Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game)

by Hill, Jamie

  The doctor grinned at Steve, who smiled at them as he shut the door.

  Catlin used the toilet, and washed her hands.

  “Okay?” Steve asked, leaning against the wall.

  “I think so. Oh! No!” She doubled over and clutched her stomach.

  “Contraction?” Steve grabbed her arm.

  She nodded. Steve threw open the bathroom door. “Here we go again.”

  The doctors were by her side immediately. “Get her back to bed,” Dr. Jonas said. “I’ll go get the shot.”

  Dr. Marcus and Steve led Catlin to her bed, and helped her lay down. The doctor fastened the baby monitor around her stomach, as Margie came in and adjusted it. “All right now,” she told Catlin “Try and take deep breaths.”

  Tears were streaming down Catlin’s face. “It hurts,” she whispered.

  Steve got on the other side, out of the doctor’s way, and brushed her hair back. “It’ll be okay. Relax. Try to be calm.”

  She looked into his eyes, and he smiled. Catlin found strength in those eyes, and slowly nodded.

  Dr. Jonas returned and injected some medicine into an IV bag. He handed it to Margie, who hooked it up to the port on Catlin’s arm. “Here you go. Even breathing, slow and steady. Give this a chance to kick in.”

  Catlin grimaced as another contraction hit her. She squeezed Steve’s hand hard.

  “It’s fine,” Steve told her. “It’s all going to be okay. Catlin, look at me.”

  She gazed into his eyes.

  “They’re going away now. The contractions are stopping.”

  She nodded, and clutched his hand while looking into his eyes. Slowly, her eyes grew heavy, and she shut them. Steve settled her back into her pillow. He looked at the doctors.

  Dr. Jonas was looking at the monitor readings. “I think it’s finally stopped.” He looked at her, then at Steve. “I don’t like this. One of these times, her water is going to break and then we won’t be able to stop the delivery.”

  “What can we do?” Steve asked, as he brushed her hair off her face.

  “Let’s keep her in bed a few more days, and see then. It’s still pretty soon after the accident. Maybe the kid will calm down. If not, she may be confined to bed for the duration of her pregnancy.”

  “I heard that.” She opened her eyes.

  Steve grinned. “Good. I didn’t want to be the one to have to tell you.”

  “Chicken.”

  Dr. Jonas said, “Whatever you two have going, keep it up. You seem to have a calming effect on her.”

  Steve looked at her, and continued to stroke her hair. “We were kept apart for a while. It was tough on both of us.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re here for her now. She needs as little stress as possible, and lots of rest. She’s probably going to go stir crazy.”

  “I already am.” She screwed up her face.

  Steve smiled. “I’ll do my best to keep that from happening.”

  “Rest,” Dr. Marcus repeated. He looked at Dr. Jonas. “I think we may need to define rest for these people.”

  Dr. Jonas headed out the door. “Oh, I don’t know. I’d say they’re doing all right. Call me if you need me. Otherwise, see you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks,” Steve told him, and looked at Dr. Marcus.

  The doctor smiled. “I have a piece of news for you both. Her HIV test came back negative.” He picked up a note. “And the test for one Christian Prescott also came back negative.”

  “Oh, thank God!” Catlin breathed a sigh of relief.

  Steve kissed her forehead. “Thank God,” he repeated.

  “I suggest a repeat test in six months, but that’s just precautionary. Since there was no direct contact, I’m confident she’s okay.”

  Steve nodded and closed his eyes for a moment.

  Catlin knew he was fighting back all the emotion that she let flood her face.

  Dr. Marcus tapped her arm. “Get her to eat something later, will you? She needs to keep up her strength.”

  Steve nodded. “Okay, thanks.”

  They shook hands, and the doctor left.

  Catlin was itchy and grouchy when she woke up. “I need some lotion. Where’s my purse?”

  Steve touched her cheek. “If you had it with you, it’s gone, babe.”

  She thought about that, and tears rolled down her face again. “Jesus Christ. Driver’s license, credit cards, everything, gone.”

  “Nothing that can’t be replaced,” he reminded her.

  She looked at him. “If one more person tells me I’m lucky to be alive, I’ll stomp ‘em!”

  Steve laughed. “Not saying a word. Just letting you know I’m here for you. Want me to ask the nurse for some lotion?”

  “Yes, but…” She held on to his hand. “I signed a lease on that house off Spillway Road, you know.”

  He nodded. “Would you like me to take care of it for you?”

  “Would you?”

  “Of course. And if it’s okay, I’ll tell your landlord you’ll be moving out of your place within the next few weeks.”

  “I don’t know about that,” she hesitated.

  Steve raised her chin to face him. “You’re not going back to that little house.”

  She looked at him. “I guess I can give you the landlord’s number.”

  “I know his number. I’ve talked to him a few times. He gave me your house key, in fact.”

  “Oh.” She thought about that. “Everything is changing so quickly, Steve, while I’m lying here in bed. I’m feeling a little nervous.”

  Steve put his hand on her stomach, and looked into her eyes. “It’s all going to be just fine. I am so completely happy about having you and our baby back in my life. It was horrible for me when I found out you were pregnant. I knew the truth, but what could I do?”

  She looked down. “I’m so sorry.”

  He raised her chin up again. “I was a bear to live with, I can tell you that.”

  She grinned. “Poor Barb.”

  “Poor Barb?” he repeated “God, maybe you hurt your head worse than we thought!”

  She shook her head. “Nah. I didn’t really mean it. I was trying to be nice.”

  He laughed, and she squirmed. “Can you ask the nurse about that lotion? I’m going fricking crazy here!”

  Steve smiled, and left on his mission of love.

  The contractions kept up the next day, and Dr. Jonas had some concerns. He sat in the chair next to Catlin’s bed, and motioned Steve to sit, also. “Kids, I don’t like this.”

  Catlin stared at the ceiling. Steve reached over and squeezed her hand.

  The doctor continued, “This could still get better. But the way things look right now, I think you’d better plan to stay in bed for a while longer, possibly the duration of your pregnancy.”

  “Here?” Catlin asked in disbelief.

  “No, not here. I want you to stay here a while longer, though. Through the weekend, at least. But if you can rest at home, then you should be there. But I mean rest. Sitting or lying at all times. But no baths, and no showers unless you can sit in there. And no sex.”

  “Now you’ve gone too far,” Steve teased.

  “Oh for God’s sake!” Catlin was still in disbelief. “Will you forget about sex for one minute, please? How am I supposed to teach? Or take care of my son?”

  “Catlin,” Dr. Jonas tapped her arm with his clipboard. “Your teaching is done for this school year. They only have a couple months left anyway. You won’t miss that much.”

  “Oh man,” she was thinking this through in her mind. “This really sucks.”

  “Okay, here’s your alternative,” the doctor said. “Go back to work, go into labor that we may not be able to stop, have your baby, and come visit him in the Neonatal ICU every day for two months. And that’s a best-case scenario.”

  Catlin looked at Steve and then the doctor. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry to be so crabby. This is all a total shock to me.”

  Steve sq
ueezed her hand. “Catlin—”

  “It’s okay,” she interrupted him. “I can do this.” She looked at Steve. “If you can do this, I can do this. It’s almost going to be harder on you.”

  He wiggled her hand. “We can do anything as long as we’re together.”

  The doctor stood up. “Good. I think you can do it, too. Even if we only buy a month, that is such incredibly important time for your son. I know it’ll be worth it in the end.”

  Steve stood with him, and shook his hand. “Thank you so much.”

  “You know the drill. Rest. Bedpan. Stay in bed. Eat.” He got to the door, and smiled back at Catlin “And relax! Things could be a lot worse you know.”

  Catlin nodded. “You’re right. I guess I don’t have it so bad after all.”

  She followed doctor’s orders, and was feeling better by the end of the week. Steve and Craig handled the reporters, and decided to let the Prescott’s take care of the funeral, since Catlin wouldn’t be able to go, anyway. She did want some closure for Chris, so Steve offered to take him to the funeral home to view Nick before the body was sent away.

  “He looks good. He looks like himself.” Craig assured her.

  Catlin looked at Steve. “I hate not being there for him.”

  Steve said, “I’ll be there, and Craig. We’ll be there for him. Then the Prescott’s can take Nick, and have a funeral or whatever they want.”

  “That sounds good. Can you arrange it?”

  “Consider it done.” Steve kissed her forehead.

  When they returned, Steve reported that it had gone very well. Chris was sad, but he was fine when it was time to leave with Steve.

  “You’re smiling.” Catlin looked at Steve.

  Steve shrugged. “Like I said, it was sad for him, but he’s okay.”

  “That’s not what I’m talking about. You’re happy that he wants to be with you.”

  “I can’t help it, sorry. But yeah, I am.” Steve grinned.

  “Do you really think he’s okay, Steve? I’m worried about him.”

  He nodded. “I think he’s fine. But it might be a bit crowded in our bed when you get home.”

  “Is he still sleeping with you?”

  “Yes. He sneaks in somewhere around midnight.”

  She thought about that.

  Steve added, “But maybe once you get moved in, he’ll start to feel more at ease. I’m sure it will make him more comfortable having you there.”

  “Sounds like he’s pretty comfortable now. Making himself right at home.”

  “He needs to. It’s his home, now. And I can’t wait to get you there.” He kissed her.

  “To begin my bed rest.” She smiled.

  He grinned. “Sounds pretty sexy, if we didn’t have kids.”

  She slipped her arms around his neck. “Oh, we have kids. A whole houseful of kids. I hope everyone is ready for this change.”

  “Speaking for my half, we are. Things have been morose at the house the past few months. We’ve all decided we’re ready for a little excitement.”

  Catlin laughed. “Having four kids? I’m not sure about the excitement part, but I know it’ll be interesting.”

  “And fun.” Steve kissed her neck. “Really fun.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “Push!” The nurse in Catlin’s face had been attempting to coach her in Lamaze breathing. Now past that stage, they were ready for the big reveal. “Take a deep breath, and push with everything you’ve got!”

  “Not without my husband!” Catlin gritted her teeth and held back with all her might. Steve had been in a meeting when her water broke earlier that morning. She’d thought she could wait for him to finish and come pick her up, but the baby had other ideas. Contractions kicked in fast and furious. With Teresa at the store and everyone else in school, Catlin phoned for an ambulance and barely had a moment to leave a message with Steve’s secretary.

  By the time they reached the hospital, the baby was crowning.

  “This kid isn’t going to wait.” Dr. Jonas popped up, his masked face just visible above her knees.

  “But Steve—” she protested, just as the delivery room door flew open.

  “I’m here!” He looked disheveled and out of breath, as if he’d run every step of the way.

  “Gown him,” the doctor ordered. “And scrub up the fastest you’ve ever scrubbed in your life.”

  The nurse breathed in Catlin’s face again. “Hee, hee, hoo, hoo.”

  Catlin nodded and blew as instructed until the love of her life appeared by her side. All she could see besides the blue gown, cap, and mask, were his eyes. They were all she needed to see. “Glad you could make it.”

  “You and me both!” His eyes crinkled. She pictured his wide grin.

  The doctor rose up again. “Shall we do this thing?”

  After the delivery, when the nurses had whisked Charles Steven Naughton away to be examined, Steve sat by the side of Catlin’s bed. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I had no idea things would progress that quickly. Labor with my first two kids lasted eight hours each.”

  She batted her lashes. “That was with Wife, Version One. You’ve obviously upgraded to a more efficient model.”

  He laughed so hard, he rested his forehead on her shoulder to catch his breath.

  The nurse came in to massage Catlin’s stomach. “Somebody’s awake and hungry, mom. Are you ready to try and feed him?”

  “Oh, yes!” She adjusted the bed to an upright position.

  The nurse returned with Charlie. She handed him to Catlin, and showed her how to help him latch on to the breast. “The sucking motion comforts him, even if he’s not getting much yet. Your actual milk will arrive in a day or two.”

  She stared at the perfect, pink bundle with wonder. “Thanks.”

  “Start out with five or ten minutes on each side. Remember, equal time will be more comfortable for you. Just push the button if you need me, okay?”

  “Sure. Thanks again.” Catlin couldn’t take her eyes off the baby, and couldn’t believe she was finally holding him in her arms. After so much worry, weeks of stress followed by a solid month at home in bed, he was here, and he was perfect. She looked over at Steve, who had a similar expression of amazement on his face.

  He ran the back of his finger over the baby’s check and on to her breast. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life.”

  Catlin smiled. “He’s perfect, honey. Look at him. Ten tiny fingers.”

  “I counted ten toes earlier, before they swaddled him in this blanket cocoon.” He lifted the edge of Charlie’s knit cap. “And look at that hair. He’s going to have a wild, dark mane, just like his mama.”

  She laughed at that, and switched feeding sides. “Wake up, baby.” She jostled him a bit. “Equal time, the lady said.”

  Charlie roused enough to start eating again.

  Catlin and Steve continued to stare at the wonder that was their newborn son. After just a few minutes the baby fell back asleep, so she handed him to his daddy while she refastened her gown.

  Steve patted Charlie’s back gently, and Catlin lay back, admiring them. “I could watch the two of you for hours. Nothing could make me happier.”

  Steve kissed the tiny little head. “Yep. You did good, mama.”

  “We did good,” she corrected.

  “Aw, shucks. I didn’t do anything. Just flew in late and cut the cord. You did all the work.”

  She yawned, and settled back. For the first time, Catlin realized how nice it was to have someone to share her life with. In good times and in bad, another set of shoulders to bear the responsibilities and the burdens. It had never been more obvious than at that moment. Her baby was finally here. She was no longer his sole caregiver. She finally had a partner.

  She sighed. “I’m really glad I’m not alone anymore Sharing this with you is the nicest thing I can imagine.”

  Steve reached for her hand and squeezed. “It’s incredible, that’s for sure. But it’s only
the beginning, Catlin. We have so much more ahead of us.”

  She grinned at him hopefully. “Like, maybe a wedding?”

  “Definitely a wedding. There’s the small matter of a divorce, first, but that should be finalized in just a few weeks. Then you can have whatever kind of wedding you want.”

  “I don’t need much. You and me, and a justice of the peace.”

  He laughed. “I can think of a few people who might not appreciate that. What do you say we go slightly grander? A few children, a few friends, maybe an archway nestled between the rose bushes in our backyard?”

  Her eyes lit up. “Under the stars?”

  Steve nodded. “Absolutely, there has to be stars. If I recall, they got us into this predicament to begin with.”

  “Oh, yeah.” She kissed his fingers then pressed his hand to her heart. “And what a predicament it is.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  “Who knew they made tuxes for babies?” Jetta grinned as Catlin dressed Charlie for the early June, backyard wedding.

  “Isn’t he the cutest thing?” Catlin nuzzled her boy’s pudgy belly. Once he’d figured out the nursing thing, he never stopped to look back.

  “Precious.” Jetta ran a finger over his smooth, round cheek.

  Someone knocked on the bedroom door. “Catlin?” Dana called. “Daddy said you might need me to take Charlie.”

  “That’d be great.” Scooping him up in her arms, she opened the door cautiously and peered out. “Is the coast clear?”

  “All clear,” Dana confirmed. “Daddy has no idea you snuck your hairdresser in today and she chopped off half your hair.”

  “Not half, exactly.” It still reached her shoulders, but with an infant and three children to care for, Catlin didn’t have an hour a day to spend styling long hair. She bit her lip. “I hope he likes it.”

  Dana reached for the baby and held him close. “He will love it. He loves you, remember?”

  “I do.”

  Jetta grabbed Catlin by the shoulders. “Save that for the ceremony.” She glanced at Dana in her lavender bridesmaid’s dress. “Girl, you look gorgeous. Now take that little butterball out of here so we can focus, and get ourselves ready.”