Chapter 18
STACY
Three weeks to go and Stacy was miserable. She was carrying a beach ball on her front, always had to pee, and was hot. No matter how low the air conditioner was set, she was hot.
Eleanor kept side eyeing her stomach and asking if they were certain it wasn't twins. Only good thing if it was, Stacy knew how to handle twins.
Stacy had yet to go back to work, not that Frank would have let her anyway. He was too worried about her well-being that he continued to hold his dad card high.
“Are we going to meet Daddy at the lodge?” Harry asked. The twins had taken to the lodge, thriving in the new environment. Stacy felt herself thriving as well, not just surviving.
More sessions with Josephine were added to the calendar, as well as some individual therapy. Stacy progressed and felt more confident not just in her relationship with Travis, but with herself as well. Being able to relax, not just with the financial aspect, but with love, life, and school was good for Stacy.
They found an easy routine that fit them. Between follow-up appointments for Harry, and Stacy's own appointments, it was good they had started with homeschooling. Stacy still struggled with learning without much structure. Annie and Katy had been a godsend with homeschooling. As well as Sara and Samara. The entire club was brimming with resources. In the mornings they'd try their own lessons, and then in the afternoons they'd head to the lodge for group lessons. A village working together.
“Yes, sweetie,” Stacy pulled into the lodge, pushing on her stomach, she tried to move feet that were pushing on her ribs. “Daddy should meet us for the evening movie.” Another great aspect of the lodge? More friends. No bullying. Full acceptance. Harry nor Helen were apprehensive about school, not that the lodge was school exactly.
“Why is movie nights always on Fridays?” Helen asked.
“So that we can continue to have a large sleepover with all the kids.” Some moms went to a restaurant to eat, drink, and gossip. Stacy had joined them several times. They all seemed to alternate, same with the club members on duty.
After parking, the kids waited until the doors automatically opened. It still blew her mind at the buttons and gadgets on their van.
“This is the coolest van ever, Mommy.” Harry exclaimed for the hundredth time or more since they had gotten it.
“It just has a few extra bells and whistles.”
“What's that mean?”
“Uh, well, like it has all these extras. I think the bells and whistles comes from bicycles that has bells and beads on the spokes. I'm honestly not sure,” Stacy hit the buttons to close the doors once both kids stood next to her. “Maybe we can ask in our Random Thoughts class next week.”
“When can we go to the zoo?
“Sweetie, it'll be a bit, at least until this baby is here, okay? Mommy can't walk far.” Stacy felt like she was swimming by the time she waddled to the front door. She praised the brothers holding open the door for her, blowing them a few air kisses.
As Stacy stood in the lobby, she inhaled and let the stress of whatever had been on her mind melt away. This was her family. Her brain was all over the place, could she even recall what was on her mind?
“Mommy?” That one word broke her out of her exhausted mind.
Stacy smiled down at the twins. “I'm good, babies, really good. Just tired.” Beyond exhausted. “I gotta pee. Go find Annie.” With a hug from each, Stacy headed to the bathroom, used the facilities and headed back out to the cafeteria where the club used a large drop screen for movie nights.
Although halfway to the door, Stacy slowed her steps as Tank, Tasha, and a younger man in an EMT suit stood to the side and watched her expectantly. She recognized him but couldn't place him.
Stacy felt her stomach dip. Perhaps they were waiting for someone else?
“Stacy,” Tasha tried to give her a grin.
Just breathe, she swallowed before looking them in their eyes.
“What’s going on?”
“Echo’s okay, but there's been an accident.”
Stacy's heart swooped. Her head spun.
“Gurney up!” The younger man yelled. “Can I call you Stacy?” He asked as he took her arms and helped steady her. Stacy nodded, her head swam and her lungs burned. “Stay with me, Stacy. Breathe in. Breathe out.”
Stacy wondered why they were being extra cautious. Until she felt her stomach cramp. “Oh. God.”
“Yup. That's okay. We already figured you'd go into labor. I'm Lucas by the way. My mom is Samara. Tori is my baby sister. She helps out with the younger kids in the mornings at times.”
Stacy knew those names. Another contraction hit her as water ran down her legs. “Fucking hell,” Stacy gritted her teeth. Tasha and Lucas adjusted her to the gurney. “I'm gonna kill that man. I wasn't ready!” She shouted at whomever was listening. She thought she heard some chuckles. “Glad you all think this is funny.”
“Girl, you hold on to that anger. It's better for you right now. We'll get you over to the clinic. Axis is waiting. Annie's got the kids. You worry about you two.”
“Did you just say two?” Stacy growled at Tasha as she was strapped and wheeled out the door. “You better mean me and the baby.” Stacy felt tears gather. “I need him,” she whispered.
“You got this. I've already got Samara calling your parents. Echo will be transferred to the clinic. But it may be after you've already delivered. You got this. We're all here for you.”
Stacy nodded as Tasha and Lucas hopped in the back of the ambulance with her.
By the time they arrived at the clinic–backing up into the backdoors, Lucas was catching a baby. “We've got a little girl!” He called out as the doors were open to Axis and a few other nurses. As the baby was whisked away to the safety of the building, Stacy felt her stomach clench and Axis looked at her, hands on her belly.
“Well, Stacy are you–”
“Don't you fucking say it. Just get this baby out of me and I'll come to terms of twins later.”
Axis and Tasha chuckled and within a few minutes baby number two was out. “Another girl!”
“Poor, Echo,” Tasha teased.
“Ha. Bastard deserves three daughters,” Stacy spat. Not that she was mad, but damn. She was allowed her emotions. “Now. Get me inside so I can hold my babies while I wait for my husband to show up.”
“Good news. Echo is okay. Looks like just two broken bones this time.”
“What!?”
ECHO
Echo cursed the time. He was running late. All because he had to run a load out to the construction site. Luckily he had his bike there and was able to switch vehicles.
He promised his family he'd be there for the start of movie night at the lodge. Butter smothered popcorn, sweet snacks, and family time.
Echo slowed for the traffic light just before the train tracks. Just two more streets and he could turn down one and get off the main road.
Echo's mind wondered to Stacy and how much progress she had made. She seemed happier than when they first reconnected. Content. Relaxed.
Following the road, Echo turned and wished he hadn't. He saw it too late. Even though he had the right of way, the truck went. Just before contact he prayed Stacy and the kids would be okay.
Beep. Beep. He really hated that noise. Echo pried his eyes open. He felt groggy and heavy. His lips didn't want to move.
“How ya doing, crash?” Axis asked. At least he knew that face.
“I'm not Crash.”
“I dunno. We're thinking of changing your name to Crash. Echo doesn't fit.”
“It wasn't my fault.”
“You're right on that one. It wasn't. I take it, you know who I am?” Axis asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Stacy?”
“She's waiting for you to wake up.”
“Fuck,” Echo groaned. Then he finally realized one arm and one leg were in casts. “Fuck me over. Seriously?”
“We extended the cast on your arm, that way you can still hold and feed babies.”
“Babies?” Echo's eyes snapped to Axis. “What do you mean?”
“Stacy went into labor when she heard about your accident. Twin girls.”
“Fuck,” another groan. “She's gonna kill me.”
Axis laughed. “She's threatened you a few times. Lucas delivered them in the ambulance just as they arrived here.”
“Lucas? Slick's boy?”
“Yup. He's not patched in yet. Still working on his EMT schooling. I was hoping he'd help me out here but time will tell.”
“Damn.” Echo felt tears burn the back of his eyes. The room went blurry as he tried to blink them away.
“What? What's wrong?”
“I missed it again.”
Axis gave him a solemn glance, placing a hand on his shoulder. “For what it's worth? You're still alive and have your memory intact. I'd count that as a win.”
Echo understood that but he missed another important day. Yes, it wasn't his fault this time, exactly, but still.
“Hey, Daddy,” Stacy's soft voice called from the door. “Are you ready for visitors?”
A sob escaped as he covered his mouth with his unbroken hand. He didn’t deserve her. Oh, he wasn’t giving her up; hell would freeze over first.
“Oh, baby,” Stacy crooned as she pushed a rolling bassinet into the room, carrying an IV pole with her. “I was mad. Don't get me wrong. But I was in pain. You're safe. Alive. Well. We're doing great,” she gestured to the two sleeping swaddles in pink blankets. “I love you.”
Echo tilted his head for her kiss. Their foreheads rested together for the longest time, hugging as best as they could.
“I missed it.”
“Maybe. But you'll be there for all their other firsts. Roll, crawl, steps, kiss, vehicle, girlfriend or boyfriend, and many more.”
“You're too good to me.”
Stacy barked out a laugh. “We're good together. That's all that matters.”
Echo shifted over. “Sit, baby, you need to be off your feet.”
Stacy maneuvered enough to sit next to him on the hospital bed with their twin girls in front of them.
“We only had one name each picked out. Now what?”
“Well...,” Stacy leaned back into his body. “What about Tracy and Hope?”
“They don't quite rhyme or match?”
“Do they have to?”
“Whatever you want, baby. I'm more than okay with Tracy and Hope. Hey,” Echo blamed his drugged mind. “Tracy is a mix of our names. And Hope is what we have in each other.”
“Yeah. I think so too,” she teased.
“I love them. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“When will the other twins be here?” Echo made a face. “Now I need different tag names for them.”
“They'll be here soon, I imagine. Tasha said once you were settled here and I could walk around they'd send Eleanor and Frank over with them.”
“I'm the luckiest man alive.” Echo rested his head on Stacy's shoulder. “They look beautiful. So do you. Are you sure you're okay?”
“I'm tired. A little stressed. But all good.”
Echo enjoyed the quiet time with his wife until their twin girls started fussing for food. They had just gotten them settled with the help of Tasha when Eleanor and Frank came in with two very anxious siblings. A few tears were shed, hugs were given, and all the while Echo felt blessed. He had his wife and kids and that was all that mattered.