Bruce says to Lilly, “I think everything is fine. I also think he forgot almost everything he knows as a doctor and is a bit freaked out back there.”
Lilly says, “Maybe Angel’s Aunt Maria and I should have been in the delivery room. Now I wonder if we didn’t make the wrong decision to give them their time alone.”
Raùl says, “I think you both made the right choice by not going back. With twins they will need plenty of room.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Maria says, reluctantly. “I’m just so worried. Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?”
One of the nurses from the E.R. says, “The word we got was Angel is getting ready to push; if there was a problem, they wouldn’t have called us to come up. The first-time babies usually take the longest.”
I look at the clock; it is now 12:42 am on August 16th. We wait and the anxiety builds up in the room. Angel’s Uncle Raùl says, “I’m going to try to find a nurse. Someone should have some news by now. I can’t just stay here and wait.”
Bruce walks up to him and says, “I’m coming with you.”
They walk towards the door when the door opens and Mason is standing there wearing a green paper gown and paper shoe covers. He has pulled his mask on top of his head. “You two going somewhere?” he asks, looking at his dad and then to Raùl.
“Damn straight, we were going out here to demand some answers,” Raùl says.
Mason smiles, “You can do that, but it might be faster to stay here and listen to me first.” Bruce and Raùl back away and join their wives as everyone stands and gathers close to hear the news. Emma squeezes my hand, and Mason clears his throat before speaking. “I’m sorry I didn’t get out here sooner. When Angel began to push, one of the babies went into distress. They rushed her to do an emergency C-section.” The room gasps and he says, “They’re fine, everyone’s fine. Angel will be going to recovery and the babies are now in N.I.C.U.” The room erupts with cheers.
“What caused the distress to the baby?” Brea asks.
“The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. He’s fine, because of the emergency C-section.”
“Oh, thank God, they’re fine. We were so worried,” Lilly says.
“They’re fine, mom.” Mason laughs and says, “You guys probably want to know this. Angel and I do have a son who was born at 11:57 p.m. on August 15th. He weighs 4 lbs. 2 oz. and is 16 ½ inches long. And we also have a daughter who was born at 12:02 a.m. on August 16th. She weighs 4 lbs. and is 16 inches even.”
I smile and the room erupts with cheers and hugs. Emma hugs me as the crowd makes their way to Mason. “It looks like you share a birthday with one of the babies,” I say as I hug her back.
“Twins born on separate days. I know it can happen, but this is the first time I have actually known about it actually happening.”
“Come on, Emma, should we congratulate the proud father?”
Emma takes my hand and says, “He looks happy, doesn’t he?”
“He sure does.” I say.
Emma
Alec and I congratulate Mason, the grandparents, and Angel’s aunt and uncle.
Sara smiles and says, “I can’t wait until they come and stay at their favorite Auntie’s house.”
“Why would you care when they’ll be staying with me?” Brea jokes.
“You? Excuse me, I was referring to me,” Sara says, laughing.
“Sorry, Sara, I have all the baby stuff. I’m sure I’ll be the favorite.” Brea laughs, too.
Sara thinks about that and smiles before saying. “Brea, you’ll be too busy with Arturo to be the favorite. I, on the other hand, can devote all my time to the twins.”
Brea opens her mouth to say something then closes it. “Damn it!” Brea stomps her foot and everyone laughs. “If you are going to be the favorite aunt, then I will be the cool aunt.”
Vincent says, “I plan on being nicknamed ‘Uncle Toys.’”
“In that case, I will be ‘Uncle Money,’” Donovan says.
Alec and I say our goodbyes, drive home, and share stories of our own children’s birth.
“When Raelynn was born, I was ecstatic to have a daughter. Molly wanted a son, but I kind of wanted a daughter. I knew right after she was born that I wanted more children.” He looks over at me and smiles. “There’s just something about the birth of a baby, your baby.”
“I know what you mean.” The new house is further away and allows us more time to reminisce. “Max was so excited when James was born. I wanted to name James after his dad, Maxwell James, but Max felt he wasn’t worthy enough to name his son after him.” I look over at Alec and say, “I was glad when he finally agreed to name him James Maxwell.”
“As you know, Raelynn is named after Molly and me. Alec Ray and Molly Lynn. It’s unique and it suits her.”
We arrive home, and after a long hot shower I go to bed and dream of James’ birth and Max.
“Em, Emma, wake up.”
I blink a few times and smile. Max is lying beside me on the bed. He smiles and his clear blue eyes are beautiful. “You’re here?”
“I am, I have missed you,” he says, leaning over to kiss the tip of my nose. He gently caresses my earlobe like he always does. I love you so much.”
“I love you and I have missed you.”
“I know. Em, I want you to know I’m proud of you for helping Molly.”
“You are? Thank you. I really didn’t do anything.”
“She asked for help and you listened. She’ll be a better mother to Raelynn now that she’s getting help.”
“Raelynn deserves that.”
“Yes, she does. Molly may still need your help. It won’t be an easy road for her.”
“I know, I’ll help her.”
“That’s my girl. Congratulations, you’re engaged. I’m happy for you and for James.”
“We miss and love you so much. I wish you were still here with us.”
“Me, too. I didn’t have enough time with you or with him.”
“I love you,” I say, trying to put his sweet face to memory.
“Em, it’s time for you to get rid of my things.”
“What kind of things?”
“My clothes, my personal things. It’s time to let those things go, Em.”
“It’s all I have left of you. I’m not ready to let them go.”
“You have James and you’ll always have my heart. Let me go, Em — it’s time. I’ll love you, always and forever?” He leans in and kisses me.
“Forever and always,” I correct.
I wake up feeling sad. Tears run from my face onto the crisp white sheets. Although I am moving on, there is a hole in my heart that will never be healed. A hole that was placed there when Max died. I roll over and I am grateful that Alec is already out of bed. I know Max is gone and my life now consists of Alec, but I still miss Max. I will always miss Max.
I shower quickly and dress in a white tank top and a pair of black yoga pants. This house is much bigger than my other house. I walk through each room, most of which are still full of unpacked boxes, looking for Alec. When I don’t find him, I grab a cup of already made coffee and decide to have it outside under the gazebo.
I walk towards the gazebo, where Alec is already having his coffee. I look around the oversized yard and realize just how peaceful it is out here. No cars, no neighbors, no dogs barking. The sun is out, and it is a beautiful day with clear blue skies. “Have you been up long?” I ask as I get closer to Alec.
Alec looks over at me and smiles. “No, this is my first cup,” he says, holding up his coffee mug.
I sit down next to him, closer than I normally would. The memory of Max is still fresh in my head.
“Are you all right?” he asks as he wraps his arm securely around me.
“I’m fine, it’s so beautiful out here.” I take a sip of my hot coffee and watch as a sailboat sails across the water. I don’t tell him about my dream or about how I miss Max. He doesn’t need to know
that I still miss him. I’m sure he already knows that.
“I knew this would be a great place to have our morning coffee.” Alec kisses the top of my head and leaves his mouth there. “I love coffee. If politicians were to ever make it illegal, I would go to the bad part of town and ask, ‘Is anyone selling any Columbian?’”
“It sounds like you may get arrested.”
“I’m just grateful it’s legal.”
“We won’t get much done sitting out here.”
“You make a good point, Emma. Let’s get started, so we can at least get something done before the kids get home.”
Alec and I work well together in the house. We start unpacking boxes downstairs and work our way up to the bedrooms. Brice and Brooke come over with lunch and stay to help us. Alec called Mason to check on Angel and the twins. We are excited to learn the babies are both on small amounts of oxygen, although they both remain in N.I.C.U. Angel is supposed to be released to come home tomorrow from the hospital.
Brooke looks around the house and says, “It looks like you got a lot done in the house.”
“Surprisingly, it didn’t take as long as I thought. However, we haven’t touched the upstairs,” I admit.
“You guys stay down here and work. Emma and I are going upstairs to work on the bedroom.” Brooke says.
I follow her upstairs and she looks in each of the rooms. “Can you believe you live here? This place is amazing.”
I look around the oversized rooms, “No, I can’t. Alec says it won’t seem this big when the kids get home and everything gets put away.”
“I’m sure he’s right about that. It’ll still seem big but just not as big.”
We both walk into the master bedroom and look at all the boxes lined against the wall. “Do you want to start with your side of the closet or Alec’s side?” Brooke asks.
“Let’s do Alec’s side first. He has work tonight.”
Brooke starts to hang up his clothes and I start opening boxes on which “Alec” is written. I put all the clothes in the drawer and reach over for another box. I stop when I see the box says “Max.” I say, “Brooke?”
“What is it, Boo?” she asks as she walks out of Alec’s walk-in closet. She looks at me and then looks at the box. “Where do you want to store those at?” she asks.
I look at the boxes along the wall then look at Brooke. “I think it’s time I let go. Will you help me go through them?”
“Of course, but, are you sure you’re ready?” she asks.
“It’s been five years. I think it’s time.”
Brooke and I sit on the bed and go through each box. I fill one box with items that I want to keep for James and me. I fill it with a couple tee shirts, a couple hoodies, and a pair of Max’s Army fatigues. I also keep any pictures and postcards that I find in the boxes. Brooke and I have gone through some of the boxes before, but not all of them. I open a box and find several paperback books that are all signed by the authors. Some of the books are romance, some are nonfiction, and some are thrillers. “Where did these come from?” I ask, holding up the signed paperbacks.
“There’s an event called ‘Authors Supporting Our Troops.’ Authors donate signed paperbacks and this place that holds the event distributes them to deployed troops. Brice came home with some, too. It’s a great idea for a great cause.”
“I had no idea. Max never told me he was reading steamy romance novels in his downtime,” I laugh. I take the books and place them on my night stand. Look, one of the books is from author Brenda Kennedy. I love her because she is the queen of cliffhangers. Who doesn’t love a good cliffhanger?”
Once we are done and I have what I want, Brooke and I carry the other boxes out to the hallway. I take the box of items that I want to keep and place it on the top shelf in James’ closet.
Brooke and I finish up in the bedroom just as Brice and Alec walk in. Alec looks in each closet and smiles. “It looks great up here.” He walks back to the doorway and says, “Where do you want these boxes stored?” he asks, looking at the boxes that say “Max.”
“I’m going to offer those boxes to Danny and Cheryl. Brooke and I sorted through them, and I kept a box for James, but everything else can go to Danny and Cheryl, or we can donate them.”
Alec walks over to me and says, “Are you sure, Baby? I don’t mind you hanging on to them.”
“I know and thank you. I just think it’s time. I took what I wanted for James. Brice, if there’s anything in there you want, please help yourself.” I smile so everyone knows that I am really ok with my decision.
“If you’re sure, I would like one of his tee shirts, a hoodie, or something.”
“Please, help yourself. Max would want you to have anything you want.”
Chapter Four: Chaos
Alec
“Your bedrooms better be picked up,” I yell as I make my way down the hallway. I walk in Raelynn’s room and it is spotless. She is sitting on her bed playing with her Barbie doll. “Wow, Rae, it looks great in here. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Daddy, and you’re welcome. James and I helped each other clean our rooms.”
I look around the room and everything is put away. Even the toy box is out of view. I look on the dresser and there isn’t anything on there. No lamp, no books, no toys, nothing. I walk into James’ room and he is sitting on the floor playing with his train. “Good job, James. Your room looks wonderful.” I think to myself, It’s clean, almost too clean.
“Thank you, Alec. Rae helped me.”
In James’ room everything is put away. Nothing is on his nightstand or dresser. No toy box, no toys scattered about, nothing.
“Hey, James, it looks fantastic in here,” Emma says as she walks into the room. She looks around the room and looks over at me. She gets on her hands and knees and looks under the bed. When she stands up, she says, “Um, James, where is everything?
“Rae and I put everything in the closet.”
I walk over to the closet with her and she slowly opens the closet door. When nothing falls out, she opens the door wider. Inside the closet is everything he owns but the dresser, night stand, and his bed. His clothes are still in the boxes and the boxes are piled in his closet. The toy box and all of his toys are also in there.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to check Rae’s room again,” I say.
“I think that’s a good idea,” she says as she starts removing items from James’ closet.
I walk into Rae’s room and she is getting something from inside her overstuffed closet. “What are you trying to get, Rae?” I ask.
“I’m trying to get my pajamas.”
“Where are they?” I walk over and open her closet door wider.
“In one of these boxes,” she says innocently.
“I thought I asked you to put your things away?”
“I did, Daddy. James and I put everything away in here.”
“Here, let’s put everything away where they need to be.”
When Raelynn and I get everything put away, we walk in James’ room. Emma and James are sitting on the bed unpacking all the boxes. “The next time when we tell the kids to put their things away, can you remind me to say, ‘Put them away where they belong’?” I ask, trying hard not to laugh.
“Ok, I will.”
After the kids bathe and have a snack before bed, Emma tucks in James and I tuck in Raelynn. Then I tuck in James, and she tucks in Rae. It was much easier when the kids shared a room. I walk into the bedroom and Emma is pulling back the covers on the bed. “I need to shower before work tonight.”
“I almost forgot about you working nightshift tonight.” Emma walks over to me and hugs me.
“This is my last week at the hospital. Next Monday, I’ll be on dayshift at the office.”
“It’ll be nice to sleep with you every night.” Emma stands on her tiptoes to kiss me.
“Yes, it will. This is actually my last nightshift,” I admit.
“That’s good, I miss you
when you’re gone.”
“Emma? Are you scared to stay here tonight?” It just dawned on me that this is her first night in the new house alone.
“No, not scared, just lonely. It’s a much bigger house than mine was,” she says.
“I’ll set the alarm when I leave and I’ll make sure the gate is also locked,” I say, not fully believing that she is lonely.
I finish up my three-week notice at the hospital. The kids both started school and Emma leaves tonight to go to the book signing with Brooke in Destin, Florida. “Do you have everything you need?” I ask.
“I think so. I can’t believe Brooke is writing a book, and I really can’t believe I’m going with her to a book signing.”
“This is heavy. What’s in here?” I ask, as I lift up Emma’s suitcase.
“My clothes and some books.”
“Books?” I ask.
“A lot of great authors will be there. I already own their books so I want to get them signed.”
“What do they call that? Fan… something?”
“Fangirling?” she says.
“That’s it. My girl’s fangirling this weekend.” I laugh.
“Don’t laugh. You should see the list of authors that’s going to be there. DB Jones, ML Steinbrunn, CM Hutton, David Bruce, Arden Aoide, Alice Clayton, Savannah Grey, and Brenda Kennedy, to name a few.”
I try hard not to laugh. “They do sound like rock stars.”
“Come on, let’s go. I want to get there early enough to enjoy the boat,” Brooke yells up the stairs.
“Come on, fangirl. Let’s not keep the future author waiting.” I laugh as I grab her luggage and her hand.
Once everything is loaded up in the car, I ask Emma and Brooke, “Are you sure you have everything you need?”
“I think so,” Emma says as she looks around.
“Brooke, do you have the directions to the hotel?”
“We’re not staying in a hotel. I made reservations to stay on a houseboat,” she says, smiling.
“You did?” Emma says excitedly.
“What kind of houseboat?” I ask with concern etched on my face.
“This man posted it on Craigslist. Don’t worry, I’m sure it’s fine.”
Mending Hearts Page 8
