Page 21 of The Champion
“Don’t worry Axel Charles,” Charlie assured him. “yourparents are crazy but they’re pretty cool.”
Axel stared at him as though he knew he was in for aninteresting life.
Of course, I started crying watching my son and fatherbonding. I was emotional. I cried at everything the last day or so. I thoughtthis would have ended when he was born but no such luck, it was worse.
The following day I was released to go home, which wasawesome. I hated staying in the hospital after having to spend so much time inone when I was pregnant with Axel.
Leaving was another story altogether.
It took Jameson, Spencer, AidenandVan to figureout how to put the goddamn car seat in the Expedition. How this was socomplicated was beyond me.
Once in the car and ready to go, Jameson was the dotingfather he’d become these last few days and had Axel so bundled up from the snowthat I couldn’t see anything but his tiny eyes.
“I think he’s too hot.” I told Jameson when he startedthe car.
Jameson turned around to look at us in the backseat. “Nah...he’s toasty.”
“His little cheeks are red.”
“Cause he’s toasty. I’d rather be toasty then cold.”
“How do you know that’s what he’d want...maybe he likes the cold?” I suggested.
“No...he doesn’t.”he said evenly. “Now let’s go.”
He then proceeded to pull onto Ensign Road at five milesper hour. Here was a NASCAR Champion driving five miles per hour because hisinfant son was in the car...how ironicis that?
I made him stop at Norma’s on the way home so I could geta hamburger. I was starving from that ridiculous shit they called food in thehospital. I was actually amazed some people didn’t die just from ingesting thatshit.
When we pulled into our driveway on Summit Lake, ourentire goddamn family was waiting for us.
Jameson and I just sat inside the car for a few minuteswatching them before Jameson turned around to look at us in the back seat.
“We’re never going to get them to leave, you know thatright?”
“Let’s just play nice, for now.”
“So you say...I’mtired.” His head fell against the steering wheel. “This has been exhausting. Ijust want to go to bed.”
“Really?” I challenged smacking the back of his head.
“Sorry.” He replied softly ignoring my eye contact.
“That’s what I thought. Now help us out.”
With the help of my annoyingly protective husband, wemade it inside the house and prepared ourselves for an evening with our family.
Jimi and Nancy brought overPapa John’spizza foreveryone. I think I devoured half a damn box just by myself.
“Go get Lucas.” I told Jameson after I finished feedingand changing Axel for the third time tonight.
Axel was constantly hungry and then constantly pooping.It was an endless cycle. Most parents say, be prepared for no sleep. Well theyshould warn you that when they are awake, all they do is shit and eat.
Occasionally they cry.
“Why?” Jameson looked at me confused, his eyes followingLucas down the hall.
“He’s wearing my maternity bra.” I told him rocking Axelin his room. “It’s weird.”
