Sad Love (5 page)

Jade hugged him, and he put his arm around her.

“I am going to use the bathroom,” Ryan said and Tessa followed him out.

“How are you doing?” she asked.

“This sucks Tessa, to see her cry and hurt
and to have my hands tied,” Ryan said.

“I didn’t
see this coming,” Tessa looked down.

“I didn’t
either, and what about after?” he closed his eyes.

Tessa hugged him, and he broke down. Jade screamed in pain. Ryan took a deep breath and walked into the bathroom. Tessa walked in
the room and glanced at Lucas who looked petrified.

“Jade breath
e,” Tessa rubbed her back.

“Tessa
, I can’t do this,” Jade sobbed.

Lucas
stood up, and Tessa sat with her. “Jade it’s been five hours, mom can give you something so you can rest, what do you think?”

“Where is Ryan?”

“Right here, Jade,” Ryan said and walked in.

“Do you hate me yet?”

“Of course not.”

Lucas
looked at Tessa with a questioning look.

She took his hand and walked in the hallway.
They stood in the hall and Tessa closed her eyes.

“She didn’t want him
here; she asked him to leave, Jade’s a mess. And by the way how are you?” she hugged him.

“Better now,” he
smiled melting into her arms. “What should I do?”

“I don’t know
… right now you’re the chosen one in there. Lead her Lucas, what would Tommy want her to do? Probably not shit on Ryan.”

“No
, he wouldn’t… he was,” Lucas stopped and his eyes got red she hugged him, “Fuck Tessa, this sucks.”

“I love you Lucas, do what he would want you to,” she kissed him.

Maggie cleared her throat, “Tessa, I think Jade needs you.”

“Where
’s Lucas?” Jade asked trying to breathe.

“I’m right here.
So what’s up Ryan?”

Ryan smiled, “Just waiting.”

“Aunt Maggie, please, I want him out of my crotch” Jade screamed through a contraction.

“Wow,”
Lucas whispered and Ryan tried not to laugh.

Tessa smiled at her, “I think you ju
st shocked those two over there. I don’t think they have ever heard those words before.”

Jade laughed through her pain and Maggie scowled
disapprovingly at Tessa.

“So
, Mom how is she doing besides the whole tourette’s brought on by labor thing?” they all laughed.

“She
’s almost ready, Jade if you want pain meds, now is the time, honey,” Maggie kissed her head.

“Ryan do I need them
? Am I completely horrible?” Jade asked.

“You’re
doing great Jade,” Ryan kissed her.

She yelled out in pain again, and it was time.
Lucas began to walk out of the room.

“DON’T YOU LEAVE,” Jade yelled at
Lucas.

He stopped at the door and turned towards Tessa. She knew he was trying to not fall apart. He loved Tommy. They had grown up together. Best friends since they were little boys, brothers forever.

“Tessa,” he said.

Tessa smiled, “Stand up by her head and look away, you
’ll be fine.”

He looked at her like she was crazy.

Tessa smiled, “That’s what she wants.”

“I don’t know Tessa,”
Lucas whispered.

“What would he want?” She asked softly.

He took a deep breath and stood above Jades head as the doctor came in.

Jade pushed for half an hour and finally the most beautiful little gift from God was born. He had very thick black hair and the bluest eyes they had ever seen. On his chest above his heart was a small red mark. Maggie told them it was a stork bite.

“I think it looks like a tiny little kiss,” Tessa looked at Jade whose eyes filled instantaneously with tears.

“A kiss from Tommy,” Jade whispered to her, and they both cried.

“Who is going to cut the cord?” the doctor asked.

“My husband,” Jade quickly replied wiping the tears from her face.

Jade cried when Maggie put him in her arms, Ryan squatted down next to her and kissed his little feet.

“Hello you,” she
kissed his head.

He was eight pounds seven ounces and twenty one inches long, absolutely perfect.

Tessa bent down and kissed Jade’s head.

“He is beautiful” she looked at him, “Welcome to the world little guy, we have been very excited to meet you.”

Lucas stood frozen, and Tessa rubbed his back.

“Go on
, say hello,” he didn’t move. “Lucas” she whispered and kissed him.

“Its okay
,” and tears flowed down his face.

Maggie looked at him, and her eyes started to tear up.

“Lucas, would you like to hold him?” Jade asked.

“Sure,” his voice a whisper
: filled with pain and joy.

Tessa had never heard or seen Lucas this way and her heart broke, in a much different way for Lucas
.

He looked at him,
closed his eyes, and held him against his body. Tears fell, and Tessa wiped them away.

“You and I are going to be so close,” he swallowed hard. “I
’ll make sure you know how amazing your father was. And you are so lucky to have Ryan as your Daddy, he loves you and Jade so much,” he kissed his head and looked at him. He started into his blue eyes in wonder as Tommy’s little boy stared back at him. “Brother’s forever,” Lucas whispered as he kissed his little head. Reluctantly he handed him back to Jade, who watched the touching exchange.

“Thank you
, Jade,” Lucas said and walked out.

Tessa looked at Jade.

“Go,” Jade said quietly.

Lucas was squatting against the wall outside the doo
r. She knelt down and held his hands, he pulled her into him. Quietly and tenderly he cried.

“I could never have done that without you,” he said when he was finally able, “Thank you.”

They sat there until Maggie came out of Jades room.

“Lucas, are you alright?” she asked.

“I will be Maggie. Thank you.”

“What you said in there was beautiful. I
’m very proud of you,” Maggie bent down and kissed the top of his head.

Tess
a leaned back and looked at him, “I love you.”

He smiled softly and stood up. He went to the bathroom, and she waited for him. They walked back into Jade’s room hand in hand.

Ryan was holding him, and he was whispering to him. Jade was in the bathroom.

“That is
not
cool,” Jade said as she walked out. "Do you have any idea how much blood…”

Lucas
laughed, and Jade looked up and saw Tessa and she laughed.

“Sorry,” Jade said trying to suppress her smile.

Maggie asked what to write on the birth certificate. Jade looked at Ryan, and he smiled.

“Jade we
’ve talked about this, you know what you want to do we will get through it,” she sat down, and he handed her the baby.

“On November nineteenth God gave us
Luke Thomas J, the J is for my dad, my brothers  and Tommy’s middle initials, his last name is Brooks like his daddy and Momma,” tears formed in her eyes, “His Father is Thomas James Lane.”

Ryan sat behind her on the hospital bed, and she leaned into him.

“That’s perfect, Jade,” Ryan kissed the back of her head.

Tessa looked at
Lucas who laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Jade asked.

“LT, Tommy’s all time favorite football player,” he smiled at her. “Thank you Jade, thank you Ryan.”

“It’s pre
tty perfect Jade. Has he latched on yet?”

“We haven’t tried,” Jade answered.

“Well with a name like that, I bet it won’t be a problem,” she and Jade laughed.

“Tessa Ross,” Maggie scolded.

"Margaret Ross," Tessa crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue.

Jack walked in, and Jade smiled, “Hello Grandpa.”

“Hello baby girl how is TJ,” he asked smiling.

They all laughed, and Jack looked confused.

“Jade—I’ll be back in the morning unless you need me before then, Mom get that boy on her boobies,” Tessa looked at Ryan, “Not you.”

Tessa hugged them and kissed
Luke’s little feet. Lucas hugged them all, and they left.

“Pretty good name,” he
held her hand as they walked out of the hospital.

“It’
s perfect,” she said.

“Follow me to the Brook’s hou
se we can sleep for a few hours?”

“Sure we will,” she laughed.

Tessa, Kendall, Cassidy, and Phoebe headed to camp after they left the hospital from a visit with Jade.

Tessa turned up the tunes, and they danced and cleaned. Doe camp would soon turn into Deer Camp. Tessa always wondered why she bothered cleaning when it was just going to be full of her father’s old hunting buddies and Alex’s new ones. She would be cleaning it again in a few weeks anyway.

They finished cleaning, and Tessa took Kendall home. She drove back up, and Cassidy brought in a bottle of wine.
They drank it, even Phoebe. Tessa had three glasses. They wouldn’t be driving anywhere.

Her phone chimed
: it was him.

-Hey baby
, what are you doing?…LL

-Just got done cleaning camp, a little later this year than expected. Phoebe, Cassidy and I are staying the night. Just took Kendall home, what are you doing?...LT

-Went to dinner with Jose and a few guys, headed to bed, big game tomorrow! I miss you…LL

-Next week we
’ll have five days off together, I miss you too…LT

-Hey my jeweler called, he says he received the package a few weeks ago with a ring, earrings, necklace, and bracelet in it. Apparently someone sent it in to be clea
ned because it had gotten wet. You know anything about that? Did the homecoming queen go swimming?...LL

-Fat chance, that was all Alex, and he fished, not swam after the homecoming King threw a temper tantrum…LL

-You would have let it sink?...LL

-Absolutely, and don’t be a butt, you threw it in…LT

-I miss you baby…LL

-Ok, I miss you but your interrupting Doe Camp Lucas
, and unless you plan to come paint our toes you better let me go, oh by the way make sure Jose is ready for all this!...LT

-Love you, see you tomorrow…LL

The girls were dancing and very buzzed when the door swung opened.

“Honey I’m home
!” Ben yelled.

“Thank God because I have missed your face,” Tessa smiled and hugged him.

“Love that greeting,” he kissed her cheek.

“Hello Ben,” Phoebe
looked at Tessa. “Tessa has had a few drinks; please excuse her for a moment.”

“What?” Tessa asked.

“Your boyfriend,” Phoebe said as the music stopped.

Ben laughed and messed up her hair, “You back with that boy Tess? First love takes awhile to get over. You’ll get there.”

“But we’re friends right?” Tessa laughed and hugged him again.

“Yes we are, forever,” Ben hugged her back and chuckled

“You Ben… are interrupting Doe Camp” Tessa stepped away. “I just told Lucas to stop texting me or he would have to come paint our toe nails.”

“Cool, where’
s the polish?”

Cassidy grabbed the bag, “Right here
-- me first, please!”

Ben painted their toenails and listened to them talk about baby
Luke. Alex had already told him, and he had a gift shipped to their house.

“Alright I am going to crash at your house, don’t need
Lucas getting mad. You better have breakfast on the table in the morning girl,” he laughed as he walked out the door.

Her phone chimed it was him
as she was walking into the kitchen at the farm house.

-Good morning baby, Miles signed with Cleveland, that means more play
ing time for me, just wanted to share the news, see you soon…LL

-Can’t wait to watch you today Lucas, see you soon, I love you…LT

She had breakfast on the table when Alex and Ben walked downstairs.

“Look at this, you’re
a good girl, all showered and looking hot with breakfast on the table, perfect. Now all you need to do is be barefoot and pregnant,” Ben said, and he and Alex laughed.