“I feel like crap, but at least my baby is fine.”
“You mean our baby, I’m part of this now, and don’t you forget it. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I only found out yesterday, and after everything that’s happened between us I wasn’t sure if you even cared.” Her voice cracked and she started crying again.
“Caitlin you need to calm down, we can talk about this later, I’m just happy you ok, you gave us all a big fright earlier.”
“The doctor gave me something to make me sleep, I think it’s starting to kick in.” She said. “I’m glad you’re here Vincent, I know we have a lot to talk about, I’m just glad the truth is finally out. I don’t know why I thought I could keep it from you.”
“You need to sleep now, we’ll talk later.”
Watching her sleep, I realised how much I had missed her. We had wasted so much time fighting, we had forgotten the love we had for each other.
That afternoon, I was hoping just to get my girl back, but instead, got a lot more than I had bargained for.
Caitlin and I had never even talked about kids, not that I didn’t want any; it’s just that she was still so young.
Oh shit, Henry’s reaction to me that afternoon all made sense. When I had asked him for Caitlin’s hand in marriage, he had warned me to look after his baby, and not to have kids to early as she still had so much to do before even thinking about starting a family.
I waited until she was asleep before I walked out to find Heather and Cole. Heather must have been freaking out by then. I had picked up the ultrasound picture the doctor had printed, put it in the top pocket of my jacket, close to my heart.
Caitlin might not have realised it, but she had just given me the best birthday present ever.
Walking into the waiting room I didn’t expect to see Brent. Everyone’s eyes were focused on me, waiting for my reaction. But we had said what we needed to say when he had come to see me. For Caitlin’s sake, I had accepted that he was in her life. She cared for him as a friend, and I needed to suck it up if I wanted her in my life.
“Hey.” I stuck my hand out to great him.
“How is she?” Brent shook my hand and let go just as quickly.
“They’re both doing fine, the Doctor said she wants to keep her overnight though, just to be sure.”
“Both, who else got hurt?” Brent looked puzzled.
“Didn’t Heather tell you? Caitlin is pregnant.”
“Oh….” Was all he said.
“Yeah, I just found out myself. She’s already twelve weeks pregnant.”
“Congratulations, will you wish her for me.”
“She’s sleeping now, but you are welcome to see her when she wakes up. I think she’d like that.”
“No, I just came to check on her, I need to get back home, there’s something I need to go do. Oh by the way, you know that Alexis woman you employed? It seems that she was at school with Caitlin. When she’s feeling a bit better check with her, see if she remembers her.” Brent turned and walked out the front doors.
I was at a loss for words, Brent had just walked out, without a fight.
“Vincent, how is she?” Heather walked up to me, her eyes bloodshot and makeup smeared.
“The doctor said she going to be ok, she just needs a little bed rest for the next month or so. Baby’s doing great too. We need to come and see her again in three weeks for a scan.” I watched Heathers face as I as talked to her. She had known Caitlin was pregnant.
“Oh my god, I was so worried.” She breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Heather, how long have you known she was pregnant?”
“What?”
“You heard what I said, why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t my place to tell you, it had to come from her, and to be honest after the way you have been behaving lately, I didn’t think you deserved to know.”
“Is that really how you feel?” He looked hurt, and angry.
“Hey Bro, cool it.” Cole stepped in, “they are best friends, and let’s be honest, you have been acting like a dickhead.” Cole stepped in to protect Heather and put me in my place. They were right, I had been a dick. I had treated my woman like shit.
“Now, now boys, let’s not do this here. Vincent, when can we see our daughter?” Jo came to stand next to me and put her arm around me. It was good to know she was no longer upset with me.
“The doctor has given her something to help her sleep. Visiting hours are at around eight tonight, I think you could come back then. You guys go; I’ll stay with her and will let you know when she wakes up.”
“I think that’s a good idea. The two of you need some alone time. Congratulations on the pregnancy.” She said.
“Thank you Jo.”
“You have big responsibilities now. They are both in your hands my son, I trust you.” Jo started crying; Henry put his arm around her as they walked away.
“See you late Bro.” Cole took Heather by the hand and dragged her after him, out of the hospital. She wasn’t happy with him.
After everyone had left I had some time to process everything and reflect on what had happened. The shit with Caitlin and I was bad, and it wasn’t going to be easy to get her to forgive me.
I sat in the cafeteria drinking some coffee when the nurse came to tell me that Caitlin was looking for me. Shit, I hope everything was ok, that wasn’t much of a sleep. I had hardly had time to think about what I was going to say to her. It needed it to be perfect.
I walked into the room, her eyes were closed and she was leaning back against the pillows. I could see she wasn’t sleeping as she had her hands on her belly, rubbing tiny circles over it. She looked so peaceful; the late afternoon sun was shining through the window, falling partly on her face. She was the most beautiful woman in the world; I couldn’t believe I had screwed everything up. I prayed she would forgive me. As if she could feel my presence, she turned her head my way and opened her eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes that had haunted my dreams every night.
“We need to talk, I can’t sleep knowing we have unfinished business.” Her voice was so calm.
My nerves were getting the better of me, my palms sweating.
“Vincent!! Come sit down, I won’t bite, not now, maybe a week ago but not now, I’m too tired.”
“Ok, but can I go first.” I asked.
“You always need to be the boss, don’t you? Fine you go first.”
I sat on the chair next to her bed and took her hands in mine, at least they were starting to warm up a little.
“I’m so very sorry for the pain I have caused you, seeing Brent in your apartment ripped my heart to pieces, I saw red …”
“But nothing happened.”
“Wait, let me finish.”
“I saw red. In that moment I forgot all we had, all I could see was Brent taking away the one thing in my life that meant everything to me. I knew he was a better man than me, he has killed for you, when I couldn’t even protect you. I felt useless, and I always felt like the day would come when he would walk back into your life and you would see that you had. So I lashed out, I wanted to hurt you as much as I was hurting. But I can’t live without you Caitlin. That night at the club I was waiting for you to show up so we could talk, and I could try ask you for forgiveness, but then the shit hit the fan. I promise you that there was nothing happening at the club, my eyes were closed and I was thinking about you. Heather told me you saw what Alexis did, and I’m so sorry about that. After I found out that you were at the club I went looking for you. That’s when the bouncer told me you went back to San Diego. I thought I had lost you for good, I was angry and well, Alexis ….. Nothing happened between us, I promise you. I don’t know how she managed to take that photo she sent to you. I promise you, I never slept with her. I’ve made so many wrong choices in my life, but you’re the only right one I’ve ever made, and then I go fuck that up as well. Could you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?” The whole time I was talking
I was looking down at our hands, running my fingers in circles over the top of her hand. I was too scared to look into her eyes.
Caitlin pulled her hands from mine and placed them against me cheeks. “Look at me Vincent.” I lifted my head and looked into her beautiful blue eyes, there were tears running down her face.
“I forgive you, and I love you Vincent. I think deep down I knew you would never betray us. I’ve also made so many wrong choices, can you forgive me?”
“Yes. Am I aloud to kiss you now?” I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
“Yes, please! I’ve been dying to ask you for a kiss.”
Trust her to make light of everything. The tears were still running down her face, I wasn’t too sure if they were sad tears or happy tears.
“I have something else to ask you.” I knelt down on the floor next to the bed and took the ring out of my pocket.
Chapter 22
Vincent
The big day
My stubborn girl actually said no. She was convinced I had only asked her to marry me because of the baby. It had taken some convincing from my side as well as reinforcement in the form of Jo and Heather.
Our wedding was arranged within a month. It was small but beautiful. We had it on the beach, with just our close friends and family present.
Caitlin looked so beautiful, she was afraid that her baby bump was going to show, but I was proud of that bump, and I wanted the world to see it. She wasn’t too happy that the dress she had originally chosen couldn’t be altered, I was obviously blamed, and had a few things thrown at my head, but eventually Jo had saved the day and found her the most amazing Vintage lace dress. It still showed her tummy, but it was perfect.
We said “I DO” and prepared ourselves to live happily ever after. All was going according to plan, until today:
I was woken up this morning at five thirty with Caitlin screaming in my ear.
“Oh fuck my water has broken!” She was going crazy.
It took me a few seconds to focus on what was happening around me. Once reality hit I jumped out of bed. I helped Caitlin up; she waddled to the bathroom to get cleaned up. From the classes we had taken I remembered them saying that it would take some time from this point, but we needed to start timing the contractions.
I tried to be really calm but inside I was freaking out, the wildness in her eyes scared me a little. I got dressed quickly, and then sent all the necessary texts to everyone concerned. I also phoned the doctor to let her know. I was still putting on my shoes when she screamed from the bathroom.
“Are you still in bed? We need to get to the hospital!”
“I’m dressed, I’m waiting for you.”
“Get the bags and load the car, I’m just going to take a shower and then I’ll be downstairs.”
My girl was so organised she had the baby’s bag packed over a month ago, ready and waiting by the front door. She even had her clothes picked out for today, including matching panties and bra. Fuck, I wish I could be this organised. On my way down to the car, Jo phoned, asking millions of questions that I had no answers for. I grabbed my keys off the counter and unlocked the door. I walked outside and was about to go back inside to grab the bags when Caitlin came down the stairs.
“Wow, that was quick.”
“Who are you talking to? Get off the phone, we need to get to the hospital, my contractions are eight minutes apart.” As she got to the stairs she stopped, she cupped her tummy and started swearing like a sailor.
“I take it that’s a contraction?” I closed the door behind me quickly and then tried to take her hand.
“JUST WAIT!!” Her eyes were closed but from the expression on her face, I could see she was in pain.
Once the contraction was over, I got her into the car and we were at the hospital within ten minutes. Everyone was amazing. Caitlin had arranged a pre- book in, so we were admitted immediately. We were set up in the delivery room waiting for the doctor to arrive in no time at all.
“Vincent, where are the bags?” Caitlin’s voice was very calm.
“Uhhmmm, I …. think I left them at home. I’ll go get them.” I started walking away from the bed, but she grabbed my wrist.
“You are not going anywhere, phone Heather, she can go and get them.” How could she be so calm? I wished I had that type of control.
As I was sending Heather the message the doctor walked it.
By then the contractions were two minutes apart; the doctor did her examination and was happy that all was going according to plan. Caitlin had decided that she was going to do it the all-natural way, no epidural, no drugs. I thought she’d lost her mind but it was her choice.
The next thirty minutes went past in a blur. I felt like I wasn’t present in my own body, like I was watching it all from above. The moment my baby girls head appeared, my world came to a standstill. I watched as her head crowned, then her wrinkly little nose popped out. The moment I heard her cry, I was in love. They cleaned her up and handed her to me. I was in awe with this perfectly beautiful little pink angel.
“Do you think you could share Lilly with me?” I looked up at Caitlin; I had no words to answer her. She looked exhausted. I lay my princess on her mommy’s chest and watched as she latched onto her nipple.
“Hmmm….ok, she can play with my toys, but not all the time.”
“Vincent, there are people around, don’t say that.”
I bent down and whispered in her ear. “You have deprived me for too long, seeing your tits out like that is making me hard.”
“VINCENT!”
*****
The
End
BOOK 3
Finding Me
Brent’s story
Coming
Christmas 2015
Shadows in Me Page 14