Mandy's He-Man

by Donna Gallagher

  JT had travelled away for two games over the last month, but Mandy was getting better at dealing with his absences. Caitlin and Riley kept her company. One night, when the Jets were away, some of the players’ partners got together at Mia’s to enjoy dinner and Caitlin’s singing. Mandy, although not hungry, as food seem to unsettle her sensitive stomach, did enjoy the company. She felt more and more like a part of JT’s rugby league life, and often wondered how she had managed before JT.

  Unconsciously, Mandy was changing. She didn’t hide behind so many layers of makeup now, preferring to spend the time she used to take to create her dramatic image in bed with JT. Her all-black clothing was slowly being replaced with more feminine-looking shirts, and even a pair of jeans. Mandy had thought her large bottom was not suitable for jeans, but JT’s enthusiastic encouragement and continued caresses of her denim-clad bottom convinced her otherwise.

  Her artwork was also changing. The dark, brooding images that had often appeared in her paintings had now morphed into softer, happier lines and colours—vibrant sunsets and shimmering moonlit scenes were among her new work. Her jewellery line now consisted of romantic, swirling fine designs, as opposed to the chunky harsh lines of the pieces that used to make up her sales inventory.

  Chapter Sixteen

  JT was worried about Mandy. She seemed to be pale and tired all the time. He knew he was asking too much of her sexually, and every night he promised himself that he would just cuddle her and let her get a good night’s sleep. But then JT would see Mandy’s sexy, curvy body, and he would forget any promises he had silently made. Mandy never needed any coercion—she was always hot, wet and eager for him, and often the aggressor. Those nights were particularly popular memories for JT.

  It was Mandy’s twenty-sixth birthday in a little over a week, and luckily for JT, it fell on the day of a home game. He was going to make the day one that Mandy would never forget. He had arranged that he and Mandy would arrive earlier than necessary to the ground, and as they headed inside, the electronic score board would be programmed with the words to ask Mandy the big question, while JT knelt down on one knee in front of her.

  He had it all planned. His father had given him his mother’s engagement ring. It was perfect for Mandy, the rose gold ring’s antique design very different to today’s modern rings. It was a large and unusual chocolate-coloured diamond, surrounded by small, brilliant diamonds. The larger diamond’s hue reminded JT of one of Mandy’s uniquely pigmented eyes.

  JT had known he wanted to marry Mandy from the first night they’d spent together. But he was now nervous that she was becoming ill and might not be up to such a public proposal. Unsure of what to do and thinking that maybe he needed a woman’s view, JT decided a chat with Caitlin might help him to soothe some of his fears.

  He knocked on the downstairs door first, hoping Brodie would not arrive for a few minutes so he could have a little privacy. JT was already feeling slightly embarrassed at the thought of speaking about Mandy and his plans at all, let alone to another woman—and he certainly didn’t need Brodie making fun at his expense.

  He explained his concerns over Mandy’s continual tiredness to Caitlin, even overcoming his embarrassment and mentioning Mandy’s unusually tender breasts. He also spoke of his hopes to propose to Mandy on the Sunday of her birthday.

  JT was a bit annoyed at the wide grin forming on Caitlin’s face—she seemed to not be taking JT’s worries seriously. He was about to tell Caitlin to forget anything he had said and walk away when the pretty, young redhead finally stopped grinning and spoke.

  “JT, you look so fierce. I’m not laughing at you, sweetie, I’m just happy.” She patted JT’s bulging, tense biceps and continued, “Mandy has become very dear to me, and I really wasn’t looking forward to leaving her when Brodie and I get married. For some reason, Brodie doesn’t want to live here,” she said, laughing. Then, looking more serious and slightly uncomfortable, Caitlin asked JT a direct and very personal question, adding her own diagnosis of what was ailing Mandy.

  “JT, honey, do you and Mandy use…ummm…any protection when you, you know, make love? Could Mandy be pregnant? She hasn’t said anything to me, but I have noticed she isn’t eating and does seem tired all the time. At first I thought maybe you two were just too nocturnal, but now I think it’s more.” Caitlin quickly looked away, seeming embarrassed to look at JT directly.

  She could have knocked JT over with a feather. Could that be it? Could Mandy be carrying our child? Does she know? Why didn’t she tell me? he thought in a rush of questions, but with no clear answers.

  “I don’t know, Cait. I think she has an injection or something. I stopped using condoms and Mandy didn’t say anything about it. Do you really think she could be…?”

  After more discussion, JT and Caitlin decided it was best to give Mandy more time, let her tell them when she felt more comfortable. JT wasn’t sure how long he would be able to keep quiet and under control, and hoped she would tell him soon. Although, he hoped he had time to propose first, so she wouldn’t confuse his reasons for wanting to marry her. JT loved Mandy more than anything else and he wanted her to be his in every way possible, including legally.

  It was going to be a very long week.

  * * * *

  JT did manage to keep from asking Mandy about the possibility of her being pregnant, but he tried to make her rest more, even complaining he needed to catch up on sleep as a cover. Her little disappointed face nearly broke his resolve, but he pulled her close and held her all night, hand splayed protectively over her abdomen. Hoping.

  Finally, the Sunday of Mandy’s birthday arrived. JT was awake early, watching for the first signs of her waking. As her eyes sleepily opened, he pounced on her mouth, licking at her lips with his tongue until they opened for him. JT kissed her passionately, thinking of what the day would bring. The promise he hoped she would make him.

  As they started exploring each other more intimately, a loud knocking started at the door to Mandy’s flat. JT, grouching about lousy timing, went to see what was so urgent as to disturb them so early, pulling on sweat pants over his very prominent erection, on the way.

  Standing in the doorway were Caitlin and Brodie, with Riley trailing behind, each carrying wrapped gifts and what smelt, to JT, like breakfast.

  “Didn’t interrupt anything, I hope, mate? We all want to wish Mandy a happy birthday! Where is the birthday girl?” Brodie chuckled heartily, poking his head around JT as he spoke.

  “Yeah, right, laugh it up—you’re a funny man, Brodes. You know exactly what you’re interrupting and if young Riley wasn’t here I’d make you sorry for the intrusion…” Behind the grumbling, unhappy JT, a robed Mandy arrived. She was probably worried that he would just shut the door in their friends’ smiling faces, and he contemplated the idea of doing just that very thing so he could take her back to bed.

  Mandy started to say something, and JT turned his attention towards her.

  “Hey, you guys are the best friends ever…” But she stopped suddenly.

  Something must have happened to her, because the next thing JT knew, Mandy was sprinting off in the direction of the bathroom, leaving him, Brodie, Caitlin and Riley standing stunned and motionless in the doorway, watching her flee.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Mandy had wanted to say more in welcome, but as a waft of the food’s aroma had reached her, her stomach had rolled over. She’d known she was about to vomit, and she’d had to hurry to the bathroom so as not to make a disgusting mess in front of her friends.

  She sat, feeling miserable, on the cold tiles of the bathroom floor, her head hanging over the toilet bowl as she threw up for the second time. This was the third day in a row that she had been physically ill, and she was starting to get worried, thinking a trip to the doctor was probably needed, when there was a soft rap on the door.

  “Mandy, it’s me, Caitlin. Can I come in?”

  “Yeah, if you’re game. I think I’m finished puking up.�
� Mandy watched as Caitlin entered the room. A huge, bright smile was covering her friend’s face, and Mandy groaned at the look of happiness her friend exuded. “What’s the hero done to make you so happy?” she said, referring to Caitlin’s nickname for Brodie.

  “Oh, Mandy, don’t you realise what’s going on? Goodness, didn’t your parents tell you about the birds and the bees? What makes a woman tired, her breasts feel tender and full…and makes her vomit at the smell of food? Doh! Think about it, girl!” Mandy could feel Caitlin stroke her back tenderly, obviously waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop.

  “Oh, my God!” was all Mandy managed to get out before she threw up again, the retching sounds cutting off any more exclamations.

  It was at about the same time that the door banged open and JT stormed in, looking fiercer than ever before.

  “Enough! It’s time you finally told me, Mandy. I’m big, not stupid. I know what’s going on here, and I’m a bit pissed you haven’t told me yet.” JT was standing down at Mandy. She could see the disappointment and maybe a little anger in his expression. “I want to yell to the world that we are having a baby. I want to hold you when you’re sick. I want to share this wonderful blessing with you, woman. Not stand on the sidelines as if I’ve been benched. I love you. Why are you keeping such good news from me?”

  “Settle down, JT. I think I’ll leave you both to it. Be gentle, big boy—it’s not you chucking up,” Caitlin joked as she squeezed by the huge mass of a man. “I think you guys need some privacy, and Brodie and Riley must be wondering what in goodness is going on.”

  “He-Man, just hold up…” Mandy tried to stand. She wobbled a little and had to take JT’s hand, grateful for his assistance. She rinsed her mouth under running tap water, then turned to him.

  “Firstly, I am well aware that you are, in fact, extremely above average in the intelligence department. In fact, maybe you could have clued me in on what was happening to me, seeing as I seem to be last to know.” She giggled nervously as she continued, “Maybe I’m just small and stupid, Jon. I didn’t even think about being pregnant, not until Caitlin just mentioned it. I’ve had the contraceptive injection. It was a while ago, but I thought I was still safe… This shouldn’t be happening.”

  Mandy, after taking a deep breath and grabbing hold of JT’s big hands in her smaller, quite clammy ones, asked him the all-important question.

  “So… How do you feel about the chance I might be pregnant? That you might be a father?”

  “Mags, baby,” JT said without a moment’s hesitation as he pulled her into his embrace, lifting her feet from the ground, his strong arms holding her to his chest, “if you have our baby growing inside you, my life will be almost complete.” Although Mandy was not sure what he had meant by ‘almost complete’, she was surprised by the tears her strong man was shedding, feeling them wet against her skin.

  “I think I need some weak tea and toast,” Mandy said, in an effort to try to get them out of the bathroom and back to their friends. “Maybe you should go to the chemist, JT, and get me a pregnancy test so we can confirm our news, and then you can blab to the world. But first, you need to put me down, He-Man.”

  “That, you gorgeous woman, is a fantastic idea. Let’s go gently persuade Caitlin to make the tea so I can shoot off and get those tests,” JT happily replied as he carried Mandy out to see the others, who were still waiting patiently to wish her a happy birthday.

  Mandy and JT had cleared some of the art studio to make a little living area, complete with a small, two-seat sofa and matching chair with a coffee table in between. JT had fixed a small television to the wall so he could keep himself amused while Mandy worked. As JT carefully placed Mandy on the sofa, brushing a confused Riley out of the way, he grabbed Brodie by the arm.

  “C’mon, mate, I don’t think I can drive. We need to go pick up some things. Hey, Caitlin, could you make Mandy some tea and toast while we’re gone?”

  As a confused and slightly worried-looking Brodie and Riley left with a smiling JT, Mandy sighed.

  “Could my life be any better?” She rubbed her hand lovingly over her possibly pregnant tummy and daydreamed about being a mum, envisioning her baby as a little version of JT, with black hair and dark eyes, or maybe a curly, dark-haired girl with Mandy’s unusual eye-colouring.

  Mandy daydreamed the time away while waiting for the tea and toast Caitlin had offered to make, and it wasn’t long before the two men and Riley returned from their shopping expedition. JT had purchased five different varieties of pregnancy test. A laughing Mandy went off to the bathroom to do some serious ‘peeing on sticks’, as she called it.

  “Thanks for the mental picture, Mandy—I really could have lived without it!” Riley, obviously embarrassed by the image, groaned behind her as she left the room. “Yuck! Girls say the most disgusting things. I’ll never understand why you guys get so gushy around them,” he grunted, obviously speaking to JT and Brodie.

  Mandy used three tests, and placed the sticks carefully on the vanity top. She called for JT to join her. JT sat on the closed toilet with Mandy in his lap as they waited the required length of time for the results to show. Time seemed to slow, and the anticipation built as the minutes ticked past.

  “Okay, Mags, time’s up. Are you going to look?”

  “No, I’m too nervous! Jon, can you do it, please?” Mandy begged.

  “If you’re sure, honey.” JT lifted Mandy gently and stood up. He picked up the first stick.

  “It says positive.”

  He placed it back down and picked up the second stick. ”This one’s showing two pink lines in the little window…”

  JT picked up the third…

  The next thing she knew, Mandy was being showered with kisses by an enthusiastically cheering JT. Before long, the bathroom was crowded—her friends were also there to congratulate them, hugging and just being happy for her and JT in their special moment.

  * * * *

  JT had seemed particularly nervous before today’s game, Mandy had noticed, and wondered if it was under the weight of the news about the baby. She was deliriously happy, her mind so bright with colour that she wished she could wear some sort of mind sunglasses to turn down the light. She giggled aloud at the thought. JT looked over to her from the driver’s seat of his panther-like car, raising an eyebrow in question.

  As usual, JT parked in the team’s reserved parking area. He jumped from the car and after grabbing his bag from the boot, he insisted on helping her from the vehicle, then took Mandy’s hand in his, leading her towards the entrance to the grandstand.

  Mandy was floating along, happily touching her tummy all the time in wonder. She hadn’t even noticed that they had stopped. The sound of cheering and clapping had Mandy looking around wondering what was going on. Finally, she noticed the giant scoreboard—her name was lit up brightly in huge, neon lettering. Mandy read the words written alongside her name.

  ‘Mandy, love of my life

  Make me the happiest man alive

  Agree to be my wife

  I love you

  Jonathon ‘JT’ Thomson’

  Mandy looked back to JT, who was now kneeling in front of her and holding out a ring. Even kneeling, JT was still almost at eye level with her.

  Mandy didn’t mean to wait, but it took a minute for her brain to catch up before she threw her arms around the love of her life and agreed wholeheartedly to be his wife. The sound of cameras clicking and people cheering were almost muted by her happiness and desire for her man.

  After placing the ring on her finger, JT escorted Mandy to her seat next to a teary-eyed Caitlin. Brodie, having used Mandy’s seat to watch the show, stood and clapped JT on the back in congratulations. Mandy was amazed to see the stand nearly full of people who had arrived early, just to see JT’s proposal.

  “Pretty confident there, He-Man. What would you have done if I’d said no?” Mandy asked JT teasingly.

  Looking down at her with a deadly serious expression
, he replied in a slow, sure tone. “Died a million deaths, Mandy. I couldn’t imagine life without you. You are the love of my life.”

  Tears threatened to spill from Mandy’s eyes as her man gently kissed her goodbye and went to prepare for the game. His words had been so heartfelt, they’d caused a shiver to run up her spine and goosebumps to erupt over her skin. She would never forget that simple statement, or the look on his face as JT had answered her.

  Watching the game was getting no easier for Mandy. She still cringed every time JT was involved in any part of the action, only managing to breathe normally at the times he was off the field. Players were often substituted during a match—a fresh player could have an impact in a game as others became tired.

  Mandy was starting to understand a lot more about what JT’s role was in the Jets team. With JT being so strong, it often took many of the opposition players, all working together, to wrestle him to the ground. Even then, JT was often still able to run many metres first. If he passed the ball on to one of his teammates before he went to ground, they could often find a space to run, given the fact that so many of the other team’s players were already distracted by JT. He was also very good at stopping the opposition from running when they had the ball, slamming players hard into the ground before they could get very far.

  Even with her little experience of the game, Mandy could see how talented JT was. No player on the opposite team gave the Jets the amount of trouble that JT gave in return. It was good to have Riley explaining the rules and finer points of the game to her. Mandy was impressed with the boy’s knowledge. She couldn’t say she actually enjoyed the game, but did appreciate the skill involved.