Scars of the Future (26 page)

I smiled as I walked over to where he was and wrapped my arms around him from behind. “Thank you. I feel a lot better.”

He turned around and grinned at me. “You look a lot better, too. I tried to hold her off for a bit with the pacifier, but I think she’s actually hungry now.”

I took her out of his arms and settled on the couch to nurse her. “How long did I sleep?”

“Almost four hours. I’m going to heat up some dinner for you.” Matt moved into the kitchen and reappeared a few minutes later with a plate of Italian food, placing it on the armrest along with a bottle of water. “Eat, Manda.”

I did as he said and by the time I finished eating, Olivia had fallen asleep. Matt took her into the bedroom and came back baby-less before falling on the couch next to me.

“A fucking goddess, sweets. You really are. I’m worn after four hours and you did it all night and day.”

I let out a huff of laughter. “It gets easier, right? If not, she’s definitely going to be an only child.”

He pulled me as close as he could and hugged me to him tight. “I’m sure it will get easier.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Halfway through January we had found our rhythm. Olivia was sleeping in four to six hour stretches at night and a tiny bit of personality was starting to shine through. Matt had taken paternity leave for the entire month of January, which was incredibly helpful. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when he went back to work because I’d become so used to having him at home. There was also the issue of what to do with Olivia when I went back to work at the beginning of March. I didn’t want to put her in daycare, but I couldn’t bring her with me. Matt and I had talked it to death and still hadn’t come up with a solution. Matt insisted that, if I wanted to, I quit and stay home with her, but I wasn’t ready to give up on my career just yet.

The second weekend of the month was my baby shower, which we all laughed about because the baby actually attended. Maddie and Sydney had made all of the plans and preparations before the car accident, but the guests were thrilled to be able to see Olivia while they were there. It was hosted at Linda’s place and the house seemed to be stuffed full of people.

Olivia was a great sport when it came to being passed around, although I was a paranoid mess and made everyone sanitize themselves before they could touch her.

My mom couldn’t make it to the shower, the crowd level being too much for her. She had told me a few days after Christmas that the dinner at Maddie’s mom’s had been hard, and it broke my heart. I didn’t want to do anything that would stunt her progress and so we only brought her over to our house when it was just the four of us. Since Olivia had been born, Mom had been joining us for dinner at our place once a week and it felt really good to have her back in our home, even for just a couple of hours at a time.

Sydney cuddled Olivia in her arms as Matt and I opened all of the shower presents. I didn’t miss the looks that she and David shared as she peppered the baby with kisses.

I gasped as I opened a big present that said it was from David, Sydney, and Claire. Underneath the wrapping paper was the gorgeous jogging stroller that I had coveted, and I knew it was expensive.

“Syd…” I started to say and she shook her head furiously.

“If it’s anything but ‘Thank you’ then shut up. Let me spoil my niece, okay? She’ll have a happier life if you get to run.” Sydney grinned at me as she handed Olivia to David.

“Thank you, guys.” I leaned forward and kissed Claire’s head. She smiled at me and glanced at the cake.

“Can I have another piece?”

“Definitely. Go sugar yourself up, sweetie.”

After the presents were unwrapped, I snuck upstairs to Maddie’s old room to feed the baby. Matt encouraged me to feed her wherever I wanted, but at that moment I just wanted to be somewhere quiet.

A knock sounded on the door after a few minutes, and Maddie stuck her head in. “Can I come in?”

I smiled and nodded. “It’s your room.”

She grinned and shut the door behind her before sitting next to me on the bed. I reached my hand out and pat the barely-there bump on her stomach.

“How are you feeling?”

“Really good, actually.” She let out a happy sigh. “The biggest downside is how tired I am, but I’m just glad I’m not as sick as you were. You looked miserable.”

“I really was, but she is so worth it.” I ran my fingers over Olivia’s soft hair.

Maddie nodded in agreement. “She’s amazing and you’ve really taken to motherhood. I hope I can do it half as well as you.”

“Oh Mads, you’re the one out of the three of us who’s destined to be a good mother. It’s in your genes. You and Matt were born to be parents.” I leaned my head on her shoulder. “You and Josh will be great.”

“I hope so.”

Maddie and I went back downstairs and socialized until the crowd thinned out. Eventually it was just family left and I helped Linda clean up while Maddie and Sydney fought over whose turn it was to hold the baby. The guys loaded up the back of Matt’s Jeep with all of our newly acquired gear and by the time they were done the door had to be forced shut.

“We have enough stuff for triplets,” Matt said after we had hugged everyone and pulled our child from his sister’s grip. “We won’t need to buy her anything until she’s at least ten.”

I let out a small giggle and turned to look back at Olivia. I had a perfect view of her sleeping face through the mirror that was strapped to the seat.

“They can’t help but love her.” I turned my gaze at my husband. “She’s like you in that way.”

Matt reached across our seats and took my hand in his; bringing it to his mouth so he could kiss it lightly. “She has a double dose then, because I feel the same way about you, sweets. Once I loved you there was no going back.”

A soft smile sat on my lips but I didn’t reply. I didn’t need to as the happy silence fell over both of us.

---

The following Friday afternoon, I walked through the garage door and immediately sought out the two people who made my life so amazing. Matt was on his hands and knees hovering over Olivia. She was on her back, and whatever he was saying to her must have been fascinating because she watched him intently.

“Hey honey,” I said, putting my purse down on the counter before removing my coat and kicking my sneakers off.  “It looks like you two are having a good time.”

Matt looked up at me and grinned. “We are. I love the noises she’s making, but I’m determined to get another smile out of her.”

Olivia had smiled at him a few days before and Matt had been so excited that he’d made it his mission to get her to do it again. She had been to the doctor the two weeks before when she hit a month old, and the doctor was impressed with her growth. She was still tiny, barely at six pounds, but otherwise healthy considering she wasn’t even due for another two weeks.

I sat on the floor next to them and watched as Matt made his faces until a slight smile spread across her face. A laugh escaped my mouth and Olivia immediately turned her head in my direction.

“Now you did it. She knows Mama is home.” Matt sat up on his knees as Olivia started fussing and shoved a tiny fist in her mouth.

I sighed and picked her up. “Not Mama, the milk machine. If you could nurse her I would be entirely obsolete.” As I sat down to feed her, Matt pulled my feet up on the couch and rubbed them through my socks.

“How was the doctor?”

“Dr. Eaton says everything is good. He said that as long as I don’t get into anymore car accidents while pregnant, we should be able to have an entirely normal pregnancy if we so choose.”

Matt nodded. “I figured but always glad to be sure. Sean called while you were gone.”

“What did he say?” The law firm Sean worked for had been handling the insurance nonsense between us and the man who hit me. The guy was apparently not going to do any jail time, which infuriated Matt, but Sean’s firm was ensuring that the settlement was on the up and up. I was surprised at how long it was taking but Sean had reassured me that this was normal.

“Well, they wanted to okay a number with us before they agreed with the insurance company. It’s enough to pay off the new car, any hospital bills the insurance didn’t pick up, set Livvie up for college, and still have a good chunk left over.”

I just stared at Matt, shocked. “Are you serious? I just wanted them to pay for the car and the medical bills.”

Matt nodded. “Well, apparently they’re paying for a lot more than that. They’re probably hoping we don’t take it to court.”

I sighed and shook my head. “I don’t want to go to court.”

“Me either, sweets. So should I tell Sean we accept?”

“I’m good with it if you are.”

“Okay.” He stood and kissed my forehead. “I’m going to go call him then.”

I nursed Olivia for a few more minutes until she pulled back and fell asleep, her little breathing coming in soft puffs. I moved her into the bedroom and settled her into the bassinet before searching for a snack in the kitchen.

I was pulling something out of the top cupboard when I felt Matt behind me. He wrapped his arms around my middle and held me tight without saying anything for a moment. I turned in his embrace and his lips immediately found mine.

“Manda,” he mumbled, dragging his mouth down my bare neck. “Please say the doctor cleared you, because I miss making love to you so much.”

I pulled his shirt up over his head and smiled. “He did. Make love to me, Matt.” The words had barely left my mouth before Matt lifted me by my hips and sat me on the kitchen counter.

“Good,” he growled, pulling my shirt off quickly. “The sweetest torture is not being able to touch you like this.” He unhooked the button on my pants, and I lifted my hips so he could pull both my jeans and underwear down. He didn’t waste any time bringing his down either before he reconnected our lips. His fingers traveled down my side until they were between my legs and he slowly stroked me with one finger until I was panting. He stepped between my legs and positioned himself before I stopped him.

“Matt, wait.” I pushed back on his chest and he gave me a confused look.

I just smirked at him. “I bought condoms. They’re in my purse.”

He glanced down between us and realization dawned on him. “Oh shit. I’m so used to not wearing anything. Don’t move.” Matt walked to the table as quickly as he could and dug through my purse hurriedly. When he found them, he ripped open the box with so much force that a strip of condoms flew across the kitchen. He moved back towards me and opened one he had held on to, rolled it on, and pushed inside of me within seconds of each other.

My head fell back to hit the cupboard and Matt gripped around my lower back. He thrust into me slowly at first but quickening until we were both panting.

“It’s been too long and you feel too good, sweets,” Matt said with his teeth clenched together. He moved a hand between us and lightly brushed against me three times until I was moaning with pleasure. I squeezed my thighs around him and let my body float away for a moment. When I came back down, Matt had his forehead against my chest as he caught his breath.

He looked up and smiled at me, giving me a tender kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” I wrapped my arms around him and pulled his body into a hug.

He ran his hands down my sides and stopped when he made it to my stomach. “After months of your gorgeous, round belly, it’s still kind of hard to get used to it all flat, although still gorgeous.”

I laughed and shook my head. “It’s definitely not flat anymore.” I glanced down. My body, once perfectly toned, now showed signs of motherhood. I didn’t mind in the least bit, though.

He rolled his eyes and pulled me off the counter so I was on my feet. “Baby, your body is perfect and if you don’t think your stomach is flat then you are crazy.”

I pulled my pants and underwear back up and sighed. “I’m just happy I fit back in all of my old clothes again. Although, the maternity clothes were fairly comfortable.”

“Well, we can get you back in those if you’d like.” His voice was low as he pulled me close again and I laughed.

“Poor sex-deprived, Matthew.” I ran my hands down his still bare chest and smiled up at him. “Grab another condom and I’m game.”

“I want to go visit Nathan,” I said to Matt the next day. “I never got a chance to thank him myself, and I really would like to.”

Matt looked up from the changing table where he was dressing Olivia and smiled.

“I think that’s a great idea. I can call and see when he’s free.” He leaned down to kiss her stomach and a smile appeared on her cheeks that just melted my heart.

He handed her to me after she was all dressed and I held her up to my face, talking quietly to her. She gave me a serious look, and I laughed when the tip of her tongue peeked out between her lips.

“Daddy gets smiles and I get your tongue, huh?” I took her into the living room, shaking my head. “I can see that I’m going to be second favorite in your life, missy.”

Matt ended the call on his phone and smiled. “Just until she starts dating, and then she’ll probably despise me. Nathan and his wife are going to meet us for lunch in an hour. Is that okay?”

I nodded, holding the baby out to Matt. “Let me go get ready then.”

Matt drove us to a family restaurant in Roseville, and when he parked the car he smiled at me. “You’re such a good person.” He leaned over and gave me a kiss before opening his door and climbing out.

I followed suit and waited as Matt pulled Olivia’s seat out of the car. I had tried to do it a few times, but Matt had scolded me each time, stating it was his job to carry around the heavy car seat. We walked into the restaurant together and when Matt gave our name we were led back to where a couple was already sitting. Nathan was older, probably in his mid-forties, his hair graying slightly, but his face held many smile lines. His wife’s face was equally friendly, her hair a light brown, and the way they looked at each other you could tell they were in love.

Nathan caught my eye as we moved closed and he said something to his wife before they both stood. I smiled at Nathan and walked up, instantly putting my arms around him. He returned my anxious hug with a tight one of his own, and when we pulled back I had to wipe my eyes.

“Amanda, it’s good to see you upright.” His voice has a teasing tone to it and I laughed.

“You too, Nathan.” I put my hand out to his wife and she pulled me in for a hug, too.

“This is my wife, Holly. You must be Matt,” he said, smiling back at Matt. The two of them exchanged a tight handshake and Holly flashed Matt a grin.

Holly and Nathan sat back in their chairs, and Matt gestured for me to as well. He leaned over the seat and pulled Olivia out gently. She was asleep but stirred slightly when Matt cradled him to her.

“So that’s Olivia,” Nathan said with a smile on his face and I nodded.

“She’s six weeks old yesterday.”

Holly gasped as she stared at Olivia’s precious face. “She’s so tiny. Nathan told me she was eight weeks early?”

“Yeah,” Matt said with a smile. “She’s due two weeks from today.”

Nathan and Holly gave soft laughs and Holly hesitated for a moment. “Can I hold her?”

I nodded quickly. “Of course.”

Holly cradled Olivia and she let out a happy sigh. “We have two kids but they’re both in high school. I miss this age.”

After a moment I looked back at Nathan. “I don’t know if I can ever thank you enough for that day.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Amanda. I watched it all happen, and I knew that whoever was in that car must be scared. You weren’t scared at first, actually. Your face was so brave and I just wanted to help you keep that state of mind. I think if you hadn’t started having contractions I would have been unnecessary.”

I shook my head quickly. “You kept me grounded. You helped me notify my family. You were amazing. Thank you so much.” I leaned across the table and squeezed both of his hands.

We were all quiet for a minute and he looked up at us. “Can I hold her?”

“Please do,” Matt said with a smile. He took several photos of them holding our daughter and once lunch was over he insisted on paying the check. We all stepped into the lobby of the restaurant and I hugged both Nathan and Holly again.

“Keep me updated on Olivia, will you?” Nathan asked, looking down at her. “She’s a little miracle and I’d love to know how she’s doing.”

“Of course,” Matt replied. “Don’t be strangers in our lives.”

We walked back to the car and I grinned at Matt. “That’s amazing. They’re great people.”

“I foresee them at all of Olivia’s future birthday parties,” Matt said with a laughed. “We’re going to need a bigger house to accommodate everyone.