Punk Rock-A-Bye Baby(22)

“We can’t keep you against your will, but I recommend that you stay here for the night,” the doctor stressed again.

“I think you should stay, baby.” Jessi agreed with the doctor. “I don’t want to take any chances.”

Her wrinkled brow and the anxiety in her eyes hadn’t subsided. Angel had the same worrisome expression. Tommy hated that he was the cause of their grief, but he wasn’t staying in the hospital, and he slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry, hon.”

“We’ll hire a private nurse,” Angel said adamantly. “That’s not negotiable, Tommy.”

Tommy let out a deep breath that deflated him. He didn’t have the energy to argue. “Okay. If that’ll make you feel better.”

They returned, not to their private getaway, but to a two-bedroom suite at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort. It was pretty friggin’ luxurious, except that a strange woman was hovering around, not really saying anything, but watching Tommy like he was going to drop to the floor at any minute.

Tommy sat on the couch with his Les Paul on his knee, not playing, just holding her, and reflected on the fragility of life. Jessi and Angel were on either side of him, where they had been stationed since the accident. He could read everything in their eyes and in their faces – what would they do without him?

It was a needless worry. He wasn’t going anywhere. He had a baby to make.



Chapter Seven

Sixteen Weeks Later

“Are you ready to find out what color to paint the nursery, Mrs. Blade?”

They had gone over whether or not to find out the sex of the baby a million times. Jessi wanted to know, Angel wanted it to be a surprise, and Tommy couldn’t make up his mind. “I’m ready,” she answered. “But I’m not sure about these two.”

Tommy and Angel both sat to her left, while the doctor poised with the ultrasound wand over her belly and the monitor turned away from them. She didn’t know why the doctor hid the screen. She could never see anything but a blur of gray shadows anyway, and she knew Tommy and Angel wouldn’t be able to decipher anything either.

“Do you boys want to leave the room?”

Tommy and Angel stared at each other for a moment and broke out into excited smiles. “I want to know,” Angel answered first, squeezing Jessi’s hand.

“I thought you wanted to be surprised?”

“I can’t help it. This is too exciting. Is she having a boy or a girl?” he asked the doctor.

The doctor gave a short laugh. “What about you, Mr. Blade? Are you as impatient as Mr. Garcia to know if you’re going to have a princess or a prince?”

Tommy’s mouth fell open, and his head snapped in Angel’s direction. “Did you tell her to say that?”

“No!” Angel bellowed with laughter. The doctor looked at them both with a questioning squint to her eye, unaware of Angel’s pet name for Tommy.

“I think we all want to know,” Jessi said. “Right, Tommy?”

“Yep! So what’s the verdict, Doc?”

She turned the screen so the three of them could see it. “Say hello to your son, Mom and Dads.”

A boy. Jessi stared at the small curve of her belly and imagined the tiny life growing inside her. She pictured a blond-haired, blue-eyed miniature version of Tommy – another musical genius with a thirst for knowledge. She cupped the small swell of her body, still covered in warm gel from the ultrasound, and she was filled with immense love for the child. There was an immediate bond that was strengthened now that she knew it was a boy. He was no longer just a baby. Now he was her son.

Tommy and Angel’s hands settled on her belly, and their lips landed on her cheeks. Tommy’s eyes sparkled, and then slowly warmed over. His throat moved. “We’re going to have a son,” he whispered with a crack in his voice.

Jessi’s eyes filled with happy tears. “I couldn’t be happier, Tommy. I love you so much.”

He pressed his lips against hers and wrapped his arms around her neck. He was humbled, and his love spilled out from every pore in his body. When their lips parted, and she saw the slight sheen of moisture covering his eyes, it was all she could do to hold back her own tears. She turned to Angel, who was also overwhelmed with happiness. There was a light mist over his ebony eyes and his smile twitched.

“Congratulations, Mami.” He covered her mouth in a kiss, and Tommy’s arms circled them both in a tight hug.

“I’ll just leave the three of you alone, now,” the doctor said before she left the room.

Tommy and Angel both gently wiped the gel from Jessi’s belly with slow, tender strokes. Their hands glided across her body with sleek movements. Each brush of their fingers against her skin sent a shiver through her and made gooseflesh rise on her arms. Her hormones had been spiraling for the last few weeks, and the simplest touch made her ache for more.