“Deal!”
Trevor began slowly laying out the pictures of the 4 houses on the countertop. Mila had to admit, Trevor had done a good job explaining what she wanted to his friend.
“Oh wow, you really did pay attention!” she said.
Mila was overwhelmed but she pointed to the second house.
“Let's see”, Trevor said, “4 bedrooms, 2 and a half baths, fireplace, window seat, porch swing on the front porch, deck out back, nice yard, recently remodeled and a designated office for you!”
“Holy cow! That sounds perfect!”
“It really is in a lot of ways. It's a great family neighborhood, the school district is excellent from what I’ve been told, and it's close enough to work that we can get there by car.”
“That sounds amazing but babe we only have your Navigator.”
“I've been thinking about that too. Why don't we get a car? Something small, 4 doors for car seat duty. I can take one when I have to travel nearby and you can keep the other one here with you until your maternity leave is over, at which time you can use it to drive to and from work.”
Mila was completely taken aback. Not only had Trevor really thought this through but he'd put plans into action. They spent the next 45 minutes or so pouring over the details of each house. They'd agreed they'd go and look at each one, but no matter what she saw Mila's mind kept going back to the first one she pointed to, the second one in the row of papers.
“You already know what you want, don't you?” Trevor asked, laughing.
“What makes you think that?”
“Because you have barely been able to pry your eyes away from that first one you pointed to and I get the feeling you've only heard about a quarter of what I've said about the other 3 houses!”
“Okay, you've got me there!”
“I'll call Reid tomorrow and see if I can set up some private open houses for us!”
“That sounds good.”
As she spoke, Mila yawned. The nausea and vomiting had lessened greatly recently but the exhaustion was kicking her butt.
“Let's get you to bed baby Mama!”
“Why Trevor Morgan, are you trying to seduce me?”
Trevor laughed.
“Well, Mila Stevens I tell you what, if you weren't so exhausted, I'd take you right here, right now on this kitchen counter.”
“Seriously pregnancy? How can you give me both raging hormones and exhaustion at the same damn time!?” she thought.
“Okay, okay I'm on my way. . .to the bedroom. . .all by my lonesome...”
As she slowly walked down the hallway Trevor's eyes never left her body.
“Oh, forget it, wait up!”
Mila giggled as Trevor caught up with her in the doorway of the bedroom.
“So, does this count as part of my Christmas present because I'm totally cool with that!”
***
Many weeks had passed since Christmas. So much had happened. Spring was in the air ever so slightly. Mila was now 19 weeks along and totally unable to hide her growing bump anymore. Mr. Donahue was letting her work from home quite a bit, which speaking of homes; Mila and Trevor were officially homeowners! After some back and forth they managed to secure it! Mila was so happy with it!
From the kitchen to the dining room, from the entryway to the formal living room, from Mila’s home office to the family room, the house was turning out to be as perfect as she had imagined. She especially loved she and Trevor’s master bedroom, which he had been sweet enough to let her glam up a little. All it needed was the perfect nursery for the baby, which they were more than ready to find out the sex of.
In her favorite comfy clothes, Mila was sitting at her desk, trying to get a little bit of writing done while waiting for Trevor's Aunt Ellen to arrive.
She and Trevor had gone to Rochester a few days into the new year to visit. Mila and Aunt Ellen had really hit it off. Ellen was that sweet, caring maternal figure that Mila herself had always admired and wanted to be.
The doorbell rang and Mila made her way to the front door where she found a smiling Aunt Ellen.
“Mila!!! Oh, sweetheart look at you, you're positively glowing!”
She grabbed her in a tight hug. A small, but elegant woman, Trevor’s Aunt Ellen was always so well put together. From her short, blonde haircut to her perfectly painted red nails and subtle but beautiful makeup, she was a beautiful woman.
“Aunt Ellen!! It's so good to see you, come in!”
“Oh my, look at this place! Cute and quaint on the outside, glamorous and stunning on the inside! The perfect balance!”
Mila giggled. “Thank you, Aunt Ellen! It's been a lot of work. We only officially moved in almost two weeks ago now.”
“Oh, it's an adjustment for sure, going from a place you're renting to a place of your own. But there's nothing like it! I'm so glad you got settled in before my next little niece or nephew joined us!”
She gently patted Mila's belly as she spoke.
“Yeah, somehow Trevor's still calling it the jellybean! He says he won't change it until we know the gender, which hopefully will be tomorrow!” Mila said.
Aunt Ellen was now seated at the kitchen table while Mila made her a glass of hot tea.
“Speaking of, where is that globe-trotting nephew of mine?”
“He's in Miami now. His plane gets in late tonight.”
“He better be here in time for your doctor's appointment. What time is it?”
“We made it for 2pm, just to give a little extra time.” Mila replied, joining her at the kitchen table.
“Well, that's good. I swear that boy has his mother's knack for being late to everything!”
“Aunt Ellen?”
Taking a sip of her tea she replied, “Yes my dear?”
“Can, umm, can you tell me about Trevor's Mom?”
Aunt Ellen sighed heavily as if contemplating what to say in response.
“Did I overstep my bounds? I'm sorry I shouldn't have-”
Aunt Ellen placed her hand gently over Mila's to quiet her.
“Honey I would relish the chance to talk about my sister.”
“Trevor has such a hard time talking about her. He tells me things here and there, like how she always sang around the house.”
Aunt Ellen giggled.
“I just thought with the baby coming, it'd be nice for them to know about their Grandmother.” Mila said.
“You're absolutely right. I know Trev has such a hard time talking about her. He was Janet's baby; they were extremely close. No matter what crap Dominic pulled, they had each other.”
She squeezed Mila's hand before going on.
“Well, let's see. As you know, Janet was my baby sister. We have an older brother Samuel who lives in D.C. He's a year older than me. Janet was kind of the surprise baby for our parents! I was 8, Sammy was 9 when she was born. I swear I treated her like she was one of my baby dolls!”
Mila laughed.
“I never had that with my siblings. I'm pretty sure my sister tried to snuff me out on multiple occasions!”
“Oh my!”
Aunt Ellen covered her mouth with her hand in an effort to conceal the shocked laugh she let out.
“Well, we grew up in the country. If we wanted friends to play with, we had to be nice to each other! But don't think we never fought. I remember one night when I was 17, I had a date I was SO excited for. When I went to get my outfit, my skirt was gone. Long story short I found Janet dancing around in it with a fresh juice stain right on the front!”
“Oh boy!”
“Yes, you can imagine how unhappy I was! I think that was my first time really cussing. That was one of my favorite skirts too!”
Both laughed at her memory of classic sibling battles.
Finally, Ellen continued, “Janet was something else! We used to call her the little spitfire, always full of energy and just the right amount of sass! She did love to sing, like you said Trevor mentioned. She was quite good at it actua
lly. Taught herself how to play the acoustic guitar at the age of 11! It took a little while, but she was determined to do it all on her own. Her real passion though was cooking, and my oh my, was she good!”
“That part Trevor remembers vividly!”
“Why am I not surprised that that bottomless pit of a nephew of mine remembers anything involving food?!” Aunt Ellen said as both laughed.
“You're right, you shouldn't be. I've never seen a person able to shovel it in like him and maintain 6 pack abs!”
“Is he still doing that God awful Crossfit thing?”
“Sometimes, depending on what city he's in and when he's leaving.”
“Goodness he's going to wear that body of his out! But that's for another day! Did you have any questions about Janet?”
“Do you - do you think she would have liked me?” Mila asked nervously.
“Oh, Mila honey, she would've adored you! I see a lot of similarities between you two, a lot of spunk, go-getters, and you both love Trevor with all you have!”
Mila looked down at her hands she was fiddling with.
“That I do, Aunt Ellen.”
“I know sugar. And you must have the patience of a Saint to work for Dominic!”
“Actually, I answer more to Samantha when it comes to my writing work.”
“Oh, well she's. . .tolerable I suppose.” Aunt Ellen replied
“She's been trying to get closer to Trevor and I since she found out about the baby.”
“Do promise me you'll be careful with her sweetheart. She presents a good show, but deep down she can be just as manipulative as her father. Why do you think her mother gave Dominic full custody?”
Mila nearly spit her tea out.
“What?!”
“Oh, honey there's a lot more to the Donahue clan than meets the eye. That's why I changed Trevor's name to Morgan as quickly as I could. As soon as the court granted me full custody of him, I filed the legal name change papers.”
“Trevor said Mr. Don- Dominic never even objected to that once?” Mila said.
“No, he didn't care. He claimed it was because Trevor was a constant reminder of Janet and it hurt too much. That'd be a nice sentiment had he ever loved my sister, or Trevor for that matter.” said Aunt Ellen.
“That's so sad...”
Mila could feel the tears threatening to spill over.
“Oh Mila, that's alright. I loved him enough for all of them! And now he has the amazing gift that is the love of a great woman, in you!”
As if on cue, Mila's phone rang. It was Trevor.
“Hi baby!”
“Hey there beautiful, how are you and the jellybean?” he asked.
“We're doing good, just sitting here talking to Aunt Ellen.”
“Oh good, that was going to be my next question; did she get in safe?”
“Hello Trevor, darlin', are you going to join us soon?” Aunt Ellen yelled from her seat at the kitchen table. Giggling, Mila pressed speaker on the phone, Trevor’s voice booming out across the room.
“Absolutely Aunt Ellen, I wouldn't miss your visit for the world! I'll see you soon! Oh, and Mila, take me off speaker a minute babe.”
Pressing the button and turning away from a winking Aunt Ellen, Mila smiled before saying.
“Yes love?”
“I'll be spending the rest of this flight thinking about all the things I want to do to you. So, I hope you're well rested.”
“Trevor!”
“My flight lands in about 3 hours, I'll see you then. I love you baby.”
“I love you too baby, more than you know!”
True to his word, Trevor's plane landed exactly 2 hours and 57 minutes later. After a late dinner of takeout with Aunt Ellen, Mila was lying in bed, her head on Trevor's chest.
“So how was Miami?” she asked.
“Not too bad, always a great crowd to wrestle for.”
“What, no nightlife?”
Trevor sighed. “No babe, you know by the time we get there, between press, meet and greets and the actual shows themselves we barely have time to think!”
“I know, I know.”
“Babe... you're jealous, aren't you?”
Mila averted his eyes before saying “Maybe, does that sound stupid? I sound stupid, don't I?”
Trevor kissed her forehead and squeezed her shoulder with the arm he had wrapped around her.
“Not at all baby, it's actually kind of cute. And if I'm being completely honest. . .I get jealous too.
“You, jealous? Of what, who?”
“Mila, I see the way the guys look at you backstage. It's everything in me to stay professional and not start taking liberties in the ring!”
“Wait, what?!”
“Mila you're a very attractive, desirable woman and a lot of guys would do anything for a shot at you.”
Mila propped herself up on one elbow, letting her free hand run up and down Trevor's chest and stomach as she spoke.
“I guess it's a good thing you put a ring on it!”
“You're playing a very dangerous game there Ms. Stevens” Trevor spoke through clenched teeth.
“I believe that's Mrs. Morgan to you!”
That was all it took to flip the switch in Trevor and before she knew it Mila was lying next to Trevor in bed, a sweaty heaving mess. Suddenly she felt an odd sensation in her belly. It felt like literal butterflies in her stomach. Trevor, clearly noticing the faces she was making, looked worried.
“Mila, honey, what's wrong?”
“I, I think the baby's moving!”
She couldn't fight the smile that was growing across her face.
“Here, feel!”
She took Trevor's hand and placed it on her belly. After a few seconds Trevor practically jumped off the bed.
“Oh my God! That's...that's amazing!”
***
It was just after 2:30 and Mila and Trevor were back in the exam room at the doctor. They had tried to convince Aunt Ellen to come along but she insisted this was something they should experience alone together. Dr. Miller was finally done setting up the ultrasound machine and was rubbing the cold gel in circles across Mila's ever-expanding belly.
“Alright, we've still got a good strong heartbeat. I'm looking at ten fingers and ten toes all forming nicely. So, do you still want to know the sex of the baby?”
Mila and Trevor responded with a resounding “Yes!”
Dr. Miller laughed, “I don't think I need to question you again on that, so...”
She slowly turned the monitor around.
“Say hello to your daughter!”
Mila stared in wonderment at the screen. There, already striking a pose, was her daughter. Her daughter with this amazing man whose been nothing short of a life saver for her. Suddenly his words cut through her thoughts.
“You okay? Are you happy?”
Mila could only nod as the tears began to fall.
“Looks like you can't call her the jellybean anymore!”
“Nah, she'll always be Daddy's little jellybean!”
After a few new ultrasound photos were taken, Mila hopped off the table and looked down at her belly.
“Come on baby girl, let's go home!”
On the ride home, Trevor suddenly asked.
“Hey, you don't mind if I drop you home first, do you? I’ve got to go somewhere really quick and then I'll be back.”
Mila, a bit taken aback, turned to look at him.
“Babe, I'll be home alone with Aunt Ellen and she's going to want to know if we found out the gender, which I thought we were going to tell her together!
“You can fend her off for like 20 minutes, can't you?”
Mila could feel herself getting angrier by the second. She knew it was irrational, but hormones had taken over by that point. By the time Trevor pulled into the driveway, she practically leapt out of the car, slamming the door behind her.
“Sweetie come on, don't be like this, I promise I'll be right back!”
She was lying in bed when she heard Trevor come in the door and talk to Aunt Ellen a minute before there was a knock at the bedroom door.
“Mila, baby, will you come downstairs with me please? I got you a little something.”
Mila glared at him before throwing the covers off her.
“Fine, but only because there's something in it for me.”
“After you milady!”
Trevor followed her downstairs where a smiling Aunt Ellen stood in the family room.
“Now?” she asked.
“Now!” Trevor replied.
Aunt Ellen scooted out of the way for the big reveal.
“Oh. My. God.” was the only response Mila could muster.
There before her stood an already assembled cat tree with two of the most adorable kittens ever at the top.
“Surprise! I'd like you to meet the newest members of the Morgan clan. They're brother and sister, 7 weeks old!”
“How did you-”
“Honey you've been talking about wanting a cat for as long as I've known you!”
Mila, at a loss for words, threw her arms around Trevor and began furiously dotting the side of his face with quick kisses.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she said.
“So, what are you going to name them?” asked Aunt Ellen.
“Hmm....”
“The grey one's the boy.” Trevor said.
Mila tapped her bottom lip, deep in thought. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she spoke up.
“The boy should be Finn and the girl should be Bayley!”
“Keeping it wrestling centric, I like it!” Trevor said.
Aunt Ellen suddenly cleared her throat.
“Speaking of names, do I get to know if I'm getting a great niece or nephew?”
“Of course!”
Mila went upstairs to get her purse that was carrying the ultrasound pictures. They'd asked Dr. Miller to print one extra for Aunt Ellen.
Wrestling With Love Page 10