Page 123 of Black Flag

Sway burst intohysterical tears, clinging to me as best she could. “Is it really a boy?”

“Yes,”Renassured her. “He’s making it well known that he’s alittle boy.” She gestured toward the screen once more. “His little arms arebehind his head. See that right there...andhis legs are wide open...” she laughed. “andnow he’s showing you his little butt.”

15.LugNuts – Jameson

Lug Nuts – Large nutsapplied with a high-pressure air wrench to a wheel during a pit stop to securethe tires in place. All NASCAR cars use five lug nuts on each wheel. Penalties areassessed if a team fails to put all five on during a pit stop.

Sway and I watched ourlittle spaz flail around. He alternated between showing his manhood to showinghis rear. I thought it was adorable, Sway thought he was showing off, whichproves he’s my son. I watched Sway most of the time, fascinated by her raptattention to him.

Renconcluded hermeasurements and examination, leaving us alone for the few minutes I had left.

She was also kindenough to print out two pictures for us.

My eyes met Sway’s onceagain, a small smile graced her lips but I could tell she was exhausted. Dr.Clayton explained this was a part of pregnancy but she’d been through so muchand mentally she was drained.

“How are you feeling?”I asked brushing my fingertips over her cheek. “Do you need anything?”

“Sore...sad...worried...the list goes on and on.” Her left handrose touching my own cheek.

Her head turnedslightly revealing more bruises along the side of her neck. My breath caught inan audible gasp when I realized what those bruises were from.

“Sorry.” Swayapologized attempting to hide the marks.

I felt the anger bubbleinside that she felt that need to apologize for something completely out of hercontrol.

“I don’t want to everhear you say that again.” My fingers curled around her chin, turning her tolook at me. “Do you hear me, honey...don’tapologize. Ever,”

She blinked slowlysensing the boundary. “Where’s Darrin?”

“I took care of it.” Myeyes dropped to our interlocked hands and then back to her eyes to gauge herreaction.

Confusion garbled herfeatures for a moment and then she searched my face.

I hadn’t looked in amirror, afraid actually, but I could tell my nose was broken, I was pretty suremy lip was swollen and my hands were bruised and swelling.

“Oh my god Jameson!”she gasped taking in everything. “What did you do?Oh my god...” she looked down at my battered hands,pulling them in for a closer look. “Are they broken?”

“Shhh...shhh...honey,” I soothed when I noticed her andthe baby’s heart monitors were accelerating. “Calm down, you need to relax,”

“Oh god, are you goingto prison? Oh man...I’m going to be one ofthose wives thathasto have those conjugal visits...oh man...what...” her voice finallytrailed off after her rant. I couldn’t help the small smile that appeared whenshe was talking about conjugal visits.

“Calm down, I...we don’t have to worry about himanymore.”

“Calm down?” sherepeated incredulously.“Seriously?What if you getarrested?Oh, god...why did you? Why notjust let the police take care of it?”

“You don’t understand.It was—”

“I understandperfectly!Youdon’t understand. What if something happens to you?” Swayinterjected incredulously. “Goddamn it, Jameson...you are so obtuse to this that you can’t see beyondprotecting me?”

“Iwillprotectyou. Iwillkeep you safe.” I growled pulling at my hair. “Iwon’tlet something like that happen to you again.” I intoned, trying to make hergrasp the meaning.

Sway’s face flushedpink with anger. “Do you even realize what you’re saying? You can’t controleverything, Jameson.” She snapped back, the heart monitor began beeping;warning us, this was too much for her and the baby. “You think everything iswithin your power. That you can control everything that happens to me, youcan’t!”

My own anger got thebest of me, and I jumped to my feet, my fists clenched at my sides, trying notto launch something across the room. “I’ll take a lot from you Sway, but I’mnot going to take that shit. I have a right to want to protect you and my son.”

She said nothing, butit was easy to read the sequence of emotions across her face. There was shame,anger, and then defeat.

“Why do you feel it’syour responsibility?” she asked slowly, shrugging her shoulders.

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