No Ordinary Romance (19 page)

“Oh Thomas it’s good to see you, come here I
want to introduce you to Connie Jacobs. Connie I want you to meet
Thomas Galvin, he’s a councilman you know. Connie is a treasure,
she comes whenever we call, and she’s been a strong supporter of
The Women’s League.”

Thomas loved touching her. Her hands were
soft yet firm, if that made any sense. Now her eyes were ocean
blue, he wanted to see them turn royal blue like when they made
love. “Constantina and I already know each other. She’s a regular
visitor of the city council chamber.”

“I almost didn’t recognize you without the
beard and mustache.” Connie tried to pull back her hand, but Thomas
held onto briefly before letting it go.

“It was getting itchy, besides I’ve been told
that my dimples are irresistible.”

She had to leave now. “Jayne it’s been a
pleasure, call me for the June festival.” Connie waved farewell to
Thomas and Jayne as she made her way to the door. Seeing Thomas was
unsettling, when he shook her hand she immediately she had visions
of warm bodies on silk sheets.

Thomas came to a quick decision as he watched
Connie depart. “Jayne it was good to see you again." He gave Jayne
a brief hug before chasing down Connie. The woman always seemed to
be running from him. Thomas caught up with Connie as she made it to
the parking lot. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close
to his body wanting her to feel his erection. “We need to talk,
it's been a long two weeks Constantina, and we have to clear up the
matter of the land deal.”

"Damn it Thomas let me go, people are staring
at us."

"I don't give a damn if people are staring at
us. I don't care if we end up on the cover of every newspaper in
the country. I'm not going to let you avoid me any longer. I've
been trying to give you time to realize that I would never do
anything to betray your trust. You're so damn stubborn, and you've
been punishing both of us. Tell me right now, do you think I
cheated you on that land swap deal?"

Connie saw the anguish is his eyes, and she
couldn't deny him the truth. "No Thomas I don't think you'd ever do
anything to hurt me, but I hurt both of us with my doubts."

Thomas looked around the parking lot, and
they were getting a lot of attention. "You wouldn't have had any
doubts if I'd told you about my connection to the Chisum Group." He
draped his arm over her shoulders as they walked to her car. "I
still might paddle your ass for running away from me."

"Well we better head to my house then; I like
being tied up when I get spanked."

"You little tease if we weren't being spied
on by hundreds of spectators I would take you against the car right
now." He pressed her back against the car while molding his chest
into her breasts. He kissed her with all the pent up frustrations
of the last two weeks. "God Constantina I missed you so much. I've
been walking around like half of a man, wondering I would beat you
or kiss you for hiding from me."

Connie was shaking with sexual frustration,
she was wondering how she was going to drive home. She put her head
on his chest and luxuriated in the feeling of being with him when
her cell phone rang, it was a ringtone reserved for Jenna.
“Jenna!”

“Connie its Mike, your godchild is making his
entrance into the world. Jenna is in labor at Methodist Hospital.
Get your ass to the hospital.”

“The baby’s on the way! Have you notified
Samantha?”

“Don’t you worry Connie; from all accounts
the baby is OK. Samantha’s already here, Jenna was at work when her
water broke.”

“Get back to Jenna and I’ll see you soon.” A
sense of euphoria surged through Connie’s body, her godchild was
being born.

Thomas smiled at her. "I take it that Jenna's
baby is eager to make his entry into the world. Do you want me to
drive?"

"You're coming with me to the hospital."

"I'm not letting you out of my sight; get
your cute little tush in the car."

***

It took Connie and Thomas 45 minutes to make
it to Methodist Hospital and park the car. By the time, they got to
the waiting room Alexander Michael Johnson had made his way into
the world. Mike sent her a picture and text message. Samantha,
Michael’s partner Mack and his wife Linda waited to see the
baby.

Samantha ran and hugged Connie, “You've been
busy, no wonder I couldn't reach you. When did you and Thomas get
back together?”

Connie laughed and hugged Samantha back
before greeting Linda and Mack. “I was speaking at the League’s
conference today. Thomas just happened to be there, so we started
talking and cleared the air. I just turned my cell phone back on,
and a few seconds later Mike called me as I left the parking
lot.”

“Thomas I'm glad you and Con worked things
out, she was looking mighty pathetic. From what I'm told you were
dragging butt. Did you see photos of little Alexander?”

“Yes, he’s such a doll. It’s thrilling to
welcome life into this world instead of losing someone. When can we
see the baby?”

“The doctors are checking Alexander over. I
imagine will see him before Jenna makes it back to her room.”

Mike came out to see them just as took a seat
next to Linda. “How does it feel to be a father?”

Mike welcomed the hugs and congratulations.
Seeing his son born was the most beautiful and the scariest thing
he ever seen in his life. “It’s incredible I never thought I would
become someone’s dad. Alexander is 7 lbs. and 8 oz. and he’s 12
inches long. They’re cleaning up Jenna now and checking the baby’s
vitals before moving her into a room.”

“He sure came quickly; you just called me not
even an hour ago.”

“Jenna had a few hard contractions and the
doctor spotted his head. She came through like a real trooper. I
should have known something was wrong, she didn’t sleep last night,
and she had some discomfort in her back. Jenna didn’t complain
about having any pains when I drove her to work. Next thing I know
Samantha called me telling me that Jenna’s water broke.”

Linda patted Mike on the back, “her labor
started last night, and you guys just didn’t know it. I’m just glad
she wasn’t alone when her water broke. Well I’ll leave you two men
to talk your BS while the girls and I go to the gift shop to find
something to brighten up Jenna’s room.

Mike, Thomas, and Mack watched them leave
taking all the gaiety out of the waiting room with them. “I know
how you’re feeling Mikey, when Linda had our first child I was
nervous as hell and scared for her. Watching the woman you love
give birth can make you think about celibacy. How’s Jenna?”

“She told me not to look at her body for the
rest of my life. I’m sure this will pass once she forgets about the
pain and discomfort she suffered during the pregnancy.”

Thomas just shook his head, “Alexander’s a
pretty hefty baby for woman Jenna’s size. She will never forget the
pain and discomfort of this pregnancy, and she won’t let you forget
either."

"Thomas I'm just glad that my wife and son
are okay. So when did you and Connie get back together? The last I
heard she was still avoiding you."

"I'm not totally out of the woods yet, but we
made significant strides today. I stalked her to the parking lot
and made her talk to me. We've cleared the air; now we need to get
busy with make up sex."

Mack got out of his chair and slapped Mike on
the back. "I remember those days well, makes me want to start an
argument on the way home."

"Whatever you do don't mention sex in front
of Jenna. I have a feeling I won't be getting any until Alexander
enters kindergarten. Let’s go see if Alexander's in the
nursery."

***

Samantha couldn't help ribbing Connie while
they waited to pay for their purchases. "I guess the drought is
over."

"We were heading to my house for some kinky
bondage sex when Jenna decided to give birth. I mean really she
could have waited a couple of hours."

Samantha winked at Connie, "I got a feeling
that kinky sex is still on the menu for tonight."

"As soon as we leave the hospital, I'm not
even going to take time out for dinner."

Samantha, Linda, and Connie must have brought
everything that was baby related in the gift shop. Mike sent them a
text with Jenna’s room number. They grabbed their purchases and
headed towards Jenna’s floor. “I wonder if all this stuff will even
fit in her room.”

“If not Mike can take it home with them. I
don’t imagine they’ll keep Jenna in the hospital too long.”

Connie nodded in agreement with Linda,
“Provided that Jenna and the baby are okay she’ll probably be
released within two days.”

When I gave birth to my children in the 80’s
women used to stay in the hospital at least four days. When I was
born in the 60's, it was a week. My how society has changed.”

Samantha gave Linda a grin, “More than likely
the insurance policies back then didn’t have all the stop gaps and
clauses the policies have today.”

When they reached Jenna’s room she and baby
Alexander where there. Jenna was asleep, and Mike was holding the
baby. They set the balloons and plants on the window ledge and
placed the other packages in the corner of the room.

“They just fed him, who wants to hold him
first.”

“Connie sit down and hold your godson.”

Connie washed her hands before sitting in a
chair next to Jenna’s bed. Mike handed her the baby who chose that
moment to open his eyes and yawn. He was looking at her as if he
were trying to figure out her role in his life. “I’m your Aunt
Connie. I’m the fun aunt who will bring you noisy toys to drive you
parents' nuts.” She cried when his little fingers wrapped around
her pinky.

“Oh my God isn’t he precious. It’s too early
to tell his eye color.”

Connie gave Linda a rueful grin, “do you want
to hold him Linda.”

Linda was impatient to hold the baby, and
everybody knew it. “Only if you’re done holding him.”

Thomas never thought there would come a day
that he would want to be a father until he saw Constantina hold
baby Alexander. He could envision her pregnant with his child. He
also had visions of the several children they would have. He felt
as if he swallowed his heart, how had she come to mean so much to
him so fast. He stood behind her and touched her shoulder as she
cradled the baby in her arms.

Connie had seen that look in Thomas's eyes
before he moved behind her. She didn't know what he was thinking,
but holding Alexander made her realize what she’d been missing in
life. She wanted a family of her own, a husband and children. “I
don’t want to hog little Alexander.” She rocked him for a few
minutes before handing him over to Linda. Connie hugged Mike and
sat on the other side of Jenna’s bed watching Linda and Samantha
take turns hold him.

“What do you think of your godson
Connie?”

Connie took Jenna’s hand, “He’s absolutely
beautiful.” Jenna’s skin was pale, and she had dark circles under
her eyes. Giving birth to Alexander did a number on her. “How do
you feel sweetie?”

“I feel as if I pushed out a watermelon. I’m
not likely to forget the pain of giving birth any time soon. Now
that, I've seen Alexander sleeping so peacefully, it was worth any
amount of pain to bring him into the world.

“You did good Jenna. Laura would be proud of
you. You look tired, Thomas and I are going to leave we have some
unfinished business to attend. I'll see you tomorrow.”

Jenna smiled at Connie as she and Thomas said
their good-byes. Samantha gave her the thumbs up signal letting her
know that Connie and Thomas were back on track. Happy tears flowed
from Jenna's eyes, her baby had brought joy to so many lives. Mike
saw her tears and immediately became concerned; he wore that
expression often during her pregnancy. It felt good to be loved so
much by the man of your dreams.

"Honey are you okay?"

"I'm exhausted, nothing a little rest won't
cure."

"Then why are you crying."

Jenna raised Mike's hand to her mouth and
kissed the palm of his hand. "These are happy tears my love. I
never knew that I could be so happy."

***

Crystalline was still fuming hours after
attending the Domestic Violence Conference. She read in the paper
that Tina was one of the speakers. She went for the sole purpose of
hearing what Tina had to say. She couldn't believe the lies that
came out of her mouth. Tina told that packed auditorium that her
mother tried to kill her and her brother by setting a fire and
leaving them for dead. Tina went on to talk about how much she
suffered because of her burns.

"What about how I suffered? That little bitch
lied, she set that fire and now she's blaming me!" Crystalline lit
a cigarette not realized she still had a one burning in the
ashtray.

Jimmie Lee rushed down into the basement of
his cousin's house where he and Crystalline had been staying for
the last week. "What's going on down here Crystalline?"

"That bitch is gonna get what she has coming
to her. I wonder how many times she's told that lie about how I set
that fire. Get me a beer Jimmy Lee we need to start planning. I got
Tina's contact information if she doesn't give me what I want. I'll
start telling the truth about how she set that fire that killed my
boy."

Jimmy Lee hated when Crystalline got all
worked up like this, but the pay off was something he couldn't
ignore. "Baby, we'll make her pay. I'll take care of everything,
just let me know what you need me to do, and I'll do it. I would
kill for you if necessary."

"I would never kill my kid Jimmy Lee, but I
sure can make her wish she was dead."

***

Connie promised to make cookies for Joanie’s
luncheon and she stayed up most of Friday night making them. She
had chocolate chip, double chocolate macadamia, oatmeal raisin,
peanut butter, and sugar. Connie made three trays of cookies,
hoping that she made enough. When no one answered the front door,
Connie went around to the back yard; Joanie had a lovely home. The
garden in the backyard was beautiful she could sit back there for
hours daydreaming. She looked around and did not see one person,
although the tables and tents were set up.