“I’m sorry, did you say baby? My wife is not pregnant.” I mean hell we only had sex for the first time three weeks ago. Surely, it’s too soon to tell. Right? The doctor begins to chuckle making my ire rise. What the fuck is so funny?
“I can see why you would be confused. I am sure she probably didn’t know either. In the past, it would have been too soon to tell. But technology is as such, that first day of her missed period she would be able to find out. However, as standard in my operating room, any woman of childbearing age, gets an ultrasound as a precaution. Just so happens, your wife is indeed pregnant.”
Suddenly, everything changes. The rage is still there, but it is dulled out by the fact that Lexi is going to be fine and we are having a baby. A father. I am going to be a father. “When can I see her?” I need to go and see for myself she is fine. I need to be able to lean down and kiss her mouth, and rub her head, and put my hand on her stomach that is housing our child.
“You may go now if you like. She is lightly sedated, since that is all that is safe for the baby. She is probably going to sleep the rest of the day. If all goes well tomorrow, she can go home in two days. Congratulations!!!” He shakes my hand and walks off. I take a deep breath, mentally bringing myself back from the brink of hell.
“I am so happy for you hijo. Un niño. Qué maravilloso.” I turn to her to hug her, needing her calming presence to bring me the rest of the way back.
“Sì mama. It is wonderful.”
“Go to her, son. Tell her we love her and get better.” I nod my head, looking at Lara who is being comforted by my brother.
“Would you like to come and see her for a moment? You two were friends long before she was my wife.”
“Can I? I promise I won't take long. I just need to look at her and know she is really ok.” She says wiping her eyes. I notice that Ramone hasn’t left her side since he got here. His hand always somewhere on her.
“Of course.” We walk the hallway to the room, and I stand by the door as she goes in, kisses her cheek and whispers something in her ear. Lexi doesn’t move, so I am not sure she heard it, but I know it makes Lara feel better. She thanks me as she walks out of the room. Looking down at my sleeping beauty, I can’t help but give thanks to God for sparing her and the new life we created. For giving me a chance to be the kind of husband and father mine was. They will be my everything. My whole world will begin and end with them. Kissing her lips, I tell her I love her and that I will be back. I lean down and kiss her stomach, before walking out of the room. Now that I know she is fine, it’s time to finish this.
There is no one in the waiting room when I walk back down there but Ramone and Manny. Julio knows his family. He knows what happens next and if he is going to keep his job so he can protect us, he can’t be anywhere around. “I need you and Manny to go and pick up Tripp Bose and Ransom Smith. Bring them back here.”
“With pleasure. Anything else you need?” Ramone asks me on his way out the door.
“As a matter of fact, have Zio and the others bring the woodchipper and the rat bait to the rathouse. I’m feeling particularly bloody right now.” Ramone shakes his head as he walks out the room. The last thing I hear him say to Manny is, “Shit. We are going to need plastic jumpsuits.”
Damn straight.26SaxsonAfter leaving the hospital, I go home and take a shower. I need to take a moment and clear my head. My mind needs to be focused on the task at hand. See my family used to call me the butcher, before I became the business minded one. I like blood and gore. I get off on torture. Everyone assumes it’s Ramone, but that would be incorrect. Once I am out of the shower and dressed in my all black street clothes, I take a moment to walk around the house, taking in the little pieces of Lexi that she has put here and there.
When we moved in, I gave her the option of hiring a decorator, but she refused. She said she and Lara had planned to go to college for this, so she wanted to do it. I absolutely had no problem with it. Being the man, I paid no attention to what she was actually doing, just content knowing she was happy doing it. But now, walking around in here without her, I can see the pops of color she has thrown into every room, brightening up the calm ambiance she has created. I walk past the coffee table and see the pictures of us on our wedding day and my heart begins to hum the driest of melodies. Taking a deep breath, I shake it off and leave to go and get revenge for my love.