Drowning In Love

by Beth Rinyu

  “Hey, what are you doing home? I thought you had that meeting?”

  “I did and it got done early, so I thought that maybe I would spend the rest of the day with you.”

  I smiled through my edginess, which he picked up on right away. “What’s the matter, Mia?”

  I took a deep breath and decided to spill it. “Travis, when we went to Saint Lucia, I forgot to bring my birth control pills and - ”

  “Oh my God, Mia. You’re pregnant?”

  “I don’t know.” I looked at the clock. “I’m about to find out in about two minutes, though.” His smile was a mile wide. He pulled me close and hugged me tightly. “You’re not upset?”

  He pressed his forehead against mine. “Mia, why would I be upset? The woman that I love more than anything is going to have my baby. I’m the happiest man in the world right now.”

  “Well, it’s not one hundred percent yet. But I’m late and I threw up this morning.” I looked at the clock. I stood up from the bed and grabbed his hand. “Are you ready to find out with me?”

  He smiled and nodded. I stopped just before we entered the bathroom. “Travis, you won’t be upset if I’m not, will you?”

  He was still smiling as he shook his head. “Remember, Mia, practice makes perfect and if you’re not, we’ll just have to keep practicing until you are.”

  “I love you so much, Travis.”

  “I love you too.”

  I took a deep breath “Are you ready to find out?” I asked.

  “Never been readier….”

  Epilogue

  Mia...

  I semi-permanently retired my role as hairstylist to take on the new roles of wife and mother. These were the most rewarding titles that I could have ever imagined. I had given birth to Jackson Samuel Montgomery eight months ago and I couldn’t imagine how I had ever lived without him. Despite being three months pregnant on my wedding day, it was perfect. It was the type of wedding that I had dreamed of ever since I was a little girl. We honeymooned in Paris and even though I was throwing up every morning with morning sickness, I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

  Travis had given up any further aspirations of Olympic medals and was focusing his time on running his swim school and being the best husband and father that anyone could ask for. We moved into our new home when I was seven months pregnant. It was a beautiful four-bedroom colonial, with a built-in swimming pool, of course. But the best part all - it was only minutes away from my mother and sister. Travis commuted every day into the city, but he didn’t mind; he loved being away from the city, especially now that we had Jackson.

  It was the picture perfect Fourth of July. My backyard was filled with everyone that I loved. I watched as my niece Paige carefully sat down and held Jackson; with my other niece Emily sitting beside her as my mother snapped a picture of the three of them. I couldn’t believe that Paige was already six and Emily would be three in a few months. It made me realize just how quickly time passed and to enjoy every single second of Jackson’s childhood. “Paige and Emily come in the pool,” my sister shouted as she floated around.

  "You girls are the best big cousins," I said as I took Jackson from Paige’s arms.

  “I think someone is sleepy,” my mom said as she walked over and kissed Jackson on the forehead. He let out a deep belly laugh at the sight of her, causing her to go into baby talk mode. “You’re Mom-Mom’s baby boy, yes you are!” He smiled at her again before burying his face in my shoulder. I placed his sun hat over the little bit of platinum blond hair that was just beginning to grow in. He was always such a happy baby, even when he was tired or hungry. I trailed little kisses on his cheek and sucked in his baby scent. I didn’t think it was possible to love another human being as much as I loved this little boy.

  I looked around the backyard and smiled. My world was finally happy. I focused my eyes on the man who was responsible for that happiness – Travis. He was playing a game of quoits with his father, my brother-in-law, and stepdad. He looked over at me and gave me that deep dimpled smile that still made my insides turn to mush.

  I walked over to Travis’ grandmother, who was sitting under the umbrella, and sat down next to her. “Are you too hot out here?” I asked.

  “Oh no, dear, it’s a beautiful day.”

  I placed Jackson on her lap and a smile stretched across her face. “Do you know how much I adore this little boy, Mia?”

  I nodded. “I do. And if it weren’t for you, he probably wouldn’t be here right now.”

  She placed her hand on mine. “You and Travis were meant to be together, dear. It had nothing to do with me.”

  “Well, maybe next time, you will finally get a granddaughter. Not for a few more years though,” I joked.

  “Oh, Mia, I already have a granddaughter and she’s the best granddaughter that a grandmother could ask for.” She looked at me and smiled.

  “Thanks,” I whispered. “Hey, would you mind holding Jackson while I go make his bottle?”

  “I would love to!”

  I went inside to prepare the bottle. Travis came in behind me and wrapped his muscular arms around me. He moved my hair and whispered in my ear, “You are driving me crazy in that sexy bathing suit. Tonight, after everyone leaves and Jackson is asleep, we have a date in that pool.” My stomach tingled just thinking about it.

  “Umm, Travis, there’s just one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I told your grandmother and parents to spend the night.”

  “Oh, Mia what are you doing to me?”

  I laughed and smacked him lightly on the arm. “It’s a long drive for them. Plus, they love spending all the time they can with Jackson.”

  “Well then, I guess you will have to be a lot quieter than usual.”

  I laughed and shook my head at him. “You’re crazy, you know that?”

  “I’m not crazy, just in love with my beautiful wife.”

  “You are too sweet.” I turned around and placed a soft kiss on his lips that immediately turned passionate. He pushed me up against the counter and ran his hands up my body.

  “Travis, this isn’t the time or place for this.” I gave him a sympathetic smile. Truth was, I wanted him just as bad, but with twenty plus people out in the backyard, something told me that it wasn’t a very good idea. His arms were still wrapped tightly around me. “Good things come to those who wait.” I laughed as I ran my fingers along his face.

  “Why do you have to be so damn beautiful?” He still knew how to unleash the butterflies in my stomach.

  “Excuse me….” Juan cleared his throat loudly as the back door slammed. “This little boy is a little stinky.” He was holding Jackson out at arm’s length. “And Auntie Juan draws the line at changing diapers.”

  Travis took him from Juan’s arms. “Aw, man,” Travis said, referring to Jackson’s diaper situation.

  “Told ya,” Juan said.

  I laughed as Travis took Jackson upstairs to change him.

  I smiled at Juan. “You are a very good auntie, you know that?”

  “And you are a very good mommy,” he responded.

  “Thanks; it’s my most favorite job in the world.”

  “I could see that.” Juan smiled.

  “Juan?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Thanks for being the ‘best’ best friend that anyone could ask for.”

  “You’re welcome and thank you too, Mia. Now stop with all this mush. I have to get back out there to my fans and I won’t be looking all sexy in my bathing suit with tears rolling down my face.”

  “Who the heck are your fans?” I laughed.

  “Your mom and sister. I just came in to grab some hamburger rolls and save Mrs. Montgomery from your stinky little baby.”

  I shook my head and handed him the rolls to take outside. I looked up at the clock, noticing that it was just about time for Jackson’s nap. I quickly finished warming up his bottle and brought it upstairs. I stood in the doorway, unable to wi
pe the smile from my face as I listened to Travis’ conversation that he was having with Jackson.

  He was sitting in the rocking chair while Jackson looked up at him as if he understood every word that he was saying. “I bet you don’t even know how special you are? I’m going to make sure you know every day of your life. Your daddy loves you so much and you have the best mommy in the whole world, but I’m sure you already know that.” He kissed him on the forehead. Jackson always seemed so content in Travis’ arms.

  I walked into the bedroom and handed Travis the bottle. “It’s nap time.” I knelt down alongside Travis as Jackson immediately sucked down the bottle. It amazed me how I had gotten so much enjoyment out of just watching him taking his bottle.

  “We did make a beautiful baby together, didn’t we, Travis?”

  “Of course we did. With you as his mother, I never expected otherwise.”

  I leaned my head on Travis’ shoulder and watched as Jackson’s eyes slowly closed.

  Travis had allowed me to check off two more things on my bucket list – the two most important things; him as my husband and the beautiful baby in his arms. Sometimes life isn’t fair and takes us in a direction that we least expect. But as long as the outcome is sweet, it makes all of the heartache and roadblocks that we have to endure worthwhile. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my journey. I had never been happier, being an ordinary girl, living an ordinary life, making me realize that Travis was right - sometimes ordinary is better; in fact, it’s the very best there is.

  The End

  For an excerpt of Beth Rinyu’s The Exception to the Rule, turn the page.

  Excerpt from The Exception to the Rule, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Beth Rinyu on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/BethRinyu

  We walked into the large windowless meeting room that was already filled with people. We hurried, finding two seats together in the second row. The seminar was to give a brief overview of the current statistics of outbreaks, the area’s most in need, and to answer any questions that we might have. The guest speaker was Dr. Julian Kiron, a pediatric oncologist. He had been over here several times to assist in pediatric cancer outbreaks that had been occurring recently. He was well known in the medical world as one of the most up-and-coming doctors in his field. I had read many articles about him and was curious to see the face behind the name. Although I had heard he was a dynamic speaker, I really wasn’t very interested in hearing anything he had to say today – my mind was a million miles away.

  Tricia read over the agenda for the seminar. I used mine to fan myself and shoo away the bugs. I wanted to get this over so I could go and check on Akin. I looked around at the other attendees. I focused my attention on a strikingly handsome man making his way across the room as everyone stopped him to talk. He was well over six feet tall with a perfect body. He looked like he was in his early thirties, with very strong features and perfectly pitched lips. His hair was jet black and cut very short around his ears with a little more length on top, showing off a very slight wave. He had a boyish smile that exposed two perfectly placed dimples. He was either born with perfect teeth or his parents spent a lot of money on braces. The intensity of his eyes could be seen from across the room. I had never seen eyes that blue; they almost didn't look real. Tricia mumbled something to me but I wasn’t paying attention to her. I was too focused on this stranger who had just entered the room.

  The room became silent as a short, stout woman approached the podium and introduced herself as Dr. Courtney Jones. I got butterflies in my stomach when the handsome blue-eyed stranger took the empty seat next to me. I tried to focus as best I could on what was being said as I checked off every item on the agenda in anticipation of it being over. I rested my head against the back of the chair and rolled my eyes whenever someone would slow down the process and ask a question.

  “Bored?” the handsome, blue-eyed man sitting next to me leaned over and whispered.

  My stomach fluttered – the color of his eyes was so intense. “Huh?” I said, taken off guard. “Oh well, I just have a ton of other things I could be doing right now,” I answered quietly as I finally regained my composure.

  His smile made me melt and I felt myself instantly smiling back. “Well, it’s almost over,” he said.

  “Yeah, just one more stuffy doctor’s boring speech to sit through. I’m sure he’s so full of himself that he’ll probably drag it out forever, talking about how great he is,” I whispered.

  His smile turned into a huge grin as he chuckled. I really didn’t think it was that funny, but obviously he found some humor in it. Tricia slapped me lightly on the arm to pay attention. But it was of no use—I was much more interested in this beautiful man sitting next to me. I caught myself glancing at him once more – suddenly this seminar wasn’t so boring after all.

  Dr. Jones gave a brief history of Dr. Kiron’s achievements, which most of us already knew. I was daydreaming and wishing that she would just get on with it.

  “It gives me great pleasure to introduce Dr. Kiron.” Dr. Jones said.

  I was shocked when I saw the handsome blue-eyed man sitting next to me approach the podium. My face became heated and I knew I was probably turning beet red. I sank in my chair a little lower, wanting to find a way to escape from my humiliation as he gave me a quick smile before he began to speak.

  “He’s gorgeous!” Tricia said with her jaw nearly dropping.

  Dr. Kiron’s voice was just as lovely to listen to as his face was to look at. He seemed poised and confident. I couldn’t stop staring at his eyes and a few times I felt like he had noticed as he glanced over my way. His speech finally ended and I had no clue what it was even about. I was still in awe over Dr. Kiron.