by Mj Fields
“Sorry,” Jade said trying to suppress her smile.
Maggie asked what to write on the birth certificate. Jade looked at Ryan, and he smiled.
“Jade we’ve talked about this, you know what you want to do we will get through it,” she sat down, and he handed her the baby.
“On November nineteenth God gave us Luke Thomas J, the J is for my dad, my brothers and Tommy’s middle initials, his last name is Brooks like his daddy and Momma,” tears formed in her eyes, “His Father is Thomas James Lane.”
Ryan sat behind her on the hospital bed, and she leaned into him.
“That’s perfect, Jade,” Ryan kissed the back of her head.
Tessa looked at Lucas who laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Jade asked.
“LT, Tommy’s all time favorite football player,” he smiled at her. “Thank you Jade, thank you Ryan.”
“It’s pretty perfect Jade. Has he latched on yet?”
“We haven’t tried,” Jade answered.
“Well with a name like that, I bet it won’t be a problem,” she and Jade laughed.
“Tessa Ross,” Maggie scolded.
"Margaret Ross," Tessa crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue.
Jack walked in, and Jade smiled, “Hello Grandpa.”
“Hello baby girl how is TJ,” he asked smiling.
They all laughed, and Jack looked confused.
“Jade—I’ll be back in the morning unless you need me before then, Mom get that boy on her boobies,” Tessa looked at Ryan, “Not you.”
Tessa hugged them and kissed Luke’s little feet. Lucas hugged them all, and they left.
“Pretty good name,” he held her hand as they walked out of the hospital.
“It’s perfect,” she said.
“Follow me to the Brook’s house we can sleep for a few hours?”
“Sure we will,” she laughed.
Chapter 5
Tessa, Kendall, Cassidy, and Phoebe headed to camp after they left the hospital from a visit with Jade.
Tessa turned up the tunes, and they danced and cleaned. Doe camp would soon turn into Deer Camp. Tessa always wondered why she bothered cleaning when it was just going to be full of her father’s old hunting buddies and Alex’s new ones. She would be cleaning it again in a few weeks anyway.
They finished cleaning, and Tessa took Kendall home. She drove back up, and Cassidy brought in a bottle of wine. They drank it, even Phoebe. Tessa had three glasses. They wouldn’t be driving anywhere.
Her phone chimed: it was him.
-Hey baby, what are you doing?…LL
-Just got done cleaning camp, a little later this year than expected. Phoebe, Cassidy and I are staying the night. Just took Kendall home, what are you doing?...LT
-Went to dinner with Jose and a few guys, headed to bed, big game tomorrow! I miss you…LL
-Next week we’ll have five days off together, I miss you too…LT
-Hey my jeweler called, he says he received the package a few weeks ago with a ring, earrings, necklace, and bracelet in it. Apparently someone sent it in to be cleaned because it had gotten wet. You know anything about that? Did the homecoming queen go swimming?...LL
-Fat chance, that was all Alex, and he fished, not swam after the homecoming King threw a temper tantrum…LL
-You would have let it sink?...LL
-Absolutely, and don’t be a butt, you threw it in…LT
-I miss you baby…LL
-Ok, I miss you but your interrupting Doe Camp Lucas, and unless you plan to come paint our toes you better let me go, oh by the way make sure Jose is ready for all this!...LT
-Love you, see you tomorrow…LL
The girls were dancing and very buzzed when the door swung opened.
“Honey I’m home!” Ben yelled.
“Thank God because I have missed your face,” Tessa smiled and hugged him.
“Love that greeting,” he kissed her cheek.
“Hello Ben,” Phoebe looked at Tessa. “Tessa has had a few drinks; please excuse her for a moment.”
“What?” Tessa asked.
“Your boyfriend,” Phoebe said as the music stopped.
Ben laughed and messed up her hair, “You back with that boy Tess? First love takes awhile to get over. You’ll get there.”
“But we’re friends right?” Tessa laughed and hugged him again.
“Yes we are, forever,” Ben hugged her back and chuckled
“You Ben… are interrupting Doe Camp” Tessa stepped away. “I just told Lucas to stop texting me or he would have to come paint our toe nails.”
“Cool, where’s the polish?”
Cassidy grabbed the bag, “Right here-- me first, please!”
Ben painted their toenails and listened to them talk about baby Luke. Alex had already told him, and he had a gift shipped to their house.
“Alright I am going to crash at your house, don’t need Lucas getting mad. You better have breakfast on the table in the morning girl,” he laughed as he walked out the door.
Her phone chimed it was him as she was walking into the kitchen at the farm house.
-Good morning baby, Miles signed with Cleveland, that means more playing time for me, just wanted to share the news, see you soon…LL
-Can’t wait to watch you today Lucas, see you soon, I love you…LT
She had breakfast on the table when Alex and Ben walked downstairs.
“Look at this, you’re a good girl, all showered and looking hot with breakfast on the table, perfect. Now all you need to do is be barefoot and pregnant,” Ben said, and he and Alex laughed.
Tessa glared at him as she cleaned up. Alex went outside, and she ran in the bathroom and threw up. When she finished she stood up and rinsed her mouth she saw Ben’s reflection in the mirror.
“You all right Tess?” Ben asked.
“Yep-- I think I drank too much last night,” she said, “I feel better now.”
“You headed to Lucas’s game?”
“Yes, the starting quarterback signed with the Brown’s last night, Lucas is pretty excited to have more play time,” she said and walked out past him.
“Tess, why did you go back to him? After all that?”
She sat down and told him everything.
“I chose to give myself to him; there is no turning back now.”
“You really believe that Tess?”
“I do.”
“So someone like me that’s had sex with four people is going to burn in hell?” he asked.
She looked down, “No, he forgives us. Who was four?”
He looked down and shook his head.
“What is wrong with the boys I fall for? They all like crazy girls,” she smiled.
“You fell for me, Tess?”
Her face turned red, “I guess I did.”
“Well what happened?”
“The accident,” she whispered.
“Oh I see,” he said and was quiet for a moment. “You love Lucas, Tess?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
“And you loved me?” he asked and held her hand.
“You were different, you were my friend,” She said and looked at him.
“AM your friend Tess, always,” he said.
“Why did you sleep with Lauren?”
“I’m not sure why, now,” he said looking at her.
She looked into his brown eyes. He looked away and laughed.
“I guess I’m human,” she was still looking at his eyes. “Tess, you're making me uncomfortable.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she looked down. “Thank you Ben.”
“For what?”
“For being you,” she smiled and got up.
Chapter 6
Lucas was a rock star; he and Jose connected the same way that he and Tommy used to. She paid no attention to Jenny but felt her staring. When the game was over, Lucas walked up and picked her up and kissed her. She waited for him outside the locker room and he walked out. Jenny didn’t
try to talk to him, good, she thought.
“Hey baby,” he lifted her and spun her around.
“Hey yourself my hotty Rock star,” she kissed him again.
“Dinner?”
“Sure, or do you want to go to camp or see little Luke?”
“All of the above,” he said and took her hand and walked to the Jeep.
She tossed him the keys, “You drive.”
“Okay,” he said.
He got on 81, and he looked at her, she was biting her lip and looking down at him, he smiled.
“Baby what are you thinking?” he asked and kissed her hand.
“Nothing,” she said and threw herself back into the seat.
He put her hand between his legs. “This is not nothing?”
She stroked him over his pants for a bit and stopped and crossed her arms. She wanted him so badly. He watched her out of the corner of his eye and laughed.
“Shut up Lucas.”
“I just don’t get it.” Lucas chuckled.
“Get what?” she asked.
“It’s all yours you should just take it,” he pulled her hand back where he knew she wanted it.
He pulled her hair gently towards him and kissed her. Her hand moved down unbuttoning his pants. She pulled his erection free and slid her hand down on his hot silky skin. At the base she held him and gently cupped his balls, “That’s nice, Baby,” he moaned.
Tessa felt her face flush as she licked her lips looking at the pearl forming on the tip of his broad purple crown. She stroked him up and down faster.
“Please baby,” he asked and put his hand up her shirt.
“Lucas no,” she squirmed a bit.
“You love me?” he moaned.
She kissed him, “Yes, but I won’t do that again.” Tessa kissed him and rubbed her thumb around the pre cum and he hissed. She pulled her hand away and sat back in her seat.
He laughed, “There are other things I want to try.”
“No, Lucas,” she said sternly.
“I don’t think it’s within your control to tell me no,” he chuckled.
Ha! She thought now it’s really not going to happen!
~
They pulled into Lucas’s driveway and quietly walked in. Ryan was rocking Luke.
“Hey where is Jade?” Tessa asked quietly.
“She is in the bathroom, and she’s very upset,” Ryan said pointing to the gift basket, “The Lane’s left that sometime last night. Go ahead read it.”
The letter stated that they wanted to see TJ and that they could do this nicely or through the courts. They were disgusted that she was married so soon after Tommy’s death. They expected to be able to see him, and they expected to be contacted by the day’s end.
“She is having a hard time nursing she feels like he isn’t getting enough to eat. She’s a mess,” he said and continued rocking.
“Okay well how is Lukie,” Tessa asked, “May I hold him?”
Ryan stood up, and she sat and held him.
Ryan knocked on the bathroom door.
“Tessa and Lucas are here,” he walked in and closed the door behind him.
“Please don’t look at me.”
“You look beautiful,” Ryan said as she slipped her robe over her shoulders.
He took a towel and dried her hair.
“Absolutely beautiful,” he kissed her neck softly.
“Thanks Ryan, but I feel nasty, my stomach and my ass, my boobs would be great except they squirt everywhere,” she put toothpaste on her toothbrush.
“You’re crazy Jade, you look no different to me. And just so you are aware, I want to taste that milk,” he grinned.
She looked up at him trying not to smile.
“I’m crazy?” She laughed, “Don’t you think it’s gross?”
"No Jade-- anything that comes out of that body is very desirable to me," he said flaring his nose.
“Okay you know we can’t do anything for at least six weeks.”
“We can ask at your next appointment. Until then I can take care of myself,” he said, and they laughed.
“Thank you,” she hugged him.
“For what?” Ryan asked.
“Taking my mind off all that stuff,” she said. “I love you Ryan”
“So what’s the plan?” Lucas asked when Jade and Ryan walked in.
Ryan got off the phone with Julie the family law lawyer he had used while fighting his biological parents from trying to regain custody of him and the one he took Jade to a few months back.
“She said we should let them come over and meet him, but no visits with out us present,” Ryan explained as he handed Jade a glass of water.
Jade looked at Tessa, “Will you stay?”
“Of course,” Tessa said.
Jade sent a text and the Lane’s were there within an hour.
“Hello, come in,” Tessa opened the door.
They walked in, and Jade was rocking her son. Jade didn’t look up she just looked at his perfect little face.
“Can I hold Thomas?” Mrs. Lane asked.
Jade looked up, “His name is Luke.”
“Why would you do that? We already discussed this?” she snapped.
“Mrs. Lane, Jade named him Luke Thomas J. the J is after her brothers,” Ryan explained.
“Oh,” she said and looked at Lucas, “I suppose it’s after you.”
“I suppose,” Lucas said coldly.
“May I hold him?” She asked again.
“Could you sit down?” Jade asked softly.
“I guess,” she said, and Jade handed her baby Luke.
“He looks just like Tommy,” she began to cry.
Jade sat on one side of her and Mr. Lane on the other.
“Does he sleep a lot?” she asked quietly.
“During the day,” she said quietly.
“Can you tell me all about him?” She asked.
“Can I ask what your intentions are?” Jade asked.
“To get to know my grandson,” she scowled at Jade.
“I don’t believe you,” Jade said.
“Jade honey…” Ryan started.
“Ryan --so how does it feel to take Tommy’s place?” Mrs. Lane asked.
“I am not taking his place,” Ryan response was kind and gentle.
“Well you most certainly are,” Mrs. Lane snapped.
“Please give me Luke and leave,” Jade said.
“No,” she pulled him closer to her.
Jade looked terrified, “Give me my baby.”
“Give her the baby,” Mr. Lane said.
She cried and then after a few minutes handed him to Jade.
Jade let out a breath and held him closely. He opened his eyes and yawned.
“Hello baby,” tears fell down her face.
She kissed him and held him as she shook. Jade was terrified that they would take him from her. She couldn’t have imagined how much someone could love something so small. He held her heart in his tiny little hands and he didn’t even know it yet. Jade stared at his face as she took deep calming breaths. He absolutely looked like Tommy. Perfect and beautiful. She closed her eyes and knew that the Lane’s hearts must be breaking because hers would never be the same if they took him from her.
“Would you like to hold him?” She asked Thomas.
Thomas Lane was a calm gentle man. He reminded Jade of Tommy. The way he looked at his wife, even when he knew she was wrong, love poured from his eyes.
“I would Jade, thank you,” Thomas said.
He looked at him and smiled. “Hello Luke, you’re beautiful, your father would sure love you.”
“He would wouldn’t he?” Jade fought her tears.
“He looks happy Jade, your going to be a great mother,” Thomas said.
“He’s going to want to eat in about five minutes,” she said.
“Can I feed him?” he asked.
“No sorry, you don’t have the right parts,” Jade blushed.
Tessa made
dinner and Ryan invited them to stay. Mr. Lane accepted.
Jade held Luke close and sat next to Mrs. Lane when dinner was at the table. They both looked nervously at one another most of the time.
“I want him to know you. I won’t keep you from him,” Jade whispered.
By the end of the meal, Mrs. Lane was holding her grandchild in her arms telling him about the son she lost. Jade looked at Thomas Lane several times and each time he smiled softly, appreciatively at the mother of his beloved son’s child easing Jade’s angst and fear, just like Tommy would have wanted.
Chapter 7
The week went by fast. Neither Tessa nor Lucas had class on Wednesday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Lucas and Jose spent the night at camp with Alex and Ryan. Tessa was going to Jade’s with the girls to hang out with baby Luke.
Tessa left Jade’s at five in the morning to help her mother make Thanksgiving dinner. She got out of the Jeep, and threw up immediately. Ben walked out of the barn with rope.
“Tess… are you okay?”
“Yes,” she wiped her mouth, “I must still have a little bit of a bug.”
“Okay, can I get you anything?” Concern shown in his eyes.
“No thank you, just don’t say anything, please. I don’t want everyone trying to baby me.”
He looked at her, “Tess you sure you're alright?”
“See just like that, I am fine, go I don’t know, hang something with that,” she laughed pointing at the rope.
“Should I hang Lucas?” he winked at her and she shoved him in jest.
He got in his truck and pulled out. He watched as she threw up again in his rearview mirror.
~
Jade brought baby Luke and Tessa did her best to stay away, she didn’t want him to get sick.
They all ate Thanksgiving dinner swapping hunter tales, and chatting about Football. When the guys all went to watch football Tessa helped clean up. She packed up a bunch of left over’s, sweet potatoes, scalloped corn, green bean casserole, and turkey insisting Jade and Ryan take it home.
When most everyone had left Tessa showered and sat on Lucas’s lap and fell asleep to him rubbing her arm lightly up and down.
Lucas, Alex, Phoebe, Ben, and Jose were watching a movie when Tessa jumped out of a sound sleep.
“You okay Baby?”
"Yes,” she got up and ran to the bathroom, just in time.
When she was done getting sick she walked out to the kitchen and made them all popcorn.
