Never My Love

"Stop trying to bullshit me, Jake," he laughed, "You know that I think you guys sound great. What's that in your hand?"

"It's a copy of the recording contract we all signed with Atlantic Records yesterday, see?" I smiled, holding it up for him to look at, "And I wanted you to be one of the first people to know about it."

"Oh, my God," he grinned, as he came around from behind his counter, shaking my hand and hugging my neck, "Congratulations, Jake. Wow! Now I can finally tell people that I knew you way back before you became a rock star."

"Rock star, my ass," I chuckled, "I'm just a guy from Texas that plays piano."

"And it's a mean piano, too," Sam chuckled, "Stop trying to bullshit your own self, Jake. You're damned good and don't ever forget it, okay?"

"Thanks, Sam," I gently replied smiling, "But I still think you need to get your hearing tested."

"I'll have your guitar ready for you in about an hour," he smiled, "In the mean time, get the hell outta here before I call your wife to come and kick your ass..."

~~~~~~

I decided to go back to the house and wait for Sam to call me when my guitar was ready, but mostly because I didn't want to unnecessarily leave Ash alone for any longer than I had to.

"Hi, baby," Ash greeted me, when I walked through the back door, "You weren't gone for very long."

"I dropped my guitar off," I smiled, leaning down to kiss her lips, "And I wanted to be here with you so I came back until Sam is finished with it. I also wanted to thank you, Ash."

"You wanted to thank me?" she asked, "Good Lord, Jake, what on earth for?"

"You were right, my love," I softly replied, "You told me that the record labels were going to jump all over us once our music got heard so; thank you, Ashlyn. I love you."

"I'm not going to say that I told you so," she playfully teased, throwing her arms around my neck, her eyes flashing a bright blue as she quickly kissed my lips, "But I told you so."

All of a sudden, the phone rang, making me let go of Ashlyn in order to answer it,

"Hello," I said, "This is Jake."

"Jake, this is Sam," he smiled, "I'm done with your guitar and you can come pick it up anytime you're ready."

"Good enough," I smiled, wondering why he was done quicker than he's told e earlier, "I'll be there in a few minutes," and then I hung the phone up.

"Who was that, honey?" Ashlyn asked me.

"It was Sam at the music store," I replied smiling, "And he told me that my guitar was ready for me to pick up. Do you wanna go with me?"

"I'd love to," she sweetly smiled, as always, "Let's go, baby..."

~~~~~~

When we arrived at Sam's Music Center we saw three news trucks, not to mention a crowd of people gathered around the front of the store. However, before I could even get out of my car, Ashlyn and I were surrounded by reporters.

"Leave the man alone for a few minutes, please," Sam appeared, moving the reporters from mine and Ash's path, and allowing us to get into the store before we could get mobbed...

~~~~~~

"Good Lord," Ashlyn excitedly grinned, "What a mad house."

"What the hell is going on?" I asked, once we were inside of Sam's store, which, he had to lock the doors to keep the store from being swamped by the group of people now standing outside for whatever reason.

"I called a friend of mine at Channel Eleven," he smiled, "I wanted to let him know about you guys. I guess the word must've somehow gotten out from there."

"You'd better call Lindsay," Ashlyn said, "She is you guys' manager after all..."

~~~~~~

An hour later, the whole band had gathered at Sam's Music Center for an impromptu press conference. Lindsay made certain that she was there to help us answer any questions we might not know how to answer.

"So, tell us, ladies," one female reporter asked the girls in the band, "What's it like being on the road with a bunch of guys?"

"What do you mean by a bunch of guys?" Camryn lightly giggled, "There are four of them and four of us, and they treat us like little sisters...it's great, you should try it," which of course caused the audience, who, by this time had tripled, to all loudly applaud.

"Are you Jake Benson's girlfriend?" a television reporter asked Ashlyn, "And if so, could we possibly get a statement from you?"

"Jake Benson has no girlfriend...I'm his wife," Ashlyn nicely replied, "And let me be the first to tell you all that the band, Covenant, whom my husband is a member of, just inked a deal with Atlantic Records yesterday afternoon. If you want to know anything more about the music, I suggest that you ask the good folks at Atlantic Records."

"Damn, Jake," Lindsay smiled, in approval of the statement Ash had given the press, "Your wife would make a great diplomat if she ever decided to switch professions."

"Yeah, she would," I grinned, "She sure would, huh."

After the press had taken up enough of our time, Lindsay organized an autograph opportunity for anyone who wanted one; and surprised would be an understatement in describing how many people wanted and almost fought for the chance to get us to sign a myriad of different things. I signed everything from a kid's metal lunchbox to a girl's pair of panties while she was still wearing them. Needless to say, my wife got a major kick when my face turned beet red when the girl lifted her skirt to show me where to sign her panties, which was also embarrassing as hell for me, too.

"You'd better get used to it," Ash sweetly grinned, "You're a rock star now, baby."

"Aw man," I groaned, "Don't rub it in, Ash, okay?"

"You'd better listen to me right now, Jacob Benson," Ash glared; by that time in our relationship, she only called me Jacob when she was upset with me, which wasn't that often, "You are the main reason why this band is together to start with, not to mention the fact that you just signed a five album deal with one of the biggest record labels in the country. Look baby, I'll love you no matter what you do, but you made the decision to play music for a living the moment you signed that contract with Atlantic Records," and then she leaned in close to me so that no one but me could hear her, and told me, "I know you're scared shitless, Jake, hell I would be, too; but I want you to know that I'm going to be right there with you every step of the way. I'll never leave you, baby."

"Except for when the baby comes," I teased, kissing her lips, "And then it'll be my turn to be right there beside you."

"God, I love you, Jake..."

~~~~~~

After all of the hoopla at he music store had calmed down, Ashlyn invited everyone in the band, Sam included, to come back to our house for an impromptu barbecue. I manned the grill outside while the girls all pulled together in the kitchen to help make all of the fixings as well as set the table. Ashlyn found a company that we ended up buying our steaks from. It was pretty cool, too, because each individual steak came to us individually wrapped and flash-frozen so that they would only take a few moments to thaw, once they were removed from the freezer. And once I was finished cooking, there were fourteen steaks that were as fine as anything you'd find at any steakhouse anywhere.

"Damn, Jake," Lindsay teased, as we were all sitting down to eat, "I didn't realize you were such a great cook," and then she looked at Ashlyn, and with a knowing smile on her face, said, "You got yourself a pretty good one, girl; and you've got him trained so well, too."

"Thanks Lindsay," Ash giggled, leaning over and kissing me, "He's not too bad for your average white boy," as laughter emanated from all around the table.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," I sarcastically grinned, "Whatever you say, my love..."

~~~~~~

The next morning found Ashlyn and me in waiting room of her new OB/GYN Doctor. Ashlyn's previous doctor had been called out of town on another case so; she passes Ash on to her partner, Doctor Jennifer Hawkins. When I discovered that she and Ash were friends, I realized right then how small the medical community truly was.

"Hey, Ash," Jennifer smiled, once we were in the examination room, "Is this your new husband I've heard so much about?"

"Yes," Ashlyn proudly smiled, taking my hand, "Doctor Jennifer Hawkins, allow me to introduce you to the love of my life, Jake Benson."

"Hello, Doctor Hawkins," I respectfully replied, shaking her hand, "It's nice to meet you."

"It's really nice to meet you, too, Jake," she gently smiled, "And please, feel free to cal me Jennifer. After all, your wife and are friends, just like I hope that we can be."

"Uh, that would be nice," I stuttered, "Being friends, I mean."

"My goodness," Jennifer girlishly giggled, winking at Ashlyn, "And he's such a gentleman, too," and needless to say, she and Ash gave one another a knowing smile.

Let me take a moment to describe Jennifer Hawkins. I later found out that she was a little over a year older than my Ashlyn, however, she was a little taller, as well as being blonde headed and green eyed. While most people would describer her as being what you would "chunky", I preferred to call t being "healthy", just because she wasn't waifishly thin like the wannabe models and such.

Jennifer also had a pretty face that was a perfect match for her kind and gentle disposition and demeanor. She had a very kind and gentle quality about her that so reminded me of my Ashlyn, hence the reason that the two of them were such good friends.

The highlight of the whole day, as well as my whole life up to this point, was when Jennifer connected Ashlyn up to the ultrasound machine. It was then that God revealed his great and awesome power to me when I heard our baby's heartbeat for the very first time. While it was still too early to tell what sex the baby was, its little heartbeat was fast, strong, and steady, and as I looked into Ashlyn's deep blue eyes, I knew that my life had now come full circle as my eyes began too fill with tears, the paternal pride swelling up within me with love for not only my beautiful wife, but also the precious life that she and had created and was now growing within her.

"I love you, Ashlyn," I softly told her, proud and happy tears raining down my face by the bucketfuls, "I love you with all my heart..."

~~~~~~

The moment we left the Doctor's office, I pointed Ash's Jag south, toward my parent's home, and with a gigantic smile which was now permanently etched across my face; I smiled and told Ashlyn, "We're going to Mom and Dad's house, okay?"

"Of course it's okay, baby," she softly replied, dreamily looking into my eyes, "Besides, you're driving..."

~~~~~~

~~~~~~

By the time we made it to my parent's house, it was nearing one o'clock in the afternoon, and because they were now seniors in high school and only had to attend classes in the morning, I knew that both of my sisters would be home when Ashlyn and I got there.

What I wasn't prepared for was when Ashlyn and I walked into the house looking for the two of them. We called their names repeatedly, but to no avail. Suddenly I looked out of the kitchen window, which overlooked the backyard, to see both Leah and Laura laying out in the back yard sunning them selves.

That wasn't the problem, as I'd seen them do that many times. The problem was that they were both lying on their backs topless, exposing their bare breasts to the sun. Granted, they might've been my sisters, but the male in me couldn't help but notice how big their breasts had become, seemingly overnight.

Both of my sister's breasts were identically round, full, and with nipples that were quite large...and beautiful, I might add. However, I quickly came back to my senses and pulled myself away from the window just before Ashlyn walked up to the window to see what I'd been looking at.

"What're you looking at, Jake?" Ashlyn knowingly smiled, and then as she looked out of the back window, she glanced at my red face and teasingly said, "Oh, you naughty boy, staring at your little sisters tits. It's a good thing that you're married to me, or someone else might call you a pervert."

"Oh, hush," I chuckled, "I didn't really see anything, Ashlyn."

"Uh huh," she knowingly giggled, as she moved toward the back door, "Why don't you go in the other room for a few minutes...Mister Perv?" and then she walked out of the back door, giggling as she went, my face as red as a beet...

~~~~~~

"Hey, Big Brother," Leah smiled, greeting me with a hug after having put her top and tee shirt on, "What're you guys doing here?"

"Is something wrong?" Laura asked, also hugging me, "I sure hope not."

"No, nothing's wrong," I grinned, "As a matter of fact; everything is perfect."

"Then why aren't you guys in Houston?" they asked, "What brings you down here?"

"We've got some good news for you girls," Ash sweetly smiled.

"Cool," Laura excitedly grinned, "What is it?"

"Right," Leah giggled, "Tell us."

We went to the doctor for Ashlyn's check up," I told them smiling, "And it was sooo cool."

"What was so cool," Leah asked, scratching her head, "What on earth are you talking about, Jake?"

"He got to hear the baby's heart beat when I went for an ultra sound today," Ash sweetly told them.

"That's great," Laura smiled, gently hugging Ashlyn, "So, is it a boy or a girl?"

"It's still a little too early to tell," Ash gently smiled, one of them on each aide of her now, "We won't know for at least two or three months yet..."

~~~~~~

Chapter Thirty Five

"Congratulations again, you two," Dad heartily smiled, at dinner that night, "You're mother and I are very happy for you guys, son; we all are."

"Thanks, Dad," I warmly replied, "We really appreciate it."

"So, tell us, Ms. Ashlyn," Mom sweetly told her, "When are we going baby shopping?"

"We don't have to be back in Los Angeles for another week," Ashlyn smiled, "So, when ever you want to go is fine with me."

"You're going back to Los Angeles," Mom asked, "What on Earth for?"

"Oh, how quickly we forget," I teased her, "We're going to start work on our first album, Mom; remember, Atlantic Records, our record deal?"

"Wow, I guess I guess I did forget," she smiled, "But why is Ashlyn going with you? She's got her own career to think about."

"Not as long as my husband is recording his music," Ashlyn grinned, "Besides, I decided to take a year off and have this baby. After that, who knows?"

"But you're a surgeon, sweetie," Dad gently objected, "You don't want to throw away all of the hard work you've done to get to where you are, do you?"

"Who said anything about throwing my work away, Jack?" she replied smiling, "I've been in that damn hospital for a little over seven years, and I'm simply taking a break to enjoy my husband, as well as your grandchild when he or she gets here."

"Oh," Dad simply grinned, "Okay."

We stayed and ate dinner with our family, enjoying the stories Mom told Ashlyn about me, most of which I never knew, when I was just a baby. I could tell that Ashlyn's being pregnant was having a positive effect on my sisters, because whenever she spoke, it seem as if the both of them were hanging on her every word she was saying that night. Oh, Mom had also invited Tom and Gwen Moresby over to eat with us that night as well. It seemed like Aunt Gwen couldn't tell Ashlyn enough times how pretty we all thought she was, and I personally thought it was very sweet of her.

"You're so pretty, Ashlyn honey," Aunt Gwen told her, "And wait until you begin to show, you'll look even more beautiful, just you wait and see."

"Come on, Aunt Gwen," I smiled, as I sat down beside Ash after we were finished eating and held her in my arms, "My wife is the most beautiful woman in the world as far as I'm concerned; and I don't see how she could get any more beautiful than she already is."

"Aw, what a sweet thing to say," Ashlyn smiled, tenderly kissing my lips, "Thank you, baby; I love you."

"You're welcome," I softly replied, returning the kiss, "And I love you, too."

"As much as I hate to agree with your Aunt Gwen, she's probably right, son," Dad smiled, teasing Aunt Gwen, "The prettiest I've ever seen your mother was when she was pregnant with you kids."

"And what in the hell is that supposed to mean?" Mom gruffly asked Dad, "You don't think I'm pretty now?"

"Of course I do, honey," Dad quickly replied, gently kissing Mom's lips, "But you know I'm right when I say that pregnant women are all so beautiful when they're carrying their babies."

"I know you're right, sweetheart," Mom playfully growled, "But you'd better still find me attractive after all of the years...you old bastard," which of course made us kids laugh like fools.

"Why don't we cut him some slack this time, Mom?" Laura smiled, as she defended Dad, sitting in his lap, "Besides, he's just a man, and we all know how they are, don't we?"

"Bullshit, sister of mine," Leah grinned, "You and I are still virgins and we don't know dick, so; how could you possibly make such an uneducated remark?"

All of a sudden Laura stood up, and with a look of shock mixed with anger and embarrassment, she looked at Leah and told her, "Mom's right...you really are a big mouthed bitch," and then she ran down the hall to my old room, slamming the door behind her.

"Leah Marie Benson, you just embarrassed the life out of your sister," Mom harshly scolded her; "You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

"Come on, Mom," Leah started to object, "All I did was..."

"I don't want to hear it, young lady," Mom quickly interrupted her; "You need to march your little ass down that hall and go apologize to Laura right now. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, ma'am," Leah timidly obeyed, "I'm sorry," and the she rose to her feet.

"Don't apologize to your mother, young lady," Dad growled, "Go apologize to your sister," and of course within the blink of an eye, Leah was up and gone leaving only the smell of her perfume in her wake.

"I sure am glad that I was born male," I laughed, "Girls can be such a pain in the ass," which made Dad softly chuckle.

"Laugh it up while you can, Jake," Mom told me, "Wait until you have a daughter, or in this case, twin daughters."

"That's not going to happen, Mom," I teased, "God's not going to do that to me."

"Yeah, right, he may not get you this time," Dad laughed, "But if you and Ash decide to have another child like your mother and I did after you were born, God's liable to get you then when you least expect it."

"Maybe so, maybe not," I grinned, "We'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it..."

~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Bill Sanders sat in front of the small television monitor that was in his office with three of his so called business associates who were nothing more than hired thugs, watching the news story about the press conference that Covenant held at Sam's Music Center earlier that day, pay especially close attention to the interview that Ashlyn had given one of the female reporters.

"Go ahead and sing the praises of that fuck-head husband of yours all you want to, Doctor Benson," he viciously growled, in a drunken haze, "He'll be dead before too much longer and then I'll have your beautiful little ass all to myself..."

~~~~~~

After Ashlyn and I got back home that night and were lying in bed together, she looked over at me and said, "Baby I need to ask you something."

"Go right ahead," I smiled, "What's on that beautiful mind of yours?"

"Which do you want us to have, a girl or a boy?" she softly asked, "And don't worry about what I think, okay?"

"Okay," I grinned, "I don't really care as long as it is healthy and normal. Besides, he or she will be not only beautiful, but also brilliant."

"I think I'd like us to have a little boy," she teased, "Because if we have a little girl, you're going to end up spoiling her rotten, just like you do me and the rest of the women in this family, and she will end up driving me crazy."