In The Long Run

In The Long Run (15)

I was going home today! Finally, I don't have to eat hospital food anymore. I really couldn't wait to be out of that place. There was so many things that I missed while I was in there. School work, Liz's recovery, Curly finally going on a date. Damn, I really couldn't wait to be home.

At least Wayne and I could talk about a lot of stuff in the hospital, like finally deciding on names.

If it's a girl, her name will be Nerissa and if it's a boy, his name will be Logan. Talking about the future with Wayne was weird, but extremely exciting at the same time. All I wanted to do right now, was get home.

The moment I set foot in that door, I truly knew what the expression 'Home Sweet Home' meant. Wayne and my dad carried my stuff up to my room, which irritated me to no end. I could carry my own stuff, but they wouldn't let me. When they went upstairs, I went to the kitchen to find my mom making some of my favorite goodies.

"Hi, Honey. How're you feeling?" she asked in her cheery voice.

"Good, better now that I'm home."

"Well, I'm glad you're your old self again."

"Yup, mood-swings and hunger pains included."

"Oh I'm sorry sweetie. You must be starving. That hospital food couldn't possibly be good for you."

"Especially since she's pregnant and still growing." Liz said as she strolled into the kitchen.

I smiled. "Hey sis." I walked over and gave her a hug.

"Ow, ow, ow. Broken ribs, remember?"

"I'm sorry." I said and jumped backwards. She looked a little relieved, but honestly, it didn't look like there was still anything wrong with her. As if she read my thoughts, Liz lifted her shirt to show me the massive bruise that covered almost half of the left side of her body. "Damn, I didn't think it was that bad."

"It's a lot better than it was in the beginning."

If it still looked that bad, I don't want to know what it looked like when she just got it.

"What did we miss?" my dad asked when he and Wayne came downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Not much, but you're just in time for the cookies." my mom answered as she pulled a tray of chocolate chip cookies out of the oven.

"Awesome!" Wayne said, reaching out to grab one of the cookies.

"Wayne, watch out! They're still ho-" It was too late. Before I could finish my sentence he grabbed a cookie, his hand touching the searing hot tray in the process. He threw the cookie right back down and grabbed his hand.

"Ow, that was really hot."

"I tried to warn you." I said as I took his hand and held it under the faucet to let the cold water run over the burn. When I looked at him, there was a deep, unreadable emotion in his eyes and when I turned away, everyone else had the same weird look.

"What?" I asked.

"That was a very motherly thing to do, sis." Liz said with a smile.

"O...K... I'm going to my room." I said as I handed Wayne a cloth to dry his hand and went to my room.

I stood in front of the mirror examining my reflection. I was six and a half months along, so as you can imagine, I am HUGE! Wayne thinks it's hilarious, but every time he tries to hug me, the speed bump gets in the way. To think, not too long ago, my stomach was still flat. I don't mind, I've gotten attached to the bump. I have so many names for it that I can't even remember them all. The speed bump, the lump, Mount Fuji, Jack and Jill's hill, Everest . . . Sometimes I call it 'The Monster's Lair', because the kicks are so strong. I really think it's a boy, but Wayne says that just because the kicks are strong, it doesn't mean it's a boy. We've stuck to the surprise idea, so we'll find out what the sex is the day it's born. I'm still not completely used to the idea of being a mother, but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea. My mom says that the moment you hold your child in your arms for the first time, is one of the most precious moments you'll have in life. That thought itself was very reassuring.

I stood there gazing at my reflection so intently, that I didn't notice Wayne watching me until I felt his arms wrap around me, taking my hands and holding them over my stomach. I smiled and leaned my head back onto his shoulder. He made little circles with his fingers, calming the three of us (me, him and the baby). Sometimes when he speaks to me, the baby would kick more or harder. It got him really excited, even though it hurt sometimes.

I turned around and looked deep into his eyes before our lips met in a tender kiss. I pulled away to look at him before I spoke to him.

"You realize that you're going to be the best dad ever, right?"

"I know." he said with an arrogant smile and winked at me in the mirror when I turned around again. He let go of me to go fall down on my bed. I looked away from him and my eyes landed on the calendar above my dresser. What was the date anyway? I traced all the numbers on the calendar since I ended up in the hospital . . . the 14th, 15th, today was the 16 and tomorrow . . . the 17th . . . the Zephyrus tournament was tomorrow. I swung around to face Wayne.

"I need to go to school tomorrow."

"No, no, no, no, no. The doctor said you have to take it easy for another week or two and . . ."

I cut him off. "Not to actually have school, I want to go watch the tournament."

His eyes narrowed. "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Why not? I just want to see what the competition is like and who they put in my place."

"Exactly. It's not a good idea."

"You know, don't you?"

"If I say I do, will you stay home?"

"Just tell me, Wayne."

"Courtney Devereux." he said with a sigh.

"The school slut took my spot in the tournament? That's pathetic." I said, pacing a few steps and shaking my head. This was as low as coach could go, but I still felt I needed to be there. "I still want to go, Wayne."

He sighed. "Fine, but I'm going with you."

"Deal."