Beautiful Dream (27 page)

“I am, Luci, I really, really am.”

January 2006

-Josh-

I'm handed our baby girl, and she’s perfect. She has my chin, and my eye color, with Luci’s cheeks and big eyes. She really is this amazing blend of the both of us.

I sigh, enraptured by how beautiful she is. I have the two most perfect ladies in my life, and I actually feel wetness in my eye, even though I can’t stop smiling.

A nurse reaches for her, but I don't want to let go.

“I just have to clean her up some more,” she reassures me, and I reluctantly hand her over.

I look back at Luci.

My Luci.

My girls!

“Are you okay?” She hesitates, and I don't care what she says, my stupid comment from the mall has been embedded in her brain, and no matter what I’ve done these past nine or so months, I can’t seem to convince her enough that I’m ecstatic about our new little family. Too bad my apologies can’t have such a lasting effect on her!

“I’m more than okay,” I smile. “More importantly, how are you?”

“Tired,” she sighs, and I kiss her forehead.

The nurse comes over and hands the baby to Luci. I lean down and kiss her on her tiny little forehead. “She looks like a princess.”

“What are we going to name her?” Luci’s big brown eyes shine.

“I was supposed to be in charge if it was a boy,” I shrug. “This is all you.”

She looks at our baby, biting her lip.

“Alice,” she decides. “May she always be full of imagination and curiosity!

“Hello, Alice,” I whisper. “I love you.”

It’s like my heart is doubling in size, and in this instant I know I’m going to be the best dad to her, and the best person I can be for Luci. This is my family, and I’m going to love them forever.

“Can you go get everyone?” Luci asks, and I head outside while the nurses finish cleaning her up.

Ten minutes later, I find my way back to the waiting room to collect Luci’s parents, Gracie, Deb, and Matt.

Just as I round the corner, I meet Deb’s eye and follow her stare. It’s our parents, and they’re talking to Luci’s parents.

They came.

I really didn’t think they were going to, since the last time Luci and I saw them, about four months ago, it didn’t go well. They were cruel and mean, and I had never been more proud of Luci than I was the day she stood up to them.

Everyone stands when they see me, anxious to hear if it’s a boy or girl.

“It’s a girl!” I shout, and they erupt in jubilation.

Luci’s Dad is the first to walk over, patting my back as we congratulate each other. It’s been a long road since we told them, but everything somehow worked out.

I go around the room, hugging everyone, stopping once I reach my parents.

“You came!” I don’t hide my shock well.

“This is our grandchild.” Mom says. “She is family.”

I nod, slightly taken aback that they’d be sentimental enough to admit that.

“Perhaps we went about a lot the wrong way,” she has tears in her eyes. “You may have chosen a different path than the one we chose for you, but you have been successful nonetheless.”

I think it’s about as good of an apology as I’ll ever get from her, and I take it.

“Do you want to meet her?”

Gracie and Deb are on either side of me as we head down the hall, begging for me to tell them her name.

“Hi everyone!” Luci smiles as we walk in. “Meet Alice!” She shifts the baby so everyone can see, and her mom is the first to run and swoop her up.

“Alice!” She coos. “She’s the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!”

“Let me hold her, Sue!” Luci’s Dad demands, and Luci’s Mom hands her over as she fishes for her camera. Gracie and Deb are waiting eagerly behind them, practically jumping for their turn.

Luci’s eyes widen when she sees my parents enter, their formal stature so off in the otherwise friendly and excited room. I shrug, and she smiles, reaching for my hand.

“She looks just like you did when you were born,” Mom smiles, peeking over Deb’s shoulder.

“Did your Mom just say our child looks like a boy?” Luci whispers, horrified.

I shake my head, sitting on the bed and wrapping an arm around her.

“I want to apologize.” My Mom walks over to Luci.

“It's not necessary,” Luci attempts to sit up more, but I stop her, wanting her to just relax however she’s comfortable. “I know you want the best for your son, and that you probably think no one is good enough for him.”

“But you are,” Mom smiles.

“It’s me who's not good enough for her,” I chime in.

Mom squeezes her hand. “So let's talk about Alice’s 6 month birthday party. It's a thing now, you know!”

Oh god.

“I had no idea!” Luci’s Mom walks over, interested.

“Oh yes,” Mom implores. “And there’s so much to do! We need a venue, flowers, music…”

I shoot Luci an apologetic look as Deb laughs.

Luci was on this craze her entire pregnancy that she didn’t want a thing for the baby until after he or she was born. I of course was the exact opposite and wanted to be prepared, so everything Luci ever liked or thought was cute, I bought, and have been storing at Deb’s house ever since.

The next day, while Ren is visiting Luci at the hospital, I start to move everything into the baby’s room. Matt, Deb, and Luci’s Mom are helping, while Luci’s Dad and I run to his store to grab pink paint. I even found this
Alice In Wonderland
wallpaper online that I’m going to surprise Luci with and put on two of the walls. I can’t wait for Luci to see the room. She’s going to be so shocked!

That night, I head back to the hospital, and I feel like I’ve been gone for too long. Luci hasn’t woken up since I got back, but that’s okay, I’m spending my time watching Alice in her bassinette. I can’t stop staring and smiling at her. She already consumes me.

The nurse comes in to check on Luci, waking her up.

“Hey when did you get back?” She asks groggily.

“About an hour ago.”

The nurse fumbles with her chart before leaving, and once she does, I sit next to her on the hospital bed.

“Marry me?” I whisper.

She bites her lip and smiles, like she always does when I ask.

“You ask me that every day.”

“Every day I want to marry you.”

She laughs quietly.

“You already admitted if that night didn’t take a turn for the worse you would’ve said yes,” I tease.

“You know I want to!” She sighs. “I just want to wait until the baby is older, so it doesn’t look like a shotgun wedding.”

“Isn’t a shotgun wedding something that happens before the baby is born? Because it has to be quick? You already made me wait. We’re no longer shotgun.”

“You know what I mean,” she sighs. “I want people to know we’re getting married because we love each other deeply. Not because you got me pregnant.”

“Maybe I got you pregnant
because
I love you deeply.”

“Yeah, okay,” she rolls her eyes. “We both know that
neither of us
meant for this to happen.”

“But I’m glad it did,” I kiss her. “She’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

“She is, isn’t she?” Luci smiles.

“She takes after her mother,” I beam. “Besides, if anyone has any doubt that I’d be marrying you for any other reason than because I love you deeply, than they obviously haven’t seen the way I look at you. Because when I look at you I see us, and there’s no question about how madly in love with you I am.”

She sighs.

“Also, we better make it sooner rather than later, because like I said, as soon as the doctor gives the okay, I’m putting another one in you.”

“Josh!” She shoves me.

“I warned you,” I kiss her. “I want to make a million more Alice’s. Do you not see how perfect she is?”

“I do,” her eyes widen, amused. “But a million?” She teases. “I think we should reevaluate.”

“Whatever you want,” I tell her.

“Maybe
one more
in two or three years.”

“I urge you to revisit and revise that statement,” I beg, wanting desperately to touch her, but too afraid of hurting her. “There’s going to be more than
one more,
merely based on the way you take my come.”

“Josh!” She makes a face and looks over at the baby.

“Oops. She’s so quiet I forgot she was here!” I apologize. “And it’s not like she knows that word.”

Luci shakes her head, and I start to get up, but she pulls me back down.

“Don’t sleep in the chair tonight,” she pleads.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to sleep here,” I hesitate. As much as I want to, I want her to be comfortable, and the hospital bed is small.

“I doubt anyone will even come in again tonight. Please?”

I sigh. “Breaking the rules yet again,” I mumble, sliding my shoes off and getting under the covers. “Always so much trouble.”

“Oh stop,” she rolls her eyes.

“You’re just lucky you’re hot, adorable, sexy, beautiful…” I kiss her in between my words, and soon, we fall asleep in each other’s arms.

~*~*~*~*~

Just as I finish reading the love note Luci placed in my lunch, there’s a light knock on my office door. I hate being here while Luci is home with the baby, and my two weeks off since Alice was born weren’t nearly enough. I haven’t even had the chance to finish her room, and I’m just lucky Luci doesn’t go in there, otherwise my surprise would be ruined.

The handle turns before I have the chance to tell whomever it is to come in, and in walks Luci, shutting and locking the door behind her.

“Is everything okay?” I immediately stand.

“Yes and no.”

Panic washes over me.
Is it something with the baby?

“No! It’s nothing serious,” she jumps upon seeing my expression, and I plop down in my desk chair, calming down.

“Where’s Alice?”

“With my Mom. She came over to help with laundry and dishes, and I decided to run some errands.”

“And your errands brought you to school?” I inquire suspiciously. “When you’re supposed to be resting.”

“Actually-”

“If you went to check up on your class I swear-”

“I didn’t!” She argues before pausing. “Okay,” she chuckles, surrendering. “So maybe I just went to look where the sub is in my notes, but I didn’t stay!”

I give her a look, shaking my head.

“Really though, I came to see you,” she smiles, turning concerned. “But I need help.”

“Okay…” I sigh, not fully believing her.

She reaches into her purse and throws her breast pump on my desk. “I can’t get it to work. I feel so full, and it’s fine when Alice latches on, but I can’t seem to get any into the bottle on my own.”

“I’m sure it’s an easy fix,” I sigh. “What do you want me to do?”

“I dunno,” she shrugs. “I read the instructions over and over again, and I thought maybe you could read and see what I’m doing wrong? I’m sorry for bothering you, but I couldn’t take it. They hurt so much.”

“Luci,” I give her a look. “You know you’re always welcome here. As long as you don’t go to your classroom.”

She smiles, but it’s easy to see how uncomfortable she is.

“Take your shirt off.” I pick up the pump and instructions off my desk, and start browsing the material.

When I look her way, she’s naked from the waist up, and my dick jumps. Her breasts have gotten so full and large. They were always on the bigger side, but now they’re just massive. Her nipples are huge and dark, and I try not to make her uncomfortable by staring, but fuck is she hot!

I swallow hard as I attach the suction to her right breast, apologizing for my cold hands. I make sure the tube and container are both hooked up properly before switching the machine on.

The push and pull of the pump elongates her nipple, but nothing comes out, and she whimpers from the dry pain.

“Just relax,” I tell her. “Give it another second, and then I’ll shut it off if nothing happens.”

“I’ve tried this,” she sighs, her eyes pleading.

The suction sound, mixed with the way her hard nipple moves back and forth, has me rock hard. I adjust myself, squeezing a little in the process, and out of nowhere I hear her sigh. I look at her, and she’s staring at my crotch while a small drop of milk lands in the container.

“I think it’s working!” She smiles, licking her lips, and my eyes land on the breast without the pump attached, noticing the small bead of white leaking.

“I think I’m turning you on,” I laugh.

“You’re always turning me on,” she replies.