by Ivy Wonders
Rebel’s cell rang in her pocket, and she fished it out as she wrangled our son who was trying desperately to get out of her grip, so he could make it up those stairs before his big brother returned with the gate to make that an impossibility. She looked at me after seeing who the call came from. “It’s Tara.”
“I hope everything’s alright.” I went to take Peyton from her, so she could answer the call without him distracting her.
“Hi, Tara,” Rebel greeted her as Eli came back with the gate, securing the staircase. “Is everything okay?”
“Not really. A spike in my blood pressure has them moving things up even more,” I could hear Tara say. “I’d really appreciate it if you guys could get Eli up here to see me before they take me into surgery. I’m not feeling right, Rebel. To tell the truth, it’s scaring me.”
Eli came to us after putting up the gate. “Is that, Mom?”
Rebel nodded. “Yeah. We’re going to get you up there as fast as we can, Eli. The doctor’s moved things up. She’s going to have the twins today, not tomorrow the way she’d expected.”
Eli held out his hand. “Can I talk to Mom?”
Rebel handed him the phone. “Sure, Slugger.”
“Mom, are you okay?” he asked.
“Eli, I think I’ll be fine. I just feel out of sorts,” she told him. “And I’ve got this urge to see you before they take me into surgery.”
“Okay, Mom,” he said as he put on a brave face. “We’ll be there soon.”
Heading back to the garage, we all got back into the suburban then headed to the hospital. Rebel and I exchanged nervous glances, knowing Tara’s situation was a dangerous one.
When we got up to the hospital and came into the maternity ward, we knew things were about as bad as they could get. Nurses rushed around, half of them going into the same room we were headed to.
Eli’s face went pale. “Something’s wrong, Dad.” He broke into a run, and we followed as best we could through the crowd.
When Code Blue came out over the intercom system, I knew Tara, and her twins were in dire straits. “Shit!”
Rebel had our son up in her arms and she, too, went pale. “Oh, God!”
Eli never made it into the room as the medical staff couldn’t allow anyone else in the room as they tried to resuscitate Tara. He came to me, his expression frantic. “Dad, what’s happening?”
“I’m not sure. We’ll just have to wait here, Son.” I put my arm around his shoulders as I tried to lend him some of my strength. I knew the boy was scared to death.
The sound of the one long beep stopped, then it started making the right sound, beeping intermittently. Rebel and I looked at each other with a little relief in our eyes. She whispered, “Good.”
Nodding, I said, “They need to get the babies out, and things will get better.”
I had hardly gotten the words out of my mouth when Tara was brought out, bed and all. They made their way to the OR, every person on her medical team wore worried expressions.
And Mark trailed behind, a nurse trying to console him, “I’m sure she’ll be fine. Once the babies are out, we can do a lot more for your wife.”
Mark’s eyes found mine, and he came to me. “Why does it have to be this way?”
I had no answer for him. Shaking my head, I said, “We have to have faith that everything will be okay.”
Rebel handed the baby to me, then held out her arms for Mark who moved right into them, and then he let out a sob that made my heart hurt for him. “Why?” he cried. “If I would’ve known this would happen to her, I wouldn’t have ever asked her to have a baby.”
“I know you wouldn’t have,” Rebel spoke quietly to him. “I know I’m just a vet, but I’ve seen this happen in lots of animals. I can tell you that once they have the babies out, the process of getting Tara’s blood pressure to stabilize will happen quickly.”
Gulping back another sob, Mark moved out of Rebel’s arms. “Okay. I believe you.” He bent down and reached for Eli, hugging him. “She’s going to be okay, Eli. And you’ll never have to worry about her going through this again.”
Rebel and I looked at each other with concern. It was evident that Mark would never want them to have any more children. And unless Tara was sterilized, then any future pregnancies would most likely be met with disapproval.
Rebel
Thirty minutes went by without a word from the OR. Mark and Eli sat next to each other in the waiting room as Harman and I tried to keep Peyton from running out of it and terrorizing the rest of the hospital.
When a nurse came out of the double doors, Harman and I both locked eyes on her. She wiggled her finger at Harman. “Doctor Hunter, can I talk to you?”
Now I was really anxious. I knew she would only be talking to him if things were horrible with Tara. Otherwise, she’d be talking to Mark. And when Harman turned to come back to me, the ashen color of his face let me know things had gone terribly wrong.
He took my hand, pulling me back with him to where Mark and Eli sat, looking worried as hell. Mark stood up. “What is it? I know it’s bad. The only reason for that nurse to talk to you instead of me means that something’s gone wrong.”
Harman put his hand on Mark’s shoulder. “Tara’s had a stroke.”
I put my hand on my chest, feeling like I might faint. Then I looked at Eli’s shocked expression and grabbed him up, hugging him as he began to cry. “It’s okay, Eli. She can recover.” I looked at Harman through teary eyes. “Right?”
He nodded. “Mark’s going to need help with the twins. Tara’s going to be incapacitated for a while. But I’ll make sure she gets the best rehabilitation.”
“My babies are okay?” Mark asked.
Eli watched his father as he gave the news everyone wanted to hear, “They’re okay.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, then I let Mark know he wasn’t going to be alone. “You guys can come home with us, Mark. We’ll all help you with the babies until Tara’s better.”
Eli’s arms wrapped around Peyton and me. “Thank you, Rebel. You’re the best ever.”
Mark nodded. “I’ll take that offer. I don’t know what I would do if I were left alone to try to care for our babies.” Tears ran down his cheeks as he turned his attention to Harman. “Is that okay with you, Harman?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Mark.” Harman gave the man who’d married his ex-wife a hug. “You’re not alone in this. You’ve got all of us.”
When another nurse came out, she went straight to Mark. “Mr. Cofield, you can come back to see your daughters now.”
“Okay.” He wiped his eyes with the backs of his hands. Then he looked at me. “Can you come with me, Rebel? I don’t feel very stable right now.”
Handing Peyton to Harman, I said, “Of course, I’ll come with you.”
We followed the nurse to the nursery where the twins laid, sleeping quietly in their bassinets. Pink beanies adorned their tiny heads. “They both weigh three pounds and four ounces. They’ll be with us until they reach five pounds. But you can be here as much as you want,” the nurse pointed out.
Mark looked at me, then back at the nurse. “Can I let this woman and her husband come to see them, too?”
She looked at me. “You’re Mrs. Cofield’s son’s step-mother, right?”
I nodded. “I am.”
“Well, that makes you family. I don’t see why you can’t be on the list,” she said. “And your husband, too. We’ll have to get your identification. I’ll take care of that before you guys leave today.”
Mark sighed as he looked at his tiny babies. “They’re here. I’m a father now. I didn’t really feel it until now.” He looked at me. “It’s terrifying.”
Nodding, I knew what he was talking about. “You’ll get used to being afraid all the time. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true.”
“I’ve got to take you back with me, Mr. Cofield. You’ve got papers to sign for your wife’s rehabilitation.” She led him
away, and he looked back at me. “Can you come with me?”
Nodding, I followed them, coming up to walk beside him. I had no idea how he felt. He had two babies to take care of and a wife who might not be the same woman he’d fallen in love with, once she got better.
Mark might be taking care of all three of them before it was all said and done. I’m sure he felt that daunting. I knew I would’ve.
The nurse led us into the room they’d taken Tara to. She lay on the bed in an unconscious state. One side of her face drooped in a horrible fashion. And then I was glad that I’d come with Mark.
Falling to his knees beside his wife’s bed, he lost himself in grief. I rested my hand on his shoulder to let him know I was there for him. The nurse and I exchanged looks that said we’d fix it all if we only could.
Unfortunately, only time would heal this kind of pain—a pain I prayed I would never have to feel. If I saw Harman like that, I didn’t know what I would’ve done. Most likely, I would’ve fallen apart the same way Mark had.
With my free hand, I reached out to put it on Tara’s forehead. “We’re here for you, Tara. I promise you that we’ll take good care of your husband and those beautiful baby girls of yours. You just rest and get better. I don’t want you to worry about a thing. I’ll be here for you as long as you need me to be.”
Mark stood up, wiping his eyes, then hugged me. “Thank you, Rebel. You’re an angel sent from above.”
I didn’t know about that, but I knew when it came to family, I would do anything to help.
Harman
Two months passed, and Mark was finally getting to bring his daughters home. We’d set up the suite of rooms Tara had stayed in before for Mark and the babies. Keeping the twins in the first room would allow us to help him out with them, letting him get some sleep as we all took shifts throughout the night.
Tara had suffered a massive stroke and still had trouble speaking. But I’d made sure she was getting the best help possible and she had made improvements. And she’d gotten to hold her babies for a short time that day when we’d stopped by the nursing home.
Sitting up in bed, her green eyes shone as Mark walked in, carrying their babies. “Hi, gorgeous,” he greeted her. “Look who I have here.”
Tara’s lopsided smile made my heart ache. The paralysis hadn’t let up much, and the left side of her face drooped. Her left arm and leg weren’t working either. Her eyes moved back and forth rapidly as I knew words had come into her head but wouldn’t make it out of her mouth.
Mark kissed her on the forehead. “I know, baby.” He put one of the girls into Tara’s right arm. “This is Betty.” He ran his finger over the name he’d had printed on her onesie. “I’ve had their names put on most of their clothing, so we can know who’s who. Having tiny identical twins isn’t easy.”
It was Rebel’s idea to keep their names on their clothes until we had a chance to get to really know the girls. Her greatest fear was getting them mixed up and switching their identities.
Tara nodded, letting him know she agreed with what he’d done. She couldn’t do any more than look at the baby she held but the way her eyes sparkled let us know how much she loved holding her new daughter.
Rebel leaned against my side, resting her head on my shoulder. “I think we should bring the babies to see her every single day, Harman. I think they’ll help her progress more rapidly. I’m glad they finally gained enough weight to be let out of the hospital. I foresee Tara’s progress moving a whole lot faster now that she can see and hold the girls.”
I agreed. “Me, too.”
Mark took Betty out of Tara’s arms and replaced her with the other girl. “And this is Carol.”
Tara looked at the baby for a long time before Mark took her back. When he did, Tara reached out with her right hand, touching him on the nose.
Mark looked confused until Rebel said, “She’s telling you that Carol has your nose, Mark.”
Tara nodded and gave Rebel a lopsided smile. Rebel moved in to give Tara a hug. “You’ve got very beautiful daughters, Tara. I’m envious of you.” She looked back at me. “It’s made me want to try for a girl. After we get through with helping you with yours, of course. I don’t want you to worry about a thing. We’ve got your old rooms fixed up for your husband and babies. No one will go without being taken care of, Tara.”
Tara patted Rebel’s arm as she looked into her eyes. One tear ran down her cheek, then Rebel quickly wiped it away. Mark looked back at me, trying not to cry himself. I nodded, letting him know I wasn’t having an easy time of it myself.
When Rebel walked away from Tara, I saw Tara pointing at me. Then she kissed her palm and held it out to me. I nodded. “You’re very welcome. Your family is in good hands, Tara. All I want you to worry about is getting better for them.”
Nodding, she closed her eyes, and we all watched as she fell asleep quickly. I knew she wanted to rest and let time heal her as fast as it could. Being unable to do anything for herself and her family had to have hit her hard. She’d been so happy about having the twins. Having another chance at having babies, and this time around she wasn’t mad about having them, had made things much better for her.
As we left her room, Rebel took one of the babies from Mark. “Let me carry her out.” She rubbed her nose against Carol’s. “Your momma noticed you’ve got your daddy’s nose, Carol. And now we’ve got a way to tell you and your sister apart since she’s got your momma’s nose.”
Tara hadn’t had any natural instincts with Eli. I was glad to see she’d formed some over the years. Even in her present state, she was already being more of a mother than she’d been to Eli when he was born.
As we headed out to the cars, I thought how sad it was that Tara had spent Eli’s younger years oblivious of what a mother’s role in her kid’s life was. And now she was incapable of caring for her new babies. She would miss out on so much once again.
When we got to the cars in the parking lot of the nursing home, a bright idea struck me. “Hey, why don’t we get full-time nurses for Tara? We could bring her home then. That way she’d get a lot more time with her babies.” If I could do nothing else, I could give Tara more time with her children.
Mark looked at me with wide eyes. “Harman, you’d do that for us?”
Rebel patted me on the back. “Giving Tara as much time as she wants with her kids is one of Harman’s great passions. And one of the things that makes me more than proud of him. I think that’s a great idea. We can have the specialists come in, too. No need for Tara to have to be taken to therapy sessions. What good is money if you don’t use it to help people, right?”
I nodded. “Right.”
Rebel
Having Tara home too made things feel much better. Mark was happy, Eli was happy, the babies were happy, and Tara was over the moon. In only two weeks, she’d gotten her mouth to cooperate with her and now could talk with just a slight slur.
Her left arm and leg were up by ten percent, which might not sound like much, but to her, it meant she could actually move the limbs she’d been unable to.
I walked into the nursery to check on the sleeping twins and saw Tara sitting in one of the two rocking chairs in the room. She gazed at her sleeping babies, not even noticing me. For a moment, I stood still, thinking I might leave her to her thoughts. Then her eyes came to mine. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I said, not sure if I should stay or not. “Do you want time alone with your babies, Tara? I can leave.”
Shaking her head, she looked at the chair next to her. “Come sit with me.”
“I was just checking on them.” I took the seat she’d offered. “I’ve fallen in love with your babies, Tara.”
“All of them,” she said with a much less droopy smile. “First Eli, and now Betty and Carol.” Reaching over to touch the back of my hand, she asked, “How would you like to be their Godmother, Rebel? Mark and I were talking last night, and we know of no other people in this entire world who would make better Godpare
nts to our daughters than you and Harman.”
I couldn’t believe it. She was sharing her children with us in a way I’d never imagined. “We would be honored, Tara. Truly honored.”
A tear fell from her eye. “I’m honored, Rebel. I’m honored to have met you. You came into this family and made it into a real family. It’s as if we were never broken. And now you’ll make my daughters feel the same way you made my son feel—like part of you. Let me tell you that knowing you’ve got my back made this hard time a lot more tolerable.”
“Good.” I took her hand, holding it. “I never saw this coming, Tara. Not in a million years did I imagine a thing like this being my life. And I wouldn’t change one single thing about it.”
“I’m glad,” she said. “Me, neither.”
I thought I’d let her in on a secret Harman and I had. “Well, I’m trying to change one thing. Harman and I are trying for a little girl of our very own.”
Tara smiled. “Good. Betty and Carol will have someone to play with. Peyton’s a bit too rowdy for them, I’m afraid.”
“Don’t I know it.” That boy was a little terror. I saw Peyton as a loner type who would probably get into as much trouble as he could find. “Maybe having a little sister will chill that boy out.”
Tara laughed. “I wouldn’t count on it. I saw him running past here this morning. He had a fireplace poker in his hand, laughing hysterically as he ran from Harman. It wasn’t safe at all, but I couldn’t help but laugh as that little boy with those short legs outran long-legged Harman.”
“He’s a freak of nature, that kid.” I would’ve loved to blame Harman for Peyton’s antics. But the truth was, I was a lot like that boy when I was a baby. Or so my parents said anyway. I had trouble believing them about that. They kept telling me Peyton would make a complete turnaround once he hit puberty, the way I had. All I could do was hope that was the case with my son.
“So, I’ll wish for you to have a girl this time,” Tara said. “And a calm little princess of one at that.”
One of the babies stirred and I got up to see which one of them was waking up. Betty’s green eyes opened, and I smiled at her. “Morning, Sweetheart.” Picking her up, I kissed her on the forehead before handing her to Tara. “I’ll go make her a bottle.”