A Life Worth Fighting (9 page)

Leah falls asleep, and after a couple of hours and several tubes of blood the doctor comes in and sits on his stool. “Mrs. Grether, according to your last menstrual cycle, you are about nine weeks pregnant. You are also slightly dehydrated and you have a urinary tract infection. The U.T.I. is what’s causing your cramping.”

“I’m not miscarrying?”

“No, you’re not,” he smiles. “I’m going to send you home with some medications and instructions. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call or come back in. Do you have an obstetrician?”

Leah looks at me and I nod. “We do, but I haven’t seen him yet,” she says.

“I would go ahead and make an appointment since your pregnancy’s been confirmed. Sometimes it takes a few weeks to get in to see them. Rest the next few days and take the medication as prescribed.” Leah squeezes my hand, and I smile when I look down at her.

Later that night, Leah sleeps while I pound the punching bag. I didn’t get my workout in today, well, yesterday, although Leah and Bethany had me chasing fast food chains down like a crack head. I know it was Leah’s way to get me away from the shop. She didn’t like me hovering over her yesterday; she’ll like me a lot less today.

I don’t leave the house to run; I run on the treadmill instead. Leah’s abdominal cramps scared me enough to not want to leave her side today. I tried really hard to not fall in love with this baby before three months, but it’s too late. As soon as I knew she was pregnant, I already loved him
or
her. If Leah does miscarry, it’ll be like losing Jamie all over again.

Leah and I spend the next day at home. I cook and she cleans, despite my attempts to keep her in bed to rest. She takes a nap during the day and I get some boxing time in while she sleeps.

The next day, Leah says,
“Ace, you are not working with me again today!” Leah stands there with her hands on her hips, looking all badass.

“Leah, either I work with you or you’ll stay home in bed and I’ll be working with Bethany.” I watch her and she isn’t happy. For someone who stands just over 5 foot, she sure has attitude.

“Drink some water, you’re dehydrated,” I add, looking at the full water bottle on the counter in front of her.

She doesn’t say anything, but she does drink some water. I can almost see the wheels spinning in her head. I’m dressed in a white linen shirt, a nice pair of jeans, and my good boots. I wanted to wear something nice while working with her at her shop. She looks at me and smiles, but it’s not really a smile, it’s more like a smirk. “So, you want to work with me again, today?”

Do I want to work with her today?
The look in her eyes is scaring me. I know
that
look and she is planning something, and it’s not to my benefit either. I already cleaned the ceiling fans and dusted the tops of the bookshelves.
What else is left to do?

“I do,” I say, confidently.

She drinks some more and nods. “You’ll need to change into work clothes and don’t forget the power washer.” I watch as she sashays off wearing her pink flowing summer dress and heels.
Yeah, I’ll soon be regretting this.

I clean the restrooms. I hate cleaning the restrooms.
I know it’s her way to ensure I won’t be back tomorrow.
Then she has me power wash the parking lot and the outside of the bookstore on this hot, hot day. I get a glimpse of Leah smiling at me through the picture window. I smile, wipe the sweat from my face, and tip my ball cap to her.
Yeah, she got me, and she got me good, but I’m not about to admit defeat just yet.
When I hear tapping on the glass, I look up. Leah is waving me to come in.
Food run, no doubt.
I don’t put the power washer away; I leave it out on the sidewalk near the building but away from the entrance door. I wipe the sweat from my forehead again and readjust my ball cap before walking into the air-conditioned building.

Leah is standing there with a bottle of water for me. “Hot out there?” she asks, sweetly. She has recently put on a white sweater over her sundress. The air conditioning feels good and I down the water without answering her.
She’s up to something.

“Are you hungry?”
I am, but should I admit that?

“Why?” I ask suspiciously.

“Jo stocked the refrigerator with turkey breast, vegetables, fresh fruits, yogurts, and juice. I thought we could eat lunch together.”

Is she serious or is this a trap?
She takes my dirty, sweaty hand and leads me into the back room.
She's serious. My sweet Leah is back and I’m happy.
I wash my hands while she sets everything out on the break room table.

“Is Bethany eating with us?”

“No, she ate first while I watched the shop. I wanted to eat with you.”

“Really?” I ask, drying off my hands.

“Yes, Jo left me this note this morning and I feel bad.”

She holds up a small card for me to read.
Bobby, I got some of the items we talked about for Leah and the baby. I’m still working on recipes that are healthier and delicious for them. They are lucky to have you. Jo.

She says, “I think she left this for you; not me.”

“It’s addressed to Bobby and you think it was meant for you?” I laugh.

“I’m sorry.”

“Are you sorry for reading a personal note from Jo to me or are you sorry for being a slave driver when all I was trying to do was watch over and protect you?”

“Both.” She walks over and wraps her arms around me. “Can I blame it on overactive hormones?”

“Is that your best defense?”

“It is. I’ll need more time to come up with something else.”

“Overactive hormones is good.” I kiss her and she responds to me like she always does. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Did you tell Jo that I was pregnant?”

“No, I think it was your overactive hormones that gave it away yesterday.”

“She is very perceptive,” Leah admits.

“She is and she wants what’s best for you and the
baby.” I smile.

Leah and I have lunch in the back room together and I am glad to see her eating so well. I down three bottles of water trying to quench my thirst.

“Robert, we need to talk,” she says while picking at a piece of cheese on her sandwich.

“Okay, I’m listening.”

“You can’t come here and sit with me every single day. Do you want me at your boxing practices and fights?”

“No, but I need to make sure you and the
baby are safe.”

She smiles. “I appreciate that, I really do. But I need you to believe that if something happens, I’ll do the right thing.”

“I know you will. I just want to keep you both safe.”

“I know you do, but coming in here and sitting with me every day isn’t the answer.”

“What if you need me and I’m not here?”

“Ace, I’ll always need you. But if something happens, I know what to do and I’ll call you right away.”

“Right away?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“I’m still driving you to work and setting up the tables in the morning.” Leah opens her mouth to argue and I say, “It’s not negotiable.”

“Okay.”

Leah

Robert and I stop by the store on the way home. I want to get Bethany something for her recent engagement. Robert hates shopping for this kind of stuff, so I make sure we visit several different stores. I had everything I needed in the first two shops.
I just love sweet revenge.

Later that night Robert showers while I take a bubble bath. When he is done showering, he gets into the
bathtub with me. I lean forward and he climbs in behind me. The water sloshes over the sides of the tub, but he doesn’t care. I lean back into him and he kisses my head. “This is nice,” I admit.

He moans but doesn’t say a word. Robert always showers first before he takes a bath with me. It isn’t very often, but sometimes he’ll get in. He pours some soap on a loofa and rubs it over my arms, breasts, and stomach. I can feel his smile as he touches my belly.

“Our baby,” he whispers.

“I know. Can you believe it?” I tilt my head slightly so I can look at him.

He smiles and says, “It feels like it’s a dream.”

Before bed, I put together the engagement basket for Bethany and her fiancé, Kyle. I sign the card and tuck it into the basket.

The next morning we eat breakfast at home together. I’m dressed in a pair of white capris, a light blue blouse, and a pair of white sandals. Robert is wearing a gray t-shirt, running shoes, and gym shorts.

He drives me to work like he said he would. We walk into the shop and see that Jo is putting her sweets in the glass showcase. Robert rushes over to help her.

“Thank you, Bobby, but I can get it.”

“Jo, please wait for me and I’ll put these in here from now on.”

“I’m going to get used to all this fussing over me,” she says, wiping off her hands on her apron that says, “When in doubt, add cinnamon.”

“Good morning, Jo. It smells delicious in here. Did you make something different this morning?”

I walk over to where she and Robert are both standing.

“I did, I made some mini apple turnovers, apple and cinnamon muffins, and some cranberry tarts.”

“Oh, Jo. You are too much,” I say, hugging her.

“You still made cinnamon buns, right?” Roberts asks.

“I even made extra this morning.”

“Jo, I think I love you.

“Me or my buns?” Jo giggles.

“Both.” I watch as Robert walks into the back room with
the empty tray to restock. I decide to follow him and just as I suspected he is sniffing the air above the cinnamon buns.

“Robert Michael!”

“I’m having pregnancy cravings that I can’t satisfy,” he jokes.

We all laugh and I shake my head at him. Jo walks over and congratulates us. “Oh, a baby; this is indeed fantastic news.”

“Thank you, Jo. But it’s still too soon to announce it.”

“I know, dear. But I could tell yesterday. And as soon as you are around your mom and Bobby’s mom, they will know, too.”

“Really, do you think so?”

“Mark my words, they’ll know within minutes.”

“Before I forget, sign this card for Bethany and Kyle. We picked up a few things for her engagement.”

“Oh, I didn’t know they did things like this.”

“It’s a new trend.”

“When I got engaged, I was lucky to get a ring,” Jo says, laughing.

“Yeah. Me, too.”

I get the cash drawer set up, and when I return, Robert and Jo are sitting on the couch and having coffee.

“Ace, you take more breaks than any employee I have.”

He smiles and says, “I was fired yesterday, remember?”

Jo laughs and stands up. “You kids remind me of Carl and me many years ago.”

I’ll take that as a compliment.
“Rushing off so soon?” I ask.

“Yes, Carl and I have some errands to run, then I might let him take me to lunch.”

“I need to go, too, Sweets. I’ll be here at 6:00 p.m. to help close up.”

“All right, I’ll call you if I need you. Be careful and I love you.”

“Always and I love you, too.”

Robert walks Jo to the door as Bethany walks in. She hugs Jo and then Robert before walking over to me. Robert walks Jo out to her car before leaving. I smile.

“For someone as big and macho as he is, you wouldn’t think he has such a tender side,” Bethany says, watching them.

My heart swells with the compliment. “Thank you. He really is a gentleman.”

“His mother should be proud,” Bethany says as she starts to straighten up the pillows on the couches.

“Yes, she is.”

I watch through the picture window as Robert watches Jo leave before he takes off for his 15-or 20-mile run.

“Here, we got you something,” I say as I hand Bethany her basket of engagement goodies.

“Oh, Leah. You didn’t have to.”

“We wanted to. It’s not every day my girl gets engaged.”

“Thank you.” I watch as she looks at the bottle of champagne, the champagne glasses, the bridal magazine, and the box of dark chocolates. She reads the card and starts to cry. “Thank you,” she says as she hugs me.

“You’re welcome.”

“You and Jo are the best.”

On Saturday, Robert doesn’t fly out to D.C. early. He drives me to the shop and helps me open it like he has the last several days, He is still very adamant about me not lifting or carrying anything heavy. My dad, his dad, and Gus are all flying out for the fight with him. He has been training like a mad man and I wonder if it’s because of the fight or if it has to do with me being pregnant and he is releasing some built-up stress. Just before Bethany pulls in, Gus, Dad, and Walter pull up to pick up Robert. I get a feeling in my belly and I know it has nothing to do with my pregnancy. I hate when he leaves and I hate that he fights. I put on a smile so he can’t see my fears.