Page 20 of The Champion
What was not enjoyable was the fact that I just wanted tosleep, in my own bed. I had also started breastfeeding and Axel being just likeJameson in every possible way, wanted to eat non-stop.
Shit went south when Emma showed up with a stuffed cougarfor Axel. Jameson kicked her out, which damn near caused a fistfight betweenhim and Aiden and then Spencer got involved in. All three of them had to beescorted out by security.
Tommy, holding a bundle of flowers, stopped by as Jamesonchatted with security.
Leaning forward, he kissed my forehead and snuck a glanceat the baby in Alley’s arms.
“He sure is cute.”
“Thanks.” I smiled up at him adjusting my blankets. Tommywas not seeing the foodbags.
“Here,” Alley offered. “hold him.”
I laughed a little when he nervously held his arms asAlley handed Axel to him.
“We definitely know who the father is.” Tommy laughedlooking Axel’s loops of rusty locks.
“Yeah, there’s no denying that color.”
“You know,” he whispered when Alley began talking on hercell phone. “I’m really happy for the two of you. I was beginning to think Iwas going to need to knock some sense into you two.”
I smiled. It was funny to me that everyone around us sawthe changes occurring over the years between Jameson and me, butweignored it.
An hour later, Jameson came back with ice cream andchocolate.
Of course, I forgave him. He had chocolate. I alsothought the fight was somewhat entertaining.
It wasn’t long and I was feeling like I hadn’t gotten thechance to snuggle with my son. It’d been a full twenty-four hours since he wasborn and I think I’d gotten to hold him for maybe an hour. He’d been passedaround so much I thought for sure he’d have motion sickness.
Jimi and Nancy couldn’t believe how much Axel resembledJameson as an infant. He even had the same scowl when things didn’t go his way,which happened a lot. I wanted to tell him, “If you think this sucks kid waituntil we take you home. At least there’s supervision here.”
When I finally did get to hold him, I spent hourssurveying him. I memorized every little detail about him from his rusty loopsof hair, his adorable chubby cheeks, his cute button nose, his long fingers andthe tiny little rolls on his legs. Everything about him was perfect and wecreated him.
It was hard to believe that what started out ascomplicated ended in this perfect little being.
For only being born at 34-weeks, he was incrediblyhealthy,tiny, but healthy.
Aside from when he was delivered, we’d yet to hear himcry. The nurses assured us everything was fine but it just seemed strange to methat a baby wouldn’t cry. Even when he was hungry, he just simply let out anadorable flailing whimper.
Charlie came later that night and Jameson stepped outwith Van to get a real meal.
I loved that him and Van went out together. Van spent hisfair share of time holding Axel as well, which sent me into a full-blownemotional shit storm. Much like the time I decided to watch Father of the Brideand the day Jameson and I got married.
I couldn’t imagine how he must feel seeing us together asa family, knowing his was gone.
All this reminded me of the fact that the man currentlyholding my baby, was dying. In the days following the wedding, Charlie’sappearance was shocking. He was losing incredible amounts of weight, his eyeshad dark circles under them and some days he couldn’t even form a completesentence.
Today was a good day.
“He is beautiful, Sway.”
“He is, isn’t he?” I gleamed. I was one proud mamawizard.
“You havin’ more?”
“I think I’ll wait until I’ve actually left the hospitalbefore that happens.” I told him with the same enthusiasm I exuded after beingtold I had to go through labor in the first place.
I knew Jameson and I’d probably have more, after all, wedid make one adorable flailing spaz.
