchen , and she helped me find some new living room furniture , and make the guestrooms look nice .
As we step into the living room and put down the carriers , my phone rings , so I pull it out of my purse and answer .
"Hello"
"Hey , Dev , it's Mindy . The truck just got here with my stuff , so yours shouldn't be too far behind ." , she says . "I've got to go tell 'em where to put everything . Talk to ya later !"
"All right , thanks ! Catch you later !"
I relay the information to Ash , and we take the animals to the utility room , then I set up a litterbox for Tinsel , while he takes the dogs out for a few minutes . After that , we leave them in the room , so they can't get out and get lost or hurt while the movers are here .
We go back to the living room to watch for the truck , but before it arrives , three cars pull in along the curb . One of them I recognize as Paul's , but the others aren't familiar . Then the doors open , and Jinxx and Alice get out of one car , while three of Ashley's cousins , Sam , Aaron , and Shelly , pile out of the other .
"Hey , guys ! We thought you might need a hand here !" , Paul hollers as he and Darcy walk across the yard , followed by everyone else .
After we've hugged everyone , the moving truck finally shows up , and we get ready to start telling the movers where to put all the boxes , so the rest of us can unpack and try to organize .
As they start carrying things inside , Paul calls out to me and Ash , saying , "How about if y'all let Darce keep track of Liam , so you can make sure everything's where you want it ?"
"Yeah , I could kind of use the practice ." , she chimes in , giving me a grin , and I squeal and try to hug them both simultaneously .
"Congratulations , guys !" , Ash says , hugging them after I finish ."Have you told the folks yet ?"
"Yeah , a couple of days ago ." , Paul replies . "But we made them promise not to say anything to you before we got here ."
"Oh , boy , Mom's probably ready to explode by now !" , I say . "How far along are you ?"
"About ten weeks , the doctor says ." , Darcy tells me . "So he , or she , should be here somewhere around Liam's birthday ."
So I pass Liam off to Darcy , and Ash and I start directing the movers . When they finally finish unloading the truck and left , Ash and the other guys started tweaking the furniture placement and hooking up the electronics , while Alice , Shelly , and I start making up the beds and getting the bathrooms put together .
By the time we get most of it done , I have to go feed Liam , and since everyone else is hungry , too , Ash calls to order pizza , because nobody wants to cook .
When it arrives , and we all sit down to eat , Jinxx asks , "So what's going on with your businesses , then ?"
"I've got my office pretty much ready to go , and I think Dev said that she'll be ready to open up next week ." , Ash replies . "Isn't that right , darlin' ?"
"That's the plan ." , I say . "It's actually pretty handy to have Mindy living on- site , 'cause she can get the office area and stuff set up while I'm here , then all I have to worry about is my equipment . That makes it go a lot faster ."
"Hey , Dev , do you think we might have time for another one of those lessons while I'm here ?" , Darcy asks me .
"Yeah , maybe you could show me , too ." , Alice chimes in . "I saw a gorgeous scarf the other day on the front of a magazine , and I'd like to be able to do something like that for myself ."
"Sure , we can go check out a couple of yarn shops tomorrow , while the guys are doing their thing ." , I say . "But if you can , show me the magazine when we go . Depending on what the pattern is , you might have to work your way up to that ."
"Well , you'd better plan on having a lot more checked luggage when you go back ." , Ashley informs Jinxx . "Once they get started , the yarn just seems to multiply ."
"Not like we can actually judge , dude ." , Jinxx says . "We both have a house full of guitars , not to mention my books , and your western stuff . So I guess we both take up our share of room , too ."
"Yeah , I guess it could be worse . Better than blowing money on tons of expensive shoes that barely get worn , or stuff like that ."
"Plus it gives us something to do when you're busy , or not home ." , I tell him .
The guys start talking about their plans , which partly involve giving Paul the chance to see the Grand Ole Opry , and Jinxx wants to check out a replica of the Parthenon that they apparently have here . And after this , we decide to meet up for lunch , then go check out the aquarium .
I'm sort of half - listening to the conversation , checking to see where the animals got to after we let them out of the utility room , when something catches my eye .
"Ash !" , I exclaim , interrupting him in mid - sentence , jumping up to grab my camera . "Look at that !"
Everyone turns , and their eyes get big as they see Liam basically army - crawling off of his blanket toward Tinsel , while she watches him warily .
Ashley grabs his phone and starts taking video , while I snap several pictures , and Jinxx scoops the cat into his lap just in time to keep Liam from latching onto her tail . He doesn't like that at all , and makes several rather indignant noises , until Ash catches his attention with a stuffed toy , and he starts making his way to him .
He gradually works his way across the carpet to Ash , and grabs his toy . Ashley pulls him onto his lap , and Liam starts gnawing on the ear of his stuffed fox , muttering infant gibberish to himself as he does .
As everyone starts comparing their pieces of video , I lean against Ashley's shoulder , fluffing Liam's hair , and say . " I wasn't expecting that just yet , were you ?"
"No , I wasn't ." , he said , kissing me on the temple . "I guess we're not the only ones who've had a big day today ."

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