The Un-Apparent Heir: A Royal Family Saga Romance (Spare Change Book 4)

25. In Good and Bad

Natalie arrived at the hospital just in time to find her brother a mess. He had a massive bandage on the back of his head and was pacing, desperately concerned. There was no sign of Sanne. What happened in the forty minutes for her to arrive?

“They took her back. Something about a baby’s heartbeat. It deteriorated so quickly that there was no time for me to go with her. I missed everything, Nat. Everything.”

“Paul, I am so sorry,” Natalie said. “But they are taking good care of everyone. You will meet your babies soon. I am so excited for you!”

Paul looked beyond help. White Natalie tried to put her worries aside, the baby within her made it hard to disconnect from her worries about a safe birth. She was older than even Sanne. What if things went wrong?

“I just want them all to be safe. But if anything happens to her, I cannot survive.”

“Hey, let’s not go there. And, also, Ed has the boys. They are doing just fine. I rang Lucy for some crisis management. She’s coming to London. It will all be okay. You can enjoy the babies.”

“I never thought I’d be stressed like this, Nat,” Paul said. “To feel so… helpless.”

“I know. It sucks.”

They waited about ten minutes before a doctor appeared.

“You have two healthy baby boys,” he said.

Relief washed over Natalie. It was short-lived.

“However, there were some complications with your wife. She is stable now. However, she had a very bad haemorrhage and is struggling with anaesthesia. We are bringing her out now and she will be in recovery.”

“So, she’s alive?” Paul asked.

“Yes, yes. And she will be okay. She remains in the ICU because she is still in rough shape,” the doctor said. “It’s a precautionary measure due to a risk of blood clots. Once she is fully stable she can leave the ICU and return to a normal room. The babies have been checked over. They’re on oxygen, but they are doing well. They”re big for their gestational age.”

“We make big babies,” Paul was spacey. “Can I see them?”

“Yes. We need someone to go with the babies and another tostay with their mum. Who would you elect to do that? Their mother’s directive was for you to stay with the babies, sir.”

Paul looked pained.

“I will be there with Sanne and treat her as my own,” Natalie said. “You know that.”

Paul nodded. “Sure, let’s do that. It is all we can do.”

For Immediate Release?—

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Inverness has given birth to two baby boys—Prince Edwin Nicolas Paul George and Prince Oliver Charles Gerald Keir. The Princes will remain in the NICU due to their early gestation and need for supportive services but are expected to leave in a short while.

The Duchess remains in intensive care following an emergency c-section and birth complications. She is expected to stay in hospital for the next week. Prayers for her swift recovery are welcome.

The Princes are the third and fourth children born to the Duke and Duchess and are presently fifth and sixth in line for the throne.

“I just wantto see my babies,” Sanne said.

She was defeated after two days in the ICU. Her boys remained in the NICU. That morning, the doctors finally signed off on a transfer to a regular recovery room in the maternity ward. She hadn’t seen her boys in two and a half days. Two and a half days lost without her babies. It was torture. Sanne wanted to see them. She was at the end of her rope.

“I know,” Vanna said.

She’d come by, leaving Paul’s father for the first time in ages. Babies took precedence over all things.

A nurse appeared.

“Uh, she wants to see her boys,” Natalie chimed before anyone spoke. “And I think it is ridiculous she hasn’t been allowed.”

“Ma’am, it’s not up to me. They need to transfer her down by a wheelchair and it’s complicated.”

“She hasn’t met her babies,” Natalie said. “Can you imagine? It’s heartbreaking for her! She’s circling the drain.”

Natalie’s words said all Sanne could not say. She welcomed Natalie’s righteous indignation.

The nurse was intimidated by Natalie, as everyone was.

“Of course. I will try to… expedite it.”

“That would be nice, thank you,” Vanna said.

The nurse disappeared. And, magically, a few moments later, a wheelchair appeared. Sanne finally joined her husband in the other ward. She found him with one of the babies on his chest. She wasn’t sure which. The babies had names but she wasn’t sure who Paul named who.

“Who is this?”

“Oh, my God! You made it!” Paul looked over, his face erupting in joy. “Let’s get you comfortable so you can hold them.”

The nurses in the NICU, being absolute angels, transferred Sanne to a glider. Paul handed off what he called “Baby A.” Baby A was just the firstborn. They were not sure who was who yet.

“I want you to confirm that he looks either like an Edwin or an Oliver.”

“I will must meet them both, Paul,” Sanne said. “Your Mum will want to meet them, too. She made it.”

“Let’s focus on the task at hand and then we can talk about bringing Granny back,” a nurse said.

The baby settled on Sanne’s chest. She couldn’t help but cry. Compared to Keir and Nate, he looked so frail—not like the bruisers they were at birth. He was precious and looked so much like Paul—the most like Paul of their children yet.

“He’s all you,” Sanne laughed as the baby’s fingers clasped her pinky.

He let out a little yawn, contented.

“See, he’s glad you’re here,” Paul said. “He’s the quiet one—the easygoing one. The other is more high maintenance but he’s very alert.”

Sanne rocked the baby before deciding she wanted to hold the second. Nurses took pictures of her with both. She would be grateful for those later. As the second baby settled, she was also contented. Life returned to a normal keel. They could all rest better. This baby had more hair—lots of ginger hair—and was her mini.

“Oh, see, he’s mine,” Sanne giggled. “Look at that face. He is alert.”

“He likes to let us know what he wants,” Paul said. “And probably needs a feed.”

A nurse nodded. “We want them both to take bottles. That is the key now. They take syringes well. He will take a bottle like a champ. It’s his brother who is struggling, but he’ll get there.”

“Well, I’d like to feed this little guy,” Sanne said.

It took effort but Baby A received the bottle eventually, sucking away, and looking up at her with big, curious blue eyes. She was in love with them both, but this one was the bigger character right now.

“This is Ollie,” Sanne confirmed. “Oliver. And that is Edwin. But let’s call him Win. Eddie doesn’t seem right and we cannot have two Eds.”

“Win and Ollie it is,” Paul agreed. “Do you like that, boys? Win and Ollie? I suppose you have no choice.”

Ed wasup to his eyeballs in children but contented. The transition to fatherhood would be no cakewalk. And, while Sanne had given them all a fright, she was alright. She was happy and healthy now. Natalie sent pictures of Sanne holding both boys. Paul sent photos, too. He was so proud of their new babies. Ed was keen to keep Keir and Nate abreast of the happenings with their new brothers. The boys were adorably excited and on pins and needles to meet their new siblings.

It would be a few days before they released Sanne and at least a week more before the babies came home. Meanwhile, the boys needed minding. With Robbie having fallen ill with a simple cold, the two were out as an option for childcare. Paul and Sanne would spend most of their time at the hospital. Ed wanted to take care of the boys to make sure there was some stability. Natalie and Lucy shuttled engagements. People had to understand. Babies didn’t arrive in a vacuum. Natalie’s new leadership style bothered some, but Ed was glad she fought for the children to have the best.

In a bid to get the boys out and do something fun, Ed brought them round to his parents’ house in Richmond. They were keen to play in the back garden. Ed’s parents were glad for the happy distraction.

“I’m always so glad to see them,” Margaret said. “They look so happy. It is good they are excited for their brothers to come home.”

“We all are,” Ed said.

“And their mother is doing better?” John asked.

“Yes. She’s improving by the day. She wants to get better quickly but also doesn’t want to leave her boys. I suspect that’s how any mother would be.”

“Yes. And speaking of mothers, how is Natalie doing?” John asked.

“She’s working, busying herself, and helping Sanne when she can. It’s been complicated since Robbie fell ill. He’ll be fine, but every small thing is now much bigger.”

“Of course,” Margaret said. “Well, we hope he is well soon.”

“Were you surprised by the reveal of the names or contented with them?” John chuckled.

“I was surprised by Edwin. Touched. But we’re calling him Win to keep it simple. I don’t ask. Sanne and Paul insist and we follow suit like any family.”

“Any ideas about baby names?” Margaret poked.

“Put the stick down!” Ed called to Nate.

Nate was the devilish one. And he was near the size of his brother. He threw his weight around. Keir was the easy one. You had to watch Nate.

“Nathan! Did you hear me? Put the stick down.”

Nate looked over and lowered the stick. “I wasn’t doin’ anything.”

“Yeah, okay. Well, let’s not hit our brother with sticks, okay?”

He ran off.

“I have no opinions about names. And Natalie won’t even discuss boy names. She is so invested in having a girl that she won’t consider the alternative.”

“Is that confirmed?” John asked.

“No. We got the genetic tests back and they were all good, but we didn’t get the sex. She’s happy to be surprised, except she’s not. I have a sneaking suspicion Natalie will have a boy and be gutted. It worries me.”

“She won’t,” Margaret assured. “I wanted a girl desperately, but I do not regret you. I wasn’t upset when you arrived with external plumbing.”

Ed snickered. “I do hope that is the case. God, I want this baby more than anything, Mam.”

“I know. And you both waited so patiently. What a blessing it will be, either way. You’ve been through so much.”

“It made you stronger, of course,” John added. “I am proud of you both, son. A lot of people forget that love must outlast bad times as well as good. Even though you take those vows, there are no guarantees. I am happy for you all. We cannot wait to meet the baby when he or she arrives.”