The Baller's Baby (13 page)

Cole sighed. Irritated, worried and beyond upset, he looked at Sandra. “She'd like to talk with you.”

“Stacey?” Sandra spoke into the phone, relief already evident in her voice.

“Mom?" Cole could hear Stacey's voice coming though in the quiet atmosphere. "I'm so sick. I don't know what's wrong. I'm tired practically all the time, I feel like I'm starving, but every time I eat I get sick. I'm worried,” Stacey said with a yawn. Sandra quickly excused herself from the table and stepped away, out of Cole and Gerard's earshot.

***

“Honey, you know what we talked about a few weeks ago, about you and Cole?”

“Yeah,” Stacey said, still trying to wake up.

“Is there even a possibility that you might...” Sandra said, letting her thought string itself together for Stacey.

“Oh...my...god. You think I'm pregnant?” Stacey exclaimed, suddenly wide awake. “Oh god mom, what am I going to do?”

“Slow down now. First of all, you're going to see if you're late for your period. Then, you're going to get a pregnancy test, maybe a couple of them. You call me as soon as you get the results, do you hear me? We'll figure everything else out as we go along.”

“Dad's going to have a cow; he already won't talk to me.”

“You let me handle your father. You take care of yourself,” Stacey said. “He and Cole might be on opposite ends of your spectrum, but they both seem to be trying, give them some time.”

“Okay. Can I talk to Cole again?”

“Sure honey,” Sandra replied and smiled. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mom.”

Cole took the phone from her, but unlike Sandra, didn't budge from the table. “You're okay?”

“Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired and a little off in my stomach,” Stacey assured him. “My mom suggested rest, vitamin C and soup until I feel better. I've postponed my interviews and meetings with Michael until I feel better.”

“I can come out, you know,” Cole said, sounding utterly helpless.

“No, I'm okay. I'll talk to you later tonight about the game, but I wanted to tell you I love you.”

“I love you, too. Get some more rest and follow Doctor Mom's orders,” Cole told her, hearing his smile when she laughed. “I'll talk to you later.”

“Bye babe.”

“Bye,” Cole said and hung up.

                                                                      ***

Stacey managed to shower and make it to the corner store near her hotel. She purchased chicken noodle soup, orange juice, vitamin c tablets and three pregnancy tests. She downed the orange juice on the way home, thankful she'd picked up a half gallon as well. One she put the orange juice in the fridge; Stacey read the instructions on the pregnancy test.
Pee on the stick and wait, seems pretty simple
Stacey thought. Anxiously, Stacey did her business in the bathroom, sat the stick on the counter and waited. She watched as the test went to work, absorbing the urine across the strip. Within seconds two dark blue lines popped up clear as day. Immediately Stacey turned the instructions over, and then just sat there numbly. Two lines meant she was definitely pregnant. Still, Stacey took another test later that night and one right before she was supposed to call Cole. All three were undeniably positive and Stacey lost the little food she'd kept down that afternoon.

“Hey sexy,” Cole said, greeting Stacey in a way that they were comfortable with, even if her dad still wasn't sold on the idea.

“Hi,” Stacey returned, not able to keep her melancholy from lacing her voice.

“What's wrong baby?”

“I found out why I've felt so crappy lately.”

“You went to the doctor? What did they say?"

“Cole, I didn't go to the doctor.”

“Then...I'm confused,” Cole admitted.

“Cole,” Stacey stalled. “I'm....I'm pregnant.”

There was an audible silence in the air, a tension that was as easy to feel as if they were standing face to face. “Cole?”

***

“I...I'm here, Stacey,” Cole sighed. Running a hand through is shaggy brown hair, Cole turned around, wanting to punch something, anything to relieve the fear inside. “Do you know how far along you are? Will you be able to travel home when the time comes?”

“I think so. I'm going to see a doctor here soon to confirm the tests and maybe see how far along I am. I'm thinking it can't be much more than a month or so.”

“Holy shit Stacey,” Cole breathed. “Your dad's going to kill me.”

“Hardly. We're grown adults, well into our twenties for Pete's sake. He can hardly keep me chained and shackled at home. I made the decision to give myself to you and I, even now, don't regret it.”

“Not even know I've completely ruined your career and where you wanted to go in life?”

“You didn't force me Cole. I'm thankful you were my first time and grateful that I'm carrying your baby.”

“Oh fuck,” Cole cussed, still in shock. “We're having a baby.”

Cole could hear her tears now. “I'm still so surprised.”

“Tell me about it. All I can see in my mind is your gorgeous body, heavy with child, our child. It probably doesn't do much for you, but god I miss you.”

“I miss you, too, a lot.”

“A lot huh?” Cole said, eliciting a laugh from Stacey.

“I think Mr. Winslow, that you are an amazing man. I love you.”

“Now who's beating who to the punch, lady?”

“Touche`, Cole.”

“Alright love, you get some rest and try to feel better. Then, get Michael whoever to sign your damn contract so you can come home to me. Doing it for myself isn't cutting it.”

“Mmm,” Stacey purred. “I can just imagine how hot you get.”

“Stop it,” Cole practically pleaded. “I won't survive it and you know it.”

“But, god Cole,” Stacey whispered, her body already trembling with need. “I never imagined I'd miss you like this. Okay, I did, but this is crazy.”

“Feeling it too, huh?” Cole smiled. “At least I'm in good company.”

“You have no idea,” Stacey chuckled. “Well maybe, but still.”

“Tell you what, you get some rest, feel better and tomorrow night, when you're about to go to bed, you call me and I'll make sure you scream to high heaven. You'll have something to look forward to when you come home.”

“Alright, lover. I'm going to get some more rest. I'll talk to you later?”

“Absolutely,” Cole agreed. “And Stacey?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you and I love that you're carrying our baby.”

“Thanks,” Stacey said as tears choked her. “I love you, too, and I love that you're my baby's father.”

                                                                      ***

Cole was just heading up shower when he heard a knock at his door. Opening it, Cole didn't see the fist coming at him until it was too late. “You cowardly son-of-a-bitch!”

“Mr. Patterson, what the hell?” Cole said, irritated. Another fist had Cole pivoting and blocking with his arm, but he wouldn't strike the man back. Whatever had sent him here, and Cole had a good idea about what had set him off, must have been a good enough reason.

“You're a snake, you sack of shit!” Gerard spat, anger fueling the darkness in his eyes. Standing his full six foot six, Cole looked Gerard squarely in the eye, but didn't raise his own fists.

“You can call me whatever you'd like to Mr. Patterson. That won't change how I love your daughter, or the child she's carrying,” Cole said, anger flashing in his own eyes. “I love her. I love that we're having a baby and I won't do anything to jeopardize either of them. So if you need to hit me to feel better, to get past whatever it is you feel about me, then get it over with. I don't plan on leaving Stacey or our baby behind, so hit away if that's what you need to do.”

Gerard looked into fuming blue eyes and felt some of the anger drain from him. Cole Winslow might be white, but was either the slowest person he knew, or one of the most genuine. “Well shit,” Gerard said. “How did my daughter meet her match in you?”

“It wasn't your daughter who lucked out sir, if I may say so. I found more than I even knew I was missing when she came into my life. Now, I'm going to be a father and all I can think is,
how did I get this damn lucky?
”

“It'll change your life, that's for sure. I'm not sure either of you can grasp how much this baby will alter your lives. In a year, you won't be able to imagine your life without that precious little bundle,” Gerard told him.

“I'm scared, for her, for me, petrified of failing.”

“That sounds pretty normal,” Gerard said, accepting the beer Cole handed him. Twisting the top he took a long pull. “When Sandra told me she was expecting Eric, I was so scared I didn't talk to her for a week. I had this irrational fault that if I didn't talk to her, think about her, the baby wouldn't exist. Problem was, I couldn't get her out of my head. Everywhere I turned she was there, or her car was there, or a family member of hers was there. It took me a little while, but I realized that I was crazy about her. Three months into her pregnancy I asked her to marry me. We waited until after Eric was born to take our vows, but to this day I have never regretted it.”

“I'd like to show you something, if you can wait,” Cole said, feeling comfortable with Gerard maybe for the first time.

Holding his beer at an angle, Gerard smiled. “I'm not going anywhere at the moment.”

“Great, I'll be back.” Cole bolted up the stairs and was back in just a minute, a tiny box tucked into his hand.

“Well, what is it?”

“This,” Cole said, holding his hand out with the red velvet box sitting on it.”

Gerard swallowed hard. Gingerly he took the box and opened it. The massive ring twinkled out at him as he stared at it. “Oh wow. Has she seen this yet?”

“She has, and I apologize for not coming to you first, I...”

“It's alright Cole. I wasn't exactly the most approachable person before. I'm sorry that I made judgments I had no right to make. We're square, as far as I'm concerned.”

“I was going to ask her to marry me the other night, before she left for Thailand, but we'd argued and she was trying to step back from me. I pushed her until she could admit that we'd miss each other but we'd get through it. She said we couldn't get married, that it was too soon. But when she said, yes, I told her I hadn't asked her yet. I'd appreciate your blessing sir, to ask Stacey to be my wife. And, if you're willing, you and Sandra; I could use some help with setting up the proposal.”

“Oh, my girl picked a winner in you, son,” Gerard said, handing the box back. “I'm honored to give you my blessing and if Sandra doesn't want to help you, I'll pay for season passes for the rest of this year and box seats for next season.”

“Ah, well don't get too jumpy. Your girl has it in her head that I can make the NBA draft this next season. Imagine, me playing for the Pacers or Lakers. Crazy.”

“Well, I'll trust that if Stacey thinks you've got what it takes, she's not wrong. Meanwhile, tell me what you have in mind for popping the question to my girl.”

                                                                      ***

Stacey made her doctor's appointment for the next afternoon and connected with Cole through Skype during the procedure. “Do you see this little ball right here?” the doctor asked pointing to the screen. “It's not much now, but that little ball is your tiny baby. Already his or her heart is beating away.”

“What's that other ball? Are we having twins?” Cole asked the doctor.

“No, do you see how that ball doesn't have a heartbeat?” the doctor explained. “That ball is the yolk sac, that will nourish and nurture your baby until the placenta finishes forming. Now, I know you had a question about flying during your first trimester. There is virtually no risk to the baby, especially during the first trimester. Your little bundle is so tiny it easily adjusts to the pressure changes during flight time. I will tell you that when you head home, as soon as the pilot allows, you need to be up and walking. Walk up and down the isle three or four times every hour. This will keep your legs from developing clots. Other than that, take your vitamins, drink plenty of water, exercise moderately and enjoy this trimester. It will go by quickly.”

“What about her nausea?”

“Nausea is very normal and typical during the first trimester. If, however, you're unable to keep anything down for more than a day, go to the emergency room. They'll need to monitor your hydration. Other than that, I'll give you a prescription for the vomiting and get you a list of medication you can take for other ailments.”

“Thank you so much doctor,” Stacey said, shaking the short man's hand.

“You take care now,” the doctor said with a smile. “They get everything settled at the desk.”

When the doctor was out of the room, Stacey sat up, turning to look at the screen on her iPhone. “I can't believe we saw our baby. Did you see his little heart beat?”

“I know,” Cole said, wiping tears from his eyes. “Can you imagine what he'll look like in a month or two? God I can't wait until you come home.”