by J. J. McAvoy
“You left me no room to argue.” He snickered softly, rubbing my stomach again. “But it’s going to be a boy, so what was your grandfather’s name?”
“Ulric.”
“Ulric,” he repeated slowly. “Levi, Thea, and Ulric.”
“Levi, Thea, and Willow. It’s perfect, right?” I smiled up at him.
“It would be perfect if we all had the same last name, Ms. Cunning. But no, Mommy wants to wait.”
“Excuse me for not wanting to waddle down the aisle, with no champagne, no dancing, and in a tent of a dress. On top of not be being able to wear my rings because my fingers are huge…”
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.” He took the ice cream from me. “Sure.”
I smacked his shoulder, but he just kept laughing and eating.
“Don’t finish it!’
“We have like nine of these.”
“I’m eating that one.” I snatched it back, and he leaned over and kissed me, his tongue licking the ice cream off mine.
“Ulric, is she even sharing it with you in there?” he asked licking the leftover ice cream off of his lips .
“Don’t you see this stomach growing?” I teased, sticking my stomach out more and he leaned over and kissed my lips, licking the ice cream off my mine.
Just as I leaned into him, he pulled back “I have an idea.”
“What?”
He got off of the couch and rushed past me, toward our bedroom. Lifting the spoon full of ice cream to my mouth, I shook my head and focused on the TV. I didn’t even want to know…
Wait? I should have been more upset with him, shouldn’t I?
Why did I let him off the hook so easily…?
“Oh.” I glanced down at my stomach as the baby moved around again. “You’re on his side already, huh?”
LEVI
“Levi, what are you doing?” she asked as I led her in, blindfolded.
Once she was in, I removed my tie from her eyes. She blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted, and then looked around at all the candles that covered our bathroom, before finally landing on the warm bath drawn for her.
“This is what I wanted, but didn’t know I wanted,” she said happily, turning back to me.
“Forgive me for missing class then?”
She glared, and I pouted, making her fight the urge to laugh. “Only if you help me undress.”
“I’ll do one better,” I said, undressing her, before lifting her.
“Levi, I’m heavy!”
“Not yet, but getting there.” Her hands balled into fists, but the moment her feet touched the water, she forgot all her annoyance and relaxed. Stripping down too, I sat behind her, shivering at the water temperature, it wasn’t cold but it wasn’t nearly as hot as I wished it to be.
“This is nice.” She wiggled a little, getting comfortable, before leaning back against my chest.
Closing my eyes, I listened as she hummed softly, stopping only to ask, “Do you think Kangnam BBQ house will deliver?”
I knew the answer to this question … which meant I was done relaxing for the night.
“I’ll order for pick up.”
BABY: DAY 7
THEA
“Welcome home, Ulric,” I said to him as he stared up at me, with those beautiful hazel-green eyes. Whenever I talked, he always reached up to touch my face. I pulled off the tiny blue and green mitten his grandmother had given him and kissed his fingers.
“Jesus Christ, this snow!” Levi groaned as he shut the front door, the car seat in one hand, and our bags in the other, snow falling from his wool jacket.
“It’s snowing again?” I asked, turning back. We’d spent the week in the hospital because of the blizzard, which was great because we got a lot of tips and help from the nurses. But on the other hand, we’d been stir crazy and so ready to get home.
“Yeah. Just started again. Looks like it’s not over after all,” he replied putting our stuff down by the door and taking off his jacket and scarf. He’d gone in out twice, first to help me bring Ulric inside and then again to get our things.
“Hello, Marshmallow,” he said, kissing Ulric’s forehead.
“Oh no. Don’t call him that, or Bellamy will never let it go.” I laughed, rocking Ulric, as his little arms waved about.
“Like mother, like daughter,” he said, reaching to take off my hat. I maneuvered my neck so he could take off my scarf. “Okay, my turn.”
He reached for Ulric.
Pouting, I kissed Ulric’s hands once more, before gently settling him into Levi’s arms.
“Come to Daddy,” he cooed, bouncing him just like the nurses did. Ulric smiled. “Yes, that’s right. I’m your daddy. You want to see your room?”
“I’m telling you, all this baseball stuff, and he’ll want to take up interpretive dance or something.” The moment I said it, Levi looked up at me as if I’d lost my mind, hugging Ulric to his chest.
“Let’s go see your room before your mommy tries to ruthlessly crush my heart again,” he whispered, headed for the stairs.
Rolling my eyes, I took off my coat, putting it on top of his, as he waited for me.
“I’ll get it,” he said when I reached for the baby bag and car seat.
“Then you’ll have to leave us again. I’ve got to go.” I smiled right behind them. He’d done everything. I knew I gave birth, I knew this was what it was like being parents but still, he was carrying him so why not.
He made a face but Ulric knew just how to make us smile and the moment he looked back down at him, he didn’t even worry about it. He walked back up the wooden steps slowly until he got to the top floor. Up next to him, I closed the baby gate and followed him down towards his bedroom.
“What do you think?” he asked, lifting him a little so he could see the room.
Almost all of the walls were a navy blue with the exception of the wall adjacent to Ulric’s crib. There, the wall had been perfectly wallpapered with the image of a giant baseball. So it was mostly white with the red stitching of the baseball on the corner. In the center, written in Boston Red sox font, was the letter U…and that was just the beginning. The changing table sat on top of the dresser, which he’d painted red. Written in bold white lettering, it read, “Fenway Park,” along with “Red Sox Nation,” and the words “World Series Champs,” and around that in small numbering the years, “2004, 2007, 2013,” and then “20 ” with space next to it. Apparently for the year Ulric would win one. Still not done…closing the door, he showed him the jersey onesies he’d gotten in both red and white. The name BLACK embroidered on the back over the number 23rd which was originally my due date.
“What do you think? A champ room for a future champ?” he asked Ulric.
Sitting down on the rocking chair, I watched as they walked around the room, Levi giving him the grand tour. When I met him, he seemed more into music and law than baseball. His house was orderly and elegant. Sure, he had a few baseball things. Like a beer opener and a jersey. But it was Boston, so it was hard to find anyone who didn’t have stuff like that. It was only when I moved in, and baseball season started, that he came out like a drag queen at Mardi Gras.
“Pitcher or catcher?” he asked, lifting the baseball mitt in front of him.
Dear God, please let this kid love baseball.
PREGNANCY: MONTH 6
THEA
“I can’t believe you’re letting them do this.” Bethan shook her head. Levi and Tristan were currently painting the nursey, both of them wearing old ripped jeans and crew cut t-shirts, listening to the game on a radio, which sat in the corner on top of the painting surface shields.
“Let them paint, or make the nursery a baby baseball cave?” I asked, cutting lemons for the lemonade.
“Both,” she replied, shaking her head as she reached for one of the chocolate cookies. “Tristan tried … even after we found out we were having a girl, but I told him he could pick three things; he chose a pink baseball bat she doesn’t use, a Red Sox shirt I can’t
find, and a baseball, which she drew on and tried to make a doll out of. Successfully killing his dreams of coaching the next Dot Richardson.”
“I have no idea who that is?” But then again I didn’t know shit about baseball so what else was new.
“Kickass woman who dominated in the ‘70s.” She lifted her fist proudly, which was weird for many reasons, but the fact she also didn’t like softball was the most important. Understanding the look I was giving, her she grabbed for a sugar cookie this time. “Just because I didn’t like baseball, doesn’t mean I can’t proudly applaud anyone who’s a kickass bitch in their field.”
I smiled. She had a point.
“Excuse me? Ma’am?”
We both turned to see a short, balding, construction worker, standing at the French doors. Bethan looked at me to remind me I was the ma’am he was talking to…because I was…duh.
“Yes? Is everything okay?”
He nodded and handed me a slip. “This is the invoice for the other supplies.”
Wiping my hands, I took it, and Bethan leaned in, nosily trying to read it too.
“Fourteen grand for glass? Glass what?!” I gasped, but before he could reply, the paper was snatched away by Levi, who was now wearing a red sox baseball cap backwards on his head. He nodded as he read over it. Then pulled out a blank check from his back pocket. He patted his pockets for a pen and Tristan handed him one while taking one of the cookies.
“Here you go; use whatever is leftover for the … other stuff,” he said, handing him a check and leaving me to watch fourteen grand walk out a pair of white French doors to the unknown.
“What are you building out there? That costs fourteen grand?” I asked him.
“It’s more than that, but didn’t someone say we aren’t joining bank accounts until a time, which you have not yet given.” He winked and took one of the cookies. When he did, paused chewing slowly.
“What? Is it bad?” I asked.
“Thea these are—”
“Just practice ones.” Levi cut Tristan off taking a couple cookies while Tristan stole juice boxes. Levi kissed my cheek; “Keep at it, we’ll get rid of these for you.”
“Hey!” I hollered as they made a run for it, laughing. “At least take napkins or something!”
“Children in a grown men bodies.” Bethan shook her head as she ate a cookie and I crossed my arms. “What?”
“These are for your daughter!”
She frowned. “Kids get everything.”
I laughed at her. Everyone in our families were kids apparently. I moved to get a new tray and more batter.
“How much you want to bet he’s making an indoor baseball field out there?” Bethan asked after the boys left the room.
I groaned. I doubted that was the case, but I was tired of baseball. “Why do they love baseball so much? Other than the obvious.”
“They played in college, didn’t you know?”
I frowned because I didn’t, and Levi and I had talked about college a lot. “Only for the first season; they both got in some fight. Levi hurt his shoulder. Tristan was bruised up, but nothing that bad. He felt guilty, though, since he was the one driving.”
Putting down the knife, I just stared at her, shocked. “Why has no one told me about this?”
“I think they’re sworn to secrecy or something.”
“What?”
“I’m serious. I didn’t find out for a while after it happened either. And when I’d asked Levi about it, he’d said not to worry. Tristan had just said it was his fault, and Levi had forgiven him. Pretty much it. Guys are weird like that.
I tried to think of what they could have possibly fought over, but nothing came to mind. This would bug me. And not only because I didn’t know all the details, but because Levi had never thought to tell me in the first place.
“These are for Bellamy, remember?” I said, as she grabbed another cookie from the plate. “You’re crazy … you know that. If you eat all of this, how will you face those women tomorrow?”
She froze, slowly putting juice back down on the kitchen counter. “I hate them so much. I know I’m not supposed to say that. But Thea … I. Hate. Them.”
“Come on, they can’t—”
“They are worse,” she said seriously. “Because they are much better at being underhanded than they were as teenagers. I grew up with these people. You know how some families have a black sheep? Well, I was the black sheep of my whole preppy high school. I didn’t care about all the stuff they did, and for some reason, that made me the weird one. Whatever. I survived. But now, it’s like every time I buy store-bought cookies, I’m a bad mom. I don’t spend an extra hour curling my daughter’s hair, I’m a bad mom. Which hurts to hear. But what hurts more is that she’s now a reflection of me. She’s the black sheep’s daughter, and I don’t want her to just survive. I want her to have a good time and thrive in school.”
She put her hands on her head, and I handed her another cookie, which made her laugh and sniffle. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“No, it’s okay.” I’m glad she felt comfortable enough to tell me why she seemed so down. “Truth be told, this whole becoming a mother thing…”
“Is scary,” she finished.
I nodded. “Levi and I were talking about it when I worked the Rita Gibbs case.”
“The lady who killed her kid—”
“Accidentally,” I cut in, and I wished I didn’t, because I felt like Levi now.
“You won, right?”
I frowned. “No one won. I mean, she doesn’t go to prison, but she still lost her kid. On top of all the other stuff that has happened to her. I mean, she was twenty. Her parents kicked her out for running off with the bastard that eventually left her. She had no money and could barely produce any milk, how was she supposed to know she shouldn’t give her infant water sometimes? I didn’t know water was deadly to infants did you?”
She shook her head no. “I barely knew how my vagina worked when I was twenty, let alone anything about kids.”
“Exactly.” Which was why her case, though I won, still made me teary eyed. “She wanted her kid. She loved her kid. It was accident and it was…it was just sad. When you’re a mother, one wrong can equal disaster.”
“And everyone is judgy. I saw all the girls at Bellamy’s school wearing this cute petticoat that came in all different colors. So, I went to buy it for her, and it cost over a grand. A thousand dollars for a four-year-old’s jacket. I knew it was ridiculous. I knew she’d outgrow it and I’d be throwing away that money, but I felt so bad, I gave in and bought it. And guess what?”
“It didn’t fit?”
She shook her head. “The girls started to wear a new coat. I was so pissed. I’m sure one of their moms did it on purpose.”
“You really don’t want to move another school?” The pressure was ridiculous.
She exhaled deeply. “My mom is on the board of Paramount Hills; Levi and I went there, and it’s a good school. Plus, we do get a huge legacy discount, so it’s much cheaper than sending her to another private school. One time I joked about sending her to public school and Tristan was pissed saying why do I work so hard if my daughter can’t go to the best school blah blah blah.”
I laughed at her. If you met both Levi and Bethan you’d never realize they came from such rich families. They were so down to earth and I guess that was because of their parents…well mostly Denise. She’d been a stay-at-home mother. But before that, Levi had told me that since she was a dancer, she’d gotten to meet so many people from diverse backgrounds that she understood how lucky she was. The one story he’d shared was how she had lost a recital to this girl with Mexican heritage. She was obviously disappointed until she saw the girls ballet shoes, which were so old and worn out they were almost falling apart. She’d asked the girl about it and apparently she couldn’t afford a new pair, but with the prize money, she finally could. It had left such an impression on her that she made sure to let Levi and Bethan un
derstand how blessed they were.
“Thea?” Bethan asked.
“I was just thinking … your parents really succeeded with you both.” I wiped my hands and waddled around the counter to the gray loveseat, and my back pillow.
“They did, didn’t they?” She sighed, and walked to the couch, allowing herself to fall onto it. Turning to me, she smiled softly. “Thank you for baking for me; I really did learn a lot.”
“No problem. Just promise, when I’m having a Mommy Freak Out Moment in the future, you’ll come to talk me off the ledge.”
She laughed. “Deal, but I can tell you’ll do great.”
“How?”
“You remind me of my mom.”
“I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, seeing as how I’m screwing her son.”
“Ahh…” She groaned, rolling over, covered her face with her hands. “I take it back … don’t give me mental pictures.”
“Sorry. Sorry.”
Calming down, she looked up at the ceiling. “What I meant, is you’re kind, and smart, and you can fit in no matter what’s going on around you; you make it easy, too. At the last New Year’s Eve party, seeing you and Levi, it was like watching my parents again. Totally lovely and regal-like.”
“You and Tristan—”
“Are introverts.”
“Bethan, you own three bars now.”
“Yeah, because…” She thought about it. “I like how everyone just blends into this mess of people. No one is really standing out. Just everyone trying to get drunk and have a good time. Tristan’s the quiet and reserved one. I think we have four friends between us.”
“Well, until our wedding, you can count me as your second friend,” I said to her.
“You are so totally family zoned. Look at you, baking cookies for my daughter, your niece, pregnant with my nephew. Marriage or no marriage, you’re family. I’m kinda shocked you guys haven’t even set a date yet.”
“Shh!” I put my hand on my stomach glanced at the door to the nursery. “Don’t get Levi started. He tried to walk me toward the marriage registrar when we were at the courthouse for a case.”
