Sweet and Sassy Baby Love

by Alicia Street

  “They’ll get over it,” Roberta said. “I hate you having to hide like that.”

  “It’s okay. It’s better for Tony if I don’t. He won’t have to referee.”

  “Men can be a bunch of idiots sometimes.”

  Roberta used words like idiot and the R word to describe certain people of lower intellect or behavior freely, and it bothered Bridget, making her cringe at times, although she understood it was in jest. It was Roberta.

  “They’re probably curious. Tony said he’d never seen a woman nurse a baby.”

  “I guess not. We are a family of men. That’s why I like having you around.” She placed a glass of iced tea on the nightstand. “This will help your milk come in.”

  “Tony told you?”

  “He did. We Googled it this morning.”

  Over a few days, Bridget had noticed that Flynn was hungry all the time, and when she pumped, there wasn’t much there. After a sleepless night, she gave him a supplementary bottle of formula, and he gobbled it right up.

  “Maybe you need to call the doctor,” Tony said.

  Monday morning when she had a break, she called and talked to the nurse practitioner, who didn’t miss a beat. “Could you be pregnant again?”

  Like someone had thrown a bucket of hot mud at her, Bridget’s face contorted.

  “Are you there?” the nurse asked.

  “I’m sorry. Yes, I’m here. I’ll take a test.”

  They said goodbye, and with a heart pounding like a drum in her chest, Bridget got out her calendar. She hadn’t had a period since she’d had Flynn, and the doctor told her it was normal. As if the universe didn’t want her to dwell on it, the alarm blasted, scaring her, so she popped up in her chair. It was central dispatch.

  “Multi-vehicle accident on the fifteen…”

  So the rest of the morning was spent dealing with that, while in the back of her mind, all she could think of was the impact of having another baby. Irish twins, although Flynn was almost five months old, not really. But a newborn and a year-old baby? Putting her head down on the desk, despair was dangerously close to taking over, and then she’d never get through the day. The best thing to do was to focus on work.

  Then she thought of Tony Saint and she smiled, albeit involuntarily. Sweet Tony. He’d returned to the beach that morning when she left for work. Imagining him roughhousing with his brothers at the water’s edge made her smile again. They were a good-looking bunch of men and boys. Younger brother Leon was huge like Big Mike and had a penchant for lifting his brothers over his head and throwing them in the water. On Sunday, he did it one at a time, his older siblings keeping on their toes to stay away from him. They definitely loved each other.

  She didn’t know Tony well enough to predict what his response would be if she was in fact pregnant, but she figured it would be on the upset side of the scale. He’d be worried about the impact it would have on his younger brothers. Obviously, if she was pregnant, the precautions they’d taken were not enough.

  “You’re overreacting,” she said out loud, straightening up.

  Like an omen, her cell phone beeped and it was Tony.

  “I got here and it sucks without you. I should have stayed at your place with the baby.”

  “Aw, you’re so nice. Go, have fun. Your last days of summer at the beach.”

  They made small talk about the calls she’d gotten, the MVA and a small brush fire. Hopefully, things would stay quiet.

  “I’ll go to the Clarks’ and get the baby and meet you at five.”

  “Thank you. I’ll call my mother and let her know. I have to run an errand on my way home. I’ll text when I leave here.”

  The Clarks, as Tony referred to them, loved Tony.

  “A decent boy! Someone with a good job, who respects his parents! It’s an answer to my prayers,” Alice Clark cried, while her husband, Emmett, shook his head.

  “Alice, you’re gonna have a heart attack. Relax. He could be an ax murderer for all you know.”

  “Da, he’s not an ax murderer,” Caitlin said, laughing.

  Tony arrived at three to pick up Flynn, who smiled a huge toothless smile as soon as Tony came into his field of vision. “He turned his head when he heard your voice,” Caitlin said. “How cute is that?”

  Emmett gently elbowed his wife. “Maybe he is an answer to a prayer.”

  “I told you,” Alice whispered.

  On the way to Bridget’s apartment, Tony glanced in the rearview mirror from time to time, aware he wouldn’t be able to see the baby because his little seat was backwards.

  “I’m getting a mirror,” he said out loud.

  Swinging by the department store, he went inside carrying Flynn in his arms and, in the baby department, found exactly what he wanted, a baby backseat car mirror. “I knew they must make something like this.”

  After strapping Flynn in, he positioned the mirror and installed it on the headrest in back so that when he looked in his rearview mirror, he could see the baby.

  “There. Now we can see each other.”

  At home, the first thing he did was heat up a bottle and get into the rocker to feed Flynn. Closing his eyes, he was so relaxed, he dozed off. At five, Bridget came home. She could see Tony and the baby sleeping in the chair, so she quietly put her packages down and tiptoed in. They were so sweet! Her heart swelled with happiness. It was that omen again; she wouldn’t be pregnant, couldn’t be so soon.

  The unanswered question was should she share her concerns with Tony and allow him to be part of the test’s result? Or go through it alone and hopefully have nothing to tell him?

  Anxiety would answer for her; he was sleeping so peacefully, do the test and get it over with. Then if there was anything to tell him, they could deal with it later.

  She went into the bathroom and, familiar with the procedure, did the test, setting it on the sink on a piece of toilet tissue, and waited.

  Pregnant.

  Taking a deep breath, she was glad she knew because now she could plan. Planning was key. She wouldn’t be able to work more because she had Flynn now. She had to think of his well-being as part of the plan.

  Peeking in on Tony, although she trusted him, what if he bolted? It had happened before, stories she’d heard of loving boyfriends who, faced with an unplanned pregnancy, ended the relationship when abortion wasn’t an option. She believed in choice for others, but she had no choice.

  “You’re not having it,” Randy had said.

  “Oh, you’re wrong. I’m having it.”

  But she didn’t love Flynn’s father. She loved Tony, unable to imagine life without him. It was unlikely he’d give her an option. That was not who he was. But the devil in her wanted to imagine what she’d do if he said it. Get rid of it or else. Could she be with someone like that? Never.

  “Hey, you’re home!”

  Sitting on the edge of her bed, she looked up at handsome Tony holding her baby.

  “I have something to show you,” he said, as proud as could be. “Come with me.”

  She followed him out of the apartment, down the steps to his truck. “Look! A baby mirror.”

  “That’s so cool. I wanted one of those.”

  “I got one for your car, too,” he said. “And a shade thingy and an alarm so I can never forget he’s in there when I get out of the truck and a bunch of other stuff.”

  “Oh, how scary,” she said, shuddering. “Thank you so much for caring.” Standing on tiptoes, she kissed his cheek.

  “Let’s get inside. I’m in the mood for takeout from Perone’s tonight.”

  “Perone’s it is,” she said, holding his hand.

  Inside again, she took Flynn. “I’ll give him a bath and try to nurse. He’s not getting much, but he still wants it.”

  “Did you call the doctor?”

  They were in the kitchen and Tony was looking through the menu drawer. When she didn’t answer, he looked up. “Bridget, did you call the doctor?”

  Taking a deep brea
th, she nodded her head.

  “And what did he say?”

  Now he was nervous. What if there was something wrong with her and she didn’t want to worry him?

  “She asked if I could be pregnant again.”

  The look on his face, of utter astonishment, diffused the situation so that she burst out laughing.

  “Wait. Why did she ask that?”

  “Some women can’t nurse when they’re pregnant. It messes with the hormones or something, and their milk dries up.”

  He gently pushed her toward the living room. “Sit down. Do you think you could be pregnant? I was just at the store. I could have bought a test.”

  “Go look on the bathroom sink,” she said, trembling.

  “No way.”

  “I bought it on the way home.”

  “Come with me.”

  “I don’t want to see it again.”

  “Holy Mother of God,” he said in a high squeaky voice, pulling her along.

  “You keep making me laugh! Don’t touch it,” she warned when they got to the bathroom. “I peed all over it.”

  “I don’t care about that.” But obediently, because he didn’t want to embarrass her, he bent down and looked at the test stick. “Pregnant.”

  He took Flynn and sat on the closed toilet and, with his face smashed against the top of the baby’s head, started to blubber. It was so touching, she knew he was probably overwhelmed.

  “I can’t believe it,” he cried. “My own little kid. My folks are going to shit, but I don’t even care.”

  “I don’t either. I’m so relieved you’re not angry.”

  “Why would I be angry? It’s mine, right? That means it’s my fault.”

  “Yes, it’s yours,” she said, laughing.

  “I didn’t mean it like that. What do we do now? I’m clueless about this stuff.”

  “I’ll bathe this guy and put him to bed, and then we can talk.”

  “I got you a tub for him,” he said, wiping his eyes on his shoulder.

  Tony’s caring, generous preparations led Bridget to believe that everything was going to be okay. They bathed the baby together in the new little tub, and later, they sat together while she nursed him, more for comfort than nutrition. Tony had a glass of wine, and Bridget had iced tea by candlelight.

  “I’ll tell you what I’ve been thinking,” she said. “And truly, I think we’ll be okay. You know I’m not afraid to work hard. I just don’t know that my mother and father will want to take care of another baby, and that scares me. Daycare for one I can manage, but daycare for two? It will be expensive. And I don’t know that I’d want them split up.”

  Sitting next to her, he could see she was worrying. “We’ll figure out baby care. For one thing, we’ll only need it three days a week. And if I’m working over a weekend, we’ll only need it one day.”

  The simplicity of it, how he took what had worried her and resolved it in one minute, moved her to tears. “I should have confided in you right away. The childcare thing is what terrified me.”

  “It will only be bad when I’m gone from home for three days,” he said. “Maybe we can get Caitlin to come over and help you out until the baby is a little older.”

  “Maybe. That’s another thing. Telling Alice and Emmett. Ugh.”

  “Ha! We’ll do it together,” he said reassuringly.

  “He’s out cold,” she said, placing her glass on the table. “I’ll put him down, and we can do something about dinner.”

  They went into the little alcove where she’d set up the nursery, and although the space was fine for one baby, it might be stretching it for two.

  “It might be time for us to do something about buying that house I’ve been saving for.”

  “That’s like a fantasy,” she said. “Are we planning on moving out of state?”

  “No, we’re staying right here in San Diego County. It won’t be a mansion.”

  “I don’t need that,” she said. “I just want to be with you and our family.”

  He put his arm around her, pulling her close. “We’re a family.”

  Back in the kitchen, they ate grilled cheese for dinner, forgetting about Perone’s. “What’s next, then?” she asked.

  “We need to concentrate on a home. That’s my concern.”

  “I feel like we should be saving money.”

  “Do you feel like it enough to move in with Roberta and Big Mike?”

  She slapped the table with her palm, laughing. “You’re not serious.”

  “I’m dead serious. This place costs almost two grand a month. With utilities and everything we can save almost twenty thousand by the time the baby is born.”

  “And their goes our intimate relationship.”

  “My room is in back of that place. You saw how big it is, right? My parents will give us space.”

  “Do they have anything to say about it?” she asked, teasing. “I mean, it is their house and all.”

  “We’ll have to ask. But I’m sure they’ll be stoked.”

  “Tony, let’s wait, okay? My rent is paid through September. I don’t want to tell anyone yet. It’s too early. Too much can happen.”

  Hesitatingly, he placed his hand over her belly. “Oh. How sad. I never thought of that. I already have her sleeping in a crib next to Flynn.”

  “Her? It might be another boy.”

  “No, it’s a girl. Since you told me, girl has been on my mind.”

  “I’m so happy we work together.”

  He reached for her hand again, kissing it like he always did. “I’m so happy, too.”

  Chapter Six

  In September after a particularly bad date, Patty Harper had had enough. She was determined to make restitution to Tony before the holidays began. Chances were that his relationship with that girl had about run its course. She’d strung Rick Jackson along, although he was the first to admit the relationship had gone nowhere fast. But they were friends with benefits, albeit somewhat forced from his perspective, but a single guy with no prospects couldn’t be too choosey. Needing a read on what was happening between Tony and the little mother, Patty got in touch with Rick.

  “Now’s not exactly a good time,” he mumbled into the phone.

  “Give me half a break, Rick. I suppose you’ve got someone there.”

  Trying to come up with an excuse why he couldn’t talk to her, he hesitated just long enough. “It’s none of your business.”

  “So you’re alone,” she said, laughing. “I’m not surprised.”

  “You really know how to hurt a guy.”

  “I’m sorry. I need your help and your honesty. How are things going between the Irish lass and Tony?”

  “Who wants to know?”

  “I want to know. I want to get back with him, and I’d like to do it before Christmas.”

  “Ain’t gonna happen. You’re wasting your time.”

  “Why not? As long as he’s breathing, there’s a chance.”

  “I heard through the grapevine they’re moving in with Big Mike so they can save for a house.”

  It was a lie, of course, they’d already moved in with Ma and Pop Saint, but Rick wasn’t telling her that.

  “That makes no sense at all. She has an apartment. I’ve followed him over there before.”

  “Oh, so now you’re stalking him?”

  “Well, actually it was her. I lied. Look, give me a break, okay? Tony and I were together since I was fifteen years old. It’s not easy getting back into the game after being with the same guy you’ve been with all of your life.”

  “You’re wasting your time, Patty. The guy is hooked. You should leave him alone.”

  “When I want your advice, I’ll ask for it. Anyway, come out with me. I’m starving.”

  “If I must, but you’re driving. Pick me up at nine.”

  The next day at the station as Rick began his three-day stint, he looked for Tony, who would be on his way home soon.

  “Buddy, just so you know, I saw
Patty last night, and the girl is itching to make trouble for you.”

  Tony looked at Rick like he was an apparition. “And why are you telling me this? There’s nothing I can do about Patty. If she makes trouble for me, then I’ll deal with it. I was kind of counting on you to keep her busy, give her a new hobby.”

  “No can do. We have zero chemistry.”

  “Is that right? Why’d you sleep with her, then?”

  “I didn’t!”

  “So she’s lying about it? Get real, Rick. Don’t use her like that. No matter what you think, it will hurt her.”

  Without saying more, he walked away. Bridget would be there soon, and he needed to see her, he ached for her. The three nights away from his family were not getting any easier. And now that she was starting to show, they’d be sharing the news with everyone at the station soon.

  “There you are,” he said, waving to her as she got out of the car.

  They embraced and kissed right away, no longer aware of or caring what others thought of them together. “How was it last night?” she asked.

  “Fine. After I talked to you, we had one call, a heart attack in Pala that no one else could get to. What about you? How was Flynn?”

  “He slept through the night again.”

  “I’ll miss you today,” he murmured in her ear. “This being away from each other is getting harder and harder for me.”

  “We’ll be together tonight. I’ll be home as soon as I can. You know, we could ask Big Mike to bring the camper back, and we could live here in the parking lot.”

  They burst out laughing at the same time.

  “I’m laughing, but I wonder. It’s something to think about.”

  “It might be kind of hard with a new baby,” she said softly. “Maybe when we get into our own house, it won’t be so bad. We don’t have much privacy at Roberta and Big Mike’s.”

  “Yeah, I’m not sure how much longer this will work.”

  “Patience, patience,” she said, kissing him again. “I’d better get in there. Be careful. The roads are slick. We had a little rain last night.”