EPILOGUE—THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM
Trixie was trying to sit up in the hospital bed slowly, still feeling a bit groggy from the chloroform but getting more alert and aware of her surroundings. She glanced about at the somewhat Spartan room with little more than bare necessities of the bed and a small night table, no décor other than some bland pale blue curtains on the window. Like any foreign hospital it felt strange, unfamiliar and a tad cold. When she had first come around in the examining room she was fearful, thinking that she was still in the captivity of the dank military bunker at the oasis at the mercy of the madman prince. But the kindly doctor and nurses calmed her down and reassured her that she and her unborn child were safe.
At the thought of the baby, Trixie placed her hand on her slightly rounded abdomen and began speaking softly. "Hey there, little one. We made it through and we're okay. And we will be just fine but now I need to tell your daddy about you. He's going to be very happy to know about you." I hope she added in her head.
Her reverie was interrupted by the sound of several footsteps outside her door and then there was a knock on her door.
"Come in," she called out as she settled herself back in the bed.
The door sprang open and the folks who were her family rushed in, led by the man who was her world, her husband Speed Racer. He sat on the bed and crushed her to him in a fierce embrace, cradling her head and holding it against his shoulder.
"Thank God you're okay, Trix," he murmured against her hair. He was then irritated to be pulled away by Mom Racer who embraced her daughter-in-law energetically.
"Oh Trixie dear, we're all so glad you're all right. Both of you." She laid a hand on Trixie's belly in emphasis.
"Yeah," Pops echoed. "And we're just tickled by the news of our first grandchild being on the way." He beamed as Mom smiled lovingly, her eyes sparkling.
Sparky nodded, "Yep, Trix congratulations on the new Racer. We're all so happy."
Everyone nodded, smiles evident on their collective visages but the father-to-be had stepped away and was staring out the window, deep in thought. His sudden reticence had not gone unnoticed by his wife, whose sharp eyes spotted him isolated from the joyful throng. His demeanor worried her, it was not like Speed to withdraw like that.
"Speed?" Trixie asked but he was in the midst of a mental self-examination and oblivious to the goings on.
A father. I'm going to be a father. I can't believe it and so soon. I wonder how it's going to be, having a baby around. And I wonder what it'll be, a little boy that I can teach everything about racing to or a little girl who'll have her mother's beautiful face and feisty spirit. Will I be a good dad, with my child looking up to me or will I make the same mistake as Pops, putting too high expectations on him and driving him away? I want to be a good father but will I be able to?
And Trixie—I know she's going to be the best mom. She always looked after Spritle, even when he would be a complete brat, he really looked up to her. She's gonna do a groovy job and I'm so glad she's my wife. But why didn't she tell me sooner? He realized he wanted an answer.
At that thought, Speed turned around and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Excuse me, everybody but I'd like some time alone with my wife if you don't mind."
Pops and Mom were surprised by the abrupt way their son addressed them but understood his need to talk privately with his wife so they obeyed the request and got up to leave.
"Good night, Trixie dear," Mom Racer said leaning down to kiss her daughter-in-law. She saw Trixie's concerned expression and whispered, "I'm sure he's thrilled about the baby so stop worrying." She got up and left with Pops and Sparky as Speed held the door open, ushering them out. He closed the door and took a chair to straddle by her bed regarding her strangely.
Trixie flashed a nervous smile that she didn't feel. From Speed's attitude something was definitely amiss. Perhaps he was angry about her not telling him about the baby sooner, but she would have told him before the race if….
they hadn't been fighting.
Trixie watched her husband's veiled expression as he sat there studying her intently "Trixie, can I ask you something?" Speed inquired softly.
Here it comes "Sure Speed."
"How long have you known you were pregnant?" His eyes bored into her, pinning her.
"I knew for sure yesterday. Your mother and I went to the hotel doctor and he did the test, confirming what I had been suspecting."
"And how long had you suspected that you were pregnant?" Speed probed gently.
Trixie shifted in the bed uncomfortably. "For about a month now," she replied, her eyes not meeting his.
Speed sighed as he got to his feet and pushed the chair aside. He stood before Trixie with his arms folded as his eyes never strayed from hers. "So why didn't you tell me?"
She bit her lip in trepidation and answered, "I didn't want to say anything till I knew for sure. I didn't want to worry you." She turned her head away with tears threatening to spill.
Speed uncrossed his arms and sat on the bed beside her. As always, Trixie's tears were his undoing and he enfolded his sobbing spouse in his arms. "Hush, baby. Don't cry. I just was surprised and a little disappointed that you didn't tell me sooner, that's all."
She pulled her head back and sniffled, "I was going to tell you before the race b-but we had that fight and I got upset. Then I ran into Omar and he offered to let me lay down in his suite. And you know the rest."
Speed's eyes narrowed dangerously as he snarled, "That dirty scum. I should've killed him and left his carcass in the desert for the buzzards to pick clean."
Trixie asked, "What happened to him?"
Her husband snorted in derision. "Who cares? For all I know he's in some room here till he's well enough to be convicted. And I hope that they throw away the key," he added vehemently.
Trixie shuddered at the thought of what Omar had wanted to do with her. She buried her head in Speed's shoulder. "I was so scared, I didn't think he could be so insane when I ran into him before the race, I never should have gone with his men."
Speed took a Kleenex from a box and dabbed at her wet cheeks. "It's all my fault. I'm sorry I upset you and made you run away. I just wanted to keep you safe and I ended up putting you in grave danger. Please forgive me." He crushed Trixie to him, holding her as if she were about to be spirited away by some unseen malevolent force.
Trixie snaked her arms around him and whispered, "I know, Speed. Don't beat yourself up over it, please. You came and rescued me as usual, saving my life and the life of our baby." She pulled away to look deep into his ocean eyes. "So are you okay with this?"
Speed gazed back into her unsure sea-green eyes. He smiled a sweet warm smile with all the love he possessed for her radiating like the summer sun. "Okay? I'm better then okay with it, I'm absolutely thrilled."
Trixie spoke hesitatingly, "You're not upset? I mean, we've only been married a short time and having a baby's a big adjustment. I mean, we're just getting used to living together everyday."
Speed noticed her hesitation and asked, "Hey, are you okay with this?"
She became nonplussed. "Of course I'm okay with it. I just remember you saying you wanted to wait to start a family."
Speed pushed a stray hair from her eyes. "Listen, sweetheart. Remember when we had this conversation. I told you before that we would handle anything together. We're a team, Trix, and we'll handle this like we've handled everything for the past three years, like a team, working together. Like we did in Egypt, Hong Kong, the Amazon, etcetera."
Trixie sighed in relief. "Yeah, we'll do this together like we do everything." She moved to bring her lips to his and Speed needed no further encouragement. His arms locked around her as his mouth communicated to her without words, tasting and savoring her sweetness.
Finally they drew apart, forehead to forehead gazing deeply into each other's eyes and simultaneously said the same thing in a state of awe at a dream coming true . . .
"A baby."
END
