“Listen, Mom, let me tell Megan the news myself.” No doubt, he didn’t want Megan to say anything to worry their mom about the break-in. “But go ahead and tell Patrick. He just flew back from Italy yesterday. He might be a little jet-lagged, though.”
Adam ended the call abruptly, and the worry on his face grew stronger. He set down the phone and began rubbing his hand in circles around her humongous belly. His touch was magic, helping relieve her tension. Karla closed her eyes.
“Let’s think about something else, Kitten. What else do we still need to do to get Marc’s house ready for the babies?”
Their house. Good thing Marc had encouraged them to move in while he and Angelina were in Italy. Now, with the prospect of raising three children all at once, she welcomed all the space. Would there someday be even more children? Adam said once that he wanted six. She was fairly certain he was joking. Now she was about to fulfill half his order. She giggled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Just thinking that we’re incredibly blessed.”
“No doubt about that.”
Despite all the room, she wanted her babies in one bedroom for their first few years. She and Ian had only had the Jack-and-Jill bathroom in between separate rooms. She regretted having no memories of nights lying awake and talking things over with him. Or having him comfort her if she became afraid. Angie said she and her four brothers once shared a single bedroom when they were little. No wonder they were all so close.
Karla sniffled.
Adam stiffened. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
She shook her head and cleared her throat. “I was just thinking about Ian.” She’d miss him until the day she died.
“It’s hard not to think of those we’ve loved and lost, especially when we’re about to bring new lives into the world.” He idly moved a strand of hair from her forehead. “I’m sure he’s watching over you right now.”
She nodded. “I hope so.” Some people felt the presence of their loved ones who had passed. She had felt nothing from Ian. No signs. No dreams. Nothing.
“I want the babies to share a bedroom until they go to school at least.”
“We have plenty of room for them to spread out now.”
“I know. But children form unbreakable bonds during those dark moments alone with siblings in their bedrooms at night. I want my kids to experience that.”
“Sounds nice. But multiples already have a bond that defies explanation or distance.”
She’d never even been around multiples before. Adam said his mother’s family had a history of twins.
“We’ll figure out what’s best for them later. For the next few months, I want them as close to us as possible. In our bedroom. But they’ll soon outgrow a shared bassinet. I wonder if they make bassinets for three.”
“Let me talk to Luke. I’m sure he can custom build something for us.”
Karla grinned. The man making BDSM furniture for their playroom would now be working on furniture for their babies. Something seemed strange about that—but she knew the quality of his work and couldn’t wait to see—
“Oh!” A gush of liquid ran between her legs. “My water broke!”
Adam jumped up and ran for the door, yelling for a nurse before she could remind him this was normal. Hadn’t he been the one who read a thousand books about what to expect? She shook her head when a worried-looking Adam returned to her side with a nurse in tow.
“Are you in pain?”
“No. I didn’t really feel anything but the gush of water.”
Doctor Palmer soon returned. “Let’s not keep these babies waiting any longer to meet their parents.” The obstetrician grew serious. “The anesthesiologist is waiting to insert the epidural we talked about. I’ll join you there soon.”
Karla reached for Adam’s hand and squeezed it. His was cold for a change. He must be a nervous wreck, even more than she was. They’d be giving her drugs, after all.
Please don’t let this be too early for them to be born healthy.
The third baby must be much smaller than the other two to have gone undetected so long. Adam had already lost one baby. Even though she’d only known about this one a few hours, the thought of losing any of…
Stop it, Kitty!
Adam helped her into a dry gown with the assistance of two nurses who then covered and wheeled her to the OR. Karla nibbled her lower lip.
“No more worrying, Kitten. Everything’s going to be fine. Doc Palmer does this every day.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about.” She paused then decided to say it anyway. “What if I’m a horrible mother?”
Adam laughed. “Nonsense. You’ll be the best mother these babies will ever know.”
She grinned at his silly-assed remark. “That’s not saying much. I’ll be their only mother.”
“Eyes.”
Her heart dropped into her stomach with a solid Ka-thunk! Only this time a harder contraction followed, and she placed one hand over her enormous belly.
“Breathe, Kitten.” The contraction soon waned, and she nodded to let him know she was okay. When they paused in a little nook outside the OR, Adam cupped her chin, and she met his gaze. “We’re going to love them and do the best we can. Lots of kids have it a whole lot worse in life than these three will.”
Adam certainly hadn’t had any kind of healthy upbringing. But Karla had, and she could draw on what Mom and Daddy had done with her and Ian to make their childhood such a positive experience. She’d also seen how Adam was with the young people he mentored. He treated Damián as his own son, and he made a wonderful grandpa to Marisol. No doubt in her mind he would be an awesome daddy.
Together, they could do anything. “Yes, Sir. No more insecure thoughts—for either of us, Adam. We’re going to rock this, because no one could love them more than we do.”
“Absolutely right. Keep your head up and your powder dry, Kitten.”
Karla giggled. “Yes, Sir. I’m ready.”
“That’s my girl.” He leaned over to kiss her, and her heart jumped in her chest. Or was it one of the babies kicking her ribcage? She giggled, and he broke the kiss. “Glad you’re feeling calmer. Now let’s go meet these little people who have controlled our entire married life.”
“And probably will continue to do so for the rest of our lives.”
Adam chuckled and held her hand as the nurses wheeled her toward the operating room. He was stopped at the entrance by a nurse. “Sir, if you want to take this opportunity to go to the little boys’ room, things are going to be happening fast once we get inside. But most husbands don’t like watching the epidural being inserted.”
Karla wasn’t sure she wanted to stay for it, either, but encouraged Adam to escape while he could. She’d need him at her side more than ever soon.
“Just be sure you put on a sterile gown, mask, and gloves from over there before you join us,” the nurse added.
Within minutes, Karla was ensconced in the sterile, overly bright operating room. Before she could prepare for it, the next contraction hit—the strongest so far. These babies meant business. Couldn’t the pain let up now that the decision had been made that she wouldn’t be giving birth to them vaginally?
Hurry back, Sir.
* * *
Adam hated leaving her, but took the opportunity to hit the head—‘little boys’ room,’ my ass—and checked his phone for missed calls and text messages. Nothing from Wilson or Megan. He’d assume that meant they were okay. Jenny had texted. He’d let Karla know her parents’ travel status when he joined her in the OR. And Damián called less than an hour ago. Said to call anytime, so Adam did.
Karla wouldn’t need visitors until after she had some time to recoup and be with the babies, so he told Damián to spread the word to family members not to come to the hospital until morning.
Adam promised to text again when there was news and disconnected the call.
Inside the OR again, in fresh scrubs, Karla
appeared more relaxed than he’d seen her since she told him it was time to go to the hospital. The meds must be working already. He decided not to touch her and disturb her rest, so he simply watched over her as she dozed. God, he loved this woman more than life itself. What did he ever do to deserve her? Nothing. It was grace, pure and simple.
When Doc Palmer walked in, activity increased. The anesthesiologist introduced himself as did a man and two women who told him they were the neonatologists here to look after the babies. Each would have its own doctor. Karla’s obstetrician had left nothing to chance. Good.
“Karla, Adam, are we ready?”
Karla opened her eyes. “Hmmm?” She focused on the doctor and smiled. “I am.”
The visual of Karla being cut open flashed across his mind. Did they make fathers stay in the room? How could he watch that? Adam’s own gut contracted as if the knife had sliced him open.
“Now, I want you to prepare yourselves. You’ll need to wait a little while before you can hold the babies. We’re going to have to take them straight to the NICU for evaluation and observation.”
One glance at Karla and he saw tears welling in her eyes. He reached down to stroke her arm, stretched out on an arm attached to the gurney.
“The two we’ve been monitoring on the ultrasounds are close to the desired five-pound minimum weight we like to see, but we just don’t know the size of the one that’s been hidden. Most likely, he or she will be smaller. Regardless of birth weight, though, they are premature and need to be monitored closely until we can be assured they will be okay.” She turned to Adam. “You can visit with them immediately in the NICU while we’re finishing up with Karla in here.”
See the babies without Karla? He didn’t like the thought of any of his loved ones being out of his sight, his wife included. But before he had time to worry further, everyone moved into action. Seven or eight more gowned personnel entered the room.
The anesthesiologist injected something into her IV. “This is going to help you relax overall.” Hell, she seemed pretty relaxed already. Had that been under her own steam or because of the drugs? Whatever, his woman’s discipline was amazing. “The epidural will take care of the incision site, though.”
Karla met his gaze, a mix of fear and excitement in her eyes. “Any word from Mom or Daddy, yet?”
“Jenny texted that they plan to leave Chicago on the first flight they can catch in the morning. I’m sure your dad has them on standby for every Denver flight the airline he works for has scheduled.”
Karla nodded and closed her eyes. A tear rolled from the corner of her eye and into her hair. She’d wanted her mom to be here for the birth. Hell, so did Adam. Jenny was a nurse. She’d know better than Adam how to help Karla get through this.
Jenny had arranged time off work to be with Karla when the babies arrived and to help her daughter after she went home from the hospital. No one had guessed the babies would barely wait until June to make their appearance. June the first, to be exact.
Fuck, in three days, Adam would turn fifty-one. At least he could say his babies were born when he was fifty. That was old enough to father newborns.
Three nurses wheeled in three clear-plastic isolettes. Karla focused her gaze on the doctor, but her eyelids drooped as the drugs took effect.
Before he missed the chance, Adam texted a group message to Marc, Damián, Cassie, Megan, and Jenny letting them know what was going on.
Karla’s moan cut through Adam, and he pocketed the phone. He stroked her sweat-soaked forehead. “Are you still in pain, Kitten?”
“No. I just can’t feel or move my legs.”
He grinned and leaned close to her ear. “Pretend I have you in ropes, suspended from the ceiling.”
Karla glared at him. Okay, maybe reminding her how little playtime they’d had these past few months wasn’t the way to go here. Be a coach, not a Dom. “Won’t be long now, Kitten. You’re doing great.”
She relaxed even more. “I’m not doing much of anything. I feel a little loopy.”
Thank God she wasn’t in any pain. Watching her going through such intense pain earlier made it much harder for him to maintain his dignity than if he’d been the one enduring that kind of torture. Thank God that suffering was over for them both.
He needed to be calm and strong for Karla. Adam picked up the washcloth, dipped it in the basin of water, and wiped the sweat off her forehead.
The nurses draped a sheet over her chest so that he and Karla wouldn’t be able to watch them making the incision. Thank God. He relaxed a little.
Surely the babies would be born soon.
Adam wiped her forehead with a cool, wet washcloth. Karla pulled at the collar of his gown until his face was close to hers, lowered his mask, and gave him a quick kiss. Apparently exhausted by the maneuver, she slumped back against the pillows. “I’m so glad you’re here with me. You make the impossible so much less daunting.”
“We’re in this together, Kitten. We’ll help each other every step of the way.”
Doc Palmer stepped up onto a platform. “All right, folks. Here we go.”
Adam’s heart thudded to a stop before adrenaline pushed the blood through his bloodstream. Activity stilled as the nurses and newborn pediatricians took their places. Doc Palmer said something to Karla, but he couldn’t hear for the blood rushing through his ears. Adam reminded himself to breathe now. He tamped down his own anxiety.
“You’re going to feel some pressure now.” Doc Palmer bent over Karla’s belly.
Adam felt his stomach lurch as he imagined the scalpel—
“Adam! Eyes on me!” The command in Karla’s voice captured his attention. When he met her gaze, she smiled. “Breathe, Sir.”
He grinned and did as she’d ordered. “I’m trying to, Kitten.”
Please, God, let her and the babies be okay.
He needed to stop thinking about something bad happening. What God would be so cruel as to take another of his children from him?
“Let’s see who’s on the top of the baby heap.”
Karla let out a laugh of sorts, more like a stress-relief giggle than anything.
“Okay, it’s a…girl!”
Adam faced the doctor who held up the bloodied, crying baby. Looked like it had white paste smeared all over it. Her, not it, Marine.
My daughter.
The doctor handed the squalling baby to the nurse to her right and clamped off and cut the cord. In the doctor’s office, they’d discussed having Adam cut them, but that was when this was expected to be a vaginal birth. With three babies needing to be born in rapid succession, there was no mention of him cutting the cords. Secretly, he had to admit his relief. He’d only agreed to do it because it seemed important to Karla.
Adam squeezed Karla’s shoulder. “Congratulations, Baby Tiger.”
“You, too, Sir.”
Karla winced and shifted her gaze to the doctor. Was she in pain?
“Here’s the one who was hiding from us all this time. Let me see—oh, another girl!”
Two girls. What did he know about girls?
Aw, who cared? Un-fucking-believable! He’d just become the daddy to two little girls. Wetness dampened his mask, but he didn’t give a rat’s ass who saw him crying. This one had hair as black as the first, but he wasn’t sure if that was because she was wet.
Unlike the first, she didn’t make a sound. “Is she…okay?” Didn’t doctors hold babies up and whack them on the butt anymore to clear their lungs or whatever?
Adam held his breath, waiting for the doctor to finish clamping and cutting the cord.
“Sometimes the smaller babies aren’t as vocal, but she’s moving her arms and legs. We’ll check her out right away, but I think she’s just not ready to test out her lungs yet.”
He turned to Karla, who had tears streaming from her eyes as well, as she tried to catch a glimpse of the babies before they were placed on the tables near their isolettes. She bit her lower lip and gazed up at him.
Her eyelashes spiked together from her tears. “I hope I can give you a son, too.”
What was the matter with her? She glanced away. “Now hear this, Kitten. I don’t care if the next one’s another girl. I won’t hear any mention of regrets. You’ve just given me two beautiful daughters and they both appear to be healthy. That’s all that matters. Hell, I like girls.”
Even if I don’t understand a fucking thing about them.
Wasting no time, the doctor went to work again. Soon the third Montague baby was lifted above Karla’s belly. Adam grinned. He didn’t need to hear the announcement. This one was all boy.
Adam’s vision blurred, blinding him until he blinked his eyes clear.
I have another son. A second chance.
At Karla’s sob, he grabbed her shoulder tightly, avoiding her arm with the IV line. She held on as they half-consoled and half-congratulated each other.
A boy? And this one was crying as loud as the first.
Doc Palmer turned to him. “Adam, since he’s the last one, would you like to cut this cord? I didn’t want to delay in the delivery of the others, but don’t want to deprive you of the experience you had wanted.”
There wasn’t much he could do in here to be a part of this birthing experience—not the way Karla was—but he wasn’t sure he could do this. When the nurse held a drape over Karla’s incision, some of his concerns drifted away. He stood and walked toward the doctor and his son—his son.
Don’t fuck this up, Marine.
Adam took a deep breath, and the doctor handed him a pair of surgical scissors like the ones Marc used in Fallujah. He willed his hand to stop shaking as he took them between his finger and thumb. She placed two clamps on the cord and pointed to where he should cut between them. The cord still seemed to be beating to Karla’s heartbeat. He swayed on his feet, and the room grew fuzzy. A strong odor brought him back, stinging his nose and eyes.
“Sit.”
Adam followed the nurse’s command and plopped onto the stool she indicated before he keeled over and embarrassed himself. He stared blankly at the cord.
Nobody's Dream (Rescue Me Saga #6) Page 21