Southern Spirits

by Shelley Stringer

  I shuddered as I considered his words. “Will she be able to suppress it?”

  “Bebe, if I could answer that question, I could tell you her future. I just don’t know.” He shook his head sadly, and then pulled me up from the sofa. “Let us be off…we’ll try this again in a day or two.”

  We drove in silence on the way home. I was a depressed after Brie’s episode, and Everett sensed my melancholy. He insisted I rest and walked me upstairs to make sure I took a nap.

  After he’d left the room, I turned my attention to my laptop. I had an e-mail from Banton! I clicked on it hurriedly, my heart in my throat.

  Chandler,

  I finally had a few minutes and access to a computer. I’m fine. We’ve been out on two missions. I don’t know how much longer we will be deployed, but we haven’t had the success we’d hoped. I have a brief window of time to contact you, so stay close to your laptop. I’ll try you around 4:00 this afternoon your time.

  I’m worried about you and the babies. I’m so sorry we had to leave like we did, and didn’t get to give you a proper goodbye. Please, please take care of yourself, and keep John and Everett close. I love you,

  Banton

  Finally! Just hearing from him put my world back on track. I smiled as I picked my laptop up and carried it over to the bed with me. Checking the clock beside the bed, I decided I had just enough time to nap before our video date. For the first time in almost three weeks, I smiled, hugging my laptop to me as I drifted off to sleep.

  “Chandler, wake up! Did you get an e-mail?”

  I opened one eye, finding Constance hovering over me.

  “Um, yeah, I did,” I mumbled. I tried to clear my throat. I pushed up in bed to I checked the clock on the nightstand. Four o’clock.

  “Well…what did Banton say?” she urged.

  “Just that they’d been on two missions and things weren’t going as planned. He said he would have some time this afternoon, and that he would try to contact me on the computer around four.”

  “Yeah, that’s pretty much what Ty said. But Ty sounded kind of frustrated. I couldn’t put my finger on it,” Constance said as she sighed, flopping down on the bed beside me. “You look tired, Andie. John told me earlier he heard you having nightmares last night. You aren’t sleeping?”

  “No, I’m not. Until Banton comes home, I’m not going to sleep well. I can’t relax. And anyway, the babies flip so much! I swear one of them has a foot right in my ribs and waits to start kicking when I’m in bed.”

  She laughed as she pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “I think you have little versions of Cade and Drew in there.”

  The subtle ping of my inbox alerted us to an incoming message. Constance’s eyes widened, and she dashed across the room and out to the landing as I flipped my laptop open. Banton’s tired but smiling face greeted me.

  “Banton! God, I’m so glad to finally see you!” I gasped out, my heart pounding. He looked really scruffy and tired, showing three or four days’ worth of beard growth. It was still the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.

  “Sweetheart, what’s going on? You look so pale, and tired. What’s up with the dark circles under your eyes?” Banton scolded as I rubbed my eyes, still trying to wake up from my nap.

  “Nothing…I just miss you so much, that’s all. Everything is fine.”

  “You don’t look like you have had any sleep. Are you resting?”

  “Sometimes. I just had a bad night last night. The babies are getting so big it’s hard to rest. I just woke up from a nap, though. Everett made me lay down this afternoon.”

  “Good. I’ll be sure and thank him. By the way, I’ve been worrying about your shots. Since I’m not there, who’s been giving them to you?” He frowned into the camera as I hesitated. “You are still taking the shots? You have to have them,” he reminded me.

  “Yes. Constance gave me the three last week and two this week. But she’s going to be gone for a few days, so I don’t know. I guess I’ll have to go and see Dr. Lane to get them.”

  “Andie, I don’t want you to have to drive far, and I don’t trust your SUV. I had it serviced before I left, but it has so many miles on it. I guess…” he hesitated, and then continued, “I guess you could ask John to give them to you,” he suggested, his tone sounding hesitant.

  “Banton, you don’t need to be worried. I’ll figure the shot thing out. How are you doing? When are you coming home?” I almost begged. I ached so deep inside. Just watching him on the monitor was torture, not being able to touch him.

  “I honestly don’t know, sweetheart. I wish I did. Reed runs a whole different show and right now, we feel like…well, I can’t really talk about it, without revealing too much. You know I can’t even tell you where we are. I do know I’m going to be away from communications for a while, so don’t worry if I don’t call for another week or two.”

  He ran his hand through his hair, his agitation and frustration showing. I’d never seen him so out of sorts and it frightened me. He was usually so in control.

  “It’s all right, Banton. Don’t worry about me. I just miss you. I just want you to keep your mind on your mission and get home safely. You just have to be here when the babies come,” I whispered, frightened at the thought he might not make it home in time.

  “What did Doc Lane say at your last appointment? Is everything good?”

  “Everything is still fine. One of the babies still isn’t gaining like they’d hoped, but there isn’t anything else to do other than the shots. The other baby is way ahead…almost too big. He said if he continues to gain like that, they will take them early, maybe as early as the fifth of August. So you have a little over one month, mister…or else!”

  He finally grinned at me, flashing his signature dimple in the sexiest manner imaginable. “I promise I will be there. And the doctor said ‘he’?”

  “Just a figure of speech, Banton,” I shook my head and grinned back at him.

  “Are you sure you don’t know what sex the babies are?”

  “No. Nothing more than what Aunt Chloe told us,” I replied. He touched his screen with his fingers and sat silently for several moments, gazing at me, saying nothing. When a tear slipped down my cheek, he finally broke the silence.

  “Baby, please don’t cry. I want to touch you and hold you so badly. I hate we left like we did. I’d planned to take you out on the town before we left. I wanted to make love to you in every room in the house; hold you all night. I had all sorts of plans,” he murmured. I smiled through my tears.

  “Not a night goes by I don’t go to sleep with some memory of you. I was just remembering our night in front of our fireplace when you took my pregnant pictures. That night was one of my favorites,” I whispered as he nodded.

  “Mine too. That night and the night you said you’d marry me – when I first made love to you. They rank right up there with our honeymoon. But they won’t compare to the night I come home,” he finished. I smiled at his promise.

  “Oh, and about that night…you should be getting a box soon. I ordered a portrait. Hang it in our bedroom and think of me. I’ll be home before you know it.”

  I nodded, too overcome to answer him without my voice failing.

  “The pool contractor will be calling any day, and I don’t want you to wait on me. I know whatever you decide on the construction will be beautiful, so go ahead with everything. We’ll have one hell of a party when I get home and we’ll break it in. And one more thing,” he said as he rubbed his forehead, “There will be a delivery coming any day. I ordered something for your and the babies’ safety. I was hoping to be there to surprise you with it, but it doesn’t look like I’ll make it back in time. Just know I love you, and I can’t wait to see you again.”

  “Oh, Banton…I can’t stand this! I love you so much,” I whispered, about to lose the control in my voice.

  “Baby, I miss you too. The one thought that makes me smile and keeps me going is thinking about you…you, holding your tummy, r
ocking my babies on our front porch swing, waiting for me to come home. I love that picture…the one I have in my head.”

  I could only nod at him and smile, a Texas-size lump in my throat.

  “Sweetheart, I have to go now. Keep John and Everett close, and I’ll call when I can. Hold the babies for me. I love you, you are my entire life.”

  “My love forever,” I whispered, touching the dimple on his cheek. As I gazed at him lovingly, the screen went blank.

  * * *

  I cried harder for him that evening than the day he’d gone missing after he’d proposed. I was miserable. Pregnant hormones in the last trimester were definitely not conducive to waiting patiently for one’s husband on deployment.

  A light rap on my bedroom door brought me upright in bed. I wiped my eyes and cleared my throat as I called out, “Come in, it’s open.”

  John pushed the door open and crossed over to the bed. “Andie-girl, Constance told me you were having a hard time. I thought you were up here napping,” he scolded, sitting down on the bed beside me. “Oh, come here, darlin’,” he murmured. He immediately folded me in his arms. Kissing the top of my head, he continued, “Banton is going to kill me if he comes home and finds you in this state. We have to take better care of you.”

  He reached over to the nightstand and handed me a bottle of water. I nodded as I took a drink. Feeling better in his company, I smiled up at him.

  “Actually, I do need for you to start doing something for me,” I remembered. He looked at me curiously.

  “Anything at all. What do you need?”

  “Constance has been giving me my shots three times a week…injections the doctors say I have to have because of the babies and the complications and all. I can’t give them to myself. Banton used to do it. Anyway, Constance will be gone next week, and I need someone else. Banton suggested I ask you.” I explained, embarrassed. It seemed like a really intimate thing to ask him, since I had to take them in my hip or leg because of the kind of injection it was.

  “Of course. When is your next shot?”

  “Well, I need one tonight…but Constance is still here.” I raised my eyes to look up at him.

  “I’ll give it to you and see if I’m as good as Constance,” he teased. “Where is your medicine?”

  “Everything is in the refrigerator door with the syringes. I’ll go down and get it,” I replied, starting to get out of bed.

  “Stay put, Andie. I’ll go and get it,” he scolded.

  I sighed as I watched him go out the door. He and Everett were being as attentive as Banton would be if he were here. I felt really lucky to have such good friends. As I waited for him to return, I could hear their voices downstairs. Everett and Constance were talking in low tones, John answering as I heard his footsteps on the staircase once again.

  “Constance says I can have this job for good. She didn’t want to say anything, but it really bothers her to give it to you,” he informed me as he entered the room. He sat down beside me on the bed and asked, “Okay, where do you want this?”

  “Why, does it bother her?”

  “She knows it hurts you, and it makes her light-headed to watch you,” he answered, his eyes wide. “Andie, I don’t know about this,” he began.

  “It’s fine. I’m getting used to it. My backside is still pretty bruised up. We’d better do it in my thigh,” I whispered as I began to turn red. This was going to be harder than I thought. I pulled my gown up, uncovering my right thigh. I looked at him hurriedly, and his eyes widened as he contemplated the spot I indicated.

  “I’m sorry. I should have told you where you would have to give them to me,” I began, more embarrassed than ever.

  “No, it’s not that. You’re just so bruised,” he murmured. He glanced back up at me. Shaking his head, he pulled the medicine from the bottle and then removed the needle. Watching me warily, he blew out a deep breath. “Okay, ready? Here goes.”

  He inserted the needle gently as I grasped his shoulder. He finished the first shot and removed the needle as he watched me. I released my breath and nodded to him.

  “The first one isn’t so bad…it’s the second one that gets me. You’re doing fine,” I assured him as he filled the second syringe.

  “Okay, same leg?”

  “Let’s move to the other one,” I replied as he nodded. He reached over and inserted the second shot. I winced, holding my breath again. Just when I thought I couldn’t stand another second, he was through, pulling the needle out and then gently rubbing the spot on my leg with his thumb.

  “God, I’m sorry, Andie. I know it hurt. Now I know what Constance meant,” he exclaimed as I breathed out in relief.

  “I’m okay. The last shot is just kind of intense,” I assured him as he placed everything back in the baggies.

  “What are they for, anyway?”

  “Some sort of concoction Dr. Renault came up with for the babies. One of them isn’t gaining like they want, and their blood was lacking in nutrients. It’s iron and other stuff,” I explained as he pulled the comforter back over me.

  “You need anything else?” he asked as he started to leave.

  “No, I’m good. I think I’ll turn in.”

  He leaned over and kissed my forehead. “Night, then. Get a good night’s sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning.” He brushed my cheek with his thumb and pulled away.

  “Night, John. Thanks.”

  As John started to leave, Everett entered.

  “Bebe, are you still awake? Something came for you this afternoon, and Constance and I just opened it.” He pushed the door open, and John followed him back into the room with Constance close behind them.

  “What is it? Banton said to be expecting something,” I replied, pushing up in bed once again.

  “Only the most beautiful photograph I’ve ever seen!” he exclaimed. He flipped a large canvas around. It was my pregnant portrait.

  “Oh, my.” I was stunned. I’d seen it on the camera, but on canvas it was breathtaking. Banton had converted it to sepia tones, and the effect of the firelight dancing around our silhouettes brought the picture to life. My body, much to my surprise, looked lean and supple, with the sheet draped discretely around me. With just my tummy and shoulders bared, it showed just enough skin to be tasteful. But the most beautiful part was Banton’s hand across my abdomen, his hand twined with mine, both our wedding rings showing. I gazed at his profile as my eyes filled with moisture once again. In the portrait, Banton gazed down at our hands, his lips pressed to my bare shoulder.

  “And when did you take this, Miss Thing? I didn’t know you’d had a photo session,” he scolded. “I had a photographer in mind for you for this. I had no idea you’d already taken them.”

  “Actually, we never had a photo session. Banton just suggested it out of the blue one night, and he grabbed my camera and staged it. He set it on self-timer and propped it up across the room,” I explained. I continued to study the picture. My face grew red remembering the sex that preceded the photo. Banton looked as hot in the photo as he had that night--his chest bare, torn jeans unbuttoned at the top and hanging on his hips.

  “Wow. Chandler, that is some picture,” Constance commented as she looked back at me.

  “Maybe it’s a little too…Just put it there by the dresser,” I replied. I felt my face redden further.

  “No, it’s not. It’s beautiful. You need to hang it,” Constance urged as Everett sat it down in front of the dresser.

  “Here, Bebe. There was a card from Banton inside.”

  I took the note from Everett and tore it open.

  Just as beautiful as I knew it would be. The perfect portrait to look at every morning as I wake up – my beautiful wife, pregnant with my babies.

  I love you with all my heart,

  Banton.

  “Well?” Everett stood waiting, tapping his foot with his hands on his hips.

  “He wants me to hang it on that wall, so he can see it when he wakes up every morning,”
I replied, folding the card and handing it to Constance.

  “That would be my vote,” John joked as Everett chuckled.

  “Holy crap, Chandler! He couldn’t take the romance up another notch if he tried, could he?” Constance asked incredulously. She slapped the card back into my hand and said, “Ty can’t be that romantic when he’s in the room with me and wantin’ some ass,” she added flippantly as Everett gasped at her crude remark.

  “It’s beautiful, Andie-girl. We’ll hang it for you tomorrow,” John grinned, moving to leave.

  “Yes, Bebe…it’s late. You need to get some sleep. Mr. Philippe and I are just downstairs watching some old movies, if you need us. ‘Night, Constance darlin’.”

  “Night, Ev. Love you,” Constance kissed him on the cheek in passing when she moved to sit down beside me.

  “Chandler, it is so beautiful. You are so lucky,” she commented, looking over at the portrait again. “You know, he has to be about the hottest guy on the planet, aside from Ty, of course!”

  “Of course,” I replied, grinning at her.

  “Seriously. He is so in love with you. You can see it in the picture. It gives me goose bumps.” She shivered for effect and we giggled.

  “Yes. It’s hard to look at…that was some night,” I added. My face flushed again. Constance turned to study my expression as I continued, “That was the night everyone left us here alone and we christened the sheepskin rug in the living room.”

  “Eww! I was on that rug watching television last night,” she made a face as I laughed at her.

  “Yep. The very one.”

  “So did Banton tell you anything?”

  “Not really. Did Ty?”

  “No. I could just tell he isn’t happy about the way things are going, and he was vague about when they would be back.”

  “Mmm. Same with Banton,” I replied.

  “Well, at least we heard from them. Ty told me he has a surprise for me when he gets home,” she announced as I grinned.

  “They’re just full of surprises, huh?”