by Lisa Bilbrey
“Oh, my God, baby,” Sadie sobbed, rushing toward her, but stopping when Dr. Kemp stepped in front of her.
“You don’t do anything the easy way, do you?” Dr. Kemp asked.
“Not in my nature.” The adrenaline that had soared through Elle to give her the strength to birth her daughter in the back of an ambulance had been replaced by exhaustion. “Is my baby okay?”
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Dr. Kemp assured her. “Dr. Hendricks is with her now.”
“Okay,” Elle slurred, her eyes closing. “I was scared.”
“Elle!” Dr. Kemp called out, but she couldn’t seem to reply. “She’s losing too much blood. Let’s get her to the OR stat!”
“My baby,” Elle mumbled before the darkness wrapped around her and she drifted off into nothing.
Thirty
“Shh, you’re going to wake her,” Sadie hissed, followed by the sound of someone getting hit.
Elle moaned as she shifted in the bed, her entire body aching.
“Way to go, jackass,” Sadie snarled, but a moment later, Elle felt her cool fingers wrap around her hand. “It’s okay, honey. We’re here.”
Elle pried her eyes open — once, twice, and then a third time before she was able to focus on the people gathered around her bed. Her immediate attention was on Sadie, Derek, and Callum, all of whom had a hand on her body. Their eyes were red and puffy, their cheeks stained with dried tears.
“What’s wrong?” she slurred, her mouth dry. “Where’s the baby?”
“She’s in the nursery,” Derek said, quietly. “You’ve been asleep for a while.”
“She okay?” Elle whimpered.
“She’s perfect,” he whispered, bringing his hand up to her face. “But you lost a lot of blood, beautiful. Too much. They had to perform a hysterectomy.”
Elle’s eyes closed as tears gushed over her lids, sliding down the side of her face.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” Callum cooed, his hand covering Derek’s.
“I want to see my baby,” she cried, leaning into their touch. “Please, I need to see her.”
“Okay, just calm down,” Sadie said as she reached across the bed and pressed the red button to call for the nurse. It was then that Elle realized that her entire family was inside her room. Ivy and Nick, Lucia and Aaron, Helina and James, Bruce and Claudia, Samuel and Lydia, Carlos and Felicia.
“Yes,” the garbled, annoyed voice of a nurse trickled through the small speaker.
“She’s awake and would like to see our baby,” Sadie stated.
“I’ll let the doctor and the nursery know.”
Sadie shifted so that she was seated on the side of the bed and tilted her attention back to Elle. “You gave us quite the scare.”
“Sorry,” Elle murmured, reaching for her hand. She lobbed her head to the side and looked at her mom. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Helina murmured.
“Not how I intended on spending our day,” Elle said, laughing softly. “I never even got to thank the paramedics.”
“I thanked them for you,” Helina said.
“Oh, okay.” Elle licked her lips, her tongue and mouth dry. “Can I have some water?”
“Just a small sip,” Sadie said, grabbing a foam cup and placing the straw at her lips.
Elle took a small drink, but it did little to help. Before she could ask for more, the door to her room opened and Dr. Kemp walked in. Elle looked past her, hoping that her daughter would soon right behind her, but she wasn’t.
“Where is she?” Elle asked, worry filling her. “You said she was okay.”
“And she is,” Dr. Kemp insisted. “The nursery is bringing her down. I just wanted to check on you before they get here. Are you in a lot of pain?”
Elle nodded, knowing it was pointless to lie. Her body ached, her head hurt, but she’d go through all of it again.
“Okay, I’ll adjust your medication.” Dr. Kemp leaned against the side of her bed. “Did you tell her?”
“I did,” Derek whispered.
She nodded and looked back at Elle. “I’m so sorry. I did everything I could, but —”
“I’m alive, aren’t I?” Elle interrupted.
“You are.”
“Then you did your job. Would I have liked to have had more children? Maybe. I don’t know, but I’m here to help raise my girls, and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
Dr. Kemp smiled as the door to her room opened and she looked over her shoulder. “And here is our guest of honor.”
Elle attempted to push herself up, but Derek placed his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. The nurse pushing the plastic bassinet stopped next to the bed and carefully lifted the tiny bundle.
“Okay, Mom, here you go,” she said, placing the baby in Elle’s arms.
“Oh, my God,” Elle cried, staring down at her. She had a head full of dark hair. “She’s so beautiful.”
“She weighed seven pounds, four ounces. She was twenty inches long, and she’s perfect.” Derek rattled off her stats as he placed his hand under the infant. “Just like you.”
Elle smiled as she looked from the baby to the rest of her family. “I’d like to introduce you to Willow Faith Davis.”
“Willow?” Bruce asked, his grin growing.
“Yeah, Daddy,” Sadie said. “In honor of the William’s side of her family.”
“Thank you,” he whimpered.
“No, thank you,” Elle murmured, shifting her eyes back down to Willow.
—FA—
“Ugh,” Elle moaned, placing one hand on the railing to her bed, while the other cradled her now empty stomach.
“You okay?” Callum asked, his hands twitching at his side and she knew he was trying to keep from reaching for her, but Elle was determined to at least stand up on her own, even if she couldn’t walk without her cane or someone helping her.
“Yeah,” she murmured, blowing out a deep breath before sliding off the bed. Her leg screamed in protest, her stomach ached, her back was sore, and she smelled of sweat and grime. “Give me my cane.”
“Here,” he said, sliding the green cane into her hand. His fingers grazed her back. “You ready to move?”
“No,” she said, smiling. “But let’s do it, anyway.”
Slowly, he helped Elle across her hospital room to the bathroom, where Derek was standing with his fingers under the water of the shower.
“It’s not too hot,” he said, reaching for her.
Elle’s hands shook as she placed her fingers in his palm and allowed him to help her into the bathroom. Three days had passed since Willow’s surprising birth, and Elle was finally getting to take a shower.
Derek helped slide Elle’s hospital gown off as Willow started fussing. A sigh escaped her, the thought of never getting to shower again.
“You shower, I’ll keep her occupied until you’re done,” Callum insisted, releasing his hold on her and turning to tend to their new daughter.
“Okay, beautiful, I’m going to be right here if you need me,” Derek told her, holding onto her as she stepped into the shower.
“Thanks.” Her voice shook, and as the warmth washed over her sticky skin, she couldn’t keep from moaning. “Goddamn, that feels good.”
Derek laughed, but didn’t say anything. Being stuck in bed for the better part of two days hadn’t been easy on Elle. Willow’s birth had gone smoothly, according to Dr. Kemp, but as usual with Elle, she had started running a low grade fever within hours of arriving at the hospital. Dr. Kemp started her on antibiotics, but suggested waiting to get Elle out of bed and walking until the fever broke. Took almost a day and a half, but she’d managed to walk to the end of the hallway and back, passed gas, had a bowel movement, and was now getting to take a shower with the hope of going home in a few hours.
“Elle, honey, are you okay?” Derek asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “Did you pack my shampoo?”
“It’s in your bag. Just a second.” Derek
returned a moment later with a bottle of her favorite shampoo in his hands.
“Thanks, lover,” she told him, taking the bottle from him and squirting a bit into the palm of her hand. Her hair felt nasty from sweating through the fever, the hormone changes in her body, and from lying in a bed for two days. “Is Sadie back yet?”
“Any minute,” Derek replied. “She texted before leaving the house with Flora. Said your mom wanted to come with her, but she convinced her to wait with the rest of the parents. They’re a little anxious to see Willow again.”
Elle smiled. She never imagined that her mother would be the one holding her up as she gave birth to her daughter, yet in the moment she needed her the most, Helina was there.
“Okay, every time you get quiet, I worry that you’ve drowned.” Derek pulled the shower curtain back and let his eyes roam over her nude body. “Still alive, I see.”
“Not getting rid of me that easily, bub,” she quipped, holding onto the hand rails as she turned off the water. “Towel, please.”
“Can I dry you off?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
“No!” she laughed, regretting it as soon as every muscle in her body hurt. “That was stupid.”
“Sorry,” he snickered, holding a white towel out to her.
Elle dried off before holding onto his hand and stepping out of the bathroom, taking a seat on the toilet. “Can you grab my clothes, please?”
“Of course.”
Ten minutes later, Elle was seated in the recliner inside her hospital room, a fresh pair of panties, yoga pants, and a T-shirt on. Willow was suckling at her breast, her dark hair sticking out in every direction, and her eyes were clenched shut. The few times her eyes had been open over the last few days, Elle noticed that her eyes were almost a slate-grey color.
“I can’t get over how much hair she has,” Derek said, kneeling next to Elle and placing his hand under Willow’s head.
“Me, either.”
Elle had just covered her breast as the door to her room opened and Sadie rushed in side, carrying Flora in one arm. The almost nine-month old little girl had just started pulling herself up and crawling. Her strawberry-blond hair had been pulled up into pig-tails that stuck straight up.
“Sorry, we’re late,” Sadie muttered, walking over to Elle and kissing her. Flora reached down for Willow. “Oh, looks like she’s ready to meet her sister.”
Elle shifted Willow so that she was facing Flora. “Flora Hope, meet your baby sister, Willow Faith.”
“Babababa,” Flora babbled, once more reaching for her sister. Sadie was able to catch her hands before she could scratch Willow.
“Easy.” Sadie lowered Flora so she could kiss Willow’s head, which she did. “You’re going to be the best of friends, my sweet girls.”
“Or they’ll fight like cats and dogs,” Callum added, causing everyone to laugh. “Just saying.”
“No, they’ll be best friends,” Elle murmured.
“Am I interrupting?” Dr. Kemp asked, leaning against the doorjamb. She was holding a white envelope in her hand; once again, they had done a paternity test on Willow so they’d know who her biological father was.
“Is that what I think it is?” Elle asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Are you sure you want to know? It’s not going to change anything.”
“No, it won’t, but we need to know,” Callum said, sliding his hand in with Derek’s. “We’ve got two beautiful daughters.”
Dr. Kemp smiled as she opened the envelope and pulled out the results. Pausing for a moment, her eyes shifted to each of them before landing on Derek. “You’re Willow’s biological father.”
“Oh, my God,” Derek cried, bringing Callum’s hand up to his mouth. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t praying that she was mine. Just knowing that my blood flows in one of my two daughters.”
“I know, babe.” Callum slid his hand to the back of Derek’s head and pulled him in for a kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Derek wiped away his tears as he turned back to Elle and Willow, once more kneeling next to the two of them. Leaning in, he placed a kiss on Willow’s head. “Daddy loves you, sweetie. Both your daddies love you.”
“Well, I’m going to leave these on the bed,” Dr. Kemp said, breaking through the emotional moment they were having. “You’re free to leave as soon as you’re ready. Just let the nurses know and they’ll send an orderly up.”
“Thank you, Dr. Kemp,” Elle said. “For everything.”
“You’re welcome.”
Dr. Kemp smiled before she turned and walked out of the room, leaving the six of them alone.
Tears filled Elle’s eyes as her attention was pulled to the newborn resting peacefully in her arms. A year ago, Elle’s life was filled with pain and doubt, fear and worry. But now, her family was stronger, braver than ever.
Love won.
The End
Sneak Peek
To
Forever Awakenings,
Book Three of the Awakenings Series
Prelude
“What’s taking so long?” Elle muttered, mostly to herself, but when she felt Sadie’s hand slip in with hers, she knew everyone around her had heard.
They were sitting in the waiting room outside of Ivy’s hospital room. She’d been laboring all day. At forty-one weeks, she had been more than eager for the birth of her baby. Nick had been by her side all day, never once wavering in his support of his wife.
“Not everyone has a quick labor, sweetheart,” Helina said.
Elle shifted her attention to her mother, who was rocking five month old Willow. “I know.”
Her relationship with her mother had only strengthened over the last handful of months. They talked on the phone almost every day, and Elle had finally gotten her mother to start texting, which had been comical in the beginning.
Once again, their family had shown up to support Nick and Ivy. Helina and James were there, of course, preparing to welcome a new grandchild, but so were Claudia and Bruce, Samuel and Lydia. Felicia and Carlos had told them they would fly out as soon as possible, and Nick’s mother Regina had been over the moon to hear she was becoming a grandmother. Gabriel was thrilled to be a great-uncle. Lucia and Aaron were there, along with Jonas and Abe, Leigh, Thomas, and Tyson, Nate and his boyfriend Zeke.
“Mama,” Flora babbled tittering toward Elle with her arms up in the air. She’d been walking for a few months.
“Hey, pretty girl,” she murmured, scooping up the fourteen month old.
“Elle.” She turned and found Dr. Kemp standing in the entrance of the waiting room. “Ivy would like to see you, Sadie, Callum, and Derek first.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Elle placed Flora in Samuel’s waiting arms, before following her lovers across the hallway to Ivy’s room. Nick was propped up on the side of the bed, one arm around Ivy, while the other was holding their newborn baby.
“Hey,” Elle said, bracing herself against the side of the bed before releasing her cane and reaching for Ivy’s hand. “You okay?”
“I’m … I’m tired, but I’m good,” Ivy whimpered. “Nick and I wanted you to be the first to meet your nephew. This is Elliot Reid Fisher.”
“Oh, Ivy,” Elle cried, accepting the infant as Nick placed the baby boy on her arms.
“Elliot’s after you, of course. You’ve always been so strong, so brave. We wanted to honor you.”
Elle sniffed back her tears as she gazed upon the baby. “Welcome to the family, Elliot.”
Author’s Biography:
Obsessive, compulsive, slightly crazed, but enough about her personality. First and foremost, Lisa Bilbrey is a mom to three and a wife to one. She loves to write, and spends the majority of everyday writing. It’s who she is, and what she’s meant to be doing. Words are her life, the air she breathes, and the nutrients of her soul. Finding a love in the written word, Lisa Bilbrey started writing as a way to express herself and let her voice be heard. From t
he first word she wrote, she’d found her heart and soul.
Always willing to learn, she’s spends much of her time trying to improve as a storyteller.
You can follow her work at:
www.lisabilbrey.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/LisaBilbreyAuthor
@LisaBilbrey
Her works Include:
Life’s Unexpected Gifts
A Season of Change
The Apartment
Broken Hearts & Dusty Dreams
Whispers of Time Gone By
The Journey Collection:
The Journey Home
The Journey of Champions
The Journey to Forever
The Journey to a New Life
Angel’s Heart Series:
Angel’s Heart: The Keeper
Angel’s Heart: The True Enemy
Awakenings Series:
Forbidden Awakenings