Let Me Call You Sweetheart Chapter 7, Page 69
After Rick stopped kissing Christy, he looked at her and started to apologize. Christy knew what he was going to say and put her finger on his lip to stop him. "There's no need to apologize Rick, none at all. It felt right. It was right." Christy reassured him.
"I just felt like it was a natural reaction as we were watching our daughter sleep. You must feel my love for Timi Anne and my budding love for you." Rick said shyly.
"I do Rick. I feel the same. I see how good of a father you are and I also see the good man that you are too. You make me feel understood and that I can trust you." Christy answered.
"I don't know what our future will be Christy, but somehow I want to make it work between us, and I'm working on doing my best for both of you." Rick said.
Christy sighed with relief. "I don't want my parent's raising Timi Anne if I can help it. I'm hoping to provide for her, but I'm not sure how."
"We'll work it out Christy. Pastor Joseph told us one step at a time and we can always talk with him as we go along."
Christy looked at Rick, "We plan to have her baptized next weekend, so we will need to meet up with him this week. Have you given any thought as to who we should ask for Godparents or for Timi Anne's christening name?"
"I don't really have anyone that I would want to have as Godparents, but since Timi Anne is named after Timothy and Anne after your mother, I would like to give her the name of my mother, Mary." Rick offered.
"That's perfect, we could use the name Maria, Timi Anne Maria, doesn't that sound like it goes together? If you don't mind, as far as Godparents, I was hoping to have my brother, Ronnie, and my sister, Maggie. Is that all right with you?" Christy suggested. Rick's grin gave Christy her answer.
Christy and Rick watched their little baby stretch as she was waking up. As she opened her eyes, she saw her mommy and daddy smiling at her and she didn't cry. As they looked at her with love, she was feeling it. Her cooing and looking all around showed them how content she was. Rick reached over and picked her up. As he hugged her close to him, he noticed his own mom had peeked in the door. "It's all right mom, come on in, she's awake," he invited her.
"Oh, we've all been waiting for you to join us!" Mary told her granddaughter as Timi Anne's eyes were now locked on her grandmother.
"Before you go anywhere, you better change her first," Christy cautioned.
Mary offered right away. As Rick laid Timi Anne back on the bed, Mary was changing her as if there hadn't been many years between changing her son Rick, and now his own daughter. She fussed just a bit, but once she was snug in her clothes with a dry diaper and a warm blanket she settled back in her grandmother's arms. Sean came in and tenderly smiled at the sight before him.
"Mom, next Sunday we are having Timi Anne christened. Of course we want both you and dad there. What we want to tell you now is that we have chosen your name, Mary, for her christening name, so she will be Timi after Timothy of course, Anne, after Christy's mother, and Maria for her baptism name after you. Timi Anne Maria!" Rick and Christy grinned warmly.
"Aww, that's so sweet!" Mary smiled.
"Smart parents she has!" Sean laughed.
They all enjoyed a last cup of tea and another slice of the date pecan bread. Christy nursed Timi Anne one more time and then it was time for Rick to take Christy back home to her parent's house. The O'Neills hugged her and told her she was more than welcome back anytime. When Rick walked Christy and Timi Anne to her parent's door, he gave his daughter a long kiss on her forehead, and a quick but sweet kiss to Christy.
After seeing Dorothy and George off to Brookfield after church, Nathan reluctantly went back inside with his three ladies. Even the dogs were female and he definitely felt outnumbered.
"I think I'll go chop some wood." Nathan offered.
"Sit right down Nathan, no need, we have plenty." Emily scowled. "Allie, please go upstairs and practice that guitar, I haven't heard it in a long while."
Nathan threw up his hands and pulled out a chair at the table. Looking directly at his fiance he started, "Dee, I need to explain to you about last night, I know, so please here me out. I don't know what you heard, but for the record, I had no idea what Bill was planning."
Dee was listening, all ears. She trusted Nathan, but the rumors were flying wild.
"It was a typical bachelor party with chili, cards, and darts. The Mounties tried to add a little life to the party and were throwing apples around playing catch. I tried to catch the apples to stop it, but they grew wise and turned it into playing me like monkey in the middle."
"That sounds ridiculous!" Emily chimed in.
"It was a relief when Bill asked Carson and me to play guitar with him and we settled things down with a sing-a-long. That was fun, until." Nathan paused.
"Yes?" Dee asked, "until what exactly?"
"Oh Bill had this stupid idea to hire out live entertainment he heard Walden mentioning as an act he wanted. Supposedly, he didn't expect what we got.
Ravenous Roxy and the Dancing Dames were..."
Emily raised her eyebrows. "What in the world?"
"As I was trying to say, he thought they were just a song and dance act. He didn't realize they were, let's say, a bit more."
"Strippers?" Emily was flabbergasted.
"Not quite, Ma, but I was embarrassed as Bill had made me sit on the stage and get all the...attention." Nathan gulped and looked away. He was starting to sweat.
"Oh my Nathan, why didn't you leave?" Dee asked anxiously.
"I couldn't, some of the Mounties were standing and blocking the door. They were laughing at me squirming." Nathan shook his head.
"That's not right, they are all lawmen!" Emily kept her disgust be known.
"I agree, but as we know, too many drinks make for unwise decisions. Even Lee got upset with Bill. I felt sorry for Bill, because I don't think he really knew what he was getting into." Nathan defended his best man.
Nathan walked over to Dee, grabbed her hands and told her sincerely that he was as sorry as he could be. "Dee, I am sorry this happened, truly. I would never do something like this on purpose. You know I love you."
Dee looked at Nathan and stood up meeting his gaze, "I trust you Nathan, and I know you love me. I'm the lucky one. But, two can play this game, so keep your eyes peeled." she teased as she tiptoed and planted a kiss on her man.
