Chapter 1 #6
I looked up at him and smiled. “I would love to. As many babies as you want.” I laughed around my tears. He reached out his hand and wiped away the wetness beneath my eyes.
“Everything is going to be okay. I promise. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something but keep putting it off.
What would you think about me retiring from the band?
I’ve been singing for ten years. I think it’s time to pass the microphone to someone else.
We have enough money to last a lifetime. What do you think, baby?”
“I love that idea.” My lips crashed down on his, tongues and teeth, nibbles here and there. When we broke apart, we were both out of breath. This time we were both smiling and it felt better.
Marcie was true to her word. She brought my dinner for me and didn’t hang around. She said they would be back to sit with me tomorrow during his surgery. I was glad. I wasn’t looking forward to sitting through this by myself.
“I hate to eat in front of you but I’m starving. I can take it to the cafeteria if you’d like.”
“No, baby, just because I can’t have anything doesn’t mean you can’t eat in front of me.
Tomorrow after surgery the guys can buy me a steak.
” He laughed as he moved and set the alarm off on his IV.
It wasn’t but just a couple of minutes before a nurse came in and reset the monitor, took his vitals, and then she was gone.
“I’ve been thinking about someone that could take your place in the band,” I said, looking up at him as I dipped a fry in ranch dressing.
“I’ve thought of someone, too,” he offered. “Who were you thinking?” he asked.
“Marcie!” we said in unison and laughed. “She has a great voice and knows all the songs.” I said .
“We’ll talk to her once I’m home and we can have a meeting.”
DAY OF SURGERY
Rowdy was first on the list for surgery. Boy am I glad because he’s grumpy as fuck when he’s hungry. Just as the band promised, they all showed up right before they took him back for surgery.
“How are you holding up?” Marcie asked as she pulled a chair over beside me.
“I’m worried and anxious for them to get it over with and say that he’s okay. You know?” All the guys went down to the cafeteria a little bit ago with the promise that Marcie would text Russ whenever we heard anything. So far all we’d heard was that the surgery had started.
“Hun? Are you okay? I mean healthwise. You look a little pale. Are you feeling, okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a little nausea. Probably from not eating much.”
“You sure you don’t need to see a doctor while you’re here?”
“No, I’m okay. I promise,” I told her.
“I think I’ll shower while he’s in surgery. I should be finished by the time he’s out. If the phone rings, will you grab it?”
“Sure, of course,” Marcie agreed .
“I’ll make it quick.” I stood in the shower in his room and let the hot water slice over me, my tears mixing in with the water.
I placed my hand on my stomach and said, “Daddy is going to be okay. He’s going to be so excited when I tell him about you.
” I smiled and patted my stomach. I planned to tell Rowdy earlier but he felt ill, and I thought then wasn’t a good time.
I’d wait until he felt better and now here we were a month later.
I had a tornado of emotions spinning around inside my head.
I hoped Rowdy would be happy. What would my father say?
My father could be so cruel when he wanted to be.
I’d heard him on the phone with clients before. I just hoped he’d be happy for us.
The one that worried me the most was Rowdy.
I know we’d talked about marriage, kids, a house, the whole package but did he want it now?
I know he said he did but when it was staring you in the face, was it really what he wanted?
I stepped out of the shower and rushed to the toilet to heave up my coffee.
I brushed my teeth and dressed before making my way back to the room where Marcie was waiting.
She picked up her phone and said, “I’m going to call a doctor for you.”
“No! Trust me on this. I’ve seen the doctor and that’s all I’m saying and I’m hoping being the good friend that you are you won’t push me for details.”
Marcie looked at me with concern but then her eyes widened, and she smiled. She didn’t say another word.
The phone rang with a message that Rowdy was out of surgery and doing well.
He should be brought to the room within the next hour.
Marcie pulled out her phone and texted Russ to give him the news.
Within thirty minutes they were back in the room with bags of greasy smelling food.
It made my stomach churn, but I hadn’t eaten since yesterday and now I had a little one to think about.
“We come with a food offering. Greasy cheeseburgers and fries.” Russ held out the bags and Marcie took them.
She turned to me with worry on her face. “Are you hungry?” I shook my head, but she said, “You should at least eat a couple of bites. It’ll make you feel better.”
“What do you mean feel better? Is she sick?” Russ asked.
“I think she’s just tired and maybe getting a cold.” She unwrapped one of the cheeseburgers and handed it to me along with a bottle of water.
“I’m fine. I promise. I’m just worried sick about Rowdy,” I admitted.
“Here’s the man of the hour.” A couple of nurses smiled as they rolled Rowdy’s hospital bed into the room and locked it in place.
They hooked all the monitors back up and adjusted his IV.
Once everything was in place, she said, “The doctor will be in to talk to you shortly.” I had so many questions that I knew they couldn’t answer.
I stood from my chair and bent over the railing, kissing him on the lips. “Crawl in here with me.” He pulled the blanket back for me to crawl in, but I refused. I was afraid I’d hurt him.
“It’s good to see you awake,” Dr. Fillman said as he came through the door. “Let me just take a quick look.” As he lifted his gown the guys and Marcie made themselves scarce .
“Mr. Trent, the kernel size lump in your scrotum was benign, but the spots on your kidneys were not.”
I watched as Rowdy’s face fell with concern. He reached for my hand, and I took it squeezing it tight letting him know everything was going to be okay.
The doctor discussed the options for treating the cancer and the option we chose was to freeze the lesions.
There’s a ninety-six percent chance that it will not come back.
He said he’d had a lot of successful patients who chose that route.
When the doctor closed the door behind him, Rowdy turned to me with tears in his eyes.
“You know I didn’t think to ask him if this would in any way affect us having children.”
I looked at him and smiled, squeezed his hand, and said, “You’re going to be a father. I’m pregnant,” I beamed.
He wrapped his hand around my nape and pulled me in for a kiss like no other. “God, I love you. Thank you for giving me this gift.” A tear slipped down his cheek. I smiled and wiped it away with the pad of my thumb. “Now, get in this bed with me.
I crawled over the rail and snuggled into his side, careful not to hurt him. “Can I ask one thing?”
“Sure, baby, anything you want.”
“Let’s keep it our secret for a little while longer. I don’t want my father to find out through the media, although he doesn’t deserve a phone call from me,” I said .
After a week in hospital, Rowdy was dismissed. Believe me he was ready to go home. I’d never really seen the grumpy side of him. It’s kind of scary, not for me but for the staff.
The guys went all out with a limo to take us home.
They felt that Rowdy would have more room and be comfortable.
I’d have to vote yes on that. He slept the whole way to our rented space in Vegas.
Paulie and Jamie went by the pharmacy for his prescriptions.
Once we got him settled in in front of the x-box along with some snacks, he fell asleep.
“So much for a game of Halo,” Russ said. “I guess he needs his beauty sleep. I mean, look at him. Dark circles around his eyes and pale skin. He looks like a vampire.” He chuckled.
“Come on.” Marcie reached for Russ’s coat sleeve. “Let’s leave them to rest. If you guys need anything you know where to find us.”
I hugged them both and walked them to the front door. “Thank you for everything.” I smiled and waved goodbye, as Russ pulled away in his Ford F150. I lie back in the recliner next to Rowdy and fell asleep.
Sometime later my phone rang and woke us both up. The name on the screen was my father, so I showed it to Rowdy and he motioned for me to answer it. I did and put it on speaker phone.
“I see you’ve married that Rockstar guy.” He growled.
“His name is Rowdy,” I said.
“Now that you’ve spread your legs for him there is no way to annul it now. You’ve done given it up to lord how many. Is it even his?” My father barked .
“What do you want from me?” I snapped back. “Be quick about it; I have shit to do.”
“I was calling to tell you that I’ve redone my will and you’ve been removed.” Tears filled my eyes. Rowdy placed his hand on my knee. “You’re dead to me now.” With that, he hung up. I was left holding the phone with no one on the other end. Rowdy reached for it and tossed it onto the table.
“I know that’s a lot to take in. Do you want to talk about it?” he asked, as tears streamed down my face.
I shook her head in response. “If he can wipe me out of his life that easy makes me question if he ever loved me to begin with.” End of subject.
Rowdy
A couple of months had passed, and the doctor gave me the green light to continue with my regular activities, so I called the guys in for a meeting. We had a lot to discuss.
“Do you think they’ll like it?” Storm fussed around the appetizers she arranged on the table.