Against the Odds (17 page)

Leah rushes over and holds Gracie while the
nurse gets everything she needs for her bath. Leah talks to,
kisses, and coos to Gracie. Gracie focuses at the bright lights.
Her hair is an inch long and stands straight up and every
direction. Most babies are born with blue eyes, but Gracie's eyes
are as black as night. She is a beautiful child.  

I take Gracie from Leah and hold her close
while Nurse Amy instructs us on the proper way to bathe her. I
watch as Leah excitedly nods her understanding. Amy stands near as
Leah and I fumble through Gracie’s first bath. I gave her my phone
and asked her to take some random pictures if she had time. The
bath is filled with lots of cries from Gracie and laughs from Leah
and me.  

I didn’t stay to visit as long as I wanted
to, but I did stay longer than I intended to. I kiss the baby and
Leah goodbye as I run to Upper Cut for my workout. The guys will be
there waiting for me. Maybe I should just call them right before I
leave the hospital so we can get here about the same
time. 

Dad, Tim, and Gus are waiting for me and I
also see my sparring partner standing at the water cooler. “I’m
sorry I’m late,” I say as I rehydrate.  

“
It’s all right, I was
running late myself. My son, Carter, was running a fever this
morning,” he says. 

“
Oh, I’m sorry to hear
that. Hope he’s feeling better,” I say,
honestly.  

“
He’s teething, he’ll be
okay. I’m ready whenever you are.” 

“
I’ll be right
there.” 

I walk over to where Gus, Dad, and Tim are
huddled together so I can get wrapped and gloved up. I feel good
today and I want to get started on my training. I’m on a mission to
beat Kennedy and I plan on coming out on top this time. I have a
baby girl I need to make proud of me.  

“
Good morning,” I say as I
take my seat for Dad and Tim to wrap my hands. They sit on the
wooden folding chairs and begin to wrap each
hand.  

Gus comes over and gives me a letter
addressed to him from the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
“I just got this yesterday,” he says. I look at each person and I
remove the letter from the envelope. “It doesn’t give you much time
to prepare for it,” he adds. 

I read the letter and the hotel wants to do
another press conference with Kennedy and me. This time, they are
inviting anyone who is anybody in the boxing world. It’s already
been scheduled for two weeks. I fold the letter and place it back
into the envelope before I hand it to Gus. “I guess it’s time to
get serious. I’ll be ready,” I say, flatly.  

“
What about Leah?” Gus
asks.  

“
She’ll be okay. She knows
about the fight and this is all part of it. The sooner this begins,
the sooner it will end for her.” When no one says anything, I say,
“Let’s dance.” 

I turn on my iPod to “The Eye of The Tiger”
and place the earbuds in my ears and wait. I think about the press
conference and I realize I have been slacking off with my training.
I vow to put my training right up there on my priority list — right
after caring for my family. 

I walk to the ring stand in my corner. After
twelve rounds, I feel rejuvenated. My sparring partner can barely
stand. I replace the earbuds and walk out of the
ring.  

I finish my workout with very few words being
spoken between my team and me. It’s not their fault I’ve been
slacking. I concentrate on my workout and what and how I’m going to
tell Leah. After my shower and right before I leave, I say, “Leah
won’t be able to attend. I want to fly out in the morning and then
we’ll fly home later that night.”  

Leah

Gracie and I have a good day. After her bath
and after her Daddy leaves, both grandmas came for a visit. Gracie
is a good baby and loves attention. We hold her, feed her, and read
to her. Because of Robert, we always try to have a bottle of
breastmilk available. Since I am breastfeeding, the only way Robert
can feed her is if I pump. Same goes with our
grandparents.  

Our mothers leave right before Robert
arrives. He visits with Gracie and I watch and take pictures. She
likes him and listens intently when he talks to her. I think she
knows his voice from all those nights of him reading to her in
utero.  

Later that night I wait in bed for Robert. He
walks into the bedroom wearing a smile and carrying a small gift.
“What are you up to?” I ask. 

“
There are some things we
need to talk about, but I bought you something, too,” he
admits.  

“
Okay, I’m
listening.” 

“
First of all, I wanted to
get the mother of my children something special.” He carefully
hands me the black velvet box and adds, “I hope you like
it.” 

“
The mother of your
children. I like the way that sounds.” I kiss
him.  

“
Me,
too.” 

“
I have no idea what it
is, but I love it.” I lean up and kiss him again. “Should we talk
first, or should I open this first?”
I'm
not sure what to do.
 

“
There’s a press
conference scheduled in two weeks in Vegas.” 

“
Kennedy will be there?” I
ask.
I fear that man, and I’m frightened
for Robert to fight him.
 

“
Yes, and his team.
They’ll be more people in attendance this time.” 

Hold it together,
Leah.
“Good. Now’s a good time. With Grace
being born, there isn’t anything holding you back. Will Dad, Gus,
and your dad go with you?” 

“
Yes, they all will be
there.” 

“
Good, then it’s time your
start training seriously. Everyday. I want you training like a
warrior,” I say honestly and sincerely. 

“
That’s the
plan.” 

“
And on May
2
^nd
you’ll retire?” 

“
No more boxing,” he
confirms. 

“
Win or lose?”
I want him to say it. 
 

“
Win or lose.” He looks at
me and says, “There’s one more thing.” 

“
You have my undivided
attention.” 

“
I thought I would. We
also have a court date for custody of Madison a few days before the
press conference.” 

“
Custody? I thought we
would be arguing over visitation?” 

Robert inhales and then exhales slowly. “When
several attempts from Bruce trying to contact the Sinclairs’
attorney have failed, I told Bruce to file for full
custody.” 

“
When were you going to
tell me?” I ask.  

“
I didn’t want to tell you
while you were pregnant. I knew how upset the baby got whenever you
were stressed,” he says and it’s the truth. He adds, “Now we have
leverage, Leah. Now we have something to work with. If they deny us
custody, we’ll ask for visitation.” 

“
And what if we don’t get
either?”  

“
What if we do?” He looks
from one eye to the other. “I want you to trust me, Leah. I’ve been
working very closely with Bruce on this. We have so much going for
us.” 

“
I trust you, Robert.” I
don’t stutter and I speak calmly, although I’m scared that this
plan may not work. “If you think this is what’s right for our
family, I trust you to do what you think is best. I’m ready to move
forward with Madison in our family, and I’m also prepared to get
this fight with Kennedy over with and put
that
chapter behind
us.” 

“
Thank you,
Leah.” 

“
Did you buy me this as a
peace offering?” I ask, shaking the black velvet
box. 

“
I wish I were that
smart,” he laughs. “I bought it because I thought you would love
it.” I watch him and he nods to the box, “Please open it,
Sweets.” 

I look at the box and open it slowly. Inside
is a platinum infinity heart with five colored stones that adorn
the right side of the heart symbol. I lightly touch the necklace
and the stone. I don’t have to ask what the stones mean. I know the
stones are birthstones. One is mine, one is Robert's, one is
Gracie’s and since Jamie and Madison are born on the same day and
month, their stones match and are side by side. “Thank you, I love
it.” I lean in and kiss him sweetly.  

“
You understand what it
is, right?” 

“
It’s a necklace with each
of our birthstones are on it. Mine and yours, and one each of our
three daughters.” He smiles and I say, “And the infinity heart
means that you’ll love us forever.”  

Robert

I kiss Leah softly and passionately. “I love
you,” I say in between kisses.” I cup her cheeks with my hands and
search her eyes. When I say I love her, it just isn’t enough. She
is my world. What do you tell someone who you would die for? I
would give my life for hers without any hesitation.  

“
I love you,
too.”  

Leah pulls me on top of
her as she lays back on the bed. As I keep my weight off of her, I
stare into her eyes.
God, I love
her
. She wraps her hands into my hair and
pulls me closer to her. My dick instantly becomes hard and I
release a low growl. It’s been so long since I’ve been buried deep
inside her, it’s all I want to do. It’s all I can think about. I
grind slowly in rhythm to hers and she moans louder. “Do you have
any condoms?” she whispers so softly and sensually into my
ear.  

I lick the shell of Leah’s ear and whisper,
“Why would I need a condom?” I slide my tongue along her jawline to
her other ear. I just want to taste her and lose myself in
her. 

She kisses me and moans, “I’m not on the pill
yet. Remember?” 

My mind shifts back to the here and now.
Gracie, premature, sex, too soon, a six-week checkup. I stop
kissing her and lean further up off the bed. I blink a few times
and will my hard-on to go down. “We can’t.” I stutter. 

“
Yes, we can. I feel fine.
I want this, Robert,” she begs. 

“
It’s too soon,” I say
with a hard cock. I wish my dick would listen to the words I am
speaking. I try to get up from the bed, but Leah wraps her legs
around my hips.  

“
Please, Robert? It’s been
so long.” 

“
I can’t.” I break away
and stand. “Soon, Leah, I promise,” I yell over my shoulder as I
walk to the bathroom to take a cold shower. I don’t wait for her to
reply or for her to be understanding. I know my wife wants this as
much as I do. There is very little that’s worse than sexual
frustration in the Grether house. I think it’s because we very
seldom suffer from it, except for times like
this.  

I shower and hope Leah is asleep when I
return to bed. She isn’t. “Did the cold shower work for you?” I
look up and Leah doesn’t sound happy.  

I remove the towel that’s wrapped around my
waist and ask, “Does it look like it did any good?” I look down at
my painfully hard dick.  

She laughs, “Good if I have to go to bed with
all this pinned up sexual frustration, you should too.” She rolls
over and turns off the lights, “Good night, Ace.” 

“
Good night, Sweets.” I
pull on a pair of boxer briefs and climb into bed, making sure I
keep a safe distance from her. “In four weeks, you’ll be begging me
to get off of you.” 

“
I’m counting down the
days.” 

The next morning we have breakfast before
going to the hospital. Leah and I go about our day like last night
didn’t happen… or almost happen. Two weeks post-delivery is
definitely too soon for sex. I think she knows this,
too.  

We walk hand in hand into the N.I.C.U. and
Gracie is lying awake in bed. Leah talks softly to her and I watch.
I think Gracie is starting to interact with Leah. She turns her
head in the direction of Leah’s soothing voice. Leah becomes
excited and reaches for my arm. “You try it,” Leah says to me
softly.  

I watch Gracie and she watches Leah. “Hi,
Daddy’s little girl,” I attempt to speak in a quiet and soothing
voice. She doesn’t look at me, her eyes stay focused on the bright
ceiling lights. “What’s Daddy’s little girl doing?” I ask and she
startles. Leah laughs and begins talking softly to her
again.  

The doctor comes in and says, “It looks like
Miss Grace is only one pound away from going home.”  

“
Gracie, did you hear
that? You’re becoming a big girl,” Leah says
softly.  

“
Keep talking to her, she
seems to like that,” the doctor says. He examines her and documents
her progress. I watch as he carefully holds her and monitors her
movements. He smiles and says, “Miss Grace is developing as she
should. In another week or two, you should be able to take her
home.” 

Leah squeezes my hand and it makes her happy
to know that soon all this will be put behind us. “That is
fantastic news,” Leah says.  

The doctor leaves and I
leave for my training when Leah begins to nurse Gracie. I run
to
Upper Cut
where I know Gus, Dad, and Tim will be waiting for me. I
texted Dad and told him when I was leaving the hospital. They still
beat me here. I know Gus likes to have everything lined up and in
order before I get here.  

I walk into the room and head straight for
the water cooler. I see Gus, Dad, and Tim standing near the
lockers. I rehydrate and notice my sparring partner in the ring.
He’s larger and more my size than the other one from yesterday. I
nod and acknowledge him and his trainer.