He’d been shopping all day for something for Olivia.He had given her a plain band for their wedding and was hunting for the perfect diamond to go with it.As soon as he saw the one that Martha had left him, he knew it would be perfect for her.After having it cleaned up again, ready for her finger, he decided that it was going to be wonderful to give it to her.He hoped that she loved it as much as he loved her.It was thoughtful and not a robe or vacuum cleaner.
After dinner, which was a huge hit, they settled in the living room to watch the snow coming down.Around seven o’clock, it began to taper off, and he was glad for it.Just knowing that she was going to have to be out in it tomorrow made him nervous.He was going to get her a new car too for Christmas, so he’d not have to worry about her getting stuck in the snow that they had.He might just give it to her today so that he’d not have to worry so much.It was in the garage along with a giant bow.He couldn’t wait for her to see it.
Another thing that he’d gotten her was some lingerie.Mostly, he figured that he’d bought it for himself, but he was excited to see her wearing it.She was so beautiful that every time he saw her naked, he couldn’t believe that she was all his.If he could paint, he’d love to do her in the nude so that he could hang it in their bedroom.It was his dream to have her looking loved whenever he wanted.
“ We need to get ourselves a television for the family room.I love watching the fireplace in there when we’re in there together.And with the weather being like it is, we would be warm if the power were to go off, I think.”He said that he’d only lost his power once since living here, and it had been a godsend to have the gas fireplace back there.“ Then it’s settled.We’ll get ourselves a larger television for back there after Christmas.There might be sales we can hit up to get one cheaper.What do you think?”
“ I’ll say it again, you’re brilliant.I love the way that your mind works, too.”She snuggled up to him as the news was on, and he noticed that she’d fallen asleep.Holding her until they were ready for bed, he knew for the rest of his life he’d be as happy as he was right now.He just couldn’t tell her enough times how much he loved her and still feel good about it.She was his heart’s desire and his only true love.
Chapter 8
Eight years later
Locke watched the kids playing outside.It had been a long winter for them, being couped up in the house, and he was glad that they’d been able to come outside today.It surely did his heart some good to know that they had an outlet for their unbelievable energy.He looked over at Alex, large with their third child, when she said his name.
“ We are going to regret this child, I think.As full of energy as she is now, I can’t imagine what she’s going to be like when she’s their age.”He just smiled at her, knowing that they’d love her as much as they did her sisters.“ I can’t believe that we’re going to have three little girls in the house.I thought for sure this one was going to be a boy.All your brothers had boys.I wonder what happened to us?”
“ I’m thrilled to have little girls around.They certainly do know how to keep their uncles in line.And they’re aunts too, for that matter.”His phone went off, and he knew it was going to be work.He was on call today and wasn’t looking forward to going in.“ I have to go in.I’m sorry, love.But we knew this might happen.”
He was retiring from being a doctor.This was his last weekend to be on call, and he was disappointed that he’d have to go in once more.Getting up from the lounger, he made his way into the house to get changed.He’d take a shower too, so that he’d be ready when he got there, and was happy when his daughters were disappointed that he had to go in too.They were the light of his life.
Driving into work, he was stopped at the light when he realized that he had forgotten to pick up his cell phone.Oh well.Anyone needing to get in touch with him would call home, and Alex would help them with whatever was going on.As soon as he pulled into his parking place, he was inside before he could change his mind and go home to get it.He knew his home phone number and that of Alex’s, so if he needed something, he knew that she’d be there for him.As soon as he walked into the room of the patient he was there to see, he knew something was up.
“ Mrs.Randle.I thought that you had another month to go.How are you feeling?”He checked her out and was happy to see that she wasn’t in labor.“ I wonder why they called me in today if you’re not about to deliver.”
“ I’ve been having contractions all day and last night too.I thought it was those pre-contractions like I had with my other one, but this one is getting me in the back something terrible.I think Roland is afraid I’m going to deliver at home like we did the first one, and he’s not taking any chances.He did all right, but he’s been a nervous wreck since I found out that I was going to have another baby.”Back labor wasn’t uncommon, and he was willing to make sure that she was in good hands.
“ How about if I put you on the monitor and we check them out.If it’s nothing, you have nothing to worry about.If it is labor, we’re going to have to slow you down because it is still too early for you to give birth.”He had the staff hook her up to the monitors.They didn’t show much, but he could tell that she was uncomfortable.“ How about I give you something to relax you for now?Then we’ll keep an eye on you for the rest of the evening.”
“ I’d like that.If for no other reason than Roland is all right.He is freaking out at home with our other child, and I don’t want him to drive if I don’t have to have the baby just yet.”Locke agreed with her, telling her that having a baby at home isn’t the ideal situation.“ No.He doesn’t want to deliver our next child.He’s made that perfectly clear.On several occasions.”
After giving her a little bit to relax her body, he was glad to see that she was resting.It took a lot out of a woman to give birth, and with one at home himself, he knew some of what she was goingthrough.
Hanging around his office, he got some much-needed paperwork finished up and ready to hand off to the next doctor who would take his place.He’d met the woman and was glad that she was the kind of doctor that he would have picked himself, but he just wanted to be home and not have to work anymore.He loved spending time with his family.All of them.
It helped that he had a seemingly endless supply of money.He’d never told anyone but his wife that he had won the lottery twice more, and one of them was a big Powerball payoff.He’d told himself after the second win that if he ever won again, he would retire, and when the big ticket had all his numbers on it, he decided that it was time for him to do what he’d promised her.Alex was thrilled to be having him home all the time, and he couldn’t wait to spend more time with his children while they were still young.
He’d shared with his brothers, of course.That’s the way that he did things.And when they won, never as much as their first time winning, he knew that they shared with him.Even when they won scratch-offs, they shared with him, and he thought it was funny.He never needed the money, but it was nice to have it all the same.
He never wanted to be as broke as he was when he’d been living at home with his brothers and father.That was hard times.He still found himself to this day worrying about money coming in.But Alex has taken care of them with her way of thinking outside the box and finding new ways to save money.She was his hero.
By three o’clock, he was ready to go home.Just as he was getting on the elevator to go out the door, Alex and his two daughters came off.They were all dressed up, and he couldn’t help but be proud of them.Asking them where they were headed, he picked up Martha and kissed her on the cheek.
All his brothers had one child named after Martha Grables.Either a first name or a middle name, each of them had named their child after the woman who had taken care of them when they first moved to Tennessee.She was their true hero in their lives in saving them from not being just men, but men of worth who had made something of themselves.
“ You forgot your cell phone, and since we know that you’d need it, we decided to come by and see if you could have a late lunch with us.Then we could all go for ice cream.”He said he thought that was a great idea.“ Sarah has it in her head that she wants to eat where Daddy works.I hope you don’t mind, but I told her that would be fine.That way you don’t have to leave if you can’t.”
“ I was just leaving, but we can eat here.I don’t want to disappoint my favorite little girl.”He picked up Sarah and was holding them both when the elevator opened for them to get back on.“ I have a patient here, but she’s going to be going home soon.Then I’m free for the rest of the day.”
Just as he got onto the elevator to go down to the cafeteria, he saw his brother, Dusty.Wondering what he was doing here, he nearly called out his name.But the doors shut, and he thought that he had imagined it, so he didn’t bother with telling Alex.She would think he was crazy, and he didn’t need her teasing him today.
Once the doors opened to the cafeteria, he got off telling Alex about his day so far.He didn’t think anything about it, getting off on the floor that he’d been on a million times before, but there was music playing, and he’d never heard that before.He eyed Alex hard.
“ What have you done?”She told him she’d done nothing.He looked into the vast room that was the dining area.There were hundreds of people there, and they all looked like they were there for him.“ I told you I didn’t want any kind of party to commemorate me leaving.”
“ I had nothing to do with it, only to get you down here when I arrived.I was so worried that I was going to miss you.You just had to forget your phone today, didn’t you?Anyway, we were to get you down here so that they could celebrate you.”He walked into the room only to be greeted byCongratulationsandhappy retirementfrom the group of well-wishers.“ This is all on the other women.I told them what you wanted, but they weren’t going to hear it.So act like you’re having a good time, or so help me, I’m going to brain you.”
It was going to be hard not to have a good time.There was a cake with his name on it and happyretirement.Also, balloons that his daughters enjoyed.People came around to talk to him, asking him what his plans were now.Even his brothers were there with their wives and families, and he couldn’t have been happier.
