∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
On a cold day in January, Chloe poured Matthew a bowl of cereal and sat it in front of him. He got up a little late and still had to pick up John before heading to the office.
"Baby, you forgot to give me a spoon."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Here it is." Chloe reached in her pocket and pulled out the positive pregnancy test and sat it down next to his cereal.
"Have you seen my briefcase? I remember bringing it inside last night but-"
Chloe gave him a shy smile and wink.
"Really?!"
"Really!"
Matthew picked up his wife and sat her on the kitchen counter. The whooping and hollering caused Sylvia and Earl to jump out of bed and come running.
"Is everything okay?"
"As long as you want a grandbaby, then yes, yes it is … " said Chloe playfully.
By the time all the hugs and kisses went around, Matthew was going to be an hour late at least. He picked up his phone.
"John, you have to hold down the fort for me, man. Chloe just told me that we're pregnant!"
"Damn, does that mean you're not going to leave her for me? I don't have a hope in hell now, do I?" John began congratulating him left and right, promising to take care of everything at the office.
"Thanks, John. I'll wait for about an hour to wake up my dad and tell him. He's going to be in heaven."
"Matthew, since you met Chloe, I think we're all in heaven." John smiled just thinking about the little blonde that walked into their lives, and regardless of what she saw, she decided to stay.
"I'll see you later, John. Be good."
Conner was combing his hair and splashing on a little aftershave when the phone rang. He whistled on his way to pick it up.
"Dad, you're gonna be a grandpa."
"Are you serious? Man, I can't wait to tell Bill!"
"Sweetie, who's on the phone?"
"One sec, Sheila, it's my son."
"Dad, who is that?"
"Never you mind, Matthew. I'm old but I ain't dead. I expect to see the both of you soon!"
Matthew listened as Conner said he loved him and then quickly got off the phone.
"Chloe, I think dad has a girlfriend."
"Margaret? I've met her, she's really nice and pretty."
"Margaret … no this one's name is Sheila."
"Oh, I haven't met her. I've met Margaret and Nancy, but not Sheila."
"Okay, we need to talk."
"He's an attractive man, Matthew. Let him have some fun."
"What if they take him for everything he's got?"
"We'll give him more, in the meantime, stop trying to be your dad's dad. Besides, you've already got that job." Chloe took Matthew's hand and held it to her flat stomach.
Chapter 19
On their first wedding anniversary, Chloe stood in her new home looking at the rough walls and wood floor. She had a small, rounded belly, and sometimes got sad that she wasn't showing very much yet. She worried that the house wouldn't be finished by the time the baby was born, but Matthew promised her it would be, even if he had to do all the work himself. Chloe put color swatches on the walls and stood back to study them.
"I think I want a soft pastel blue for in here. What do you think?"
"I like green."
"I'm putting green upstairs. I want the living room to be different."
"Where? Show me where the green's going."
Chloe led Matthew upstairs by the hand, down the long hallway, past the nursery, and into their bedroom.
"Here. Our bedroom and bathroom will be a pretty shade of green."
"Oh, right here … I like this green," whispered Matthew as he turned her to face him, looking into her beautiful green eyes.
"You said that to lure me up here, didn't you?"
Matthew gave her a seductive smile as he backed her slowly up against the wall and softly kissed her neck.
"What if the builders show up?"
"They'll get something to think about for a while."
He gently turned her around to face the wall, slipping her shirt over her head. He unhooked her bra and let his tongue trace her delicate spine, before reaching around to unbutton her shorts, letting them fall to the ground. She moaned in anticipation and when he heard her provocative sounds, Matthew dropped to his knees, moved her pink lace panties to one side and began to massage her thighs as he taunted and teased her with his tongue.
"Matthew … "
He stood up and pressed his hard member into the small of her back, and with his body, he slowly leaned forward, causing her moisture to dampen his jeans.
"You want me?" he whispered.
"Yes, I want you," could barely be heard over Matthew's deep breaths, and low growls.
He went back on his knees and slid the lace to the floor and spread her legs, allowing his fingers to find all the places reserved only for him.
She wanted his mouth on her and knew exactly what he was capable of doing … the ecstasy he could cause to grow inside of her, filled her with an unimaginable longing.
Matthew knew. He could tell by the way she moved her hips and bowed her back that she wanted to tempt his appetite. He was more than willing to comply. With a willingness to please, he lifted her up the wall and placed her legs on his strong shoulders. Holding her hips steady while her back rested against the wall, he feasted and dined until she called out, begging for him to be inside of her.
Lifting her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist, she reached down her hand and guided him inside of her.
"Lover … " he said to her face as her head went back, and her legs grasped tighter around him. With a steady motion, he moved her, loved her, gave to her, thanked her, and filled her with the very essence of his soul.
"Marry me," she softly uttered as she received all the love she never thought she'd ever see.
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
In the early hours on the first Sunday in October, John and Becky paced the hospital floors until the nurse came by and told them it could be a few more hours.
"She's already been in labor for six hours! Are you sure she's okay?" Becky was trying to remain calm. When Chloe was first brought in, she'd feasted before bed on ice cream, fruit, cheesecake, and juice. When the labor intensified she was vomiting up a storm. The nurse had asked them to let the patient rest because she'd need her strength.
"I'll go in and see if she's up for visitors again, and then you can see for yourself. Everything's coming along just fine."
"What about the father, is he alright?" asked John. He could only imagine being in his friend's shoes.
"New fathers are always so much fun to watch … " laughed the old, seasoned nurse as she went through the doors. A few minutes later she poked her head out in the waiting room and motioned for them to follow her.
Chloe was yelling while Matthew was holding up a picture for her to focus on.
"Look at your focal point, honey. Come on, you can do it. See the beautiful orange and yellow? You love those colors."
"Let it rest, Matthew!!!"
"Okay how about this, baby. Look at this picture of the young family in the park. Soon we'll be able to push our baby on the swing, too."
"Matthew!!!"
"Here, let me rub your-"
"Don't touch me!"
Becky and John stood at the door trying to contain their laughter. No one got along better than Matthew and Chloe, so it was funny to see her turn into a spider, and Matthew a little fly.
"God, I feel bad for the guy," whispered John. He walked over beside his friend and patted his shoulder. "Can I do anything to help the situation?"
"The situation?! The situation?! This isn't a situation, John! I'm having my insides ripped out."
"Chloe, I'm here, love." Becky held her hand while Chloe cried out in pain.
"Becky, don't ever do this! Get drugs. As soon as you step foot in the door, get drugs!"
"Look at me and breathe, sweetie. Come on, look at me."
Chloe looked at Becky and listened as she softly sang one of her friend's favorite songs. Her voice was low, beautiful, and soothing. While she sang, Chloe began to control her breathing, and when contractions came, Becky put her face closer so she could focus on her eyes.
"I have to push!"
Matthew ran to the hall to yell over to the nurse's desk for them to get Sylvia Burlington into the birthing room. He was a wreck and couldn't think of the words. All that came out was "HELP!"
More staff than was necessary came flying down the hall. Luckily, Sylvia was already coming through the doors and overheard Matthew yelling. The doctor checked Chloe and asked Matthew to help deliver the baby. Becky got behind her as they'd practiced, and Sylvia stood behind Chloe with a camera. John stepped back in the hall to wait and pace.
"I love you, sweetheart! Push for me!" encouraged Matthew.
Chloe pushed while Becky leaned forward to support her back. She whispered in her ear what a great job she was doing.
"Come on, love … the baby has a lot of dark-colored hair!" Matthew was having a hard time coaching through the tears.
"You can do it, Chloe! Give me one more good one. One more!"
With the last push, a beautiful, healthy boy with a bunch of dark hair came out in the doctor's and Matthew's hands. The proud daddy cut the cord and took the baby to his mother.
Sylvia, with Chloe's prompting, lifted her grandson, cradled him close to her, and kissed his little face.