Dallas takes me on his lap, and the way will screaming for all the inhabitants of the house. In a few minutes, I have my sweater aunt, my uncle tying the robe awkwardly, and the boys shirtless, going from one place to another. I can not see mood in this mess, my despair is much higher.
When the new pang make me scream, contractions are increasingly cadenced. I have no doubt: my baby will be born, and the only thing I can do while I am carried out, is to pray that nothing bad happens to either of us.
- Dallas? - Despite my trembling hands, I firmly hold your shirt - Choose my son.
We are halfway to the car, and it stake to hear what I said. I always knew the risks of pregnancy. I knew bitterly that there would be a possibility that light inside me off, but I tolerated firm, we stand firm, so if there is any likelihood of choice, which is the baby.
- Do not say that, dear - he supports his head on my forehead, I feel your breath as irregular as mine - Nothing will happen. No one here will choose nothing.
It advances the steps, and then I'm in the back seat of the car. Austin occupies the front seat with Dallas, and Clyde sits back to my side, ordering all the time so I did not have the baby in the car, in the middle of nowhere.
- Believe me, dear ... - another contraction, stronger - If I had the choice, he would not be born now.
Charlote and Raul report that would follow close behind.
- I was born eight months - Dallas stares at me in the rearview mirror - and see, I am beautiful and strong.
I can not laugh. It is really beautiful and strong. I know right now I need calm, the more nervous I get, the more agitated the baby will be. So I talk to him. I speak as I am happy, even if too early, can look at your face and have him in my arms. Clyde help me, saying all the things you teach him, and that account was over the balance the day before.
We are a strange group in the car that exceeds all speed limits with their flashing lights and siren. Although this time of the morning the streets were deserted, nothing convinces the sheriff that the action is not required.
We got to the hospital when the day starts to clear. A nurse recognizes Dallas, and then runs up to me with a wheelchair. I feel like I'm in a hurry in a box, can hardly breathe, and fear that as I managed back in full force.
I am sent to the delivery room immediately. Someone says it will try to find Dr. Ritter. I fight the tears that descend abundantly through my eyes. Everything around me seems in slow motion. I'm the fourth round and round.
God, protect my baby.
I pray and pray unceasingly.
Someone says that only one of my cousins can follow me. I think of Adam immediately. It was he who should be with me now. It's him I want holding my hand. And a sharp pain rips my chest.
- We'll have to do surgery ...
The oxygen mask is fixed on my face. I hear raised voices, but people are mere smudges around me.
- Beat falling ...
- Penny, you can - a known voice whispers in my ear - Stay here, think of something good. Come on, you can.
I think about him. In fireworks. In a brown eye and a smile that always fascinated me.
- Bring the defibrillator ...
The voices are distant, the light in my head will lose its intensity.
I love you, It was the word loose on my lips, before being enveloped by darkness.
****
Agreement on one of those times when you do not know whether he is alive or not. If all that has perception is the result of your mind. I hear the voices, but my eyes are heavy. Maybe it's the light or maybe it's me that does not have enough forces.
- You better tell her.
Tell what? Who are they talking about?
- Why do I have to tell you, Clyde? - The voice seems anxious - I'm not the doctor. It is he who will do it.
- I know, but someone must be present with her - I hear something like a heavy sigh of discontent.
My head weighs, and I feel groggy and between conscious. Sweep up my mind to understand what happened. I remember the farm, remember the starry sky, while someone carried me on his lap. The sky was beautiful, now I realize, no clouds. Thousands of fireflies in the sky.
- But you're the sheriff, Dallas. Can handle moments like this. If someone has to tell, then tells you.
My baby.
The thought is like a runaway train. He was being carried by Dallas the night before because my water broke. too soon. There were still two months. Two months to protect my son in the heat of my body. But I was not able to.
- Charlotte has no strength to it, you saw how she was when she learned - Clyde seems more exalted this time - Please Dallas, I do not know. I can not.
What he can not tell me? What happened to my baby? I move my lips, but the only sound echoes in my head.
- Damn it! I'll be with her, then.
What happened to my baby? What happened, Dallas?
- Shii ... All right, dear, rest.
No! I need to know about my son.
Rests...
Even fighting to remain aware, the endearments whispered in my ear have the desired effect. I fall asleep.
****
The first person I see when I open my eyes is my cousin Dallas. He's eyes closed, sitting in a peculiar way and quite uncomfortable in an armchair near the window. Next to it there is a round glass table, on top of it, a transparent vase with a bouquet of sunflowers, which had probably been picked on the farm.
- How are you?
With a thirst for water, news, any information that calms my troubled heart. I look forward to meeting and Dr. Ritter. It was he who spoke to me. He maintains a gentle smile. I do not know whether to be happy or should I worry.
- You woke up.
Dallas gets up and stands next to me in bed.
- My baby? - I play my empty womb.
I feel my soul as empty as that part of my body.
I have fragments of conversation that Dallas had with Clyde, before losing consciousness. They were afraid to say something to me.
- He's right - Dallas pressing my fingers with a certain delicacy - It's a beautiful boy.
I blink my eyes, slowing the tears of emotion. My son is beautiful, he had said.
- Where is he? - The question is asked Dr. Ritter, but Dallas to answer me.
- It is in the NICU.
- What you had was the early maturation of the placenta due to high blood pressure, which led to the break in the placenta - Dr. Ritter responds to walk to the other side of my bed, and like Dallas, he holds my hand fondly - there was also the factor gestational diabetes, which complicated her pregnancy period. The increase in glucose in the organism interfere with the growth of some baby organs. The liver was one.
No, I do not want him to continue saying these things. I had done all that was asked. I took every care for my son to grow well and healthy. I want to know nothing of it. I want my little baby with me. My baby safe in my arms, as he was during the seven months I could protect him.
Soon it came, and as soon as it can go?
No! I can not accept it.
Fall apart as if a storm was formed within me. Dallas holds me in his chest, but nothing could stop this lacerating pain in my chest. A pain so strong and intense, able to get me the air. Choking on my own tears that go down thoroughly washing my face. Oh, they could take with them all this pain oppressing my heart.
- I want to see you! - Sob, giving vent to all my emotions. I try to get up, but a sharp pang in my stomach makes me let out a groan of pain - I want to see my baby. Please let me see my baby.
- You will see, dear - Dallas tries to calm me, pushing me back to bed - You have to calm down and be strong. At that time, he needs you, and we're here. You're not alone.
Why did he say that? Why not tell me at once what's wrong? They claim that all is well, but I have my son in my arms. I could not even see his face yet, smell good and so peculiar babies.
- As I said, your child is developing. A 27 weeks baby requires a lot of care,
so the NICU is required. The incubator will provide your child a thermoneutral environment, and control air flow, humidity and temperature, as well as assist with breathing.
- He'll be fine? - I can move my lips, though I suspect that my whole body is paralyzed - I'll lose my child?
- A malformation of the liver can lead to loss of liver function or chronic cirrhosis. It is something worrying, but we are giving every assistance to your child get well. We will have optimistic thoughts. Have faith, dear, while there is life, there is always hope.
- Hey, Penny, be strong - I feel the hands of Dallas run reckless in my hair.
I wanted the kind gesture and his words of support had the power to calm down, but do not. I'm diving into an endless cliff. Fear and despair threaten to overwhelm me.
- How about seeing your baby now? - Dr. Ritter says the most important words to me at the moment - I think that to make you feel better and calmer.
See my baby. I waited seven months for this, there is nothing more I want both in the world.
Dallas helps me sit in the wheelchair. I learned with surprise that been three days since the cesarean section. And as I knocked this time, I need time to recover.
Followed by long corridors to the ICU. In the wing, there is a huge glass window and a door where a nurse comes out, making his notes; two remain there, monitoring everything.
I see around eight incubators. In the third, it is my main reason to smile. For whom I kept alive.
He is alone in the room. There are other babies in incubators, only my small and fragile baby. I press my fist in my mouth to prevent cutting the knife in my chest reverberasse through my lips as again I make a promise that I would never let him feel alone.
- What would you like to give him? - Dallas touches my shoulder, snapping me out of this state of devotion.
- Benjamin - touch your hand on my shoulder - I'll call him Benjamin. Means child of happiness. A being so pequeninho and helpless, but it means so much to me. It means everything.
Dr. Ritter allows me to go for a few minutes. New tears slip from my eyes, this time of joy. My chest is exploding, is such happiness in my chest. I thought I loved him when he was in my womb, but not nearly enough to what I feel now. Any woman can be a mother call, few of them have the gift of loving unconditionally, hopelessly fall in love, to know true love. I was blessed with this gift. The gift of love. It is a love that does not fit me.
I put my hands trembling the opening round that is in the glass and touch the tiny and delicate feet. He's on his stomach, with his face to me. No DNA would be needed, all of Adam's signs are present there. The color of hair, face shape, the eyelashes that have always caused me envy, and mouth, definitely it.
- My love for her father is so great, that was way beyond that ... and he gave me you. That's why I love him even more, it is the most precious of my life, my son. Do not go away. Do not leave me too.
I should feel resentment by Adam not be here with us, but I do not feel. Maybe because I am grateful to him for making me a complete woman. Or I would never be able to feel for him anything but love. Maybe I'm wrong or deluding myself, but I know it when he sees his son, when not only a picture in your head, I'm sure everything will change. Who would not love this baby? He'll be fine. We will leave this hospital soon and start a new life.
The few minutes that were allowed me to stay there, creating this connectivity so important to Benjamin, I conveyed to him all my love. In words, with my hands vacillating playing every possible piece of her frail body.
Anyway I was able.
Chapter 34
Adam
I had the worst night of my life. It was covered in dreams, which I can not remember exactly. Just know that I had dreamed of her. Just wandering around the house, and then, after continuing very restless, I went out to run. I ran to get tired, ran to feel the air missing in my lungs, I ran until I felt like my head would explode. And if I have come home exhausted, the strange impression did not leave. It's like you want to eat something you do not know what it is. Or as if something important was going on, but you have no idea what it is.
And even passing one week this strange discomfort persists. Every night I startled agreement, a cold sweat.
Maybe I should look for Peter. Resume my life as it was before. He's distant and angry with me well after the distance that I imposed. I could not talk two minutes with him, not that we started to fight about why Penelope had gone. What the hell had I done again? Why did she leave without saying goodbye it? This lasted a few weeks, and then, I think it was focused on its own problems, since I made it very clear he did not want any of his interference. She wanted to leave, start elsewhere, and while knowing that your love for me was not enough to forgive all the shit I did, I sincerely wish that she finds happiness. One of us would have to earn it. What is it, then.
- Adam? Sorry to keep you waiting.
I walk away from the window and stare at Neil. In his hands, there is a black folder with the logo in golden DET.
- All right, I was looking at the city - point to the object in his hand - is something about the branch in France? So called me, came a stumbling block?
He walks up to your table and indicates that I settle down in the chair opposite him. Because of what happened to Konrad and Sophia actions, Neil had given to Jenny requests for them to leave. Maybe I should have done it too, have taken me and Penelope terms rebuilt life somewhere away from everything and everyone that could do us harm. Now it's too late. The irony is that she's gone anyway.
- I want you to sign it - it gives me the folder and start leafing through the papers inside.
- That means what I'm thinking? - Stare at him, completely stunned.
- It is a power of attorney that gives you full power to my business, authorized to take care of Anne and the twins, if something happens to me.
- But Neil ...
It is something quite risky and absurd. I could kill him the following week, and all that he has would be under my control. I have possessions, came from a good family, and my business is going very well, but I'd be a billionaire in a matter of minutes.
- I trust Peter, but it is not intended for this type of business. Liam is a doctor. Richard is making his own way. Besides you and Peter, there is no one I trust more. They are like brothers to me-no emotion in his voice, the same that shakes me up inside - Konrad, Sophia, this mysterious person. I can not even imagine something happening to Jennifer. I would die before that happens. Go is the best we have to do, but I want to be prepared for anything.
- Neil, I zelaria their children ... - a knot forms in my throat - I do not need a role for it.
- Let's do the right way - he hands me a silver pen - and trust you, Adam.
It is much more than confidence. We are much more than friends. We are brothers.
- I wish never need to use this role - sign quickly.
At that moment, I knew I did not like how it sounded. What I did not know was that, to fulfill his desire, I was closer than imagined.
We would see evil. And he's hideous. Pure evil converted into a fearful person.
****
Once the court pronounces its verdict, I take my briefcase, then I congratulate my client for the cause wins. It starts a euphoric speech, reciprocate with a few words and leave it. Another win, and I feel like if I had not won anything.
- Congratulations, Dr. Crighton - Savannah greets me at the exit.
I smile in thanks. I would not even come close to this result without it. Despite its client portfolio, she had given me all the support while wandering around the office.
- You know that without you ... - I turn on my cell phone and it rings seconds - One minute.
- Adam! Help me please!
I try to process what Jenny tells me. Dumb and totally terrified. Apparently, Sophia was appointed again. And the obvious desperation in distressed voice, Neil accomplish what always promised Viper: strangle her with his bare hands.
- I'm going af
ter him - determine before hanging up.
I apologize to Savannah and practically run in search of a taxi. I'd rather not drive the way I am.
I turn to Neil, and automatic message makes me drop expletives that would leave my mother embarrassed or would wash my mouth with acid.
Peter also does not answer, which I find strange.
I'll call Veronica and ask that she tell me the new address of Sophia and contact her parents. Inform the impatient taxi driver where you want to go and ask to be as fast as he can.
The phone rings again half an hour later. I do not know if I'm happy or apprehensive to identify the name of Neil on the screen. The reason for the link is because he needs my help for committing something insane or he wants me to stop you from giving a lesson on the viper his ex-wife?
- Adam, where are you?
- I'm next to the apartment of Sophie. I could not contact her parents, but my secretary will keep trying. Are you sure you want to continue to do this? What did she do this time?
- Sophia went too far today. Personally I prefer to talk about it. Something is happening in front of her building, because I had to park a little far not find a closer spot.
I notice the agitation of the people, there are police cars with lights spinning. I tell the driver apprehensive going down, and report to Neil'll meet soon.
Even with the small crowd of curious, I can no plausible information with what they mutter.
I view Neil, he's talking to a man who looks glazed with what he says.
- Hi, Neil - point toward the building - What's there?
- A murder case, I think we'll have to wait a bit this turmoil going to enter.
- From what I see, it will take a lot. I go there to know what happened. I have some friends in the police, I might have some luck.
Virtually exaltation jump when I glimpse an old contact I have. Lee and I have an old relationship. It streamlines some things that I need, and I get some clues to it by Peter.
He talks to another officer. I expect them to finish and I approach then.
Two of Hearts Page 27