by Unknown
“What about the orgasms?” asked Travis.
“It doesn’t affect the orgasm.”
“It doesn’t make them better?”
I shook my head at Travis, “When was the last time you had a bad orgasm?”
“Point taken, but you’ll still get them right?” worried Travis.
Rolling his eyes, Dad answered, “Yes Travis.”
“Cool. When you fill the prescription, can I get one of those bad boys off of you?”
“No.”
“What do you think Mom will say?” I asked wiggling my eyebrows at Dad.
“Not that I have a problem in that area, but I think she’ll say get the prescription filled.”
The three of us burst into laughter when the front door opened, and we heard the girls chatting as they came into the house.
“Oh good, all you men are in the house. Would you mind bringing in my shopping bags, and Bentley, if you could run Haley home for me, that would be great.”
“Haley’s here?” I asked. I thought they would have all just met up at her house.
“Yes, she’s just outside talking on the phone. Whitney convinced her to come, which I’m glad she did; we got a great deal on some baby stuff today.”
“Before Haley comes in, how much do I owe you, Mom?”
“Nothing, she wouldn’t let us pay for anything, that stubborn girl. She is determined to do everything on her own,” huffed Mom in annoyance.
I went to say something else, but Travis accidently bumped into me.
“Hey Baby,” he picked Whitney up and kissed her, “I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I thought we could have a camp fire tonight, and then you could take me home afterwards.”
“Babe you know I love it when I’m with you.”
I stood behind Travis putting my finger down my throat and making soft gagging noises.
Mom smacked me upside the head, “Just go get my shopping bags. Haley will tell you which ones are hers.”
I’D JUST HUNG up the phone with Carleigh when Bentley walked outside. “Hey, Bentley.” He walked over to me with a big smile on his face. “What has you smiling?” I asked.
Stopping in front of me, he took me in his arms and hugged me, “Just you being here.”
“I don’t understand.”
“This is the first time you’ve been over.”
“No it’s not.” I stepped out of his embrace a little, “I come here lots. If I’m not at the ranch, home, or school, I’m usually here.”
“Okay, let me rephrase that. You never come around when I’m here; you always tend to leave just before I get here.”
“I just don’t want to intrude if you bring home anyone. I don’t want to give her the wrong impression.”
It doesn’t matter how many times we talk about this, the conversation it always goes in circles. Bentley never hears what I try to tell him, he just keeps going on and on that it doesn’t matter what I tend to think. I’m the only one he wants. Sure he says that now but what happens when I get fat and I get stretch marks and my boobs get floppy from breast-feeding and my butt sags because I stopped running. Yeah I really see him hanging around. Not.
Bentley gave me a scorching look, “Don’t give me that look, Bentley. We talked about this. You are free to date anyone you like. Just because I’m having your baby doesn’t mean we are attached.”
“Yes we are so attached,” he argued pushing his stomach to mine playfully.
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” I said shaking my head.
“Bentley, are you bringing in my shopping bags? I want to show your dad what I bought,” Charlotte called from the living room.
“In a minute,” Bentley responded still looking at me.
I walked around him and down the steps toward the car, trying to avoid another conversation about us needing to be together. Why doesn’t he understand I don’t trust him not to leave again? I hate depending on people for that exact reason; you get attached…then they leave.
“Where are you going? Bentley asked walking behind me.
“Just grabbing your mom’s shopping bags for her,” I replied.
“I’ll grab them. I just wanted to hold you for a minute longer.”
Opening the trunk I said, “The blue bags are mine the rest are your mom’s.”
“What did my mom buy? There are like fifty bags in here.”
I laughed at having the same thought when she was checking out, “She said she’s getting ready for Christmas and she wanted to buy all new decorations for the baby.”
“The baby won’t be here until next Christmas.”
“That is what I told her, but she insisted.”
I grabbed the last two bags for Bentley and followed him into the house.
“Ma, what did you all buy?” Bentley laughed putting all the bags on the couch.
Whitney reached in to the green bag and pulled out two tiny sleepers, “Are these cute, or what, Travis?” One read, I play for my Dad’s Team and the other read, Mom’s cheerleader.
Charlotte pulled Will into the living room. After going through ten bags she found what she was looking for, “Will, I got you this.”
He unfolded the tiny t-shirt and smiled at his wife. “It’s perfect.” Will flipped the tiny shirt around so his boys could read it, Papa’s Buddy.
I sat on the couch watching everyone react to the things Charlotte bought for the baby, and I couldn’t help thinking about what my dad was missing out on. I wish he were here, enjoying this with me. I sat back and rubbed my belly thinking of my dad, tears formed and I couldn’t stop them falling. I hung my head, hoping no one would see them.
Travis sat beside me and pulled me into his chest and then the tears really came.
He rubbed circles on my back and whispered, “Why are you crying?”
“I miss my dad.” Without saying anything more he just held me.
“Haley, honey, are you crying?” Charlotte asked.
“No,” I sniffled into Travis’s shirt.
Bentley knelt down in front of me, “I’ll take her, Travis.”
Travis passed me into Bentley arms. Bentley maneuvered onto the couch and pulled me into his lap and held me as I got my emotions under control.
“You okay sweetheart, why are you crying?” he asked wiping away my tears.
I let out a half laugh, “It’s silly, I just got caught up in the moment, and it really made me miss my dad. He missed out on so much with me, and now he’s missing out on his grandchild, too.”
“You said he’s coming here for Christmas, right?” Whitney asked, standing in Travis arms.
“Yeah, he’s coming. He’s staying with Grams and Papa.”
“How about when he comes, he can help paint and decorate the baby’s room. That way he will be a part of the pregnancy too.” She offered.
I sniffed rubbing my sweater under my nose, “That’s a good idea.”
I slid off Bentley’s lap and headed to the bathroom, “I’ll be right back. I just want to wash my face.”
Walking into the bathroom, I shut and locked the door before sitting on the edge of the tub. I dropped my head in my hands and just breathed. I felt so stupid for crying over nothing. I looked in the mirror as I washed my face frowning at my flushed cheeks and red eyes.
Bentley met me in the hall when I opened the bathroom door, “I guess we’re having a camp fire, would you like to join us?”
“No, thank you. I think I’d rather go home. I’m feeling kinda tired after the long day.”
“Okay,” he shuffled his feet around, “Is the last track met still Monday? I’d like to watch, since we don’t have a game or practice.”
“Sure, it’s at Dearhill Heights Field at four.” I leaned in and whispered, “Did you tell Travis about the scouts yet?”
Bentley looked at me surprised, “How did you know about that?”
“Coach Dudley let me in on it,” I winked.
“I’ll tell Travis after Monday’s heat.”
“Can I be there when you tell him? I want to see his face,” I gushed excitedly.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to tell him.”
Walking us into the kitchen, Bentley announced he’s taking me home.
“But you haven’t eaten yet,” protested Charlotte.
“It’s okay I will grab something at home,” I assured her. “I’m really tired and want to lay down.”
Will and Charlotte walked us out to her car saying their good-byes just as Travis and Whitney came back from making a fire, “Haley, you sure you don’t want to stay? We’re making s’mores,” asked Whitney.
“No, thanks.” I hugged Whitney goodbye. “S’mores, campfires, and me don’t really go well together.”
“Gotcha.”
Getting into the car, Bentley nodded at his Dad. “Have a good night, and don’t get too stiff on that mattress.”
“Funny, son.”
“Maybe I should sleep at Cullen’s after I drop off Whitney,” Travis said from behind his dad.
“Why would you do that?” asked Charlotte confused. “Is your back bothering you, Will?”
Travis and Bentley burst out laughing.
“I should have never told you two,” Will groaned.
“Tell them what?” Charlotte asked again.
“Nothing. We’ll talk about it later,” Will said grabbing his wife’s hand and walking back to the house.
“Want to grab something to eat at Maggie’s?” Bentley asked turning onto the gravel road.
“Bentley…”
He cut me off, “Not as a date, but as friends, parents.”
“Actually can you drop me off at the Ranch?”
“Haley…”
“Please, Bentley. I just really want to see my grandparents.”
Letting out an uncomfortable sigh, he agreed and carried my shopping bags into Grams’ house, while I looked for her in the kitchen.
“What a pleasant surprise, what are you doing here, darling?”
“I just needed to come home,” I cried walking toward her.
“Oh child.” She gathered me in her arms, “Want to stay for dinner? Papa is grilling steaks.”
“Please, and can I stay over?”
“Of course honey, is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I just miss my family.”
Grams heard the plastic bags rustling, “What is that noise?”
“It’s Bentley. I went shopping today, he’s putting everything on the couch for me.”
“Bentley, is that you?” Grams asked. I rolled my eyes at her.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Would you like a glass of sweet tea?”
“I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”
“You are never trouble, now get in here so I can see you.”
“Unless it’s you that made my granddaughter cry again,” Papa warned walking into the house with a plate of steaks.
“No, Papa, he didn’t. It’s just my hormones.”
“It better be,” he stressed looking at Bentley.
“Never mind him.” Grams waved papa off. “Want to stay for dinner, Bentley? We have lots.”
“No thanks, I should be getting back. We’re having a family fire tonight.”
“All right then,” Grams said pulling out an extra plate for me.
“I’ll be right back. I’ll just walk Bentley out.”
Walking back through the living room Bentley asked, “What did you buy today?”
“You never looked?”
“No.”
“I bought some small decorations for the baby’s room.”
He stopped and looked at the bags with a weird expression, “Did you pick a theme?”
“Not really, I just saw these cute turtle and frog things and I picked them up.”
“I thought if it was something baby related we’d do it together.”
“I don’t understand?” I asked confused.
“We agreed anything related to the baby, we would decide together.”
“I just bought a crib mobile and a couple of stuffed animals. I liked them, so I bought them. It’s really not a big deal, Bentley,” I said defending myself.
“It’s not just a crib thing, Haley, don’t you get that? I’m not with you all day, every day, so yes, I want to be with you even when you pick out something small for the baby.”
“Bentley, I think you are overreacting.”
“You guys even talked about painting the nursery today and suggested your Dad come and paint it. Did you even think I might want to paint my baby’s room?”
“Why do you always try to pick a fight with me, Bentley?”
“I’m not, I’m trying to make you understand where I’m coming from.”
“You are overreacting.”
“Am I?” he puffed. “You’re not even giving me a chance to be involved. What if the shoe was on the other foot, how would you feel? I’m feeling really left out, Hales.”
“You want to be involved in everything, Bentley? Okay, did you ask Curtis, if I could paint the baby’s room yet?”
“I haven’t seen him.”
I shook my head, “I asked him, when he came for last month’s house inspection.”
“I was going to ask him. I just got caught up with the farm, and I forgot. I’m sorry.”
I figured that was enough of an example, so I left it at that. “When it comes to the big stuff with the baby, I will always ask for your opinion, but when it comes to other little things, I think from here on out I will do what I feel comfortable with. I’m sorry if that hurts your feelings, Bentley, but that’s reality. We are not together.”
“I’m just wanting you to know I’m only a call or text away.”
“And I will, when I need you,” I stressed.
Bentley hung his head as he walked out the door without saying good-bye to everyone.
“That boy is trying his best for the situation, Haley,” Papa scolded.
“And I’m not?”
“It’s been quite busy at their farm, I’m hearing.”
“I just bought a mobile, it’s not that big of a deal!” I roared storming into the kitchen.
IT’S ONE WEEK till Christmas and I have no idea what to get Haley. I’ve looked around the damn mall for hours. Getting fed up I decided to text Curtis to see what he got Loran.
Me: what did you get Loran for Christmas?
Curtis: honeymoon to Bora Bora. Why?
Me: I don’t know what to get Haley?
Curtis: tough one, what do you get for a baby mama?
Me: stop calling her that.
Curtis: is she your girlfriend?
Me: no
Curtis: then she’s your baby mama.
Since Curtis was no help I tried Travis to see what he got Whitney.
Me: what did you get Whitney for Christmas?
Travis: salon certificate, iTunes gift card, candles and some girly things she likes.
Me: what did Dad get Mom?
Travis: new bathrobe, bubble bath, candles and some smelly crap and something else, but I wasn’t allowed to know. Dad said he’s shopping for that on his own.
Me: You guys went shopping together without me?
Travis: We did our shopping in November when we went to that bull sale. We went during the thanksgiving sales.
Travis: shopping for Haley?
Me: Yeah, that girl is tough to shop for. I have no idea what to get her. I’ve been at the damn mall forever!
Travis: Get her a few romance novels, and she likes that green tropical green tea shit from the fifth’s coffee shop and get her a frame that says I love my mom. Chicks love that sort of thing.
Travis: I know she wants a new iPod shuffle, put some Hedley on there, she loves that band.
Me: How do you know all this stuff?
Travis: It’s called paying attention, brother.
Me: thanks.
Two hours later I finally
make my way out of the mall. Looking at the bags in my hand I realized I hadn’t bought anything for the baby. Do I buy something for the baby? Once again, I pulled out my cell, this time to text Mom. I want this Christmas to be perfect since it will be the first one with Haley.
Me: Mom do I buy the baby something for Christmas?
Mom: It’s up to you. I know Whitney bought a really soft baby blanket and baby bathing stuff. Dad and I bought a play pen, but it’s to stay here, and we bought Haley a gift certificate to the maternity store for some clothes and I should have the baby blanket completed by then and Travis bought the baby a Longhorn baby jersey.
Me: K
Everyone in my family except me knew what to get Haley and the baby, which made me realize I needed to pay more attention to the people I care about, especially Haley and the baby. I tossed my shopping bags into the truck and drove to the closest Babies-R-Us.
“Hello may I help you?”
“I’m looking for something for my baby.”
“Is the baby born yet, or do you know what you are having?” the sales clerk smiled.
“No yet, the baby won’t be here till May.”
I walked over with her to the crib section, “How about I recommend this beautiful cherry wood crib, dresser and change table set.”
I looked at the price tag of the full set and almost choked. “Does that price include delivery and set up?”
“No, but there is also the matching cherry wood high-chair over there.” She pointed out before walking over to travel section. “We also carry a beautiful car seat with stroller and a matching play pen.”
Walking over to the high chair and looking at that price tag, I shook my head. I was not paying three hundred dollars for a kid to spit food on it.
“Do you have anything smaller?” I must have looked like a lost rat in this section. I did not realize how much baby shit cost, and knowing Haley wanted to buy everything on her own didn’t help my mood any.
“Well, we do have a cute little bassinet; it vibrates and plays soothing music that helps put the baby to sleep. It’s the perfect size to put next to Mom’s side of the bed.”