Chapter 16
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Mindy
Thank goodness Dr. Takagi was on today. While her associate, Dr. Martine, was in with Jolie, I had her and even though it was a bit unorthodox, our husbands had us on FaceTime with each other once we had our little girls.
“She’s beautiful, Mindy,” Jolie says, sobbing. “And I love the name, we can call her Vivi.”
“So is Antoinette,” I reply, crying just as hard as she is right now. “Toni and Vivi, the dynamic duo.”
“Could also be the terrible twosome,” Dex calls out. I hear a slap and know that my bestie just smacked him.
“Guess we’ll have to wait and see,” Cruz adds.
Right now, we’re in separate rooms, but Dr. Takagi and her staff have some clout in this hospital, so we’re being moved to the biggest suite available on the maternity ward since we share a lot of the same family.
Because found family is still family as far as we’re concerned.
In the meantime, Jolie and I just had to FaceTime each other since we couldn’t be together.
“Maybe the next baby, we try to coordinate better,” Jolie suggests.
“Can we get through today first?” Dex asks, earning him another smack.
I look at Cruz and smile. “I think we should enjoy these girls for a little while, my friend, before we start planning the next one.”
Jolie sighs then says, “You’re right. Okay, they’re bringing Toni in so I’ll let you go for now. Gotta see if I can figure out this latching stuff.”
I snicker once the call’s been disconnected. I was somewhat ambivalent about whether or not to breastfeed, and Cruz said it was ultimately my decision. Looking over at him, I declare, “I think I’d like to try.”
“Just remember, fed is best, kitten. If you try it and it doesn’t work, no harm, no foul,” he says. “Did you see the head of hair on her?”
I nod and reply, “I hope she doesn’t go bald, but I think they lose some of it.”
“Didn’t you read the book I got you?” he asks.
“Okay, so hear me out. Some of the things in there were scary and sent me spiraling, so I stopped,” I admit. “I didn’t get that far.”
“How far did you get?” he asks, his voice now suspicious.
“I got to the chapter about hemorrhoids. The pictures did me in, Cruz, and sorry, but there was no damn way if one showed up I was going to have you checking it out. I’d rather die,” I retort.
“I presume none did,” he teases. “Because, kitten, you’ve had me check out every little thing that popped up.”
Wrinkling my nose at him, I say, “I asked Nonna how to prevent them and followed her instructions very carefully.”
“Which were?” he asks.
“Lots of water and fiber. Oh look who’s coming in!” I say, eager to change the subject.
The nurse walks in, pushing the bassinet with our daughter inside. “She’s ready to eat, Momma.”
Cruz helps get her settled and even though it takes a few tries, Violet finally latches on as the nurse oversees.
“It’ll be a few days before your milk fully comes in, but what she’s getting now is beneficial to her.
I’ll be back in about thirty minutes or so to move you to the new room, then we’ll let your family invade. ”
“I’m sure they’re chomping at the bit right now,” Cruz murmurs, totally enraptured by the little noises our daughter is currently making as she roots at my breast. “But this is our time.”
“Ay, yi, yi!” Nonna exclaims as our family finally comes into the suite that Jolie and I now share. “Two beautiful little girls, we are surely blessed.”
“We are, indeed,” Abuela adds, looking down at the bassinets that hold our respective daughters.
“Look at those bows on their heads!” Cruz’s mom interjects. “I didn’t even think about getting any of those!”
“Mom, she’ll probably lose her baby hair so it’ll be a while before she’s gonna need bows,” Cruz points out.
“No, no, she’s right, we have to be ready for our girls to look their best,” Nonna states, causing Dex to groan because Abuela adds her two cents as well.
I look at Jolie and we both burst out laughing watching our husbands attempt to corral the incorrigible trio made up of Cruz’s mom, Abuela, and Nonna.
It’s a lost cause, I fear, and honestly, the world is a scary enough place for kids, so if these three women want to spoil our girls, I’m going to let them. They won’t live forever, after all.
“Can we see the babies now?” Arya asks since the grandmother and great-grandmothers have been hogging the two little girls.
“Yes, yes, of course,” Nonna says, as though they’re her daughters.
I roll my eyes at my best friend and she repeats the gaze to me. Between Dex and Cruz, they manage to get pictures of each of our family members holding the girls, then Dex takes one of me, Cruz, and Violet, before Cruz gets one of him, Jolie, and Antoinette.
By the time everyone decides to head back to our house, I’m beyond exhausted. Thankfully, Cruz had my hospital bag in the truck ‘just in case’ because once everyone leaves, he’s going to help me take a shower and get into something more comfortable than this sweaty hospital gown.
Brock leans in and whispers, “You did good, sissy.”
“Thanks, Bubba,” I tease. There’s a small part of me that still feels guilty that I never shared what happened, but right now, seeing him smile as he holds his niece, I decide it’s worth it.
Cruz looks at him and asks, “Do you mind taking Sadie back to our house? My folks already left, and Nonna’s car is full of all of them.”
“Not a problem,” Brock replies.
I hide my grin because both he and Sadie have been making eyes at each other tonight. While I won’t get involved in my brother’s love life, I kind of think it would be cool if they got together.
As they all say their goodbyes, which have been going on now for the past thirty minutes, the nurses return to get the girls and take them back to the nursery since both Jolie and I need to take showers.
Not together, of course, because that would be weird, but we’re both in dire need of one.
Since my family is still here, Dex and she just slipped into the bathroom.
While they’re occupied, another nurse comes in and changes Jolie’s sheets and I shiver in anticipation.
Hospital beds aren’t the most comfortable to sleep in, but with fresh sheets and a warming blanket, I think I’ll manage. “You’re thinking about one of those blankets, aren’t you?” Cruz teases once Brock and Sadie finally leave.
“Absolutely. If you play your cards right, I bet there’s enough room for you on my bed,” I reply.
“Not if it’s going to hurt you,” he says. “You went through a lot tonight, kitten. I can sleep on the recliner right next to you.”
“I know, but I’ve gotten used to you being right next to me.”
After a wonderfully warm shower, I’m ensconced in my bed once again, a warmed blanket tucked around me as Cruz holds my hand. “It was a good day today,” I murmur, sleep pulling me under.
“The very best, next to the day we got married,” he replies. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We fall asleep holding hands, separated from my bestie and her husband by a privacy curtain. I never see the text that pops up on my phone from my brother.
Brock: HOW COULD YOU KEEP THAT FROM ME???????
The End… for now
Last Comes Love will be Brock and Sadie’s story and you’ll find out what Brock’s text means, as well as what happened with Clark’s trial and whether or not Cruz will have his conviction overturned!