Chapter 11
"She grew two inches." Eliza stood at the cot with her husband's arm wrapped around her waist, mostly in support. His wife was fully recovered from her ordeal, but he still wanted to hold her. He had this nightmare of her slipping away from him, which made him want to keep her close.
"And she's improving." He murmured gratefully. She no longer looked like she was at death's door.
"I hate to leave her." Eliza uttered the thought that had been on her mind since her discharge drew nearer. Last night she had been unable to sleep. Her husband had spent the night and noticed her restlessness.
"We have the boys to think about, and they need to go home. It has been five weeks. I want my family home."
"Minus our daughter."
"The doctors are thinking another two weeks. And the best place for her is here."
"I don't want her to think we're abandoning her." Eliza fretted.
"She's too tiny to think anything of the sort." He pressed her closer to him. "And we'll be here every day to see her."
"I'll be here." Tipping her head up, she met his gaze. "You've sacrificed enough time already. You are running yourself ragged."
He kissed her forehead. "Funny, I don't consider the time spent with my family a sacrifice."
"Sacrifice is not the right word. But I can be here with her while you go on about your work.
" They had interviewed nannies and hired two of them.
The women had come highly recommended and passed several background checks, and they would be living at the house.
Eliza had not wanted anyone young. She had been specific about that aspect.
She wanted mature women who were friendly and loved children.
Incidentally, the two women were sisters.
Maeve and Mary-Ann were originally from Ireland and had been living in the States for over thirty years.
"We're almost at the wrapping up stage of the movie." He ran his hand up and down her arm in a soothing gesture. "Which will give me more time to spend with you and our children. I won't be taking on any more projects right now."
She gave him a surprised glance. "Really? I hope you don't think you have to do that on our account."
His thick brows lifted. "On whose account then? I want to do this, Eliza. The time goes by so swiftly that before we know it, they will be graduating high school and going off to college. I want to be part of their formative years."
"High school." She grimaced. "I want to keep them with me as long as possible."
"We don't get to make that decision. Very soon, it won't be cool for them to associate with their parents."
"Nonsense! They're going to want to stay with us until they're well into their thirties."
He chuckled, rubbing his chin on top of her head.
"We certainly would not want that." He glanced over at the triplets and felt his heart swelling.
His boys were thriving. They had grown more than inches and looked anything unlike preemies, and they favored him so much that it was uncanny.
He could not help but feel proud that they did.
They were tiny replicas of himself. Even his parents had commented on the startling resemblance.
"I think they're ready." He murmured.
Reaching out a hand through the opening in the see-through cot, Eliza touched her daughter's satiny cheek. "Very soon you'll be out and at home where you belong. Your room is waiting for you, my darling, and we cannot wait to see you settled. We love you so much."
"My princess." Samuel murmured huskily.
*****
"Do you have any regrets?" Eliza asked quietly as they stood looking at the three sleeping babies.
The day had been hectic, starting with a decoy transportation that led the eager press in full pursuit of the vehicle.
They had finally managed to sneak the babies out and into the nondescript SUV where she had discovered to her surprise that her husband had custom-built car seats with the boys' names embossed into the soft blue and white fabrics.
Then they were greeted at home by his parents, Sally, and Blair, who had insisted on decorating the place to welcome them home. Maeve and Mary-Ann, the nannies, had swiftly taken charge after the activities to get the babies settled after they were fed and diapered.
Now, midnight, with the women already turned in for the night, she and Samuel stood looking at their sleeping forms.
"Why would you ask me that?" he whispered sharply.
She shrugged. "It's a lot of work and a lot of hassle. The doctors warned us that they're still not out of the woods yet."
"I know what I signed up for. Ready?"
She nodded. Taking one last look around the room, she allowed herself to be led out and into their own suite.
It seemed like ages since she had been home.
He had made changes here as well. There was a comfortable sleep chair for when she wanted to spend time with the babies.
She was breastfeeding and was immensely grateful that despite the rigors her body had gone through, she was still producing milk.
So much so that she had to express some into bottles.
The doctors had assured her that the breast milk would help to stave off certain infections and helped the babies to grow healthier. After hearing that and reading up on the value of breast milk, she was determined to do her part.
"I miss her already."
"I know you do." He led her to the bed, where he bent to take off her shoes.
He knew she was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.
He was also watching for signs of PPD, post-partum depression, as advised by the doctors.
"How are you really?" he asked quietly as he rubbed her feet between his palms.
She smiled at him fleetingly. "You're afraid I'm going to go off the rails.
" She surmised. "I know the drill, darling.
I've read the books and magazines and listened to the various podcasts.
After carrying the babies for seven odd months, I'm aware that the ravages not only to the body and mind can take their toll.
"Don't stop." She murmured, leaning back on the pillows as he continued to massage her feet. "I'm fine. I just miss Sofia and want her home. It's not complete without her." She gazed at him. "I just don't want you regretting the fact that I coerced you into doing this."
"Coerced?" He lifted a brow at her.
"Persuaded? Begged?"
"You presented a valid argument, and I saw the reasoning behind it.
" Rising, he reached for the cocoa butter and indicated that she should take off her sweater.
She had been ashamed and a little self-conscious at first at the sagging skin and afraid that he would be turned off.
He had told her bluntly that it was a definite sign of her carrying his children and he wasn't so stupid, callous, or indeed shallow to let that bother him.
He had referred to the marks as her battle scars.
"So, no regrets?" She persisted, closing her eyes and sighing as he massaged the cream into her skin.
"None, whatsoever. I want you to promise me something."
"Anything." She murmured without opening her eyes.
"Anything within reason?" he teased.
"Anything." Her eyes flickered open and she met his gaze. "What is it?"
"That if you start to feel overwhelmed in any way, you will let me know. Full transparency. Can you promise me that?"
"That's too easy." She placed a hand over his. "Now I want you to promise me something as well."
"Hmm. Shoot."
"If you start to find me unattractive--"
"Eliza--" His frown of warning had her shaking her head.
"Just hear me out, please." She took a deep breath.
"You're a very attractive man and women flock to you.
I know that. I have eyes in my head. I know that the temptation is there for you to stray, not that you're weak or anything like that--" She hastened to add at his ominous expression.
He had finished rubbing the cream in and was wiping his fingers on a diaper cloth, his eyes holding hers, expression inscrutable. "We haven't been together in a while--"
"And you think that I'm such an animal and so out of control that I'm not prepared to wait until my wife is able to accommodate me making love to her. What do you take me for?" He asked coolly.
"You're upset."
"What gave it away?"
"Samuel--"
"No. Bloody enough! I know you've been suffering from insecurities ever since you started getting bigger while carrying my children.
I've assured and reassured you enough for you to understand that I love you, only you.
It doesn't matter to me if you gained ten or even fifty pounds during the pregnancy.
I will always love you. What you did to bring these babies into the world made me love you even more.
"Do you think I'm that stupid to throw everything away? To do what? Be with someone else who means little or nothing to me? I would like to think that I've proven myself to you since we decided to give our marriage a boost. Am I wrong?"
She shook her head, suddenly feeling miserable.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, Eliza, just drop this nonsense. I have a family and this is it for me. It's time you start acting like you believe me."
She stretched out a hand for his and after a slight hesitation, he took it.
"Can you take off your clothes, please?"
"What? No. You don't have to try and--"
"Do what?" She asked musingly, drawing him towards her.
"Lose myself in your arms? You haven't kissed me since I've been in the hospital.
I know there was a lot going on there with my health and the babies, but we're here and yes, her problems are far from over, but tonight I want to feel you against me, inside me. I've missed you."