by Sean Michael
“Me either. Hell, I don’t think I’ve ever had someone I’d call a lover,” Tenor admitted.
“I’ve had a few. One or two that were amazing, but it’s been a while.”
“I’m just glad you aren’t seeing anyone, ’cause I’d have hated to miss this.”
“I—” His phone began to ring, Marsha’s ringtone. “Let me grab this. She’s probably just confirming for tomorrow.”
“Go for it. I’m so looking forward to it.” Tenor backed off, moving to the side a little. Giving him his space, he supposed.
“Hey, Mar—”
“Can you come to the hospital?”
“Wait. What?”
“My water broke. They’re coming.” Marsha sounded panicked.
“It’s too early!” They had two more months.
“Oh shit.” Tenor got out of bed and grabbed his clothing, started dressing.
“I know, but they’re definitely coming. If you’re not fast, you’re going to miss it entirely. Please, Daniel, hurry.” Panic sounded like it was morphing into hysteria.
“Okay. Okay, I’m on my way.” He jumped out of bed, his heart going a million miles a minute.
“The babies?” Tenor asked, handing him the clothes he’d been wearing earlier.
“Yes. It’s not time. We’re not ready.”
Tenor grabbed his shoulders and squeezed them. He looked up, meeting Tenor’s gaze. “Take a deep breath, and then another one. This is your first lesson in babies. They work on their own schedule, not yours. You’re going to need to be able to roll with the changes and come up with a new plan whenever they blow your original one out of the water. With three at once, it’s going to happen a lot. But it’s okay. There’s two of us, and we know how to walk and how to open the fridge. We’ve got this.”
“But what if…” Oh God. What if they were… broken?
“Stop it. You’re going to go there, and you’re going to help Marsha get through this, and you’re going to greet your three babies. Two months isn’t even that early. They’re going to be small and healthy and wonderful. Now get dressed and I’ll drive.”
“I need to tell Matt and Elle.” He stumbled through putting his pants on.
Tenor grabbed him, steadying him. “You can call them in the car. Do you have a bag you packed ahead to bring?”
“I do. Sort of. It’s just my go bag.” Daniel grabbed Tenor’s fingers. “I’m scared. I know I have to not be, but I am.”
Tenor squeezed his fingers, then drew him in and gave him a tight hug. “I’m here for you, Daniel. You’re not in it alone. Now let’s go. She needs you, yeah?”
“Yeah. Yeah, they all do.” And that was it, wasn’t it? He was the daddy and they needed him, so this was his chance to be there. “Let’s go.”
“Good man. Grab the bag.” Tenor headed downstairs.
He texted Elle and then hollered for Matt as he ran downstairs. “Matt! The babies are coming!”
Matt came out of the kitchen. “What? No, it’s too early.”
“They’re coming,” Tenor said. “Can you take the lasagna out of the oven, please? And can you get the car seats prepped for when we need them?? We’re kind of in a hurry. They’re in the nursery. Still boxed, I’m afraid.”
“Of course. Of course. The baby shower is…”
“You deal with it, Matt? Please?”
“Of course, Danny. Of course. Call. Go. I love you.”
Daniel stopped and grabbed the man that was his family, all the way to the bone. “I love you. Thank you.”
“I love you too. You’ve got this. Go get our girls.”
Oh God.
“I’m on it. I’ll call.”
And then they were on the road.
Oh God.
Chapter Nine
Tenor sat in the waiting room, playing games on his phone as he waited for Daniel to come tell him the babies were born. He might have been praying, too, that they’d be all right.
He hadn’t seen Daniel since they got here, Daniel going immediately to Marsha’s room.
Ten had to admit, Daniel had been amazing, once he’d had his little moment of panic. This was a man used to talking to symphonies. By the time they’d made it to the hospital, Daniel had made a dozen calls, cancelled his trip to London, left the baby shower in Elle’s lap, transferred money around, and spoken to his manager.
Crazy.
Stunning too, though.
He shook himself and checked his watch. Only a couple minutes later than the last time he’d checked. Waiting officially sucked.
His phone binged. All here. 3 lb. 1 oz, 3 lb. 8 oz., 4 lb. Heading to the NICU. 30 fingers, 30 toes, all breathing. Marsha is good. Her husbands with her
Oh, that was wonderful news. Thank God. Yay! What can I do? He really wanted to see the girls but imagined he wouldn’t be allowed in the NICU.
Come to the third floor. I want them held and cuddled.
Score! He’d get to bond with them right away, alongside Daniel. It meant so much to him. omw
He slipped his phone into his pocket and made his way up to the NICU with a skip in his step. This was his job and his joy. Sure, prepping for them had been fun, especially with the unlimited budget he’d had, but he was here for the girls themselves and he couldn’t wait to meet them.
He went to the nurses’ station and introduced himself, tickled as hell that they took him to scrub and gown up without asking questions.
He followed the nurse eagerly as she led him into the area where they kept the babies. He grinned the moment he saw Daniel.
“Melody was first. She’s tiny.” Daniel whispered. “They’re checking them all out.”
Laughing softly, he wrapped Daniel in a tight hug. “Congratulations, Daddy!”
Daniel sobbed once. “They’re so pretty and little.”
“I can’t wait to meet them. How long before we can bring them home?” They were preemies, but it sounded like they were a good size. Especially considering they were triplets. God, were any of their clothes going to be small enough? They might just have to swaddle them in blankets until they grew into the newborn onesies that filled the drawers at home.
“They need some time, but the doctor was hoping she’d stay pregnant another week or two, so I’m thinking a week or so?”
“That’s not too bad. We can take shifts being here with them so they’re not alone.” He’d bet Matt and Elle would be happy to spell them for an hour or two during the day.
“Yeah. I don’t want them to feel alone. I want them to know they’re loved.”
“With that as your starting point, they’re already ahead of the game.” He rubbed Daniel’s back and tried not to crane his neck looking for them. The nurses would bring them soon.
Two little incubators were brought over, the little ones as dark-haired as their father. “Babies two and three. Number one is getting some oxygen.”
“Is she okay? Can I see her?”
“Relax. She’s in great shape, just little. Seriously. You’ll upset these two if you stress out.” The nurse sounded so calm.
“Sit and hold Harmony for a few minutes, and I’ll take Kyrie. Then I’m sure they’ll take you to see Melody.” Tenor was pretty sure Daniel wouldn’t be able to relax completely until he saw for himself that Melody was fine, but he’d bet that holding one of his daughters would go a long way to easing him.
“But she’s fine?”
“She’s just getting some help.” The nurse picked up Harmony and handed her to Daniel. “She needs you, Dad.”
Daniel took his daughter, his face softening and a look of wonder crossing it. Tenor knew he was watching Daniel fall in love with his baby girl, and he knew Daniel would fall in love with each of them. It was a beautiful thing.
He carefully took Kyrie in his arms, this baby a go
od size in his hands, sweet and warm. Oh God. Look at her. She looked right up at him, eyes so alert, so aware. He couldn’t help but smile, everything else disappearing for a moment.
“Hello, beautiful. Aren’t you just the most precious little girl?”
She stared at him, eyes just like her father’s.
The nurse touched his arm. “There’s a rocking chair right behind you.”
He managed to tear his eyes from Kyrie for a moment to check and discovered not only the rocking chair, but Daniel sitting in an identical one right next to it. Sitting, he grinned at Daniel. “This is the best thing ever, isn’t it?”
“Yes. If I weren’t worried about their sister, it would be perfect.”
“Then give me Harmony and go check on her.” After he checked on Melody, Daniel would be able to relax and revel in holding these two. Ten held out his free arm. Two this little were easy enough if you were sitting.
“Can I see her? Please?” Ten asked.
“Of course.” Daniel handed Harmony to him with shaky hands and then followed the nurse.
Chuckling as he smiled down at the two of them, he began to gently rock. “Some might think I just wanted you both to myself, but that was just a happy byproduct of having your daddy go see your big sister.” Big sister? Little sister? Yes, she’d been born first, but she was the smallest of the three. Did it matter? No, it didn’t.
Ten kissed Harmony’s forehead, then Kyrie’s, then began talking softly to them. He wanted them to know his voice. He told them about the big house they were going to live in and about Daniel and Grandpa Matt, and all the music they were going to have in their lives. “Don’t worry, though. If either of you want to be a welder or a baseball player, that’s fine too. I’ve got your back.”
They were beautiful and perfect, tiny little girls with ebony hair and dark blue eyes. He kept rocking, thinking he could do just this forever. Not that anyone was going to let him, least of all these darlings themselves. Soon they’d start squawking for food and there would be dirty diapers and that was just in the next little while.
Daniel came back in. “She’s so tiny, Tenor. I mean, seriously, she’s three-quarters the size of Kyrie. She’s getting oxygen and fluids, but I got to talk to her and touch her.”
“That’s amazing. I guess we know who the dominant kid was in the womb, eh?” He chuckled and jiggled Kyrie a little. “Are you just very good at processing nutrients and turning them into growing materials? Is that you?”
“I thought the firstborn was supposed to be the dominant one.” Daniel came over and took Harmony. “Hey, baby girl. I’m your reason for therapy.”
Tenor chuckled. “Hopefully she won’t need any. You’re going to be a great dad. And it wasn’t a natural birth, so I’m not sure how that factors into firstborns and what not.”
“We’ll just let them be who they are.” Daniel began to cry as he rocked his new daughter.
“Of course we will. Are you okay?” Ten reached out and touched Daniel’s knee with his free hand. “They’re good. All three of them are good.”
“I’m fine. I’m just a little overwhelmed, I think.”
“Yeah, I can see that. One minute we’re making love and napping, the next your scan tomorrow turns into the babies here today. You were expecting them, though. And we’re pretty much ready.”
A nurse came up to them, a pair of bottles in her hands. “It’s time to feed your girls.” She handed them each a bottle. “Just tickle the nipples at their lips. It may take them a few tries, but they should be able to latch on—it’s instinct.”
Daniel looked a little panicked, but Ten had this. He grabbed the bottle and Kyrie latched on like a dream, sucking hard. She was going to be their good eater and, with any luck, would lead her sisters through trying new things.
“Go on, Daniel. Harmony’s got to be hungry too.”
“Okay…”
The nurse leaned down and helped Daniel start, encouraging Harmony to eat. She fought him, turning her head away.
“Don’t stress that,” Tenor told him. “She’s so curious about you right now, and she doesn’t realize that the nipple is food delivery. Just stay calm and keep trying.” Tensing up would make things harder. It wasn’t easy, trying to stay loose and relaxed when you didn’t feel that way, but anxiety could totally transfer to the babies and that made everything twice as hard. “Just tickle her lips with the nipple. You can even try it with your finger first if you want.”
“Come on, baby girl. Try it. It’s good for you.” Daniel stroked the nipple across Harmony’s lips over and over, beginning to sing for her.
At the sound of Daniel’s voice, Kyrie stopped sucking and turned her head in his direction. Ten knew she couldn’t really see that far yet, but she was clearly drawn to his voice. How awesome was that? He didn’t say anything, not wanting to disrupt Daniel’s flow with Harmony, but he was definitely going to have Daniel sing again later to see if the girls were drawn to his songs.
He nearly took Kyrie’s bottle and started burping her, but she latched back on. She was almost finished, so he’d have to keep an ear out to make sure she didn’t start sucking air. Meanwhile, it took a moment longer, but Harmony finally latched on to her bottle.
Daniel began to sing again, something low and familiar and wonderfully comforting.
Ten closed his eyes and continued rocking, letting the baby smells and Daniel’s singing wash over him. He felt this sense of peace that only content babies could bring. And they grew up so damn fast. He knew well to cherish this moment. Hell, he knew he’d have to cherish all of them.
Kyrie finished her bottle and he began to burp her, encouraging her to release the bubbles. She looked kind of goofy with her head resting on the curve between his thumb and forefinger, his palm supporting the rest of her body. And when she burped, it made everyone in the room whip around and look at her and her eyes go round with surprise. Chuckling, he kept rubbing her back. “You, my dear, are going to find that hilarious in a few years.”
“She’s going to be a monster, that little girl,” one of the nurses said. “You just wait.”
Before Daniel could say anything, Ten replied, “She’s going to be ours, and that’s all that matters.”
Daniel nodded. “She is. They all are.”
“That’s right. Three girls to keep you hopping.” He placed a kiss on Kyrie’s forehead before settling her back against him. He already could tell her and Harmony apart, and he imagined that with Melody as small as she was, it was going to be easy to keep track of which one she was, too.
“Matt needs to come see them. I sent him a picture of Melody already.”
“He brought the car seats and left them in the van.” They wouldn’t let you leave the hospital without having the kids in them. “But we weren’t sure how long it was going to be, so he went home.”
“I need to make a bunch of calls. I don’t want to dump it all on Matt, he should be enjoying his granddaughters and life in general. Maybe I should hire someone else to be my personal assistant so Matt and I have more time with the babies.”
“Who do you need to call?” He made some faces at Kyrie, who watched him with a serious face.
“Matt, Elle, mainly. I need to make sure everyone knows I need a few days…”
“So you send out a group email when we’re done here.” Ten didn’t think Daniel needed to be spending a few hours on the phone calling people when he could be with his daughters.
“Good idea.” Daniel laughed and Harmony jerked, beginning to cry.
“Oh, you surprised her.”
Kyrie’s little face twisted up with worry and Ten began cooing at her, bouncing her gently in his arms. “It’s okay, little one. Your sister is just fine.”
“Can you imagine, hearing things out loud for the first time?”
“It’s pretty damn cool, isn’t it?”
Ten grinned. He did like the way Daniel thought.
“Cool. Terrifying. Wonderful. Overwhelming.”
“Yeah, it’s a lot. Especially at the beginning.” Of course it was always going to be a lot. Times three.
“Mmhmm.” Daniel rocked the now-sleeping baby, humming deep in his chest.
“Look at you. You’ve already figured out the most important thing—how to get your baby to go to sleep.” Daniel looked really good, right.
Tenor knew suddenly, seeing the man with his daughters, that he was falling for him. It was not a good idea to fall in love with the boss, even one he had benefits with, he knew this. It felt like it was too late now, though.
He wasn’t sure at all how he was supposed to not be in love with this family. In fact, it seemed counterproductive to try not to be. If it meant he got his heart entirely broken in eighteen years, then so be it. It looked like he was all-in. He looked into Kyrie’s eyes, then over to Daniel and Harmony. Oh yeah. All-in. He just prayed to whatever god looked out for mannies that by the time the girls didn’t need him anymore, Daniel would have fallen in love with him, too.
The nurses came to take the babies for their checkups. “Why don’t you guys take a few minutes to get some food?”
“Yeah, I need to check on Marsha too. Just make sure she’s okay.”
“Do you want me to go check on her? I know she doesn’t know me that well, but you get to stay with the babies.”
“I think they’re trying to get rid of us for a few, and I need a cup of coffee.”
“Ah. Okay. I guess we can put them down for a few minutes.” He gave Daniel a grin and got up. “So you want me to go find some food in the cafeteria while you check on Marsha?”
“Please. I’ll come down to meet you? You know what I’ll eat.”
“Well, I know what you’ll eat at home. Let’s hope the cafeteria food isn’t too subpar.” In Ten’s experience, hospital cafeteria food was less than to be desired. However, he’d always managed to ferret out the good stuff whenever he’d needed to. “See you in a bit.”
“Tenor?” Daniel offered him a watery smile.
He stepped over to Daniel. “Hey, what’s wrong?”