Breathless

by Vanessa Marie

  Sam’s eyes shot open and he rushed over as close as he could get. Cheers erupted in the room and he burst into tears. At last, he released everything he'd been holding in.

  Doctor Brown’s team slipped an oxygen mask back over her face as Doctor Cage's team continued to sew her up.

  Someone tapped Sam on the shoulder. The baby's screams had faded into background noise and he wasn't even sure how. It did not matter.

  He turned to see a nurse holding his swaddled little monster just in front of him. "Would you like to meet your daughter?"

  He sucked in a ragged breath and pulled her into his arms. Immediately, he vowed silently to always protect her as he memorized every perfect inch of her.

  ✦✧✦✧✦✧

  Sam stood outside the nursery with Joe, Jules, and Javier. They looked through the glass as Callie took her turn inside holding Stella. To say it'd been a long and stressful day would be putting situation mildly. They were barely keeping it together.

  "Do we know how long she'll be in the ICU this time?" Joe never took his eyes off his granddaughter. He could not.

  The last few hours replayed in Sam's mind and he released a ragged breath. "I'm not sure. They said it was a massive heart attack and they want to keep her in there for close observation. I'm still trying to process everything that happened." He shook his head and pressed his fingers together over his temples.

  Joe clasped his hands on Sam's shoulders. "We'll get through this. You did good, daddy. You've got one beautiful little creature there, and I know you'll do anything in your power to protect her."

  Their eyes met, each brimmed with tears. "I feel like I've already failed her, Joe. There she was screaming all new to the world and I wasn't there for her. I was in the corner staring at Charlie and praying she'd pull through. I couldn't even force myself to look at the baby."

  "Sam, you were there. That's more than I got when Charlie was born. They shoved me out of the room and I was in the hall all alone. I had no idea what was happening with either of them. It was an impossible situation, but the baby was in good hands, just as she is now. It's okay." Joe squeezed his shoulder and Sam relaxed a bit. He just needed someone to tell him it was going to be okay.

  A nurse walked out and pulled the mask down from her face in front of them. "So, have we decided on a name for baby girl Greyson?"

  A part of him wanted to yell at her for not waiting to ask Charlie, but he wasn't sure how long she was going to be out of it. Sam didn't want his daughter to be the unnamed baby, especially because they already had a name picked out. "Yes. It's Stella Rae."

  "Rae?" Javier asked, wide-eyed.

  Sam noticed the knowing glance Javier and Joe exchanged. "What? What's wrong?"

  Javier just smiled and shook his head as he wiped his face. "Nothing. It's just, well…that was Angie's middle name."

  He nodded. "We know. That's why Charlie wanted to give it to the baby."

  "Yeah," Joe chimed in with a smirk. "What Charlie doesn't know, though, is that Angie was named that after Javier's middle name, which is Raymone."

  Sam liked that the family name ran deeper than they knew and was certain Charlie would, too.

  ✦✧✦✧✦✧

  The chair rocked back and forth slowly as the little creature squirmed and nuzzled closer into Sam's chest. The nurses told him skin-to-skin contact was the best thing he could do for her, so that was exactly what he did. His shirt was off and Stella curled against his chest with a fleece blanket wrapped around them.

  He pushed off with his feet, rocked back on his heels, and gently whispered, "You know, you squirm just like your mommy does when she's trying to get comfy."

  The beeping of the machines hooked up to Charlie overshadowed Stella’s tiny breathing. She let out a pitiful, little sigh and buried her head under Sam's chin like a kitten.

  "Comfy now?"

  She remained still and breathed steadily. Sam cast his glance from his beautiful, dark-haired, grey-eyed little girl to Charlie, who was also asleep.

  "I want you to know that your mom is the most amazing woman I've ever met. You're here because of how much she loves you and how much she was willing to risk, just like her mommy did for her." He pressed his lips against her tiny forehead and took in her scent that was sweet and only hers. "She's going to smother you in kisses and never let you go when she wakes up, so I better enjoy this time with you while I've got it. From what they can tell, the doctors say you're healthy as a horse, even though you've come out early. We just have to keep you in your little spaceship at night for a few days. I don't want you to be afraid, though. Okay? It's just a part of this crazy adventure we're starting together. Daddy loves you more than I ever knew it was possible to love someone."

  Sam smiled to himself and then at Charlie for giving him the most precious gift he could have ever received. "My hope for you is you grow up to be strong and brave…maybe even a little stubborn like your mommy. A little of that is a good thing, Stella. She can teach you a lot about life and love. I hope you grow up to be just like her." He placed another kiss on her forehead.

  "Be careful what you wish for," Charlie said with a raspy voice.

  Sam's head shot up in surprise. He hadn’t expected her to stir already. Before he responded, he glanced down to make sure he hadn’t jolted their baby awake.

  Thankfully, she was still asleep.

  "Are you ready to meet our daughter?"

  He placed their daughter in Charlie’s arms and while he watched the two of them together for the first time, he saw something in her eyes he’d never seen before.

  Her hope for the future.

  ✦✧✦✧✦✧

  Minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days, and days turned into weeks. Charlie had suffered a major heart attack during delivery just like she'd always feared, but she had people in her corner that weren't ready to give up on her.

  Doctor Brown never gave up on her and he was the reason she was home resting comfortably with her beautiful healthy baby girl Stella Rae Greyson, who weighed in at 5lbs 8oz on March, 3rd, 2014.

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  First and foremost I’d like to thank my readers. I can’t believe I actually have any! When I first sat down to write Charlie’s story in Heartless, I only thought there was only going to be one book. Little did I know, Charlie wasn’t going to be quiet until her story was told. Exactly, The way SHE. Wanted it. Breathless has shown me so much of who they are as characters, I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us in book 3, Fearless. So, thank you to everyone who has stuck by us through this incredible journey. Its been one hell of an emotional ride!

  To my family, You all are the driving force behind everything I do. Faith, you’re the reason this thing got finished. I’ve never seen a better cheerleader/slave-driver than you, sweetheart. I love you and I’m proud to call you my daughter. Eli and Stella, you two are a constant inspiration to me as I watch you grow. I love you both so much! Mom & Janine; Thank you for all of the plotting and rambling sessions while the baby terrorized the house. I couldn’t have worked out my ideas without you guys. Bryan; You’ve always supported me and answered every random question of ‘what would you do’ no matter how off the wall it may be. You’ve picked up my slack with dirty dishes, dirty diapers and crazy kids so I can work on this dream. I love you more than you’ll ever know! Dad and Anthony: You guys are my biggest cheerleaders and you’re never afraid to call me on my crap! I couldn’t love you more! Rae-Rae-Bear, what can I say…not matter the distance between us you’re still the best sister a girl could ever have. This is still all your fault and I love you sissy.

  Nicole Caldwell, Girl, you are the Insane to my Asylum. lol. All of the phone calls, texts, emails, kik messages, ‘Holy Shit read this’ and ‘I’m going to burn this manuscript’ conversations we’ve had over the last eight months… I didn’t think this thing was ever going to get finished. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for loving me. Thank y
ou for being my one of my best friends and thank you for pushing me. I love your face! I still say you need to move to town so we can screw up our kids together! Now it’s only 800 miles lol.

  Candi and Angela, You two. I don’t even know where to begin. When you reviewed Heartless and were so passionate about my characters I couldn’t believe someone could love them as much as I did. Then you asked if there was going to be a second book and if you could be a part of it. So, when it came time to have the first set of eyes on it, I couldn’t think of anyone else I wanted to take it for a test drive than you guys. The time and energy you’ve put into everything you do for me. I just don’t have words. From the bottom of my heart, thank you! I love you both dearly!

  Jenni Moen, you blew into my life like a hurricane and ripped it to shreds with Paul, Kate and Grace! I am so happy that I met you and that I can call you my friend. Thank you for all of your help and support through the last few weeks. I wouldn’t have made it through crunch time without you. Here’s to more crazy adventures together.

  Lisa Bryk, I love your face. Being sick sucks a fat one and I’m just going to harass you until you love me again. I’m going to build you a magic wand, give you your own Dr. Who and one of the boys from Supernatural! *Wink,Wink*

  To all of the bloggers out there, thank you for everything that you do. You guys work so hard to help promote us and share the books that you love. Jamie, Cassie, Angie, Candi, Letty, Abby, Dawn, Kristine, Juls, T-Bird, Jenn, Chelsea, Kate & Erin. @ Heart of a Reader. @ Abibliophobia Anonymous Blog, @ Eskimo Princess Book Blog, @ Cover to Cover Book Blog, @ Up All Night Book Blog, @ I love Story Time, @ Bookworm Betties, @Nerd Girl Official, @Kitty Kats Crazy About Books @Crystals Many Reviewers @New Kids With A Book and Southern Belle Book Blog.… I know there are so many more, thank you for showing me love and support.

  The crazy Pimpin Vixen’s on my street team. You ladies are fantastic. I don’t know what I did to deserve your kind of love and support, but I thank you all from the bottom of my heart! As soon as I get some free time, there will be pimp gloves made!

  Sarah Sprinklepants, one more time thank you for another gorgeous cover! You have a gift!

  Jake at State Farm, thank you for allowing Sarah untie you and making my words shine.

  I know if forgetting so many people, just know I love and cherish you all. Thank you so much for everything!

  Always the cause of shenanigans, Vanessa is a heavily tattooed, sarcastic motorcycle enthusiast who started her career as a Jeep tech at the age of sixteen. The happily married mother of three little monsters—oops, children—lives in Kentucky by way of Las Vegas, Nevada. Once her life took a different direction—sidelined by Heart Disease at 26 and becoming a pacemaker recipient—she decided to write as a creative outlet, and Heartless was born. She realizes life can be dark clouds and acid rain at times, but her outlook on life puts a positive and sarcastic spin on it all.

  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVanessaMarie/info

  http://vanessamarienovels.com/

  https://twitter.com/InkedVanessaM