Until Series(88)

“That book is like the damn Chucky doll,” I complain and dig my nails into Trevor’s neck again when the first contraction hits.

“Holy mother of God that hurts!” I say, breathing deep and looking at Asher.

“Go get her stuff. I’ll take her to the car,” Trevor tells him.

“Put me down.”

“I’m taking you to the car.”

“Put me down right now!” I yell and he sets me on the floor.

“What’s going on?” Susan asks, walking around the corner to the living room.

“My water broke and all of your sons, except Trevor, turned comatose at the mention of it. I need to get my bag and get to the hospital.”

“How far apart are your contractions?”

“I just had my first one, so I don’t really know. I haven’t timed them.”

“It was one minute and fifty-six seconds ago,” Trevor says. Asher glares at him.

I walk to the couch and sit when I feel another contraction coming on.

“Well, they’re less than three minutes apart. We really need to get to the hospital,” Trevor says and I’m wondering what the hell is going on.

I look up at him and he shrugs. “That book has been around a lot,” he says, pointing to Asher. “He carries it with him everywhere, even to jobsites. When I was bored a few times, I read it.”

“Lord, save me,” I say, looking up to the ceiling then back to Asher, who’s still just standing there.

“Asher, unless you want your brother to take over for you, pull it together,” I tell him, waddling out to the car.

Nine grueling hours later, July Heaven Mayson, came screaming into this world.

I walk into the living room and look at the couch. Asher is lying on his back with July lying in just a diaper against his bare chest. One of his big hands is holding her bottom, the other is on the back of her head. She’s facing me, her hand resting against her chin. Her eyes are the same color as her father’s. His eyes are closed. I walk towards them and Asher’s eyes open and the smile that comes across his face is devastating. It’s a look of pure bliss, the look of someone who is right where they are supposed to be in life and is so overwhelmed with happiness that it comes through every time they smile.

“Hey, baby,” he says. “How was your nap?”

“Good.” I smile. “Was she fussy when you tried to give her the bottle?” I ask, knowing my daughter is picky and only wants the breast.

“No.” He shakes his head, smiling. “Trevor came over for lunch and he got her to drink from it.”

“Wow, super Trevor saves the day again, huh?”

“Yeah, Liz came with him so I think he was showing off.” He laughs and I know he’s right. Liz slipped a few days after July was born and said something happened, but never said what it was. When I tried to press her about it, she closed up and turned beet red. After that, they had kind of been avoiding each other but then a few weeks ago, something else happened, and now there is no Trevor without Liz.

“I’m sure,” I say, rolling my eyes. “But if your brothers are trying to use our daughter to pick up women, I will kick their asses.”

“I’ll kick their asses,” he says, patting her bottom and he’s not lying. He’s one scary daddy bear. The other day, some woman came up to us and started to put her hand near July, and he freaked out about germs and hand sanitizer. The lady stood there in shock the whole time. Then he walked away, shaking his head, like she was the crazy one.

“So, should we get ready to take her to Grandma’s?” I ask, excited about a date with my husband. Since July came home two months ago, we haven’t had any time alone, and I was very much looking forward to it. Not that I wanted to be without my daughter, but I was ready to have mommy and daddy time.

“I already packed everything up,” he says, smirking, and I laugh.

“Well, I’m going to go shower.”

“Shower, huh?” he says, and his eyes turn hungry.

“Yes, shower. You have to watch our daughter so you can’t join me.” I bend over and kiss her head of dark hair, and then kiss my husband and whisper against his lips, “Love you.”

“Love you more, baby,” he replies.


“Do you want to go to Nashville and have dinner?” Asher asks from the driver’s seat. We just dropped off July to his mom and dad. We’re kid free for a few hours.

“Have you ever gone skinny dipping?” I blurt.

I watch as his dimple appears. “You wanna go skinny dipping, baby?”

“Maybe,” I say softly. I have always wanted to try it, but since the pool was finished and July was born, there hasn’t been time or the opportunity.