The International Businessman

by Daniel Lawlis

  Chapter 35

  “Sir?”

  Righty was a bit confused, since he could have sworn the coach was a man, but now it sounded like a soft female voice was seeking his attention. He gripped hard onto the blankets covering his body and prepared for the impact of the rest of the falling rocks.

  He began to feel his body shake, although it seemed the rocks were losing their momentum.

  “Sir?” the voice repeated.

  Then, suddenly Righty opened his eyes to see a female face not too far from his. He then had a moment of gut-wrenching vertigo, as he felt like he was looking upwards towards the sky while his mortal body fell helplessly through empty space towards the unforgiving ground below.

  “You are a father, sir.”

  This brought Righty out of the lingering effects of his nightmare briefly before plunging him into another.

  Molly knew the meaning of that look.

  “Don’t worry, sir. You are still the husband of a very beautiful woman.”

  Righty’s eyes moistened, and silent tears fell as if from gigantic clouds.

  He stood up slowly, his knees feeling as weak as they did in the nightmare.

  Though he now felt anxiety was no longer justified, he nonetheless walked with great trepidation towards Janie’s room.

  He heard soft cooing sounds as he drew nearer, and when he opened the door, he saw the smiling, yet exhausted face, of Janie. Just a few inches below hers was a miniature face.

  Righty wanted to jump on top of Janie and smother her with hugs and kisses, but he proceeded with caution. He sat down on the bed and, unable to choose, caressed both Janie’s and the newborn’s heads delicately.

  “Do you like the name Heather?” Janie asked.

  Righty hadn’t even thought to inquire about the sex, so overwhelmed was he at the survival of the two beings he thought certain to die.

  “I love it,” he said, a tear in his eye.

  “May I?”

  “Of course,” Janie said with a smile. It was perhaps the most sincere, joyful smile he had ever seen on her. She extended the tiny creature to him carefully.

  As Righty beheld his tiny daughter, he felt a love he perhaps had never experienced. He had been in too dark a chapter of his life when Eddie was born to love or appreciate him the way he might have under better circumstances. He had only felt shame from the knowledge that the father of that child was a miserable failure, and he felt unworthy to celebrate bringing a life into this world.

  But this was different. As he beheld Heather in his arms, he felt the most potent, yet contrasting, feelings of love and violence. His protective instincts towards this helpless being that would depend upon him for safety and shelter were more powerful than anything he had ever experienced in his life. He became aware, through vague images and powerful sensations, of unspeakable acts of destruction and cruelty he would inflict upon anyone that he even suspected of posing a threat to this tiny, innocent thing.

  He kissed her forehead softly, and he noticed the love with which Janie gazed upon him.

  “I love you,” he said, leaning forward, and kissing her forehead.

  “I love you too, Richie. I’ll always be yours. No matter what.”