Saved by the Doctor

by Ivy Wonders

  “At this time, I have to disagree with you, Reagan.” I knew she would play the mother card, and stopped her before she could. “As his father, I can see he needs this right now.”

  She narrowed her green eyes at me. “And as his mother, who has been a part of his life since the beginning—”

  I stopped her there. “I don’t want to throw stones, Reagan, so I won’t. But you know why you’ve been there since the beginning and I haven’t, don’t you? Don’t answer that. I don’t want to go there. There will come a time when we can scale back on our security. Now isn’t that time.”

  “Well,” she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Then I foresee our son getting accustomed to this and never feeling safe without so much security.”

  “And I don’t.” She hadn’t grown up as I had. “I had just as much security as we have now when I was growing up. And then I went off to college and left that behind. Quite easily, I might add. By the time I left home, my father had made sure that I had plenty of training on how to defend myself. That’s why I’d taken the shooting classes. That’s why I still have a personal trainer to keep my body strong. Which you seem to enjoy, by the way.” I flexed my bicep and saw the twinkle in her eye as she watched it move. “See.”

  Another sigh had her chest rising and falling. “But he’s not you, Arrie. You never went through what he has.”

  “Even more reason for him to have this extra cushion of security until he’s able to defend himself.” I pulled her to me, kissing her soft lips. “Let me be his father, my love. Let me do what I feel is right for him,” I whispered.

  She looked at me with sad eyes. “Okay. But I need to talk to you about something else now. I’m afraid I won’t be getting pregnant as soon as we’d hoped.”

  How she knew that, I had no clue. “Tell me why.”

  “My body’s been through much—and so have I. I know not only the physical trauma, but the mental one too, has taken a toll. I’m worried all of the stress won’t allow me to get pregnant right away. You know the way trauma can mess with a body—it takes time, maybe even years, to get over it.”

  “Okay.” I knew we’d deal with whatever. “So, if it doesn’t happen right away, then it doesn’t happen, baby.”

  She threw her arms up in the air. “Easy for you to say. You and Skye are foaming at the mouths for a baby. I feel all that pressure. Don’t you realize that?”

  I didn’t want her to feel any pressure, and I sure as hell wouldn’t have brought up having a baby if I’d thought she’d feel this way. “Okay, I’ll talk to Skye, and we’ll chill on the baby stuff.”

  “As if he’d stop.” She looked at me then turned to walk to the window. “He’s never been more excited about anything in his little life. He’s going around trying to be a tough guy so he can be the best big brother the world has ever seen.” She looked back at me. “He wants to be as big a hero as you are to him.”

  I knew she didn’t mean that to make my swell my chest with pride, but I couldn’t help it. “He sees me like that?”

  “Who doesn’t?” Reagan came to me, putting her hands in mine as she kneeled in front of me. “You’re an amazing man. You’re so strong and resilient. And it bothers me that I can’t keep up with that. That I can’t be as amazing as you are. It bothers me a lot.”

  She had no idea of how amazing she truly was. So, I needed to show her. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

  Hurrying down to get Skye, I knew I had to get him to tell his mother some things he’d told me earlier. I’d assumed that it was nothing she hadn’t heard from him before, but maybe he’d never told her to her face.

  I found him following Lannie around as they talked about the wedding. “Skye, can you come here for a minute?”

  “Sure, Dad.” He ran to me, Randy on his tail.

  Putting my hand up, I said, “You can take a break, Randy. I’m taking Skye up to talk to his mom.”

  “Sure.” Randy pointed to their apartment above the garage. “I’ll be up there when you need me.”

  Nodding, I put my arm around Skye and told him what I needed—what his mom needed—from him. And I talked to him about how we’d have to chill on the baby stuff, because Momma was feeling a little under pressure.

  And being the sweet kid he was, he agreed, “I don’t want her to feel that way.”

  When we stepped into the bedroom, I gave him a little push, then stood back to let them talk. “Go on, tell her what you told me, son.”

  “K.” Skye walked to his mother, who sat on the end of the bed. “Mom, Dad’s told me some stuff, and I want to tell you something. K?”

  “Of course.” Reagan held out her hands, as if telling him to proceed. “Go ahead.”

  “See, Momma, I think you’re the most bravest person I even know,” he began.

  I bit my lower lip as I tried not to tear up. He’d told me the same thing about his mother just days after the incident. He had still been in the hospital, and so had she. It had made me cry then. And it was close to happening again.

  “Well, I’m not even close,” Reagan said as she twisted her hands in her lap.

  Skye put his little hands on hers. “Momma, you are. You came and saved me from that mean man. You didn’t have to.”

  She looked at him with tears in her eyes. “Of course I had to.”

  He shook his head. “No, you didn’t. You could’ve sent the police. I heard lots of nurses and doctors talking about it when I was in the hospital.”

  Reagan looked over his head at me. “Was your father one of those doctors?”

  “No.” Skye shook his head. “Other people said that. And you know what else?”

  Reagan looked at him with a smile. “What else?”

  “You weren’t ever scared of that man.” Skye moved in to hug his mother, and I had to bite the side of my hand to keep back the tears. “You told him you would kill him with your bare hands. I’ll never forget that—you were like a superhero! And I believed you, and he must’ve, too, ’cause he came to unlock the chains on me.”

  Reagan’s brows lifted as she hugged her son. “Well, I would’ve. I did mean that.”

  He pulled back to look at her. “And I knew you would’ve. I’m glad you didn’t have to do all that, ’cause I think it would’ve been tough for you. I’m glad Dad showed up and got rid of that mean man. But if he couldn’t have come, then I know you would’ve saved me, Momma. I always knew it.”

  She held him tight as tears streamed down her red cheeks. “Yes, I would’ve.” Her eyes went to mine, which now had tears pouring from them too. “And you’re right. Ripping that man limb from limb would’ve been tough on me. And I feel lucky your dad did show up and take care of that mean man, so I didn’t have to.”

  “Yeah, me too.” Skye stood back after kissing his mother on the cheek. “And you know what else, Momma?”

  She wiped her eyes. “What else, Skye?”

  “I want to be a big brother.” He held out his hand, and she took it. “But we don’t have to rush about it.”

  She looked at me with a smile and then her eyes went back to him. “Well, thank you very much. I want you to be a big brother too, but I think it might not happen real quick for us this time. Your patience is appreciated.”

  “That’s okay,” he said. “We’ve got time.”

  She pulled his face up to look at him. “Do you like having Randy and the other guys around?”

  He nodded. “They make me feel safe.”

  Her forehead wrinkled as she asked, “Daddy and I don’t do that for you?”

  “You do.” Skye turned to look at me. “You guys make me feel real safe. But I need them too. For now.”

  Reagan nodded. “Okay then. You understand my needs. I understand yours. We all are important in this family. Each and every one of us.”

  “Yes, we are.” I stepped up then and put my hands on our son’s little shoulders. “And our opinions all matter as well.”

  Reagan smiled at me. “Yeah, they
do. Sorry if I came off like a brat.”

  “Sorry if I came off like a tyrant.” I leaned over to kiss the top of her head.

  Skye chimed in, “Sorry if I came off like a kid who just really, really wants some brothers and maybe a sister.”

  Laughing, we all hugged, and everything felt much better.

  This is the way family is supposed to feel.

  Chapter 30

  Reagan

  The wind whistled through the trees and doves cooed in the distance. Beside me, Arrie held my hand as we walked over white rose petals that led to Lannie, who was dressed in a white bridal gown only three sizes larger than mine—we’d both fallen in love with the same dress.

  I didn’t feel upstaged. I felt honored when he’d told me what fantastic taste I had. Of course, I’d had to let the man wear that magnificent dress too.

  It wasn’t just our wedding. It was a day to officially make us all one big family. Lannie had brought us together again, so he’d become a part of our family, too. His parents had been so stubborn and demanding—they’d earned a role in our family as well.

  Arrie’s mother and her husband Bill had come in a week earlier. She couldn’t believe she’d been a grandmother and hadn’t even known it. But she’d never said one harsh word about it. That made her a special part of our family to me.

  My parents had accepted Arrie without an ounce of hesitation. That made them special to my almost-husband. And we’d all formed this union before traditionally forming our own.

  So the evening had come when Arslan Dawson and I would form that union, legally. Lannie put his hands in the air as Arrie and I stopped in front of him. “Hallelujah! And can I get an amen up in here?” he shouted.

  Our guests shouted in unison, “Amen!”

  Lannie went on, “Ladies and gentlemen. Doctors and nurses. Grandmothers and grandfathers. We’re all gathered here together to get through this thing called life.”

  I whispered, “I think you’re kind of stepping on Prince’s toes there, Lannie.”

  “Shit, you’re right,” he said. Raising his head, he corrected himself. “What I mean to say is, would you all please join me in this revolution we call life.” He winked at me.

  Our guests shouted, “Yes, we will!”

  Arrie smiled at me, and I smiled right back. “And now, will you all please join me in committing two audacious souls to a happily ever after to end them all, my brothers and sisters?”

  “Hell yes, we will!” they all shouted.

  I cocked my head to one side as I looked at Lannie. “You did not put lines for them to say on some kind of handout, did you?”

  “It’s called the program, honey. Now, hush.” Lannie tweaked the tip of my nose. “You did put me in charge, did you not?”

  Arrie shrugged. “You did, Reagan. Just go with it so we can get to the good stuff.”

  “Okay,” I said as I gave Lannie a look that said he should hurry this up. I did have some great news to tell Arrie and Skye. But I wanted to wait until after we were man and wife. “But speed it up.”

  “Never!” Lannie let me know. Music swelled in the air. A single note rang out from an electric guitar. “Marriage isn’t something to take for granted. Marriage is the absolute commitment two people can make. I am going to ask these two kids some questions most clergymen won’t. So hold tight to your seats, guests. Things are about to get wild and steamy up in here.” Lannie leaned in. “Now do you understand why Skye is being kept inside with headphones on while I do this part?”

  I began to sweat. “Oh hell. I’m really beginning to regret this.”

  Lannie merely smiled, and I noticed that his red lipstick had rubbed off on one of his front teeth. I reached up to wipe it away with my fingertip. He caught my hand after I’d cleaned it away. “You do love me, don’t you, Ray-Ray?”

  “Of course, I do.” I leaned in and kissed his cheek.

  The guests clapped and hollered as Lannie hushed them, “Now, now. Let us go on. Arslan Miguel Dawson—henceforth to be called Arrie—do you take this woman in sickness, health, violent bouts of diarrhea, and even menstrual cramps, until death do you part?”

  Arrie chuckled his answer, “I do.”

  “Cool, man,” Lannie said as they high-fived, and then he looked at me. “Reagan Dreamchild Storey—henceforth to be called Ray-Ray—do you take this man in sickness, health, dizzying conversations about the brain that will make your will to live disappear, and flatulence that will steal your very soul, until death do you part?”

  I looked at Arrie, knowing I could take his neurosurgeon conversations, but wondering about the soul-stealing farts. “Are your farts really that bad?” While Arrie shook his head, Lannie nodded. “I’ll just have to chance it. I do.”

  “Good luck, sister,” Lannie said out of the side of his mouth. He looked at Arrie. “Arrie, do you think you can live with, love with, cry with, and laugh with this woman for the rest of your life?”

  The way Arrie gazed at me told me more than his words ever could. “I can.”

  Lannie didn’t have anything smart to say about that. “That’s love right there, people. Straight up, love.” He looked at me. “The same, Ray-Ray?”

  I looked at Lannie. “The same thing you asked Arrie?”

  He nodded then put his hand on his hip. “Duh.”

  “Okay.” I looked at Arrie with a serious expression on my face. “I would love nothing more than continue to live, love, laugh, and cry with you forever, Arslan Dawson.”

  Lannie had one last thing to say. “Do either of you have anything you’d like to ask the other before I make this marriage official?”

  Arrie nodded then looked at me. “Is your middle name really Dreamchild?”

  Laughing, I shook my head. “I don’t have a middle name. Lannie made that up.”

  “Good, that was way too hippie-dippie for me.” Arrie leaned in to kiss me.

  Lannie stopped him. “Hold up! Not yet, lover boy. Send in the ring bearer.”

  An electric guitar solo ensued as Skye came out of the glass door of the back deck, carrying the pillow with our wedding bands sewn onto it so they wouldn’t fall off. Because no one wants almost a million bucks worth of jewelry to get lost in the thick green grass of one’s backyard.

  Cheeks bright red with embarrassment, our son brought our rings to us. Arrie scooped him up. “Hey there, slugger. You got our rings?”

  “I do.” Skye laughed hysterically. “Hey, I got to say it too!”

  Handing my bouquet off to my mother, I got ready for Arrie to put that gorgeous ring on my finger. “We’re ready, Lannie.”

  “K, here it goes,” Lannie set it up. “All you’ve got to say is, with this ring, I thee wed. Go Arrie!”

  Yanking the ring to pull it free from the string that held it to the pillow, Arrie looked at me as he slipped it onto my finger. Still holding our son, he said, “With this ring, I thee wed.”

  All I could do was smile as I pulled the other ring off the pillow. I put it on Arrie’s finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

  Skye shouted, “I now announce you, man and wife!”

  Lannie quickly protested, “Hey! That’s my line. I know pronounce you, man and wife.”

  Skye’s eyebrows waggled as he looked at Lannie. “You may kiss the broad!”

  Arrie and I broke into laughter as Lannie corrected him, “You may now kiss the bride.”

  Arrie pulled me close, still holding our son, and kissed me softly and sweetly. Then we both kissed our son on opposite cheeks as the cameras flashed.

  Later on, finally man and wife, the music started to play. Arrie, Skye, and I danced together until Lannie came to steal our partner, taking Skye. Arrie and I slow-danced to a fast tune, totally in our world.

  My heart had never felt more complete. “Who knew marriage felt this way?”

  Arrie looked up at the starry night sky. “Not me. I didn’t have a clue. I’ve never been happier. And I mean that.” He looked at me. “I really do mean
that. If this is all we ever have, I’ll never be sad a day in my life.”

  “Me too,” I agreed. We swayed to the music together, until our guests began to drag us away from one another.

  His step-father asked me to dance and my mom asked him to dance. We were traded from one person to another until my feet grew so sore I had to take my shoes off.

  It was magical, and all I saw were smiles everywhere I turned. Not a sad eye in the house. Not even one frown. Only smiles. And I couldn’t have been happier.

  Midnight came around, and our son finally began to drag a bit. The guests started leaving and, one by one, we said our goodbyes.

  Then Arrie and I carried our sleepy son up to bed. We sat on the edge of his bed, both of us running our hands over his small head. And I took that time to tell them my news. “Did my boys have a good day?”

  Arrie smiled while Skye nodded. “What a day, Momma.”

  Arrie leaned over to kiss my cheek. “Best day of my life.”

  “So far,” I said.

  Arrie shook his head. “No. Best day ever. None will beat this one.”

  “Wanna bet?” I asked.

  Skye leaned up on his elbows. “You’ve got a secret, don’t ya?”

  I nodded. “A little one.”

  Arrie took my hands, holding them between us. “Spill it, Mrs. Dawson.”

  “I wanted you two to be the first to know.” I put my hands in both theirs. “We’re having a baby!”

  Screams of happiness came out of all of us. Skye flew out of bed and we all hugged and jumped around in a circle. And nothing had ever felt more right.

  It had only been Skye and me for so long. Then Arrie had found us, and we’d become even better, the three of us together. And now, a real family, we were already growing.

  Skye shouted, “We’ve found it, Momma.”

  “What’s that?” I asked as we stopped jumping.

  “Our happy ending!” Skye exclaimed.

  Arrie interjected, “Oh no, son. This isn’t the ending. What we’ve found is our happy present. The happiness isn’t anywhere near over.”