by M Brereton
“I’ve known him since we were kids and Eva just five years.”
“Yet you are willing to forgive the friend for his sins, the friend who knew you so well, who you no doubt trusted more than your wife, why didn’t he seek your aid?”
Again, Noah had no answer to that.
“It is the same with the Father. If he condemned every lost soul no one would come to Him. They would stay in their sin and never change. You need to allow your wife to come to you. You pushing her away is not good. You can lead her to the light. It’s not too late. You have lost your friend because of your pride, do not lose your wife.”
“Shouldn’t you be a little concerned with certain biblical laws she broke?”
“No. As God punished Cain, that is his sin to judge not mine and not yours.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It is. Condemn the sin, not the sinner. No doubt she did not want to make such a choice, but it was made and now we heal so it would not be made in the future.”
Noah nodded. What Eva did in the future was one of his major concerns. He was paranoid that she would kill again even though she promised not to.
“Would you speak to her as well?”
“Of course.” The Pope promised with a smile. “You want her to swear on the bones of St. Peter as well?” He asked sarcastically.
“Anything,” Noah responded honestly, “that will get me to sleep better at night.”
The Pope just sighed and shook his head.
* * *
Noah and Eva returned home in silence. Neither spoke of what was said to the Holy See. The next two months passed and even though they still hardly spoke to one another at least when they did speak it was civilly.
Eva went into labor and as his uncle predicted, his schedule was suddenly cleared. The birth was an international spectacle, it was covered by news channels from across the globe because it was the first birth at the White House in over a century.
News networks had even petitioned to be in the bedroom while the birth was taking place. When Olivia brought the news, the glare Eva gave was so terrifying it was never brought up again. During the hours of labor, Eva asked Noah if he needed more children. He thought it was a strange time to ask that, so he asked, “What do you mean?”
“We’re about to have another one.” Eva puffed out. “I like kids, but I don’t think I want to be doing this again in another year or two. Besides, we’re not really married, why bring another baby into this?”
“Let’s just focus on getting this one out safely then we’ll discuss the future.” Noah decided.
“This feels different Noah. It feels different from Amelia’s. I’m so scared.” Eva admitted softly.
Noah glanced at the medical staff who just seemed to be standing around and waiting “Hey!” He called, “Are we gonna do anything?”
“Relax Mr President, the equipment has been triple-checked, we’re just waiting for the First Lady to be fully dilated. If you don’t want to wait, a cesarean is an option.” The chief medical officer assured him.
“No.” Eva groaned from the bed.
“Then we wait.” The head ass told Noah cheerily. Dr Henry Martin, a specialist OB-GYN was assigned to them as soon as they arrived in the White House. It would be the boon of his life and career to deliver their child, he had gushed upon meeting them and Noah wondered if the man even gave a thought to the patients he had to pass off in order to get his day in the sun.
Emilia, the midwife who was present for Amelia’s birth looked over Eva worriedly, “Sir,” she addressed Noah. “I think we should check the babies.”
“Babies?”
“She’s carrying differently.” Emilia told him then asked Dr Pompous, “Doctor? Can we get an ultrasound?”
“She didn’t want one and the baby seemed fine,” Dr Martin assured.
“When was the last time you checked?” Emilia questioned softly in her Scottish brogue.
Not liking to be second-guessed, Dr Martin huffed, “Last week if you must know.”
“Just do the damn ultrasound,” Eva commanded from the bed.
“As the patient wishes.” Henry conceded immediately.
The doctor stepped up to Eva and placed his stethoscope on her protruding stomach as the equipment was rolled up to the bed. “See,” Henry declared triumphantly, “The baby is fine, heartbeat strong…” His grin faded, he removed the stethoscope, checked it then placed it again on her stomach. “There’s a slight echo…uh…”
Nobody ever wants to hear uh come out of a doctor’s mouth, Noah thought. This could never be good as he saw medical personnel rush around the room in a frenzy.
“What’s happening?” Noah asked, his fear rising.
“Uh…” The doctor began staring at the sonogram machine, “I think there are two babies and one is in distress.” Another set of equipment was rolled up to the bed and he announced, “We’re going to do the cesarean now!”
“No…I…” Eva cried faintly.
“I can turn the babies.” Emilia declared.
“Too risky. It’s easier to cut…”
“Not if the mother doesn’t want it. The fear of it could raise her blood pressure, she could bleed out and hurt the babies…”
“I am not risking this…” Dr Martin argued.
“Are you sure you can do this?” Noah asked Emilia.
“Of course.” She responded confidently.
“Do it then,” Noah ordered.
“Sir, I advise against this…” Dr Martin protested.
“Was she right about the bleeding?” Noah put in.
“Uh…”
“You say that a lot.” Noah chastised then repeated, “Was she right abo…?”
“Yes!” Dr Martin admitted finally “It’s a risk with all cesareans, excess blood loss. Which is why we have the donor blood on standby…”
“Shut up.” Noah then focused on the midwife who seemed to be massaging Eva’s stomach as she focused on the sonogram machine.
“I see him!” She announced to the tense room. “Oh, he looks fine, the cord is around his neck. You need to start pushing now, dearie. His brother isn’t waiting on you.”
“You can’t!” Dr Martin complained, “The cord could choke the other infant!”
“Didn’t I tell you to shut up?” Noah chastised as he coached Eva, “Push baby.”
The midwife called the waiting nurses and instructed them to take their positions. One would catch his first-born son while she kept his brother stable. As the cry of his son filled the room, Emilia instructed Eva to stop pushing and her hand disappeared inside Eva. Noah could actually see it on the sonogram, removing the cord off his son’s neck.
“Push now!” Emilia ordered.
5
Joys of Fatherhood
Three minutes later a slightly blue-tinged baby appeared, and Noah thought he was already dead, but Emilia rubbed his little back and blew gently into his throat. A pinch and he was crying like his brother.
When the pair was cleaned up and handed to their mother, Eva was finally able to see her boys. They had tufts of red hair and green eyes like their grandfather, Welker.
Noah never saw Welker’s true eye color up close, so he wasn’t aware of the significance of the green eyes and Eva was pleased with the fact until he said, “Green eyes?”
“It’s from my side of the family,” Eva responded, looking pointedly at him.
“Your mother…” Noah began then his face changed. He knew now who she meant. He took a deep breath and ran his hand over his face. To the medical staff, he praised, “Thank you all for what you have done, especially Emilia. My wife was right to have such faith in you.”
“I did what I could, Sir. It’s up to the good Lord now. There may be complications yet. He will need to have a doctor to stay with him…”
“It would be an honor ….” Dr Martin began.
“Could you recommend someone?” Noah asked her, ignoring the man.
“He di
d come highly recommended.” Emilia pointed out.
“No, I want someone else.” Noah insisted.
“Well, there is a Dr Vale. She’s an excellent pediatrician. I’ve known her since she started training. She puts her heart into it.”
“I’ve heard of her,” Dr Martin crowed smugly. “She lost quite a few of her patients I recall.”
“That’s because she never says no.” Emilia defended. “When your sort turns them away. She takes the cases and tries. She has saved more than she lost.”
“Then we ask her,” Noah ordered.
“A wee problem with that sir, we already did,” Emilia explained.
“What?”
“She was our first choice,” Eva explained tiredly. “But she had a few cases she couldn’t leave.”
“We can try now if you like?” Emilia questioned.
Eva nodded in agreement and Emilia left.
“She may be too busy to accommodate you but I…” Dr Martin tried again.
“…can leave now.” Noah finished for him. “Your services are no longer required.”
“Uh-uh…”
“Exactly.” Noah agreed.
* * *
Dr Vale agreed and added Nathaniel Wayland Marshall to her roster of patients. She made weekly visits and even checked his brother, William Niam Marshall though he wasn’t officially a patient. The woman loved children. She was born with a defect that prevented her from having kids of her own, so all her patients were treated like her own.
Emilia was permanently added to the staff. They had to make a few concessions for the Scot though. Emilia wanted to be able to help Dr Vale in her work and still be available for births which would be a good thing since Olivia announced she was pregnant.
Apparently, she and Eric had gotten along pretty well before the wedding because she was almost five months along by the time Noah found out. The public wouldn’t know this of course. As far as they were concerned she was only four months and since her belly wasn’t that large and with some wardrobe magic they were able to pull it off.
As for Noah and Eva, the birth of the twins was celebrated around the world. Their first official pictures went out with them sleeping, their eyes closed. It would be the only close up pictures of them until they turned one.
Their marriage was now reduced to a civil friendship. The birth of his second cousin, trips, meetings, the extravaganza of their first Christmas and the review of his first year in office all served as excellent distractions to their relationship. Playdates were arranged with the offspring of royalty and an entire wing was changed into a nursery.
All this kept the President and First Lady busy. The differences in schedules even kept them from being together in the White House. So, it was quite a shock when almost ten months after the birth of the twins, they almost literally ran into one another in the hall.
Little Nate had gotten sick and Noah was informed as he landed. Eva was awoken and was also racing to the nursery when they saw each other.
“You go,” Noah told her huskily as their paths crossed. It was the first time he really looked at Eva since the birth. Eva was dressed in a creamy silk spaghetti strap nightgown that stopped mid-thigh and hugged her curves with a matching robe that barely covered her from the watchful eyes of their security detail.
“Mama’s here.” Eva cooed as she picked up Nate clutching him to her very ample chest, then asked Emilia, “Is it bad? Should we call Sandra?”
Her words finally brought Noah’s focus off her body only to realize he wasn’t the only one staring. Three members of his detail’s eyes were transfixed on her until he turned and stared at them.
“Uh, Sir.” They saluted before leaving.
“There’s no need,” Emilia assured. “It’s just a wee fever, the aches are what’s really bothering him.”
“Maybe you should whip up the medicine you gave him before,” Eva muttered, her focus solely on Nate. Noah moved to Will’s crib and picked him up as the commotion had woken him. He wasn’t crying, but he looked at his brother worriedly.
“I’m taking Will for a walk.” Noah declared, and Eva nodded absently, still bouncing Nate in her arms. The action caused other things to bounce as well and remind Noah of his enforced celibacy.
Noah took Will to the Oval office and took out the blanket he normally used when he slept in here and spread it on the floor. He put Will on the floor and sat down beside him after removing his jacket and tie, watching his stumbling attempts at walking upright.
“He’s so cute!” A feminine voice exclaimed. “Which one is he?”
“Um…”
“Sorry, I guess you don’t remember me. I’m Patty ah Patricia, the intern?” Patricia informed him and when she saw he was still drawing a blank, “I was hired two days ago. You weren’t here. I’m cleared.” She finished showing him her pass on the collar of her blue pantsuit.
“What are you still doing here?” It was after ten.
“I was leaving, but they said you came back so I thought to introduce myself.”
“Ok…” How was she getting home? Noah wondered.
“I worked on your campaign. Don’t you remember?” Patty said, twirling a dark lock around her thin fingers, “I told you I was working on my master’s in political science. Maybe for your second term, I could join…”
“Now is not really a good time,” Noah interrupted, wanting to be alone.
“Oh,” She responded softly before taking a step forward asking, “is there anything I could do to help.”
“Not really,” Noah responded, not looking at her, hoping she’d get the hint and leave.
Patricia took a few steps more and placed her hand on his shoulder, her grey eyes peering deeply into his as she offered lowly, “Anything I could do to help, anytime, you just have to ask.”
Noah swallowed as he came to the conclusion of what sort of help she was offering. His lips moved, but no words came out and she smiled at him in triumph as her lips moved closer to his.
“Ahhh,” Will’s voice broke the spell. Noah pulled away and looked up to see Eva standing in the doorway.
Her deadly glare fixed on him until Will toddled up to her. She smiled and cooed as she picked him up, “Nate is all better now. Time for you to go back to bed,” She turned on her heel and left just as silently.
The blood in Noah’s veins had stopped flowing at the sight of her. His mind was ripe with questions. What did she think was happening and more importantly what was she going to do about it?
“Uh… goodnight,” He told Patricia absently as he chased after Eva.
“Eva.”
“Eva!”
“EVA!”
She finally turned and hissed coldly, “What!!”
“It was nothing,” Noah assured.
“I don’t care,” Eva uttered as she resumed walking.
“Just don’t…” The glare she gave him killed the words in his throat and she resumed walking once more. Noah let her go and turned to return to the office and saw Patricia leaning against the wall, watching him.
“She’s beautiful,” She voiced in awe, “I’ve seen her a few times, but thought it was all…Her hair I heard it’s natural.”
“It is,” Noah responded absently then asked, “Why are you still here?”
“I was leaving, but then I saw…anyway I’m going now. Good night.” Patricia told him as she brushed past him, her slim shoulders rubbing against his arm.
“That’s not a good idea,” Noah warned.
“What is?” She asked innocently.
“I know why you’re doing this, but trust me, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“That may be since your wife is so pretty and all, but then why does a man with such a pretty wife avoid her? Maybe he needs more…substance. Goodnight, Mr President.” She wished him smugly as she left.
Noah needed to speak to Eva. Not only for the sake of their marriage but for the safety of his life and Patricia’s. He would seek her out in the m
orning before he left on his next appointment.
6
Audience With A Queen
In the morning
“Can you locate the First Lady for me?” Noah asked Shadow One.
After listening into his ear for a bit, Shadow One replied, “Venus in the gym, Sir.”
Noah hated the code name they gave Eva, but Eva never complained, and the Secret Service men knew it annoyed him so used it every chance they got, “I’m heading there.” He told them.
Noah arrived at the gym to see Eva sparring with a female agent. When the agent tapped out, one of the males eagerly replaced her, but he chose the wrong moment to tag in as Eva spied Noah, her moves became a little less friendly. She had his arm in a twist as she stepped on his neck, she hissed at Noah, “What?”
Instead of answering her, Noah asked the other occupants of the room, “Can we have five minutes?”
Everyone filed out and Eva finally released the agent who was tapping vigorously on the floor.
“Thank God!” He groaned as he closed the door behind him.
Eva stood hand on hips with one eyebrow raised in question.
“About last night…” Noah began, and Eva turned and walked away heading to the showers. “Eva, just listen, I didn’t…”
“I told you, I don’t care.” She enunciated as she stripped in front of him.
“Nothing happened, I swear….” Noah’s words died as she sauntered naked into the shower and turned on the water. She stood under the spray as Noah scrambled for words, “I…uh…nothing.” Noah gave up and simply stared as Eva lathered in front of him. He knew it for what it was. A torment, a look, but touching could cost him a hand.
She rinsed and sauntered out grabbing a towel behind him asking as she wrapped it around her head, “Is there a reason you’re here?”
Finding his voice as she covered up he answered, “About the intern…”
“Look if you want to get your Monica on, that’s fine with me. Just know when you do, you cannot return to me. I won’t kill the bitch, but accidents happen, and I won’t wait until your term is up to end this farce of a marriage. You want to be happy. Then be happy. I want to be happy too and since it won’t be with you, I’ll find it elsewhere.”