by Unknown
“How much?”
“Two hundred regularly, but it’s on sale for one-twenty-five ninety-nine because it’s the last one in stock.”
“I’ll take it.”
Pulling up to the farmhouse, I paused before getting out, thinking it’s time to move out of the main house. When the baby comes, we’ll want our own space to call home. Too bad it won’t feel like home unless Haley’s there. Every day I miss her that much more.
Bringing all my stuff into the house, I asked Mom if she would help wrap all of the gifts I got for Haley. Just as we were sorting everything out, Dad and Travis walked in the house.
“What did you do, Bentley, buy out the mall?” laughed Dad.
“I didn’t know what to get Haley, so I got her a little of everything.”
“What’s in the big box?” asked Travis.
“A bassinet. The lady at the store said it was a good one.”
“Are you going to put it together or just give her the box?”
“I was thinking about putting it together, but I don’t know where to put it so she won’t see it.”
“Put it in your room. She’ll never go in there.” Travis laughed.
Mom threw a pillow at him, “Hush now, and build the bassinet. I’ll make a big red bow to put on top.”
I kissed the top of Mom’s head, “Thanks.”
I asked Dad if he and I could talk in the kitchen for a minute.
“What do you have on your mind, son?”
“I was thinking it’s time I either built a cottage, or moved in a mobile home for me to live in.”
“I’m not sure how your ma is gonna feel about that.”
“I’m looking at thirty, Dad. I think it’s time I move out, don’t you?”
“I’m game, but then again when you left for college, I thought that’d be the last I saw of you. Let me know what your ma says.”
Dad left me in the kitchen to tell Mom all on my own. “Thanks, Dad,” I muttered.
“You’re welcome, son,” he snickered outside the screen door.
My brother had everything out of the box when I strolled back into the living room. “Need any tools Travis?”
“Nah, it comes with what it needs. I think we just have to snap these six pieces together and it’s pretty much built.” Within thirty minutes we had the thing all put together.
“Bentley it’s beautiful, Haley will love it,” wept Mom.
“It kinda makes it more real looking at this thing,” said Travis.
“It sure does,” I agreed. “Mom, do you have any batteries I can put in this thing?”
“Check the pantry dear,” Mom replied cutting off more ribbon to put on the last of Haley’s presents.
Resting my hand on the vibrating mattress, I looked over to Mom. “It’s really happening, isn’t it?”
“It is, you will be a parent in four short months.”
“What if I screw it up? Like everything else.”
“Bentley, you haven’t screwed anything up; you were just finding yourself. The difference with you is you did it later than most because you had to come home and help your father and me. We still don’t know what we would have done without you or Uncle Chris.”
“How is Uncle Chris?”
“He’s good, he decided to go to Florida and go fishing for the holidays.”
“He needs to find a woman.”
“Bentley, I don’t know any woman that wants a man that smells like oil, dirt and fish.”
“Good point,” I laughed.
“Have you talked to Haley today?” I asked, picking up the garbage from the wrapping job Mom completed for me.
“Yes, I believe she is starting to paint the baby’s room today with Carleigh.”
“Should she be painting pregnant, what about the paint fumes?”
“As long as all the windows are open, the doctor said it should be fine.”
“When did she go to the doctor?”
“Umm, two days ago. She was getting bad heart burn and was hoping the doctor could give her a prescription for something.”
“Did he?”
“Gaviscon,” Mom laughed.
“There is nothing else she can take?”
“Not while pregnant.”
“I think I’m going to take a drive over there and see if they need any help.”
“Send her my love.”
“I will.” I walked past the upstairs banister and noticed that Haley doesn’t have a sock up.
“Mom, are you getting Haley a sock for Christmas to hang?”
“I was going to ask you about that. Would it be okay if I made her one to match yours?”
“I think it would be nice, thanks, Mom.” I kissed her cheek. “Can you make a small one for the baby, too?”
“I already made it,” she answered sheepishly.
I WAS JUST finishing with the painters tape around the baseboards when I heard Carleigh yelling from the bathroom, “Haley do you have a pad or a tampon?”
I walked over to the bathroom door, “No, I don’t need them.”
“Seriously, you don’t have one in your purse, or briefcase for school? I really need one.”
“I seriously don’t have any here. I’m pregnant, remember.”
“Well, do you have anything I can use?”
“Wad up some toilet paper.”
“With what’s going on, I’d need to put the whole roll in between my legs.” I shuddered at the thought.
“I guess I have a Swiffer pad for cleaning the floor you could use,” I snorted.
“Good. Give it to me.”
“Carleigh, I was kidding.”
“I’m not. I’ll just use it until I come back from the store.”
“I can go ask Mrs. Johnson if she has something.”
“Your eighty-year old neighbor next door?”
“Yeah.”
“I think I’m better off with the Swiffer pad.”
I passed Carleigh the Swiffer pad, unable to stop the laughter. When she finished and opened the door, I lost it. We were both bent over laughing as the tears flowed.
“I can’t believe you’re using that!” I tried to catch my breath.
“Hey, when you’re camping, you gotta use what you have.”
“You’re not camping.”
“Honey, this is the closest I’m going to ever get to camping.”
Carleigh opened the front door to go to the store and literally ran into Bentley. “What the hell are you doing here?” she snarled.
“Seeing if I can help out with anything. Mom said you were painting the baby’s room today.”
Before I even knew what happened, Carleigh was pulling her hand away from Bentley’s face and screaming at him, “I warned you, asshole. You fucking promised me; you swore you wouldn’t make her regret falling for you.”
My hands flew to my mouth gasped in horror as Bentley rubbed his cheek. Carleigh pushed past him and hopped into her car.
“Oh my God, are you all right?” I asked, pulling him inside. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t think she’d actually hit you.”
“It’s okay. In all fairness, she did warn me. Have you started painting yet?”
“We just finished preparing the room actually,” I said while I examined his cheek.
“What color did you decided on?” Bentley followed me to the baby’s room.
“I decided on cream and a sage green.”
“I like it. Will it go well with that turtle thing you bought?”
“Yes, I picked the colors around it.”
I grabbed the roll of plastic and laid it down on the floor, but before I got very far, Bentley bent down and took it from me.
“Let me help you,” he said then rolled it out for me. When he was finished, he stood and looked around the room, “What are you going to start with first?”
“Well, I was thinking I’d start by painting the ceiling cream to match the top of the walls.”
“How about I start painting the edges for
you, and you can roll the ceiling.”
“It’s okay, Bentley. Carleigh will be back soon.”
Bentley walked over and rested both hands on my shoulders, “Please give me this. I’ll just paint until she gets back, and then if you want me to leave, I will.”
“Okay,” I agreed. What else could I say when he looked so sad.
By the time I’d finished rolling the entire ceiling and Bentley had finished painting the corners of the room, I started wondering about Carleigh. “What in the world is taking Carleigh so long?”
Bentley shrugged his shoulders and finished putting the paint from the cup he used away.
I grabbed us each a bottle of water and Bentley had gulped half of his before he thanked me.
“I think you should eat a snack,” he said, motioning to my belly with the bottle. “Want me to make you one while you put your feet up for a bit?”
“I think that’s a great idea, I have watermelon in the fridge if you could cut that up. I’m just going to go to the bathroom.”
Coming back from the bathroom I noticed the heaping pile of watermelon with all the rind cut off. He shrugged, “I thought it’d be easier to eat it this way.”
I smiled over at him, “I cut it the same way.” He passed me a plate and sat at the kitchen table to eat. “Thank you, Bentley, this was thoughtful.”
“When I was looking for a cutting board I noticed you dried the flowers I gave you.”
“I thought it would be nice to keep and arrange them in the baby’s room as a keepsake. You know, the first flowers Daddy ever game me,” I said sheepishly.
“Haley,” he walked over beside me with his own plate, “you don’t have to keep them. I plan on buying you many more.”
I didn’t say anything, opting to take a big bite of the watermelon instead.
We finished our snack and Bentley moved to clean up the mess while I put my feet up on the chair beside me. Resting my hands over my stomach I felt a slight flutter. My eyes got bigger when I felt it again. “Bentley,” I called to get his attention.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, concern etching his face as he walked over to me.
I quickly grabbed his hand and placed them on my stomach with mine on top. He gave me a weird look, and I whispered softly, “Just wait.”
We waited like that for a long time. Just as we were ready to give up, it happened again. Bentley looked up into my eyes and mouthed, “Wow.” I smiled.
“I’ve been feeling butterfly movements, but this is the first time I felt anything against my hands.
He squatted in front of me and dipped his head to my stomach, looking up for permission before he lifted my shirt. At my nod, he gently eased my shirt up and covered my belly with kisses before whispering, “I love you, peanut, and your mom.”
The baby moved a few more times as he continued to kiss my belly. I stroked his hair for something to do so I wouldn’t start crying. It felt right that Bentley was here for this moment, but it also gave me a false hope of being a family. I started pulling my shirt down just as the front door opened.
“Sorry it took so long, but I ran to the hardware store and found this border we could put up. It kinda matches the paint we bought.”
Digging into her bags, Carleigh pulled out a cream border with light green lily pads on it.
“It’s perfect,” I said taking it out of her hands.
“I’m glad you think so, because I asked what’s his name that lives down the street…”
“Mike?”
“Yeah him. He was at the hardware store, too. He was buying a new showerhead. Anyways he offered to help, since he knows what he was doing from putting the border in his daughter’s room. He said he’d drop by after installing the shower head for Mrs. Carmichael.”
Bentley stood from the kitchen floor, “Carleigh, I was here when you left, I would have put up the border.”
“You were, but since you like to leave, I didn’t know if you’d still be here when I got back.”
I was going to tell Carleigh she wasn’t being fair, but Bentley beat me to it.
“Look, I know what I did was an asshole move, but I apologized. Haley and I are trying to move past it, and not just for the baby’s sake. I don’t need you coming here and continually throwing it in my face.”
Carleigh flapped her mouth open and shut like a fish, “I’m…I’m sorry, Bentley.”
“You’re forgiven,” he said turning to me and kissing my cheek goodbye. “I’ll see you at the last football game tomorrow night?” he asked.
“Yes. Carleigh has to head back to the city, but I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Would you like me to come pick you up, or send Mom and Dad?” he asked.
“Grams and Papa are going to go a bit early to save me and Maggie a seat. She decided to close the diner so everyone can go, and she’s going to pick me up on the way.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind coming to get you, you’ll just be super early, that’s all.”
I slipped a hand in his, “You have enough on your plate tomorrow; you don’t need to be thinking of me. I’ll be fine.”
He ran this thumb over my knuckles, “I always think of you…even when I was gone.” He kissed my cheek one more time before leaving.
“What was that?” Carleigh asked taking me out of the Bentley bubble.
“I don’t know,” I said, rubbing my belly.
“I CALLED YOU all in here to let you know how proud I am of each of you this season,” I said to the team in the locker room. “You all put a good amount of speed and muscle on, which made you very intimidating on the field. You studied the plays until you knew them forwards and backwards. We were unbeatable all season, except for those two games, and I know we can take these guys and head to the championships.”
The boys hollered, “You bet coach.”
“Make sure you hold that offense back tonight.” I said, looking each of them in the eye.
“Yes, Coach!” they roared.
“Get out there with the rest of your team, but I want Cody and Cullen to hang back.” Seeing my brother, I called to him, “Travis, come over here for a minute.”
Once Travis sat on the bench with Cody and Cullen, I stood in front of them and stared for a minute, giving them time to squirm. It’s the only time these shit heads really had any fear of me. “You three think you played well this season?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Enough to win a championship?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Enough to grab scouts’ attention?”
They hesitated as what I’d said sunk in. After a few moments, they looked at each other, then back at me. “Yes sir!” They boomed in unison.
“Good, don’t let me down.” I got up and walked out the door leaving them with their thoughts. Just as I’d rounded the corner, I heard them giving each other high-fives.
THE GUYS PLAYED their hearts out in the first half. Travis was playing his best game of the season. We were down to the last possession before the half, and we were down by three. We needed a touchdown to take the lead before halftime.
The offense was in good position, but the clock was ticking down. Coach Dudley told Travis to throw the ball deep, hoping to get the ball in the end zone before the buzzer.
The crowd was on their feet as Travis took the snap and dropped back to pass. JJ ran his route perfectly, and the offensive line made all their tackles. Travis hurled the ball downfield, straight to a leaping JJ. By the time JJ landed and turned toward the end zone, a defender caught up to him and knocked the ball from his hands.
Players from both teams converged on the ball from every direction, trying to recover the fumble. The football took a weird bounce and flew in the opposite direction of the impending pile of bodies.
“Travis, get the fucking ball!” Coach yelled.
Travis grabbed the ball just as the crowed started counting off the last seconds of the half.
Seven! Six! Five!
He turned to the end zone and ran.
Four! Three! Two!
Travis crossed the goal line with one second left on the clock. The buzzer sounded as he slammed the ball into the ground.
“Thank Christ,” I breathed. The first half was done.
Hustling off the field, I saw Haley walking down the bleachers to the wall by the tunnel to the locker room, high-fiving everyone as they passed her. “Bentley! What an exciting game so far!” she leaned over the waist-high wall as best she could now that her stomach was getting bigger. God she’s beautiful when she smiles like that.
“Coach, you coming?” called Mack.
“Yeah!” I called as I reached over and lifted Haley over the wall.
“What are you doing?” she screeched as I laughed.
“I’m going to tell the boys about the scouts, and I promised that you could be there,” I said simply.
“You mean you haven’t hold them yet?”
“No, but I think now is the best time.”
“Coach Dudley, let you wait this long?” she asked.
“I had to beg him a little.” Holding her hand I walked to my office calling for Travis, Cullen, and Cody to hang back.
When we caught up to them, Haley hugged each of them with tears in her eyes. “I’m so proud of you three.”
“Thanks Haley,” they said together.
“I had you wait for just a minute so I could let you know three scouts are here, Redhawks from Seattle, Longhorns from Texas, and the Pioneers from Denver. I’ve looked over all the programs of the interested teams, and these three were the best. I wanted Miss Wells here to share this moment with you because if it wasn’t for her helping you with your speed, you might not have the scouts here.”
Travis picked Haley up and swung her around. With a blur of motion all I could hear was Haley laughing.
“Put her down Travis before she pukes.” I scolded.
He finally put her down then gave her one last hug. Smiling over at me, we shared a quiet this is fucking awesome. Before things got emotional, I sent the boys on to the locker room for halftime. Cullen and Cody sandwiched Haley in a hug before they left.
“If you squish my child, I’m gonna be mad,” I threatened them.
“Bentley, I can’t believe it. You did it! You brought the team back to where they needed to be.” She walked over and hugged me as tight as she could.