A Pagan Life 6

Tom and Evelyn's dynamic was multi-faceted. There was the attraction, which she'd feel to the very marrow of her bones every time she'd even think of him. She was the fat kid and he was the candy.

She could feel his attraction fo her in every touch of his, and she loved it. Her pupils would dilate every time. She wondered if that was why she'd gotten pregnant so quickly. Every time he'd act attracted to her, she'd blush, smile and giggle.

She was a natural flirt. She just couldn't act like it unless she felt it. She was too shy to. She would stare at his butt as he waled away and he'd look back and smile at her.

Tom was the epitome of hotness to Evelyn. She'd be doing something else and her mind would inevitably wander to him. She would picture him naked and it was an effort to get herself to re-focus on what she was doing.

She would often ask herself how she got someone like him, who was utterly perfect for her. They were both a little crazy, but in a way that worked. The best part was that their kinds of crazy worked together in terms of their work and their relationship.

This lent itself to the friendship aspect of their relationship. He could make her laugh even in the worst of moods. He could get so soulfully compassionate when she needed it most. They were both introverts, both liked cats and both liked classic rock. He'd even been a journalist and tour-interviewed some bands. He was even a drummer himself.

He had the most disarming smile. She would moon over it every time. She would feel so flattered that he wouls smile at her that way. She felt so privileged he'd chosen her. She thanked the gods she prayed to every night for him just as she'd pray for all her loved ones' wellness when she woke up in the morning.

She would look down at her pregnant stomach and smile to herself that he'd thought enough of her to give her a child.

When he'd catch her smiling down at her stomach taht way, he'd think of how lucky he was to have found someone whose crazy was suited fo his. She could make him laugh even when he really didn't want to. He loved that she bothered to. She didn't always say "I love you," but she always did it. She'd always leave him a meal he could at least microwave for himself if she hadn't freshly looked it for him. She'd give him massages that made him fall asleep. She'd help him see himself clearly even when he didn't want to. She would use logic and humor to get through to him, never using sex or food to manipulate him. She even came up with a mutual venting session where they would take turns venting about the frustrations they'd faced in their work days. That way, they wouldn't take them out on each other. If he came back from something, she'd always greet him with at least a hug. If she was ever too angry to deal with him, she would say "Too mad," and he knew. She would always hear him out if he had something to say. Her thought was that one should give more consideration, not less, to one's loved ones. They even traded off movie choices. He would pick one and, if so, she would pick the next. If they agreed on one, whoever was next would go the next time.

One time, she caught him saying he needed her instead of he loved her. She put up her hand and he paused.

"If you needed me, you literally couldn't live without me, like air or food. I love you, but I don't need you to live. I don't need you to be a good person."

He paused, thought about it, then nodded, saying, "I see."

As she birth drew closer, she'd find herself having more and more moments of calm reflection about having Tom's child.

"What's that look?" he asked one of the times.

"I'm just happy to be having your baby."

He looked sheepishly flattered and smiled.

One day, he asked her, "What did I do right?"

"What do you mean?"

"What did I do to deserve you?"

She thought about it, then smiled as it occurred to her.

"You're you."

Tom looked abashed and happy.

Sometimes, Tom would come home to find his favorite coffee and Starbucks sandwich waiting for him on the kitchen table. She'd do this if she knew she couldn't greet him at the door. She'd always leave him a note if she was out.

All these little considerations amounted to one big "I love you."

~

As they were on their way to the hospital for Tom to get his knee checked in for an ongoing Charlie horse that wouldn't go away- and this was happening to him, a physical therapist- Evelyn's water broke. The labor pains were gentler at first, then got worse the closer they got to the hospital.

Tom was in and out of his appointment before Evelyn was wheeled to a birthing room. As though sensing she was on the birthing table, the labor pains grew worse.

The amount of screaming and cussing Evelyn did during labor was similar to that during sex, though to a greater extent. She was so relieved once the baby was out and she could breathe normally. As they quickly showed him to them, then took him aside to wrap him in blankets, she said, "What are you doing with him? Be careful; he's little."

She was so relieved when they handed him back to her. She started cooing at him immediately. Tom sat on the edge of the bed.

In the middle of her cooing at him, he grabbed her pinky, causing her to burst into happy tears. She finally handed him off to Tom, and the baby did the same thing to him, which had the same effect.

They named him David.

They'd had the civil ceremony while she was pregnant, and wanted to have the wedding once the baby was born and Evelyn had snapped back.

~

Once they got home, they just wanted to relax, which they did in the rocking their on the porch.

Evelyn rocked David to sleep with Tom close by.