Chapter 14
"I look like I'm wearing a tent," she complained as she stared at herself in the mirror.
The remark was not truly accurate. The beautiful pink and blue patterned silk had been designed cleverly to cover her pregnancy.
The beaded top had thin straps running diagonally across her shoulders and back, leaving her arms bare.
The skirt was high waisted, with swirls of material billowing around her, drifting to just below her knees.
Her makeup was flawless and Jacques had paid a home visit to take care of her hair as well. The thick dark brown strands were brushed ruthlessly off her face to fall in a thick plait at the left side of her head, going to her waist.
"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. This is just something to enhance that beauty." Her husband stepped behind her to drape the exquisite platinum necklace around her neck. The tear drop diamond was large enough to nestle between her breasts.
Her eyes flew to his in the mirror. "What is this for now?"
"Most women would be in raptures over getting diamonds, but never you." He secured the clasp and bent to press a kiss between her shoulder blades.
"That's because you keep coming up with excuses to buy me something expensive." Her fingers curled around the stone, the warmth of it shooting through her skin.
"I need no excuse to buy my wife anything at all." Turning her to face him, he traced a finger over her shimmering pale pink lips. "You're stunning."
"I actually think you mean that." She swayed slightly, hands clutching his dark blue sports jacket.
"Baby are you okay?"
"I just need to sit for a minute."
Taking her hand, he led her over to sit on the edge of the bed.
"What is it?"
"Nothing." She pressed a hand against her belly and took a deep breath.
"Do I need to call the doctor?" he demanded, alarm sounding in his voice.
"No." She shook her head and smiled. "It's just your babies playing ping pong in my uterus. God! Two weeks to go and suffice it to say, I cannot wait."
"We could sit this one out. Let me call mother..."
"Absolutely not." She gripped his hand to stop him from making good on his threat. "I'm all dressed up and raring to go."
"If you're not feeling well..."
"I'm pregnant with triplets. Not feeling well is a constant condition. Help me up, will you?"
Taking her hands, he eased her off the bed and studied her face intently.
"I'm fine."
"I'll be watching you like a hawk the entire evening," he warned.
"No need for reminders," she said with a grimace. "Which jacket?"
Staring at her for another minute to ensure she wasn't lying to him about feeling all right, he went into the closet and selected a soft clingy snug fitting waist length jacket that mirrored the colors of the dress.
He helped her on with it and was about to step back when she caught the lapels of his jacket and went on her toes. "Thanks for the necklace," she whispered, brushing her lips over his.
"You're welcome." Wrapping his arms around her thick waist, he held on for a minute more. "Ready?"
"Yes."
*****
The doors were already wide open, with people spilling out of the lofty foyer and onto the immaculate lawn.
Valets looking tidy and very busy in black and white were busy parking vehicles.
Balloons, what seemed like hundreds of them, hung suspended over shrubberies.
Chairs decorated the grounds and a makeshift dais was to the left of the pool.
The end of May weather was being very cooperative, with the brilliant blue of the sky dotted with millions of stars. People drifted around making conversation and holding glasses of champagne.
Spotting them immediately, Mary-Ann looking regal in sapphire blue came hurrying over. "Darlings." Holding out both her hands, she wrapped Leanne in a tight hug, before stepping back to study her face. "You're positively glowing." Turning to her son, she leaned up to kiss him on both cheeks.
"Everyone's here, including the grandparents. They flew in just this morning." Sliding Leanne's hand through her arm, she shooed her son away. "Let's go and find the rest of the girls."
Within minutes they were surrounded by the family, including the birthday girl looking stunning in a lime green off the shoulder dress and wearing an exquisite diamond necklace and a beaming smile.
"I never expected anything like this." She took the festive bag Leanne handed her and went in for a hug. "And look at you honey, you're glowing."
"That's what I told her." Mary-Ann's smile was wide as she took in her four daughters-in-law. Surely such blessing was undeserved.
"I see the cake has already been cut and I'm craving about three slices," Leanne told them, patting her swollen stomach.
"Might as well just eat like a pig and be done with it.
" She turned towards the table, only to be intercepted by the myriad of nieces and nephews who insisted on touching her belly, so that they could feel the babies.
Over in the corner, under the old maple tree, Christos half listened to the conversation going on around him, while keeping an eagle eye on his wife. He wasn't fooled by her assurances that it was just the babies bouncing around inside her.
"Hey." Andreas elbowed him in the ribs. "You haven't heard a single word we just said." His eyes followed his brother's with a grin.
"She looks lovely and ready to burst."
"Just what I'm afraid of." Shaking his head at the hovering waiter, he continued watching her. "She was having twinges just before we left."
Georgios gave him a concerned look. "It's approaching that time."
"Yes."
"And you're naturally worried," Alexander added, sipping his champagne. He recalled those anxious days, but his wife had been carrying one baby at a time. He had no idea what his little brother was going through. He would be clean out of his mind.
"She claims she's okay." He finished the champagne in his glass and was about to march over to where she was and demand she sat down, when he saw his mother, nudging her into a wing back chair that had been brought out for her.
"Problem solved," Andreas said with a grin, clapping him on the back. "And we're about to be invaded," he added as the nieces and nephews came rushing over.
*****
"I recalled the first time Lori was in the delivery room.
" Half an hour later, the four brothers were seated around a trestle table, plates piled and in perfect view of their wives who were surrounded by other guests.
Christos still had his eyes trained on his wife, watching for any signs that she was in distress or uncomfortable.
"You were booted out because you threatened the medical team," Christos grinned in remembrance.
"I should have strangled my wife instead," Andreas muttered darkly. "First, she had this insane notion of having our son at home, a water delivery, because she got it in her head that it was natural and safe. And then after all of that, she refused the epidural. I wanted to kill her."
"Instead you threatened to have the attending doctors booted from the hospital and their licenses revoked," Georgios chortled.
"Like you were any better," Christos reminded him dryly. "You almost fainted in the delivery room."
"It was nerve wracking," he muttered. He could still remember how much so.
"And in the meantime, I was the soul of calm," Alexander interjected smoothly.
"My ass," Andreas roared with laughter. "Dad said you cried like a baby."
"What? No. Damn, he was supposed to keep that to himself."
"Something is wrong." Putting his plate down, Christos rose.
"What?" Andreas got to his feet. "What do you mean?"
"She's feeling some sort of discomfort."
"She's just rubbing her tummy. Pregnant women tend to do just that," Georgios reassured him with smug authority.
"No. She's..." When she started crying out, he was halfway across the lawn and reached her in seconds.
"What..."
"It's a sharp cramp. I..." She grabbed his hands, her fingers digging in. "Oh God!"
Christos went pale. "Dr. Henderson!"
At the first cry, the woman had fetched her bag from her vehicle and was ordering everyone to give them room.
"What's happening?"
"I intend to find out." She started taking vitals, a frown touching her brow. "Where are you feeling pain?"
"Here." Leanne touched her belly that had gone very stiff. "I don't..." She screamed, her hand clutching her husband's.
"She's in labor. We need an ambulance."
"That's going to take time." Scooping her into his arms, Christos rushed towards the entrance, where the valet had the car running.
"I'll drive," Andreas, who had rushed behind them, told them tersely. "Get her in. Dad, call the precinct and alert them to clear a path." He turned to the doctor. "Where?"
"Hope General is the closest hospital." She slid into the back seat where Christos had his wife cradled on his lap. "I'll call ahead."
"Move!" Christos said frantically as another contraction seized her.
"How is it possible for her to be in labor? She has two weeks..."
"Christos." Her fingers were biting into his arms as she tried to ride out the wave of excruciating pain.
"Yes baby?"
"Promise me..." She took a deep breath and tried again. "Save my babies. Please. Whatever happens, please save my babies." She glanced over at the doctor who was monitoring her blood pressure and finding it worrying.
"I can't..."
"Please!" Her body arched as the pain came again. Seeing the anguish on her beautiful face would have made him promise to take his own life.
"I promise," he agreed tautly. "How much further?" he asked his brother.
"Two minutes." Andreas stepped on the gas and within a minute and a half, was screeching into the parking lot. A team was already present with a gurney and very soon she was strapped in and rushing through the front doors.
Dr. Henderson started snapping out orders along with Dr. Friedmann who was waiting for her. They were immediately assigned a delivery room.