by Katie Dowe
“I love you,” she whispered in wonder. “I never thought I would say that and I keep wanting to say it.”
“I will never get tired of hearing it.” He bent and lifted her into his arms. “How about I make love to my wife?”
“I thought you would never ask.”
*****
“Are you sure about this?” Avia asked her mother-in-law as she packed up her personal belongings. It was her final day at the house and the driver would be there shortly to collect the rest of her stuff. She was leaving in the morning because Avia had persuaded her to stay until then.
“I am,” Grace looked around the bedroom and sat at the foot of the bed. “I've been lonely in this house ever since my husband died. “The memories linger even when the person has long gone.” She looked over at her daughter-in-law, who had taken a seat on a delicate chaise lounge. “You asked me some time ago how I could be with someone else when I loved my husband.”
“And I was naïve when I made that statement, or cynical, or maybe both. I thought I knew it all,” Avia admitted wryly.
“I will never love another man the way I do him. But I have learned to deal with the loss of it.”
“What I feel for Grayson is new and scary because it envelopes me and I'm afraid that something is going to happen. I want to be with him and our children for a very long time and I'm selfish enough to want to have my family with me all the time.”
“That’s not selfish,” Grace said with a gentle smile. She looked around at the delicate dove grey color scheme. “I redecorated a few years ago and I guess you can do the same. This is your house now.”
“I think I will leave it the way it is now. How about you help me pick out the nurseries?”
“I would love that!” she said her eyes glowing.
*****
“So what do you think?” Avia asked as she went into the first room that was adjoined by a small sitting room that she was thinking of turning into a play area.
“As long as you get help then I'm okay with it.” He held her hand as they walked around the large airy room. She could just visualize the murals on the wall and the cot placed in the middle and then she thought back on the couple who had been standing over their child’s cot.
“I want to go back to the hospital,” she said suddenly.
He turned to look at her anxiously. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “It’s that couple that I spoke to. I want to see how they're doing.”
“I don’t want you stressed.”
“I'm going to be more stressed if I don’t know how their baby is doing.”
“I could make a call.”
“Grayson darling I love the fact that you're looking out for us but I am not going to be cooped up here in this bubble. I look around and see all this luxury and I realize how fortunate I am. I want to do something for them.”
“Like what?” he asked her in exasperation. “You told me the doctors can't operate. So what can you do?”
“I don’t know!” she turned to face him. “They looked so hopeless darling. I want to try and do something for them. Even if it's just to be there with them.”
“Nothing I say will stop you right?” he asked in resignation.
“I did promise to obey you and all that,” she said with a grin. “Could you support me on this?”
“I'll accompany you and talk to the doctors. I kind of made a donation to the pediatric wing.”
“When?”
“A few days ago,” he told her wryly. “I was told that they needed additional beds and more equipment and I made the donation.”
“How sweet.” She pulled his head down for a kiss. “We're going there tomorrow.”
Chapter 12
“Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield!” Gloria Buchanan exclaimed in surprise as soon as she saw the couple enter the nursery. “I heard you were discharged.”
“We were. We are but we decided to come and check up on you and Joey. How is he doing?” Avia asked her as she went over to peer down at the sleeping baby.
“The doctors say he's getting stronger.” Larry said, “We have hope.”
“We're here to give you some good news.” Grayson held out a hand for the man to take. “My wife came up with the idea. We're assigning a room for you here where you can be close to Joey and not have to do the back and forth. You can get some sleep and be here with him. I've spoken to the doctors in charge and they say he's getting better every day.”
The couple stared at him in shock. “We get to stay here?”
“Yes.” Avia said with a big smile as she reached out to clasp the woman’s hands. “You get to be here all the time until little Joey gets to go home with you. I wouldn't like to be away from my children for even one night. A room is being fixed up for you with all your personal belongings and you stay as long as necessary.”
“Why?” Larry asked hoarsely as he looked at the couple.
“Because we know what it's like being almost parents ourselves.” Avia told them gently.
Gloria grabbed hold of her and hugged her tightly and then went to hug the startled Grayson.
“Thank you so much,” Larry said, his eyes suspiciously bright.
“You're welcome,” Grayson said with a smile as he reached for his wife’s hand. “We'll leave you to it then.”
“Thank you so much.” Gloria said tearfully.
“We will check in with you to see how he's doing,” Avia assured them.
*****
“I want the dark blue and the grey mixed. And for Alexandra’s room I want to stay away from the traditional color of pink for girls. I was thinking lavender with a hint of peach at the border.” Avia rubbed her hand over her belly absently. She was in her seventh month and was mostly on bed rest to make sure that the babies were safe. Doctor Whittingham had warned them about the danger of premature birth and they certainly wanted to avoid that. She had settled in at the manor nicely and had played around with a little bit of redecorating. Grace came over every other day and spent time with her. She didn't have to do any shopping for the babies because whatever they needed had been sent over by Romano’s. She'd never seen so many baby clothes in her life. She and Morgan had spent delightful hours sorting them out and putting them away in the furniture that had arrived as well. Only the painting of the walls was left to be done and the play area to be set up. Grayson was insisting on hiring nannies for the twins but Avia had told him that with her and Grace that could wait for the time being.
“How do you like the murals?” Rupert asked as he turned to look at the dancing fairies and unicorns on the wall of Alexandra’s room.
“They look so real,” she mused as she went to look at the wall. “I love it.”
“And Andrew’s room?”
“You mean the fact that there are dozens of animals grazing at the pond?” Avia asked with a laugh. “Grayson did say you're very good and I agree.”
“Thank you darling,” he said with a pleased smile. “Now I'm going to make some calls and see about getting the paints delivered. You cannot be here for the painting.”
“Don’t worry I won’t be.”
*****
“I could go by myself.” Grayson said anxiously as he watched her getting ready. It was the middle of September and getting nearer to the time of her delivery. Doctor Whittingham had told them that it was a good idea to come in a few days before the due date to be safe.
Avia spritzed on the seductive smelling perfume on her neck and between her breasts. “I want to come. We haven't been out as a married couple since we've been married. And I am going stir crazy.”
He came up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. Her face was expertly made up and her long dark hair was pinned on top of her head. Diamonds glinted at her lobes and around her neck. Her dress was a dazzling sapphire blue shift that had been sent over from Romano’s and covered her belly gracefully. She'd stopped wearing sky high heels since she'd gotten bigger and had on
black shoes with tiny heels. “You're supposed to be taking it easy,” his hands massaged her shoulders.
“I've been doing just that. Is there someone at the function you don’t want me to see? Amelia perhaps?”
“I already told you about her.”
She turned to face him. “You did.” She held her hands out. Her wedding rings gleamed and flashed fire in the light from overhead. “Help me up. We need to leave now or we're going to be late.”
“I'm keeping an eye on you for the entire evening,” he warned her as he took her hand and went to get a coat from the enormous closet for her.
“I would expect nothing less.”
*****
Amelia saw when they entered the room and her hand tightened on the arm of the man she had come with. She'd known he was going to be here when she'd gotten the invitation and had almost turned it down. But one does not turn down one of Kelly Takahashi’s coveted invitations. She and Leesa Wellington threw parties like no other and people looked forward to attending. It was a charity/opening of another one of her restaurants that were doing so well. She had to admit that pregnancy suited Grayson's wife and gave her an added glow. She watched as they made their way over to where several of the wives were sitting at a table. They were an exclusive circle and didn't allow just anyone in. It had been rumored that they were tight and didn't allow people of a ‘different complexion’ to join their clique but it had never been uttered out loud. The ‘wives’ were very powerful women who could cut you down with just a word or even a look.
“Please excuse me,” she told her companion sweetly as she saw Grayson making his way over to several of his friends.
“Grayson, lovely to see you.” She touched his arm and forced him to stop. Her heart skidded as she looked at him. He was wearing a custom made designer jacket in steel grey with a light blue shirt and grey and blue tie and she wasn't over him, not by a long shot. He'd married someone else and she would never forgive him for that.
“Amelia. How are you?” she saw when his eyes scanned the place where he'd left his wife and felt the jealousy dart through her.
“I'm okay given what you did.”
His hazel eyes chilled over and he stepped back. “I'm sorry to hear that.”
“Your wife is beautiful isn’t she?” she looked over to where Avia was laughing at something one of the women said. “I suppose she fits right in. She is the right complexion and comes from nothing like so many of the others there.”
“Be careful,” Grayson said coldly.
“Or what? You're going to leave me?” she put a hand to her coral lips. “But you've already done that haven’t you?” her eyes blazed as she looked at him. “I loved you and you dismissed me like a piece of trash.” She had no idea that her voice had risen until she saw people looking at them. Nor did she notice that Avia had made her way over.
“Darling I was wondering what was keeping you,” she said smoothly as she put her hand through her husband’s arm. “You must be Amelia. Lovely to meet you. Darling the way you are behaving is only making you look bad, and you are too beautiful to be making such a fuss over a man who has clearly moved on. Grab a flute of champagne and go and dance with that hopeful looking man coming to rescue you.” Her hand tightened on her husband’s arm. “Grayson is my husband and I can be pretty mean when I'm nettled.”
The woman looked at her uncertainly for a moment and then walked away.
*****
“Okay darling shall we dance? You did promise me a dance when we got married.”
Grayson looked at her bemused and led her onto the dance floor. “I'm sorry.”
“What for?” she looked up at him and clasped her hands behind his neck. “You are pretty irresistible so I understand what she's going through. Poor girl.”
He looked down at her and laughed softly. “You are the most amazing woman I have ever met.”
“Aren’t I?” she pulled his head down for a kiss that left him shaken and needy.
“Avia,” he groaned.
“I know darling,” she whispered. “We're leaving early.”
*****
“I have a foundation for you,” Avia told Leesa and the others shortly before they left the function.
“What's that?” Kelly asked.
“Preemies.”
“Premature babies?” Ciara asked her curiously.
“Yes. I think there should be some sort of foundation to help out with the treatments and medications and of course support for the parents.” She told them about Gloria and Larry and little Joey. “He's actually going home in a few days.”
“It’s something to look into. Welcome to the group.” Leesa told her with a quick hug. “I see your husband is coming over. I take it that you guys are leaving now?”
“We are,” Avia said with a twinkle in her eyes. “Come and visit and bring the gossip darling. I will more or less be cooped up at home until I deliver.”
“We will.”
*****
“Had a good time?” he glanced at her tenderly. She had her head back against the headrest and her eyes closed. He'd decided against using one of the drivers to take them as he found that he preferred to be alone with her.
“I did,” she murmured as she reached over and placed her hand on his thigh. “Those wives are not as bad as I thought.”
“You never thought they were bad,” he lifted her hand off his leg and kissed it.
“You're right,” she sighed. “I feel like mint chip ice cream.”
“I thought the cravings were over?”
“Who said anything about craving?” she teased.
He laughed again and prepared to drive through as the light turned green. It was at that moment that a vehicle coming from the intersection charged forward right at them.
“Grayson!” she screamed before the vehicle slammed into them.
*****
Grayson shook his head to get rid of the buzzing and opened his eyes. He groaned as he felt his aching ribs and then his eyes turned to his wife. “No, God no!” he cried out as he saw the blood at the side of her face. She was unconscious. As he unfastened his seatbelt and moved to her he heard the sirens. “Avia, baby wake up,” he touched her urgently and felt her belly.
The ambulance and the police cars screeched to a halt and the first responders jumped out. “Mr. Whitfield, you okay?” a police officer asked, recognizing him.
“My wife is pregnant and she's not responding,” he said urgently.
“The EMTs are here.” He stepped back and allowed them to come forward.
“How pregnant is she?” the man asked him as he felt her pulse.
“She's due next month.”
He did a quick exam and saw the blood between her legs. “She has a faint pulse and she's in labor. We have to get her to a hospital immediately.”
“I am calling her OBGYN.” Grayson said shakily as he was helped from the vehicle.
“Do that but we have to get her to the nearest hospital. You riding with us?”
“What do you think?”
*****
They all came. The party hadn't broken up yet when they heard so they headed to the hospital. Dr. Whittingham had arrived and was in the emergency room with her. They'd been in there for the past two hours and he hadn't heard anything. He had gotten away with just a scratch on his cheek and his pregnant wife had taken the brunt of it with a hit to the head and the possibility of losing their children. It was too much to process and he had no idea how to deal with it.
“Grayson!” Morgan flew in, her face ashen. “Have you heard anything?”
“No,” he said abruptly. He got to his feet and started pacing. “Hey,” Alessandro took his arm and led him to a corner of the private waiting room. “Take it easy man.”
“I can’t.” He ran shaky fingers through his already tousled hair. “My entire family is in there. I just can’t. What happened?”
“A drunk driver. He died on impact.”
“I need air.”
He said grimly and shaking off his friend’s hand he left. He started to head out the front but saw the press rushing towards him and changed directions, heading back into the hospital and away from the waiting room. He almost bumped into someone and was about to apologize when the person called his name.
“It’s Gloria,” the woman told him as she held his arms.
He shook his head to clear it and looked at the woman who had the premature baby. “I'm sorry I didn't see you. How's Joey?”
“He's doing very well. I heard about Avia on the news and decided to come and give my support. Any news?”
“No,” he looked down at the woman. “She isn't due for another three weeks.”
“The babies have a fighting chance and I know she's going to be fine. She strikes me as a very strong woman. She's a fighter. She gave us hope when we didn’t have any.”
“Yes you are right. She's a fighter.” He said with a small smile. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome. Give her my love when she wakes up and I hope to see those two beautiful babies.”
*****
It was another three hours, and Friday morning the fifteenth of September was dawning before they were told the good news. The babies were fine. Alexandra, who came out first, weighed in at six pounds and Andrew who was born two minutes later weighed in at five pounds four ounces. Avia was up and demanding to see her husband.
“You called?” his smile was wide enough to split his face. He hadn't bothered to change as his mother had suggested but had taken off the jacket and tie and the light blue shirt was hanging from his pants but he didn't care. His family was okay.
“Where were you?” she stretched her hands out and he took them kissing them profusely.
“I was told I couldn't come in yet. It drove me crazy. How are you?”
“I'm fine, just a little headache. The twins are beautiful, darling.”
“Like their beautiful and strong mother.’ He sat on the side of the bed and pulled her into his arms. He'd seen them as the nurses put them in their cots. He'd noticed every detail about them, the curly brown hair and smooth creamy brown complexion and how beautiful they were. “You almost gave me a heart attack,” he murmured as he kissed the top of her head.