Destiny's Detour

by Mari Brown

  Our moms have their heads together planning dinner for everyone. David and Amy have called to let us know they will be coming by later in the day. We are going to have a full house tonight. I don’t mind too much. I love my family. I am lucky to have the family I do and I know it. We spend the afternoon relaxing and talking with each other. David and Amy show up together and join in on the conversation. When Mason wakes up three hours later, Troy practically runs to get him. I swear he is so cute. Love and pride ooze from him when it comes to Mason. He brings him into the living room and sits down next me once again.

  “Did you change him?” I ask.

  He nods acknowledging that he has changed his diaper. Mason seems content to lie in his dad’s arms so I leave them alone.

  “Man, I never thought I would see my best friend go nuts over a baby,” David pipes up.

  “Dude, wait until you have one of your own. You’ll understand this feeling. It’s better than scoring the winning touchdown.” Of course, Troy would compare it to football.

  “I have to admit my nephew is a handsome thing. Takes after me, you know?” This causes laughter around the room. David pretends that we have hurt his feelings as he gives a fake pout. Mason begins fussing in Troy’s arms, letting me know it is time to feed him. I place a blanket over my shoulder, undo my shirt, and comfortably nurse Mason.

  David, of course, makes a comment. “Do you have to do that in front of me? I’m a virgin, you know?”

  I think my dad is the one to let out the biggest snort of laughter in the room.

  “Son, you haven’t been a virgin since you were 14. Who are you trying to fool?” David’s head whips around in surprise.

  “W-w-what?” he stutters.

  “Really, you don’t think I know these things? I may not have ever said anything, but I know all about my children. You were 14 and your sister was 16.”

  My cheeks go pink. “Wait, what?” I ask.

  Amy is laughing her head off until my dad informs her that she was 16, too, and she quickly shuts up.

  “Daddy, did you have people following us?” I ask.

  He laughs. “No, I just knew when your attitudes toward the opposite sex changed. It was a dead giveaway to me. Oh, and since I called everyone else out, Troy, I know you were 15.”

  My husband chuckles next to me. This is an odd conversation to be having with my dad. I finish nursing Mason and hand him over to Troy. Troy burps Mason then Amy comes and steals the baby. She begins cooing to him right away. David takes Mason next and talks to him for a bit. I realize after a while that Mason has fallen asleep in his uncle’s arms and both look completely comfortable. I give Troy a slight nudge and whisper for him to take a picture of Mr. Player being Mr. Softie. Troy snickers but does as I ask. He isn’t going to let his best friend live this down.

  Our moms come in announcing dinner is ready but my mom stops in her tracks when she sees David holding Mason. Her hand comes up across her heart and a sigh escapes.

  “That’s a beautiful sight.”

  David’s face actually reddens which makes me laugh.

  “Aww, is my brother embarrassed?” I coo to him. I take Mason to place him in his crib while we eat dinner. I join the family in the dining room and take my seat next to Troy.

  The first week at home flies by and soon the parents are heading back to their homes. I can tell it is hard for our moms to leave. In some ways, I am ready for it to be Troy, Mason, and me alone in the house. I have enjoyed our families being together, but we also need to learn to function on our own. Mason feeds every three hours, which does not help my sleep at all. I try hard to let Troy sleep more because he is hot and heavy into summer football training. I know he needs to focus on that. I can’t believe Troy is a senior this year and will be graduating in May. We have talked about it, and have decided he will enter the NFL draft and see what happens. He already has agents calling, wanting to represent him for the draft. His dad and my dad are helping him out in that department. I am getting ahead of myself thinking about post-graduation for Troy, but sometimes I can’t stop myself.

  The biggest thing on my mind these days is Troy and I both going back to school in August. Mason will only be three months old, and I am not sure I can leave him with just anyone while we are in classes. Troy and I have talk about making our schedules where one of us will always be with Mason and that looks like the best idea so far. I am so surprised when David and Amy come over one night and say that they too will help watch Mason around their classes. It is possible between the four of us. Mason will be taken care of without me having to put him in a daycare. The thought of daycare makes me shudder. I will have to decide at the end of the year if Troy is drafted, whether to continue college or not. Things will certainly be different. At the end of this school year, I will have my Associate’s Degree in dance, so I won’t be totally without something to show for my work. I feel better knowing we have a plan of sorts for Mason in the fall and find myself once again enjoying motherhood without worries.

  When Mason turns 6 weeks old, I decide that he and I have been cooped up long enough. We go to doctor appointments and the store but don’t go out just for the sake of going out. I prep his diaper bag and make sure I have enough of everything for several hours away from home. While he naps, I shower and dress, and even put on a light coating of makeup. I pick out a super cute outfit for Mason and get him dressed. I buckle him into the car and then double-check to make sure the stroller is in the trunk. I don’t want to have to lug him around in the carrier. He tends to get heavy quick in that thing. I then start the car and head for campus. Mason and I are going to watch his daddy practice football.

  I stroll toward the field and notice many students looking at Mason as we go by them. Mason tends to grab attention whenever we go out. As we near the field, I notice the players are just heading back out after the lunch break. I walk a bit faster, hoping to catch my man. I notice a group of Troy’s friends. Mark nudges Troy and says something to him. Troy turns to look and gives me the biggest smile. He immediately heads toward us. As he nears, he asks, “What are y’all doing?”

  “We’re bored so we thought we would come watch Daddy practice for a while.”

  Troy kisses my cheek and then peeks at a wide-awake Mason. He quickly unstraps him, takes him into his arms, and walks off toward his friends. I laugh as I think, 'sure just leave me standing here'. I stroll over to the field and put the brakes on the stroller. All the guys make a fuss over Mason and that tickles me even more to see the football players going soft over the baby.

  My brother walks up, slings an arm over my shoulders, and says, “So, Mason is coming to his first football practice? You are so raising my nephew right.”

  I nudge David’s shoulder as we walk toward Troy and Mason. “Well, duh, I am from a football family.”

  As we reach the group surrounding Mason, some of the team keeps checking me out. I have to admit it makes me feel good, because after having Mason, I still sometimes feel fat. I have lost all the weight I gained and spend a part of each day working out to stay in shape.

  David actually makes a comment to a couple of guys. “Stop checking out my sister. She’s married.”

  Troy turns around and smiles. “They can look all they want, but they better understand she’s mine.”

  I smirk at my husband. “What? Now I’m your possession?”

  Mason, upon hearing my voice, begins squirming and trying to find me, so Troy hands him back to me. We stand there for a few more minutes before the coaches make it out on the field. I laugh as Mason and I take our seats on the side of the field because the head coach yells out, “Mrs. Daniels, if you and that little one keep distracting my team, I’m going to think you work for our rival.”

  As the start of school gets closer, I become more restless. I am not sure that I want to leave Mason at all. I know he will be with his father, his uncle, or his aunt Amy, but he is my baby. The four of us spend hours going over schedules before registering for class
es to make sure that one of us is always free for Mason. Surprisingly, we are able to work it out without much hassle.

  Mason and I have been going to football practice once or twice a week. One day, I take him to the campus bookstore and look at the baby items. I find Mason the cutest onesie with our school logo and have already ordered a custom jersey made with his dad’s number and our last name on it. My little man is going to be supporting his daddy. Since I did not join the dance team this year, I am going to actually be able to enjoy watching the game as a fan in the stands. Our parents will be with me, so it will be fun.

  As Mason nears two months old, he begins sleeping a bit longer at night. I am actually getting five straight hours to sleep, even though during the day, he still eats every four hours. I am not complaining. Five hours is a good amount of sleep. I find that even though I don’t have a ton of energy to do things that I used to find fun, it doesn’t matter. I am happy being a wife and mother. I relish in it even. I cook dinner for Troy each night and wait for him to come home. He is always happy to come home to us. We have really become a family without a lot of fuss. That happens when love is behind the things you do.

  The time is nearing for the first game of the season and I'm getting excited for it. Our parents are staying the whole weekend and have agreed to keep Mason so that Troy and I can go out together. I have been pumping extra breast milk into bottles all week in anticipation of it, because I want the freedom to have at least one drink when we go out. I want to make sure I have enough milk for a 24-hour period for him.

  The day of the first game comes, and I kiss Troy goodbye as he leaves to head to the field. I promise him that we will be there before kickoff. I want to see the dance team perform in the opening show. When my parents show up at the house, they keep an eye on Mason while I get dressed for the game. We are one of the lucky families with seating on the field right behind the team, so I have to be dressed properly because chances are I will be seen on national television. I wear one of Troy’s jerseys and a pair of Capri pants. I go to the nursery and pack a bag for little Mason. I am not surprised to find my parents cooing over Mason. My son is going to be spoiled rotten if I am not careful. I steal Mason back, take him into the nursery, and dress him in his onesie and custom jersey. As I bring him back out, my mom starts freaking out on how cute we look and insists on taking a ton of pictures.

  The time comes for us to leave for the game, and after packing several bottles of milk in the diaper bag, we load up into my Escalade. My dad drives, and my mom rides up front with him while I sit in the back with Mason. We are all excited for the game. This is an important year for Troy and David as seniors on the team. It can make it or break it for them when it comes to the NFL. David has also decided to pursue a career in the NFL and my only hope is that he and Troy don't play against each other because that would really suck. We talk excitedly as we make our way to the stadium.

  I am thankful for the privileges our family has because we receive special VIP parking enabling us to park right up next to the stadium. A special entrance leads to our seats on the field without our having to wade through all the other students and fans. It makes it much easier for us to get Mason’s stroller in without killing people. I am actually pushing the stroller while Dad carries Mason. Several people stop and remark how cute Mason looks in his little jersey. I can’t wait to see what Troy thinks, because I have kept it a secret in order to surprise him.

  We find our seats and I watch with excitement as the dance team performs their opening number for the game. In some ways, I miss being involved, but Mason will always come first in my life. The crowd goes nuts as the team makes its way out to the field. Troy and David’s names are called out for the starting offense lineup, and everyone in our little box goes crazy. Mason’s eyes grow wide, and he looks at his grandparents and me with wonderment. He is trying to figure out what is going on. Troy catches sight of us in our seats, and his face breaks out with a beautiful smile. He turns back to focus on the game but suddenly stops and whirls around to face us again. The biggest grin covers his face when he sees Mason and me standing there in his number, and I may even see a tear roll down his cheek. He blows us a kiss and turns his focus on the game where it needs to be, but I know we have made him happy.

  Mason does really well during the game, even napping with all the yelling and other noise. We start out the season with a win and the hope is to have another undefeated year. Our boys want a chance to play in the Championship bowl, not just any other bowl game. Troy and David come straight to us when the game is over. I jump on Troy, and he quickly wraps his arms around me, catching me against him. I can’t help myself when I wrap my legs around him and give him a big kiss. I am excited that my man is the winning quarterback. He doesn’t seem to mind as he kisses me back without hesitation.

  David has to be sarcastic and say, “Remember, that’s how we got Mason.”

  My brother is not as funny as he thinks he is. Once I slid down off Troy, he quickly takes Mason from his mom and gives him a kiss.

  “Destiny, I can’t believe he has his own jersey.”

  “Ya, I may have gone a little crazy buying him custom jerseys that he will outgrow, but yea, he has to support his daddy.”

  We part ways and agree to meet at the Chinese restaurant. We like to have our after-game meal together. Then the grandparents are going by our house to pack up all of the stuff they will need for Mason. They have rented a 2-bedroom suite to share at the hotel and will take Mason back there for the night.

  Troy and I are so looking forward to our first night out since Mason’s birth. It isn’t like we had been dying to go out or anything, but now that we have the opportunity, we are going to take advantage of it.

  After our parents leave with Mason, we look at each other as we sit on the couch and I am the first to speak. “This is strange. It’s just the two of us and no Mason.”

  “Yea, it is,” he answers, and before I know it, I am lying under him on the couch with my legs wrapped around him in a serious make out session.

  As we grow more heated, I beg him, “Take me to our bed.”

  He picks me up, carries me to our room, and we make sweet love.

  We lay in each other’s arms, completely spent but invigorated at the same time. I look at the clock beside our bed and realize we need to start getting ready for the party if we are going. We jump in the shower together to save time because David, Mark, and Amy are coming by our house so that we can all go together. I want to dress to kill tonight and find a pair of short shorts and a see through, off the shoulder top. I stand in front of Troy with the shorts on and a black lace bra, and let him choose whether I wear another top under the see through one.

  He looks at me for a few minutes and finally says, “Please wear something under. Your breasts are so full and plump from nursing, and I don’t want to fight anyone tonight.”

  I give a short laugh as he says that and find a black tank to wear with my outfit. Troy has put on a pair of low-slung jeans with a black V-neck, his signature party outfit. I don’t mind though, because damn, he looks hot. The doorbell rings and Troy goes to answer it while I sit down to do my makeup and hair. I try to hurry since we are running a tad behind thanks to our little session in bed.

  Finally, we load up into the Escalade and make our way to the party. You can feel the excitement in the air from the first win of the season as we enter the party. Troy and David go to get us drinks while I look around and check out the scene. Mark doesn’t stay with us long because he catches the eye of a girl on the dance floor. I laugh at his eagerness.

  David and Troy come back with cups for each of us. The boys have beers while Amy and I have a vodka and cranberry. I decide to nurse my drink and try not to go crazy because I don’t think it will take much for me to get drunk. It has been almost a year since I have drank, after all. We enjoy our drinks, and then Amy and I hit the dance floor while the guys talk to some of their teammates. I am having a ton of fun dancing with
Amy. It has been too long since we have been able to do this with each other. After a few songs, we decide to take a break and join the guys where they are talking. Troy pulls me into him with a hand wrapped around my waist.

  “Not that I am complaining, but why the possessiveness?”

  “I don’t like seeing guys checking out my wife when she is on the dance floor.”

  I laugh, lean up, and brush his cheek with a kiss. “The only guy I want is you, don’t worry.”

  He smiles at me. “I know, but I still don’t like it. I might have to hurt someone if they thought it was okay to touch you.”

  I lean my back against Troy’s chest and his arms wrap around me. I figure this will help him stake his claim. We are having a great time talking, and one of the players has even asked about Mason. We explain that both sets of grandparents have him for the night. I am surprised by how many on the team love Mason. We spend several hours at the party hanging out and having a good time. However, I am ready to go home early, and Troy agrees with me. Mark decides he is going to stay, so only David and Amy ride back to the house with us. Thankfully, they do not stay long. Troy and I have other plans. One thing that we have been whispering to each other all night is about getting home for round two. We have only been cleared for two weeks to resume sexual activity, and while we have done it once since then, tonight we are going to enjoy our freedom. We can’t seem to get enough of each other and wind up making love two more times. It is 7am before we drift off to sleep. I am glad our parents have Mason most of the day because I am going to be exhausted.

  4 Months Later

  Time seems to move at inhuman speed sometimes. You want to take it slow, but time is against you. I know I sound a bit melodramatic, and maybe I am, but I just think time is flying. This past year seems to have just sped by, and though I have enjoyed most of it, I want it to slow down, too.