Chapter 12
Thing were getting back to normal for Tim and Lyla, after that night had ended their six week slump and they had made love she felt closer to Tim and was always with him now. He was her heart and she loved seeing her two favorite boys together. Tim and Lyla were in his bedroom trying to fool around while Billy was taking care of little Cameron.
Lyla: (laughing) take it off.
Tim: (laughing) I'm trying.
Lyla: you better get it off, we don't have long
Tim: Honestly I'm trying and it's a new buckle. I'm sorry (suddenly the door burst open and in comes Billy carrying Cam in his arm with a piece of paper)
Billy: Tim what the hell is this.
Tim: (looking confused) Billy what?
Billy: Me and Cam found this when were looking for change in the couch. Their recruitment letters from Oklahoma State.
Tim: (shaking his head) looking for change?
Billy: (shrugs his shoulders) baby keeps the change from falling down further while I'm picking it. So I can do one section at a time. That's not the point.
Lyla: Oh my god! Tim (looking back at him) why didn't you tell me you were getting letters of interest. This is your future. I'm gonna go get my laptop and write a response. (Getting up clapping and walks by Billy looking Cam in the face grabbing him from Billy.) Come on baby we're gonna help Daddy get into college.
Billy: (chewing gum, smiles) you and me Timmy we're going places.
Tim: No Billy I was going in places. (Lay back further in the bed and took the pillow and placed it over his head and breathed hard).
As Lyla came back in the room carrying Cam and laptop she passed the baby to Tim and got on the bed. Billy looked at Lyla and said "thanks Lyla you help him out while I run down to the store and get a case of celebratory beer." He left the room and Tim sat up slightly while he placed Cam on his lap and said "Uncle Billy was supposed to be playing with you, and momma was about to play with me." He looked over at Lyla who was deep into her laptop and said "don't you worry I'll play with you." As he pulled him forward and kissed him raising him up. Lyla was into the laptop but spoke up saying " Tim not too high, he'll get sick." He reached over and picked up the football and started putting it in Cam's hands. As he watched Lyla write the response. For the next day that's all Lyla could talk about and he was more than annoyed about it. He wasn't sure if this was something he wanted but he couldn't break her heart because he knew he wanted her and Cam.
Lyla was having dinner with her father while Cam was sleeping and he was going on his usual rant about her dating Tim Rigggins:
Buddy: Joe McCoy wants to take us out for dinner this Saturday, I told him yea!
Lyla: Daddy, there's no one to watch Cameron. The nanny is visiting San Antonio this weekend.
Buddy: Well what about Tim? What's he good for then.
Lyla: I was thinking about bringing Tim. It would be good for him, He's getting letters of interest.
Buddy: Lyla as much as I love that you try to help everyone I just don't think Tim is in all helpable. He's got as much of a chance of getting into college as I do winning the lottery. He drinks all day, and let's faces it he's been with half the women of Dillon.
Lyla: He's Cam's dad and he's gonna do anything possible to make him proud daddy.
Buddy: Where were you today anyway? I mean are you using protection this time.
Lyla: Daddy?
Buddy: Lyla you don't wanna get stuck raising a litter of Tim Riggins kids. You're already got the one and I love him, he's beautiful and I believe he will make one hell of a panther one day. But baby Tim is not for you.
Lyla: Okay! I'm done and I think I hear Cam so… (She gets up and goes to the bedroom).
The next day Tim and Lyla were out with Cameron in the store shopping for a new dinner sport jacket for Tim. She was pushing the stroller, and looking at different jackets. She pulled a jacket off and turned and said:
Lyla: This one
Tim: Tell me again why I have to go to this dinner. And I know how to dress myself!
Lyla: Because it will be a great opportunity for you to meet an Oklahoma Alumni (as she helps Tim in the Jacket) And no Tim all you know how to do is put on a plaid shirt and button one button.
Tim: (shows Lyla what he looks like in the jacket) Well how does it look? (As he stands in jacket that's way too tight).
Lyla: (laughing) look Cam look at Daddy! (Laughing)
Tim: (takes off the jacket) Cam mommy wants me to smooze with high class! (Walks behind Lyla as she pushes the stroller up a little further and she picks up another jacket). I just don't get why I have to do something I don't wanna do.
Lyla: (turns around) if you only did what you wanted your life would be all about football, beer, and sex. (As she gets closer to his face).
Tim: (kisses her) and what's wrong with that! Why are you doing this?
Lyla: Because I care about you! And you know why you're doing this?
Tim: (shaking his head) why?
Lyla: Because you care about me.
Tim: (kisses her again, smiling) just a little bit.
Lyla: (kissing him, and smiling ) a little (Cameron begins to get a little fussy in the stroller).
Tim: (holding Lyla's face, looking down at the stroller) Oh we definitely care about you. (Reaching down in stroller picking him up as he held him close and Lyla stood next to him). All right I'll go if we can take Cam! (Dancing Cameron in her face) Take me, please!
Lyla: (taking Cam from Tim) Tim! It's a country club I don't think we can actually take a baby there.
Tim: (gives her the sad face) Come on Lyla I don't want to go alone and if we take Cam we can keep the focus off me because he's just so damn cute.
Lyla: (kisses her baby boy) I guess so! (Tim throws his hands up in the air) But your still gonna have to talk, because He's going with a paci in his mouth, and full of breast milk.
Tim: No, not the breast milk and paci.
Lyla: Take it or leave it. (Dancing Cam in his face) Take the deal, take it.
Tim: (takes Cam from her and kisses the baby) Deal! (Looking Cam in the eyes) Your mommy drives a hard bargain.
The day of the dinner Lyla was dressed in a beautiful black dress with her hair up and her shoulders out. She was hoping that Tim remembered everything they talked about. She looked down at Cam sucking on his pacifier as she put on her earrings, he was really quiet whenever he had his pacifier and Tim liked it when he was really riled up so they rarely gave it to him. But she knew at dinner she was gonna need for Cam to be cute and seen but not heard. Because she needed Tim to get in good with Mr. McCoy so he could at least get a recommendation from him especially with him being such a big successful business man. She picked up her son and placed him in his baby blue car seat carrier and placed his little plush football in with him. She began packing the bag with extra bottles of breast milk, clothes, diapers, blanket, toys and wipes. She picked up the bag and looked down at the Cam saying "here we go sweet boy." She took him out to her car and clipped him in and placed the bag in the passenger seat as she got in on the drivers side and drove off. She was meeting Tim at his place and they were gonna ride in his truck over to the club. Arriving there she took a deep breath and started to get out the car, opening the backseat she immediately saw her baby boy asleep and thought to herself "works every time". Tim came out the house and saw Lyla bent over grabbing the seat and he ran up behind her and touched her butt
Tim: Garrity, how about we skip dinner go inside lay the boy down for a nap and have us a good time
Lyla: (She turned to Tim, kissed his face) no! Tim, we're going to dinner. Can you please help with Cam
Tim: (Moves her out the way, he steps in and starts unlatching Cam out of the seat) It was just an idea!
Lyla: "no, we need the seat, so leave him in there."
Tim: We can just use my seat, in the truck. (Lifting Cam in his arms, leaving the seat behind) Hey!
Lyla: (a little upset, goes in the car and unhooks the seat)Hell! Now he's awake. No Tim we need my seat because it hooks into the stroller. (Carrying the car seat over to the truck) If you had got the seat I told you to get we wouldn't have this problem.
Tim: Yea but the seat I have is so much cooler.
Lyla: Cooler! How you only like that seat because you can sit and talk to him better while you drive. (Placing Tim's seat on the ground). Okay all finished, (puts her hand out) Give me baby! Can you get the stroller and diaper bag out of the car.
Tim: (passes her Cam) Okay! (Tim loads the stroller in the back of the truck and hands Lyla the diaper bag) Last chance.
Lyla: Start the truck.
As they arrive at the country club Cameron had fallen complete back asleep and Lyla was happy. Tim got out and got the stroller folding it down and he helped Lyla out the truck. He grabbed the car seat and Lyla guided him to snap it into the stroller. Tim carried the diaper bag and Lyla pushed the stroller as they walked up before they entered she turned to him and began fixing his tie:
Lyla: You remember everything we talked about.
Tim: (moving his shoulder around) Yea I just chat him up about Oklahoma State, and how they won championship in 1998.
Lyla: Wow where did you learn that.
Tim: (fixing the diaper bag on his shoulder) Google
Lyla: (pushing the stroller) you goggled. Oh My! (With a funny shocked look)
Tim: (opening the door for her to go in) Yea I'm not retarded.
Lyla: (laughing ) I know that but you act it sometimes.
As they enter the door they are greeted by The McCoy's who have brought their son the young freshman quarterback and Buddy who introduces them:
Buddy: This is my daughter, Lyla…. (Before he could mention Tim or the baby)
Mrs. McCoy: Oh my god! Look how beautiful she is, and who is that little fellow in there. (She leans over to look in the stroller) Oh my lordly he is absolutely adorable if I may say so myself beside my own darling baby boy he is the cutest baby I have ever seen.
Lyla: (smiling) Thank you Mrs. McCoy. I hope its okay! We couldn't find a sitter.
Mr. McCoy: Oh it's positively okay I'm sure it's not a problem all the money I'm about to donate here they can accommodate the little guy here.
Lyla: Well no worries he won't be a problem. He's out like a light.
Mr. McCoy: Besides being as you brought Tim Riggins here, I'm just fine. Tim I'm glad you came you were one hell of a Panther.
Buddy: (slapping Tim's back) Tim here is Panther Football. (The waiter comes to get them and everyone goes inside including Lyla pushing the stroller. Buddy holds Tim back for a moment) Now let's get something straight, I don't like you with my daughter you know that! But Joe McCoy is important to the boosters which are important to the panthers so if you do anything to screw this up I swear I will make you life a living hell. (He pats his shoulder and walks off).
As they all sat down and Lyla positioned the stroller next to her while Tim helped her by pushing in her chair. Sitting down Lyla looked at Tim and smiled, he seemed a bit nervous and he could not stop from tapping his leg. Lyla touched his hand hoping that he would feel more comfortable:
Mrs. McCoy: Now you two look absolutely good together, and you made one hell of an adorable baby boy. So who takes care of him while you two go to school
Lyla: We have a nanny! That comes during the week. But in a couple of weeks he's gonna start daycare over on Hilly road.
Mr. McCoy: So Tim how liking your new position? You used play fullback right!
Tim: I,uh, uh, I, Uh
Mrs. McCoy: Oh honey don't bombard the boy with questions, let's at least eat some food.
The waiter comes to take everyone's order and they all order chicken, salmon, or steak. Tim being so nervous orders a squab and tells the waiter to bring it rare. Everyone looks at him in awe and he feels something wrong. When the food is brought Tim looks at the food and almost pukes, Lyla ask him "do want something different." He smiles and says no picking up his fork and starts to cut into a bleeding squab and takes a bite. In his mind it tastes worse than it looks. He tries to swallow it down anyways and smiles the whole time. Cameron had awoken but was very quiet with his paci in his mouth. Halfway through her dinner she since that maybe Cam needed a diaper change, Lyla stood and said "please excuse me while I go change the baby." She picked him up and Mrs. McCoy grabbed the diaper bag saying "let me help you with that and let these boys talk football." Tim was a little disappointed because he was looking for way out of dinner. He had been a complete dunce the whole time every question he stumbled over and couldn't answer and Lyla had to step in and answerer for him. He felt really embarrassed and stupid. As they all talked football around him even little J.D. even had more to say than Tim who just sat there looking foolish. After a long while Lyla and Mrs. McCoy did come back carrying in Cameron who was now sucking down a bottle. Mrs. McCoy held on to Cam as she sat down feeding him the bottle and announced to everyone "this baby is absolutely perfect." Everyone watched as she continued to feed him. When the dinner was finally over they push the stroller back out to the truck loading in and drove home. On the way home it was total silence from Tim but Lyla felt the need to talk.
Lyla: Well I think the McCoy's are pretty nice.
Tim: Yea, whatever!
Lyla: What's your problem?
Tim: Nothing I just don't really feel like talking.
Lyla: Well why's that because you certainly didn't say much at dinner.
Tim: that's because I told you I didn't wanna go to this.
Lyla: Well Tim if you didn't just sit there and not say anything every time they asked you a question.
Tim: I was uncomfortable. I didn't know what to do or say!
Lyla: But it's like you didn't even try.
Tim: I did try, I got dressed up in this stupid shirt and tie, and I ate pigeon.
Lyla: No Tim you did this for your future, and you ate pigeon because you ordered it and didn't wanna look stupid.
Tim: (pulling into the driveway and turning off the truck) what do you want from me Lyla? Stop trying to turn me into someone I'm not.
Lyla: Excuse me Tim for trying to bring out the good guy that you promised me you were. (Getting out of the truck, grabbing the diaper bag).
Tim: (Walks around and pulls the car seat out) I am but it doesn't mean you can dress me up like a doll and play puppet master.
Lyla: (takes the car seat from him and walks over to her car snapping it in) you know what maybe we're too different. Maybe we should call this what it is.
Tim: Maybe!
Lyla: (opens her car door) you know what let's just go our separate ways. (Getting in the car). You call me when you wanna see Cam. (She drives off).
Tim is left standing in the yard and walks back toward his truck to see his car seat sitting in the yard he gets upset and kicks it across the yard a little. Leaning on the truck he is upset, he didn't mean to get angry that way but he hated trying to be something he wasn't. Tim always though he was a simple guy but apparently dating Lyla and having a baby came with new responsibility. He walked around and got back in the truck and drove down to the store to pick a six pack of beer it didn't take long and he was pulling back into his driveway . Entering his house carrying his six pack and leftovers from the country club he looked up and saw Tyra laid across the couch watching TV:
Tim: (walking over to the fridge and opening the door) what are you doing here?
Tyra: (looking up at him) waiting on Mindy and Billy to finish humping!
Tim: (placing the beers in fridge and taking one popping it open) well that shouldn't take to long!
Tyra: (laughed) you think I been here long enough. What's with the monkey suit.
Tim: (gulping the beer and unbuttoning his pants as he pulls them down and steps out of them and his shoes closing the fridge) Tyra I've been out all day pretending to be someone that I'm not and these pants are hot. (Coming from around the kitchen area to the couch and plops down next to Tyra).
Tyra: (laughing) Okay so you take them off! What else is going on?
Tim: (looking over at Tyra) I ate pigeon today, and I gotta tell you it's just as disgusting as it sounds but right now all I wanna do is sit on the couch watching TV with a nice cold beer. (Tyra smiles at him and slightly laughs)
Tyra: Pigeon really!
Tim: and rare.
Just as they are laughing a knock at the door is heard and in walks Lyla carrying Cameron in his Panther onesie in her one arm and food in the other. Tim jumps to his feet and walks over:
Tim: Hey!
Lyla: (looks over at Tyra, who doesn't budge) Hey! What are doing?
Tim: Just hanging out watching some TV.
Lyla: (she looks down at his legs) Where are your pants Tim?
Tim: (points to the kitchen) their over there, it got hot.
Lyla: (nods) it got hot. Well we brought you some food, burger and fries.
Tim: wow that real nice of you.
Lyla: and a baby!
Tim: ooh baby too! Sounds cool
Lyla: so what's your choice baby or food, baby or food.
Tim: Hmmm! That's a hard one, I did have pigeon early. Oooh I'll take….. (He takes Cam from Lyla) Baby! Come here boy, looks like you got hot too.
Just then Mindy and Billy come in looking wore out, they walk in the living room and Tyra jumps to her feet saying "bout time." Mindy replies saying "ooh we were handling wedding stuff" She see Tim and says "hey Tim, oooh baby! Hi baby." Tyra pushes her toward the door and yells "goodnight", Billy yells back "I love you Mindy" and she yells it back to him. Tim and Lyla are still standing in the middle of the floor holding Cam and food and start laughing. He puts one hand up to her face and strokes it gently and kisses her. They finally move to his room where they eat on the bed and Lyla is holding Cam in her lap while Tim feeds her food. He laughs saying "sorry about all that, with Mindy and Billy engaged Tyra's around a lot but nothing happens" giving her a bite of the burger. She bites it and says "I know, I'm not worried about that." They finish their meal and they laid down in the bed with Cameron in between them propped on a pillow sleeping soundly and started to talk:
Tim: Thanks!
Lyla: It's was just food, beside I figured you needed it after eating squab!
Tim: Yea never do that again!
Lyla: (turns on her side toward Tim) I'm not trying to change you Tim.
Tim: Yea I know!
Lyla: Are you sure because what you said it was really hurtful
Tim: (breathes hard) It's like I'm slowly realizing that to be a good father and stay in you life I'm gonna have to become and do lots of things I don't want to.
Lyla: What's that mean?
Tim: (he sits up slowly and slides out of bed picking up Cam and walks him over to the play pen setup in his room and lays him down placing a cover over his back. He comes back to bed and slides in on top of Lyla) It means that only for you will I wear a suit and tie, and eat squab. (He kisses her) and to be with you Lyla Garrity, the mother of my son Cameron Austin Riggins I will do that anytime any day.
Lyla: I love you!
They make love quietly as Cam slept in his playpen.
