Part 425
"Can I do anything to help?" Lynne stood awkwardly in the center of the small suite, looking and feeling very out of place.
"Nah, we got it covered," Nick said with a wink.
"It should be easy tonight, since Sarah already bathed him. I just need to change him and feed him. Hopefully, he’ll be all set for the night."
"He’s sleeping through already?" Lynne asked.
"He’s done it a few times," Becca said. "At least he’s going longer between feedings."
Nick grinned. "First time he slept through it scared the crap out of us."
Lynne laughed at this. "They do get better as they get older, Nick."
"Yeah, but still …" he chuckled as he pulled his shirt off and tossed it toward the corner, completely missing the look on Lynne’s face.
"Nick," Becca hissed, trying to remind him that they weren’t alone.
Nick looked up at Becca and then over at Lynne, realized what he’d done and blushed. "Sorry. Umm, lemme go change and I’ll take GT so you two can talk." He disappeared into the bedroom and Becca smiled at Lynne.
"I’m sorry about the rooms."
"That’s okay, really. I’m sorry to intrude on your privacy, Bec."
"Would you stop? It’s really okay. Look, go get comfy and I’ll change and meet you back out here."
By the time Lynne had cleaned up and changed, Becca had settled in to feed Garrett. She was curled up on the couch as he nursed, and Nick was sitting next to her with his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders. As he stroked the baby’s cheek gently, he sang softly and Lynne couldn’t help but get misty as she watched. She sighed as she watched, and Becca looked up.
"Hey," Becca whispered.
"You three are the perfect family, so you realize that?"
"Thanks," Becca smiled. She sighed, too, as Nick rested his cheek against her head, watching Garrett as he drifted off to sleep.
"How are you feeling?" Lynne asked.
"Me? I feel great. I’m tired a lot, but I realize that’s a combination of being on the road and having a new baby."
"What about your pressure?"
"It’s been back to normal for weeks now."
"I’m surprised," Lynne said. "Especially after what happened-" she broke off suddenly.
Nick looked over. "What happened when?"
"Damn, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything."
"No Lynne, it’s ok, what?" Becca closed her gown and put Garrett up on her shoulder, patting his back.
"Kevin told me what happened on the bus, your argument with Howie…"
"Oh." Becca blushed, looking away. "It was pretty rough, I guess. A lot had happened and it all came to the surface."
"Yeah, and Bec threw me out that night," Nick grinned.
"Nick!"
"Becca?!"
Nick laughed and hugged Becca. "I deserved it. I yelled at her."
Lynne laughed. "I take it everything’s okay now?"
"Yeah, more than okay." Becca looked up at Nick and he kissed her gently.
Nick couldn’t help it. He kept his lips pressed to hers longer than he should have, and as always happened, his body responded. He felt Becca tremble and reluctantly pulled away. His breathing was labored, and against Becca’s mouth he whispered, "Sorry."
"Me too."
"Let me take GT on in. I’ll put him to bed and you and Lynne can have some girl time."
He reached for the baby and wondered how the hell he was supposed to walk in the shape he was in. As he tried to stand, Becca giggled.
"Let the blanket hang down and maybe she won’t notice."
Lynne giggled too, and Nick groaned. "Fat chance, Bec. G’nite you two, Bec, don’t stay up too late."
"I won’t, I’ll be in soon."
"’Nite Nick," Lynne smiled.
"Sorry about that," Becca said as Nick closed the bedroom door.
"The waiting’s hard, huh?"
"I never dreamed how hard it would be, I just assumed-"
"What, that you’d never want sex again?" Lynne giggled.
"Well, no, not ‘ever’, but at least not for a while."
"Becca, you and Nick are young and healthy. You had a very loving, and I’m assuming, active sex life before Garrett was born. It’s only natural that you begin to feel desire again."
"Lynne, we still have three weeks left before we can make love again," Becca sighed.
"Well, yes, technically…"
"What do you mean, ‘technically’?"
"Six weeks is standard, Bec, but not all couples wait."
"Are you serious?" Becca's eyes were wide. She’d never even considered going against doctor’s orders.
"Every case is different, Bec. Are you still bleeding?"
"Only a little, and just once in a while."
"Then you really need to wait. At the very least, until you’re sure that the bleeding has stopped completely. If you don’t, you run the risk of infection. Wearing a condom helps, but still…"
"I can’t believe I’m having this discussion, " Becca said, blushing.
Lynne reached out to pat her knee. "I’m a nurse, Bec, try to remember that, ok? You don’t have your own doctor close by, so take advantage of me while I’m here."
Becca sighed and picked at the fabric of her nightgown. "I know, I need to get a grip, huh?"
"I know this has been hard on you. I mean, the entire last year has been one thing after another for you and Nick."
"That’s for sure. I just hope-"
"What? You just hope what?"
"I shouldn’t even think this, much less say it." Becca dropped her voice to a near-whisper. "I just hope that down the line somewhere Nick doesn’t come to resent me. Or Garrett. This is a lot for him."
"Now you’re just talking craziness. That man is head over heels in love with both of you. Go get some sleep, Bec, I know how you get when you’re tired, and this is a prime example."
Becca laughed softly. "Yeah, I guess you’re right. I let my imagination run away with me sometimes. You sure you’ll be okay out here on the couch?"
"I’ll be fine, I promise. My one consolation is that Kevin is sleeping on a couch tonight, too."
Becca grinned and wiggled her eyebrows at Lynne. "That’s right! So … has he kissed you yet?" Lynne turned bright red and Becca howled. "I KNEW it!!! So? How was it? Is he good?"
"I don’t know yet. Sarah came out and caught us. Damn, I felt like I was in junior high again. But Bec … oh my god, he’s just so … tall and … he even smells good, so I can only imagine-"
"Jesus, Bec, if I’d known you were so damn curious, I’d have asked Kev to plant one on you a long time ago." Nick was leaning sleepily against the door and grinned when his wife jumped guiltily.
"Damn Nick, don’t sneak around!" she chastised.
"I dunno, I might learn a few more things if I’d sneak around."
"Bec, go to bed," Lynne giggled. "I’ll see you in the morning."
"’Nite Lynne," she whispered as she ducked past Nick and into the bedroom.
Nick winked at Lynne, shooting her the trademark Carter smirk before following Becca to bed.