Chapter 27 #2
“Lucca swallowed blood during delivery. Because of that, and also because he’s a little premature, he had to go to the NICU.
” I gasped, shocked, panic scratching at the edges of my control.
“Listen, baby, all the necessary measures were taken, and he’s doing very well.
The pediatrician in charge is amazed by his strength and how quickly he’s recovering.
Lucca will stay there only as a precaution.
At the rate he’s recovering, the pediatrician said she’ll discharge him in less than a week. ”
“I believe you… It’s just that I wanted to see him. I waited so long for this.”
“What?” Confusion washed through his voice.
I smiled weakly. “We planned so much, didn’t we?
The birth. I was so terrified. Happy and anxious to meet him, but terrified.
” Thor looked at me tenderly, almost veiled.
“All that planning for when? Two and a half weeks from now? Maybe three? None of that happened. The moment arrived, passed, and I didn’t even realize it.
I woke up and bingo. I admit I had pictured it completely differently. ”
“So did I,” he said, with a touch of sorrow. “But now what matters is that it’s all over and soon the three of us will be home.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
Thor held my good hand, kissed each knuckle, his eyes on mine.
“Lucca is our perfection, the most precious and beautiful thing you could have given me. Nothing compares. I can’t put into words how grateful I am for this gift.”
The smile reached my eyes, flooding them with deep emotion.
“He’s our miracle.”
“He is.”
“Do you think I’ll be discharged with Lucca?” I asked hopefully. “I don’t want to have to stay here when he’s released. I don’t like hospitals.”
“I don’t know, love. Let’s go slowly, yes? One thing at a time. Lucca is doing his part, and you need to do yours. I also want you at the mansion, safe with me and our son. However, if that happens not to be possible as soon as we’d like, we won’t let it affect your recovery, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Hey, don’t be like that.” His thumb caressed my cheek.
“Think that soon we’ll be reunited at home, and both of us will be going crazy with our tenor, and then we’ll ask God for a break.
Doesn’t that make it better?” I smiled, nodding.
“Then the only thing you need to do now is stay calm and recover. Even if you aren’t discharged with Lucca, I’m not going to leave you alone.
I’ll be with you every day, and I can also bring Lucca, if the pediatrician and the doctors here allow it. ”
“Thank you.” I received a peck on the lips. “Have I already told you I love you?”
“Yes. But I never get tired of hearing it.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Ella. Do you know how happy you make me? You gave me a son, a family of my own. And now, seeing you here, awake, talking to me and well only makes my happiness complete. I love you beyond any measure, girl.”
“You can’t keep saying this kind of thing to me when I’m like this. It’s a low blow because this kind of thing calls for hot kisses, and I’m not in any condition.”
“Can I have other, less hot ones?”
“Maybe. But first take this sheet off me, please…”
“God, woman, I was joking.”
“Silly. It isn’t what you’re thinking. I just want to see what’s keeping me from moving my left arm and my foot.” The smile died, and his features changed, careful. But there was something fierce there too. “What is it?”
“Your arm is immobilized.”
“What do you mean? What are you talking about?”
“You broke your arm, and they had to operate on you…”
The shock of the news left me deaf.
How the hell had that happened?
Thor’s voice filtered into my thoughts.
“…Love, what exactly do you remember?”
“I don’t know. I’m still a little disoriented, I feel limp and sore… This doesn’t make much sense… How long have we been here?”
“You were admitted to the emergency room the day before yesterday in the afternoon, when we were supposed to have an appointment with Marcela… You suffered a fall.”
My eyes widened.
“A fall?”
While Thor explained my situation, I searched my memories from before, which took a while to come. Slowly they appeared in flashes. “…you can’t move. You’ll hurt yourself and feel more pain. Right now you just need to rest and…”
“No,” I denied, a little agitated, shaking my head as I put the last piece together in my head. “I didn’t fall.”
“Calm down, love, everything is all right now.”
“No, Thor, you don’t understand! I didn’t fall down the stairs.”
“Baby, you’re still a little dazed by everything…”
“No. I didn’t fall. I was pushed! That bitch pushed me.”
He froze, looking at me cautiously.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I didn’t fall. It wasn’t an accident… Dio, that little woman pushed me. Norah. That wretch, she tried to kill me. Kill our baby.”
“How? What are you talking about? Ben found you unconscious at the bottom of the stairs. He brought you here with Sean. He didn’t tell me…”
“I know what I saw. Dio, I remember. I remember everything. I didn’t fall, I swear. It was her, Norah, who pushed me.”
“All right, love. I… You’re okay now and safe, okay?”
“You don’t believe me?” I asked in tears. “I didn’t fall, Thor. I swear on my life. She pushed me. That crazy woman wanted to kill me!”
“Look at me… I didn’t say I don’t believe you.
I’m confused. Ben found you unconscious at the foot of the stairs.
That’s all I know. I haven’t left here since you were admitted almost two days ago.
I want you to tell me this properly, all right?
But not now. Right now you need to stay calm and rest. We’ve already gone past the allowed limit. ”
“I don’t want to sleep. I can’t when I know that bitch is out there and can… Dio, Thor, she can hurt our son. She’s crazy!”
“Do you trust me? Then believe me when I say I won’t let anyone get near our son without me knowing even the brand of toothpaste he or she uses first, okay?
You’re safe. You and Lucca are safe. I won’t allow anything or anyone to threaten you two.
Everything will be fine.” I swallowed my sobs and breathed deeply and slowly, but it did no good.
The pain emerged slow and growing, and I gasped with another grimace of pain.
“Easy, love… You need to rest, and then we’ll talk.
I’m going to call the nurse so she can give you something to relieve the pain I know you’re feeling, and it’s no use denying it.
” He pressed the call button beside the bed.
“Don’t worry about anything. Just relax. I’ll be here the whole time.”