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“Get over yourselves. It’s nurse humor. Do you know how many times I’ve heard those exact words when it only takes the woman to pee on a stick. I wish there could have been a we when I was carrying my children. Don’t get me wrong, my William was there every step of the way, but he never got any of the kicks or pushing under the ribs by a foot that I did. The heartburn, the charley horses, and labor pains were all mine. That’s why I laughed when he had to change a dirty diaper or one of the babies decided to throw up on him.” I smirk. I think Raider’s face paled. I know Buzz and Gator’s did.
“I’m ready, Mom. I feel full and ready to burst.” Billie’s face is brightening up a little.
“Wash your hands before and after. Pee on the stick and then put the cap back over it. Put it in a dry washcloth and we’ll wait for the results here or you two can go back to your room and be alone,” I tell them, leaving their options open.
“No, they can’t. This is our baby too and we want to know.” Billie laughs at what Buzz said.
“What he said,” Gator speaks up. I look at Raider and Billie.
“We’ll share. Hold your britches. It’ll only take a few minutes.” Billie is acting like she feels better. She gets up from her chair and Raider is right by her side, treating her like she’s going to break at any second. That won’t last long. He’ll learn Billie isn’t sick but just possibly pregnant. Young love. Billie and Raider don’t take long and Billie keeps pulling away from Raider babying her. I set the timer and put it in the middle of the table. None of us say a word. Raider is giving Billie lovesick looks, and Billie looks like she’s turning green again.
“Billie, drink some more of the ginger ale and eat a cracker. Do you want to try some of the tea now? I’ll make you a new cup.” Billie does as I ask.
“The ginger ale is cool going down. I think that works better. I can’t even think of a cracker right now,” Billie tells me. The timer goes off.
“Who is going to do the honors? If it says pregnant, then there is a baby on the way. I’ll tell you now that I’m hoping for another girl,” I tell them. I think Raider’s face turned the same shade of green as Billie’s. Billie picks the stick up and hands it to Raider. I take my phone out of my pocket and get ready to take the picture. Raider has a big grin on his face.
“Tell us, asshole,” Buzz says.
“We’re pregnant! I’m going to be a dad.” I take the picture. Both Billie and Raider are very happy. This pregnancy may not have been planned but it is very much wanted. Raider bends down and kisses Billie. Raider is then squashed between Buzz and Gator. I take a couple of more pictures after I capture the one of Billie and Raider kissing. These will be perfect for the baby book.
“Congratulations, Mommy and Daddy!” I tell them, “You two have less than nine months to get your shit together. I don’t want to pressure either of you, but if and when you two decide to get married at some point, then this house will be yours. Ryan, Maggie, and I will be moving into the grandparents’ house. Your housing is no issue and as long as this farm keeps running, we’re good with money. Billie has a trust fund from her dad’s insurance since she didn’t go to college. Even if the farm went bankrupt tomorrow, we have plenty of money to live our lives the way we see fit. Dad invested well outside the farm. Billie, your wedding, the stars are the limit. You can have the biggest and fanciest shindig you want. I like that idea.” I have a beautiful wedding in my head for my oldest daughter.
“Mom, we’ll talk later. I’m going back to our room to lie back down and hope this feeling goes away soon.” Billie has a thinned-lips look on her face. I know I let my mouth run and I got ahead of myself. I’m just happy for my daughter and my soon-to-be son-in-law. I’ve made Billie unhappy without trying. I say my goodbyes to everyone as does Billie and Raider. Buzz and Gator are taking Raider’s truck back to town and they’re sworn to secrecy as I have been too. Now Billie and Raider need their privacy to process.
23
Raider…
I am lying next to Billie in our bed, and she looks like an angel in her sleep. Billie has made me the happiest man in the world today. I have tied my woman to me in the best way possible. She is having our child. I am going to be a dad. I have sworn to myself that I will be the best damn dad a child can have.
Billie was worn out from being sick all morning. I hope the morning sickness clears up soon. I know not one thing about a woman being pregnant. I have no siblings. All my cousins are older than me, but I wasn’t around them enough to pick up on any tips.
I’m glad we’re close to Frannie. She’s a nurse, so she’ll know what to do. I need to pick up some books on pregnancies and what to expect. I have so many questions to ask both Billie and Frannie. I know that Billie’s workload will need to be lightened a lot. She was exhausted before she was pregnant, but that’s a subject to be approached tactfully. I don’t want to upset Billie when she already feels bad.
I need to call my mom or go by her house when she gets home. She hasn’t called me today. After Billie is awake, we can go by her house. On second thought, I take my phone out and send Buzz a text to check on her. I know she’s still upset about yesterday. The words spoken between the two of us will be forgotten when she finds out she’s going to be a grandma. She and I will need to have a conversation later, but I think that is best for us both.
I see Billie’s eyes fluttering. One minute, she’s lying flat on her back and the next, she’s lurching for the bathroom. I get off the bed and follow her into the bathroom. I take her hair from her hands as she gets sick in the toilet. There’s a hand towel on the sink and I have enough room to keep Billie’s hair back, wet the towel and then wring some of the water out, leaving it damp, and then roll it up. I put it behind her neck and leave it there. Billie’s sick two or maybe three times more. I wish I could take this from her. I haven’t noticed her being sick lately. Billie brings her face out of the toilet and I let her hair go and stand up and grab a washcloth from under the sink and wet it for Billie. I turn and hand it to her and she wipes her face.
“I think I’m going to need some more ginger ale and crackers,” Billie says, sounding weak. I turn and walk out of the bathroom and go to the door leading outside. I open the door and there’s a basket sitting there. I pick it up. In it is a big two-liter bottle of ginger ale, a box of saltines, and a box of ginger tea. There’s a note on top.
Billie may need these for a while. She needs to try other liquids so she doesn’t dehydrate. She needs to eat small snacks or meals so she can keep her strength up. Whatever she thinks she can keep down. Try to stay away from milk products for a few days. They tend to be heavy on your stomach. There are some juice bars in the freezer. I’ll go by the grocery store and pick up some bland food that may stay down easier. Tell my baby I’ll be back from town soon. Raider, you are doing exactly what she needs you to do.
Love, Mom
Frannie is a great mom to her children and she has taken me and made me a part of the family. I like that thought a lot. She chose me and that helps heal a lot of my old wounds inside me. My dad didn’t want me and now it seems like my mom is pushing me away too. Billie makes me whole but her family is healing my soul. It’s made the decisions I need to make easier.
I take the basket into the kitchen and fix Billie some ginger ale with ice in it. I take a few of the crackers out and put them on a napkin. I carry the stuff back into the bedroom and Billie is sitting on the side of the bed. She gives me a small smile.
“Babe, are you feeling any better?” I hand her the glass of ginger ale. She takes a slow drink and then hands it back to me. I set it on the bedside table.
“I feel a little better. Right now there’s nothing in my stomach. Just don’t jiggle the bed too much.” I stand up and go to the other side of the bed. Billie is lying down but she gets up and lets me in the middle of the bed. “Just in case I need to make a run for it. I don’t know why this came over me all of a sudden. I felt fine yesterday until late in the evening. My stomach was upset on the drive down to Conroe but I thought it was nerves on meeting your mom and all the other authors that I love reading. After your mom and I ate last night, I had that feeling again only more intense. I just chalked it up to being upset and the cross words that we exchanged. This morning, I barely made it in the door before I was sick and I have felt this way all day. I’m so tired.” Billie explains it all to me.
“The cross words we had yesterday, I apologize for being a horse’s ass toward you. I was mad about the situation, not at you. Rager and I just need to stay away from each other. Mom and I need a long overdue conversation. I am truly sorry for anything mean that I said to you. I couldn’t control my temper with the whole situation but I never meant to hurt you. Anything having to do with me has to do with us. You are my person in this world. I blocked you out and I regretted it the minute it was out of mouth, but I was on a roll.” I say it as fast as I can so she can’t turn me away before I’m finished. Billie reaches for my face and I turn my face and kiss her hand. I want to hold her so bad but I don’t want to move her too much or hug her too tightly.
“It was an explosive situation from the beginning. I should have stayed out of it instead of trying to keeping the peace. I just want to say though, that I don’t like the way you talked to me or treated me around your mom and Rager. Please, do not talk down to me again or we will have big problems. I held my tongue a lot yesterday and I didn’t like doing it. That being said, I do accept your apology for it this time. If there is a next time, then you will meet the real Billie’s temper and you won’t like her,” Billie finishes. I know she won’t cut me any slack.
“I understand, and it won’t happen again. I give you my word, and my word is the only thing I have.” Billie looks me in the eye and I see that she’s sizing me up.
