by Ivy Wonders
“Please, Daddy.”
Tabby’s here?
Although not easy, my will had me opening my eyes. And there were my two girls, with smiles on their faces and tears in Ky’s eyes. “Hi,” I croaked out with a hoarse voice. Not using it in a few days made it sound odd and unfamiliar.
Tabby looked stunned. “Daddy, are you okay? What happened to your voice?”
Harris put his hand on my daughter’s shoulder. “He hasn’t spoken in five days, Tabby. It’ll take time for his vocal cords to get back into shape. He’ll be talking like your daddy before you know it.”
Ky wouldn’t let go of my hand, and I felt the pressure. “Missed you,” I whispered. It felt better to whisper than to speak normally.
“Missed you more.” She pulled my hand up to kiss it. “I’m so pleased you’re awake.”
Looking at Tabby, I remembered talk that her grandparents had her. If that memory was correct, then how did Ky manage to get her back?
So many questions, but my voice just wasn’t up to it yet. “Jell-O.”
Harris nodded. “I’ll get that. Some warm broth will help, too. Not to worry, Alex.” Looking at Ky, he took the hint. “Hey, Tabby, do you want to come with me to get your dad something to soothe his throat?”
“Yes.” Tabby took Harris’s hand, and he led her out of the room, leaving Ky and me alone.
Ky leaned over, kissing my forehead. “You scared me. Try not to do that.”
I nodded. Seeing her with my recovered senses made my heart swell. “I’ll try. You’re so beautiful. I love you so much.”
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she sniffled. “This will be the last of the tears, Alex. Now that you’re awake and on the road to recovery, I’ve made a vow to stop all the crying. You’ve made it through the hardest part; you’ll make it home for certain.”
I remembered her saying she left our home.
“You heard that?” She looked peculiar. “You knew I left?”
I nodded. “I’m glad you came back. That’s your home, Ky.”
“It didn’t feel like it without you or Tabby in it.” She gripped my hand. “By the way, we never have to lose sleep about the Vanderhavens taking Tabby away if anything happens to you. I straightened them out.”
I couldn’t believe it. “You did what?”
She smiled. “They took Tabby when they came to see you here. The fact I left Tabby with Chloe to come here made them angry, and they took her back to Spokane, telling me they will not bring her home until you were there, too. And they went so far as to say if you didn’t come home, neither would she.”
I hated that Ky and Tabby had gone through that. “I’ll fix that.”
She shook her head. “You don’t have to. When I talked to Tabby on the phone, they were going about their lives as usual, and Tabby was with their butler. So Steven took me there, and I got our kid.”
She called Tabby ours. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too. And I love Tabby, too. I’m her mother. I don’t care if we aren’t officially married yet. I don’t care if she’s not yet legally adopted. She is mine. I love her with all of my heart. I’m her mother in almost every sense of the word. I wasn’t about to leave her there. She needed to be with you as much as I did.”
“I needed her, too. Her voice is what made me open my eyes. Thank you.” Ky had taken on the Vanderhavens and won.
“It wasn’t that much of a fight.” Ky ran her hand over my cheek. “When I approached them with reasonable words that I wasn’t just their granddaughter’s babysitter, I was her mother in all the ways that mattered. And seeing the way Tabby clung to me—they knew I wasn’t lying. They were finally convinced.”
“You’re amazing.” At times, even I had a tough time standing up to them. Pulling her to me, I wrapped my arms around her. “Thank you for coming into our lives. Thank you for being you, Ky.”
“Stop it.” She kissed my cheek before pulling herself out of my arms to wipe more tears out of her eyes. “You’re making me cry again. I’m breaking my vow.”
Looking at her, I made the right decision by asking her to marry me. No one could be more perfect for Tabby and me. Reaching out, I put my hand on her flat stomach. “Have you checked to see if you’re pregnant yet?”
She shook her head. “Not without you, Alex. I wouldn’t do that without you being there.”
My eyes went to the bathroom. “Do it now.”
“I’ll have to buy a test.” She looked at me with glistening eyes. “I am a few days late. That might just be due to stress, though.”
“It might.” I nodded. “But it might not.” I wanted to know if she was pregnant. My patience wasn’t functioning the way it normally did. “Please get a test, then come back. I have to know one way or the other.”
“I’ll leave once they get back.” She looked over her shoulder. “What about Tabby?”
“She’s fine here with me. The nurses around can help out. Don’t wait. Go now.” What was wrong with me? But I couldn’t stop thinking about the baby.
With a kiss goodbye, Ky left and I watched her go, knowing our love would stand the test of time. Rachelle was gone. No one could ever bring her back. She hadn’t really visited me. It was all in my injured brain. But it felt good to think so, and that she’d told me to love like there’d be no tomorrow.
Maybe that was why I lacked patience. I didn’t know if tomorrow would come and wanted to experience everything as soon as I could.
Harris and Tabby came back, and Tabby asked, “Where’s Ky?”
“I sent her on an errand,” I told her.
Harris pulled the table over to me, putting the Jell-O on it. “Do you think you can feed yourself?”
I moved my arm up to rest it on the table, but it took a lot. “Man, this is difficult.”
Tabby hopped up on the bed and took the spoon. “I’ll feed you, Daddy. Don’t worry.”
Tears were burning the backs of my eyes, and the sentiment wasn’t lost on Harris either as he used his fingers to hold back tears that had sprung in his eyes. “Oh, hell.” He shook his head. “I’ll leave you two alone. Push the button if you need anything.”
“Open wide, Daddy,” Tabby said as she scooped the green stuff out of the container. “It’s good for you.”
I took the bite, trying not to cry with each spoonful she gave me. But it wasn’t easy. And when a tear slipped out, I saw the odd look in her eyes. “Daddy’s just happy to see you, Tabby.”
She shrugged. “Oh, okay. I missed you so much.” She put another bite into my mouth. “Ky got me. I was so happy. Ky told me you were sleeping.”
Ky came back into the room, a small brown bag in her hand. She held it up. “Got it.” Her eyes moved over Tabby and I. “Helping Daddy eat, Tabby?”
“Yes. His hands aren’t working” She smiled. “I’m a big helper.”
“Yes, you are.” Ky looked at me with a huge smile. “Here it goes then. Soon we’ll know if we’ve done the job or have to get back at.”
I nodded as Tabby gave me another bite.
In a few minutes, we’ll know if I’m going to be a daddy again.
Chapter 30
Ky
The weather perfect, the sky a brilliant blue that shone above the tall pine trees, and the smell of roses made all my senses blissful as I stood with my father at the end of the green carpet leading me to my man.
Alex looked handsome as he stood there, waiting for me. But first Tabby tossed red rose petals that matched the red roses on her shoes. Walking slowly, the way we’d practiced, Tabby didn’t rush as she took the rose petals a handful at a time.
When she got to her daddy, she handed my maid of honor, Carla, the little basket she carried. “Here, Carla.” Then she held her arms up for her father to pick her up. “Here I am, Daddy.”
Our guests laughed quietly as Alex picked his daughter up. “Are you ready for Ky to come join our family, Tabby?”
She nodded, and tears welled up behind my
eyes as she said, “I am ready.”
With a nod from Alex, the wedding march started playing through the speakers, and my father took me down the aisle as I tried not to cry out loud. Tears trickled down my cheeks as I went to join Alex’s family.
My father whispered, “You’re going to be very happy, Ky.” He kissed my cheek through the veil that covered my face and then let me go before taking his seat next to my mother.
“I know.” I handed the bouquet of red roses to Carla who smiled at me. “Thank you.”
She nodded. “You’re welcome.”
No one knew how I’d panicked when Alex was in the hospital. Carla kept that a secret. I didn’t want Alex to learn how frightened I was and that I even entertained the thought of not going through with the marriage.
Turning to look at my family, I had to reach out for Alex’s hand as my knees went weak. He took it, holding it and looking at me. “Hey, I love you, Ky. Everything is going to be alright.”
“I believe you.” We turned to face the justice of the peace we hired to officiate the wedding.
The rest was a blur of softly spoken words meant to let each other and everyone else know how committed we are to making this marriage work. When that was over, and Alex was told he could kiss the bride, Tabby said, “Me first.” Her soft lips touched my cheek, then she whispered the sweetest words, “I love you, Mommy.”
The tears couldn’t be held back, and I let them flow as I kissed her cheek. “I love you, too, my baby girl.”
Alex put Tabby down, and Carla took her hand as Alex took me into his arms. His eyes held mine as he inched closer. “I will always love you, Ky Arlen.”
“I will always love you, too, Dr. Arlen.” Our lips touched, and fire ripped through me.
I’m Alex’s wife!
He picked me up and took me down the aisle as everyone cheered. It was magical! And when I saw Rebecca Vanderhaven dabbing away tears, I knew she approved mouthing, “Congratulations.”
I mouthed back, “Thank you.”
The fact Tabby’s grandparents had come to our wedding made us glad. We could all become family now. That’s all I ever wanted was for us to become: a family who loved and cared about each other.
Alex stopped as we got to the end of the green carpet and turned to face the crowd. “Thank you all for coming. We’re blessed to have so many people care about us. Adding Ky to my family is one of the best things I’ve ever done. And we’ve got news, too.” He nodded in Tabby’s direction. “Tabby, you can give everyone the news now, honey.”
Tabby held her arms up to Carla. “Pick me up, Carla?”
“Sure.” Carla picked her up and kissed her on the cheek. “You’re adorable.”
“Thank you,” Tabby said. “You’re pretty, too.”
Andrew, who was Alex’s best man, nodded. “Yeah, she is.”
Tabby giggled. “Uncle Andrew likes you.”
I laughed, then called out, “The big news, Tabby. Come on, people are waiting, and your dad can’t hold me like this for much longer.”
“Can too,” Alex said then lifted me even higher. “See? No problem at all.”
“Be careful, Daddy!” Tabby shouted. “Okay, the big news.” Everyone got quiet. All eyes were on Tabby as she said, “We’re having a baby!”
More cheers rang out, and Alex kissed me once more. “We’re going to be a great family, Ky. I promise.”
And I believe him.
Epilogue
Alex
Taking the stairs two at a time, I hurried to get Tabby and Ky and their things to the car. “Okay, guys. We should hurry up. You take too much time.”
Ky shouted, “There’s plenty of time, Alex. Chill. I want to straighten my hair. There’ll be pictures, and I don’t want to look like a dweeb.”
Tabby called out. “She will curl my hair, too, Daddy. Chill.”
I got to the bedroom where Ky was running the straightener through her hair while Tabby watched and ran her hand over Ky’s swollen belly. “It’s okay, baby brother. You’re fine. I will have beautiful curls when you meet me.”
“He won’t care,” I threw up my arms. “Or even remember how beautiful you both were. Can we just bypass this beauty session and get to the hospital? The contractions are only five minutes apart, Ky. You’ve got to get to the hospital. There are things you’ve got to get hooked up to and monitors for the baby’s heart rate.”
“Married to a doctor, I don’t really worry about that,” Ky let me know. “Worst case scenario, you can deliver your son. Have you decided on his name yet?”
I couldn’t believe she thought I could deliver our son. “Ky, I’m not that kind of a doctor. We’ve talked about this at length. The pros need to handle you and our son when he comes out. Please, do not tinker around until I have to call an ambulance.”
Ky rolled her eyes. “Okay, if it means that much to you.”
Tabby’s lower lip jutted out as she pouted. “I want curls.”
I grabbed the one curling iron that heated up on propane and unplugged the cord to the straightener Ky had in her hand. “Here you go. We can do your hair in the car. Now, come on, please, girls.”
Ky stood and waddled toward the door as Tabby ran ahead of us. “Daddy, Pick the name I like. Bo-Bo is great.”
“For a monkey.” I rolled my eyes as I took Ky’s hand to help her down the stairs. “I saw this going in a different manner.”
“What name did you pick?” she asked.
“I’ll know his name when I see him.” I just knew that intuitively.
I felt a huge sense of relief as Steven drove us toward the hospital. Ky curled Tabby’s hair, making her cheerful, and I was happy to be closer to the hospital with each passing moment.
As we pulled into the parking lot, Ky’s eyes went as big as saucers. “Oh, no!”
A puddle was pooling around her feet on the floor. “The water broke.”
Steven pulled up to the entrance, and I jumped out and ran to get a wheelchair. Making sure Ky was situated and as comfortable as possible, I had Tabby hang onto the wheelchair so I wouldn’t lose her.
My heart finally slowed down once Ky was hooked up to the monitors and Tabby was seated on a chair near her head so she could be with her, but not see anything that might traumatize her.
Tabby ran her hand over Ky’s cheek as she panted with a contraction. “It’s okay, Momma. You’re very brave.”
“Not really.” Ky’s face was red. “You’re helping me a lot, Tabby. Thank you.”
“No problem.” Tabby smiled. “Now I can help, Momma. I am a good helper. When the baby comes, I will help him, too.”
I took my place on the other side of Ky as I nodded. “You are a great helper, and we all appreciate you so much, baby girl.”
“I’m not a baby,” Tabby said. “My baby brother is.”
Ky laughed, then moaned as another contraction racked her body. “Ow.”
Four hours later, we welcomed our son, and Tabby’s little brother, into the world. His cries loud, he came into the world letting everyone know he’d arrived. “Conan,” I dubbed our son.
Ky smiled. “Yeah, Conan.”
Tabby smiled, too. “I like it. Conan is my baby brother. He is very red.”
“He’ll change colors,” Ky said, then looked at me worried. “Right?”
“Yes. He won’t stay red like this.” The nurse handed our crying son to me. And he went quiet. “Hi there, buddy.” His eyes opened, and he looked right at me. “You’ve got blue eyes like me.”
“They might change,” Ky said as she leaned up to see him better.
I took a seat on the bed next to her, then put him into her arms. “I doubt they will. They’re the same color as mine.”
She ran her hand over his dark, matted hair. “And he’s got your hair, too. You’ve got a little mirror image, Alex.”
It was way too soon, but I said it anyway, “Looks like we’ll have to try for one who will look like you, Ky.”
Tabby clap
ped. “Oh, goody! A baby sister, Momma! Yes!”
Ky was speechless until she finally uttered, “Three years, guys. Give me three years, okay?”
“You got it,” Tabby said.
I kissed Ky’s cheek, then we both looked at what we created. “I can give you three years, baby.”
Conan’s small head turned to take in his family. Tabby reached out to touch his tiny hand. “He’s so little. Smaller than my dolls. I am so happy.” Then she giggled.
I got up and went around to pick her up, hugging her as I looked at Ky wiping a tear from my eye. “Tears of joy. We’ve found it, Ky. We’ve found our happily ever after.”
The End
The Doctor’s Nanny Extended Epilogue
Five years later…
Alex
Traffic got in my way as I tried to get to the hospital to do my rounds. I hated days like this, reminders of that fateful day that nearly took my life. Light rain, intermittent with torrential downpours, made the streets slippery and dangerous. With the traffic being so heavy, I didn’t doubt the parking garage at Saint Christopher’s would be closed again.
Filming inside the structure had gotten popular for reasons I couldn’t imagine. One band even rented it out to make a video. The dark and dank atmosphere proved to be what some of the darker entertainers loved about the place. The place I preferred to park, so I didn’t have to cross any streets to get to work.
The day was a special one. Conan’s fourth birthday had us busy that day. No time for irregularities in my schedule. Tabby wanted me to pick up some strawberry Jell-O from the cafeteria too. It was Conan’s fav, is what she’d told me before I’d left the house.
Tabby, now eight, proved to be the best big sister the world had ever seen. That was a thing she reminded Ky of all the time in the last year. Ky had asked for a three-year reprieve from giving Tabby another sibling to dote on. That had been extended as Ky had gone back to school to get her teaching degree. Pregnancy didn’t fit into her present plans, a thing that made Tabby pretty peeved at her mother.
I understood completely. Ky wanted to do more than just be a wife and mother. She wanted a career that could stimulate her mind. Staying home, watching after the kids just wasn’t enough for her any longer. And I was okay only with having our daughter and son.