Chapter Twenty
I Disclaim, again
Thanksgiving came and went with Dave's entire family in town for the holiday. They'd also be back for Christmas and they all wanted to be here for the last two weeks of Leila's pregnancy, just in case, you never know, to help you around the house. There were a bevy of excuses for her to choose from and she found herself surprisingly happy at the support and care she received from his family. She and Michelle had grown very close over the months and even more so since Leila returned.
She still had a few months left but she was beginning to wonder if this whole thing was a good idea; Dave, getting married, the baby. She was never comfortable, the baby was huge, she didn't sleep much and she's been forced to eat healthy (much to Paul's amusement). She spent all of her time cleaning and rearranging Dave's house, her home was being prepped for the holidays and his mom and sister's impending move to Tampa. She felt things getting out of control and she didn't know how to reign everything back in, the urge to run and hide was becoming overwhelming. Dave was constantly all over her and she was barely able to do anything for herself. If she even looked at a ladder he was gently reminding her of her delicate pregnancy. He helped her in and out of the cars even though she did it quite well when he wasn't there. Smothering her, that's what he was doing and it was driving her insane. Again.
Leila was standing in front of the fridge for the tenth time this hour and ice cream still hadn't magically appeared. "Why can't I have ice cream? This sucks ass." She was actually talking to herself but Dave entered and answered her question.
"You're borderline diabetic with this baby and you have to watch your sugar." He said as he kissed her neck.
"Or what, David." She spun around and glared at him. "Or the baby will be hyperactive? What could possibly happen with a little bit of ice cream?" Leila was pissed off and taking it out on Dave.
He tried not to laugh at the silliness of her anger, he knew how she felt about her ice cream, but she was surprisingly having withdrawals. Bad withdrawals. "Because you can actually give the baby diabetes, you know you have to watch your sugar." He didn't like having to babysit her eating habits but he would do so and face the anger if it meant a healthy baby and a healthy wife. In less than a year she would be his wife.
"Watch the sugar, David, nobody said anything about eliminating it." She slammed the freezer door and stomped upstairs. "I'll eat ice cream if I damn well want to eat ice cream, nobody is going to tell me what I can and can't do, I'm a grown woman and I'll do what I want. Treat me like one of your kids, you better think again. I will kick your ass, pregnant or not." Leila kept talking to herself as she changed clothes and went back downstairs. Dave was in the family room watching ESPN and she felt like she should sneak out. She quickly went to the garage and got into her new SUV. She sat there with the garage door open, the car running and in reverse, but she didn't move. "Why do I need a new car anyway? What was wrong with the one I had? You need a safer car, Leila, you need a car made for a family, Leila, you need to do everything I say, Leila." Her hormones were in overdrive today and she began to cry. She slammed the gearshift back into park and let her forehead rest on the steering wheel.
Dave stood in the doorway of the garage and watched her. He was being hard on her and stifling her and he knew it, she needed space and freedom before she truly cracked. He went to her and opened the car door scaring her half to death. He pulled her to him and held her tight. "I'm sorry." He whispered and she just cried more. He slowly withdrew her from the car cradling her in his arms and walked to the passenger side. Dave opened the door and placed her inside, going back around and hopping into the driver's seat. They rode in silence and he headed for her favorite ice cream parlor. He would indulge her if that's what she needed and he wanted to always give her whatever her heart desired. She was the mother, she was the one who was pregnant, she knew her body the best and she knew what she could handle. He promised himself to control his overprotectiveness and remember she would be fine and she was fine when he wasn't there.
Leila felt ridiculous, she was crying over ice cream, but it was chocolate Haagen Daz and she loved it. Dave stole glances at her and figured she was feeling silly about now so he placed his hand gently on her leg. He didn't want her to feel unjustified in her actions because they were a direct result of him. She still couldn't look at him but she did put her tiny hand on his, gripping him tight. Where were they going anyway? He was probably taking her to an institution where she could bounce herself off rubber walls. Dave looked at her again and saw a few stray tears fall down her face. She was so beautiful and sweet and pure. He loved her with his soul, but he needed to back off. He pulled over into a parking lot and stopped the car, turning as much as he could in the seat.
Dave wiped the stray tears and turned her face to look at him. He gave her an adoring smile, leaned over and kissed her. Leila laced her fingers through his and returned the kiss. "I'm sorry for overreacting." She choked out and he felt like shit.
He shook his head, "No, I'm sorry, baby girl. This is my fault and I'll do my best not to control everything. I know you'll be fine so will the baby, so if you want ice cream we'll get some ice cream." Leila kissed him as more tears fell.
"I don't want ice cream anymore." She said shyly. Dave looked at her as if she grew another head and Leila looked around as if she was missing something. He sat back in his seat still staring at her. He let out a half growl half laugh and shook his head.
"Hell no. We are getting ice cream and you'll like it." Dave said firmly attempting to be strong.
Leila shot him a look, "What happened to not controlling everything?" She crossed her arms over her belly and chest as he smirked at her. They bickered back and forth for a few minutes before Dave proceeded to the ice cream parlor. If she didn't want any now that was fine, but when she did later it would be there waiting for her. Leila had to admit even though she hated the crushing suffocation, she did feel better knowing he loved her enough to stifle her. She understood his fears and concerns for the baby; she just didn't want to be treated like one of his kids.
Dave took the scenic route home, knowing full well Leila couldn't be in close proximity to the ice cream without tasting it. He was purposely goading her and she was well aware of it. She held her ground all the way home and didn't even touch it. He had to smile at her and he put it in plain sight in the freezer so whenever she walked by she would see it.
He still felt like an ass and decided he would make dinner and pamper her tonight. Dave turned on some soft music for Leila and the baby and searched the kitchen for food. She changed back into some comfortable clothes and sat in front of the fireplace, it may be in the low 70s during the day but it was chilly at night. He took the hint and lit the fire for her, grabbing the blanket draped on the back of the couch. Dave wrapped her up and knelt in front of her, stroking her face. They gazed at eachother and enjoyed the silence. She needed him and he needed her, they needed to find a juxtaposition that would please them both. Leila leaned forward kissing him lovingly, tracing his velvety lips with her tongue. He adored her and the life they were building, why did he continue to screw it up? Dave appreciated her devotion to him and their baby, despite his ability to wreck everything. It was like he was trying too hard to make up for the times he was on the road and shoving four missed days into the three he had with her. A weeks worth of time in three days would strain anybody and he was probably pushing her away.
He loved how pillowy soft her lips were and could kiss her for days on end. A new Dave was emerging and he was determined to let this Dave stay. The real Dave, the true Dave, the Dave that was a loving and supportive husband, the Dave who's world revolved around his children. He didn't and wasn't going to be asshole Dave who controlled Leila in every way. He didn't mean it but on some subconscious level, he was sure this stemmed from his fear of being rejected yet again. He dreaded the thought of being eradicated from his new family's life. He had fought Michelle on it for a few years before he finally relaxed, and the results of Angie's actions were making that Dave resurface.
He broke the kiss and placed his forehead in its favorite spot, against hers. He took a deep breath and kept his eyes closed. "I love you, David." She said against his mouth. Her words made his heart break, his actions over the past few months were despicable and when he tried to fix it, he overcompensated. What he considered doting, she considered overwhelming.
"I love you, Pretty Princess." He said to her and held her tight to him. Nice job, Dave, could you make this any more painful for you both? "In the mood for anything specific for dinner?"
"Steak and a big fat baked potato…with cheese…and bacon…and a tub of butter." She said with a smile. All would fix itself just because of her smile. The smile could make him feel like a dick and at the same time set his heart aflame. Leila could be summed up in one word, remarkable.
After dinner, he lit some candles and led her into the family room. He held her close and danced with her, breathing in her scent and memorizing the moment. "How about a bubble bath with some candles?" The idea actually appealed to him too.
"Can we just stay like this for a little longer?" Her eyes pleaded with him, those hypnotizing eyes that could see straight through him. Leila closed her eyes and took a deep breath pressing her hand into her belly. Dave could see slight pain etched on her face and then shock. She dropped to her knees and had a death grip on his hands. Panic set in and he had no idea what to do. She was cutting off the circulation in his hands and screamed out in pain.
"Leila, baby girl, tell me what's wrong." He fell to his knees in front of her, pried his hands free and rubbed her back.
"Doctor…call…now…" She barely got out before her body was wracked with another blinding pain. Dave jumped up only to be stopped by Leila's grip on his shirt. "Don't…leave…me…" He picked her up and ran to his phone as she screamed at him to make it stop. Dave spoke to the doctor and had to yell to be heard over Leila. He was ordered to get her to the hospital and he would meet them there. Dave was on the verge of tears and was scared more than he had ever been his entire life. He placed her tenderly in the car and ran to the other side practically diving into the seat. Leila was alternating between screaming and sobbing. She begged Dave to help her and the tears rose to the surface threatening to spill out. He was focusing as hard as he could on the road so he wouldn't kill them both on the way.
"We're almost there, Leila, hold on baby girl." He got no reply. "Leila." Dave said firmly and looked over to her. His instincts told him she wasn't sleeping and he began screaming for her.
As he pulled into the parking lot of the hospital he almost hit several people when he screeched to a halt in front of the doors. The doctor saw Dave pull up and ran out with a gurney. He asked what happened and a nurse had to shake him to get a response. All he could concentrate on was getting Leila out of the car and into the hospital. The nurse gave up and ran behind Dave and the doctor. He was screaming at the doctor and the doctor was screaming at the staff. Leila was hooked up to machines and her vitals were taken as the doctor led Dave to the hallway. "Stay here, I will get you when we're finished." Dave gave the doctor a look of absolute refusal and moved to go back in with Leila. She wasn't having it and pushed him back. "David. Stay here." She yelled at him and the tears that had been in his eyes spilled out. He looked at the doctor and shook his head.
"Help her." He pleaded with a shaky voice and let his body slide down the wall as the doctor retreated back into the chaotic exam room.