“You did great, Mia.” Gary gave her other hand a squeeze.
“All done?” She asked.
“All done.” Gary nodded. “I want to take a few more pictures of the baby and give you guys a gift for your refrigerator,” they all laughed. “We’re going to get you back to your room. I want you to relax tonight, let Schooner and the nurses pamper you. You might have some cramping and discomfort and I want you to let the nurses know immediately. We’ll have the FISH results before you leave tomorrow and then full results in about 10 days.”
Seth and Kami were waiting in the room for Mia and Schooner.
“BBC, I was so worried about you. How did it go?” Mia handed him the strip of photos.
“Oh my God, it’s a baby,” he exclaimed, “well, it looks like it’s got your big head, BBC. Oh and what is this, Schooner’s big head?” They laughed.
“Yes, meet our exhibitionist son. Handsome and well-endowed! Just the way I like my men.” Mia laughed.
“Was it scary?” Kami asked, as Seth plumped up Mia’s pillows.
“No, Schooner distracted me, so I was just looking at him when they did it. It felt like a shot and some pressure, but I didn’t see any of it, which is good.”
“Did you look?” Seth asked Schooner.
He shook his head no. “I was too focused on my beautiful Baby Girl.”
Seth bent down and whispered into Mia’s ear, “I love him.”
“You have good taste, Princess.” She squeezed Seth’s hand.
Seth grabbed a bag off of the couch and perched on the side of Mia’s bed. “I have a treat for you, BBC,” and slowly out of the bag he pulled a small Styrofoam container and a plastic fork, “Junior’s Cheesecake.” Mia gasped in delight and Seth proceeded to feed her the creamy delicacy.
“Mmm mmm mmm,” Mia finished the last bite, “a girl could get used to this spoiling.”
Schooner stood next to the bed, smiling down at her and brushed the bangs from her eyes. He leaned down and kissed her softly, “Get used to it, Baby Girl.”
The next morning Dr. Gary Cohen delivered the news Mia and Schooner had been waiting for with bated breath, preliminary results showed a healthy baby boy.
They could now share this time of bliss fully, without the specter of additional issues hanging over them. It was finally time to enjoy the start of their new family.
CHAPTER 24
“Call me or text me. I’m going to be worrying about you.” Mia held onto Schooner’s hand as she walked him to the front door.
“No worries from you, Baby Girl. It’s all going to be fine,” he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her lips, “I’ll call you later.”
And he was gone. Off to Kennedy Airport to meet up with CJ and Holly and await Zac’s flight from Spain. They were meeting as a family to break the news to Zac.
The apartment felt empty without Schooner and if Mia were to admit it, she felt empty without Schooner there. She didn’t like being left out of his life, but she certainly did not belong with him or his family today. His family. A family she was not a part of. It was still hard for her to process that.
She was his family. She and their baby. And Holly. Mia loved her growing relationship with Holly. It was healthy and honest and this young woman, CJ and Schooner’s daughter, had accepted her into her life as her father’s partner and soon to be wife. It was so hard for Mia to conceive of the fact that there was another family, another life. Yet, she had lived an entire lifetime without Schooner.
Mia picked up her phone and texted Seth.
Mia: He’s off to JFK to meet with CJ, Holly & Zac
Seth: Are you freaking?
Mia: Yes!
Seth: Why?
Mia: Am just afraid it’s going to be really ugly and I hate that for him.
Seth: If anyone can control the situation, it’s Schooner.
Mia: Understatement! LOL
Seth: Want me to come over and help you pack for the beach house?
Mia: Thought you’d never ask!
Seth and Mia had suitcases, shopping bags and beach bags packed and lined up waiting by the door when Schooner and Holly arrived.
“Holly!” Mia greeted her with a hug. She had not been sure who, if anyone, would be accompanying Schooner.
“Mia, you look adorable. Wow, you really are pregnant!” Holly had not seen Mia and today Schooner broke the news to the family. Holly put her hand on Mia’s belly and smiled, “I hear I’m going to have a baby brother.”
Mia nodded, “So, how did it go with your other baby brother today?” She bit her bottom lip waiting for either Holly or Schooner to respond.
Schooner made his way to the refrigerator and took out the orange juice and was chugging it straight from the carton. “Want some vodka with that?” Mia asked.
He shook his head, “I don’t think that would’ve even helped. I am so glad that is over.”
“That good, huh?” Seth interjected.
Holly and Schooner just looked at one another. “Let’s just say, I don’t think we’re all going to be one big happy blended family anytime soon.”
Mia went to Schooner and put her arms around his waist. “I am so sorry.” She could see the sadness and disappointment in his eyes. He hugged her to him, kissing the top of her head.
“The good news is, they are on their way back to LA and we’re on our way out to the beach. Seth, are you joining us this weekend?” Schooner asked.
“Well, it’s your first weekend out there…”
“Please,” Mia begged, “I could really use your help in setting up the house.”
“Well, then let me run home and pack a bag. I can be back in an hour.”
Mia sat down in the living room with Schooner and Holly. She looked from one to the other.
Schooner began, “Zac is very angry with me. He doesn’t understand why we’re getting divorced. He feels like I’ve betrayed everyone. He said some pretty ugly things. All I could do was let him know that I love him, that this wasn’t about him and that I want him in my life. In our life.”
Mia took Schooner’s hand in hers. “It’s a lot to process.”
“And he’s a shit.” Holly piped in. Schooner gave her a pointed look. “Don’t give me that look, Dad. He is and you know it. He’s a cocky, arrogant shit that only cares about himself. This was all about him today, not you, not Mom. Him.”
“It wasn’t the homecoming he expected, Holly.”
She rolled her eyes, “I know that, Dad. But there’s this little thing known as empathy, and he clearly was out partying with his friends the day that was handed out.”
“I can’t argue with you there.” Schooner looked sad and resigned.
Mia rubbed Schooner’s arm, “Give him a few days, call him and try talking again. Maybe he’ll join us out on the beach at some point this summer.”
“Don’t ruin your summer, Mia.” Holly got up and stalked off to the bathroom.
Mia turned to Schooner with a surprised look, this was so unlike Holly. “Today got very ugly. She’s very protective of me.”
“I’m sorry,” she laid her head on his chest and he began to play with her hair, “the beach will be good. For all of us.”
As they walked through their small beach town later, little red wagons in tow, Schooner spied tennis courts, “We’re joining whatever club this is, I’m ready to be out on the courts again.”
“I’m going to sit in a beach chair and just grow bigger before everyone’s eyes.” Mia added.
“Maybe I can get a babysitting job and spend the whole summer out here,” was Holly’s contribution.
“And I’m just going to freeload off of you people for as much and as long as you’ll let me.” Seth chimed in as they walked the boardwalk toward their house.
They reached the end of the boardwalk and in front of them was sand beach and the Atlantic Ocean, side lit by the late afternoon sun. They all just stood there for a moment, breathing in the salty, sea air and taking in the tranquility of the
moment. The breeze off the ocean was still cold and Schooner reached down and scooped up a surprised Mia into his arms, hugging her to him. He tossed Holly the house keys and she walked the short path through the scrub pines and unlocked the front door.
“You’re carrying me over the threshold?” Mia smiled at Schooner.
His eyes were locked on hers, crinkled at the edges. “Mmm-hmm,” he nodded.
“I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you,” she said against his mouth, kissing him.
Schooner carried Mia to the couch in the great room and put her down. “Now you sit there and relax and we’ll put everything away and set things up.”
Mia began to protest and Schooner silenced her with a “Don’t-Mess-With-Me” glare and she just sat there grumbling, while the others unpacked and set up the kitchen.
After dinner, Schooner joined Mia on the couch, a single-malt Scotch in hand. “Rocky start to the day, but a perfect ending. We get to begin that summer we never had.” Mia curled up and put her head in his lap.
“Do you think he’ll come around?”
Schooner shook his head, “No or at least not for a long time.” Mia could see the tension in his strong jaw. He took a long sip of his Scotch.
“Well, we’ll just keep trying.” Schooner smiled down at Mia, brushing her bangs from her eyes, his look portraying his deep appreciation of everything she was doing to make his life happy. “Maybe he’ll come spend some time at the beach with us. The beach is like an elixir, cures a lot of ills.”
Seth and Holly came in from the deck, “Definitely need sweatshirts out there now.” Seth informed Mia and Schooner. “Come on out, the stars are amazing.”
The four grabbed sweatshirts and headed out onto the lower deck, sitting 100 feet away from the water lapping onto the sand. A jagged, iridescent strip of moon glow lit a path along the gentle surf. Mia went and stood at the wooden railing on the deck’s edge, looking up at constellations hovering high above. Schooner came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and she leaned back into him.
“This is my fantasy come true,” she informed him.
“Mine too,” he kissed the top of her head.
And finally, almost exactly twenty-four years after the fantasy had been conceived, the moment they dreamed of sharing together was at hand and it was richer than they had envisioned so long ago, for now, they shared it with two people they deeply loved and the baby that would soon join them.
CHAPTER 25
Mia woke to an empty bed and staggered out to the deck off of their bedroom. No Schooner, but she was immediately distracted by the ocean, the light on the waves and the smell of the sea breeze and sat down in one of the white Adirondack chairs and closed her eyes, enjoying the soft breeze lightly tickling her skin and the song of the gulls.
She heard the sliding glass door and felt his kiss before even opening her eyes.
He sat down in the Adirondack chair next to her and when she finally opened her eyes, it was to the surprise of Schooner dressed in tennis whites, a racquet casually laying across his lap. Mia’s smile was automatic.
“First time I’ve held one of these in twenty-four years,” he said quietly, fingering the racquet’s grip. Mia held out her hand and Schooner took it. They sat silently for a long time.
“I want you to spend the summer out here with Holly and Seth,” Schooner began, breaking the silence. Mia was glad, as his voice pulled her back from a “what-if” darkness remembering a bright tennis career, one with the words potential top ranked NCAA player attached to it, that she felt fully responsible for snuffing.
She nodded, “I’ll miss you.”
He squeezed her hand. “I’ll be back every Thursday evening. I’ll try to schedule things so that I don’t have to leave here until early on Monday mornings.”
She looked at him and nodded.
He smiled, “What did you do with my Mia, you are clearly an alien imposter.” She laughed. “What? No fight over this?”
She shook her head no. “No fight. Just a little sad that you’ll have to be in the city part of the time, but you need to be there, especially now. And I can do everything I need to do via phone and laptop. And frankly, pregnant in the summer heat in Manhattan or pregnant in a beautiful beach house? I’m no dummy!”
They both laughed.
Mia looked at Schooner and shook her head, “I’m assuming you’ve already talked to both Seth and Holly about this.”
He just smiled at her and she shook her head.
“You are going to get your way with me, aren’t you?” She laughed.
He nodded, “I’m just glad you are taking this so well. This could have gone either way.”
Mia squeezed Schooner’s hand, “You are absolutely right, it could have. But you know what?” She paused, “I love that you’ve thought through all the details and are doing everything you can to make sure I have an easy summer — especially with the opening coming up.”
Schooner moved his racquet to the floor and pulled Mia by her hand to him. She curled up on his lap. “Kami, Yoli and I can run point on everything in the city, you and Seth can Skype with your team from right here on the deck. Jared’s going to come spend some time, so that makes me feel good that he’ll be here with you, too. Gaby and Paola are two blocks over. I’ll try and get Kami and Yoli, when she’s in town, to come out with me on weekends.” He laughed, “Charles and I are already figuring out our carpool schedule.”
Mia buried her face in Schooner’s neck, “You make me so happy.”
He kissed the top of her head, “It’s smoochal, Baby Girl.”
“So, tell me about this new racquet?” She looked up at him.
“I saw those courts when we were coming in yesterday and I just thought, ‘It’s time’.”
Mia nodded, “Was today the first time since…”
“It was.” Schooner confirmed. “The last time I held a racquet was my last match freshman year, which I won,” he smiled at the memory.
Mia buried her face back in his neck, she couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t let him see the guilt in her eyes.
“I know what you’re doing,” he said, “Mia, you did not make me punch a wall.”
“What I did made you punch a wall, Schooner.”
He gently stroked her hair, sighing. “It’s not that simple, Mia. It was a whole cascade of circumstances, you know that. Stop taking that on and please let it go.”
“You were really great…”
He laughed, “Yes I was. But that wasn’t the way my life was supposed to go.” He felt her tears on his neck and pulled her head away so that he could look at her face. “We’re here together. Now. We’re having a baby. We’re on Fire Island and we’re going to spend the whole summer with the people we love. OUR family. And by the end of the summer, I’m going to be kicking some butt on those courts, you watch.” He wiped her tears away with his thumb and kissed her roughly on the lips.
CHAPTER 26
“He is just beautiful to watch.” Seth stopped just short of drooling.
Holly looked at Mia, “He must’ve been amazing when you two were in school.”
“He was the rising superstar,” Mia confirmed, “In his freshman year, the coaching staff was already talking to him about being team captain. He’s just a natural athlete.”
They watched him bouncing the ball with his racquet, getting ready for a serve. Just a few weeks of playing and Schooner was already formidable again on the courts.
“They used to clock his serves at over 140 MPH.” Mia looked at him, still in awe.
“Holly, Holly!” Paola came running up to them and Holly scooped up her new little friend. Gaby and Charles were several yards behind.
“Damn, you’re getting bigger by the week.” Charles greeted Mia.
“I’d say something nasty to you, except it’s true.” Mia laughed, hugging him and Gaby.
They all stood watching Schooner for a few minutes. “I am never getting on a court with him.” Charles mu
mbled.
“He moves so gracefully.” Gaby commented, “He is so tall, but he almost floats out there.”
“Where did you tell Schooner to meet us?” Charles asked Mia.
She pointed, “Just right across the street at The Albatross.”
They started toward The Albatross, but Mia hung back for a minute watching Schooner cover the courts with his lithe grace. His agility was truly a sight to behold as he slammed a return at his opponent.
She wondered if she’d ever get over the rush she felt at just the sight of him. It was the same heart stopping flash today as it was walking up the path to Brewster Hall when he turned around and smiled at her coming toward him. He had looked at her, head slightly cocked to the side, with a look on his face of both bewilderment and excitement. Her heart had skipped a beat at just a glimpse of his oxygen-stealing smile. He was so beautiful, but it wasn’t just that, there was something in his eyes that said he had the spirit to run with her.
Mia caught up to them on the small outside deck at the front of The Albatross, or the “Tross”, as it was known on the island.
“We ordered some Cajun Calamari,” Seth informed her, “and I got you water.”
“Not Iced Tea?” Mia pouted.
“No BBC, you should not be having caffeine.” Mia made a face at Seth.
“You two are very funny.” Gaby laughed.
“I’m surrounded by men who want to control me,” Mia complained, “including this little devil.” She tickled her stomach, causing the baby to move and her stomach to do the wave.
They all laughed. “Do that again.” Charles requested.
Mia got Paola’s attention, “Paola, do you want to see the baby dance?” Paola nodded vigorously, pigtails bouncing. Mia tickled her belly and the baby scurried to the other side. They all laughed and Paola came over and started to tickle Mia’s belly.
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