Chapter Text
Surprise Package
Chapter 1: Early June
Amanda and Lee Stetson sat together in the waiting room of her OB-GYN’s office. Amanda had been in the week before for her post-birth six-week check-up. The doctor’s receptionist called Amanda to make an appointment to discuss the results of her blood work.
Convinced it was bad news, Lee insisted on accompanying Amanda to hear the outcome of the tests. He couldn’t understand why she was always listless and tired. Amanda claimed it was from sleep deprivation and her body trying to recuperate from childbirth. Something, she assured him, all new mothers went through. Lee was certain there was some other dire explanation.
The nurse called Amanda’s name. They followed her to one of the examining rooms. Shortly afterwards, Doctor Armstrong entered and greeted the couple, “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Stetson, nice to see you.”
Uncomfortable with any medical environment, Lee fidgeted in his seat as he tried not to look at all the graphic diagrams on the wall of childbirth and pregnancy.
Amanda nodded. “Thank You.” Patting Lee’s hand, she added, “My husband wanted to come too. He’s concerned I must have some sort of unknown illness because I’m lethargic. But I keep telling him that’s normal for new mothers because of everything involved with a new baby.” Amanda bounced her head and tilted it to the side. A nervous habit she had when she was self-conscious.
“That’s okay. It’s good Mr. Stetson can take the time and come with you. Because I have some things I want to discuss with you both.”
All the color drained from Lee's face as he nudged his wife.
Amanda gripped Lee’s hand tightly and nervously squeaked, “Really, what about?”
Lee echoed, “Yeah, what?”
The doctor scanned his notes before answering. “First, you are severely anemic, Mrs. Stetson, so I want you to start on iron pills. Also, some vitamins.”
“Which ones?” Amanda ticked off in her head the ones she’d been taking for women’s health.
“Prenatal.”
Amanda furrowed her eyebrows, tilted her head, and repeated, “Prenatal?”
“Yes, you’re pregnant,” Dr. Armstrong deadpanned.
Staring at one another, Lee and Amanda’s mouths fell open. “Pregnant?!” they gasped in unison.
Lee kissed his wife on the lips, moved to place one arm around her, and a hand on her stomach.
“Well, that explains my lack of appetite,” muttered Amanda dryly.
Lightly shaking his head, Lee turned to his wife. “I thought you were on the pill?”
Shifting in her seat, Amanda peered directly at her husband, “Of course not, Sweetheart, not while I’m nursing.” Thinking out loud, she added, “I didn’t know I could get pregnant if I hadn’t gotten my period yet? Surprise!“ She shook her head and threw her hands up in the air.
Gazing over his glasses, the doctor noted, “It is rare, and it’s an old wives' tale a lot of people believe. Now, Mrs.Stetson, you told me you two prematurely had relations twice before I’d cleared you officially last week.”
Lee coughed and quickly removed his hand from Amanda’s stomach. He tried to find someplace to focus on other than the disapproving stare of the doctor.
Amanda turned a shade of pink.“Um, yes, that’s right.” She closed her eyes and then sighed.
“I would like to examine you again and do an ultrasound, so I can determine how far along you are. I suspected it last week. But I wanted to wait until I saw the blood work. Since you haven’t had a menstrual cycle, I can hopefully pinpoint your gestation based on those two times. Then we’ll talk more after the test. I’ll let you get undressed while my nurse sets things up. Mr. Stetson, do you wish to stay?”
“Ah, could I just be there for the ultrasound?” Lee shifted in his seat and rubbed the back of his neck. The doctor knowingly nodded. ”Yes, I’ll have the nurse call you in when we are ready for it.”
After the exam, they reconvened in the doctor’s office. After they all sat down, he began. “By the size of the fetus, it looks like Mrs. Stetson got pregnant on the first date she gave me, so the baby is due on or around March 17th.”
Lee snorted, “How can that be? I would barely count that time. I didn’t even completely—”
A flush crept across Amanda’s face before he could finish. She jabbed Lee’s side with her elbow. “Lee! Really? Not now!” Amanda buried her face in her hands, shaking it back and forth.
Doctor Armstrong smirked. “You know, Mr. Stetson, no matter how you think you performed, the result is still the same.”
Amanda turned a brighter red. Lee grunted as he slumped in his seat, his ego bruised.
The doctor further addressed Amanda, “Anyway, I will refer you to an OB-GYN specializing in geriatric pregnancies.”
Amanda’s eyes widened, and her voice went up a notch. “Geriatric?!” She repeated. This time, it was her turn for her pride to be crushed.
“What does that mean?” Lee inquired.
“It means he thinks I’m old!” Amanda wailed.
“Yes, for a pregnancy. You are now in the age range considered geriatric.” Turning to Lee, the doctor continued, “Mr.Stetson, your wife’s age category puts her at high risk for many health concerns. Mrs.Stetson needs to be closely monitored. A considerable number of issues can arise in her age range.”
Directing his attention to Amanda, he added, “One of them is because your pregnancies are so close together. I have a colleague in the building, Dr. Khan. We consult together on a lot of cases. She is excellent, and I’m sure you will like her. I’ll call so you can get in to see her as soon as possible. In the meantime, here’s some literature on medical risks for geriatric mothers.”
Amanda cringed when she heard the word again. “But I was considered a ger-um…I was in that age range for this last pregnancy as well. Why is this so different?”
“You were healthy and had not given birth recently. That’s THE difference,” the physician emphasized.
Lee took the reading material from the obstetrician, thanking him. He vowed to himself he would memorize all the facts listed to ensure Amanda stayed healthy during her pregnancy. When leaving the suite, Lee placed his hand along the small of Amanda’s back, guiding her out the door. Amanda leaned into Lee’s familiar touch.
Driving home from the appointment, Amanda was lost in her thoughts, thinking back to the night, by the doctor’s calculations, when Amanda conceived. She’d just finished breastfeeding JJ for the night and went to use the bathroom.
After Amanda freshened up, she made her way into the master bedroom to change into her pajamas and turned on the baby monitor. As soon as she did, Lee’s soft baritone voice could be heard talking to the baby.
As was his custom, Lee took JJ to lie her down while Amanda got ready for bed. Lee padded across the hall with the infant. He sat in the rocking chair with his daughter to settle her as she’d startled herself awake and was making whining noises.
Whispering, he admonished the infant. “Now, Jennifer Joy, give Mommy and Daddy a break tonight. Please don’t wake up again. Daddy needs some alone time with Mommy. I love you very much, my little Bomber Princess. You’re the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I can’t believe how lucky I am to be your Daddy.” He kissed the infant’s forehead and caressed her brow with his fingers. “But Daddy wants to show Mommy how special she is to him, too. So please, if there was ever a time to sleep through the night, it’s now!”
As the chair rocked, Lee softly sang the old lullaby, “Hush little, baby, don’t you cry, Daddy’s gonna buy you a mockingbird, and if that mockingbird don’t sing…”
Amanda smiled tenderly, wanting to drink in the moment, remembering this feeling forever, hearing Lee sing to his daughter, and sighed. How thankful she was to have a husband so gentle and caring.
Such a contrast to his persona of the rash and risk-taking ‘Scarecrow’ of The Agency, who in the past had a ‘love ‘em and leave 'em reputation with women. Oh, how she yearned to have that ‘special time’ with him. Amanda missed their intimate moments together. The doctor hadn’t cleared her yet for sexual relations. Since JJ’s birth, there’d only been quick stolen moments of tender caresses. Their desires seemed to be simmering on high, and they were at the point where they were about to boil over.
JJ still hadn’t slept through the night, which made them both exhausted and frustrated. Amanda, especially, because she was breastfeeding. She didn’t remember it being that way with Philip and Jamie back then.
Lee was surprised when Amanda began wearing pajamas instead of her usual nightgowns. His wife explained she’d done the same after the boys were born. It was more comfortable when she had to nurse at night.
When Lee returned to their bedroom, the light was off. He took off his pajama top but left his pants on. Lee slipped into bed and scooted closer to Amanda. Her back was to him, so he reached over her side and caressed her stomach, traveling to her hips and down to her bottom. Amanda breathed heavily, feeling the heat from his body. She gasped, “Oh, Lee.”
He kissed her neck and stopped at her earlobe, giving it his full attention. His hand toyed with her pajama pants.
“What do you think you are doing, Mr. Stetson?” Amanda demanded as she brushed his hand away. She mischievously decided to pretend to be annoyed by Lee’s advances.
“I’m trying to get lucky with my wife!”
“I haven’t been cleared by the doctor yet.”
Lee groaned, urgently pleading,“ I know you haven’t. You said it could be three more weeks, Amanda! Please, let’s not wait anymore. We can take it slow. I’ll be careful. If it hurts, then tell me, and we’ll stop. Every night lying next to you is pure torture!”
“Oh, thanks.”
“ You know what I mean. Lying beside you, not being able to…”
“We’ve managed to entertain ourselves in other ways,” she argued, stifling a giggle.
“Yes, we have.” Lee grinned.
Amanda turned over to face her husband. She placed her hands on the side of his face and kissed him gently on the lips. Their kiss heated up quickly, leaving them both breathless.
Amanda broke their contact first. Her hands wandered seductively over his body. “By the way, I heard what you told our daughter. I know what you’re up to,“ she teased. “I feel the same way, Sweetheart. I want this just as much as you do. To be honest, I‘m a little scared.” She cradled Lee’s head in her hands.
“Did you feel this way after Philip and Jamie were born? Uh.. was it just as tiring and frustrating?”
“With Philip, I was tired all the time. It was a blur. Not frustrated like you and I are now. Joe didn’t seem very interested, and I didn’t care. Joe left for Africa three weeks after Jamie was born. That’s when Mother came to live with me. But I don’t want to talk about Joe!”
“Neither do I,” Lee chuckled. “You have me now, and I’m not going anywhere.” Lee showered Amanda’s body with tender kisses while caressing her.
“Umm… oh, I sure do… ” Amanda was breathing hard now, ready to throw caution to the wind. She panted out, “You and I both know once we get started, we won’t stop.”
“My beautiful, Amanda”, Lee murmured as he gently sucked on the bottom of her lip. Amanda gasped when he let go. Her heart was racing. Her body ached for her husband.
“Amanda?” Lee’s voice trailed off, waiting for her answer.
She responded by wrapping one leg around Lee’s hip. Her libido had won over reason. “But just be careful. Hopefully, our daughter will cooperate and not wake up.”
And to their relief, JJ stayed asleep. But to Lee’s embarrassment, he lost control, and it was over too quickly.
Lee apologized, “I’m sorry. We were like teenagers on prom night!”
“That’s not what I DID on my prom night!” Amanda huffed, pushing Lee away as she rolled over.
The sound of Lee’s voice startled Amanda back to reality.
“Amanda, sweetheart, are you okay? You’ve been very quiet. Why don’t we stop and talk somewhere on the way home?”
Amanda replied, “I was a little distracted. But yes, let’s get some coffee and talk.”
“Remember only decaf or tea for you,” reminded Lee, giving her a wink.
TBC