Home Is Wherever You Are (25 page)

When we lay cuddling, she looked up at me. “So, no more condoms?” she commented.

I leaned down and kissed her lips lightly. “If it happens, it happens,” I said with a shrug, causing her to smile.

“Thank you,” she said and started moving like she was ready for round two, but then Abraham started to fuss.

I swear I was going to make that boy’s dating life a nightmare.

Chapter 42 - Just a Little More

We had
not
been trying for a baby for six months now.  I said not been trying, because it was very different from when we had been trying the first two years we were married. Addy seemed content and didn’t worry if she was pregnant or not. Like she said…if it happened, it happened. The problem was I wanted it to happen. I mean come on, I should have been able to knock up my wife, right?

I did my best not to show my frustration, but Kyle talked nonstop about his wife being pregnant. He complained most of the time, so I guess it helped me not to feel too bad about Addy not being pregnant yet.

After talking with Addy more about it, we decided I should flip one house a month. I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t a sure thing with Josh buying it. The other change we made was I would do it during the week, when the kids were at school. I guess it was easier to handle if she had some time alone, and I made sure we had our grocery shopping date on Saturday. Still, being away from her sucked so much. I did make sure I was in town for when she was ovulating. Even if she didn’t know it, I did. She might not have been trying for a baby, but I was.

She had finally weaned our chunky monster, Abraham. Her breasts were finally mine! He was just over a year old, and I had to say I was thrilled, when he took his first steps away from Addy to come to me. I might have danced around a little in excitement, causing Addy to laugh and join in. I had been able to spend more time at home with her and my children, since I had started working with Josh. I would be gone for a week, but I would take two off to make it up to everyone, especially Addy. Thank heaven for naptimes, I really just couldn’t get enough of her.

I thought we were on the same page, but I was shocked to find out we weren’t, when one naptime, she pulled out a condom. “I’m ovulating, so let’s bag it,” she said.

It was enough to make me go limp…well, almost. “Babe?” I looked at her confused.

She sighed. “Matthew, where are we going to put another baby? There’s no room in this house, you were right the first time.”

I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t. Then I got a brilliant idea. “I can build a shed-slash-workshop office in the backyard,” I offered. “We can make that room the nursery,” I begged.

“What about school?” she asked. “You’re almost done, how am I supposed to go with a bunch of kids and you out of town for a week at a time?”

I hated that she was making sense, and I was sounding like the unreasonable one. I rolled away from her and closed my eyes. I didn’t know why it was so important before, but now I was disappointed that my wife wouldn’t let me knock her up. That was until I felt her mouth on me, and I suddenly didn’t give a crap.

We were bagging it now, but I built the shed anyway, you know, just in case she changed her mind.  Besides, I found out that it was tax deductible, and we really needed that deduction right now. The accounting classes were paying off.  By tax season, I had the business under control and paid the taxes with ease. It didn’t hurt that our savings was a nice nest egg now.  Things were looking up.

It was five months later that I found Addy sitting on the floor crying, when I got back from my week in Houston. The flip had gone well, and Josh already had a buyer lined up when I sold him the house, so he gave me a two-thousand-dollar bonus. I was thinking about taking the kids to Disneyworld this summer. They had really gotten into the princess thing, and I couldn’t help but spoil them. I had talked to Addy about it on the phone last night, and she said she would look up the cost on the internet. She had sounded so happy, so I was a little stunned to find her sitting on the living room floor crying.

“Baby?” I grabbed her in my arms, fearing the worst. “What’s wrong, what happened? Where are the kids?”

“School and napping,” she said, not giving me any clues.

“Why are you crying?” I asked and saw that she was watching TV.

“Because it’s just so sweet. The wipes were fragrance-free, and the baby just cuddled his mommy.”

Okay, I was freaking lost. Her period was due, and she was usually bitchy, not weepy. “Baby, are you okay?” I asked.

She burst into tears again, and I picked her up, taking her into our room. We had moved little Abraham into Adam’s room, or the boys’ room as we called it, three months ago now, so her crying didn’t wake him up. “You’re so sweet and wonderful. I’m so sorry, honey.”

Now I was worried.

“Why, baby, what are you sorry for?” I asked.             

“Because I ran off when they took the girls.”

I was a little surprised she had brought that up. That had been a long time ago, and I trusted her now. “I should’ve stayed with you,” she sobbed harder. “I see how much you love them. You’re such a good daddy.”

I was getting nowhere. “I know you’re sorry, baby, we talked about it. I know you won’t take off on me again.”

She opened her eyes wide and shook her head no. “I’d never, sweetie, never again. I don’t ever want to be without you.”

I heard a knock on the front door. “Let me get that, honey.”

I slipped out of the room, more confused than ever. That was until I opened the door to my mom, who handing me a pregnancy test. “Your wife asked me to pick this up for her. I’m so glad you’re home early, so she can take it with you here. I’ll leave you to it, but you’d better call me in the next few minutes with the results,” she warned.

I turned back and saw there were two empty water bottles where she had been sitting. I guess she was preparing for this. I couldn’t help but feel a little giddy and hopeful. It would sure explain the crying and moodiness.

When I walked in, I waved the box at her with a big grin, and she giggled, throwing herself into my arms. “So, let’s do this.” I would admit it was a stupid thing to say, but I was charged up and excited. I felt a touchdown coming on.

She took the little box, and much to my chagrin, she wouldn’t let me in for the peeing part. But she opened the door, so I could stand over and watch, as two little pink lines appeared in the window. I was wrapping her up in my arms, spinning her around and shouting for joy. She was laughing and told me to be careful with her, and at that, I quickly set her on the vanity, kissing her and then her stomach. “We’re having a baby.” I couldn’t have been more thrilled. I knew with as emotional as she was right now, I wouldn’t be flipping houses for a while, and I was okay with that. I didn’t want to miss a second of this with her.

Kyle was taking time off, because their little girl, Abbey, was teething now. When I talked to him, I asked him if he would be interested in flipping houses with me. He was all for it. He had been doing the majority of the handyman work, and business had been slow as of late.

Addy and Darlene got together and talked babies. They were hoping our new addition was a girl. The boys were rooting for another boy.

Kelly called us two weeks later and told us she was three months pregnant with twins. They had gone the IVF route, when it just didn’t happen that first year. Turned out Jason’s count was a bit low.  That might have explained why he was so mellow. They hadn’t said anything, because they had wanted to make sure it took.

My mom and Leon were just thrilled they were getting more grandbabies. I had to admit, I had been a little nervous about welcoming him into the family. He had never done anything but love my mom and family, so I finally broke down and called him Daddy C like Kyle.

He wasn’t Kyle’s dad, but I guess he had been working for Leon since he was sixteen, and Kyle had lost his dad when he was ten, so he felt like Leon was his dad.

“Matthew!” my wife called to me, sounding upset. “Get your son!” She was pissed, but I was guessing she was talking about Abraham, because he was squealing and running from her. I picked him up and realized he was very sticky. I held him out and saw he had a white bottle in his mouth, but it wasn’t a milk bottle…no, it was a bottle of flavored lube.

Addy came huffing in. Her pregnant belly was growing fast. She snatched the strawberry-flavored lube from our son. “I told you to put this in the top bathroom medicine cabinet. You know…the one with the lock!”

I shrugged. “It was full. It’s non-toxic,” I offered in my defense. She was not pleased.

She glared at me. “NO LUBE FOR YOU!” she said, storming out and slamming our bedroom door. I was left with our sticky sweet boy, who was now looking worried. I was sure he had thought he was just getting into some candy.

I took him upstairs and got him cleaned up and dressed again. It was about time to get the kids, so I decided I would do that, trying to get on Addy’s good side. Everyone had started school but Abraham this year, and it was probably a good thing, because Addy had been having a tough time this go around.  Since I was working more at home, I started taking more classes online. I was three credits away from my bachelor’s degree in accounting.

It turned out that Kyle was enjoying the house flipping business. He was thinking of going somewhere else, where the housing market was better and doing it on his own. Darlene wasn’t thrilled, but she liked the money. There was talk of moving out of Woodville, and that made my girl sad. The fact that she was pregnant and upset just made her miserable.

I got the kids and dropped off David and George at Kyle’s. Darlene thanked me, and I didn’t miss how she was fighting tears. I didn’t know what to say, so I just left. I texted Kyle and told him to call his wife, because that was as close to comforting Darlene as I would ever come.

The kids ran like mad monkeys out the back door and started playing on the swing/gym set I had built for them. I had to admit, it felt really good to do stuff with my hands. I let Abraham go and asked Gabby to keep an eye on him while they played. She walked over, picking him up and setting him in the baby swing, and I knew he was good to go. I set out a box of cookies and a pitcher of Kool-Aid with cups next to it, because I knew they would be coming in for a snack in about five minutes. I just hoped they didn’t forget to bring the baby in, too.

I found my wife crying in our room. She had been doing this a lot, but my mom said that was normal. I just pulled her into my arms, and she whacked me. I sighed and let go of her. “What is it?” I asked, trying not to be upset.

“You,” she hissed then sobbed more.

“What did I do?” I asked. “I got the kids, they’re playing outside, and I left out a snack for them.

“The baby carrots?” she asked. She had been pushing those things on everyone, since she had bought the five-pound bag. We were all baby carrot-ed out, and there was still another three pounds to go.

“Cookies,” I said with caution.

I got another whack and an upset wife. “You leave the flavored lube out and feed them cookies? What will the neighbors think?” she snapped.

“That we have a healthy sex life and great metabolism?” Yeah, I shouldn’t have said that.

She whacked me with a pillow and walked over to the window. She watched the kids play and then turned back to me, crying again. I held her, wondering if she was going to end up with another sinus infection. It would be the fourth this pregnancy.

“I’m so sorry,” she started, and I knew her mood was swinging the other way. “I didn’t mean it. Please don’t be mad at me. Do you still love me? I’m so fat.” And now she was bawling full force.

I held her tightly, so she knew what I was saying was true. “I love you, baby, so much, and I think you and your little pregnant belly are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen,” I pinched her nipple for good measure.

“We’re out of lube,” she said pouting.

I laid her back on the bed. “That’s okay. I have my own,” I said, flipping my tongue at her, and she giggled. I was relieved I could make my girl smile, and moments later, I made her moan.

Yeah, life was good.

Chapter 43 - Fit for a Baby

Getting ready for the baby was a bit crazy. We painted the room and dug out the crib from the attic.  We had found out we were having another girl.  The girls all cheered, and Adam taught Abraham how to do a pouty lip. He didn’t really care. He just knew that when Adam pulled it, he was supposed to do it, too. I had to admit the pair was really adorable.

With the encouragement of Addy, I flipped two more houses and added to our savings. Kyle and Darlene moved to Dallas, because the variety of houses to flip there was better. Addy was upset, but my mother helped by sticking close and brought Kelly along to cheer her up. Kelly had decided to stay home with her children. She was able to get Addy excited about having the baby, even if Darlene was not there with her.

Kelly had found out she was having a boy and a girl. They were elated, as they had worried that this would be their only chance to have children, so they were thrilled to have one of each.

Daniel had taken it upon himself to take the kids to school in the mornings. They thought it was so cool that they got to ride in his squad car. Leon would pick them up in the afternoon. My mother stayed with Addy during the day to help with Abraham, because the doctor insisted she take it easy, and then when she didn’t, Dr. Stewart put Addy on bed rest. She was frequently having pains, and it was worrying me. When she finally reached thirty-seven weeks, she was allowed up again, but she needed to watch her blood pressure. I decided it was time I took off work and cared for my family myself.

We spoke of names for our little girl and decided to stick with “G” names to match Gabby and Genny. We picked the name Giulianna, and when we told the girls why, they were thrilled.  They quickly made a makeshift bed in their room and insisted they wanted to share it with the new baby.  I was not sure how long this positive attitude would last, but I hoped it would hold.

I was getting my wife settled, when I heard a knock at the door. She wanted to get it, but I gave her a pointed look, telling her to stay on the couch. She rolled her eyes, annoyed at me, but stayed put.

I was surprised to see a nervous-looking Josh standing there, and I was immediately worried there was something wrong with the last house I had sold him. “Hey,” he said, but nervously pulled on his collar.

“Is everything alright, Josh?” I asked.

“Yeah, I mean no.”             

“Is something wrong with the last house I sold, or are you having a problem with something?” I asked.

“No, no, nothing like that.” He looked past me to my wife sitting on the couch. “It’s Tamera.”

My wife glared at him, and I went to push him outside, but he wouldn’t let me. “I can’t have you upsetting my wife.”

“I wouldn’t if it wasn’t important.”

“She wants nothing to do with her mother.”

“Matthew, she’s in the hospital,” Josh pleaded, and I stopped pushing him out.

I looked back at my wife, who was looking down her at hands in her lap. “If you upset her, I’ll kick you out, friend or not, Josh. The doctors don’t want her upset.”

He nodded and stepped forward nervously. “She needs an operation,” he said nervously, “but they need the next of kin to okay it.”

“So have your dad okay it.”

Josh rubbed his face. “They aren’t married. Addy’s still considered her next of kin. It’s a small town, they know you’re her daughter, and they won’t let anyone do anything until you come down to the hospital.” Addy hadn’t said a word and made no move to go. “Addy, please, I know she made your life hell, but she makes my dad happy.”

At that, she glared at Josh. “What did she do now? Another overdose, but you caught her in time?” She shook her head. “No, Josh, if she wants to kill herself with drugs, then let her be. Who am I to go against her wishes?” she snapped, and I was at her side, trying to calm her.

Josh looked like he was about ready to yell at her, but I gave him a worried look. He needed to keep his cool and not escalate this fight. I watched as he took a couple of deep breaths and then started again.

“It wasn’t drugs. Her body’s damaged from years of abuse, but she hasn’t had any relapses, Addy, she’s still clean. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done, and now it’s catching up to her. I’m not sure what the details are. They wouldn’t talk to me or my father, because we’re not family. Just, please, can you come to the hospital and sign the okay, or just sign a paper giving dad power of attorney over her, please?”

My wife was pacing angrily, and I caught her arm. “Babe, please settle down, or we’ll be going to the hospital for the baby instead.”

She let out a sigh and rested her hand on her belly. She started to cry. “I don’t want to go down there. I don’t want to see her.”

I quickly pulled her into my arms. “You don’t have to see her, baby, you’d just have to sign a paper, and then we could leave.”

She looked up at me sniffing. “You want me to go?”

“I think we should go and just sign the paper giving Reed power of attorney, and then we can leave. It won’t take long, honey. It’ll be fast. I promise.”

She shook her head and pushed away from me. Josh was looking desperate, but I gave him a look to let him know I was on his side. I might have not liked Tamera, but that didn’t mean I wanted her to die.

“Addy, you need to do it, or you will regret it,” Josh tried again.

“NO! She’s finally getting what she deserves!” she shouted angrily. “Her drugs were always so much more important to her than me.  Well, then she can let them take care of her now! They can sign the damn paper!”

She was obviously having a mood swing, and Josh looked panicked. I didn’t think he had ever been around a pregnant woman long enough to see a mood swing like this. She grabbed a throw pillow and threw it at my head.

“She never loved me! She only took me, because she knew it would hurt my father! She used me for my name and identity and left me to fend for myself against the monsters she brought home! I was just a baby!” She was getting hysterical, and I was really getting worried. Then she started to sway. I quickly caught her, laying her out flat.

“Josh, I need you to stay with the kids. I need to take my wife to the hospital. Dinner’s in the oven,” I said, as I kicked open the front door and headed for my truck with Addy in my arms. I would be damned if I would let Tamera hurt my wife again.

I called Dr. Stewart, as I sped down the road, and Daniel saw the van fly past and put on the cruiser lights, pulling in front of me to safely lead me to the hospital. He knew there would be no other reason for me to be driving this fast.

When I stopped, he pulled open the back door and helped me get my girl. “What happened?” he asked, as we ran her into the hospital.

“Tamera’s here,” I stated vaguely. A nurse came running up with a stretcher.

“She has high blood pressure and became upset.” I laid my wife down, and Dr. Stewart came running in.

“I’ve got her, Matthew. We’re going to have to take the baby. You’ll need to change.” She nodded to the nurse, who motioned for me to follow her. I quickly signed the consent form for the C-section and then put on sterile clothing and was led back into an operating room, where Dr. Stewart was marking my wife’s stomach.

I took Addy’s hand and prayed silently that she would be okay.

It wasn’t long before Dr. Stewart was pulling a screaming little girl from my wife’s abdomen, and I quickly cut the cord. Once I knew my little Guilianna was fine, I was back at my wife’s side. Dr. Stewart was working fast on her and kept ordering nurses to give Addy all sorts of different drugs as she worked.

“Come on, Addy, stay with me,” Dr. Stewart begged, and that was when it all sank in how horribly serious this was.

The doctor shot a pointed glance at the nurse and then to me, and the nurse put her arm around me. “You need to come with me to the nursery,” she said, trying to pull me away, but I didn’t want to leave my wife.

“NO!” I moved back to Addy, grabbing her hand, “Addy! Addy, please!  You can’t leave me!”

A couple of orderlies pulled me away from her. “Dr. Stewart is doing everything she can to save her.”

“Matthew?” Daniel was standing there and heard what they had said. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” I sobbed, and he took me into his arms.

It felt like years later, when Dr. Stewart came out looking tired. She gave me a soft smile. “I got her stabilized. I don’t think there’s any brain damage, but we can’t be sure until she wakes.”

I signed in relief.

“Can we see her?” Daniel asked.

She nodded yes, and we followed her down the hall to a new room. My Addy lay silently sleeping. “She won’t wake for another hour.  I’ll be here to reevaluate her then.”

Dr. Stewart left, leaving me alone with Daniel and my wife.

“What happened?” Daniel asked.

I shook my head at the memory. “Josh came by. Tamera’s here sick in the hospital. He wanted Addy to come sign the papers for an operation. Addy got mad, thinking Tamera had relapsed or something. Her mood swing made it worse. She was supposed to be taking it easy. I should’ve never let him in the house.”

I felt Daniel’s arm around my shoulder. “It’s going to be fine, boy. It’s not your fault. Tamera should’ve had her affairs in order long before now.”

I shook my head, still upset and fighting tears.

“What about the baby?” Daniel asked carefully.

“She’s fine, I think. She was fine when I last saw her just after she was born. They rushed her out because Addy…” I just started sobbing harder. “I can’t lose her, Daniel, I just can’t.”

“You won’t, you’ll see, she’s going to be fine,” he tried to comfort, but only time would tell.

It was an hour later, and Addy was still sleeping. A nurse brought in little Giulie for us and walked to Addy’s bedside, while Daniel and I cooed at the baby girl.

“She looks just like her momma,” Daniel commented.

He was right. Giulie was her mother’s daughter. I looked up, when I suddenly heard moaning. The nurse was waking up my wife.

“Good evening, Mrs. Martin, we have a little girl who’s hungry, and Dr. Stewart said you were cleared for feeding.”

Addy let out a sigh, and I was by her side, holding her hand.

“Dr. Stewart said she was coming back to check on Addy. Why isn’t she here?” I asked, disgruntled that this nurse was bugging my wife.

“There was another emergency C-section. She’s busy with the mother now,” the nurse informed me and turned back to Addy smiling. “How are you feeling?” 

Addy started shifting in bed, but the nurse stopped her. “Don’t try and sit up using your stomach muscles. If you want up, you need to push with your arms.”

Addy nodded in understanding.

“How are you feeling, babe, are you alright?” I asked.

“Yeah, I think, I feel like I was hit by a truck, but everything works,” she said, wiggling her toes. “Now, where is little Giulie?” she asked and looked expectantly at her father, who was holding the little pink bundle.

He brought her over smiling. “She’s a beauty, and she looks just like you, sweetheart.” He kissed my daughter’s head and passed her to Addy.

“Do you feel up to trying to feed her?” the nurse asked.

“Yeah, sure,” Addy said, using her arms to shift again.

“I’m just going to go get some coffee.” Daniel never was good around a nursing mother.

He came back two hours later with his hand bandaged. “What happened to you?” I asked.

He just shook his head at me. Addy gave him a worried look, but he countered it with a “don’t ask” look. After the baby fell back asleep, I put her in the basinet, and Addy soon fell asleep as well. Now that it was just us men, I turned and gave a pointed look at Daniel’s hand.

“I ran into Reed in the cafeteria. Let’s just say it didn’t end well,” he said cryptically. “That bastard screws around with my ex-wife, and then he nearly kills my daughter, and he still has the nerve to think he’s my friend.”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that. I never really thought much about Daniel’s friendship with Reed. I knew at some point they had been best friends who spent weekends fishing, but now Daniel spent his weekends at our house or with my boys fishing.

“I didn’t realize…” I started, but he cut me off, putting up his good hand.

“They’re sending in a doctor to have Addy sign some damned paper. I’d stop them if I could, but I don’t think I can.”

“It’s alright, Daniel. We’ll get through this.”

It was two hours later that a nurse came in to ask Addy if she wanted to try feeding again. A doctor was on her heels. One I didn’t recognize.

“Hello, I’m Dr. Drake, I’m Tamera…” That was as far as he got, before Addy told him to stop.

“Give me the damn paper to sign and then get the hell out of my room. I don’t want to hear anything,” she stated firmly.

Dr. Stewart came in, glaring at Dr. Drake. “I told you my patient was not to be upset,” she said, checking Addy’s monitors.

“It’s…” Dr. Drake started, only to be cut off.

“I don’t want to hear it, Sean. You know damn well you could’ve waited until she was more stable.” I was really starting to like Dr. Stewart.