And Baby Makes Three (3 page)

“She ain’t ever leaving me, boy, so save your breath.” He heard the sneer in his father voice “Not for some idiot of a boy who don’t know how to keep his family’s blood pure.”

“You polluted it long ago,” Brody retorted.

“Your mother isn’t going anywhere, trust me.” His father laughed.

It was his mother’s words that stopped him cold. “Don’t be so sure, Woodward, don’t be so sure.” She spoke to Brody. “Honey, you go on now and enjoy your good news. Children are a blessing and I’m so happy for both you and Marie. I’ll talk to you soon. I love you.”

“Yes, Mom, and I love you too.”

Brody hung up the phone on his father’s stuttering anger. He would never hit or raise a hand to his mother. Brody had no worry of that. If he ever did, he had no doubt that his mom would go upside his father’s head with one of her best frying pans. He understood she still lived by the old fashioned way—you stay with the man you married—but he wished she would just pick up and leave that bastard and let him live in his own evil.

At least he knew his mother was truly happy for him, regardless of what his father thought. He focused on the task at hand and picked up his pack to head out for yet another day of training. He’d be home soon to Marie and that was all that mattered—her and the baby.

“How’s your morning sickness?” Ivy asked.

“The question should be how is my morning, noon and night sickness.” Marie moaned in the passenger side of the car. It was her first appointment with her prenatal doctor and she was thankful Ivy offered to drive. Everything made her feel ill. Her favorite foods were done for. She was surviving on ginger ale and ramen noodles with hot sauce. The kid sure loved sandwiches that were comprised of mayo, tomato, vinegar, and salt and pepper. If she could hold the food in it was a good day, but still the nausea kept her off her feet most of the time.

“How about the lemon remedy?” Ivy asked.

Marie didn’t know which lemon remedy she was talking about, but she had tried them all—sucking on lemon candies, keeping a lemon handy to sniff when the nausea came on, putting fresh lemon slices in her drinking water, but they were all iffy at best.

Marie shrugged. “It’s hit or miss. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. The books say I should start feeling relief at about thirteen to fourteen weeks. When that happens, I’m doing cartwheels.” Ivy laughed. “How about we hold off on the acrobatics until after the peanut is born?”

Marie rubbed the lower part of her tummy and smiled. They’d taken up calling her unborn passenger peanut and, between the two of them, had been voraciously reading baby books. Who knew a rendezvous after Ivy’s wedding in September would lead to this? They had done the math.

Calculating from the date of conception and deducting two weeks for gestation she would be due near the end of June or early July. She decided on a midwife center instead of a traditional doctor’s office because she wanted a more home-like environment when she gave birth. There were doctors on staff, for epidurals and in cases of emergencies, but she was really happy with her decision and was anxiously looking forward to seeing her baby for the first time.

“Um, any word from Brody?” Ivy asked casually. 

“Nope, not a word for four weeks. I think our happy bedmate days are over,” Marie said with as much nonchalance as she could muster. She wanted to pretend that it didn’t hurt, but at night when she was alone, oh, it did, and she cried. She had his cell number and almost called a few times, but each time she could never bring herself to hit send to connect the call. She didn’t want him to feel indebted to her.

Ivy maneuvered into the parking lot of the midwife center. “Well, maybe you should call him.”

“Ivy, we’ve already had that discussion,” Marie said firmly.

“Okay, okay,” Ivy said and turned off the SUV. “Let’s go in and see the peanut.”

Inside, Marie filled out all the forms and understood why people were so frustrated when any nurse at the hospital showed up with a clipboard.

There were so many papers to deal with and a lot of repetition, so Ivy helped fill some out as she was getting weighed and her blood pressure was being taken. She came back out to sit in the waiting room with Ivy and the other pregnant women. The center felt homey. There were wonderful vibrant colors and comfy chairs for the patients and even a kiddie center for women who had to bring small children. Ivy kept looking at the door and at her watch, and Marie furrowed her brow in curiosity.

“Ivy, what’s up? Do you have somewhere to be?” Marie asked.

Ivy looked at her with innocence written across her face. “No, why?”

“You keep looking at the door like…” Warning bells sounded in her head. Marie glared at Ivy. “You promised you wouldn’t tell him.”

“And I didn’t,” Ivy protested. The door swung open just then and Brody strode inside wearing his uniform. “I kept my promise, but Rafe told him.”

“All of you are rat finks,” Marie said angrily using her favorite term.

“Honey, don’t be mad. He’s been calling me every day to check on you.” Ivy took Marie’s hand. “Give him a chance.” Brody came forward and got down on his haunches in front of her.

“Naughty Marie, didn’t you think I’d want to be in your life, in the life of our child?”

She shrugged and looked away, trying to ignore the happiness that was bubbling up inside of her. “Who knows? A playboy like you doesn’t need a baby carrier strapped to the front of him while playing beer pong.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. I’ve been chasing you like a hound dog chasing a bone and you keep pushing me away,” Brody retorted. “You can’t push me out of this child’s life.”

“I don’t want him or her to not know a father, but I don’t want you feeling like you owe us anything either. I was in that bed enjoying what we did just as much as you and it’s half my responsibility,” Marie stated in a matter of fact way.

“So you want me to be a dad, but there is no chance for us?” Brody asked quietly. “I’d like there to be a Marie, Brody and Baby Makes Three, a family. Let’s start over and see where it goes, but for the record, you were never a booty call for me. I never thought that at any time. I’ll be there when you get a food craving at : a.m. I’ll make you tuna with extra pickles—”

“Tuna with extra pickles?” Marie asked.

“Yeah, one of my buddies in training said his wife loved them when she was pregnant, plus I’ve been reading books on being a dad and what to expect when you’re expecting. I fully intend to have sympathy pains when you’re in labor,” Brody announced.

Ivy started laughing and a woman close by said, “Aww,” completely moved by his gesture. Marie had to admit everything he was saying sounded good.

“Well, I do like tuna and pickles. In fact, that sounds good right about now,” she admitted.

“I’ll make you some tonight, and look what I have.” He pulled open the utility pocket on his brown digical uniform and brought two small bears out. One in pink and one in blue and each bear wore a tiny Marine hat with the Marine emblem on the front. “Either boy or girl, we’re covered.”

“Marie Watson, exam room three, please.” A nurse with a friendly smile stood by the open door to usher them in. 

Marie held out her hand to Brody and then to Ivy. “Let’s go see our peanut.”

They waited outside while she changed into a gown and then came into the room while she was lying on the table.

Her midwife came into the room and introduced herself. “I’m Jenny Macey, and I will be taking this journey with you as the months go by. Is this the proud papa?”

“This is Lieutenant Brody Gillis and my best friend Ivy. Yes, he is the father,” Marie said.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Brody shook her hand.

“No ma’am here, Marine. We’re going to be on a first name basis so when it’s labor time, Momma’s room is filled with positive energy,” Jenny said. “Are you both going to be in the labor room when the time comes?” Ivy looked at them both. “If you want me to, I’ll be there.” Marie took her hand. “Yes, I’d like that.” Jenny smiled. “You have a great support group. Now, let’s take a look at this little miracle. Some cold goop for your belly. The gel will help us see the baby better.”

They all watched silently as midwife Jenny used the ultrasound on her belly. She moved it around for a few minutes checking things and using the computer graph to chart growth and size. Marie and Ivy both gasped.

As nurses, they knew exactly what they were seeing. The little gray image was a little grainy but the most beautiful thing Marie had ever seen. Tears trailed down her face and Ivy was tearing up as well.

Brody looked at them in alarm. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

“They’re happy, nothing is wrong. Everything looks good. You’re ten weeks on the nose,” Jenny said. She used her finger to point out the area for Brody. “There’s your baby.” She pressed a button and a tiny fast paced rhythm filled the room. “Here, the heartbeat is strong and perfect.”

“Doesn’t that beat all,” Brody said softly. Marie could hear the amazement in his voice. “Can I get a picture of that, Ms. Jenny?” She laughed. “You can have as many as you want. We’ll see you for your next appointment in a month, Marie, but we need your labs done today, so take this slip to the door down the hall to your left and they’ll draw your blood.”

Jenny handed her a towel to wipe the gel from her stomach and soon they were walking down the hall. Brody held her hand proudly while showing off the three sonogram pictures he held in his hand.

“You know he is going to be at Quantico showing those to anyone that will stop long enough to see it,” Ivy said. “He’s sent it to Rafe already via camera phone.”

“I know. Let him have his moment,” Marie said. “Give me my hand, Brody, I’m going to get my blood drawn.”

“You need me to go with you, babe?” Brody asked instantly.

“No, you sit here and, um, send the picture to someone else on your phone,” she teased.

He grinned. “That’s a good idea. I think I missed the commander in the first round.”

She shook her head as she walked away and Ivy laughed next to her.

“Am I still a rat fink for spilling to Rafe?” Marie put her arm around Ivy’s shoulder. “No, I was wrong. I should’ve told him myself. I think he is going to make a great dad.”

“What about Marie and Brody the couple?” her best friend asked.

“Like he said, we’ll take that day by day and see where it goes, but I hope it sticks, I really do,” Marie admitted. “After Charlie, I swore off anything close to a relationship, but this baby changes everything, doesn’t it?”

“I think you two are cute together,” Ivy said with a smile.

Marie sat to have her blood drawn all the while thinking about Brody.

And Baby Makes Three, he’d said, and somehow the child inside her helped form a bond to something that scared the crap out of her. She would try, but she prayed this time it wouldn’t fail, not twice, not with her child involved. 

Later that night she lay on her couch with a cool cloth on her head. She rubbed the tiny hard mound of her lower torso and smiled even though she felt like death. You couldn’t tell she was pregnant yet, but because of her profession she could tell exactly where her little bun in the oven was. It was all going to be worth it when forty-two weeks were over and she had a beautiful baby in her arms.
Boy or girl
, she wondered already. Her family had the propensity to have more girls, but what about Brody’s family? They never had much time for conversations.

As soon as he entered the room they were in each other’s arms before the door was closed. Naked, hot sweaty sexual interactions that left her gasping whenever their culmination hit. Against the wall, on the floor, on the dining room table, once they didn’t make it past the front door. In the midst of her sickness, desire made her sex warm. Lord Almighty, he even had the power to make her horny while she felt like she was on the good ship nausea. There was a knock on the door and she groaned.
Just go
awa
, she thought miserably and the knock came again. She moved off the couch with a groan and her stomach rolled in objection to the movement.

She opened the door to reveal Brody standing there holding a large Tupperware bowl and a smaller square one.

“Well, you look chipper,” Brody teased.

Marie rolled her eyes and stepped back so he could come in. “You try throwing up everything you’ve had for the past few weeks.”

“This is why I come bearing gifts,” he replied. He pulled the cover off the large Tupperware bowl and the smell filled the room. “Hot and sour soup with tofu and chives.”

She wrinkled her nose. “That does not sound pleasant.”

“My mom said that it’s the fats in meats and all that good stuff that makes you ill.” He put the bowl on the counter and helped her sit at the dining room table. “So I made you something that will turn your frown upside down.”

“You made this? I didn’t know you could cook,” Marie said. 

Brody pulled a bowl from one of her overhead cabinets. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, and we’re going to fix that. Now, let’s get you and my boy feeling right.”

Marie waved him over. “Okay, skip the Sesame Street monologue and give me what you got.”

Brody chuckled, grabbed a spoon, and put the bowl in front of her. “I already did.”

She took the first tentative sip and her stomach seemed to say,
ahh.

She looked up at him and smiled. “This is fabulous.”

“Try a piece of the tofu,” Brody encouraged.

Marie took a chunk from the bowl apprehensively, sniffed it, and expected it to make her feel sick all over again. Instead, for the first time in weeks, her stomach seemed to settle. She deemed it a miracle and Brody her savior.

“Oh, I love you so much right now,” she moaned in delight.

Brody pushed the hair back from her forehead and smiled. “You’ll love me even more when I say no more dry crackers for you and instead you should have homemade gingersnaps with mint. Mom’s secret recipe for all the pregnant women in my hometown in Texas.”

“I think I love your mom. Can she come live with me?” Marie asked.