“I'm sorry. I get so carsick when I'm not the one driving.” I figured that she was giving me an excuse so I wouldn't worry.
“Still, I'm calling the doctor.”
“You can tell him up front that I'm not going to take anything.”
I rolled my eyes, thinking that she didn't sound so sick anymore.
Chapter 20 - Happy Birthday
Gideon
The doctor stopped by every day again. Jessie was up on her feet and waddling around. I didn't move the bed down, but I made it clear that Jessie wasn't allowed to go up or down the stairs alone.
Megan was planning her graduation party. My parents were going to come. They were talking about moving back to the community too, now that they were retired.
I was glad to hear that. Raising those two boys and working the farm would be too much for me.
Jessie wanted to help where she could. She was constantly smiling. She had been since the doctor said that the boys could be born any time they wanted to be.
Jessie was so glad that she had made it. She had every right to be proud of herself.
The thing was, I had never seen her looking better – or healthier.
I was starting to feel hope.
Jessica
I woke up in the middle of night, and my first thought was that the intruder was back. I had a sharp pain in my back exactly like I had when he hit me with the frying pan.
“Gideon, whatever happened to the man who broke into our house?”
Gideon jerked awake and rubbed his eyes. “He’s still in jail. Why did you wake me up to ask about him?”
“That wasn't why I woke you. I woke you because the contractions are starting. It's time to go to the hospital.”
“Now?” he asked. He wasn’t truly awake yet.
“Now would be a good time. It's a long drive.”
“But today is Megan’s graduation.”
“Tell your sons that, not me.”
“Are you serious?”
“What? Do you think I'm kidding?”
He sat up and turned on the light. He was dressed in a flash. We were quiet, but somehow the whole house woke up and wished us the best, and we went down to his car.
I had another contraction before I could get in. I laid my upper body over the hood of the car. Gideon ran his hands over my back and told me how brave I was being.
I longed to tell him to just shut up. The pain was crippling, me and his voice was making it worse.
When I was able to move, I got into the car.
Gideon looked relieved. I looked back at the house and waved goodbye to his parents and sister. I had a bad feeling that the birth would be too much for me. I doubted that I would ever come back here.
Gideon was lucky that it was the middle of the night, and that he didn't get stopped for speeding.
When we arrived at the hospital, he whispered that my doctor had promised to come and help, just in case something happened with me.
Within minutes, I informed my husband that I couldn’t care less who was with me, but I wanted to have the babies now. I guess I was one of those people who got mean when they were in labor. It was only that I needed to get this over with.
A nurse arrived with a wheelchair. Gideon helped me sit down.
The nurse took off running with me. She stopped in a room, and I got up and crawled into bed.
The nurse tried to ask me questions, but I had to push. She and Gideon worked on freeing me up of my clothes. After three pushes, Travis was born.
The funniest moment was when I told the nurse that it was twins. It was only the three of us in the room with no doctor in sight.
The nurse pushed a button and called for help. She shoved Travis into Gideon's arms and came back to me. I had a couple of minutes before I needed to push again. The second baby was born even faster.
A doctor walked in the door just as the nurse was laying Trevor in my arms.
“Twins,” she told the doctor.
He took Travis and let Gideon cut the cord. The nurse took Trevor from me and switched him with Travis. The room got very peaceful and quiet. Gideon made sure that the boys got bracelets with the right names on them.
A baby was laid in my arms. He was pink, and his chest was rising up and falling down. He was alive. His eyes were closed, and he was sleeping in my arms. “Gideon, I'm holding one of my babies.” I was thrilled to experience this magical moment.
“Yes, you are, darling. I'm holding the other one.”
The doctor told us in whispers that he was happy with the boys. He congratulated us before then he and the nurse left. The lights were dimmed and soft music was playing.
“Can we trade?” I wanted to say that I had held each of them and told them that I loved them. I was feeling very exhausted.
Gideon frowned and nodded at me. Very carefully he traded the babies. I kissed the new little guy in my arms and smiled at him.
“I don't think I’ve ever been happier.” I told Gideon.
Chapter 21 - More Tests
Gideon
Jessie's doctor arrived and told me that it was necessary to do some tests. He needed to know how she was doing. He didn't come out and say it, but he meant how long she had to live.
Jessie had fallen asleep. She was completely exhausted.
They rolled her away for her tests. I couldn't go with her because I had to stay with the twins and wait.
Both boys were sleeping in their hospital bassinets. That gave me a chance to stare at them. I felt they both looked a lot like Jessie. That meant that I was staring at two very good-looking boys.
I promised them that I would watch over them and care for them until I took my last breath.
I was a father again. These babies were alive. I promised myself that they would never forget their mother. I had been taking lots of pictures of Jessie. I wanted something to show them.
It was over two hours later when they brought Jessie back. She was still asleep.
The doctor told me that he wanted to talk to me out in the hall. I was having one of those moments when you had to be a man and face your fears, even though it was the last thing that you wanted to do.
I knew Jessie would ask when she woke up. It would be better if I heard the news in advance. That way I could work through my feelings and mask them before I told her. I could be strong for her that way.
“Mr. Thompson, sometimes hormones change tumors. They can get bigger –”
I gulped.
“Or in your wife's case – smaller. In fact, it was so small I could hardly find it.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means that she will have to come in for check-ups every three months. However, it is so small at the moment that you don't have to worry about her dying any time soon. I'll keep an eye on her.”
I had dreamed about hearing news like this before. “Honestly, she is going to live?”
“Yes, it looks good for now.” The doctor stepped closer to Gideon. “If she were my wife, I would see to it that she had a baby every couple of years to make sure that the tumor didn't grow back.”
I gave him a nod. That would probably be best. If being pregnant meant, I would have my wife longer, then that was what I would do.
It would become my favorite chore.
I quietly went back to our room and looked at my wife and sons. I had to ask myself, how I got so lucky?
I thanked the lord that Jessie's car broke down in front of my house.
Jessie
I woke up and saw Gideon sitting next to me. He was beaming at me. I was so glad that I was able to give him children, so he wouldn't be all alone.
“Is my doctor here?”
“He came and went.”
“He did the tests already?” I asked in disbelief.
“You slept right through them.”
I nodded at Gideon. That couldn't be a good sign. The end must be very close.
“How are our boys?” I asked, wanting to change
the subject.
“They are great. I guess they take after you because they are sleeping like angels.”
“I think they truly are angels.” The good thing about having a husband was that you had someone you could brag with without feeling like you were bragging. He agreed with everything I said.
He sighed, loudly. “Still, I have to ask myself what a daughter would have looked like. And those beautiful things you knitted. It would be a shame not to have a daughter too.”
“Gideon, if I could, I would give you ten more babies.”
Gideon smiled so big I thought about counting his teeth.
“I've got some great news for you, baby. You’re going to be in my hair for a long time. I'll make sure of it.”
Other Books By Rachel Burns
A Man To Guide Her
A Sheikh's Love
Callie Part I, II, III, IV V & VI
Chocolate Rewards
Christmas Captive
Christmas Stories
Class Trip
Daddy's Little Girls
Daddy's Sweetheart Part I, II, III, IV &V
End Of The World Part I
Facing The Music
For Her Pleasure
Have A Heart Part I, II & III
Hot Cooking Spanker Wanted
Island Men
Pain and Regret
Southern Discomfort
Sugar Daddy
Trust In Me Parts I & II
Two Worlds Collide
Where The Clouds Touch The Earth
Becky's Birthday (a short story)
Daddy, I Don't Feel Well (a short story)
Hold Still (a short story)
Mafia Men Mean Business (a short story)
Please Believe Me (a short story)
Punishment Sex (a short story)
Saving His Marriage (a short story)
The Dress Code (a short story)
Trying Too Hard (a short story)
Stranded On Christmas Page 15