Wild Ride: Lance and Tammy (35 page)

Tammy could have died, but she wouldn’t have changed that moment for the world. “They know.”

He nodded. “Of course they do.  We weren’t quiet.”

Didn’t anything bother him? She was sure she was as crimson as a sunburn. “Have you ever done that before?” she whispered.

He shook his head. “I always wanted to though.”

“Why aren’t you embarrassed?  I could die with the way they are looking at me.”

He looked up and saw two stewardesses speaking in low tones and looking toward the two of them.  He suppressed a smile and returned his attention to her. “Darling, they’re looking at you with envy.”

Her head snapped up.

“Maybe you should smile and wave.”

Despite her embarrassment, she burst into laughter.

EPILOGUE

Tammy would have never expected that incident on the plane to produce a son, but it did.  After nine months to the day, two days of labor, and a refused cesarean she gave birth to an eight pound boy.  Lance was very involved in the labor and delivery and stuck by her the entire time.  Tammy knew he was doing his best to not tell the obstetrician what to do especially seeing the pain she was in.  Instead he begged her to take the surgery.

“I will not have my body cut into!” she shouted at him. “This baby will come into this world naturally,”  she seethed through clenched teeth.

That took him back slightly. 

She knew she was sounding a little vicious, but for God’s sake she was trying to push a bowling ball out of a marble bag.  She said that out loud before she knew it and the whole labor room erupted into laughter.  Except Lance of course.  He was completely uncharacteristically frantic about her making it through this in one piece.  It was even visible in his expression.  Thankfully he was so good at switching moods because he continued encouraging her despite her outburst.  It was a good thing, because she was certain she made a few death threats against him as well.

She’d assisted in deliveries many times and witnessed uncharacteristic behavior from the moms to be.  Now she knew!  Now she knew exactly where that came from.  You are just mindless with pain, exhaustion, anticipation and wonder.

After they assessed, weighed, and wrapped him in a warm blanket, did Tammy get to hold her son.  “What do you want to call him?”

“I think we should name him after your father.”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

“Well, I think we should give him his middle name.  George is so old school, and I like it, but how about something more masculine.” She grinned at his little scrunched face. “After all, he’s going to grow into a big Hartley male.”

“Anything you want.”

“I’ve always liked Austin.”

“Austin George Hartley it is then.”

She wept.  “Have you ever seen something so beautiful?” she sobbed.

“Yes, his mother.  She had my heart from the first day I touched her.”

Her wet eyes went to his.  “Who would have thought a year ago, that all of my dreams would come true?”

“Mine too baby.”

~The End~