Forget blushing, my entire face is now flushed in crimson. There is no way that Jason is speaking the truth. I look down at my swollen belly. He’s just trying to make me feel good about myself. I’m pregnant and in pajamas, no way am I gorgeous. “Stop that, Abigail,” he says.
Confused by his statement I look over at him. “What am I doing?”
“You’re second guessing what I’m telling you. You’re thinking you’re ugly and pregnant and I’m just saying you’re gorgeous to build up your confidence.” Damn, he hit the nail on the head there.
“Abigail, I’m not lying to you,” his voice is tender and comforting. “If you need to be told this every day for it to sink in, then damn it, I’ll tell you every day! You are beautiful and you don’t even realize it,” he says as he gently shakes his head. “Come, get into bed. You’ve had a long day and you need some rest. I’m calling in to work tomorrow so I’ll be here when you wake up,” he says as he covers me with the blanket before kissing my cheek and walking out of the room.
I wake up to the sound of my own screams, sweat seeping from every pore in my body. I’m in a place I don’t recognize. I feel my fight or flight response go into overdrive. I’m frozen in place by pure fear. The light comes on and Jason has me in his arms in record time. His touch brings relief in a way I’ve never known. “Abigail, hey, it’s ok. I’m here. You’re safe and everything is alright.”
My pulse rate is coming down as the tears begin to flow. I don’t know what scared me so badly. I can’t remember what I was dreaming about; all I know is that I was very scared. Why?
“It’s ok, Abby. Do you want to talk?” Jason asks but I shake my head. I just want to go back to sleep but I don’t want Jason to leave the room. “Jason,” he looks at me with worried eyes. “Will you stay with me until I fall back asleep?”
A smile creeps across his face. “Of course I will, Abigail. I didn’t plan on leaving your side for the rest of the night. Let me grab my cell from the living room and turn the light out and I’ll lie with you until you’re asleep. You don’t have to be afraid with me around,” he states as he kisses my lips and gets up. He’s back in less than a minute and I lay my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. The pounding rhythm relaxes me. My life has not turned out as I thought I would. I realize how lucky I am that I am out of the volatile relationship with Tommy and in a stable relationship with Jason as I begin to drift back to sleep.
I am awakened by the sound of a ringing phone. I’m still lying on Jason’s chest as he reaches over to grab the phone from the nightstand next to his bed. “Hello?” He says as I start to rollover. He wraps his left arm around me to keep me from moving. “Ok, we’ll be there in about an hour or so. I want to make sure your sister eats first. Thanks for the update, Mike.”
I lay there staring at Jason waiting for him tell me what Mike said. “He’s doing fine. He came out of surgery with no problems and is giving the nursing staff a hard time. You know your dad. He takes a licking and keeps on ticking,” he says with a soft smile on his face. “How are you doing, Abigail?”
“I’m good. I do have to pee though,” I say as I blush.
“Of course,” he says as he kisses my temple and releases his arm from around my waist. “Those babies like to use your bladder as their own personal trampoline,” he jokes as he releases me from his embrace. “Why don’t you go ahead and take a shower and get dressed while you’re in there and I’ll make you some breakfast. Would a Colorado omelet and fruit be alright?”
“Sure. Anything you have will be fine. Are your towels and wash cloths kept in the hall closet?”
He nods as he stands to head to the kitchen. He’s wearing only a pair of boxer-briefs. This is the first time I’ve seen Jason with so little on. His chest is rock hard and his abs are amazingly defined. My gaze moves to his arms. Geez, his biceps are huge. No wonder why I feel so safe in his arms. How can he have such strong arms yet be so gentle? I can’t help myself as I focus my eyes on his rock hard ass. Jason’s physique is exquisite. I don’t think he expected me to need him to sleep with me last night because he was well underdressed for that. However, I am not minding what I see. Damn it, Abigail, get those thoughts out of your head, girl! Jason shimmies over to his dresser and pulls out sleep shorts and a t-shirt while I climb out of bed, grab my bag and head to the bathroom.
After my shower, I head back into Jason’s room to grab my phone from my purse. I flip it on as I grab my brush and head back to the bathroom to pull my hair back. By the time I make my way back to his room, my phone has had enough time to come on and show me my missed texts. I have one text waiting for me
I’m sorry she called you, Abby. I didn’t realize she grabbed my phone. I wasn’t even in the room. Please forgive me and don’t allow her to jeopardize any future we may have.
As of now, there is no future with Tommy. Jason asked me to be his girlfriend and I can’t imagine leaving a fantastic man for a man who has always treated me like a welcome mat. I decide it’s better to message Tommy now and let him know that there is no ‘us’ in the future.
Tommy, as I said, I don’t know what the future holds. In the past 24 hours life has changed for me. I’ve moved on. There is no chance that we will be a couple anymore. I don’t plan on keeping your from our girl’s but you need to understand that there will be no Tommy and Abigail. Ever!
I walk to the kitchen where Jason has prepared breakfast, just as he said he would. “Here, Abby, sit down and eat. I’m going to take a shower and get ready.”
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
A smile spreads across his face, “Well, you’re such a girl that I had enough time to eat my breakfast while you were getting ready.”
I blush and give him an innocent smile as he turns to walk down the hall and I dig into my breakfast. Man, Jason can cook! I scarf my breakfast down in record time. Once my hunger is satisfied and my dishes are washed and put away, Jason and I head to the hospital.
Chapter Twenty
Jason and I arrive at the hospital a little after ten o’clock. Dad is being hard to get along with. “What the hell is with all these wires? I can’t even turn without getting snagged,” I hear Dad complaining before I even walk in the room. I put my bag on the counter and walk over to Mom. Her eyes look so tired. She must’ve been up all night. Her eyes look as if she aged five years overnight. “Hi, Dad, how are you feeling?” I ask innocently.
“Like, I got shot, Abby!” He snaps. My eyes begin to fill with tears. I know he doesn’t mean it but these hormones make me cry over everything. “Oh baby girl, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just I hate being in the hospital. Come over here,” he orders. I do as he requests and he puts his arms around me. “I’m sorry, princess.”
I give him a kiss on his cheek and stand. He puts his hand on my belly and gently rubs it. “I’m going to be around for a long time. I need to see these little ones grow up.” I smile at him as I walk back to Mom. “Have you slept at all?” I ask, though her eyes tell me the answer to that question.
“No darling. I’ve been too worried about your dad. I’m waiting on Mike to get back from dropping Katherine off and then I’m going to head home.”
“Mrs. Wilkinson, I can drive you home now if you would like,” Jason pipes in.
“Oh, that’s nice of you Jason, but I’ll wait for Mike. You’ve done so much for this family by taking care of our girls here that I don’t want to impose.”
“It’s not trouble at all but if you’d rather wait for Mike, I understand.”
She nods, and looks at Dad. Dad smiles at her and reaches for her hand. They have been married for twenty-five years and their love is still as strong as it was, if not stronger, than when I was a child. This is definitely a Kodak moment.
Mike breaks the silence when he appears in the room. “Mom, are you ready to go home? You really need to get some sleep,” he says as he puts his arms around her shoulders.
Mom gives us all a hug and peck
on the cheek before her and Mike leaves the hospital. Dad’s complaints are fewer now. He talks to Jason about work and football as I listen to their conversation. After half an hour, Dad starts to moan in pain. He presses the nurse call button and the nurse appears almost instantly. “I’m dying over here. Could I get some relief from this pain?” Dad is almost pleading with the nurse. “Right away, Detective Wilkinson,” she says before turning to go fetch him something for the pain.
“Is there anything I can do for you Dad?”
“Oh princess, just take care of your mother and those babies is all I ask. She’s so exhausted and you need to stay healthy so those babies grow. So, their names are Addison and Kylie, huh?” he asks changing the subject.
I smile at him. “Yes dad, Addison and Kylie are their names. I hope you like them.”
Dad laughs, “I love them Abigail. Now, something has been bothering me since you announced their names. Jason didn’t seem the least bit surprised. Do you kids want to tell me something?”
Yes, my father the detective. No one can sneak anything past him. “Yes dad,” I chuckle. “Jason helped me with their names and, as of last night, Jason and I are officially a couple.”
When I announce that Jason and I are dating, dad looks genuinely surprised. “I had a suspicion about the names but I had no clue that you two were a couple. Congratulations,” Dad says shaking Jason’s hand. “This is the part where I tell you not to hurt my little girl and to take care of her or I’ll hunt you done and beat you, but I’ve known you long enough to know that you would never hurt my baby or her babies.”
Jason smiles at my dad and leans down to give him a hug. “Mr. Wilkinson, I love your daughter and granddaughters. I will never hurt them. In fact, I would give my life to keep them protected. They are safe as long as I am around, I can assure you that.”
With that, the nurse is back in the room with a shot that she administers into his IV. Within a few moments, Dad’s eyes are becoming heavy. I put my hand over his as he begins to drift out of consciousness. “Abby, baby. Go home and rest and take care of Mom. I’m fine here and I don’t need you wasting energy on me while I sleep.”
I give his hand a squeeze and kiss his cheek. Jason places his hand on my dad’s shoulder as a sign of respect. “Take care of my princess, Jason. She needs you,” he says before he’s rendered unconscious from the medication that the nurse injected into his blood stream. Jason and I exchange a smile before he moves to my side and escorts me out of the hospital to his SUV.
* * *
We pull into the driveway of my parents’ house a little after one and Jason cuts the engine. He smiles back at me as he opens his door. I’m grabbing my purse and opening my door as he makes his way over. He offers his hand to me to help me out so I don’t lose my balance. No words are exchanged between us as we make our way to the front door. I slide the key into the lock and turn. “Would you like to come in?” I ask him.
“No, sweetheart, I’m sure your mom is exhausted and you didn’t sleep well last night either. Both of you need to lie down and get some rest. I’ll call and check on you around six tonight and bring your back over since we forgot it this morning,” he says before kissing me on my lips. I open the door and walk through as he turns to walk back to the SUV.
I quietly walk to my mom’s room and take a glance inside. She’s sound asleep in her bed. I walk to my room to put comfortable clothes on. I look at my bed and decide that I really don’t want to sleep alone right now. I turn and head back to my mom’s room. She’s sleeping on her side of the bed so I climb into my dad’s spot and snuggle down for some much needed rest with my mom.
I wake in the early evening. Mom is lying next to me running her fingers through my hair. I turn to face her. “I haven’t played with your hair in years. You know, no matter how old you get, you’ll always be my baby girl, right?” A smile creeps across my face as I reach over and give my mom a deep hug. “Come on, let’s order in and watch movies like we did when you were a kid. Pizza alright?” Mom asks.
I tell her extra pepperoni and pineapple before making my way to my bedroom. I need to check my phone before settling in with movies and dinner with Mom. I haven’t checked my phone since I sent Tommy the text this morning letting him know that there was no chance of reconciliation.
Sure enough, there is one text from Tommy on my phone. I unlock my screen and go to my message app to view it.
How could you give me hope only to change your mind? You’ve broken my heart again. :-(
I have nothing to say to Tommy in response to his message. I don’t know what to say. I don’t intend on sacrificing mine and Jason’s happiness to give him a chance at making it work with me. The entire time I was with Tommy was an up-and-down rollercoaster ride. Yes, I missed him like crazy for a while and really thought that he was the best I could hope for. He broke me spiritually and I’m just beginning to heal from the damage he did to me. I don’t want to take a step back and fall back into that routine or self-loathing and depression. I deserve better than that and so do my girls.
* * *
Dad came home Friday and had a rough first night home. We were going to postpone the nursery for a few weeks but Dad insisted that doing something fun was what he needed. Jason arrived first followed by Mike and Katherine about thirty minutes later. Mom and I had bought some pale pink paint for the walls that match the color of the girls’ bedding sets. Their bedding is a soft pink with yellow flowers. It’s very simple but elegant at the same time. It came with a bumper pad, fitted sheet and comforter.
Mike and Jason lay down the plastic tarp we bought to protect the carpet and bring in the ladder and paint cans from the garage. As they begin to paint Mike groans. “What’s the matter, Mike?” I ask him out of curiosity.
“I am losing some testosterone over here being surrounded by all this pink, frilly stuff,” he says with his nose crinkled up. Everyone, including Dad, bursts out laughing. “I guess the guys are outnumbered now,” Dad adds.
I’m surprised when the room is completely done. It looks beautiful. It’s solid pink halfway down the wall. The top half consists of stripes of darker pink and brown. What’s more surprising is that the guys aren’t wearing too much of the paint. Jason has a little on his face and hands and Mike has a little on his shirt.
I walk over toward both of them. “Thank you for risking the loss of some of your testosterone and painting your nieces’ bedroom. It means a lot to me,” I say to Mike. The big galoot gives that ‘aww-shucks grin’ and wraps me in a big hug. Everyone begins to laugh when Mike pulls away. I look at Jason and he pulls me to his side. He leans down and whispers, “Mike’s hands are covered in paint when he hugged you and now you have two handprints on your back in pink.”
I shoot Mike frown as he bust up laughing again. Mike and Jason go clean the paint off their hands while Katherine, Mom and I clean up the room. We start by removing the painters tape and finish by folding up the tarp used to prevent droplets of paint from getting on the carpet.
As we are finishing up, Jason wraps his arms around my waist. Though my belly is quite large, he is still able to interlock his hands together around it. As he leans in to kiss my cheek his eyes widen. “Oh my goodness was that the babies kicking?” He asks with a smile on his face.
I let out a little giggle, “Yes, Kylie and Addison are having a dance off in there. They are going crazy.”
Jason leaves his hands in place and smiles with every kick and punch from my girls. My mom and Katherine make their way over and place their hands on my belly. Katherine lets out her squeal of excitement and my mom starts to cry.
Jason steps back to allow Mike and my dad their turn to feel the party going on within me. It’s pure love that I feel in the room at this moment. Everyone that loves me is here and my girls are already loved more than they can imagine.
Everyone starts back to work setting up the nursery. Jason and Mike work on assembling the cribs. The first crib caused a few curse words to escape
their mouths; however, they got the second crib assembled far quicker and with no issues. While the guys worked on the changing table and the dresser, Katherine, Mom and I start putting the clothes on hangers and getting them hung up according to season and size in the closet.
By the end of the day, everyone is exhausted but the nursery is complete. The cribs are set up against the wall furthest from the entry to the room with the clean bedding placed, lovingly, inside each crib. Addison’s name is above the first crib in white block letters with pink and brown polka dots while Kylie’s name is above her crib in the same lettering. The changing table is against the wall adjacent to their cribs and stacked with newborn diapers and wipes and diaper rash cream. Next to the table is a diaper pail to put their dirty diapers in. Katherine brought over two bow holders that match the bedding with each girl’s names on it. The bow holders are hanging, side-by-side, on the wall next to the changing table. Katherine even included a couple of matching, stacked bows to it and promised to make sure they have many more before they’re born. The girls are sharing a dresser that sits against the last wall in the room. A lone lamp sits on top of it with two personalized jewelry boxes. Inside the closet hang their clothes for the first year of their life. Two of every outfit hangs side-by-side.
Seeing the nursery completed makes this pregnancy more real than my growing belly does. These girls were unexpected but, with time, have become a much expected part of my family and I couldn’t be happier about becoming a mom by the end of the year. I rub my belly as I smile to myself completely lost in my own bliss.
Chapter Twenty-One
**10 October 2012**
On the Edge Page 20