Destiny's Detour (18 page)

I am 15 weeks pregnant, one-month married, and a new homeowner at eighteen, but I am also the happiest I have ever been in my life. Sometimes, life's detours turn out to be the best thing to happen to you. Since the others have not found a roommate to replace us, we decide to stay with them while we remodel our house. We repaint the common rooms a warm crème color, our bedroom a burgundy color, and the guest room a pale blue. Until we know the sex of the baby, we hold off on painting the nursery. After deciding to leave all the furniture with David and Amy, Troy and I spend a couple of weeks picking out new stuff, and then wait another week for it to be delivered. Kitchen appliances, utensils, and pots and pans are next on the list, and of course, bedding and towels. I have never done so much shopping in my life. Although, I admit that it is a ton of fun. Troy is not as enthusiastic as I am with our many shopping trips, but he never once complains and always gives me his honest opinion on every item.

Amy is a constant source of inspiration and help during this whole remodelling period. She loves helping me decorate the new house, and before long, the house is officially ready for us to move. Everyone pitches in to help pack up all our clothes and personal belongings. Then we load up our cars and head off for our first night in the new house. David and Amy follow to help us unload everything. We order take out for dinner, sit around our new breakfast nook table, and eat dinner while talking.

When David and Amy leave, Troy heads off to shower. As I finish up in the kitchen, my thoughts travel to being in my own home. This is another one of those surreal moments in life. My husband and I are spending our first night alone in our new house. That thought sends tingles through my body. I am quickly becoming accustomed to this whole marriage thing, and I honestly love it. I turn everything off and make sure the front door is locked before making my way to our bedroom. Troy is just stepping out when I enter the bathroom and begin getting ready to shower. He gives me a quick kiss and heads into our room with just a towel around his waist. Oh my, I think I drool a little. I still get so excited over his fit body. I quickly shower and then dry off completely before walking into our bedroom naked. Troy is lying on the bed in just his towel, and I know I am in trouble. He looks up as I walk into the room, his eyes filled with lust as he scans my nude body.

“Enjoy this body. It’s going to be getting fat soon enough.”

“Princess, you will still be beautiful. The idea of my baby growing inside you is sexy as hell.”

“Let’s see if you’re still saying that when I am a big whale.”

His words distract me so much that I don’t even notice he has pinned me up against the wall. I soon realize I am trapped, his arms on either side of my head, and his body pressed closely to mine.

"Mr. Daniels, are you trying to dominate me?”

“Maybe.”

“I think I might like it.”

He groans and kisses me a little rough, and my legs find their way around his waist and I grind my hips into him. Our moans mingle in the quiet room. With strong hands firmly holding onto me, he carries me to bed and we make love throughout the night.

I often wonder if it’s like this for other couples, this insane need to be near one another. No matter how long we have been together, or no matter what we have already done with one another, it doesn’t seem to grow old. Troy and I have a real relationship that is not just about sex, but the sex is definitely a wonderful benefit of our love for one another. Troy is the most thoughtful husband and always wants to take care of me. Yet he lets me take care of him, too. Somehow, without talking about it, the two of us have found the way our strengths and weakness work together and we have a balanced relationship.

Our first week in our new home passes quickly and it seems like David and Amy are over constantly. Amy tells me someone is coming to interview for the open room this weekend. I am interested to see if this person will work out. I don’t even know if it’s another male or female. I hope for Amy’s sake that it is a female or she will go insane. I don’t want to even think about what it will be like for her if she lives with three males. It is hard enough for me to live with one sometimes.

Troy surprises me by taking me away for the weekend. We go to the mountains where we stay in his family’s log cabin. He knows this place has always been one of my favorites to visit. It has the absolute perfect combination of old class and new additions. The outside is made of grey weathered logs and modern, black-framed, floor-to-ceiling windows on the entire ground floor. On the inside, the combo of crème and brown walls offset the wood beams throughout. Everything pulls together to give it a homey, warm ambience. Fireplaces in all the major rooms make you want to curl into a ball on the leather couches with a blanket and good book. The open floor plan allows you to see everything on the inside while still having the most breathtaking view of the mountains and lake outside.

Troy is in full-blown spoiling mode. He cooks every meal, not letting me lift a finger to do anything. I try to get him to share the workload but he keeps saying that he wants me to relax. It surprises me when he tells me that he has been reading everything he can on pregnancy and having a baby. He wants to be informed, and a vital part of each moment. He has learned that later in the pregnancy and right after having the baby, I will be tired and we will not be able to have getaways, so he wants to give them to me while he still can. I thank him for being so thoughtful.
See why I love this guy
.

Way too soon for my liking, it’s time to head back to our home and real life. We’ve had so much fun in our 'mountain' bubble that we make tentative plans to visit the cabin a couple more times before the baby comes.

School is changing for us, too. We seem to be more focused. While our friends are still partying, we take our studies more seriously and try to be more responsible. Being married and expecting a baby has a way of growing you up quickly, yet both of us are pleased with the direction our lives are taking. Troy is enjoying his two months off from football, using this time to spend with me as much as he can. Once spring training starts, we will see less of each other. I am still actively dancing, but in just a few short weeks that will be over. My uniforms are starting to fit snug but I know I will have the baby bump and nothing will fit.

Amy goes with me to buy my first wave of maternity clothes, and they hang in my closet for when I need them. I actually can’t wait to be able to start wearing them. We are surprised to find that maternity fashion is not as hideous as we thought it would be. I am able to get a lot in the styles I love made for the baby tummy.

I am so glad I have a friend like Amy. She has been so supportive through everything, not that I really expected any less from her. After all, we have been friends all our lives. She is my sister from another mister, and I couldn't love her more if we shared the same DNA.

Buffy has been making life extra difficult on the dance team. Every day she has some snarky comment, but I keep sucking it up. It’s not as if I can fight her or anything because I am pregnant. I just try killing her with kindness. I don’t understand how Buffy can still hold a grudge against me. Shouldn’t she be over this whole jealousy thing? I mean, would she really want to be married and pregnant at 18? Does she think that it is fun and games? I am not complaining, but really, this was not my original plan. I wouldn't wish this on anyone unless she is prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.

I should have known Buffy would make one last ditch effort to get back with Troy, and I shouldn’t have been surprised that she enlisted Charlie to help her. Troy and I decide to attend a party with David and Amy on fraternity row. It is your typical fraternity party with loud music, half-dressed girls, excess alcohol, and horny guys. As with most pregnant women, I have to go to the bathroom a million times. As I am coming back from one of my many trips to the bathroom, Charlie delays me.

“Hey Beautiful, tired of being married to the asshole yet?”

“Drop dead, asshat.”

“That’s no way to talk to me. I am just trying to have polite conversation with you.”

I can smell the Jack Daniels coming off his breath and it makes my stomach turn. He has obviously had a little too much to drink.

“Get out of my way, Charlie. I don’t have time for your bullshit.”

Charlie moves to press me against a wall, and that’s when I spy Buffy out the corner of my eye approaching Troy. My attention is fully on them in that moment. And when she throws herself at him, latching on, and trying to get him to kiss her, I see RED! Troy pushes her off, but it’s too late. I saw what she is doing and I am ready to kill a bitch.

“Move the fuck out of my way, asshole.” I push Charlie with more strength then I realize I have. I stalk towards my husband, who is still trying to push Buffy the slut away from him. I catch David and Amy moving towards Troy, as well. Charlie is following me, trying to stop me, but it's not working since I am a woman on a mission.
Fuck this bullshit.

When I reach my husband, I yank Buffy by her shoulder so hard that she loses her balance and falls to the floor. I am so pissed that I snatch her by her hair and force her to look up at me.

“Did you really think attacking my husband with your skank ass lips was going to make him change his mind?” I yank her hair a little tighter in my hand. “I am so going to enjoy fucking your shit up, bitch.” Making a fist with my right hand, I pull back to punch her in the face when, suddenly, strong arms wrap around me.

My brother’s voice speaks calmly in my ear. “Let her go, Des. Let Amy handle it for you. Think of the peanut.” His words penetrate my angry haze. He pulls me away as Amy takes Buffy by the hair and slams her face down onto the wood floor, knocking the bitch out. Charlie stands there with his mouth hanging open.

“You distracted me so she could get to Troy, didn’t you?” I spit out in anger.

He doesn’t answer but it’s obvious this is what he has done. David’s arms tense around me. Before any of us knows what is happening, Troy nails Charlie with a right hook that knocks him flat on his back, and then stands over him, pounding the fuck out of him.

“David, stop him before he kills him,” I plead.

David releases his hold on me and goes to grab Troy, but by this time, several guys have gathered around, trying to stop the fight. Mark and David haul Troy through the house, out the front door, and onto the lawn before letting him go. Amy and I follow behind as fast as we can.

When I approach him, Troy is still pissed off. “Baby, you need to calm down. It’s done.” I wrap my arms around him, and he looks down at me as his arms snake around me.      

“Are you okay?” His voice is still tense with anger.

“I’m fine. Are you okay?”

“I’m good, Baby.” He leans down and kisses me tenderly. I lose all ability to think rationally when he is kissing me. No one else has said a word since we came outside. When we break apart from our kiss, I notice our friends huddled together, trying not to stare at us.

“Let’s go home, Troy.”

He nods his head in agreement. We take off toward our car. The rest of the night is spent cuddling and holding one another to reassure ourselves the other is okay. It is our hope that tonight has put an end to the Buffy and Charlie drama because we have bigger things to worry about than them.

Lying securely in Troy’s arms, I am thankful though that we are able to handle the detour life has given us. I love that we are in it together. The more I think about my situation, the more grateful I become for the little things in life. I am happy that Troy did not just using me for a hump and dump and that he truly wants a relationship with me. I am thankful that when I became pregnant, he didn’t hesitate for a moment to let me know he was happy and ready to accept responsibility immediately. I am thankful that he loved me enough to marry me right away so that we can begin a life together. I am thankful that my life detoured off the path I had mapped out. I wouldn’t change one thing. I love that I am with the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I love that we are having our first child. I absolutely love him.