Page 1 of He Saved My Boy
My feet slap the pavement,and my strides lengthen as I head off Main Street down a side road leading me to Tilly’s Place. It’s been one hell of a week, and I’m glad I’ve finally taken my brother’s advice to get out of Austin.
I’ve spent the better part of two years completing my final residency. As the tension drains from my body, I regrettably admit—Derek is right. I need to get away and relax for a night or two. Before I know it, I’ll be packing up to return to Washington, and I’ll have never seen anything about Austin but the walls of the hospital.
I wouldn’t say Deacon, Texas, is a destination I ever imagined for myself. But it’s close enough I can enjoy a weekend away, while still covering for my mentor if his wife goes into labor early this week. When one of the nurses told me about this place, I had no idea I’d be stepping into a freaking Hallmark movie. I swear everyone knows everyone in this town, and they are dying to know what ayoung fellalike myself is doing here on a vacation from the big city. Or at least that’s what the two ladies older than my grandma asked before I left the local café just now.
If my sister, Dani, saw this place, she would probably make me stop to record everything, just so she could use this little town for a setting in one of her books. She’s a best-selling romance author and if I had a dollar for each time she got lost in her head with some plot or another, I’d be able to retire and live a life of luxury. But I digress. This little town is not my typical destination location, but it has gotten me out of Austin—and that’s the point. I need this break.
I’ve finally hit my stride when my music unexpectedly cuts off, and my phone rings. Seeing my brother Derek’s name flash across my screen, I take the call and continue my run. He knows time is limited, and he’ll just have to work out with me if he wants to talk.
“What’s up, D?” I ask between pants.
“Please tell me you’re running and not in bed with someone right now.” He may sound like he’s trying to protest, but I can tell from the tone of his voice, he’s grinning from ear to ear with that smart-ass remark—I mean, what are older brothers for?
Shaking my head, I chuckle into the phone. “Dude… I’d never pick up if that were the case. I may like to multi-task, but even I have limits. How’s that beautiful wife of yours? She ready to drop you like a hot potato and admit I’m the better catch?” He knows I’m full of shit, but it’s something I stupidly said when I first met Tessa, and now it’s kinda expected. Don’t get me wrong, his wife is perfect—for him. I’d never see her any other way—than as my sister.
From his huff through the phone, I can just picture him rolling his eyes and shaking his head. Before he can come up with an unneeded response, I quickly add, “Don’t worry, D, I’m not sure I could keep up with her midnight cravings. How are you holding out?”
“Oh, I’d say those cravings won’t be more than a distant memory as she went into labor early this morning.”
This stops me dead in my tracks. “Come again?”
She isn’t due for another three weeks. Bracing my hands on my knees, I take in air. If something’s wrong, I need to give him my full attention.
“Well, it seems your niece, Melody, is a lot like her momma and is ready to take the world by the horns. We weren’t even at the hospital two hours, and she arrived.”
Three weeks early is considered full term, but I still have to ask—my years of training clicking in. Though if something were wrong—I’m sure he would’ve led with that. “How are she and Tessa doing?”
“Both are doing well now that Tessa’s figured out her back pain was actually contractions. We would’ve probably delivered at home if I hadn’t insisted on her being seen by her doctor. Thank God we arrived early enough for her to get an epidural, or I may never be able to draw again in my life.”
During my rotation through the ER, I saw firsthand the strength of a woman in labor, and I cringe at the memory. I’ve always known women have amazing strength, but that rotation put my theory to the test. As a graphic designer, Derek needs his hands, so I tease, “Please tell me you at least gave her your non-dominant hand?”
Seeing as everything is all right, I walk back to the bed and breakfast I’m staying at for the next few days. No sense in standing here on the street like a crazed person on the phone. It’s a small town; it’s only a matter of time before someone stops to check on me.
He lets out an exasperated sigh. “Davy… had to switch them out, or I’d never get the feeling back. I’ve never been more thankful for her saying yes to drugs in my life, than when she agreed to that epidural. She was like a changed woman—in a matter of minutes. I’m tellin’ ya, brother—I’ve never felt so friggin’ helpless in my life. Watching her experience pain and not be able to do anything for her was the worst feeling in the world.”
“I get it, man. When I was on my ER rotation, I helped deliver a baby in the freaking waiting room, and I swear, that woman could bend steel with her grip when her contractions hit. I’m just glad Tess is okay. Have you told the rents yet?”
Derek lets out a loud chuckle. “It was Mom who helped me convince Tess to see the doctor in the first place. I swear… Dad must’ve driven like a bat out of hell with the pedal to the metal the entire way. They were in the waiting room by the time I texted them to say Melody had been born.”
Chuckling into the phone, “You know nothing will come between Mom and her grandchildren.” I can only imagine what that car ride was like.
“You’d think we were having her first by the way she’s been fawning all over Melody—not that I’m complaining. But Dame’s twins are almost four, and Jules is ten—not to mention, Dani’s been a mom for more than five years—it’s not like she’s a first-time grandma.”
“But Melody is your first, D. Let Mom have her moment. I’m sure Dad is riding that high right along with her. I swear both of them have gone backward in age since Jules came into their lives.”
Derek practically snorts his response, “No kidding. Look, man… Just think—by the time you get around to giving them grandkids, maybe they’ll be in their twenties again.”
“Hey now,” I protest out of duty. But let’s face it—my life for the past eight years has been nothing but work, school, clinicals, residencies, and very little sleep. Rinse and repeat.
Before I can say anything further, Derek cuts me off. “Look, man, don’t take it personally. I love you—but we all know you’ve had your priorities in the right place. I was just saying Mom and Dad get more energy with each new grandkid. By the time you have some—they’ll act younger than you are now.” We both laugh at that theory. God knows what my parents will do if I ever settle down. Thank God my sister and two brothers have been the buffers for me in that department—providing all the grandkids to keep them out of my personal life. I’d never hear the end of it if I were an only child. I swear, my parents were born to be grandparents.
“Look, Davy, I gotta call Damien.”
This stops me in my tracks again. “I… got the call before Dame?” I exaggerate with a huge smile, then proclaim, “Wow… that must mean I’m her favorite uncle.”
“You’re gonna have to fight Dame and Luke over that title, Davy. I just wanted to prepare you for the cuteness when I spam you with pics. I know you won’t be able to see her until you return to Seattle next month but know we’re thinking of you.”
“I miss you, D. Give Tess a hug for me and that baby a kiss. Tell the rents I said hello.”
