Chapter 21 #2
As the aftershocks ripple through us, I turn so we’re lying on our sides, facing each other.
Dragging the rumpled blanket back over us, I cuddle Mel in my arms and press my lips to the top of her head.
She tucks her face into my neck, so her warm breath feathers across my skin.
Her hand comes between us to cover my heart.
For several minutes, we just lay there, looking into each other’s eyes. Words aren’t necessary right now. Everything we’re feeling is right there, on full display. Only when I’m in danger of slipping out of her and making a mess do I reluctantly decide to get up.
“Stay there,” I tell her. “I’ll get a washcloth to clean up.”
“Yes, sir,” Mel replies with a little smirk.
Though it shouldn’t be able to this quickly, my dick jumps to attention. Apparently, it likes being called sir. Who knew? But I tuck it away to investigate later.
It takes a few minutes to deal with putting my prosthetic on, rinsing my mouth with mouthwash in the bathroom, and then coming back into the bedroom to clean Mel up. But once everything’s taken care of, I crawl back into bed and take her into my arms.
As I’ve found myself doing more and more often, my hand comes to her lower belly, where the baby is only just starting to show.
I wish I could feel him move, but it’s still too soon for that.
“Eighteen weeks,” the doctor told us during our last visit.
“Occasionally as early as sixteen, but it could take up to twenty-four. So don’t worry if it doesn’t happen right away. ”
“I don’t want to wait,” Mel bemoaned on the car ride home. “I want to feel him right now. I want to know he’s really okay.”
“He is,” I reassured her. “The scans all looked great. And the portable ultrasound should be delivered tomorrow, so we can check on the little guy whenever we want.”
The little guy.
The little bean.
The little flibbertigibbet, as Melissa likes to say.
At sixteen weeks old, he doesn’t have a name yet, though we’ve discussed naming him Jeff to honor my fallen teammate. But we’re waiting to meet him before making our final decision.
“Is he moving?” Mel asks. Hope brightens her gaze. “I thought I might have felt a little flutter while you were in the bathroom.” She flashes me a rueful smile. “Or maybe it’s just because I’m hungry.”
“You’re hungry?” I ask. “I could have gotten you something when I was up. Some toast with honey, or oatmeal, or—”
“Not that hungry.” Her hand covers mine. “I’d rather just stay here for a little while. Since it’s the weekend, and we don’t have to work. I thought we could have a relaxing cuddle in bed—”
In a blur of gold, Oscar leaps onto the bed and plops down with an indignant huff beside us. He’s allowed on the bed while we’re resting or sleeping, but when Mel and I are having sex, he has to hang out on his bed in the living room.
“Sorry, buddy,” I tell him. “Mom and Dad were enjoying some private time.” I scratch his favorite spot between his ears, and his tail gives a forgiving wag. “We didn’t leave you in the living room too long.”
Oscar gives me a baleful look.
“He doesn’t agree,” Mel laughs. She reaches over to pet him. “We’ll make it up to you, Oskie. Once we get up, we can take a nice walk in the woods. And then we can play with your frisbee in the backyard.”
It doesn’t take much to get back into Oscar’s good graces. He gives her a happy doggie grin, with his tongue lolling to one side. His tail thumps eagerly on the mattress.
“We’ll have to make sure to give him extra attention when the baby comes,” Mel comments. “I don’t want him feeling left out.”
“We will.” I give Mel a quick kiss. “I was thinking, after the baby comes, I could take him to the office sometimes. With all the people in the main building, he’s bound to get plenty of attention.”
“That’s a good idea.” She looks at Oscar. “What do you think about that? Going into work with Dad? Would you like that?”
Judging from the whir of his tail, I think he would.
Turning her attention back to me, Mel says, “It’s crazy, isn’t it? That we’ll be Mom and Dad?”
“Crazy but amazing,” I agree. “And I can’t wait.”
It was a shock at first, finding out Mel was pregnant. But I was never upset about it. I never thought she tricked me, like she worried I would. Not being around for the baby was never a consideration. Ever since I realized we were having a baby, I’ve been all in.
Did I ever think it would happen? Not really. Am I over the moon about it? Absolutely.
And despite Mel’s worries about the health of the little flibbertigibbet, he’s doing just fine.
The fall didn’t hurt him at all. Her advanced age—which sounds ridiculous to me, given that she’s only thirty-eight, but apparently that’s considered advanced for a mom-to-be—hasn’t caused any problems. And the scarring her doctor told her about six years ago; that would keep her from ever getting pregnant again?
“The body does miraculous things,” our OB-GYN told us during our first appointment.
“Sometimes, there’s just no explanation for it.
Looking at the old records, I would have agreed with the doctor back then.
But today…” She gave me and Mel a pleased smile.
“The scarring’s healed up enough that I see no reason why you couldn’t have multiple children. ”
“I’ll be thrilled with this one,” Mel told her. “I just want him or her to be okay.”
Weeks later, thanks to a blood test, we know we’re having a boy. And though we’re not taking anything for granted, we both feel strongly that he’s going to be just fine.
Our boy.
Our son.
Love swells inside me until it feels like I’m bursting with it.
And for the first time in years, my eyes sting with tears.
“Tyler?” Mel asks with concern. Her hand comes to my cheek. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I reply. “Why?”
“You just looked… sad.”
I take a moment to think. “Not sad. At all. I’m just… Sometimes it just hits me.”
Her brow scrunches up. “What hits you?”
“How happy I am.” I press a soft kiss to her lips. “I know I’ve said it before. But now? Having you? And the little flibbertigibbet? And Oscar? Sometimes there’s so much happiness inside me, I’m not sure I have room for all of it.”
A few seconds pass as Mel regards me solemnly. Then she nods. “I feel the same way sometimes.” A beat, and then, “For a long time, I thought my chance at being happy was over. I thought… I didn’t deserve it.”
“Mel.” I hug her closer. “Of course you do.”
Her gaze holds mine. “I know that now. Thanks to you. And everyone here at B and A. The way you accepted me, believed in me… it made me think maybe I wasn’t as bad as I thought I was.”
My heart twists. “Never, Mel. You’ve never been a bad person. Ever.”
She goes quiet, thinking again. “I don’t think I am either. Not anymore. I think I made a mistake that I won’t make again. Now… I just want to be the best mom I can be.”
“You will be,” I tell her firmly. “You’re going to be an amazing mom. And Oscar”—I pat his head—“is going to be a great big brother.”
“You’re going to be an amazing dad,” Mel replies. “The best dad.”
I don’t know about the best, since I’ve never done it before.
But I’m going to try my hardest to do a good job.
I’ve already started preparing—researching the best diets for Mom and baby, the best sleep techniques, how soon we can teach him to read, and I’ve been playing classical music near Mel’s belly because it’s supposed to be developmentally stimulating.
Plus, I’m working on installing even more security at the cabin, so my little family will always be safe.
The ring I have sitting in my dresser drawer comes to mind.
I’ve had it for a couple of weeks now, but haven’t proposed yet.
I don’t want Mel to think I’m proposing just because she’s carrying my baby.
I want her to know it’s separate from that.
I want to marry her because I can’t imagine a life without her.
So I won’t do it yet. But it’s going to happen. And I really hope Mel will say yes.
I think she will.
I’m almost certain.
“You know,” Mel muses, “I was just thinking about something.”
“What?”
Her expression turns pensive. “When I first thought about dating again, I worried I’d feel guilty. Like I was betraying what I had with Vince. But I didn’t. Feel guilty, I mean. Being with you just felt right. And I knew Vince would approve.”
“Mel.”
“He would.” Mel strokes my cheek. “Vince would want me with a good man. A man he trusts to take care of me. A man who loves me and would do anything to make me happy. That’s you, Tyler. You’re all that and more. And I love you so much.”
Emotion hits me with such force, I’m breathless from it. In the time it takes me to compose myself, I can almost hear Kaia’s response.
Be happy, Ty. You deserve it. Love your family as hard as you can. And I promise, I’ll be looking out for all of you.
My eyes burn again.
Not many people are lucky enough to find not just one, but two great loves in their lives.
But I have.
And I’ll never take it for granted.
“Kaia would love you,” I tell Mel once I trust myself to speak. “And I know she’s happy I’m with you.”
Mel’s eyes shine as she looks at me. “They’re both happy, I think.” Then she kisses me. “And so am I.”
“I love you,” I start.
Then the tiniest brush of movement touches my hand.
My hand still splayed over Mel’s belly.
“Did you feel that?” she asks with excitement. Her face lights up. “Like a little bubble moving. I think it was him!”
I hold my breath as I wait to see if I feel it again.
And a moment later, I do.
It’s our baby. Saying hello.
“I felt him,” I tell her. “And I think he’s happy, too.”