I See You (Seeing You #2)

by A. P. Hallmark

  "I love you back, BD." She grins, taking the soap, bending over to wash her legs.

  "BD? What’s that?" I ask, shocked.

  "Baby Daddy."

  "Turn around, Joy. I'll show you who's the daddy." I chuckle when she squeals and turns around to assume the position.

  That's my girl.

  ~.~

  Two days. In two days Joy and I will be married. I moved us to our Bainbridge house a week ago, so we can all be together to plan and finalize the last minute details. Again, I enjoyed watching Joy see the house for the first time as a sighted person. I can't wait to take her out to the beach. She's going to love it.

  After I give her the tour of the house, we choose the room we will turn into a nursery. The room next to the nursery will be an office for Joy so that she can transcribe her books for Radiant. I've hired two teams to work on each of the houses, and the renovations should be completed before we get back from our honeymoon. I plan on making her life as happy and easy as possible, considering she's had a rough first half of it already.

  My parents’ new house is huge, and Mom removed all of the furniture from the large formal living room, so that the girls can decorate for the ceremony.

  The wedding is on Saturday, so tomorrow night, the girls are taking Joy out to dinner and the guys are taking me … somewhere. They won't say, and that’s making me a little nervous actually.

  Tonight I had Rebecca arrange for a late picnic dinner on the beach where she started a bonfire for us. Walking Joy down the path, there’s a thick blanket for us to lay on, a picnic basket full of thick hot potato and leek soup and warm fresh bread with butter.

  "Matthew! This is fantastic. Thank you," she coos before leaning up to kiss my lips. I help her sit in front of the fire, and when she reaches for the basket, I take her hand and shake my head.

  "I'm taking care of you tonight. You just sit back and relax."

  ~.~

  "Where are you jokers taking me? I will not have you getting me into trouble the night before I get married," I shout at them, angry because they won't tell me where they are taking me.

  "Trust me, Matthew, there are no girls involved. Alcohol maybe, but you can drink or not. It's your choice. You'll have fun … trust me," Jessie says, wiggling his eyebrows.

  That can't be good.

  "I want to stay here with you, Joy. I want to watch a movie with you. Don't make me go. I don't want to go," I whine.

  "Matthew, listen to me. Jessie told me what their plans are. I know you'll have fun. Just don't drink too much, all right? I don't want a groom with a hangover, okay?"

  "Please, can I stay home with you?" I whine some more.

  "I'm not staying home. I'm going out with the girls and having some fun, so go. You'll have fun. I promise," she says, rising on her toes to kiss me goodbye.

  "How come I don't know what you're doing but you know what I'm doing?" I question. She laughs into my chest.

  "Traitor!" I yell back at her as I'm dragged to the garage and nearly tossed into the SUV. Looking I look out the window, I see the girls waving at us as we pull out of the driveway.

  When the car turns into the parking lot adjacent to the ship dock, there’s a huge yacht seemingly waiting for our arrival. Along the upper deck, I see nearly everyone that works at the hospital, and I smile at Jessie.

  "See?" he says in his 'I told you so' voice.

  "And whose little dinghy is this?" I ask, standing and looking at how pretty she is.

  "It's mine," my dad says from behind me. I wheel around, just as my jaw hits the pavement.

  "She arrived this week. I bought her when your mother and I moved here. She just sailed from San Diego two days ago. Come on, let me show you around," he says, clapping my shoulder with a firm grip. "Then we play some poker."

  I have to admit, I did have fun. While we cruise around the Sound, we have dinner, and then after-dinner cigars with Cuvée Cognac. Afterward, we play poker where I win five hundred dollars. When I’m told there’s coffee and dessert of sour cream apple pie, I’m the first in line. I have to give it to my best friend and my dad, I had a great time.

  After fumbling with the key, trying to unlock the front door, I walk into a very quiet house. The house is empty except for Conrad. I'm sure Joy left him here for me so I won't be lonely. She's sleeping at my parents’ house tonight, leaving me by myself. This sucks. I take a hot shower before going to bed.

  After a very fitful night, I fall into a good sleep around three o'clock and now that it's eight, I'm very alert, considering. Stretching out in the bed, my eyes widen when I suddenly get a whiff of bacon

  Joy!

  I throw the blankets off and jump out of bed, running down the stairs. "Joy?" I shout, rounding the corner to the kitchen.

  "Oh … it's you."

  "Thanks a lot," Jessie says. "We thought you might like some breakfast. Missing your girl, are ya?" he asks, flipping the eggs.

  "We?"

  "Yeah, me, Brian, and your dad. They're out back with Conrad. Grab some pants then some coffee, Groom. We have a wedding to get ready for. The girls are off doing their spa thing getting all smooth and shit."

  "Hey, don't talk about my wife like that, Jessie. You don't need to be going mental on her smoothness."

  "Geez, Matthew, what crawled up your dick? Is this the mood you're going to be in when you greet your future wife? If so, I'd say lose it right now, she doesn't deserve it, and, quite frankly, neither do I." He turns back to the stove and finishes the breakfast that he came all the way over to cook for me.

  "I'm sorry, Jess. You're right. I'm missing her is all. I'm sorry," I say, resting my hand over his shoulder.

  "Apology accepted. Now go get some pants on, and I'll set you up a plate for breakfast."

  After I slip into a pair of sleep pants and socks, I make my way back downstairs.

  "I had a good time last night, you guys. Thanks. Joy said she and the girls had a good time too," I say, looking at them to get their input or, maybe to find out what they did last night when I hear the doorbell.

  "Who's that?" I ask, getting up to answer the door. The dog groomers are here to bathe Conrad.

  "Your wife called and asked us to groom Master Conrad, Dr. Davis," she says.

  I smile at the 'wife' comment.

  It didn't take long to fetch him because, as always the faithful guard dog, he is right at my side. Attaching his leash, he obediently follows her to the grooming van. I wonder why they would show up today of all days.

  "Joy wants us to take Conrad with us to the wedding," Brian says as if reading my mind. I shrug my shoulder and get back to my breakfast.

  I can't believe that after all my desire to marry Joy, I have butterflies. I can't wait to make her my wife — to tell everyone we are having a baby.

  "Well, son, it's time. I'm proud of you. You've chosen well, and she’ll l make you a good wife. Your mother and I are happy to have her in the family. You've brought us Jessie, now Joy and Laura. And with Maddie having Brian, we are building quite the family circle, aren't we?”

  I look into his eyes and think, 'If you only knew'.

  "You ready?"

  "I've been ready for Joy all my life, Dad."

  ~.~

  "Matthew?" Justice Barton calls from the doorway. "It's time, son."

  Stepping into the living room, I walk into a room full of blue and white flowers. Blue representing me, and the color I’m wearing today, and white for Joy. The sparse chairs are positioned randomly around the room, which gives everyone a good place to witness the ceremony.

  When the recorded music begins, I recognize the music of Stephan Moccio and turn and face the door, waiting to see my bride. First, I see Laura come through, looking stunningly beautiful. I turn and smile at my best man as his eyes roam over the maid of honor.

  What I see next nearly takes my breath away. Her hair is in loose curls that flow down her back with tendrils that line her porcelain-skinned face. She's wearing a strapless, white
dress that looks like the material is wrapped around her bodice and then flows soft and airy as she moves. Her shoes are white and have a silver adornment that matches the one at her waist. But what tugs my heart is that Conrad is walking her down the aisle.

  The closer she gets to me, the more I want to reach out and take her in my arms. When she reaches my side, love radiates through her eyes and she stands as close to me as she can get. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I hold her hand in mine and Conrad has taken his loyal place next to her, sitting quietly.

  After we pledge our loyalty and love to one another, I lift her chin and lovingly kiss her. Pulling back, I whisper into her ear “never doubt that I love you.”

  Looking into her eyes, they fill with tears, and as she wraps her arms around my waist she says, "Never, Matthew."

  After everyone congratulates us, we are seated for dinner. After the first course of a fresh spring salad, an option of salmon or filet mignon is offered. Joy and I take the filet mignon, since Joy can't have the fish now.

  After dinner, a light dessert is served with coffee. Knowing I’m about to make the announcement of my life, Joy is getting fidgety and nervous. Her head is down, and she's twisting her fingers in her lap.

  When I stand up, Joy tugs on my arm.

  "I would like to propose a toast to my beautiful wife." I hold up my glass and turn to her. "Joy, you have made me the happiest man today. I'm glad I carried that dog biscuit in my pocket all those months, getting up the nerve to talk to your dog, ergo, you. I would have never thought that meeting you would have us sitting here on our wedding day. You have made me a very happy man today, Mrs. Davis."

  I clear my throat and continue to look at her. "Everyone, Joy and I have an announcement to make. On one of the happiest days of our lives, Joy and I want to tell you that we are having a baby." My mother is the first to jump out of her seat, her eyes already filling with joyful tears.

  “I’m going to be a grandmother!”

  "Um …" Joy says. “There’s something you need to know.”

  “What?” I feel panic rising in my stomach, is there something wrong with our baby? “What, Joy? What is it?”

  "Um… we’re not just having one baby, we're having twins."

  I fall down into my seat, shocked and overwhelmed with this news. I can’t believe my beautiful wife still has the ability to shock me with just a few words.

  These two babies will have a family filled with love for them. They will have loving parents, aunts and uncles, and two very doting grandparents. I try to visualize my wife heavy with twins and can't imagine carrying two people inside me.

  ~.~

  Just seven months later, I find myself pacing long enough to look at my wife, who is pale and deathly ill. Taking her hand into mine, I find it cold. Too cold. I tuck it under the blanket to warm it, but not before I check her pulse.

  Joy has developed a critical case of pre-eclampsia, which precipitated the immediate delivery of the twins.

  "How is she today?" my mother asks, startling me. She hands me a thermos of coffee she brought from home.

  "The same," I reply, taking my seat next to Joy. I look over my shoulder at my mother, "How are the babies?"

  "Better. They're getting stronger each day, and their color is improving with each passing hour. Leland is with them right now," she informs me, brushing the hair from my eyes. I need a haircut, I think.

  "She's going to get better, Matthew. You know she's going to get better," my mother reassures me.

  My head snaps up when I hear Joy moan, and she turns her head to look at me.

  "Hey, baby," she says in a weak voice. "How am I today?"

  "No real significant change yet, but it will happen. Your protein levels are down a little, but not enough," I say, running my thumb along her cheek. I reach over to the table next to her bed and take a tub of lip balm to smear on her dry lips. I then lean over her and kiss her lightly.

  "How are the babies?" she asks.

  "They're beautiful, just like their mother," my mom replies.

  "Only you would give me two princesses, Joy. I can see them running around in their pink frilly dresses on Easter, so you'd better get better, dammit," I say, pulling her hand to my lips.

  "You look awful, Matthew. Are you eating? Sleeping?" I notice that she looks at my mother for her answer.

  "No, he's not eating. That spot you see him in right now has been his bed for the last four days. So, like Matthew says, you'd better get yourself better, so you both can go home and rest."

  "Baby? I need you strong. If you don't take care of yourself, who will take care of our babies if I don’t —"

  "Don't you fucking say it, Joy!" I yell at her, standing up so fast my chair flips backward. I immediately feel like an ass for yelling at her, and then bury my face in her hair. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry I yelled at you. Just … just don't talk like that, okay?" I mumble in her neck.

  After my mother’s visit, Joy closes her eyes and I take advantage of that by taking a nap myself. I wake up to a sore back and a dark room, except for the small light behind Joy's bed. I notice a brown paper bag sitting on the table next to me, and I know it's something from my mom. I quietly open it, and it's one of my childhood favorites: peanut butter and grape jelly on soft white bread.

  I pull one out of the plastic bag, take a large bite, and stand to stretch my back. I see that my mother has also brought me a clean change of clothes, thinking a shower would feel great about now, I rummage through it and pull out a clean T-shirt, sweat pants and socks. Joy's overnight bag is in the corner and I pull out a nightgown and bring it to my face in an attempt to smell her unique scent. I miss her so much. When I put the gown back, I notice a brown leather journal tucked in the side of the bag. Pulling it out, I find pages she’s printed from her computer. I know she’s just relearning to write, so this must be her way of keeping a journal. When I open to the first page, and I read The Road to Birth. Stuffing the remainder of my sandwich in my mouth and holding it between my teeth, I flip through the pages to find that she has journaled her pregnancy.

  February 16, 2015

  Today is my wedding day. I’m marrying the man of my dreams in just a few hours. To say I was scared to tell him that I had been irresponsible and forgot to renew my shot is an understatement; it's even worse when I have to tell him we are having twins. Lord, give me the strength to tell him.

  She was afraid to tell me she had gotten pregnant? It was one of the best days of my life. Knowing I was going to be a father was a surprise, but to say that I wasn't shocked over the twins' announcement is an understatement. I welcome any child she gives me.

  March 17, 2015

  Yesterday we returned from our honeymoon. Oh, what a wonderful time we had. I had no idea such beauty existed in this world. Austria is the most beautiful place we visited. To call the mountains of Austria, 'Mountains' is not worthy. They are majestic … monstrous. Huge. Beautiful. I loved Italy because it brought out the romantic in my new husband.

  I came home to a beautiful nursery that Matthew had arranged as a surprise for me. Now I know why he was asking me all those ridiculous questions about how I saw the nursery for the babies. He must have sent that information on to his mother because it’s exactly like I wanted. I’m three months along now.

  I put the book down when the doctor comes in to make his rounds holding Joy's chart.

  "Hello, Dr. Baum. How is she today? Please tell me there are improvements in her protein count," I beg. I look at his face as he reads her chart and see a small smile come over his face.

  "There are improvements in her protein count, Matthew," he reassures. I exhale the breath I was holding and throw my head back in relief. "Have you seen your daughters yet?"

  I shake my head. "No, not yet. I want to see them with Joy. Trust me, it's killing me not to see them, but my desire to meet them with my wife is more important," I say, looking down at Joy's sleeping form.

  "She's sleeping a lot."

&nb
sp; "That’s good. She's healing herself. She'll come around. Her proteins are looking better; not one hundred percent yet, but improving. She's getting better, Matthew. If her levels weren't decreasing, I'd be worried."

  The relief that comes over me is overwhelming. My wife is getting better.

  "Fight, baby," I whisper into her ear before I kiss her lips and find them dry again. Reaching over for her balm, I gently rub some on her dry, chapped lips.

  After the doctor leaves, I shower and go to the cafeteria to get a cup of coffee and sit down at the table with Joy's journal.

  April 20, 2015

  Today I am throwing in the towel and going shopping for maternity clothes. I just can't get into mine any longer. Soon I'll be so fat that Matthew won't want me anymore. I'm already repulsive.

  You are killing me woman. How can you even think that I wouldn't want you anymore? You are more beautiful than ever. You were carrying my babies, for crying out loud. I roll my eyes at all the arguments we had about her body and how sexy I thought she was. I couldn't wait to get her naked so that I could see her round belly full of what we made together.

  May 3, 2015

  Today I felt a flutter in my stomach. I wasn't sure if it was the babies, but I think it was. It felt like a butterfly in there. A big ass butterfly. I can't wait to tell Matthew.

  I remember that day. She couldn't wait until I came home from the hospital to tell me. She came running down the stairs, and I had to yell at her to stop doing that. All we needed was for her to slip and fall. She didn't care, she jumped into my arms and told me she thought she had felt the babies move. I dropped to my knees, held her round bump and talked to the twins, begging them to move for me. They didn't.

  I look up and see Laura eagerly heading my way.

  "Joy's awake and asking for you."

  I jump up, grab the book and take off toward the elevators. Everyone is around her bed talking to her. She's awake and alert.

  "Hey, baby," I say quietly, approaching her bed.

  "Hey, you." She reaches up to take my hand. "Man, I feel so much better today. I feel almost human," she says in a weak, raspy voice.

  "That's the best news I've had all week." I say, leaning in for a kiss on her chapped lips.