Chapter 24
We’ve just finished with breakfast and my babies are actively moving around and all of sudden they stop, and I feel Alexander’s presence and look to the doorway and there stands my big strong slightly disheveled man wearing a pair of hospital scrubs.
“Handsome,” I whisper, tears instantly falling down my cheeks in sweet relief.
“Angel.” Alexander’s voice is rough.
At hearing him speak my name I breathe out a sigh of relief, get up from the bed and start moving to be by his side, I need to hold him tight.
“Daddy,” Alexa squeals and starts running toward him.
“Princess.” Alexander says with a small smile, I can see he’s in pain but I don’t think Alexa has registered yet, through her excitement.
Doc steps out from behind Alexander and stops Alexa launching herself at him.
“Ladies, you need to be gentle,” Doc says smiling at us and Alexa stops dead.
“Why, what’s wong with my Daddy?” Alexa doesn’t look at Alexander she stands staring up at Doc with her little hands firmly planted on her hips demanding answers.
Doc squats down while I gently hug Alexander and just breathe him in.
“I missed you, Angel,” he whispers in my ear.
“Princess, Daddy is okay, I fixed him up but he has very sore ribs.”
Doc tickles Alexa’s ribs trying to show her where and hoping for a laugh but she’s not laughing, she’s really not her happy self.
“I want to know why I haves to be gentle with my Daddy,” Alexa’s lip starts trembling but she’s holding back her tears.
“I’m okay, Princess, I’m her–”
Alexa holds her little hand up and doesn’t take her stare from Doc.
“I loves you, Daddy, but I wants my Uncle Doc to esplain to me why.”
I sigh heavily because this is not Doc’s fault, I was the one who didn’t want to worry my little love and turn to Alexa, bending over as best I can.
“Lovebug, it was my decision to not tell you, I didn’t want you to worry, you can be upset with Mommy.”
“I know Mommy, I’m not upset with you but I do wants to know from my Uncle Doc why my daddy was huwt when spun up.” Her eyes never leaving Doc’s, her expression commanding but full of emotion.
Doc shakes his head hanging it low before he looks back up into Alexa’s eyes and takes a breath.
“Alexa, you’re right we should have had Daddy’s back, I’m very sorry Daddy got hurt, but I promise you he’s okay.”
Alexa lets out a heavy sob then wraps her arms around Doc and cries hard.
“Princess, it’s not Doc’s fault can we go sit down, Daddy needs a gentle cuddle, please.”
Alexa nods and Doc stands with her in his arms and we all move over to the bed and Alexander wrinkles his brow, I guide him to sit down and can see he has questions but Alexa is our focus right now.
“Come give Daddy a cuddle, Princess.”
Doc places Alexa on his lap and she snuggles in gently with her head down.
“My brothers did have my back baby girl, but Daddy heard a little girl crying and moved really fast to help her and got hurt in the process. I know you’re upset, but can you please let Uncle Doc off the hook, he just saved my life and really deserves some love, do you think you can forgive him, please.”
Alexa looks up and nods, kissing Alexander on the cheek and climbs onto Doc’s lap and holds his face in her little hands, hiccupping as she tries to calm her emotions.
“I’m sowwy Uncle Doc, I was just scawed, I’s vewy sowwy and thank you faw saving my Daddy, I do loves you.”
Then she leans in and places her head on his chest and holds him tight.
“And I love you sweetheart,” Doc whispers.
I turn to Alexander because he’s here, he’s really here and I gently wrap my arms around him and cry. My heart is heavy with the weight of what could have been, a terrifying brush with mortality that leaves me shaken to my core. Tears stream down my cheeks as I struggle with the stark reality of how close I came to losing the love of my life.
I’m overwhelmed with profound gratitude for Doc and his brilliant surgical skills and returning Alexander to us. I turn my face to Doc and whisper, “Thank you, Doc, thank you for everything.”
“Lily, you don’t owe me anything, it’s my job to have my brothers back, and especially being the team medic, but you all have kept me busy of late, can we lay off the injuries for a while. However, I’ll never turn away a black forest cake.” Doc smiles cheekily and winks at me.
We all softly laugh in relief and Alexa climbs onto my lap seeking the comfort in a family embrace, we all need it with our emotions raw and grateful to have our family back together. With each passing moment, I vow to cherish every breath, every heartbeat, knowing all too well that life is a precious and fragile gift not to be taken for granted especially when the babies decide to join in kicking out.
“Hooyah,” I whisper.
“Hooyah.”
“Angel, do you have something to tell us?”
I look up and just hold Alexander’s beautiful green eyes in mine for a beat before I tell him of our adventure.
“Our little bugs decided they’d give me a good taste of what I’ll be in for when it is time.”
“Angel, are you okay? Are the babies, okay?”
“We’re good, Handsome.”
“Mommy was in lots of pain, Gwanny Mae and Pa got us heaw quick because of the Bwaxton Hiccups.” Alexa adds.
“I see Betty got an upgrade Princess; I like it.” He smiles and winks at Alexa.
“Yeah, she’s pawt of the family now.”
“Braxton Hicks?” Doc confirms.
“Yes, it was awful and hurt really bad, the contractions eased late last night, Dr. Sarah Langley treated me.”
I giggle when Doc and Alexander zone in on my belly staring hard like they can school these kids with their stare.
“I’m fine guys, Dr. Sarah checked me over but I am on restrictions.”
“Just as well, Chief is too!” Doc says.
Alexander’s face is horrified and Doc laughs, “If you had of stayed longer than five mikes after I finished your surgery, Chief, I could have run through your after care.”
Dad walks in and looks relieved, “Good to see you, Chief. I told Lily you’d walk out of recovery,”
“Hooyah.” We all call out.
“Darlin’ heart, do you want to come for a walk to help me get the team some food?”
“Yes, Pa, we needs to get some good food to welcome them home, let’s go!” Alexa kisses us both on the cheek and skips to Pa.”
“Thanks for looking after my girls, Davies.”
“Always, Chief, that’s not something I need thanks for.” Dad says, as he and Alexa leave happily to go hunt and gather supplies for everyone.
“How is he really Doc?” I ask, hearing the concern in my voice.
“Chief is fine Lily; I removed the bullets and he’ll live to fight another day!” Doc tries to reassure me.
“Bullets, as in plural?” My eyes widen and tears spill over.
“Angel, I’m fine, it’d take more than that to keep me from my girls.” Alexander tries to comfort me.
“How bad were these pains, Lily?” Doc asks seriously diverting the attention away from Alexander.
I breathe out a long breath, “Very intense, but I’d been standing for about twelve hours and had lower back pain and when Alexa and I lay down on the couch to watch Spy Kids I drifted off and then I woke to strong pain. Alexa felt the tightening and said they felt weird on her back. They were intense from the start and increasingly got stronger each time.” I take a breath, “and when Betty started timing the contractions because she knew they were strong, they were one minute apart and fifty seconds long, increasing in pain each time. Betty knew what she was doing and took charge giving Dad and Alexa orders and we were here probably twenty minutes into the contractions starting. I vomited a few times; I don’t know it was hard to tell I was pretty out of it. Dr. Sarah said she helped you in my surgery and then when you needed a break, she said she was my second attending.”
“Yes, she’s your secondary physician if I’m spun up, sorry Lily I probably should have told you that. I’ll speak to Dr. Langley and get the full picture medically, but you said she’s restricted you?”
“Yes, I’m not allowed to stand more than two hours before having an hour break, she said if the Braxton Hicks continue like they were last night I’d have to be on full bed rest, but for now I just have to slow down, NO sexual activity at all, not even non penetrative sex, and she said my cervix looked good but it is ripening and she thinks I’ll have these bugs in 2-4 weeks early. I think that was all, no something about injections to strengthen their lungs.” “I agree with her direction but I will speak with her and confirm a plan in case we’re spun up.”
Doc excuses himself and leaves and it’s just Alexander and I sitting, staring at each other. Alexander’s worried, I can see it written all over his face, he reaches out gingerly and holds my swollen belly in both hands then breaks our moment to look down.
“Boys, you need to not do that to Mommy, especially when Daddy’s spun up,” Alexander softly berates.
“Boys?” I giggle.
Alexander looks up and grins wolfishly. “Angel, we’re definitely having boys with black hair.”
My heart skips a beat, not because he said we’re having boys but because Alexander gave too much detail, he is certain and that makes me question just how close he came to death and I start to sob and shake uncontrollably.
“Lily, I’m okay, I promise you, Angel.”
Alexander tries to reassure me but I’m lost in my emotions and the overwhelming thought of just how close we came to losing him. He kisses my forehead and it’s not enough I need more, I kiss him all over his face and neck, the need to know he’s really here with me is tangible.
“I love you, Angel, mine.”
“I love you, so much Alexander and I can’t bear the thought of a world without you, you can’t ever leave me.” I say through my tears.
“I will never willingly leave you,” Alexander whispers.
“You better not, Handsome.” I use a bit of Alexa sass.
He chuckles, “You’ll see, in a couple of days I’ll be good as new.”
“I’m worried, Alexander.” I whisper.
“I’m more worried about the two to four weeks till delivery, Angel, because our wedding is in two weeks, 6 days and that’s cutting it close to the wire.”
I giggle at Alexander’s serious face and that fact he knows exactly how many days; it shouldn’t surprise me though he is the Chief for a reason.
“I’m worried about no sexual activity until at least six weeks after the babies are born!” I throw back.
Alexander guffaws, “Ow, fuck! My little minx, how will we survive, fuck, I need some pain meds the anesthesia is almost fully worn off.”
“Dad said you’d walk straight out of surgery, and you really did, didn’t you?”
Alexander’s cheeky grin tells me everything and I just shake my head.
“Let’s find Doc and get some of the good stuff.” Alexander says.
“He’ll be next door with the little girl, I need to see her Alexander with my own eyes, does she really look like Caroline?”
“Yeah baby, she really does, it shocked the shit out of me when I realized the screams were from a little girl, and then at the Hawk when Doc shone the torch on her it was like looking at small version of Caroline.” Alexander says bewilderment and anger coating his voice.
“Can we see her, please.” I’m desperate to see her for myself.”
“Yes, Angel, I need to make sure she’s okay myself and that the boys are all good.”
We stand slowly, the both of us having to take it easy and head next door to find Doc, my mind swirls with a tumultuous mix of emotions at the thought of seeing my sister’s child, a child she never knew existed.
Anxiety grips my heart as I struggle with the overwhelming uncertainty of what lies ahead. Questions flood my mind; how will my sister react? What will the child be like? Will Caroline accept her into her life? There are too many unknowns. Despite the fear and apprehension where Caroline’s concerned, I feel a longing stir within me to connect with this little girl, my niece, to bridge the gap that has separated her from our family for so long. With each small step Alexander and I take, I find myself teetering on the edge of anticipation, excited to meet this precious little girl with an open heart.