Present Four months later.
Milly laid on the examining table, the paper gown she was wearing was open, revealing her stomach which was really starting to show and take shape. Milly was officially twenty weeks along today, and she was at one of her fourteen day checkups at Dr. Weaver's. She had been on strict bed rest from the moment her bloodwork came back confirming that she was indeed pregnant. Eric and her constantly felt as if they were walking on eggshells since after she passed four months, this was the longest she had ever been able to carry a baby. The first few months were starting to drive her crazy. Anytime she felt a weird sensation, she would rush into the bathroom, yanking down her pants and panties, almost always expecting to see blood in the crotch. Instead, there was always nothing, and already several times she had Eric race her to the ER whenever she got a weird feeling, or slight cramp. Each time, she would be a hysterical mess, convinced that she was having a miscarriage. Dr. Weaver would always be paged, and would show up at any hour of the night, and convince her that everything was perfectly fine. She would show an exhausted frightened Milly that the fetus was perfectly fine. That it had a heartbeat, and there wasn't any bleeding.
That the baby was safe and sound, and that the stress she was putting her mind and body under wasn't good for the baby. After the fifth ER visit, she demanded that Milly start seeing a therapist, who could do at home visits. She had been very understanding, and told her that with her history of losing so many pregnancies, this was all perfectly normal. Still, she had to understand that this stress wasn't good for the baby, and if she had somebody to talk about this stuff, it might help. Now Milly saw a wonderful therapist named Dr. Kelly. She was a little older than Milly, a widow, and came in twice a week to talk with Milly for two hours. Usually they would just sit around in her living room and drink tea. Milly knew she didn't have a lot to complain about, but once she got comfortable with Dr. Kelly...Kelly for short, she felt like she could open up with her. They talked about basically everything. From the fears about losing his baby, her past miscarriages, her accident as a college student resultung in her losing her first child Jet, when she was forced to deliver Lucky their daughter, her struggles on getting pregrant again, her reoccuring nightmares, her father's death, how estranged she had been with her mother for years, her career, and how Eric was the most important person in her life. Kelly actually seemed like a friend, somehow who could sympathize with her, listem, and understand. This helped since Milly refused to take anything for anxiety, no matter how much they swore it wouldn't hurt the baby. Besides her iron pills, and prenatal vitamins, she kept her system completely clean. She only drank water or pure juices, and made sure her diet was healthy, even though she was craving BBQ chips, which she treated herself to a few times a week. Dr. Weaver had reassured her that she was perfectly healthy, and could afford to eat a little junk food. Still, Milly found herself being ten times more careful with this baby. She was constantly second guessing herself, and admitted to Dr. Kelly that she wanted this baby more than anything in the whole world. That the very thought of losing it terrified her, just like the idea of something ever happening to Eric terrified her. Still, Dr. Kelly listened to all of her thoughts and fears, and had asked how bedrest was treating her?
The truth of it was, that if Dr. Weaver asked her to hang upside down or juggle for nine months, she would have done it gladly.
That bedrest really wasn't that bad. Her agent, as well as the publishing house had actually been really understanding about her having the bail out of the book tour, as well as any additional signings, or interviews. They knew her struggles with getting pregnant, and understood and Eric and her had been trying for quite some time. They were happy enough since the book was doing great, and Milly had kept close tabs online, and was pleasantly surprised at how positive the reviews had been. She didn't have a hard time keeping busy even when she was staying off her feet. She had her computer of course, and the TV, as well as safe pregnancy yoga she could do in bed, as well as the stacks of pregnancy books she had ordered off Amazon. She had also tried jotting down a few ideas for some new book ideas, as well as a little knitting, which was something she wasn't very good at, but attempted, claiming to Eric she was going to knit the baby a blanket out of a giant yellow ball of yarn she had owned for what seemed like years. So far it was a little more than a few inches wide and long, but she hadn't tangled it up yet, and was impressed despite how slow she was going. Eric had been absolutely amazing throughout all of this. He was constantly bringing her home little surprises. Mint cookies from her favorite barkery, magazines, nail polish so she could do her nails, anything he could think of which always warmed her heart. He had been doing all of the chores around the house, and forbid her from even loading the dishwasher, or even doing any laundry. He worked all day, and never once complained once he got home, cooking healthy meals for them, then doing yard work, or chores. The house looked great, and Eric often would carry her downstairs, even if she remarked she could walk down to the screened in porch, where he had one of the wicker sofas all set up for her, and the two would sit out there at night so she could get fresh air. She of course walked around during the day a little bit, but Eric had a huge issue with her doing the stairs, and actually got upset if she tried to argue with him that she could do it alone.
When her morning sickness started, something that Milly hated, but knew was a good sign since that meant the baby had the proper hormones working in her body, Eric was always right there to hold her hair back, rub her back, and get her ginger ale. When Milly started playing soft music at night, telling Eric she had read that this was a good idea to play music or read to the baby for its development, even at this early stage. Something, she sadly remembered doing with their unborn daughter Lucky since besides their lost son Jet, was the only other baby that made it this far into a pregnancy. Eric would smile whenever he walked in from a shower, drying his hair, a towel wrapped around his waist as Milly would be playing music, and softly rubbing the tiny swell that was starting to show on her stomach. One evening, while she was reading aloud one of her pregnancy books, Eric returned from her office with a stack of books. He set them down on the hope chest at the bottom of their bed, before picking one up, and walking over to her, holding it up. Smiling, Milly saw it was Dumbo. From that point onward, she started reading all of her favorite "flying" books to the baby. As she did so, Eric would lay beside her, his hand outstretched, gently rubbing her belly with his large warm hand. Before every night, when she had finished reading, and they clicked off their lights, Eric would lean down and gently kiss her stomach, before kissing her.
Today they had gone in to find out the gender of the baby.
Something at first Milly wasn't too sure about, almost afraid they would jinx it, but in the end decided she wanted to share this special moment with her husband since Dr. Kelly explained that she shouldn't rob the two of them of any special moments out of fear. Milly had labs drawn the day before, which Geneva had driven her to, so excited and happy for her since her little girl would finally have a playmate. She had been a wonderful friend throughout all of this, since she knew about what Eric and her had gone through losing the other babies, and it was nice to have a friend she was so close with that had already been pregnant, and had given birth. She was always someone she loved calling since they passed the time talking about basically anything. Eric made sure he always took work off for all of her appointments, but Milly insisted that Geneba could take her to get labs drawn. Before leaving for work, Eric sternly signed...
"Make sure she gets a wheelchair for you. No stairs!"
Milly had lightly laughed, and promised, kissing her husband's cheek. She loved how much he worried about her, but it also broke her heart that she couldn't have a regular pregnancy where he didn't have to fuss over her like this. The truth was, she was just happy to be carrying this baby, and counted her blessings. The next day Eric had taken off, and drove her in to see Dr. Weaver. The first half of the appointment was going over her lab work, which all looked good. All of her levels were normal, and Dr. Weaver went off her usual questions, and was happy to see Milly was gaining weight, and reasured her that she could move around a little bit more once she was at least twenty-eight weeks, and asked if they had had sex yet?
Eric looked embarrassed, but Milly shook her head. Both had been absolutely terrified to continue making love after Milly's third month. It was back when she was still having the panic attacks, and he was taking her to the ER. Dr. Weaver, as well as Dr. Kelly, and every single book she read stated over and over again that sex wouldn't hurt the baby. Still, both seemed so nervous, but Milly as much as she missed her husband's touch, felt on edge. She had offered to give him a handjob, or a blowjob, but Eric shook his head no. Milly told him she didn't mind, in fact she actually enjoyed doing this for him, and wanted him to feel good. She hated that she had joked about the whole sex thing when she first discovered she was pregrant. She had been feeling extremely turned on lately, and sometimes when she was alone in bed while Eric was at work, she would fantasize about Eric, usually what he looked like when he first got out of the shower, and found herself touching herself. She made herself climax several times, and instantly felt guilty, even though she was certain Eric took care of himself whenever he showered in the morning. Still, she knew they both felt the same way. it wasn't the same as it was if they were together. Sure they still heavily kissed, but never actually had sex for these last few months. Milly knew her hormones were going crazy, and getting turned on was just another side effect. She had told Geneva this, who was yet another person who told Milly to quit being so silly, and to just screw her husband. Still, she knew Eric was just as afraid as she was, and both were so scared they were going to do something to mess this pregnancy up. When Milly tried to explain that they really hadn't, Dr. Weaver put her file down and started yet again, that sex was perfectly safe, and actually smiled upon. That having sex wouldn't cause a miscarriage, and that she wanted her to have some orgasms for her own body chemistry, doctor's orders.
Both Milly and Eric blushed, before Dr. Weaver went over a few more things, before she smiled and asked if Milly wanted to get changed and head to exmaining room two so they could learn the sex of the baby?
Both of their grins were answer enough, and less than fifteen minutes later, Milly felt the same cold jelly get squirmed onto her stomach, as the screen of the ultrasound machine lit up, and Dr. Weaver moved the paddle around against her stomach. Eric sat on a stool, gently squeezing her hand while nervously watching the screen as he always did whenever they got a checkup done. They had saved every ultrasound they had gotten so far, which was quite a few. All of which were saved, and the latest always hanging on the fridge, even the earliest when the baby just looked like a tiny dot. One of Milly's favorite things besides seeing the outline of their baby on the screen was seeing Eric's look of amazement whenever he watched, his eyes lighting up in wonder. Dr. Weaver noted that the baby looked nice and healthy, and was developing quite nicely, before she smirked at them.
"Ready to find out the sex?"
Milly and Eric exchanged a smile to each other, before they both nodded. Dr. Weaver moved the paddle around a little more, before she sat back and grinned.
"It looks like you two are having a little boy."
Milly blinked, her eyes wide and amazed. Instantly she laughed, staring at the screen.
"A boy?! We're having a boy?!"
She looked back at Eric, who's eyes glistened with tears of happiness. Milly found herself crying through laughter as well, before she squeezed Eric's hand.
"A boy! Eric! We're having a boy!"
Eric cried tears of happiness, staring at the screen with wonder, before he looked down at Milly, and both kissed, laughing through it, completely giddy with excitement.
That night they made love for the first time in months, and it was absolutely wonderful.
August 1988
Milly sat in Garry's car, having one of their usual Sunday morning driving lessons. Eric sat silently in the backseat, closely watching Milly's every move. Milly preferred the driving lessons with Garry, since her mother always made her way too nervous, and was usually annoyed that Eric would come with them, trying to claim that he was too much of a distraction. Milly knew this was just her mom's little way of trying to show that she was disapproving over how much time Eric and her were spending together. She had sensed that her mother on some strange unspoken level knew that Eric and her had started having sex, and seemed annoyed ever since Milly spent those three days with Eric after his appendix burst. In the days following, Milly kept a very close eye on Eric, and when they were set to go up North to the cabin Garry had rented, Milly had begged and pleaded with her mother to stay home since she was still worried about Eric. That's when the big argument broke out between the two of them. Her mother shouted to Milly that this was getting ridiculous. That she liked Eric, despite the fact that he was the center of Milly's universe, and it appeared she would rather spend time with him than her own family! Milly was shocked at this, and more than a little embarrassed since Garry was helping Luis back the car just outside, and most likely was hearing everything. When Milly tried to say that she was crazy, her mother shook her head and began to pace the kitchen.
"No Milly. I'm absolutely right! For the last two and a half years it's Eric this, and Eric that. You don't hang out with anyone else!"
"That's not true! I spend all sorts of time with Geneva!"
"Yeah, but half of that time is going on double dates with her and her boyfriend while you go with Eric! You barely have any other friends. What about those nice girls at school? When was the last time you went out with any of them? When was the last time you spent any time with your brother, or with me? Garry has been absolutely wonderful, and here he is being kind enough to rent out this beautiful cabin up North to spend a little time with you guys and this is how you thank him? By wanting to yet again stay home and play caretaker to your boyfriend? Eric has his uncle! He may be a drunk, but he's Eric's responsibility!"
Milly was steaming at this point. Her cheeks were flushed, she felt on edge, and ready to scream. Instead she kept her voice down low so she wouldn't scream. If she screamed, she knew from previous arguments with her mother she would lose. Instead, she wanted to let her mother know how awful she was acting. Taking a deep breath, she glared at her.
"After dad, before we moved here you told me that you wanted me to start fresh. I knew why we had to move, but it didn't make it any easier leaving all of my friends behind, and I had plenty. When I tried telling you this, you leveled with me and told me you were going to talk to me like an adult, and how we just couldn't afford in our old house anymore, and how hard things were going to be. I remember being so upset, and crying, telling you that everyone I knew was there, but your exact words were that I was getting older, and maybe in this new town I would maybe meet a boy, and start dating. Then I would see that these silly childhood friends really weren't that important. You remember saying that, don't you mom?"
Her mother shot her a look, while packing up the portable freezer.
"Milly..."
Milly cut her off.
"No, you said that I would be in high school and sure I would meet all kinds of new people, and make new friends, but once I started dating all of this nonsense I was so upset about wouldn't seem so important. Well mom...I did make friends, and I did get a boyfriend. I also was able to keep up my schoolwork, as well as keep my promises to you while you worked. I walked Luis to and from school, made dinner most nights, did the shopping, and the cleaning, I even started working for Mrs. Sherman part-time. I haven't ever gotten into any real trouble besides a few stupid little things, and my boyfriend happens to live next door. You used to like Eric, and remarked that what I was doing with him, helping him become more social, learning sign language, helping him become more independent...you said it was wonderful and how proud you were of me. What changed? I do spend a lot of time with Eric, but he's my boyfriend and he lives next door. I could see if I was slacking off, or off doing drugs and partying at all hours of the night you would have a problem...but mom...Eric has helped me as much as I've helped him. Dr. Granada was right. I didn't deal with what happened to dad in the right way. I pretended and lied to myself. When I started helping Eric out for Mrs. Sherman I thought he was weird and a pain. Then...I started to see that he wasn't just some autistic kid who's parents died...but the reason I started to actually feel good about myself..."
"A boy shouldn't be your only reason to feel good Milly. You act more like a guardian than a girlfriend to him sometimes Milly."
"Why do you act like he's some kind of idiot? His parents died when he was little and left with his uncle. Mr. Gibb may be a drunk, but he isn't some sort of monster. He tries, but it isn't always the best. Mrs. Sherman, and the other teachers, therapist and myself included see how smart Eric really is, and you can't even say he hasn't made progress. He does most of the housework and chores for his uncle, he's able to..."
"Milly, you don't need to sell me on how well he's been doing. Trust me, I can see that. I'll always be proud of what you've done with him, but you're only sixteen. Do you really want to go all through highschool only dating the same guy? Maybe you and Eric can just be friends for awhile, and you can try to see what it would be like going to the movies with some other people? Hang out with more girlfriends besides Geneva. Maybe take that nice boy who delivers our newspaper from your class...what's his name Rudy? Maybe you guys..."
Milly stood back stunned. She shook her head.
"MOM!."
Her mother's eyes widened in shock.
"Milly!"
Milly felt disgusted. She knew she had raised her voice, but she felt ready to start screaming. She felt her chest puffing in and out.
"Eric is my boyfriend. I'm sorry that you want me to date other boys but I'm not. I've kept my grades up, I help around the house, and with Luis. When you started dating Garry, I didn't say one word. I know you're an adult. I'm your daughter, and you're my mother...but what it really comes down to, is who you wanted to date was your business, because Garry was who made you happy. I'm sorry Eric was rushed to the hospital when you came home to tell me you got engaged, but I was truly happy for you mom. You might not believe that, but I am. I was happy when you asked Luis and me if Garry could move in with us. Nobody will ever replace daddy, but I was so happy that another person could make you that happy again. You work hard, and I know how much you've given up for us...but you deserve to love who you want to love. I would never try to make you second guess yourself. Eric is what makes me happy. I know my life shouldn't revolve around a boy, and I know it seems like that sometimes, but Eric is special, and he's a big reason why I've been so happy these past few years after moving here and after losing daddy. I know what you think sometimes. That it seems like he might be some burden to me, but he isn't. I can see how far he's come, and how smart, kind, and unique he really is. He isn't the weird idiot that sits on his windowsill that some of the jerks at school treat him like. He's wonderful, and it may seem dramatic and over the top to you and other people...but we love each other. I know you call it puppy love, but I love him mom. If it hadn't been for him I probably would have drowned. That scares the Hell out of me mom. The reason why he had to go to the clinic was because he feels things differently. Remember that night when he got the Super 8 to start working, and he started crying watching the videos of daddy? Remember how touched you were? That's just Eric. He feels things differently. I didn't want to leave him those days at the hospital because it scared me seeing him get loaded into the ambulance, and I knew how frightened he would be if he woke up in the hospital alone. He's not lucky like Luis and me. He doesn't have any family besides his uncle, and you can see how he is. I don't want to date anyone else mom because I'm dating Eric, because he's my boyfriend."
Her mother stood in silence for a second, before her mother looked at her differently. There wasn't any anger in her face anymore, but her eyes remained serious, as well as a little sad.
"You've slept with him haven't you?"
Milly didn't say a word, and figured this was just as good as being truthful. Instead her mother sighed, nodded and looked off to the side.
"I know you're getting older, and I know things are so intense when you're this age. I see you two together. I know you're working on Eric being able to handle being apart from you, and so isn't Mrs. Sherman and his therapist. I know you two both had scares this summer, but I just don't want you waking up one day and find yourself unable to get out of a relationship because you feel obligated to stay..."
"Mom..."
"No, let me finish. You're still young Milly, very young. You have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, and I feel partly at fault for that. Garry is a wonderful man, and really loves your brother and you. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about your father. Sometimes I miss him so bad it hurts. Other times I'm so angry over him leaving us the way he did I think I might scream. I never thought I could love somebody as much as I loved your father...but then I met Garry. I don't love him more than your father, or less...it's a different sort of love. Now you might meet somebody down the road other than Eric who you might develop strong feelings for, and like...or love...or whatever but in a different kind of way. I know that seems impossible but it could happen. I just don't want you ever feeling trapped. You're a teenager Milly, and if Eric makes you happy then fine, he's your boyfriend and I'll respect that...but you aren't his guardian, nurse, or teacher. You two need to learn how to do things separately here and there. It won't kill you. Once school starts up I do want you trying to make some new friends, and spending some time with some other people as well. Luis is getting older, and with Garry now here it lets up on some of the pressure I had you under for awhile. I'm sorry about that. Things are going to be different, but in a good way. I know Eric is your boyfriend, and he lives right next door, but I want you to have some of your own life to yourself. He's very attached to you, and you're very attached to him. You need some distance here and there, it won't kill you guys. It's starting this weekend. You're spending the weekend with us, and that's final."
Milly wanted so badly to argue, but knew she was on thin ice. They had said everything that needed to be said, and anything after this would just be fighting in circles. Taking a deep breath, as annoyed as she was, she figured a weekend up in the woods without Eric wouldn't kill her, and she did partly see a small point to what her mother was saying. She needed to make more of an effort to make more friends, but as for other guys, she would make it perfectly clear to her mother that Eric was her boyfriend, and she would have to stop acting like he was some burden to her. She loved him, plain and simple. Still, there was a strange tension that hung in the air, and she had a horrible feeling that if she kept fighting this, her mother might start grounding her, or try limiting her time with Eric. She still had the rest of the summer to spend with Eric, and figured one weekend away, and putting a little effort into spending more time at home, and helping Eric know that even if they weren't together at all times, didn't mean that anything bad was going to happen. She knew with help from Mrs. Sherman they would figure it out, but she hated that her mother of all people was no better than the bullies like Larry and Keith at school.
So the morning that they were set to leave, she said goodbye to Eric in his living room while Uncle Hugo was making breakfast. She had explained everything carefully to Eric, explaining that she needed to go away for the weekend to spend some time with her mom and Garry. That her mom was being weird, and she was afraid that if she felt they were spending too much time together, she could start making it hard for them to see each other as much as they were. She then whispered to Eric that she asked if they had slept together, but she didn't answer her, but figured she knew. She shrugged sitting back on the sofa, telling Eric that she saw it as her mom taking a higher road, since she very well could have refused to keep paying for her birth control, or start grounding Milly, or like she said, limit how often Eric and her could go out, and be alone. Instead, she was going to do her best to prove her wrong. She just wished she could understand why this summer had been so scary for them. Sighing, she gently cupped the side of his face, before they heard the phone ring, and Uncle Hugo answering it while he was cooking at the stove. It was one of his drinking buddies, and Uncle Hugo chatted away, talking about last night's baseball scores. Lowering her voice, Milly smirked.
"I just wish she would stop being such a bitch. I know I shouldn't call her that, but sometimes she really is. Maybe she'll be distracted a little more now that she's engaged to Garry, and ease up a little bit."
Eric smirked, before Milly saw through the bay window that Garry and Luis were loading up the car. Instantly Eric caught this, and panic shot through his eyes. Milly sighed, hating that she was leaving him so soon after he came back from the hospital. She knew he was still sore, and had to take it easy. Taking a deep breath, she looked at him and saw his eyes were filled with tears. "Oh Eric..." She pulled him in for a hug, making sure not to squeeze too hard, as she ran her fingers through his thick wavy hair.
"Remember, I'll be back on Monday. No flying to try and find me. You stay here, and when I get back..."
She eyed the doorway to the kitchen and saw Uncle Hugo's back, as he loudly laughed on the phone to his friend.
Smirking, Milly whispered in his ear...
"I'll make it up to you."
She pulled back, and saw Eric looking absolutely miserable. Using the tips of her fingertips, she wiped the tears that were trickling down his face, knowing that she was going to miss him just as much as she missed him.
"Remember, Monday okay?"
She played with her hair tie on his wrist, that he never took off now. He sniffled, and nodded, before she leaned forward, and deeply kissed Eric. When it was time to go, Milly kissed Eric one last time, making him promise not to run out so her mom had another reason to be pissed off. He nodded, before he signed to her that he loved her. Deeply touched, she kissed him again and signed that she loved him too. Once she left, grabbing her bag from her house, and loading herself in the back with Max and Luis into the back of Garry's car, she happened to glance at Eric's house as Garry started driving down the road, and for just a faint moment she thought she saw a devastated Eric, pressing his palms against the bay window.
The weekend itself went fine. Milly still felt nervous about swimming, but she stayed on the beach tanning with her mother while she read, as Garry and Luis swam, and even went fishing. They went for hikes, played board games, and roasted marshmallows. Her mother seemed to relax a little, and really seemed happy around Garry. Milly tried to set aside what had been said, and enjoyed herself, but each night couldn't help but look up at the stars, and wonder if Eric was up there?
Now a few weeks had passed. Her mother had seemed to back off a little bit, allowing Milly to go back to spending as much time as she wanted with Eric, but kept giving little looks only Milly would pick up on, or remarks such as him being too much of a distraction when she went for driving lessons with her. She was thankful for Garry, who was taking her mother out constantly, and occupying her time at home, as well as after work. Luis was enjoying his summer, making more friends, and enjoying his nearly finished T-house, while Max ran around. As for Milly, she wanted to soak up these last few weeks, and had set a date on when she wanted to actually go for her driver's test. Once she put the car in park, Garry smiled, wearing his sunglasses as he gave her the thumbs up.
"Great job kiddo!"
"Really?"
"Yeah! I'll even try to take you afterwork Tuesday. You're mom needs to stay late for a meeting I don't need to go to, so we'll drag Luis with him and promise him ice cream afterwards."
Milly smiled.
"Thanks Eric. I need all the practice I can get. I'm so scared of the actual test."
"Listen, if you can handle your mother screaming BREAK! BREAK! BREAK! At the top of her lungs, you'll be able to handle any old driving instructor."
Milly cracked up, when Garry eyed Eric in the rearview mirror.
"Too bad you can't bring your good luck charm with you when you take the test. I can tell that having him in the car relaxes you."
Milly blushed a little, but smiled.
"Try telling my mom that."
Garry smirked.
"I'll try to work on her, you just know she worries and she's been stressed. Besides, you two are good for each other. But he does seem to make you more relaxed and focused. In fact, he probably is ready to drive himself, he watches everything you do."
"Yeah I notice he does that when you drive too."
Eric smirked before looking around, the parking-lot at this time of the day was completely empty in the back. Garry then turned, and looked back at Eric.
"Eric, you wanna try driving a little bit in the parking-lot?"
Eric looked surprised, as Milly's eyes widened, before Eric nodded, his face lit up and excited. Instantly Milly felt nervous fluttering in her stomach. Eric didn't even have his permit yet. She knew how smart he was, and how quickly he picked up on things whenever he watched, but she wasn't sure how he would react behind the wheel.
"Garry..."
Garry waved his hand.
"I'll be right beside him. Switch places real quick."
Later...
Garry grinned as Eric without even being told pulled into a parking space, and put the car into park, before killing the engine. For the past twenty minutes, Eric had blown both Milly and Garry away from the moment he got behind the wheel, he showed them that he knew how to drive perfectly. He didn't even jam on the break once, and smoothly drove around the parking-lot, using his signals, checking the mirrors, circling around, and even parking several times. He listened to every single thing that Garry told him to do, and once he stopped the car, and looked at Garry with his wide brown eyes, both his, and Milly's surprised and thrilled laughs caused them to light up as he smiled.
Later...
Garry and Milly decided to keep Eric's driving lesson to themselves. Garry had casually told Milly maybe she outta talk to Mrs. Sherman, or Eric's uncle and see about him possibly going to get his permit? Milly wasn't so sure since it was a computer test, but figured like anything else if he had the right system to study, and was calm, he would very well pass it with no problem. So after dinner, she grabbed her driving book, and brought it over to Eric's, since both planned on watching TV together while Uncle Hugo was down at the bar. While Milly watched MTV, munching on popcorn, while Eric sat leaning against her, flipping through her driver's book, looking at the images fascinated. Milly explained while tossing pieces of popcorn in her mouth that maybe they could figure out a way for him to study, and she could help. Eric smiled, looking actually excited, before Milly set down the bowl of popcorn, and began softly kissing his cheek, before whispering in his ear...
"Wanna go up to the attic?"
Eric quickly closed the driver's book and grinned.
Later... It was hot and sticky up in the attic, and both Milly and Eric laid in each other's arms sweaty, as Milly rested her head on Eric's chest, her fingertips gently brushing over his healing scar from his surgery. She had thought while making love to Eric, that maybe it was a lot like teaching him sign language, which he was getting better and better at each day. She remembered the system they had worked out years ago, giving him sweet little kisses. Maybe she could figure something out a little more mature for them this time around. She knew how crazy it would be for everyone to learn that Eric got his driver's permit, and maybe even license. She hated to admit it, but she would pay to see her mother's face if that happened. Someday it would just be the two of them, achieving milestones together, and it would show anyone who questioned them how wrong they were. Smiling, she felt Eric pet her hair, before she smiled she thought to herself...
"I'm going to marry Eric someday." Lifting her head, she turned to look down at him, his hair messy and frizzy from the heat.
Eric stared up at her smirking, before Milly leaned down and deeply kissed him.