KACE. Shane openly expressing his love for me has provided me a satisfaction I have never known. His sincerity in all that he does and says is very fulfilling to me. I would have never guessed another soul could provide me a level of well-being even close to what Shane has, but I’ve never had a child either. Our children require we provide them love, comfort, care and nurturing to meet the yearning they have to succeed at simply living. Quickly our children develop a bond, and the love experienced by both parent and child is a love which requires no spoken words or outward expression, yet it is deeper than any love I have ever imagined to exist.

Children redefine love.

It had been four weeks since Casey was born, and every moment Shane wasn’t preparing for the title fight, he was poking or touching the baby. My eyes seemed to see the entire world, Shane included, in a far brighter light than I had in the past. After I gave birth, it was as if God gave me a little extra gift of clearer sight and a better understanding.

But no more patience.

“Shane, stop poking him,” I sighed.

Shane looked up from the swing, “How long’s he been asleep?”

“He just finished eating,” I said as I relaxed into the corner of the couch.

“He sleeps like a cat. All day. All night. He eats and sleeps. Maybe there’s something wrong with him,” Shane said as he reached into the swing and started to pick Casey up.

“Don’t you dare pick him up,” I snapped.

I sat up and crossed my arms, “He needs to sleep. And there’s nothing wrong with him.”

He stood and smiled, “But I want to hold him…”

“But nothing. Come here. Sit down and wait. He’ll be up again in a bit,” I whispered as I motioned to the seat beside me.

As Shane sat beside me, he sighed and crossed his arms. His lips naturally formed into a full pout as he relaxed into the back cushion of the couch. Seeing Shane act in this fashion was new to me, and I must admit I liked it a lot. He was like a big child himself, always excited about the baby, and equally attentive toward me. It was as if the baby being born ignited a love within him and the child and I were the recipients. Either way, he was a new man, and one I adored to spend time with.

“You big baby. You remind me more and more of Ripp every day. You’re like a big kid. Quit pouting, he’ll be up in a bit,” I smiled as I wrapped my arms around him.

“All I want to do is see him with his eyes open. I like looking at him when his eyes are open - and when I can see his hands. I like looking at his hands and his feet. You always have him so wrapped up I’m surprised he can even breathe. Let’s uncover him so I can see his hands a little bit, huh?” he said as he stood from the couch.

I sat up in my seat and slapped Shane’s arm as he reached for the swing.

“Leave.”

“Him.”

“Alone.”

“So, if he’s part of me and he’s part of you, babe,” he paused and raised his index finger to his lip.

“He’s ours, half yours and half mine. Maybe you should let me have my time with him. I want to unwrap him. Go take a bath,” he smiled as he pulled his arm from his grasp.

“Shane, he’s not property. It seems we do this every night. Leave him alone. He’s sleeping. As he gets a little older, he’ll sleep a little less. It won’t be very long, and he’ll be running through the house knocking stuff off the tables and getting in the cupboards,” I explained.

“Just a peek?” he asked.

I rolled my eyes. Shane was so cute. His training in the last ten or twelve weeks had him in better shape than he had ever been in. His training required we eat separate foods for our meals, his primarily of complex carbohydrates and lean protein, and mine more bland foods that would not upset the baby’s stomach.

Shane’s extensive training had developed muscles I had no idea a man even had. He had trimmed every ounce of fat from his stomach, his chest was massive, and when his shirt was off his ‘v’ was more pronounced than ever. Seeing him stand beside the baby with his muscles flaring and beg like a little kid was adorable.

I leaned forward and stood from the couch.

“A peek,” I whispered as I walked toward the swing.

Shane scurried toward the swing and bent over slightly, peering down at the baby. He stared excitedly, rubbing his hands on his jeans as I repositioned the blanket the baby was wrapped in. As I uncovered his hand and forearm, Shane looked up as if seeking approval.

I smiled and nodded my head.

Shane reached down and touched the baby’s hand, slowly separating his fingers and spreading them apart, “I think they’re bigger. Look, babe. They’re bigger. He’s going to have big hands.”

“They aren’t any bigger than they were this morning when you were looking at them,” I smiled.

“They’re bigger than they were yesterday. If this keeps up, he’s going to grow out of this onesie he’s wearing in a day or two. Maybe I should get some more. Some bigger ones,” he said as he continued to spread the baby’s fingers and inspect his hand.

“Maybe I already have a hundred onesies in the nursery, Shane,” I laughed.

He released Casey’s hand and pushed his hands onto his hips, “You know that’s another thing, here before long Ripp and I will be shopping for both of our babies. And you and Vee getting to buy everything is just wrong.”

I shook my head and giggled, “Really? You and Ripp shopping for baby clothes?”

“Uh huh.”

I shook my head at the thought, “Now that they’re putting those commercials on the television you can’t go anywhere without people all over you. If you went shopping with Ripp in a store full of women, it would be on the ten o’clock news.”

He shrugged his shoulders, “We already talked about it, as soon as Vee has her baby, we’re going. Wait and see.”

Shane no more than finished speaking , and his phone bean to ring. He glanced toward the sound, turned back to me, and rolled his eyes, “Kelsey just a little too excited about the fight.”

“Are you going to get it?” I asked.

“I’ll call him back,” he said.

Shane’s phone stopped ringing, and immediately mine began. We looked at each other and instantly our faces filled with excitement.

“Vee!” Shane shouted.

I ran for my purse and answered the phone as I pulled it from the bag. A muffled voice came from the phone as I held it to my ear. Although the sound was not very clear, it was easily recognized.

“Shorty, this is Ripp, hold on,” the voice crackled.

I cupped my hand over the phone, and waved my arm toward Shane, “It’s Ripp.”

I heard the unmistakable sound of Ripp’s Chevelle in the background. As he accelerated, I could hear the tone of the exhaust change as he shifted gears. When the tone flattened out to a dull roar, he spoke again.

“We’re headed to the hospital, Shorty. Tell Dekk. Grab Casey and head that way. The Birthing Center on Duval. Sorry it’s a shitty connection, you’re on speaker and the phone’s in my lap…hold on baby, we’re almost there,” he shouted.

“Uhhm. Okay, we’ll be there as soon as we can,” I said excitedly.

“You sure it’s time?” I asked as I began to pace the living room.

“It’s time for sure. I’ll tell you about it when you get here. I gotta get off, we’re coming on the exit. Hang on babe…” the phone went silent.

“Shane they’re almost at the Birthing Center over on Duval. Let’s get Casey ready,” I said as I walked toward the nursery.

“I’ll get the car seat,” Shane responded.

The thought of Vee having a baby the same age as Casey was so exciting. Shane wished for a boy, and believed Casey would have a little brother of sorts to play with and grow up beside. Shane had already decided he wanted Casey to be home schooled and sheltered from all of the atrocities in the world. A-Train expressed big plans for Casey to grow up and be the Commandant of his beloved Marine Corps. Ripp, on the other hand, wanted him to be a boxer like his father. Personally, all I wished for was that he continued to be healthy and happy.

Neither Ripp nor Vee had expressed any outward desires for a particular sex preference, and only indicated they wanted a healthy baby. The thought of Vee having a little girl excited me and made me a little jealous. I think secretly all women want a little girl in their life. Thinking of Ripp, however, with a little girl…

Not in a million years.

SHANE. Witnessing another life being brought into this world through the birth of a child is proof of the existence of a power greater than all of mankind – a miracle, and nothing less. I reserve hope my newfound faith in God, life and love remain as clear as it is today for as long as I continue to walk this earth. Today, I draw every breath with a better understanding of all that life has the ability to offer a man who loves a woman with every ounce of his heart.

“Get that little Marine out of that shit you got him wrapped in Kace, you’re smothering him,” A-Train grunted.

“Keep your hands off of him, Alec. He’s sleeping. You can hold him later. How long are they going to be in there? I popped mine out in like ten minutes,” Kace turned and said as she paced the floor.

“I know he’s hot, he’s got to be,” A-Train said as he reached into the car seat Casey was laying in.

As A-Train began to pick Casey from the seat, I smiled.

Kace stopped pacing and rested her hands on her thighs, “Stop it Alec, you’re going to wake him up.”

A-Train slowly lifted Casey out of the car seat and cautiously raised him to his chest. As he paced the floor with the baby resting against his chest and shoulder, he began to hum. I turned to face Kace, who smiled at A-Train; shaking her head as he walked around the perimeter of the room waiting for an answer from Ripp.

Kace, A-Train, Kelsey, Ripp’s parents, Bug, and Manda were all waiting quietly for an announcement of some sort. Although they’d been in delivery for almost an hour, we had heard nothing. Exhausted, we all used our own method to relax and wait. A-Train, on the other hand, seemed to have a special attachment to Casey, and it couldn’t be hidden. Possibly his newfound love for Bug made it easier for him to develop feelings of compassion. As he paced the floor, his humming turned to a soft hymn. Holding Casey to his chest, the pleasant sound of his singing provided all of us a little comfort. As he walked, his step developed a little bounce to comfort the baby and provide him rhythm. The song he sang was unmistakable; the Marine Corps Hymn.

“From the …”

“To the …”

 

“We fight our country's battles…”

 

“In …”

 

“First to fight for right and freedom…”

 

“And to keep our honor clean…”

 

“We are proud to claim the title…”

 

“Of United States Marine…”

“You see, we’re first to fight. Anytime, anyplace, anywhere. As soon as you wake up, I’ll tell you a story about the night Gunny Marshall and I got drunk in Okinawa, Japan. You’ll appreciate it when you’re a little older,” he chuckled.

“You will not, Alec. Don’t fill his head with stories about your drunken escapades,” Kace laughed.

“Just reassuring him he’s safe in my arms,” A-Train grinned.

Kace turned to me and smiled as she tilted her head toward A-Train.

“I see them,” I grinned as I shook my head lightly.

The unmistakable sound of Ripp’s size fourteen Chuck’s slapping the floor of the hallway became louder as he obviously got closer to the waiting room. As we all walked toward the door he jumped into the room, his face filled with joy and his feet still securely tied into a pair of blue and red bowling shoes. He looked like a big, bald, tattooed Bozo the Clown.

“You motherfucker’s ready?” he hollered from the doorway.

“Michael,” his mother gasped, “don’t say that in the hospital.”

“It ain’t a church mom, it’s a hospital. So, you ready for the news?” he shouted, nodding his head excitedly the entire time he spoke.

“Eight pounds and fifteen ounces. Almost a nine pounder,” he smiled.

“And both my little girls are doing just fine,” he shouted.

“A girl?” Kace screamed, “Vee had a girl?”

“We had a girl, Shorty, she’s ours,” Ripp smiled.

Immediately, the room was filled with congratulatory remarks and hugs. For some reason, I stood in place as everyone rushed toward Ripp. A little disappointed, I attempted to digest Ripp and Vee having a little girl, hoping all along for another boy. After a moment, I began to feel selfish and walked to where Ripp stood.

“Congratulations Ripp, to both of you. When can we see her?” I asked.

“Hell here in a few minutes, from what they said. But it’s like three at a time, and I don’t want to create problems down there. They’re serious about this baby business,” he said as he raised his eyebrows and nodded his head.

“Name?” Kace asked.

“Listen up,” Ripp said, raising his hands in the air.

He smiled and lowered his hands, “Jessica Ann Ripton. That’s her name. We’re gonna call her Jessie. Casey and Jessie. Got a nice little ring to it, huh?”

“Close as I could get was something that rhymed, bro,” he said as he slapped my shoulder.

I smiled and thought of the two of them growing up together, playing and learning of life and everything in it. Children appear to change everything in life, and rightfully so. They should. The future of this earth is dependent upon our children growing into adults and being equal to or greater than the generation before them. If I learn from my mistakes and teach my children what I have learned, eliminating my many shortcomings, they’ll be able to begin life a generation wiser.

“How’s Vee doing?” I asked over the crowd.

“She’s doing great. I need to get some cigars, we need to celebrate,” Ripp said as he reached for his wallet.

“Got ‘em right here, Ripper,” Kelsey said as he reached into his gym bag.

“Brought several of both, just in case,” he said as he began handing ‘it’s a girl’ cigars to the group.

As everyone became louder and more joyous over Ripp and Vee’s new baby girl, I looked toward the window which faced the parking lot in front of the center. A-Train, still holding Casey, walked by slowly, seemingly unaffected by the crowd. As he walked, he continued to sing. A small lump raised in my throat as I watched him looking down at Casey intently. One by one, we were bringing a new generation into this earth. Each child would carry a small piece of us with them as they developed and grew. As they grew into adulthood, they would be a product of their parents, the friends and the family they were exposed to as children.

As I continued to watch A-Train, Kace walked up and embraced me, nodding her head toward A-Train as she did.

“He loves that little boy,” she grinned.

“He sure does,” I smiled.

I turned and looked around the room, still smiling at the thought of the changes we were all going to witness in each other’s lives.

Casey and Jessie.

It did have a nice ring to it.