Chapter Ten
After waffles, the family set out together for Busch Gardens. It was the coolest day, so Eddie felt that would be the best day to acquaint Annabeth with Budweiser Clydesdales and the train.
Annabeth looked in all directions eager to see everything pointing a little finger. "Dada mama..."
"Yes," Eddie smiled. "We see all the flowers, you like them?"
"Mama," Annabeth leaned forward wanting a better look liking them very much.
Jamie and Eddie enjoyed watching her, Eddie held Ray, he kept a firm eye on the baby.
Smiling, Jamie pushed the stroller a little further until they reached a fence.
The sign to see the horses was out, so they got on the line to see them. An interpreter was telling them all about the animals and then they let you take a picture.
Annabeth looked up leaning back at him making a face at the new smells.
Eddie laughed, "Look baby, a big horse!"
"Horse..." Annabeth clapped forgetting how it smelled squirming to see
Jamie held her up higher then held her while she stroked the horse's velvet nose. Eddie beamed, "Jamie let's get the picture."
The interpreter took a picture of tiny Annabeth, the huge horse, Eddie, Jamie, and Ray, a moment to be treasured.
They took a long walk through the England and Scotland section. Jamie found a sample of the tartan that belonged to his mother's family.
By mid-walk Annabeth got quiet laying in her stroller fighting the sleep she started feeling.
"Hey, let's go to the pub for a beer and a corned beef while she's asleep,' Eddie suggested.
"Okay," Jamie pushed the stroller to a row of stores stopping by the pub
They got a table outside, Jamie got the food and beers while Eddie sat with Ray and Annabeth. "Can I pet your dog, lady?" a little red headed boy asked.
"He's a service dog but he's very friendly,' Eddie smiled at the boy.
"Ray ray!" Annabeth smiled showing off her dog. The little boy pet Ray's head. "I'm sorry, Ma'am for his bothering you."
"No, he's not at all its okay my daughter wants you to know his name is Ray," Eddie smiled
"Ray is a silly name for dog,' the boy said. "He should be called Rover or Mr. Belvedere!"
"No Ray," Annabeth shook her head firmly.
"She can't be argued with," Eddie laughed. "You have a good time. Ray, paw...show him paw."
Ray obediently lifted his paw placing it on the kid's hand delighting the little boy
"Everything okay?" Jamie was skittish about that after what happened at the rest stop.
"Oh yeah this cute little boy was petting the dog. I'm sorry didn't catch your name. " Eddie looked at the boy.
"Willy," he replied but Annabeth insisted the kid's name was also, "Ray."
"My name is Willy," the boy told her in a frustrated tone.
Jamie laughed and smiled setting their lunch down. The mother and her son moved on, not everyone was out to be mean. Jamie held the sandwich for Eddie to take bites, it was towering with fresh, hot corned beef.
"Hmmm that is so good," she moaned once the sandwich was chewed, smiling at Jamie.
She sipped the beer through her straw, the sun warm on her face. Annabeth was trying to doze off again.
Jamie watched her beaming, "This is great isn't it? What do you want to do?"
"I'd like to take her for a train ride and get you a new belt at the leather shop," Eddie replied. "Maybe do that Oktoberfest show later, she might like the music?" Jamie wet a rag and dabbed Eddie's face, "You are getting a little hot."
Eddie gave him a smile locking eyes as he took care of her. "We can do that Eddie sure."
"Good then let's finish our lunch and go!"
Laughing, Eddie let Jamie finish feeding her eating every bite of the sandwich.
The rest of the day flew by, Annabeth loved the train, the boat ride, and the smell of the leather in the shop where Jamie got two new belts.
Once they finished, the family headed back to where Octoberfest would be.
Jamie got them two German platters and the listened to the songs. It was almost seven and Eddie and Annabeth both were getting very tired.
"She had a big day," Jamie smiled as he put the pink cheeked baby girl in her bed.
"Yeah, she did but she really enjoyed it, we all did, Eddie smiled at their tired daughter
"You okay? You got a touch of sun on your face," Jamie smiled. "Looks so pretty. You want to shower now or in the morning."
"Morning I'm too tired just want to get under the covers with you and cuddle," Eddie replied
"Okay, let me get the lotion, we'll get ready for bed," Jamie smiled. With tender care, Jamie laid Eddie on the large bed. He took off her maxi dress and her shoes. He cupped her feet and started to rub them gently. The sensation was intellectual of course but what she imagined was heavenly.
Eddie kept her eyes on him watching everything he did smiling at how careful he was. "I love you."
He left Eddie in just her panties then slid a silky nightie over her body. He loved the heat in Virginia, the flush it made on her body, like a girlhood blush.
"I love you Eddie I love you so much," Jamie repeated returning the smile
He slid into bed beside her and wrapped her in his arms. "What do you want to do tomorrow? Take her to the pool then dinner at the square."
"Yeah that sounds fun she may enjoy swimming," Eddie agreed smiling.
Jamie smiled, 'You enjoy it too. Plenty of lotion on all of us with it this hot."
"Yeah I do I love us spending time together and pretty soon another member."
He put his hand on her belly, "You feel okay? No acid or burning or anything?"
"No nothing I feel great actually," Eddie smiled.
"Jamie gave a small smile, "I know you told me it's water under the bridge, but I just...I feel terrible that I didn't share this part of Annabeth with you and I have to say how sorry I am to be able to put this behind me."
"I know Jamie, but you'll be here for this one and we'll all be a family."
Jamie kissed her head, "How did you manage to forgive me being so..."
"You're cute and have the best eyes," Eddie teases with a smirk. "And the cutest butt I've ever seen"
Jamie had to laugh as she lightened the moment.
Smiling, Eddie lay her head back not taking her eyes off him.
The family floated in the shallow end of the pool just after noon. Annabeth was in her bathing suit, a little red one with frills around the bottom and white polka dots. Eddie's suit was a modified tank top with a deep v-neck and boy shots. Jamie put Annabeth in her tube and kept a hand on her and on Eddie. Eddie reflected on meeting Nancy and Paul there, one of her dearest friendships now, started here.
Eddie enjoyed the weightlessness of the water, she loved to float and be free of the confines of her body. They played with Annabeth, swishing her around in the water, encouraging her to kick her little legs and splash with her arms.
"Do you remember when we came here? What we said about our family?" Eddie asked. "The promise that we were going to come back?"
Jamie nodded, "Oh yes," he smiled. "I do. And in a way, we are here with our entire family aren't we?"
Eddie smiled, "Yes, we are. Our baby is growing inside of me, our precious girl is floating beside us…I can't be happier, Jamie. I don't know of a way I could be happier."
"Me neither." Jamie and Eddie's eyes met and they held each other's gaze. Their lips met in a gentle, soulful kiss, all of their hopes and dreams for their family coming out in their touch.
Annabeth kicked and squealed, the attention wasn't on her, that was not how she liked things. Not at all.
Eddie got out of the pool a short time later to let Jamie play with Annabeth for a bit and to soak up a little bit of sun. After a couple games of motorboat, Jamie brought the baby to the lounge chair wrapped in a towel. He sat the baby by Eddie's belly and put her little hand on her tummy. "Say hi to your baby brother or sister, Mommy is having a baby."
"Baby…" Annabeth laughed. "Baby…Ray…"
Both parents broke into laughter, "Even she thinks it's going to be a boy…"
it was Annabeth's nap time when they got back to the room. Jamie put her down then moved to help Eddie out of her suit. He slowly slid the straps down her shoulders, pausing to kiss each shoulder blade as he slowly revealed what was underneath.
Eddie smiled as Jamie was slow and deliberate never taking his eyes from hers
They slept deeply, Annabeth slept through the night. Jamie woke up to her with her diaper in her hand again. He had to laugh.
He got up and changed Annabeth smiling. "What should we eat for breakfast Annabeth?"
Annabeth started to coo and babble as Jamie set her on Eddie's lap. "She wants waffles..." Eddie and her waffles.
"Okay Annabeth," Jamie laughed bouncing his daughter with a smile