“Are you feeling okay?” Nevvie asked.
Tyler forced a smile. “Just worn down, I’m sure.”
Tommy looked concerned. “Do you want me to postpone my trip, Ty?”
“No, no. Not necessary. I’ll be fine.”
Nevvie helped Tommy pack. He’d be gone three days, and after some deliberation decided to take the bike. “You don’t mind if I ride it, do you sugar?” he asked her.
“Why would I mind?”
Peggy chimed in. “I mind. I hate that thing. I wish you’d get rid of it. They’re dangerous.”
“It’s okay, Mom,” Nevvie reassured her. “I don’t mind if he rides the bike.”
Tommy decided to stand his ground against his mom. She never had liked him riding a motorcycle, had forbid him to own one when he lived at home. “It would do it some good to go on a long trip. And it’s easier on gas than the truck.”
That night they curled together in bed and made love. Nevvie straddled Tyler and kissed him, rubbing herself along his stiff shaft.
He rested his hands on her hips. “You know what I love, pet.”
Thomas grabbed Tyler’s hands and slid them down to her ass. “You know what I want too, don’t you?” He held a bottle of lube.
She wiggled her ass as Tyler spread her cheeks. “I sure do. Why don’t you get busy?”
Thomas froze for a moment, then softly said, “Dammit, you know what that does to me!”
He slicked his shaft then gently worked lube into her. She impaled herself on Tyler with a satisfied moan as Thomas gently pressed his cockhead against her tight ring of muscle.
“You ready for it, baby girl?” he softly asked.
She wiggled her hips at him again. “You’d better believe it.”
He carefully pressed home and held still for a moment, letting her get used to him. He caressed her back as Tyler moved his hands to her hips. “You okay?” Tom asked her.
“Mmm hmm!”
Tyler snickered. “I suspect she’s more than okay.”
Nevvie rolled her hips, drawing soft moans from both men. “Don’t keep me hanging, boys.”
Once he was fully seated inside her, Thomas pulled her up against his chest and played with her nipples. Tyler stroked her clit. The feeling…amazing. This wasn’t something they did all the time, but when they did she never failed to enjoy it. Something about the way their two large cocks stretched and filled her added an extra measure to her orgasm.
“Look at me, love,” Tyler whispered.
She did.
“You’re so beautiful like this, with both of us inside you. You enjoy this, don’t you?”
She nodded, not trusting her voice. She wanted to loudly moan but couldn’t make too much noise with Peggy in the house.
“I want you to come for us, angel. Give it to us, let us feel you squeezing our cocks.”
Thomas gently nipped her shoulder as his fingers tweaked her nipples into hard peaks. “Do it, babe,” he coaxed. “You know we love feeling you come.”
Between the men’s persistent fingers and gentle encouragements, within minutes she felt the familiar explosion start deep within her. Unable to keep her eyes open she threw her head back against Tom’s shoulder as he kissed her, muffling her moans while Tyler relentlessly stroked her clit.
She finished, gasping for breath. Thomas lowered her to Tyler’s chest. He grabbed her hips and slowly fucked her. “Dammit, sugar,” he said, “you’re so good.”
Nevvie tried to help but felt too exhausted. Tyler cradled her against him and thrust into her from below.
“I’m close, Ty,” Tom hoarsely said.
“Go ahead, love.”
With a final groan he buried himself deep inside her as he came. He leaned over, gasping for breath, and kissed her between her shoulders. “You okay, sweetie?”
“Oh yeah.”
He carefully withdrew and walked into the bathroom. A moment later he returned with a damp washcloth for Nevvie. “You’re a slowpoke, Ty,” he teased.
“I didn’t know this was a race.” He rolled her over and kissed her as he lifted her legs to his shoulders. “You don’t mind if I take my time, do you, angel?”
Nevvie stroked his arms. “Of course not.”
Thomas knelt behind Tyler and Nevvie wondered what he was doing until Tyler jumped, then laughed. “Ah, you’re cheating again.”
Thomas didn’t respond. Nevvie could easily imagine what he was doing as Tyler’s eyes closed and the pace of his thrusts increased, grew more jerky. After a few moments he gasped, softly crying out as he buried his cock deep inside Nevvie when he came.
He carefully lowered her legs and curled next to her. Thomas stretched out on Tyler’s other side.
“How was that, buddy?” Thomas asked.
Tyler nodded, his eyes closed, and snuggled against Nevvie. He pulled Tom’s arm around him. “It was bloody wonderful and you damn well know it.”
“What’d you do?”
“Played with his balls.”
“No, he licked them.”
Nevvie giggled. “You play dirty, Tommy.”
He winked. “I know how to motivate him.”
* * * *
The next morning they gathered around Thomas in the driveway after he wheeled the bike out of the garage. He hugged and kissed Peggy and the baby, then Nevvie, and then Ty.
Peggy looked worried. “Tommy, I wish you’d drive your truck. I don’t like you riding that bike.”
“It’s okay, Momma.” He turned to Tyler. “I’ll call when I get checked in tonight.”
“You do that, love,” Ty said. “Be careful. Stay safe. Come back to us.” Then he patted him on the ass and all three smiled. It was their good luck ritual before either man had to leave on a trip, and so far had not failed them.
Nevvie leaned in for one last kiss before Tommy slipped his helmet on. “I love you.”
“I love you too, sugar.” He smiled. “Keep our boy safe for me.” Yet another old ritual between them, “our boy” referring to Tyler, not Adam.
They watched as Tommy cranked the bike. Then he waved as he pulled out of the driveway.
“I wish you two would make him sell that thing,” Peggy groused.
Nevvie took Adam from her. “It’s okay. He’s safe on it. He’ll be fine.”
* * * *
That night, Tyler and Nevvie curled together and fell asleep after talking to Thomas on the phone. Nevvie suspected Tyler still didn’t feel well from the way he’d been acting, although he hadn’t said anything. The next morning, Nevvie stood in the kitchen and thumbed through the newspaper while the coffee brewed. Adam and Tyler were both still asleep. She heard the shower in the guest bathroom and knew Peggy, normally an early riser, was up and about.
She poured herself a mug of coffee when it finished brewing. A few minutes later, Peggy appeared, ready for her day.
“Mornin', sugar,” the older woman said. “How’d you sleep?”
“Like a rock! Did the baby even wake up last night?”
“If he did, he didn’t fuss. That means he’ll wake up screaming for breakfast.”
“Like the other men in this house,” Nevvie said with a smile.
Peggy laughed. “Tommy could eat his weight in groceries when he was growing up. I had to shop for the girls and then shop for him. I swear he had hollow legs.”
“I can believe it.” Adam’s keening cry from the bedroom drew her attention. “Ah, perfect timing.”
“I’ll go change him if you want to fix his breakfast,” Peggy offered.
“Thanks, Mom.” Peggy disappeared down the hall while Nevvie got it ready.
By the time Nevvie had Adam’s breakfast ready, Peggy reappeared with him. “Here’s the hungry guy.”
Nevvie took him and fed him, watching his blue eyes while he ate. It wouldn’t be long before he was eating solid food. He looked more like Tyler every day, the spitting image of him. Speaking of…
She glanced at the clock. It was nearly
seven-thirty and Ty hadn’t emerged yet. Very odd.
As if sensing her thoughts, Peggy spoke. “Is Tyler feeling all right this morning? He’s been acting a little off lately.”
“I was just wondering that myself. He hasn’t felt good the past couple of days. Then again, with all that crap, none of us did. Maybe he’s coming down with something. I’ll check on him when this one’s done chowing down.”
Twenty minutes later, Ty still hadn’t appeared. Nevvie handed Adam to his grandmother. “I’ll go check on sleeping beauty, see how he is.”
Nevvie walked to their bedroom and found Tyler in the shower, where she quickly joined him. “Good morning, handsome.” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
He offered her a half-hearted smile. “Good morning, sweetheart.” His color looked bad. “I’m sorry I slept so late.”
“I think I need to make you an appointment with Dr. Aston today.”
“No, I’m just worn down. Too much excitement, that’s all. I’m sure I’ll feel better in a day or two.”
She studied his face. “This doesn’t feel right, Ty. I think we need to get you checked out. If it was me you’d hogtie me and drag me down to her office.”
He attempted a smile. “At least the hogtie part.”
She laughed. He couldn’t feel too bad if he was trying to crack jokes. “All right. If you’re still out of it tomorrow, you’re going.”
“Agreed, love. I promise.”
She kissed him. “I love you.”
“Love you too, pet. I’ll be along shortly.”
She stepped out of the shower, dressed, and returned to the kitchen.
* * * *
Must be a bug. Tyler didn’t feel at all well, but he didn’t want to worry Nevvie. Maybe he should ask Peggy about it. He would go see Dr. Aston tomorrow if he woke up feeling like this again.
He finished his shower and sat on the bed to catch his breath, rubbing his chest. His left shoulder was really bothering him. Maybe he overdid it out in the yard with Thomas. He should leave the landscaping chores to him and Nevvie, but he’d wanted to help.
He wiped a hand across his forehead. The A/C must be turned up high. He was sweating, even though he felt clammy.
He dressed and walked out to the kitchen. Nevvie started preparing their breakfast and had the newspaper spread out on the counter.
Nevvie didn’t care what Tyler said, he would go see Dr. Aston today, like it or not. His skin looked grey under the bright kitchen lights.
She turned to mix their scrambled eggs, and then something made her turn back to him. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Tyler started to speak to her and lost his train of thought. She looked at him and said something. He realized he couldn’t hear her.
That’s when the crushing pain enveloped his chest, driving the breath from him. He had enough time to register this as his eyes locked on Nevvie’s before his world went black.
Nevvie watched as Tyler swayed on his feet, looked at her, and then collapsed.
“Tyler!” She dropped to his side, trying to wake him. “Tyler!” He didn’t respond. “Mom!” she screamed. “Mom, come quick!”
Peggy raced into the kitchen. “What—oh my God!” She dropped to her knees next to Nevvie. “What happened?”
“He just collapsed!”
Peggy leaned in close, listened, then checked his pulse. She ripped his shirt open down the front, popping the buttons off, and leaned over him. “Nevvie, call 911.” She started chest compressions, then tipped his head back and blew into his mouth.
“What?”
She resumed chest compressions. “Dammit, call 911! Get an ambulance!”
Nevvie scrabbled backward, in shock, trying to get out of the way and process what happened. 911? “What’s wrong—”
“Nevvie!” Peggy screamed. “Call now, dammit!”
The older woman’s frantic tone finally broke through Nevvie’s shock and spurred her into action. Nevvie dove for the phone, her fingers shaking as she made the call, trying to relay Peggy’s answers to the operator’s questions without crying.
Heart attack? Not her Tyler! Please, no!
“Nevvie, go open the front door,” Peggy panted between compressions and breaths. “Then go get your shoes, your purse, his wallet, and your cell phones.”
Nevvie’s feet felt anchored to the floor. Peggy glanced away from Tyler for a second. “Dammit sugar, go!” she screamed. That shattered Nevvie’s paralysis and she started moving.
Peggy tried to focus on her task, her arms and shoulders killing her. She was too old for this shit. Nevvie looked close to panic. Peggy knew she had to keep her head at least until the paramedics arrived.
“Dammit, Tyler,” she muttered under her breath. “You can’t leave them. C’mon, sugar. You can make it. Goddammit, don’t you leave that boy without a father.”
She paused to take his pulse, didn’t feel one, and immediately resumed CPR.
Nevvie heard the sirens as she opened the front door and left it standing open. She then ran to the bedroom to do as Peggy ordered, returning to the kitchen as the first EMT rushed into the house.
Peggy was sweating and red in the face, trying to update the EMT as she maintained a rhythm. In a carefully choreographed swap, she rolled away from Tyler while the EMT took her place without missing a beat.
Nevvie felt numb, frozen. This couldn’t be happening. This had to be a bad dream.
Peggy caught her breath on the kitchen floor and then looked at Nevvie. “I’ll take care of the baby. You ride in the ambulance with him.”
Nevvie nodded, still not comprehending. More paramedics rushed into the house, two with a gurney. Nevvie tried to stay out of the way, but as the severity of the situation sank in it was hard to remain calm as she watched the events unfold before her. Tyler was lying unconscious on the floor, the EMT still giving him CPR as the others worked on him. They put a tube down his throat, applied chest leads and prepared a defibrillator. Peggy answered questions and gave them information about Tyler.
When they had what they needed from Peggy, she stood, walked over to Nevvie and put her arm around her.
“Do y’all have your paperwork here?”
“Huh?”
Peggy gently shook her. “Paperwork. Insurance, medical power of attorney, that stuff?”
“Tommy’s office. Top file drawer. Red folder in the front.”
“That’s real good, sugar. Give me your keys.”
Nevvie numbly handed them over.
“I’ll bring Adam to the hospital after I get the paperwork and get him ready, okay?”
“Okay.” Nevvie couldn’t pull her attention from Tyler. She willed him to open his sweet blue eyes and look at her.
The paramedics were ready. One of them looked at the defibrillator unit. “Clear,” he ordered.
The EMT giving chest compressions sat back and held his hands up, waiting. Tyler’s body jumped. That’s when Nevvie’s composure shattered and she sobbed.
The men working on Tyler watched the screen for a moment. One said, “Okay, let’s get ready to transport.” Another prepared an IV and inserted it in Tyler’s arm.
Peggy kept an arm around Nevvie’s waist. “Go with them. We’ll call Tommy once I’m there.”
Oh God, Thomas!
Nevvie stared. Peggy’s voice grew stern, breaking through her foggy haze. “Nevvie, sugar, I know you’re upset but you have to hold it together for him. They’ve got him back—”
Back?
“—and they’ll take good care of him.”
She glanced at the clock. Only ten minutes had passed from when he collapsed. Only?
“Mom, is he going to die?”
“Don’t you dare think like that, missy,” Peggy scolded. “He’s young and he’s got a family he loves more than life, every reason to fight. Do you think he’s going to up and leave you three like that?”
Nevvie shook her head. The EMTs had Tyler loaded on the gurney and were rush
ing him out the door.
“Go,” Peggy shoved Nevvie toward the door. “I’ll be there soon.”
With leaden feet, Nevvie followed the gurney. She climbed into the back of the ambulance when she was told, tried to hold back her tears. When the paramedics asked her questions she nodded or shook her head, unable to speak. Her eyes never left Tyler and she prayed, silently begging him to open his eyes.
* * * *
Peggy grabbed one of the firemen, who’d responded in a truck with the ambulance. “Where y’all taking him?”
“Tampa Community. Do you know where that is?” She shook her head and he gave her quick instructions.
“Thanks, I’ll find it.” After the ambulance pulled away, Peggy raced inside. Adam lay crying in his crib, his face red and fists balled up.
“I’m sorry, sweetie,” she said, her composure finally shattering as she picked up her grandson and cradled him. Her momma hadn’t raised no fool. If Tyler wasn’t Adam’s father, she was George W. Bush.
“Daddy’ll be okay, darlin’,” she whispered, rocking him. “He’ll be okay.” She cried, praying it would prove true.
She allowed herself five minutes to be upset before gathering enough things to take care of the baby for the day. Nevvie would need her to be strong, and so would Thomas. She located the folder in the file drawer and found a sweater in Nevvie’s closet to take to her. She might need it in the hospital waiting room. With a final check of the kitchen to turn off the coffee pot and make sure the stove was off, she pulled out of the driveway in Nevvie’s car fifteen minutes after the ambulance had left.
Please let him live, she prayed. Please don’t take that boy from us.
Chapter Six
Nevvie tried to stay out of the way, tried not to cry. Peggy’s words echoed in her ears. She had to be strong.
At Tampa Community, the ambulance pulled into the ER entrance. When they opened the back doors, Nevvie climbed out and stood to the side. She tried to follow Tyler’s gurney into the bowels of the ER when a nurse intercepted her.
Family Matters Page 6
