I snuggled with him on the couch, and Tyler drove his car over the both of us.
"Brian's looking into the website stories. He doesn't think there'll be a problem with getting the site shut down. I asked him to push for mandatory counseling for the website administrators and slanderous members. As long as they're crazy, they'll be a risk."
"I hope it works." I truly did. If we could get those women to leave Trent alone, once and for all, then it'd finally be safe to really be together.
Chapter 16 - Daddy
Over the next few days, Trent spent every moment proving he was a good father by holding, talking and playing with Tyler. It was obvious he cherished each and every moment he had with his son, and Tyler was very much attached to Trent. It was going to be hard for him to let go of his father when it was time for him to leave.
Trent had been staying with us for a week, when the time finally came. He was reading Tyler a bedtime story, when I knocked on the door, trying to be nonchalant. There was no hiding it from Trent, though. He picked up on my stance and could tell my tummy was tight with a contraction. "Hey, Tyler, I think you should have a sleepover at Grandpa Joe's, doesn't that sound fun?"
Trent picked up the backpack we had ready for Tyler, and he quickly grabbed my bag out of the closet. He wrapped his arm around my waist and paused when the contractions hit. They were about eight minutes apart, and I had two as we made our way to the car. He was cool and collected, when he pulled up to my parents' house. He carried our son up the front steps, not bothering to knock. Moments later, he came out, my mom hot on his tail. She jumped into the back seat and reached around to hold my hand. "How are you doing, honey?"
"Alright, they aren't too hard yet, just frequent."
I was surprised when Trent's hand rubbed down my belly to my pelvic bone, which he really had to kind of dig into an intimate place to get to. It was very awkward with my mom holding my hand. "She hasn't dropped yet," he answered, ignoring my unease.
I realized as we pulled up that I'd been so distracted with Trent and Tyler's bonding that I'd forgotten to change doctors. Once they settled me into a room, Trent asked who was on call. He tensed and frowned when he heard Dr. Harding's name.
I was surprised when he cursed under his breath and then quickly started opening cabinets and plugging in machines. He had me hooked up to a fetal heart monitor and a machine to measure my contractions, all before Dr. Harding came into the room.
"Dr. Carrington," he said Trent's name with a bit of respect and disdain at the same time, if that was even possible, "I see you've got my patient hooked up to every machine possible. Can you tell me what your interest is in Ms. Sharp?"
"She's carrying my daughter," Trent gritted out.
Dr. Harding didn't say another word, just snapped on his gloves and moved to check me, somewhat roughly inserting his fingers into me. I blushed when Trent moved down there to watch as he did. It was weird, having him look at me down there, with my mom in the room. To his credit, his expression stayed serious and doctor-like.
"She's at a two," Dr. Harding stood up and left, not saying another word.
Once the door was shut, Trent grabbed his own pair of gloves. "That's bullshit," he grumbled and slid between my legs, before I could put them down. My eyes about popped out of my head, when he decided to check me himself. I was sure my mother would say something, but she just held my hand, like it was perfectly normal for Trent to have his hand in my cooch. To his credit, he was much gentler. "That son of a bitch, you're a loose five. If you want an epidural, he should be ordering it now, so they can get it down here by the time you're a six. By the pattern of your contractions, your labor is further along than he cared to acknowledge. What did you want to do for pain management?"
Trent seemed to be in complete control and ready to do whatever I needed.
"I'd like an epidural. The pain isn't too bad, but from what I remember, it gets worse fast."
He nodded and stepped out the door without another word. As he was coming back in, I could hear Dr. Harding snarl, as he slapped something down on what sounded like a clipboard.
Trent went straight to the machines, looking them over. "The anesthesiologist is on his way. How are you feeling?"
My mother helped me count through more breathing, before I answered, "I'm hanging in there."
He suddenly looked very uncomfortable. "Do you want to hold my hand?"
His insecurity was so damn cute. I reached out and took his hand. The smile that lit up his face was sweet. He didn't interrupt my mother helping me, but would rub the back of my hand when the contractions hit, as if he was encouraging me.
When it was time for the epidural, he moved right up against me, taking me in his arms. My body relaxed, as if relieved he was holding me. Once everything was in place, he helped me lay back down.
Trent seemed focused on the baby's heart monitor. It was after an hour of watching it that he slipped out the door and came back with an ultrasound machine.
He took a few pictures and finally looked up at me. I think he was surprised I hadn't said anything about it. "We need to shift her. She's a little tangled and has turned herself some. Since your water hasn't broken, we have a little more space to work with. Do you mind?" He held his hands above my belly. Something about his demeanor screamed that he knew what he was doing, and I trusted him implicitly.
"Go ahead."
He shifted my belly around, and then I got a good kick in my lungs. He smiled and pulled the machine back over. "I think we've got her straightened out." He took another look and smiled. "There, there, little girl, I'm glad you decided to help us out here."
A few minutes later, Dr. Harding strolled in and glared at the ultrasound machine. "That isn't for you to play with."
"If you and your damn nurses had been paying attention, you would've noticed the baby's heartbeat was dropping with each contraction, and she'd shifted so she was in the wrong position. You still don't know how to do your damn job, Mathias. I won't let my daughter suffer for it. If you mess this up, I'll have your medical license, and then your head. You can't claim that I'm ignorant to what really happened. I'll catch and testify to every misstep."
Dr. Harding snapped on a glove and went to check me, being rough again. "You're fully dilated. You need to push."
Trent shoved Mathias out of the way, popping on a glove of his own. "That's bullshit. Don't push unless you feel the need." His hand gently slipped inside me. "You're a loose eight, almost a nine, but not quite, almost there. Don't push yet, or you might tear yourself." He glared at Dr. Harding.
"Nine and ten are relative terms."
"You thought she was a two, when she was a damn five! You're telling her to push before her body's ready. She's at eight, Mathias! You could've ruined her chances at having more children. She doesn't feel the need to push yet. They should never push before the transition!"
While they were arguing, my water broke. Dr. Harding jumped away like he was being attacked. Trent just stood there, like having fluid gush at him was perfectly normal. The difference between the two was astounding. I didn't know why I hadn't notice my doctor sucked until now. "How are you doing, honey?" Trent asked me, settling his hand on my belly. I had a feeling he wasn't just setting it there to comfort me.
"I'm hanging in."
"Alright, good job," he praised after another contraction hit. "This is her second delivery, Mathias. You should get the nurses in here setting up. She'll be ready to push soon." Dr. Harding huffed and stalked out of the room.
It was five contractions later that I felt the change. "Trent, I think it's time to push."
A nurse was in the room when I had said that and left to go get Dr. Harding. I sort of wished she hadn't.
He strode in like he owned the place. He wasn't going to check me until Trent glared at him. "Just get out of the way." Trent checked me himself and nodded to me. "You're good to go." He stayed right next to Dr. Harding, watching his every move, glancing at the heart monitor du
ring each contraction. I was surprised when I heard a metal clang, but not when Trent snapped.
"There's no way in hell you're using forceps on my baby! It's obvious the cord is wrapped around her neck."
Dr. Harding gave Trent a wicked look, but it didn't stop Trent. He shoved Dr. Harding out of the way. "You're not risking my baby with your stupidity." His hand was up in me, his other pressing and feeling around on my tummy. "I don't know how the hell you got your degree, Harding, but you should do the world a favor and quit practicing," Trent continued to gripe. When the next contraction hit, he nodded to me, "I've got her, Clara, go ahead and give it all you've got."
A half hour later, I knew I'd done it, when I saw Trent looking down with a big smile. "There's my girl. Daddy's got you. Just hold on a minute, Clara. Let me clear out her nose and turn her. There we go. Time to meet mommy. Go ahead, we're ready," he said with a big smile.
One more hard push and my daughter let out a cry, as Trent moved her up to my chest. "Can you hold on to her for a minute? I need to cut the cord."
"I've got her," I said with a relieved smile.
He went about setting the clamps and cut the cord with a huge smile. "We need to pass her over to Dr. Coust for a bit, but we'll get her right back." He picked up my hand and kissed it. I hadn’t even noticed when she showed up.
He had left Dr. Harding to deliver the placenta. He was pressing down on my stomach as each contraction hit. By the fourth one, he let out a huff and started to pull, giving it a little jerk. I think Trent shocked us all when he outright decked Dr. Harding in the face. "You never yank, you stupid son of a bitch!"
"Fuck you! If you're such a know-it-all, then do it yourself. This piece of shit ain't coming out, and I've got a date."
The nurses in the room with us actually gasped, which made me feel a whole lot better about Dr. Harding being kicked out. One of them actually helped Trent put a pair of gloves on. "You are a doctor, right?" she asked nervously.
"Yes, I went to school with Mathias. How the hell he still has his license, I'll never know, but I am an obstetrician." His hand went about massaging my belly a little differently. "I'm gonna need you to push some more. We aren't done yet."
I nodded, and a few moments later, he had it out and was checking it thoroughly, while I rested and shivered under the heated blanket.
"Hey, Clara, how are you doing?" Dr. Coust asked, as she brought my daughter to my bedside. She wasn't just my employer, but the pediatrician for my children.
"I'm doing fine, thank heavens Trent was here."
"I couldn't agree more. You need to report Dr. Harding. I was only in here for a short amount of time, and even with what I know about delivering a baby, I knew he was going about it all wrong. He shouldn't be practicing." She was dead serious, and I knew between her and Trent, Dr. Harding would most likely lose his license.
"I agree. Would you mind testifying with me against him?" Trent asked her.
"Of course," she played with little Katie's hair. "There were so many variables that could've really hurt her and Clara. You did great, Trent."
"Thank you. It's actually my job back home," he smirked.
"Well, we were lucky to have you on hand to save us all a bunch of heartache."
Maylene arrived with my father and little Tyler. I guess Roger was out of town again. "She's beautiful," Maylene gushed, as I tried to stay awake.
Tyler seemed nervous and tried to get on the bed. Trent helped him up next to me, kissing his head. "How does it feel to be a big brother?" he asked him. Tyler frowned. "Don't worry, buddy, you'll get the hang of it. Do you want a turn holding your sister?"
Trent brought her over for him and gently laid her in mine and Tyler's arms.
"Be-be!" His little cheeks lit up with a smile.
"Yeah, that's your baby, Tyler. Do you like her?" I asked.
He nodded yes.
"I'm glad. Mommy's got to stay here a while more, but you can go home with daddy. I'll be home soon," I promised. I kissed his little head and then looked around; trying to figure out what had everyone stunned.
"Daddy?" Tyler looked up at Trent, and I realized my slip.
Trent's eyes were pleading with me not to correct myself.
"Yes, honey, Trent's your daddy."
He started to push the baby out of his arms and reached for Trent, who happily took him. Our mothers were in tears, and the way he hugged our son so desperately, led me to believe he was as well. I was finally beginning to see all the damage I had done by pushing Trent away from us. He was right, Tyler needed his daddy, and it was about time I gave him one.
Chapter 17 – Juggling Act
Tyler wouldn't let Trent put him down, and the sweet man he was, he indulged his son. There were a lot of changes going on in Tyler's life. A new baby had been stealing the focus. I worried about how he would adjust to having a new baby in the house, but I was sure with Trent around, he'd help us all get settled.
They arrived early the next morning to visit with me and to see the baby. I wouldn't be going home until a little after dinnertime. Tyler was holding a new book called My New Baby. Trent set him next to me on the bed and gave me a quick chaste kiss. Katie was asleep in her clear bassinet, and Trent was quickly drawn to her.
I watched as he hovered over her, intent on watching her sleep. Tyler pushed his book in my face, so I opened it and started to read it. We were halfway through it, when Trent announced, "She moved, she's awake!" He pointed to where her little arm had shifted. He was looking to me, I guess for permission.
"She's your daughter, Trent, you can hold her if you want. I doubt she's really awake, though."
He looked anxious. "But my mom said not to wake a baby, ever."
"As long as you're willing to help deal with the consequences, I'm okay with you picking her up."
His smile was huge, and he dove right in, gently cradling his daughter in his arms. Tyler was quick to pull my attention back to him. I'd have to watch myself. Between my new feelings for Trent and my instinct to care for my baby, I didn't want Tyler to feel neglected. I refocused on cuddling with him while I read, doing my best to ignore the gorgeous man in the corner nuzzling and kissing my baby's head. I did make it through Tyler's book and read it twice more, before Katie woke up for real and wanted to eat.
Trent brought her over to me and traded me kids. I was relieved that Tyler was happy to go to Trent. I wasn't sure how Trent felt about staying in the room while I breastfed, but that was the only way I was feeding Katie at the moment. I was glad Tyler's book covered it, so he didn't look too confused, when I tucked his sister under a blanket to feed her. Of course, this was the first time I had tried to feed her under a blanket, and it was making it difficult.
Trent saw me struggling and came over to help. "Let me give you a hand," he said, taking the blanket and holding it away from me, but blocking Tyler's view still. Trent looked down at our little milk monster, who I was finally able to get to latch on, once I could see what I was doing. "Are you doing alright?" he asked when I cringed.
"Yeah, it just takes a while to get the hang of things. It'll stop hurting in a week or so."
He frowned, looking down at our daughter. "I wish there was a way I could help."
"You are. Just make sure Tyler doesn't feel left out. I'm worried about him."
We looked over at our son, who had his book out and opened to the page with a picture of a mommy holding a baby under a blanket, feeding it. "I'll make sure he knows he’s still loved. We've both been really enjoying my new daddy status."
Trent said it with a big genuine smile, but it gutted me. I held back tears. "I'm sorry," I whispered.
He looked slightly panicked.
I cut him off before he could assume the worst. "I'm sorry I kept him from you for so long."
"Hey, don't worry about that. Right now, all that matters is that I'm here, where I'm supposed to be."
I nodded in agreement, and he wiped my tears away.
That night,
Tyler insisted that Trent put him to bed, and I settled Katie in her bassinet for her first night home. I took a quick shower and readied for bed. I stepped into the hallway and looked into Tyler's room. Trent was stretched out on the twin bed, looking at the glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling. "Are you coming to bed?" I asked.
He looked over to where Tyler was sleeping in his toddler bed and followed me out into the hallway. "I wasn't sure…"
I took his hand and pulled him to bed. Then I realized he might have wanted to stay with Tyler. "Did you want to stay in his room? I'm sorry I…"
"No, Clara, it's fine." He was so sweet, and my hormones were still a mess.
I burst into tears. "I'm so sorry I kept him from you. You're such a great daddy."
"Hey, hey, settle down. It's okay. I know why you kept him from me, and I wouldn't have always been a great dad. You were trying to protect your son, and as much as I hate to admit it, I'm glad you did keep him from me. God, Clara, if you'd come to me and I'd…after what I did to Tiffany…I'm so sorry I treated you horribly, but I'm so thankful it kept you away from me. I'm so thankful you had Tyler. Please, don't be upset with yourself. You did what was best for him and protected him, and once you saw that I could be trusted with him, you let me back in his life. You're a great mom. Tyler missing out on any daddy stuff is not on you. That's my fault. I'm just glad he's here, so I can make it up to him."
I looked up at him baffled. I guess he was sure he would've been able to convince me to get an abortion like he had done with Tiffany, but that wouldn’t have happened. "I wouldn't have ever aborted Tyler, no matter what you'd said to me."
He grimaced and nodded in agreement. "But I might've given you several more reasons to hate me and keep him away from me. There would've been a good chance that I'd have signed away my parental rights. I'm so thankful that didn't happen. I know I would've regretted it horribly. I'm so sorry I wasn't a better person, Clara. Will you ever forgive me?"
I leaned up and kissed his lips lightly. "You've forgiven me, so I'd say we're even."
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