“Yes, Dad.” The defeated voice had me lightly chuckling, reminding me of the bruising on my ribs. “Mom! Mom! Mom!”
My eyes opened to find Ty standing on a chair only inches from my face. “Hey, sweet boy.”
“I’m going to be a big brother. You and Dad said I’d have to wait, but you were wrong.” Ty puffed his chest out as he stood straight in the chair. “I’m going to show the baby how to do all sorts of cool stuff.”
The hand went to my stomach as I remembered the news. “You are going to be a big brother. I’m going to need your help.”
A hand came on top of mine. Jaxson’s. Ty beamed. Pam and Levi sat in the corner while my dad stood at the door.
Pam gave Levi a hug and looked at me. “I cannot wait to have another grandbaby to spoil.”
“If it’s a boy, can we name him Bumblebee like the Transformers guy? I like that name.” Nodding to himself, Ty clearly approved of the choice. I noticed he had on his Transformer T-Shirt which probably sparked the decision. Tomorrow it might be Donatello if we were playing with Ninja Turtles.
Jaxson shook his head amused. “We’ll see, son.”
Ty turned serious as he sat in the chair. “Grama says we won’t know what the baby is for a while. But if it’s a girl, will she be able to still play cars with me?”
“Of course.”
As we talked, my hand stayed on my stomach as I thought about the child growing within me. Jaxson caught me several times and was unable to hide the broad answering grin.
As visiting hours came to a close, I received kisses and hugs from everyone as they left. All of the love filled me. The nurse looked expectantly at Jaxson. Sternly he spoke. “I nearly lost my pregnant wife. I’m not leaving her.”
There was a standoff before the nurse rolled her eyes and walked off. I commented, “I think you may have made an enemy of the nurse.”
Jaxson was back at my side rubbing my stomach. “I don’t care. I’m not leaving you or our little one. London, that bitch nearly c
ost me you, Ty, and an unborn child. Mom and Dad said if you hadn’t tossed him . . .”
He took a deep breath and I stroked his face. “We’re fine. All three of us are fine. Crystal is in police custody.”
“I have my lawyers working on it so she never sees the fucking light again. She’s claiming the voices told her. Bitch.”
“Climb up in bed and sleep with me. It’ll help.”
“London, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I further tempted him as I played dirty, but knew it would get me near him. “You can be near me and the baby all night.”
Jaxson toed off his shoes and slid beside me careful not to touch my sore ribs. “Did I hurt Ty when I threw him? He seemed okay.”
As the strong arms of my husband wrapped around me, the nightmares were chased away.
“Only a couple of scrapes. He was pretty shaken up. There was blood from your head injury. A lot of it. He’s been up here with me most of the time watching you.”
“I love him like my own.”
“I know you do.”
His hand splayed across my stomach. “I can’t wait to meet this one.”
“Me either.”
Jaxson kissed my neck and I sunk back into him. “Rest, sweetheart.”
My eyes closed and I fell into a deep comforting sleep.
THE CLOSING OF A DOOR awakened me. The bed was empty.