Page 103 of The Champion
Eventually we made our way back to Sway’s room where Axelclimbed into the hospital bed with Sway. She wrapped her arms around all threeof our kids.
Later that night after Aiden and Emma had taken Arie andAxel for the night, Sway and I laid in bed with our newest addition.
“I can’t believe how much he resembles Axel.” Sway saidsoftly, her head rested against my chest.
“I know, it’s really weird,”
It was weird. They could have been twins. Arie looked alot like Axel and now Casten as well but she resembled Sway more with her widegreen eyes and heart shaped face whereas the boys were a mirrored image of me.
“I love you,” I told her pulling her closer to my chestwithout hurting her.
“You better but I think I’m done popping out your kidsfor a while.”
“I think three is enough.”
She was quiet for another few moments before she said thewords I expected to hear.
“I wish Charlie could have been here.”
“I know honey, I’m very sorry.” I murmured kissing herforehead and then Casten’s.
Losing Charlie never got easier for Sway and it was partof the reason we now lived in North Carolina. Being in Elma reminded her ofCharlie too much. But the thing about Elma was it always brought up back to wherewe truly felt like a family.
15.Pit Board - Jameson
Pit Board – Aboard used by the crew to inform drivers of lap times, lap until pit and othervarious information. The board is used along with team radios to keep in constantcommunication.
Taking care of Axel and Arie for a few weeks after Sway’sC-section was a lot of fucking work. I never realized how much energy those twohad until I was alone with them. It wasn’t so bad when I just had one, but bothof them together—I couldn’t understand how in the hell Sway did this every day.
It was exhausting and I could completely understand whysome animals eat their young.
Arie was a handful. I could handle Axel because wethought the same way. I knew what I wanted, in turn, I understood him.
Arie was something else entirely.
One particular trip to the grocery store after we arrivedhome from the hospital assured me I’d never take her again. Hating grocerystores in general, this didn’t help matters.
There I was, picking out some fruit when a sale associatewith the store tapped me on the shoulder.
“Um sir?”
I turned around to see a woman pointing at Arie, who wasstark naked and looking up at us with curiosity. Emerald green eyes outlined bythick black lashes blinked as though she had no idea there was anything wrongwith this situation.
Being only two this could have been worse but what mademe laugh was the way her diaper had been tossed in the apple bin and herclothes were strategically and neatly hung on the bananas.
“Can you please keep your daughter clothed?” She askedand then fished the diaper out of the apples for me.
I just laughed. What else was I supposed to do?
She was only two and it’s not like she knew any better.
I laughed, mostly because I had no idea what else to do.Sway had left me lists. An actual fucking list on what it was that I wassupposed to do but taking clothes off in a grocery store wasn’t on the list.
When I got home, Arie was clothed again and I asked Swayif she did this often.
Sway laughed as she burped Casten. “Yeah, all the time,”she told me as if this was no big thing. “I once had to duck-tape her diaperon.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
