The same evening,
In the living room…
Todd sat on the couch, watching TV, wondering what was taking the girls so
long. Just as he was about to get up and find out, Tyler walked in and sat
down next to his father.
Todd raised an eyebrow. His son was red in the face and a bit sweaty
smelling. He was wearing sweats and a no sleeve work out top.
“And what have you been up too?” asked Todd.
“Working out on the weights downstairs. I’m up to benching 200 Dad,” said
Tyler proudly.
“I told you to come get me and I’ll spot you when you do that stuff. I
don’t want you hurting yourself,” admonished Todd.
“Relax Dad, I’m fine,” said Tyler.
“Yeah. Whatever. Where are the girls?” asked Todd.
“They’re in the kitchen talking,” said Tyler, “Starr made fun of me - said
I smelled like a dirty laundry basket.”
“You do,” said Todd allowing himself a grin.
Tyler rolled his eyes. It grew silent between them.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“The girls were talking about Mom going to the hospital tomorrow. Now I
know she’s gotta’ take a test and Trev’s been stressing about the test - I
just never worried about it ‘cos I figured with all the worrying Trevor was
doing, he was doing my share too but…” Tyler paused.
“But?” asked Todd facing his son.
“Is Mom gonna’ be okay?” asked Tyler all serious, crossing his arms.
Todd felt sad, “I dunno Ty.”
“So what’s involved in this test anyway?” asked Ty.
Todd swallowed, uncomfortable, “Well, they’re going to take some of the
liquid junk the baby’s floating around in inside your mother and test for
everything that might be wrong…”
“Oh. So how do they get the liquid junk?” asked Tyler.
Todd shuttered, “They take a big a$$ long needle and stick it into your
mother’s stomach.”
Tyler swallowed and looked at his father, “Ewewewew. No wonder why Trev
was so worried. That sounds gross. Is the doc gonna’ let you be with her?”
“Ty, no offense, but I don’t think I could watch the doc do that to your
mother. I think I’d probably…faint,” said Todd feeling a bit nauseous as he
talked about it with his son.
“But Mom and the baby are gonna’ be okay right? I mean he’s not gonna’
accidentally stick the baby?” asked Tyler. He was interested yet disgusted
with the topic of conversation.
“No, he ain’t gonna’ stick the baby!!” insisted Todd, “You’re disgusting
kid!”
“Me? I’m disgusting?” fussed Tyler.
“Yeah. You,” said Todd, “Can we stop talking about this?”
Tyler smiled and punched his father’s arm, “Tag!”
Todd looked shocked and Tyler attacked his father, wrestling him to the
ground. It was understood between them that physical activity was met to be
spontaneous yet fun.
Todd usually won because he was still bigger than Tyler but Tyler, due to
his rapidly growing physique, was not giving Todd a challenge. They rolled
over and over, accidentally knocking into some furniture, causing loud
noises. Finally, Todd pinned Tyler to the ground.
“Give!” yelled Todd.
Tyler struggled.
“Give!” insisted Todd.
“Give!” said Tyler and Todd relaxed his grip, helping his son to his feet.
As they stood up, the girls were standing in the doorway with looks of
amusement across their faces.
*****
Later that evening,
Todd and Téa’s bedroom…
Todd locked the door to their room as Téa finished up in the bathroom. He
sat down on the bed, wearing only a pair of sweats waiting for her to come
out.
He ran his hand through his hair. It would be their last night together
for a few days. His wife would be admitted tomorrow. They’d prep her, the
next day they’d do the amnio, keep her a day for observation and then
release her. He was worried and he couldn’t help it. She had two
miscarriages before which had hurt them both deeply. He just wanted her and
his baby to be all right.
She walked out into their bedroom shutting off the bathroom light, dressed
in a lose fitting burgundy nightie.
He watched her every move like a hawk and she joined him sitting down on
the edge of the bed on his side.
No words were sad as they looked lovingly into each other’s eyes. She
leaned into him, brushing her lips tenderly against his. He allowed it,
responding back delicately. Finally, they stopped to catch their breath.
“I wish it could be me Delgado,” he said softly.
“I’ll be strong enough for the both of us,” she answered gently stroking
his chest with her fingertips.
“I can’t lose you,” he said.
“You won’t,” she replied, “Tyler looked a bit winded tonight Todd. You
weren’t…too rough with him were you?”
“Who are you kidding? That kid is as tough as nails!” said Todd, “I would
never hurt my boy Téa. I would never hurt our children.”
“I know,” she replied. She hadn’t meant the question like that.
They said nothing else and after a brief pause she leaned into him again
and they resumed kissing. He grabbed her nightie and pulled it over her head
so she was naked in front of him.
“Todd…” she started.
“Quiet Delgado,” he said. He laid her on the bed and then lay down next to
her, stroking her body with his hand, savoring her soft skin. He looked
deeply into her eyes as he caressed her stomach. It lightly protruded
forward and he ran his hand over the baby.
“You are the bravest woman I know. To be with me…like this. To give me
children - a family. You make me believe…” he whispered.
She nuzzled his face totally enraptured by what he was doing.
“You’ll forgive me know if I’m not there in the room with you. I can’t
watch the doctor stick you and our baby with that needle…” he whispered.
“Yes, I forgive you,” she replied.
“I’ll be there afterwards though…I swear I will…” he said stroking her.
“Todd…” she whispered.
“Quiet Delgado,” he said again, kissing her. He just wanted to feel her
beside him, underneath him, his partner, his soulmate for the rest of his
life.
He slid off his sweats and their bodies became intimately entwined as they
made love.
TO BE CONTINUED…
