Sugary Sweets (A Taste of Love Series Book 2)

by A. M. Willard

  “Okay,” I say as I try to process it all.

  “If you’re ready to go home, I’ll have the nurse fit you with a fancy pair of crutches and get you discharged as soon as we can. When you leave make sure you rest, elevate that foot, and try to stay off your feet for the next few days.”

  “I’ll do my best and yes, I would love to leave and go home.”

  “Perfect, well that takes care of it. Take it easy, and let us know if you need anything else,” he says before shaking Hatcher’s hand and nodding to Morgan and me.

  “Morgan, will you help me change?” I ask and receive a smile back in agreement. Hatcher retrieves the bag and lays out the clothes she brought for me. I notice it’s one of my favorite dresses, and for that I’m thankful that all I need to do is slide it over my head.

  “Alright, I’m going to head to your house and wait for you to arrive. Text me and let me know if you need anything,” Morgan says as she gives me a gentle hug and does the same to Hatcher.

  It seems like hours have gone by since the doctor said I could go home. I’m ready for another nap as I’ve had to deal with the nurse fitting me for those God awful metal crutches, showing me the proper way to use them, and then listening to all the do’s and don’t of the world. But now, I’m finally in the car headed home where I can’t wait to be. It hits me suddenly that I never asked if the furniture arrived yesterday. I mean, Hatcher must have been right in the middle of it all when he got the call. “Babe, did the stuff get delivered or did you have to reschedule it?”

  “No, it’s all at the house. They had been there for a few before I got the call. Don’t stress about it, and I’ll also see if we can take a rain check on that party. I don’t want you stressing about that and healing at the same time.”

  “Oh no you don’t, I will recruit the world to make this happen. I refuse to push it out, we need to host that party with style and be done with it,” I admit as I’m not letting this stop me.

  “How about we give it a few days and then come back to it?”

  “That’s fine,” I say as we park in the driveway. I wait for Hatcher to come around and help me from the front seat. The crutches are going to be something that I have to get used to, and something that I need to get rid of very soon.

  As we enter the house, Morgan is right by our side to help me make my way to the living room. We’ve asked that only Morgan join us today as I’m not up for all the company. As soon as I enter the space I notice that everything we ordered has arrived and is set up. Hobbling around on the metal devices that are sure to bring me to my death, I position myself to take it all in. “Who did all this?” I ask, but I’m pretty sure I know. “Morgan came over this morning when she left to get everything in order. I didn’t want you to come home to boxes and stressed that you needed to get it all organized.”

  I look over at Morgan, noticing how she’s twiddling with her fingers like she does, “Morgan, you outdid yourself and I thank you. I love it.”

  “Welcome and I have to say I’m pretty impressed with the stuff you picked out. It looks great and feels like a home now.”

  “Yeah, you know that was what I was going for,” I say laughing at how it does look like home now.

  “I also put the dishes up in your cabinet and got that organized for you, but if you notice something’s off let me know and I can fix it,” Morgan explains as she sits down on the loveseat next to me. I turn towards her, “I’m sure it’s perfect and you know I’m not really picky. Hatcher, can you get my laptop from the office?” I call out to him as he’s fixing Morgan and me something to drink.

  “Why don’t you lie back and rest for a few? I can make lunch for us all and then you can surf the internet,” Morgan says as she stands to head to the kitchen.

  “Morgan, sit your ass down and relax. I’m not hungry and I want you to look at a few things on that baby site with me. I need to register and order a few things for my daughter,” I say while trying to see if she catches it. We really didn’t announce the gender yesterday, so I can’t remember if she knows or not. I notice the moment it registers with Morgan, her feet halt and that head of hers whips around so fast that I think she just gave us both whiplash. “A daughter? Are you serious? Hatcher told us you found out, but he refused to tell us until you knew first. Oh my God, Zara, this is amazing we get to have pink and frills, and fluffy dresses.” I hold up my hand to silence her, “Hold your frills and thrills as I am not dressing her in frilly dresses. She will look like a girl, but I refuse to smother her in all that. So, get my computer and sit your ass down so we can look at this pink shit,” I say as dramatic as I can. Hatcher drops off two glasses of sweet tea, the remote, and a bowl of Skinny Pop cheddar popcorn. He truly knows how to reach in and warm my heart. “I’ll be in the office doing a little work, call me if you need something. Please try to rest soon.” He finishes his strict husband orders and places a gentle kiss in top of my head. After I reassure him that I’ll take my medicine and nap soon, he leaves Morgan and me alone so we can bask in the glory of internet shopping.

  Morgan instructs me on creating a wish list on Babies-R-Us and says that I can add stuff from the internet and even venture to the store and add more when I feel up to it. We sit and debate back and forth on the color of the crib. Morgan says white, but I want espresso. In the end I won since I wanted it to be universal. Right now I don’t plan to have another, but you never know. I bookmark the four-in-one convertible crib with a changer attached to show Hatcher. I also bookmarked one that comes with the same crib but a separate changing table. I want his input even though I know he will go with whatever I pick out. The nightmare starts once I click that simple nursery bedding button. I don’t understand why I have to have PINK everything just because I’m having a girl. Morgan’s eyes light up like the sun when we start clicking through it all. I decide to skip that for now, and continue to look at furniture for the room. Most of the pieces I like will go well with either crib, so I bookmark the dresser, a shelf, and even find a comfy looking chair for me to rock her in. Between the both of us I’ve got a good start on the list for today.

  “Are we doing a gender reveal party still?” Morgan asks like she’s afraid I’ll scratch it from the fun things they get to plan.

  “Actually, I had given it some thought, but the more I sit here and think about it we could totally do it the day of the neighborhood party. I already planned to invite our families to attend – it would be perfect.”

  “Do I get to do the cake?”

  “No, I think I’ll just order it from the grocery store, no reason to fuss about it,” I say and hear her breath hitch to another level like I just told her I murdered Jimmy Hoffa. I laugh and wince from the slight discomfort before I reassure her that she has full control over the cake.

  “Oh Morgan, this will be perfect. Don’t you stress about a thing. We will take control over this and it will be perfect.” I offer a sweet smile, somewhat afraid of what they will have planned. If Frankie was here, she’d keep Morgan under control. But since that isn’t the case, I’ll need to put Hatcher on this as the final say so for them. If I leave this up to Morgan the house will be covered in pink and blue streamers, confetti, balloons, and the liking just to throw people off. I gently remind her that I want simple and clean. Nothing fancy, just sweet. Hopefully, this will relay the message to her.

  After another hour passes, I start to yawn and Morgan excuses herself to head home. She’s instructed me to stay home for as long as I can, rest, and not to give Hatcher a hard time. That causes me to laugh as I know deep down he likes the grief I give him. Hell, if I turned sweet and all homemaker on him, he might wonder what I was up to. Hatcher accompanies Morgan out to her car, and as soon as he enters the house he checks on me. I have him adjust me on the sofa so I can lie down and prop my heavy leg up. As soon as the fluffy blanket hits my body, I sink into the best sleep I’ve had in awhile.

  Chapter 14

  Life with crutches SUCKS… Life with an ugly white pla
stered leg, SUCKS… You don’t realize how hard it is to move around with the metal crutches that I call death traps attached to your every move until you have to do it yourself. How those people on the streets make it look so easy is beyond me – because it isn’t. My pits hurt, my arms hurt, everything hurts. Hatcher tries to make life easy for me, but I refuse to let him carry me up the stairs each and every night. I have an alien inside me, one that suddenly decided to become a soccer player with the way she kicks me. There’s no doubt that I can feel her kicking now. Hatcher loves to touch and feel her, but I’m like ‘look kid take it easy’. I can’t imagine how it will feel in a few months, or even weeks, but at this rate I’m going to need new insides. After my doctor appointment today, we’re headed to get me a fancy scooter where I can prop my leg up. We have two back to back – one for the baby, and one for my leg. I’m hoping and praying I can get one of those fancy black boot things and ditch this once white leg.

  We arrive at my OB’s office and while I hobble over to the couch, Hatcher checks us in. If all goes well today with the appointments, he’s agreed to let me go back to work a few hours a day. I’m past the point of stir crazy, and need social activity. Actually, let me rephrase that. I need more than those suburban moms… If one more brings me a casserole, pie, cookies, or just knocks on my door before the party I will flip my shit. The first few days it was okay, but now that it’s been two weeks since the accident and the BBQ is this weekend, I want to murder those housewives. It just proves to me once more that I will have to work after the baby arrives. If nothing else, I’ll need it for my sanity.

  Hatcher joins me and grabs my hand into his, raising it up to his mouth. It’s the sweet gestures that he’s always doing that make me love him more and more each day. We aren’t seated long before the nurse calls us back. We stop at the wonderful scale section, and I alert the nurse that we need to take off like ten pounds for the weight of the cast. They all laugh at how I’m positive the weight gain is all leg and not belly. After what seems like thirty minutes I finally make it to the room where I’m instructed to get up on the table. I laugh, having fun at the thought of having to juggle my round ass, a broken leg, and the death traps all at once. I slouch forward in defeat and look up at Hatcher. I don’t have to ask and he just grabs me on the sides and lifts me up in one swift move. It amazes me that he can toss me around like a fish, but he does it somehow. “The doctor will be in to see you in a few,” the nurse says before leaving the room. I glance over at Hatcher leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. The warm tingle that I get while staring at him shows up. I wiggle my eyebrows and open my mouth, “So big daddy, when are we going to … you know … have sex?”

  “After you get cleared and feel better,” is the only response he gives me. It’s been a LONG time and even though we’ve figured out other ways to please each other while we wait, I am dying to have him completely. I raise my crutch and point it at him, “You better bet your ass that we will be getting cleared and freaky today,” I say just as the doctor joins us. She lets out a little laugh as she must have heard what I said, but I let it go because right now I do not care. Dr. Blackwell asks her normal questions, measures my stomach all before she steps out to get the ultrasound machine. She stated that since I had the big one done in the hospital she wants to use her mini machine to get a look at everything herself. The lights lower and the swooshing sounds fill the room until we land on the strong and healthy heartbeat of our daughter. She confirms that we still have a girl inside that seems to be healthy and growing as she should be. This warms my heart, needing the confirmation of what I’ve been feeling. “So, Dr. Blackwell, can I go back to sexual activity now?”

  “Yes, Zara, you can rejoin the life of sex. Just take it easy and if at any time you feel discomfort, take it slow or stop all together. You need to make sure you give your body a chance to adjust back and just take it slow. Now remember, if you need something call the office and we will get you right in. If not, I’ll see you in four weeks,” she says before exiting the room.

  “You are something else, Babe. Now let me help you up so we can hobble on out of here. I have a feeling you are ready to head home now, but remember we have one more appointment, clothes shopping, food, and then home.”

  “You are cruel… I will agree to do all those things if I can have you once we get home.”

  “I promise, as long as you behave today I will reward you later,” Hatcher says with that million dollar smile he has. Instantly I feel the muscles in my lower stomach tighten from the thought of being intimate with my husband again. For this, I give myself an internal pep talk to be on my very best behavior today.

  Lucky for me, my foot doctor is in the same complex - that’s where we head next as I pray to lose this set-up. The doctor stars have aligned well for me today, as I’m getting this cast cut off and I’m being fitted for a boot. I’ve been instructed to still take it easy while using the crutches and my fancy scooter when I can. They want me to do what is called low bearing weight on my foot for a few more weeks. The doctor had to explain what that meant. Basically, I can stand at the sink and apply light pressure to my foot, I can shower without the boot but only adding gentle pressure. So, I still can’t do crap, but I can have sex now and that will make up for the lack of foot action I have going on. I roll out of that office on my new setup and feel like I could totally get used to this gig. I mean, I have wheels and brakes – life will be funnier now. Hatcher has my death traps as I can’t ditch them totally. In my cute little basket, I have my paperwork from today with some exercises to do, and my appointments for physical therapy. Which, by the way, I am not looking forward to.

  We load up and head to a little café for lunch before the fun trip to the maternity clothes store. I’ve been wearing sweat pants and baggy shirts for the last week and I need new digs. Plus, let’s not even mention the panties and bras I need. The girls have swelled up to the point where I am sure I have Mount Rushmore living in my bra. After we sit in the booth, I prop my foot up next to Hatcher on the opposite side, before pulling out my notebook for the party. I also created a to-do list for other stuff that needs to be purchased for the house that we need to go over.

  “Alright, so here’s the menu and a list of all the side dishes that the others are bringing. Morgan has the desserts and cupcakes ready for the reveal. Which reminds me, have you seen the design?”

  “No, she is keeping it on the down low, and refuses to show them to me. How many people are coming again?”

  “I think the last count was around sixty. Do you think we should order one of those covered tent things and have tables set up? I mean we haven’t been to one of these and I have no idea what they do.”

  “No, I think we are good. They can bring lawn chairs, and eat from their laps.”

  “Well that’s just fancy, don’t you think?” I say while making a note about tables on my list.

  “It’s a BBQ, Zara, not a wedding reception and where are we putting all these people?”

  “I have no idea, but aren’t you glad you bought a big house with an even larger yard?”

  “I guess it’ll work out.”

  “Yes, it will be perfect and I’m totally going to rock this shit like no other has in the past.”

  “I have no doubt that you will win some prize for this BBQ.”

  “Don’t be smart about it, I want to show that I can do this. I mean you never know, this could be the start to many more to come, you know,” I say with a smile as I am trying to embrace this instead of fighting against it. I know the other ladies and PTA moms drive me nuts, but this is part of the life I have now – so why fight it? I’ve figured out that if I embrace it just a little they back off – some. Hatcher and I enjoy our club sandwiches and of course I have to dip mine in a ton of Ranch. This is my favorite right now; I want Ranch on everything and anything I can put it on. The other day Hatcher found me dipping my chips in it, he about lost it – but I loved every crunchy bite
of it. After we finish, I grab two cookies to go and head out in search of new clothes. On the drive over I figure it’s the best time to talk about names. We wanted to wait to have it verified one more time… I mean, how awful would it be that a penis would show up on the screen after I have the perfect girl’s name ready? Totally would suck.

  “What do you think about Quinn, Elle, Crystal, Emma, Madison, Ivy, or well, what are you thinking?”

  “For what?”

  “Names, you crack pot… We need to come up with a name other than the alien, child, etc.”

  “Oh, okay because sometimes I never know with you,” Hatcher says as he places his hand on my thigh and squeezes it. “Very funny, Mr. Comedian.”

  “I like Madison and Ivy,” he states and I play with those in my head for a little bit.

  “Why don’t we name her Madison Ivy James?”

  “I like that,” he agrees while pulling into a parking spot close to the store.

  “That was easy.”

  “Not really, you’ve been throwing names at me for a week now. Those are all the ones that you have been repeating over and over again. I went with the ones I’ve heard you say the most.”

  “Smooth, real smooth, Mister. Now, get me my wheels and let’s roll,” instructing him as he gets out of the car. I have things to do and a hot man to take care of before the day is over.

  Chapter 15

  While we were shopping today, I found a cute nightgown that will grow with me. It’s not as sexy as I’m used to, but it’ll work for the next few months. Hatcher is making my meal of the week; pepperoni Hot Pockets, jalapeño poppers, potato skins, and a side of ranch for dinner while I hobble myself up the steps to make myself sexy as hell. I plan to touch up my hair, makeup, and cover this body in silk for my man. He didn’t see the gown as I slid it in the bag, which causes me to hope he will like it. Standing in front of the full-length mirror I turn from side to side to view my changing body. It’s crazy how much your body can change while pregnant. It’s not just the way you look, but how you feel. Like right now, standing here covered in this turquoise blue material, I feel beautiful. The way my body has expanded to give those extra curves, the constant glow that I have – it’s a miracle. Just as I’m lost in thought I hear Hatcher call for me from the bottom of the stairs. One last look, I’m satisfied with what I’ve done with myself. Nothing special, just a toss of the fingers through my hair and light pink lip gloss on my lips to go along with a matching shade of blush for a fresh appeal.