Chapter 13
“Are we ready?” Dr. Connelly’s smile was wide and reassuring.
“As I am the only one carrying four babies inside my uterus, I assume you’re talking to me and yes I am.” More than ready.” Blair rubbed her belly distractedly.
“Good. We are going to be doing some preop examinations to locate the position of each little one and get the sound of their heartbeats. I know Nurse Connelly already checked your blood pressure…” He shook his head and made a tsking sound with his mouth. “She says it’s a little elevated, but that’s to be expected.”
“Is that going to be a problem?” Cayden spoke for the first time since they wheeled his wife into the private room.
“No, we have an excellent team here who will make certain everything goes well.” He smiled at Blair again, but instead of relaxing, she felt her heartrate spiking. Trying to calm herself, she increased the pressure on her husband’s hand.
“The entire family is here.”
“I had a nurse send out for some refreshments for them and to tell them to make themselves comfortable.”
They got her into bed and proceeded to change her out of the clothes she had worn to the clinic. A nurse bundled up her thick hair into a tidy ponytail and fluffed her pillows.
“I am assuming you’re staying for the birth?” Dr. Connelly glanced over at Cayden as he did the blood pressure check.
“A team of horses could not drag me out of here.” He answered grimly.
“That is what I thought. Get the man a robe and slippers.” He ordered.
“I am right here, baby.” Bending, he kissed her softly on the lips. “I am not going anywhere.”
“I know.”
Cayden kept his eyes on her face as he quickly donned the protective clothing. Sliding in, he went behind her, holding her against him.
He knew she was anxious and had felt it even though she tried to hide it when they were making the trip to the private clinic. He had not said anything to her, because it would have been hypocritical for him to tell her not to worry when he was crippled by it himself.
“Soon.” He whispered in her ear.
“Yes. Positive thoughts. I love you.”
“I love you more.”
He held his breath and released it slowly as the team started to work on her.
“What’s the camera for?” He demanded, noticing it for the first time.
“Quadruplets are so rare, we want to record it for posterity. We received your wife’s permission.”
“Darling…”
“It’s okay.” She squeezed his hands. “I don’t mind.”
“Ready?” Dr. Connelly was acting as mouthpiece for the rest of the medical team grouped around the bed.
“I am.”
Cayden tried not to wince or voice his distress as the scalpel made a clean slice on her belly, but for a long time, that memory was going to live with him.
Not to mention when they started opening the incision. “Babies are perfectly placed.” He murmured, issuing swift instructions. “We’re detaching the first one get ready with a towel.” He looked up at the couple and flashed them a smile.
“Looks like the girls are beating the boys out.” He reached in and made the delicate task of plucking the baby out.
“Get ready for baby ‘A’.” He announced.
“Bianca Marianne.” She corrected him automatically.
“The nurses will make a note of it,” she was assured. “So far, so good.”
They both watched in anticipation as the tiny baby was lifted out, her body wrinkled, feet moving energetically. A collective sigh of relief was uttered when she started screaming as if in protest of being rudely ejected from her comfortable warmth.
“Very strong pair of lungs.”
“She’s okay?” Blair asked anxiously.
“Her weight is a comfortable five pounds. That is acceptable.” The doctor assured her.
“Make certain to tag her with the name.”
“We will!”
“Now, for the next one.”
Cayden started to relax as Bella Catherine came next.
But then it was time for the boys and that is when he noticed the tenseness in the room. “What’s the matter?” He demanded.
“Just a little hitch.”
“Please tell us what’s going on.” Blair’s hands held his in a death grip and he could feel her trembling.
“The cord is wrapped around this little one’s neck, we just have to… Ah, there we go.”
“Is he okay? Is my son all right?”
“Let’s see, shall we?” When they took the baby out, he remained silent.
“He’s not making a damn sound.” Cayden noted grimly. “Is he going to be…”
He was then cut off by the angry scream, the baby made.
“Sometimes you just have to give them a little nudge.”
Cayden felt when Blair sagged against him. Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her tight. Chad Alberto weighed five pounds like his sisters, except Caleb Blake who was four pounds and was going to require some help breathing.
“Nothing to worry about.” There was a collective sigh of relief.
“I want to see them.” Blair demanded. “I want to see my babies.” Cayden was about to second the demand, when he felt her body sagging against his and her fingers sliding from his. Turning his head, he was about to tease her about deserting him now that she knows she was in the clear when he noticed her eyes rolling over.
“Baby! What is the matter? Something is wrong!”
“Cayden, I am going to ask you to step away now.”
“Not on your damn life. I am not leaving her.”
“She is hemorrhaging. Please.”
He sprang off the bed reluctantly, his face harsh with strain. She was unconscious and looked as pale as death.
He was ushered from the room and the doors closed behind him.
Tearing off the protective garments, he slid on his shoes and just stood there, not knowing what to do. It was when he felt a touch on his shoulder that he stirred and turned to look at his mother.
“We heard that there was a complication with Blair,” she said softly.
“Yes.” He bit out. “She started bleeding. Just like that, she…,” he rubbed a hand at the back of his neck and was surprised to find it trembling.
“Would you like to come with us to look at the babies? They already put them in the nursery.”
“No,” he shook his head, eyes bleak. “I would not feel right looking at them without her. I have to know that she is all right.”
“Darling…”
“Please mother, I just want to be alone right now.”
Marianne hesitated briefly, unwilling to leave him in the state he was in.
“I just need to clear my head. I will be fine.” With that, he turned on his heels and walked away.
“How is he?” Alberto had come up behind her and they watched their son disappeared down the hall.
“Shattered.” She gripped her husband’s hands. “I want to wrap my arms around him and tell him that everything will be all right. He is a grown man with his own children and I just want to kiss him and tell him not to worry.”
Alberto wrapped his arms around her. “We have to allow him the time to figure things out. We have the best team of doctors working on her and I have every confidence that Blair is going to come through this.”
She leaned into him for a minute, absorbing his strength, before easing away and saying briskly. “Let us go tell the others and make our way to the nursery. I want a second look at my adorable grandbabies.”
Taking her hand, he lifted it and kissed her knuckles. “I cannot wait.”
*****
By passing the small chapel and ignoring the curious looks thrown at him by the nurses and clinic personnels milling around, he made his way towards the revolving glass doors and sent the group of reporters a chilling enough glance to have them backing off.
He did not stop until he reached a kind of park with flowering buds and trees waving in the cooling breeze. Spring had officially arrived. Not that it meant much to him at this point. The season had always been his wife’s favorite.
She would make a big deal out of it, extolling on the scents, the flowers blooming and the feel of the wind on her skin. She would arrange all sorts of activities around it and would rope him into going for rides with the top down and going out on his speedboat.
Rubbing his palms over his jeans, he stared at the brook coursing over the flat, smooth stones. He had left instructions for them to tell him when she came out of surgery.
Taking a deep breath, he leaned back on the iron rails that made up the back of the chair. He felt numb, helpless, and weary. The actual surgery had not been that long, but it had seemed like a lifetime.
He had witnessed a miracle. His babies, being taken out one after the other – four of them. Three of them healthy - one had to be put in the NICU. And his wife bleeding out. A tremendous sacrifice when you think about it.
After five miscarriages, one each year, they were now blessed with four - because of his wife’s determination.
He blew out a breath as he realized that she had given up her way of life, her career without so much as an ounce of hesitation.
He had never pondered on it, had completely taken it for granted that she would stop teaching and fall into the role of being his wife. He had pursued her relentlessly when she refused to have anything to do with him.
At first it was ego; he was damn sure of it. Because in his charmed life, what woman would not be charmed or privileged to be with him? So, he had pursued her, showed up at her cozy little villa and never stopped until she was in his bed.
Or in her bed. The first time between them had been at that charming little place she rented. Instead of him seducing her, she had blown him away.
Her innocence, her unbridled passion, the sweet taste of her lips and her tightness when he entered her had confused and amazed him at the same time. What he expected to be just a holiday fling, something casual had turned into something so significant that he knew he could not just turn and walk away.
A rueful laugh escaped him. He had stayed away from her after that, and it had lasted a damn day. Twenty-four hours and he was back at her door, beating it down and threatening to break it if she did not let him in.
She had succumbed, but his triumph had turned into chagrin when she told him in no uncertain terms that he was spoiled and entitled, and she did not have time to be with someone who displayed that sort of behavior.
Her dark eyes had flashed fire and fueled a desire so hot and brutal that it had him dragging her into his arms and kissing her senseless.
“I thought I’d find you here.”
The familiar sound of Clive’s voice had him hissing out a breath. “I wanted to be alone.” A sudden thought hit him, and he dragged out his phone, wondering if he had missed a call from the doctor.
“Still in surgery!” Clive lowered himself next him and leaned back, filling his lungs with the clean air. “A spectacular day.”
“What do you want?”
“Just thought I would swing by to keep my brother company.” He slanted a look at him and continued. “A spectacular day isn’t it? I am just coming from the nursery where the entire family including Blake, gathered around to take in the new arrivals.
They all have the same shade of dark hair that’s the Caruso’s trademark. And I am already hopelessly in love with my beautiful nieces. I think they favor their mother. The boys – well, that is yet to be decided. Mother thinks they both look like you. She is going to be fine.” He added quietly.
“You have that on good authority, do you?”
“She’s strong and resilient.” A smile touched his lips. “I recall vividly the day you introduced her to the family. I could clearly see how nervous she was, but that did not stop her from lifting that small chin of hers and facing mother head on. And that was no mean feat.”
A reluctant smile tugged at Cayden’s lips as he too recalled that crucial moment.
“We were still in Italy, and I wanted to tie things down before she left for the states. I persuaded her to meet the family because I wanted to marry her before she changed her mind.” He rubbed his hands over his face and blew out a breath.
“She stood. Such a tiny thing and she endured the glacial look from Mother’s face and bore up under dad’s interrogation.” He glanced at his brother. “You were very gracious towards her.”
“That’s because I had fallen a little in love with her.” He laughed at the look on Cayden’s face. “Still am, come to think of it.” He mused. “It is so damn easy to fall for her.
She has class, loads of it. She was not impressed by the luxurious surroundings, a little intimidated perhaps, but that meant nothing to her.” His lips tilted. “She loves you, completely and that was something I envied.”
Scooting forward, he clasped his hands between his thighs and absently followed a butterfly’s journey from one rosebud to the other. “I might joke around and talk about wishing I had met her first, and I do, but her coming into our lives, changed this family. She has changed all of us, even mother had to admit it.”
“Under extreme duress.” He laughed shakily. “I came out here to be alone – to just contemplate. I have taken her for granted. I was just thinking that she gave everything up for me without question. If given another chance…”
“When given another chance.”
Cayden slanted his brother a grateful look at the qualification. “When given a chance, I am going to love the hell out of her and show her how much she means to me.” As if on cue, his phone pinged. Taking a breath, he dragged it out and read the message. “She’s out of surgery.”
“Then let’s go.”
*****
The mood was a celebratory one in the private room. The three babies had been brought in to meet their mama, while the rest of the family erupted in excited conversation, all of them grateful that she had come out of the surgery successfully.
Their little Caleb Blake was still in the NICU, but according to the doctors, he was breathing a lot better.
After half an hour, the family were told that it was time to allow the new mother to get some much-needed rest.
“Son, you’re staying, I take it?” Alberto asked with a grin.
“I am a constant fixture until my wife is discharged.”
“That’s to be expected.” Marianne came around and leaning down, pressed a kiss on Blair’s cheek. “Well done my dear. You have made us so very happy with those wonderful babies. We will get things ready for when you come home.”
Her eyes moistened as she stared at the faces around her. “Thanks – all of you for being here.”
“Where else would we be?” Marching forward, Clive kissed her full on the lips, ignoring his brother’s glower. “We cannot wait for you to come home.”
Then it was Conail and then her dad, who seemed a little tired.
“My prayers were answered.’ He said with a heartfelt sigh as he kissed her forehead. “I could not bear to lose you.”
“Thanks dad,” she touched his cheek, “promise me you’ll go home and get some rest.”
“I can afford to do so now.” He kissed her again before glancing at her husband. “Please keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
They all filed out of the room and closed the door. Slipping out of his shoes, he climbed in next to her. “Finally.” He murmured with a heartfelt sigh.” Sliding his hand around her shoulders, he hugged her. “You gave me quite a scare.”
She snuggled, inhaling his subtle cologne and masculinity. His solidness had her closing her eyes in contentment.
“I never meant to.”
“The only reason, I am not berating you.” Tucking his fingers under her chin, he scanned her face. Tendrils of hairs had escaped the neat and tidy ponytail. Brushing the strands away, he leaned in to kiss her on the lips. “Trying to get the taste of my brother’s kiss off what’s mine.”
Her arms came around his neck and to his consternation, she buried her face in his neck and burst into tears.
“Baby.” Gathering her close, he rubbed his hands up and down her back.
“I am sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t be.”
“I am just more than a little emotional.” Easing out of his arms, she stared at him. “I was so scared, Cayden. Before they started the procedure, I kept thinking that I was going to be faced with them telling me that I had lost my babies.
I had gotten so accustomed to losing – the miscarriages, the empty feeling had become so much a part of me that I had embraced it.”
He wiped her cheeks with his thumbs gently. “And now we have four babies – Caleb is still a little bit out of it, but he’s going to make it.”
Her lips trembled as she nodded. “I love you. I know you never approved of…”
He laid his finger on her lips and shook his head. “I have so much making up to do. I took you for granted and for the first month or so, I was an ass. I intend to make it right.” His eyes glowed as he continued to stare at her.
“You have given me so much and as long as I live, I will always be grateful to you.” He brushed his lips on hers. “You’re my life and I want you to know that.”
“The feeling is mutual.” She whispered tremulously.
*****
“Aren’t you even a bit tired?” Alberto asked his wife gently as she wandered around the girl’s room, touching this and rearranging that. “I thought I would find you up here.”
She lifted shining eyes to him as she cradled a very large and fluffy pink bear. “I always wanted a daughter.”
“I know.” Moving forward, he came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist. “You wanted to continue trying for one, until the doctor warned you that having another child would prove to be detrimental to your health and most certainly fatal.”
He kissed the top of her head. They had arrived home and opened a bottle of Caruso Expression and toasted the birth of the babies. The staff had been waiting to hear the news and had broken into wild hoops of relief and delight.
“Now, we have two granddaughters.” Her eyes moistened as she looked around the room. “I was so against the marriage at first and even after. I did not think she was good enough for our son.”
“She has proven herself to be the perfect one for him.”
“She has made him so happy. I never thought I would see the day when Cayden would settle down.”
Stepping from behind her, he took the bear she was giving a death hug and put it back where it belonged. The room was large and befitting a princess. Or two princesses for that matter. The next generation of Caruso’s, he thought whimsically.
“The house will be filled with the sounds of little feet running around and chaos is going to rein.” His gray eyes twinkled as he turned to look at her. “My dear, are you prepared for it?”
Marianne laughed, sliding her hand through his arm as they both stared at the two cots. “More than prepared. I am looking forward to the chaos. I can not wait to hold them in my arms, read them bedtime stories.” Her expression sobered. “We are going to have to start interviewing nannies.
Appropriate ones. I know Blair will want to be hands-on when it comes to the children, but she will need help. Four babies!” She let out a shaky laugh and leaned against him. “They are going to be spoiled rotten.”
He rubbed his cheek against her hair. “We still have little Caleb to think about.” He reminded her.
“He is going to be simply fine. I predict that little boy is going to race past his more healthy siblings.”