Chapter 39
39
Cate
Three months later . . .
“I can’t believe the babies are almost here.” Maggie sits beside me, handing me another baby shower gift and then rubbing my belly like a genie in a bottle.
“I know. The pregnancy has flown by.” I glance at Shane, my love and greatest support, watching a few feet behind the circle of retirees surrounding me. I’m sure he could argue this has been the longest nine months of his life. He smiles, evoking mine. Of course, he’s been having me smile pretty much since the day we met, so it’s nothing new. I still never take this life for granted.
If I know one thing, these babies were meant to be just like me and Shane.
And I can now find the humor in how we rushed around from the mountains to LA to make sure I got my pill only to end up in the one percent fail rate. We see it as a win.
Laird keeps Shane company since Poppy catered the food and assigned him setup duties. It’s been entertaining to watch those two famous musicians taking on the jobs needed to be accomplished so I could celebrate with my favorite patients.
They’ve done everything without complaint. I think Shane likes the normalcy of it. Here, he’s not Shane Faris, drummer of Faris Wheel. Not the sexiest man alive, though he is to me. Here at Parkdale, he’s Nurse Cate’s special beau. He once told me it was his favorite role until we became husband and wife.
Luna waves at me, then returns to a conversation Maggie’s grandson struck up with her. He happens to be in town from Germany, where he’s stationed. He’s handsome like Maggie’s Henry. She showed us a photo. Both have dark hair and striking brown eyes. Edward is coming in tall at six-three, and as Luna puts it, “Fills out a uniform nicely.”
She’ll eat him alive, and it will be the best time of his life.
Poppy bends down next to me. “You look stunning in that dress. Emerald green is your color.”
“Thank you. I’m huge now so I went with silky drape-like material.”
“It’s fantastic.” Looking at the cup in my hand. “Do you need a refill?”
Checking my cup of water, I reply, “No, I’m good.” I catch her before she runs off again. “Thank you for doing all this.”
She hugs me. “I’m happy to use my skills as a chef here and there.”
Shifting in the chair, I whisper, “Can I ask you something about your job and the twins?”
“Sure.” She runs her hand along the sides of her hair, feeling for strays that have loosened in the bun. “What would you like to know?”
“I love working. I love my job.” I glance around as if it’s obvious since this is where I wanted to have an extra party to celebrate with my retirees. “Did you quit or put things on hold while they’re babies?”
“Oh, um.” I catch the shared look exchanged between her and Laird. He looks at her like she is his world. And she smiles just looking at him. “I wanted to raise the babies. I liked my job, but I was barely back into my career after an accident when I met Laird. Again, you’ve heard the story. Amnesia. Night in Austin.”
“It’s unique.”
“So is yours with Shane.” I’ve been smiling so much lately that my cheeks hurt, but she manages to make me do it again. “Listen, Cate, you can work if you want to. We live very exceptional lives. We’re given an opportunity to do what feeds our hearts, our souls, and our ambitions. My best friend, Marina, didn’t give up her acting career. She’s an amazing mother. I chose to stay home. Having twins helped with that decision.” She stands, rubbing my shoulder.
She’s become a great friend because we have a lot in common. That we get to spend time together because of the family and band only makes it sweeter. “I’ve never been in a position where money wasn’t at the forefront of my decisions.”
“When it’s removed from the equation, you’ll know what you want to do when you have the babies. There is no losing scenario here. A happy mother is all they want. A happy and fulfilled wife is all Shane wants for you. He’s very special, but you are, too.”
“Thank you, Poppy.” I have a lot to think about, but she made good points. The privilege of not having to decide right now is not lost on me. “Oh, and Luna knows Marina Westcott. We should all get together . . .” I rub my belly like I’m wishing for luck. “Long after the babies are here.”
“We’ll have a girls’ night.”
Daphne, Maggie’s arch enemy by how she practically growls anytime she sees her, stands. “It’s time to play pin the diaper on the baby. Everyone line up for their turn.” She points at a poster stuck on the wall. It’s very sweet that they went to all this trouble for me.
“She is such an attention whore.”
“Maggie, that’s not nice. And don’t tell me you gave up on being nice. I see how helpful you are to the others.”
“Well, don’t let the secret out,” she snaps, getting up to play the game.
I start to stand, but when a pain shoots through me, I sit down again. A deep breath is cut short when my stomach tightens. I angle to my left to take pressure off my side, but it doesn’t relieve it.
Glancing at Shane, I find his eyes are already on mine as he comes toward me. “Hey there, Kitty Cat.” He sits next to me, taking both my hands in his. “What’s going on?”
“I—ow!” I grit my teeth and tighten my mouth. Angling away from the pain, I finally breathe through it. “I think I need to go to the hospital.”
“Is something wrong?” he asks, helping me to my feet.
“No.” I look at him. The comfort I need is found in his eyes as we take the next step into the unknown. “We’re having the babies.”
Shane
“I can’t, Shane. I’m so tired.”
Her hair is stuck to her forehead, her makeup worn off hours ago. Her cheeks are rosy from the hard labor she’s been doing for the past five hours.
Holding her hand, I lean in and kiss her forehead, lingering to hide the tears threatening my eyes from seeing my love, my soul, my whole fucking heart breaking apart from the pain and exhaustion. “I know you’re tired, but you can do this. Clara will join her big brother in this great world with two more pushes.” I look back to see our son. An overwhelming need to take care of him keeps me determined to help Cat get through this.
Turning to see Luna holding Kick in her arms, Cat takes a breath, and says, “Okay.” When they tell her to push, she squeezes my hand so tight and pushes with all her might while staring into my eyes. Two pushes, and our baby girl is new to the world.
Cat breaks down crying when she hears Clara’s little cries. I tuck my head into the crook of her neck and kiss her. Again, and higher. Whispering in her ear, I say, “You did good, little Mama.” I kiss her again. “You are so amazing.”
Her hand comes around my neck, holding me to her. She turns, her lips brushing across mine, and through quiet sobs, she says, “You’re a dad, babe.”
The staff bustles around, and after they work with Cat on the next stage, I take a seat in the bedside recliner to hold my babies for the first time. One in each arm just feels natural, and it feels right.
“They’re so perfect and so small.” I kiss my daughter on the head and then my son. I don’t think I can fully comprehend that those tiny humans are mine and Cat’s to care for. Scary and exciting, like the first time you get back on the stage in front of a live audience after being away for some time. The fear subsides, and I find my rhythm in the situation.
Cat looks over and smiles. It’s weary but no less beautiful than she always is. “Luna, will you take a photo of them? I never want to forget this moment.”
Luna steps in as her best friend and support. She was all these before I took the job from her. “Say cheesy,” she says, snapping the photo before I can.
Carefully, I get up and move to the bed. “You ready, babe?”
“Yes,” she says, reaching up with tears already slipping down her face. I settle Clara into one of her arms and her brother, Kick, into the other.
A nurse comes after me and fixes my errors. “How did you come up with the names?” she asks Cat. Cat glances at me and smiles. “I was named after Catalina Island, so I looked up something similar. Santa Clara popped up, and I fell in love with the name.”
“It’s pretty. And Kick? That’s more unusual.”
“A kick drum is part of the kit.” I stroke Kick’s head over his little cap. “I’m a professional drummer.”
“That’s exciting. Would I have heard of you?”
“No,” I lie, not sure if she would have, but not wanting to get into it. Cat’s the star of this show.
Cat says, “He was in the Sexiest Man Alive issue the past two years.” She laughs, knowing I’m cringing inside.
“Oh.” The nurse perks up. “I can see why.” Touching Cat’s hand, she says, “I need to check on other patients. Congrats on the babies.” Looking at me, she adds, “And the sexiest man title.” I level a look at Cat, but she knows I can’t stay mad at her.
When the nurse leaves, I look at my wife. Fiancée just doesn’t fit despite being the correct terminology. “She’s going to think that’s all I’m known for.”
“I’m okay with that.” She starts swaying her arms gently. A natural.
“We won Band of the Year, and you’re prouder of something I technically had no part in creating—my looks.”
“Your looks are really impressive.” She laughs but then rests her hand on my chest. “So is your heart, and how you work so hard, how big you love, how great you kiss, how you’d do anything for me to see me smile.”
My heart swells like a balloon in my chest. She says, “I’m not prouder that you’re sexy. I’m proud of all your accomplishments. But the sexy part is a perk of the job.”
“That job being your husband?” I’m so ready to be married again.
“Yes, I’m a very lucky girl.” With her arms full, she whispers, “I’ve been thinking September for our ceremony.”
I’d take her down to the courthouse tomorrow if she’d let me, but she deserves all the things we were robbed of the first time around. Even if it was technically not official, we’ve created a life as if it were. But I owe her the traditions she dreamed of as a little girl. “You sure you want to wait that long?”
“Four months will fly by.” She lifts her head with puckered lips. I’ll oblige her every want and desire. It’s not like I don’t benefit. “I promise.”