Raw Deal Page 9

  The contractions sped up and were more obvious; Lily fed her baby with her feet up on the arms of her favorite chair. She sat on a rubber blanket; she knew what was coming next. Rose had just fallen asleep again when her water broke. Ace cleaned up his wife and the floor, put Rose back in her room, and called Willow to come stay with the infant. Lily expressed milk for the baby and left it in a special cooler.

  The waves got closer together and Lily said, "Hospital and drugs."

  "Okay," said Tatiana.

  Willow came in, fresh-faced as if it weren't three in the morning. She hugged Ace, kissed Lily, and went to sleep in the same room as Rose on the narrow bed. Ace retrieved the go-bag, got his wife into the car, and had the midwife follow them to the hospital.

  Doctor Yu was pleased to see them. "Right on time," she said, and called the anesthesiologist. "Any later, and we wouldn't have had time for the epidural." Ace helped his wife lean forward and get the needle in the back.

  Lily was overjoyed when the pain stopped. "That was a hard labor," she said.

  Tatiana snorted. "It was not so difficult." Ace gave Tatiana a quelling stare, and held his wife's hand. "I think we need a name now," he said.

  "Not for an hour or two," said Lily.

  Ace belly-laughed. "Fine, but you'll forget when you start to push."

  "Colin and Davin are my favorites," she said. "Davin Colin or Colin Davin?"

  "Colin Davin," said Ace, his eyes misty.

  "I miss Rose," she said.

  "Well, you're having her brother," he said. "Oh, god."

  "What?" asked Lily.

  "She's the older one. The kid will be bossed around."

  "Until we have more, and then they'll both be older."

  Ace tried not to cry. Crying wasn't allowed by the father before the baby was actually born, he was pretty sure. "You want more?"

  "Yes, dumbass, I want more," she said, popping an ice chip. "We're Nighthawks. We've got so many kids running around that I'm having trouble keeping track of the names. Did you know I actually use a flow chart?

  "My wife, the CPA," said Ace, kissing her temple.

  "The minute he pops out, I want Sonic. Go all out. Cheese sticks, sliders, chicken wings. No, head to Buffalo Wings and get me the honey mustard wings and fries. No, back to Sonic, and add a peanut butter shake. And tater tots, no fries."

  Ace laughed. "I'll send a text and have one of the three hundred people in the waiting room get it."

  "Three hundred?" she said, her voice rising.

  "I'm kidding," he said, rubbing her shoulders. "Katya gave birth so fast no one could show up. Hell, ‘I had to grab the football and run to the hospital,’ so to speak."

  Lily looked frostily at him. "Our daughter is not a football."

  He raised his hands to ward off her glare. It could freeze a raging river in an instant. "I did not mean to imply that."

  "Good," she said. "She's absolutely fucking perfect. And I can say fucking, because she isn't nearby. You'll have to clean up your mouth." She popped another ice chip, and crunched it.

  "Working on it," he said.

  "You going to take three or four weeks off?" she asked.

  "How long are you taking off?" he asked. She'd been working like an insane person to get everything as automated as it could be.

  "I've got Traci." Traci was another CPA who was handling her larger accounts. The Nighthawks web of businesses she kept in-house; her assistant was also a Nighthawks member. "We've got it handled for about three weeks. Then, I can slowly pick up the reins, and I have the Wolfpack to cook, clean, and keep us in clean underwear for the foreseeable future."

  "We're already using them," he said. "Between your business and mine..."

  "And your picking up a hammer to help the ex-troops, which I think is awesome, by the way..."

  "Still love the hammer," he said. "The food delivery is awesome. And, the new-mom service is fantastic. Can we stretch it to four weeks? Ivy says Cougar is a pro, and I've seen that woman work it. We're even considering hiring some Valkyries as assistant managers to give us all more time off, for rides and babies, and such."

  "You should do it," she said. "We work like dogs specifically to do this."

  "Speaking of dogs, maybe I should go home and walk Jake and Maude."

  "That pug is getting fat," said Lily. "My little Maude is gorgeous." Her brain finally caught up with what he said. "You want to leave me. While I'm giving birth. To your child."

  "You're only seven centimeters," he said. "It could take all night and all day."

  She took a swing at him. He danced out of the way. "No fair," she said. "I can't chase you."

  Dr. Yu came in. "Not to disparage your midwife, but... where is she?"

  "Food," said Ace. "She says she will be close by if things get more active."

  "Let's take a look," said Dr. Yu. She examined Lily. "Nine centimeters. She'd better be back quick or she'll miss..."

  Ace texted Tatiana. "Done," he said, putting the phone away.

  "Push," said Dr. Yu, waving at the anesthesiologist to dial down the medication so Lily could feel to push.

  Ace held her hand. "Doing great, baby," he said, as she bore down.

  "That's weird," she said. "I can't feel it, but I know something's happening."

  "What's happening?" asked Ace.

  "Your midwife is a bit too late," said Dr. Yu. "I can see your son's head. Now, push again."

  Colin Davin came into the world with two more pushes, squalling his lungs out. He was six pounds even. Ace cut the cord after sending a photo to Henry, David, and half the Nighthawks in the delivery waiting room. They could hear the cheers from all the way down the hall. Once Lily had delivered the afterbirth and been cleaned up with a new gown, they let the family in, two at a time. Henry and David were first, followed by Gregory and Elena.

  "Katya's at home sleeping," said Gregory. "She is so happy for you both." Then Inola and Bella, and so on.

  Gregory took Elena out for ice cream after the birth. She poked at her bowl of strawberry-cheesecake ice cream. "What's wrong?" asked Gregory.

  "Mom is so sad," said Elena.

  "She had a baby for someone else," said Gregory. "It's hard to love a baby for nine months, then give it to its parents. It feels like something got taken away, even if you know logically it isn't true. And that it was Ace and Lily's biological child. And, she's having all the hormones of just having a baby."

  "We need to help her," said Elena.

  "I'll get her to see a doctor," said Gregory. "Meanwhile, what can we do?"

  "Let's make a special day for her," Elena said. "A card, gifts, a spa day, all the stuff she likes. Then, you take her to dinner and the movies."

  "You are a genius," he said, kissing Elena on the head. "The best daughter ever."

  Elena giggled. She whipped out her cell phone. "Send her to Vanity. They'll do everything --hair, nails, massage, the works."

  "Ice cream first," said Gregory. "Then world domination." Elena giggled again.

  They did it up right --breakfast in bed, a card and balloons, Elena helping with the babies, with Willow's arrival. Gregory took Katya to the spa to be pampered, then swung back for baby and housecleaning duties. He arrived at the spa nearly eight hours later to find, to his tremendous relief, the circles gone from under Katya's eyes. He took her to an elegant dinner, and then to a special theater where they could lay back in recliners and be served by waiters with chocolates and fine teas. She loved it.

  He took her for a drive under the stars. "Gregory, I know you may be angry with me."

  "What? Why?" he asked. "You are the mother of three wonderful children, and I love everything about you."

  She smiled. "Right answer. Love, I want more children."

  Gregory smiled. "I hoped so." His eyes popped open wide. "We need a bigger house!"

  She smiled with relief. "I thought you would be angry. So many children already! So loud, and so strong!" She wiped tears from her eyes. "I choose h
ouse, and baby names. You make money and make babies."

  "Excellent," said Gregory, and smiled. He pulled over on a remote road, and they stared up at the moonroof of the SUV at the stars. He kissed her, slowly, and caressed her face. He took her face in his hands. "I love everything about you. I like the way you snort at me if I do something stupid. I like how you feed our family the best things."

  She snorted, making him laugh. "Do you want to know secret? I cheated. I gave several of my grandmother's recipes to Nantan. Much of what we eat, I did not make."

  He smiled, and kissed her again. "We have a gorgeous daughter and twin boys, and the food is excellent, either way. Now, love, you can have anything you want. A vacation? A diamond necklace? Spa days every month? Every two weeks?"

  "Every two weeks is good," said Katya. "Keeps me happy and beautiful."

  "That's what I want. In America, there is a saying. ‘If mama's not happy, nobody's happy.’ I want to help you do whatever you want."

  "I want to go back to school," said Katya, surprising both of them. "I am very smart woman. I can be anything I want."

  "Of course," said Gregory, drying her tears with his fingers. "Anything you want. What do you want to take?"

  "I want to be an online teacher, like Callie, but online. Do it in Russian. Such good education there, in Russia, but always could be improved. Can be improved everywhere, no? Make online courses for many subjects for children in Russia. Or maybe adults."

  "There have to be degrees in that," said Gregory. "I know you got pregnant early, in your third year of high school, and you got your GED, then took college courses all along. I am so proud of you for that, y0u know." He kissed her. "Russian literature is a hard thing to pass, too."

  "Not for me," said Katya. "My parents did well with me before they died on interstate in snow, in small car hit by large truck. I learned to debate Russian literature from my father. He was college professor in Russia, worked as cabbie here, my mother his graduate student. Here, I screw up the life they gave me. I follow bad man, hoping to make better life, but now I have you." She wiped her eyes again. "I want what my mother and father told me. A good life. I have it, but I need my intellectual life too."

  "You can have it," said Gregory. "I am sure there is a degree for this online."

  "There are," said Katya, slowly. "I have investigated them. There are five I like."

  "Pick one," said Gregory, "and get started." He leaned down, wiped away her tears. "I am such a fool. I didn't bother to ask if you needed anything, if you were happy. I was just so happy with Elena, and now the boys... I was blinded."

  "Hush," said Katya. "It is a long time, I sleep with boy in car."

  Gregory laughed. "Although that sounds fun, we do have actual money, and a baby nurse. I'll send a text, and I'll take you to the best hotel in the city. Do you want Caesar's? Bellagio? The Venetian? The Mirage?"

  "I want a hotel with big tub," said Katya. "I am still sore, and want much hot water."

  "A suite it is," said Gregory.

  He sent some texts to Willow and the baby nurse, pulled up the internet, and found a Jacuzzi tub room at the MGM Grand, also known as the Big Green Monster. He made a reservation as soon as the baby nurse and Willow replied that both would be delighted to stay and order pizza for themselves, and he took his wife for the night of her dreams.

  Gregory began treating his wife better, by parking, then taking her up to their suite. He had a snack tray brought up along with cherry champagne, his wife's favorite, and Maker's Mark for himself. He drew her a bath, put on light jazz, took off her clothes, put her in a robe, and dressed in a robe himself. He accepted the drinks and food while she slipped into the tub. Gregory then washed her long, dirty blonde hair, shading to brown, put in conditioner, then climbed in with her. They drank champagne and bourbon, ate chocolate-covered strawberries, and laughed deeply. He washed, kissed, licked, and nipped her, making her scream with delighted laughter. He threw caution to the wind and entered his wife in the tub without a condom while they were still in the bathtub. He did it slowly, careful not to go too deep or thrust too hard. She came in great shuddering gasps, then he did.

  He drained the tub, and left her with an electronic book; her cell phone encased in plastic, with hot water, bubbles, and champagne. He dried himself, turned down the bed, watched television, put two bottles of water on each of the bedside tables, then fetched his wife when he knew the water would turn cold. He dried her hair, put lotion on her, and took her to bed. She got on top, and made him happy beyond belief that he'd ordered the suite, her moans in his ear, her teeth on his collarbone. He came as she did, clenching on him.

  She rolled off and they laid there, gasping. And then he opened her water first, and she drank, then he opened his. "To more babies," she said.

  "To more babies," he said, and they touched water bottles. "And to having the best-educated, educator wife."

  "To my success," said Katya. She looked at him, and he drowned in her blue eyes. "I will be successful, my love."

  "I have no doubt," he said. They finished their waters, he turned off the light, and they held each other until the light of dawn.

  "Pay it forward, or you will end up losing what you have been given."

  3

  Progress, Not Perfection

  “Children have the amazing capability to surprise us.”

  Damia loved the ponies. They were small. They could not harm her. They breathed on her with chuffing breaths and wanted to be brushed. They loved being fed carrots and apples; and sugar cubes, but just a little a day, or they would get fat. They needed to be walked around and wiped down, and curried, with their hooves checked and oiled. They loved people, and were gentle. They brought one to the farm that had too-long hoofs, and a matted mane, and tail and hair falling out in clumps. The vet cut off the extra hoofs, and they had to be very careful to let them grow correctly, and the poor pony had almost no exercise.

  Damia liked Inola. Her signs were quick and sharp, like her mind. She didn't let Damia make mistakes. Damia hated mistakes, and Inola prevented them. So, Damia liked her a lot. She liked the horsey smells, the warm barn smelling of sweet hay, the beet-based feed, and cleaned and oiled tack. Inola showed her how to clean the tack, and to put aside anything that needed repairs.

  Mom showed her every step, and gave her a small cell phone that beeped every twenty-five minutes. Damia knew her schedule, and where she should be at all times during the day. First, waking up, then food. She had to brush her teeth, comb her hair, and pull it back in a precise manner with her hair clip. One was green and one was blue. She wore the blue one every day, except Friday, then she wore green. She ate hot oatmeal with fruit and brown sugar, and bacon or sausage. Mom got the recipe from the school. Mama, the other Mom, showed Damia how to make her own food. She said recipes were like math, one thing at a time, one step at a time, to make a good outcome. Damia liked good outcomes, so she liked Mama. Mama's real name was Callie, but Damia liked calling her Mama. She added a little twist to her hand to say if she was talking about Mom or Mama.

  Grace was loud. Damia didn't like loud. But Grandfather Henry had added soundproofing, so Grace could be loud in her room and not bother Damia. Hu was very quiet. Hu and her mother Bao taught Chinese letters with cartoon pictures behind them, and so a person could understand what they meant. She was so happy to learn such a precise language. The babies were very loud, and they pooped and peed, and had to have their diapers changed. It was very disturbing. But Mom and Mama were putting them on something called a sleep schedule so they would sleep all night. It didn't work at first, but it worked later, and they were not so loud. Mom gave her earphones for her new little phone that played many things. Damia could hear music, or Chinese, or Grandfather Henry's soothing voice reading a story in his language, Paiute. She didn't understand Paiute at all, but she liked listening to it. There were four twenty-five-minute free periods in her day where she could do anything she wanted. She learned how to find Grandfath
er Henry and climb on the chair next to him. He was in the Owl Pack room many times, sitting in the sunlight, making something. Usually a recording, or beading, or carding wool. The wool from the rabbits was very soft, and she loved it. She also loved the rabbits, and Alo was teaching her how to care for them.

  Being around that many people was very disturbing. She learned the word, and it helped her say what she was feeling, which was not disturbing. She learned that she could tell people to be quiet, and they would. The Owl Pack could be very quiet for her. They helped her learn to bead with big fat beads. They got her a hook rug of a farm, in soft browns with a pale blue sky. She loved it, and hooked on it many times. She used the word Grandfather Henry taught her about those times; peaceful he said. She liked peaceful. She knew Mom was not peaceful, that she listened to very loud music in her earphones, but she would smile and keep her voice low for Damia.

  Damia only had two meltdowns, so far. One was when the Wolfpack got too close to her body and would not listen to her when she told them to go away and to be quiet. Vi ran in and told them to shoo, and that they better damn well learn sign language. Vi gave her a banana that was frozen with chocolate on the outside, when Damia was finally able to stop crying and shaking. Damia didn't like sweets, but she liked the banana. She felt peaceful eating it. Her other meltdown was when Grace started yelling at Hu, and would not stop even when both Damia and Hu told her to. Damia began to cry and could not stop, which made her feel sad, and mad, and cold inside. Grace got into big trouble and had to set the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher for a week because of that.

  Damia did not want a meltdown to happen again. Grandfather Henry told her she felt overwhelmed, and to make the sign for it. To put her hands near her face, then up over her head. He said to do that when she began to feel ready to melt down, and they could all work together to stop it. So, the next time Grace started yelling, Damia made the sign, and Grace was quiet. Her face got very red and she clenched her hands and let them go, but she was quiet; so Damia felt peaceful. Mom took her outside to see the ponies go to sleep, and so the peaceful feeling stayed even longer.