by Sarina Bowen
“Did you want to see it?” she asked hesitantly.
His eyes looked more like smoke today rather than the ice from before. “Yeah, sure. I’m early so we’ve got time.”
She led him up the stairs and watched as he walked over to the boxes containing the crib that she would put together once she painted the room. He squatted down and pushed the boxes around, studying them.
“Did you get the changing table that matches this?” he asked. “I could paint the little guy’s room and put the crib and stuff together for you…if you wanted.”
She swore she could see excitement shining in his eyes. What she didn’t know was why. The cynical part of her wondered if he thought pretending to be interested in her baby would win him points. But the trusting part of her accepted the honest enthusiasm shining in his eyes.
Having some help getting the room ready wouldn’t be a bad thing. Jess had offered, but it was obvious she wasn’t as into babies as Ian, even though he was a man—a giant mixed martial arts fighting man. Jess was right about Ian—the more time Courtney spent around him the more he surprised her.
“Okay,” she agreed. “The matching changing table is downstairs. It was a little heavy so—”
“I’ll bring it up. What about the green—do you like it?” he asked with excitement in his voice as he stood up.
“Yeah, actually I really like it. It’s soft and goes well with the dark wood of the crib.”
“They have these really cute stickers at the store, too. I almost bought a couple of them, but then I thought I should ask first since you might have the room all ready to go. You basically peel them and stick them to the wall. They had two different ones that looked like stuffed monkeys.” He smiled. “If you’re not busy this weekend we could go out there, get some paint and you could see what I’m talking about.”
“You’re not fighting this weekend?” she asked.
“I have a fight on Friday night, but Saturday is free.”
“What if you get…” she started. The idea of Ian being hurt didn’t sit well for some reason. “Maybe we should play it by ear. You may be tired Saturday after your fight.”
He grinned at her and she smiled back. “Regardless of what Jess might say about me, fighting is second nature. I’m good at it. I’ve been doing it in one form or another my whole life. The guy I fight on Friday is an even bigger pansy than the guy I fought when you came with Jess that one time.”
“You were bleeding a little bit after that fight, though,” she argued.
Sighing, he grinned again. “I won, though, didn’t I? Why don’t you come to the fight on Friday night? If I don’t let the guy make me bleed, then can we go on Saturday?”
When she hesitated, he added, “Tori and Kayla will be there.”
“I’ll think about it. We should go now or we’ll be late again, and I think you might already be on thin ice with Mrs. Campbell,” she said.
She got in the front passenger seat beside him for the ride to campus. His face registered surprise, but he didn’t say anything. They made it to class in plenty of time. After sitting down at one of the tables, she handed him a pen and a piece of paper from her folder.
“Why don’t you write down the questions you have, and we’ll talk about them over ice cream later,” she suggested.
She found it hard to concentrate on the class because she could feel Ian watching her, but whenever she looked over at him, he turned away. It was…cute. The smiles that spread across her face shocked her and got her thinking that maybe Jess had been right about Courtney being attracted to men. Ian was very attractive, with his cute smile and nice teeth…and his eyes.
Maybe she was finally ready to deal with her fears…. Was she ready for a normal future? Was that even possible? This baby would be here before she knew it. Ian’s interest in the whole process only made her more excited. It was nice to share the anticipation with someone…even if that someone was a man. By the time they made it to her house, after class and a stop for ice cream, Courtney was already looking forward to the next time she would see Ian.
The next evening when her doorbell rang, she somehow knew it was him before she ever made it to the front door. She found herself fighting a strange excitement over the knowledge that he’d apparently enjoyed her company, as well. Looking at the video monitor, she watched as he held a gallon of paint up to the camera. “I couldn’t wait until Saturday. Sorry.”
Opening the door, she noticed he held two plastic bags full of painting supplies in one hand and the bucket of paint in the other. He was grinning from ear to ear. She couldn’t help but smile back as she held the door open for him. This time, she barely felt any hesitation over letting him into her house.
“Jess should be here shortly. I went straight to the store after we got done at the gym. She was going to go home, shower, change clothes and then come over. I hope this is okay.” He smiled.
“Yeah, sure,” she replied, grinning back at him.
“If we get one coat on tonight and another coat on tomorrow the room will be done by Saturday. Then I can work on putting the crib together.” Handing her one of the bags, he said, “I got the monkey stickers. If you don’t like them I’ll take them back.”
By the time Ian and Jess left it was really late, but Courtney was extremely tired and very happy. She couldn’t remember having that much fun in a long while. Ian had taped along the crown molding and baseboards, while she’d taped the trim around the windows and along the chair railing. Occasionally she felt Ian looking at her. When she glanced at him in return, he would simply smile and look away. Jess had rolled the first coat of paint on the walls while Courtney and Ian followed along doing trim work. The constant banter between Ian and Jess had Courtney laughing hysterically and even joining in from time to time. By the end of the task, Courtney found herself looking at Ian as often as he looked at her.
The following day, Ian showed up at lunchtime with that smile she couldn’t resist. “Jess sent me to mulch your flowerbeds, clean your bathrooms and finish painting the nursery. She’s not just my friend she’s also my boss, so I can’t exactly tell her no. However, I’ve often wondered if she was a dragon in a former life.”
Owning her own home gave Courtney the freedom to do as she wanted with both the inside and outside of her two-story townhouse. Unfortunately, some of the upkeep, especially now, was less than appealing. Mulching was backbreaking work, and she spent enough time in the bathroom these days as it was. Obviously, Jess had heard Courtney’s complaints and was helping in the only way she knew how. She’d hired someone.
By Friday evening, the night of Ian’s fight, the room was already painted. The nearly complete room somehow made the baby even more real. She looked forward to having Ian put the crib together. Then the space would look like an actual nursery.
Sitting next to Kayla Brown, Tori Lewis and Jess, Courtney waited for Ian’s match. When his name was called a small shiver of fear went down her spine. Not fear of him but fear for him. Over the course of a week and a half he had attended two classes with her, decorated the baby’s room with two coats of paint and two monkey stickers, re-landscaped her front yard, cleaned her bathrooms until they were spotless, fed her ice cream twice and had more than doubled her trust in him. No amount of talking herself out of the feeling did any good. She trusted him…a man. With all that he had done for her, he had earned himself one more friend.
But being his friend made watching this fight worse than the first one she’d watched. Each time he took a punch or kick from his opponent she had to close her eyes. Suddenly, watching Tori and Kayla cheer for him wasn’t about aggression. They were supporting him, their friend. They weren’t afraid of him nor were they aggressive people. They cared about him.
Courtney was never so glad to see something come to an end as she was when the bell rang signaling that Ian’s bout was over. The referee held up Ian’s arm to indicate he had won the match. A few minutes later Courtney followed Jess, Kayla and Tori to where I
an stood wiping himself off with a towel. He turned and smiled at her and just like that, he switched from victorious fighter to friend.
When he saw Tori approach, Ian cringed as though he was afraid of her—apparently an inside joke from when they’d first met.
Tori only sighed and then said, “I’m starting to see why Seth and Ronnie think you need a real fight. Zach’s been asking about you, so why don’t you come by for dinner tomorrow night.”
Glancing at Courtney, he smiled before looking back to Tori. “I might have plans for dinner tomorrow night, but if Zach comes to the gym with Seth in the morning, maybe he can hang out with me in the afternoon and help me put a crib together. I hear he’s pretty handy for an almost seven-year-old.”
“Sounds good to me,” Tori replied with a sideways glance at Courtney. “We are just grilling out for dinner, so if plans change or you want to invite a guest, just let me or Seth know.”
“Ronnie, Addie and I will be there, too,” Kayla said as though trying to sweeten the deal.
During the ride home from the fight with Jess, Courtney couldn’t help but wonder if she was keeping Ian from his friends. She’d taken every spare minute of his time over the past few days with painting the nursery and the household chores. His comment about dinner tomorrow came to mind. Was he planning to ask her on a date? That could never happen. She didn’t date…. Did she?
The following afternoon Ian showed up carrying a large box, and beside him was Tori’s son, Zach, carrying a bag of tools that looked almost as big as him. Ian smiled down at him, and a thought flickered through Courtney’s mind: Ian would make a good dad someday.
Opening the door, she held her hand out to take the bag from Zach. The small boy looked at her and then breathlessly said, “No, Ms. Wells, I can get it. My muscles are getting big and strong.”
Ian winked at her and grinned. “Yeah, just leave it to us. We’ll get it.”
For some strange reason she couldn’t look away from Ian. He was so…handsome.
Where had that thought come from?
Ian pointed up the stairs, so Zach lugged the bag over to the steps. The little boy looked up the stairs and then back to where Ian stood. Seeing that Ian had his hands full, the little boy’s expression changed to one of determination as he started to climb. Ian quickly followed behind him, hefting the box across one massive shoulder so one hand was free in case he needed to rescue Zach from the monstrous tool bag.
The trip up was slow, but eventually they both made it to the top and she followed them. Once Ian placed the box on the floor she saw it was a rocking chair. He held his hand out to Zach and the boy smacked his hand in a sign of triumph. Then Ian tore open the box with barely any effort. In just a few minutes he and Zach put the chair together then he gestured for her to sit in it. Once she was seated comfortably, Ian tore open the box for the crib and handed her the small parts to hold.
Zach would get the correct screw or bolt from her, then pull the tool out of the bag that Ian needed and take both to him. Once the crib was together, Ian went downstairs and brought up the mattress. Seeing it all together, even without the sheets or mobile—she was finally going to have a baby!
After they also put together the changing table, Courtney rode with Ian to take Zach home and was talked into staying for the cookout. Courtney sat at a patio table listening to Kayla and Tori talk to each other when a man who resembled Tori’s husband, Seth, came outside. He walked over to where they sat with a definite limp.
“I’m Caleb, Seth’s brother.” He smiled, holding out his hand to her. “You might remember me from the wedding. You’re Courtney, right? I feel like I practically know you since you’re all Ian talks about these days.”
“Thanks for diming me out there, man.” Ian smiled at her.
He’d been talking to his friends about her?
“Are you calling my brother a liar, man?” Seth asked, shoving Ian, who stood right next to the in-ground swimming pool.
Upon seeing how ineffective his shove had been at knocking Ian into the pool, Seth waved over Kayla’s husband, Ronnie. Ronnie was a big man, but Ian was even bigger, so it took both Seth and Ronnie to push Ian into the pool fully clothed…while Courtney, Kayla and Tori cheered them on.
Courtney didn’t get home until well after dark and as she fell asleep, she found herself replaying the fun she’d had with strangers…with men!
With Ian.
* * *
The following Monday, Courtney was extremely tired. She just didn’t feel well. She called and made an appointment with Dr. Franklin for the next day. April Franklin was a friend of Courtney’s from college who, after finishing her internship, had returned to the Dayton area to set up her own reproductive-specialist practice. After talking to April and scheduling the appointment, Courtney called Jess to invite her along since they would be doing another ultrasound.
“I have a double shift tomorrow or I would. Text me when you are done, though, and let me know what they say,” Jess said. “You know…you could invite Ian. I’m betting he would be thrilled to hear the heartbeat and see the ultrasound. It might be the push he needs to enroll in some classes.”
Somehow it felt right to invite him. Getting up the guts to call him was a different story. What if he didn’t want to go or had lost enthusiasm…. How awkward would that be?
Forcing away the negative thoughts, she picked up her cell phone.
“Let me guess. You need an ice cream date?” Ian asked upon answering. “You are killing my weigh-ins,” he finished with a laugh.
“No. Actually I don’t crave anything, not since the last class anyway. No morning sickness, either. Actually, I, um, I have my checkup tomorrow, and I thought you might want to come along to hear the heartbeat and see the ultrasound,” she said, slightly breathless from nerves.
“I’d love to. What time? I’ll pick you up,” he said.
She gave him the appointment time and hung up. The excitement was still in his voice and it made her smile. As poorly as she felt now, not having to drive tomorrow would be a bonus. Not to mention she felt eager to spend time with Ian again—even though she’d just seen him two days ago.
Such a weird—but nice—feeling.
Chapter Four
When Ian arrived at Courtney’s to pick her up, she met him at the door with her purse in hand. Unlike at the cookout where she’d been all smiles and laughter, now she looked pale and worried. As he led her down the front walk he noticed she was gripping her stomach and appeared to be in pain. He opened the passenger door for her, and she gently sat down in the front seat without any arguments. After he got in the driver’s side and started the car he glanced over at her in time to see her wince.
“You okay?” he asked as he put the car in drive.
“I’m not sure. I’m cramping really bad. I called April and she said to come in to the office, since I already have an appointment scheduled.”
Having spent the majority of the morning surfing Rusty’s computer for videos of ultrasounds and articles about what to expect at this checkup appointment, he had come prepared rather than full of questions. Where minutes ago he’d been excited about the idea of seeing the baby before it was born, now his stomach was in knots. He was used to seeing Courtney shy and smiling or shy and laughing. Now she sat stoically beside him with a worried look on her face.
By the time they arrived at the doctor’s office he was sick with worry. He parked as close to the door as possible and helped her out and into the waiting room. The receptionist behind the desk took one look at Courtney and ushered them through a doorway leading to the exam rooms. Based on the look on the receptionist’s face and the fact that they hadn’t had to wait at all, this wasn’t a normal checkup.
That notion was confirmed when a nurse handed him what looked like a gown and a sheet. “Here, Dad, help Mom put this on while I go find Dr. Franklin.”
The nurse nearly pushed them into an examination room and then closed the door on his protests. Turni
ng to face Courtney, he noticed that she no longer looked like she cared that he was even there. After the first wave of panic seized him, he took a breath. “Okay, let’s get this on you and get you on the exam table so the doctor can figure out what is wrong.”
Instead of allowing her to argue with him, he took her purse and sat it on a nearby chair. Then he spread out the gown on the exam table and unfolded the blanket and held it up as a barrier between them, giving her some privacy. He turned his head and looked down as she carefully shrugged out of her clothes. Once she was in the examination gown and sitting on the exam table, he wrapped the blanket around her.
Looking up at him through her tears, she said, “I’m so scared, Ian. Something’s wrong. I know it.”
Just as he walked toward the door to go in search of the doctor, a woman in a white coat stepped inside. She eyed him carefully and then looked at Courtney. His relief, that someone was there to fix whatever was wrong, was palpable.
“I felt really tired and weak yesterday, and today I started cramping. Right before we came here I started spotting, too,” Courtney explained in a rush. “Something’s wrong, April.”
“Well, lie back and let’s take a look,” the doctor replied.
A nurse came in with a machine and took Courtney’s blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature while the doctor pulled out a fetal heart-rate monitor. The device looked different from the ones Ian had seen on the internet, but he recognized it for what it was. Standing in the corner, he felt helpless. He recognized the same look on Courtney’s face. Instinct had him moving around to the other side of the exam table so he could stand closer to her.
Courtney surprised him when she reached out for him. He held her tiny hand in his as the doctor ran the monitor over her stomach. The room quieted as the doctor continued to search with the device. She looked to the nurse. Courtney clutched his one hand, and he used the other to rub her arm in an effort to comfort her. As nervous and scared as he felt, he couldn’t imagine what she must be feeling.
