“The date of conception would be March twenty first. You’re a very new mommy.”
“What? How does that make her six weeks?”
“Conception usually occurs two weeks after the last period--.”
“So that means there’s no way in hell that a period in January or late Frbruary and this baby’s size would even be match up?” He was nearly crawling out of his skin.
“Not possible.”
He grabbed her face and kissed her. “I love you nurse--Nurse?”
“Sandy.”
“I love you Nurse Sandy.”
He walked over and rubbed my belly and laughed. “Who’s your Daddy?” He pointed to himself. “This guy is.”
He kissed my stomach at least twenty times.
“And then there is you.” He grabbed my cheeks and kissed my entire face. “I love you.”
“I love you.”
“Of course you do, that’s how we are.”
“You’re sure about this?”
“Sure? I’ve already picked out his name, and his first tattoo.”
“Oh yeah?” I sat up.
“His name is X2 and his first tattoo is gonna say, My Mommy is Sexy as Hell.”
The nurse laughed and so did I.
“If it’s a girl?”
“Her name is Chastity, middle name Belt and we're moving to a deserted Island with its own nuclear missiles.”
When we left he seemed happy, excited even, I was relieved. We were us. Or as he said, us plus one.
~
My mom met him first and she seemed to like him a lot. He held my hand, opened doors, and paid attention to everything that went on.
When I used the bathroom I walked out and heard her ask him how he felt about my daughter.
His reply, “Is there a stronger word than love?”
“No.”
“I wish there was because then I would know what to call this feeling inside I have for her. It’s crazy, insane, and irrational. I look around and see couples and I think there is no possible way they could feel as intense a feeling I have for her.” He snickered. “Maybe I could come up with a word someday.”
I walked out and Mom looked at me and smiled. “You can keep this one.”
“I’m going to.”
When my father came home I was a bit anxious. Xavier walked out and shook his hand. They stood outside for nearly half an hour and my nose was literally glued to the front window. Mom laughed at me.
When they came in I heard my father say, “There is only one way to prove to me that you’re worthy of my only daughter.”
“Become a Sox fan.”
“There has to be something else. Like maybe cut off my left nut?”
My mom covered her mouth and we both laughed quietly so they didn’t hear us.
“Son then if you fucked up I wouldn’t be able cut it off myself.”
“I have two.”
“That’s nice to know.”
“I won’t fuck up. But there is no way I’ll be a Sox fan.”
“New England Patriots?” Dad asked.
“Giants.” Xavier answered.
“I don’t know what she sees in you,” Dad chuckled.
“I don’t either but I’m grateful for whatever it is.”
All three of my brothers came to dinner. Grady was decent enough. Kaen and Keller, well that was a different story. My mother tried to interfere and my father shook his head no. I saw the look in his eye, Dad wanted to see how Xavier dealt with them.
When we all sat for dinner Kaen looked at me, “This one isn’t gonna work out either.”
Xavier did his little neck roll thing and Dad sat back ready to watch the fight.
“It’s not up to you. She can make that decision on her own.”