Page 110 of Protected from Torment

The little guy.

The little bean.

The little flibbertigibbet, as Melissa likes to say.

At sixteen weeks old, he doesn’t have a name yet, though we’ve discussed naming him Jeff to honor my fallen teammate. But we’re waiting to meet him before making our final decision.

“Is he moving?” Mel asks. Hope brightens her gaze. “I thought I might have felt a little flutter while you were in the bathroom.” She flashes me a rueful smile. “Or maybe it’s just because I’m hungry.”

“You’re hungry?” I ask. “I could have gotten you something when I was up. Some toast with honey, or oatmeal, or⁠—”

“Not that hungry.” Her hand covers mine. “I’d rather just stay here for a little while. Since it’s the weekend, and we don’t have to work. I thought we could have a relaxing cuddle in bed⁠—”

In a blur of gold, Oscar leaps onto the bed and plops down with an indignant huff beside us. He’s allowed on the bed while we’re resting or sleeping, but when Mel and I are having sex, he has to hang out on his bed in the living room.

“Sorry, buddy,” I tell him. “Mom and Dad were enjoying some private time.” I scratch his favorite spot between his ears, and his tail gives a forgiving wag. “We didn’t leave you ‌in the living room too long.”

Oscar gives me a baleful look.

“He doesn’t agree,” Mel laughs. She reaches over to pet him. “We’ll make it up to you, Oskie. Once we get up, we can take a nice walk in the woods. And then we can play with your frisbee in the backyard.”

It doesn’t take much to get back into Oscar’s good graces. He gives her a happy doggie grin, with his tongue lolling to one side. His tail thumps eagerly on the mattress.

“We’ll have to make sure to give him extra attention when the baby comes,” Mel comments. “I don’t want him feeling left out.”

“We will.” I give Mel a quick kiss. “I was thinking, after the baby comes, I could take him to the office sometimes. With all the people in the main building, he’s bound to get plenty of attention.”

“That’s a good idea.” She looks at Oscar. “What do you think about that? Going into work with Dad? Would you like that?”

Judging from the whir of his tail, I think he would.

Turning her attention back to me, Mel says, “It’s crazy, isn’t it? That we’ll be Mom and Dad?”

“Crazy but amazing,” I agree. “And I can’t wait.”

It was a shock at first, finding out Mel was pregnant. But I was never upset about it. I never thought she tricked me, like she worried I would. Not being around for the baby was never a consideration. Ever since I realized we were having a baby, I’ve been all in.

Did I ever think it would happen? Not really. Am I over the moon about it? Absolutely.

And despite Mel’s worries about the health of the little flibbertigibbet, he’s doing just fine. The fall didn’t hurt him at all. Her advanced age—which sounds ridiculous to me, given that she’s only thirty-eight, but apparently that’s considered advanced for a mom-to-be—hasn’t caused any problems. And the scarring her doctor told her about six years ago; that would keep her from ever getting pregnant again?

“The body does miraculous things,” our OB-GYN told us during our first appointment. “Sometimes, there’s just no explanation for it. Looking at the old records, I would have agreed with the doctor back then. But today…” She gave me and Mel a pleased smile. “The scarring’s healed up enough that I see no reason why you couldn’t have multiple children.”

“I’ll be thrilled with this one,” Mel told her. “I just want him or her to be okay.”

Weeks later, thanks to a blood test, we know we’re having a boy. And though we’re not taking anything for granted, we both feel strongly that he’s going to be just fine.

Our boy.

Our son.

Love swells inside me until it feels like I’m bursting with it.

And for the first time in years, my eyes sting with tears.

“Tyler?” Mel asks with concern. Her hand comes to my cheek. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I reply. “Why?”