Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Five

Full Speed Ahead, a Cantrell: The Early Years Update

Erik stood in the kitchen of their New Old Henford home, reminiscing. They hadn’t woohooed since they got back home. Kayleigh was even more drowsy than before, which left him confounded and greatly concerned. Once married, he certainly didn’t expect celibacy would be the order of his day. At the same token, he couldn’t blame her since she appeared to be seriously ill. Between her nearly constant napping and her overwhelming nausea that sent her flying to the nearest commode, the notion of woohoo only drew a glare from her. And then there were the headaches. . .

To top things off, his mother-in-law came by to pick up Kayleigh. Home for barley a day.  “Erik, I’ll be back soon. Mom agrees with you that I should see a doctor. I love you. Oh, if you need to go out yourself, please text me.”
“What, you mean I can’t go with you? I am your husband.”

“Well you can if you want to. I just know how busy your schedule generally is. I didn’t wish for you to feel trapped, is all. Your concerts are pretty well random and so are the photoshoots," she kissed his cheek. "I know you’ve also been busy composing up a storm, lately. Usually means you’ll be heading to the recording studios to work on your next album.”

Not at all liking how easily he was dismissed, Erik kissed his wife on the cheek, and sent them off with a wave and a smile. Must be a lady's- only outing. His mother and sister would do that sometimes. Nothing odd or unusual. Erik sighed, and made a call to Taygeta Studios to see if they had room on their schedule. Keeping himself busy was essential if he was going to keep ahead of the emotional storm heading his way.  Kayleigh was being rather coy, lately, and he wasn’t sure what to make of that.

He texted her once he was at the studio.  ‘I am going to work on getting some tracks laid down. Not sure when I’ll get back. Text me when you’re home, I’ll be right there. Miss you whole bunches.’

Three hours had passed and still no text message. Nervously, he kept checking his phone. “Erik,” Ryan Ricks, his Record Manager said, placing a hand on the rock star’s shoulder, “They most likely went out to eat after the appointment. Now, relax, buddy, okay? I’m sure she’s fine. Women get a little strange when they’re pregnant.”
“Pregnant? How can Kayleigh be pregnant?”

“Well you two did woohoo, right? Waste of a honeymoon if you didn’t manage to get around to that.”

“I didn’t think it possible on the first time . . . even if the first time was three or four times in an evening.”
Ryan, an older gentleman, began to chuckle. “Who told you that? Son, it only takes once. From what you’ve told me you have nothing to worry about. Just be prepared to go out at odd times during a night to find that particular food she has a craving for.”

At that moment, Erik’s phone alerted him to a text message. “Go ahead. It’s about time to wrap things up for the evening, anyway. And relax,” Ryan said. “You’re as tight as a corkscrew.”

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

“Kayleigh!” Erik shouted after he let himself into their house.
“Up here,” she called from the top of the stairs. “I was just about to get ready for bed.”
“I missed you. You were gone for hours. Did you and Carina have a nice time out?” he asked as he took the stairs two at a time, climbing upward
“I’m sorry. We went to the appointment, and I got a clean bill of health. Everything is fine. Then we went to dinner and then we did a bit of shopping. I can’t wait to show you what I found.”

“So, you’re fine, that’s good, I’ve been so worried.” Once he made it up the stairs and into their bedroom. He stood there gazing at her, smiling a goofy grin.
“I do have something I wish to share with you, however,” she said, looking at at him. She put on her best serious face. “The doctor found a growth — but it’s nothing to worry about, really. He says it’s perfectly normal. Oh, there’s your worried look. Honey, it’s okay, we’re having a baby!” she squealed. 

“Wait, wait, wait, can we go back to what this growth thing is?”
“A baby, silly. I was just having a bit of fun with you. Isn’t this great news? Our family is started!”

“Oh, thank God.”
“Erik, aren’t you happy about this? You said you couldn’t wait until we had a baby.”
“Yes, of course I am. I’m just so profoundly relieved. I thought you had some kind of fatal disease or something. This is incredible news," he said drawing her into a hug. "— and your father is going to kill me, just so you know if I don’t return one of these nights. He tried to get me to commit not to get you pregnant for the first year of our marriage. I kind of thought that was our decision.”

“Oh, pooh, he’s a fine one to talk,” she said, pushing the air with a hand. “We triplets came barely nine months after their wedding. And that’s simply because multiples come early. Which is what he had to explain to his father-in-law.”
“Well, there’s something to be said about experience, I suppose. . .”

“Daddy is mostly bluster and rarely does he bite. Besides, why would he want his first grandchild to grow up without his daddy?”
Erik tilted his head to the side, “I see your point. So when is our Blessed Event going to happen?”

“Saturday,” she said. “At least that’s Dr. Beltone’s best guess.”
“Best guess? You mean the esteemed doctor doesn’t know? I thought they had this formula to calculate such things.” I’ll talk to Joey about this. He’ll know.
“He does, but his best guess, based on said calculations, is Saturday, at the latest.”
“Wow, that’s soon. Wait, you mean you could launch sooner?”
“It’s always a possibility,” she said.
“I guess it’s a good thing we already have a nursery prepared. I must’ve known, somehow. . .  Is it a girl or a boy?’

“Yes.” Kayleigh had opted not to learn the gender of her baby. To his question she simply said, “I do love a surprise, don’t you? That way we don’t put expectations on the wee one, subconscious or otherwise.”
“How fun,” he said. “My wife, you constantly amaze me. So I guess my lullaby will have to be more generic in nature, then.”
“Aren’t they all?”
“I just wanted it to be a tad more personal, tailored, is all.”
“Are you planning on writing one for each of our children. We did agree on having six.”
Erik gazed at her and shrugged. “Why not? Writing songs is what I do.” To which she smiled.

That night, Erik cuddled his wife the whole night long. “I love you,” he breathed, as he fell off to sleep.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

Once the Big News was spread to the family, Brianna and Joey took it upon themselves, to schedule a Baby Shower.  They chose Saturday at the home of the expectant parents, since Kayleigh had grown so very big.  This way, should she go into labor, she wouldn’t have to travel any further than the upper floor. Erik would most likely have to carry her there, too.

*~~*~~~*~

Erik slipped his latest song, Whirlwind In Sulani into the mailbox, after signing the licensing paperwork.  Almost immediately, he got word back it was nominated for Best Song. Patting the top of the mailbox, he went out back to check on his livestock. His ranch hand did a great deal of maintenance, but Erik wanted to collect the eggs. And, he wanted to talk to his stallion, Speckles.  The horse was very wise and he sought some advice.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

Saturday rolled around. That afternoon, the party was set. Erik finished up the laundry, that Kayleigh had started before she took a nap.  She was so very tired all of the time, that Erik began to wonder if their planned other five children should come via adoption.  Kayleigh soldiered through the discomfort all the same. He just hated to see how rundown, she appeared.  So much so, he made it a point to join her at her next appointment.  “I can assure you, Mr. Cantrell, your wife is very healthy and the baby is doing just fine.”

*~~*~~*~~*~~*

At five o’clock, sharp, just as the grandfather clock in the Livingroom finished chiming, the doorbell rang.  Drake smiled as Erik opened the door.  He cranked Erik’s hand and said, “I honestly didn’t think you had it in you, son. Congratulations, and brace yourself for the roller coaster ride you’re about to experience. Worse than your wife’s bouts of crying, shouting or even throwing things at you. Kids should come with a manual, but they don’t. You’re on your own. So, have fun.”

Erik was more than grateful when other guests arrived at that moment giving him a viable excuse to walk away. “Please excuse me, I have to get the door,” he said. 

Once Erik walked away, Drake went to find his daughter. “Kayleigh,” he hailed, as she came from the kitchen to the foyer.

The family all turned out, even the usually tardy Regina managed to get there with the others, and on time, too. She and Hayleigh spent the evening discussing just which one of them was going to babysit their little niece or nephew.

All Kayleigh knew is she would never want for a sitter.

All for now, thanks for reading!