Hearts Attached

by Scarlet Wolfe

  “Shit,” he says before he yanks off his sweatshirt and t-shirt. After jerking his sweatshirt back on, he rolls the t-shirt up, so I lift my head to see what he’s doing.

  A long shard of glass is sticking straight through the side of my thigh, with blood gushing out around it, so I scream as my body shakes uncontrollably.

  “McKenzie, don’t look. You need to stay calm. Think about staying calm for the babies.”

  I feel Stew tighten his shirt around my leg. I’m so weak.

  Luke

  My parents and I are on another unofficial visit to Dartmouth. I signed a letter of intent in November and feel as prepared as I can be, but my dad can’t get enough of this place.

  While we speak with an assistant coach, I feel my phone go off several times. Not wanting to appear rude, I ignore it, but after the fourth call, I begin to worry about McKenzie.

  I excuse myself and step aside. That’s odd. I have three missed calls from Noah and one from McKenzie. I dial her number.

  “Finally, Luke, you have to get to the hospital.”

  “Noah, slow down. What are you doing with Kenzie’s phone?”

  “She and Liv are injured badly.” Noah frantically tells me which hospital before he hangs up on me. I wish he had told me what the fuck is going on.

  After making my parents aware of the situation, we scramble to the car. On the way to the hospital, I call Dalton.

  “Luke, are you on your way?”

  “What happened?”

  “McKenzie’s treehouse collapsed while the girls were in it. They’re hurt pretty bad, Luke. Liv seems to be the worst.”

  “Alright. We’re almost there.”

  I pray the rest of the way that Liv, Kenzie and the twins will be OK. We run into the ER and spot Dalton, Noah and Stew. Their clothes are covered in blood, and it looks as if Dalton’s been crying. My parents go straight to the counter to speak to someone.

  “What happened exactly, and what were all of you doing there?” I can’t help but direct my attention to Stew, who I don’t want anywhere near Kenzie.

  “I couldn’t reach you or Liv, so we stopped by your place. She was leaning out of the door of the treehouse when it collapsed. Kenzie was inside,” Dalton answers.

  “It happened too fast for us to catch them, Luke, but we did everything we could after,” Noah adds.

  “Luke, they want to take you back to McKenzie. A physician is supposed to come out to speak to us about Olivia. They won’t tell me her condition,” my father says. My mom hugs me before I hurry to the door where a nurse is waiting for me.

  “Hi, are you Luke?” she asks before the door closes behind us.

  “Yes.”

  “Ms. Baker keeps asking for you and needs your support.”

  “What are her injuries?”

  “The doctor will need to tell you, but she is in labor.”

  “She can’t be in labor. Kenzie’s only twenty-nine weeks,” I say anxiously as I follow her into a room in the ER.

  “Luke,” Kenzie cries, her arms reaching out toward me. Charlotte is standing on one side of her, so I go to the other. Thank goodness her mom was already working here tonight.

  “They said I have to deliver the babies. It’s too soon,” Kenz says distraughtly, while grabbing and squeezing my forearms in front of her. A doctor and nurse are stitching her leg, where there appears to be a large cut.

  “What are your injuries?”

  “She might have a concussion,” Charlotte replies. “She was going in and out of consciousness at first. A large piece of glass from the window of the treehouse punctured her leg, so they’re trying to stitch it up quickly since she’s in labor. She has contusions, too, especially to her chest.”

  “Luke, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten into the treehouse.”

  “Kenzie, it’s not your fault.” I run my fingers through her sweaty hair and take hold of her clammy hand. “Charlotte, she can’t have the twins yet.”

  “It’s too late for us to stop her labor,” the male doctor says as he concentrates on her leg. “Her water broke, and she’s eight centimeters dilated,” he adds.

  I feel queasy. The sound of the babies’ rapid heartbeats, coming from a machine next to the bed, fill my ears, along with the talking from too many medical personnel.

  “Oh, no, not again,” McKenzie says with a long drawn out groan. “The contractions are getting closer together.” Her words come out in a cry, and it’s breaking my heart that she’s in pain.

  Shit, this is really happening, and we are not prepared. “How is Liv?” she asks as the pain eases.

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “You need to be with your sister. She was hurt badly, Luke.”

  “Mom, Dad and Dalton will be there for her. I’m needed here, and you should know I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

  “My chest hurts,” she says, holding her hand to it. I recognize a woman who comes into the room. It’s the obstetrician Kenzie’s been seeing, Dr. Newton.

  “Ms. Baker, I wasn’t supposed to see you in this condition,” she says.

  The male physician, sitting on the rolling stool, pushes back away from the bed as the nurse helping him cleans up supplies on a metal tray. “Her leg is stitched up. She’s all yours.”

  “OK, Ms. Baker, we’re moving you to a delivery room. Let’s get these babies out, so we can give all of you the best care possible,” Dr. Newton says with a faint smile.

  “We need about ten minutes to get her set up, and then both of you can come in.” She looks to Charlotte and me before hastily leaving the room.

  No sooner than she exits, Kenzie has a strong contraction, so I hold her hand through it before I leave to check on Liv. Charlotte follows me to the waiting room.

  When I go through the doors, I find my parents crying, along with Dalton. Our friends, Shelby and Amanda, are also visibly upset. It appears our whole gang is here.

  “What’s happening? How is Liv?”

  “She’s in surgery,” my mother says, holding a tissue to her nose. “She has a lot of internal bleeding. Her spleen ruptured, and we’re not sure what else.”

  Amanda reaches out and takes hold of my shoulder.

  “How is McKenzie?”

  “She’s OK but in labor. She’s getting ready to deliver the twins.”

  “Aren’t they too small?” Stew asks.

  “The babies have a good chance of making it,” Charlotte answers.

  A nurse takes us to Kenzie’s room. This one is spacious, and there are a lot of staff moving throughout, setting up equipment. Two rolling incubators set off to the side, and I am not mentally prepared for what lies ahead.

  Chapter Nineteen

  McKenzie

  I squeeze Luke’s hand as another contraction comes. They’re only a few minutes apart.

  “I need to use the bathroom.”

  “McKenzie, that’s the sensation that you need to push. I have a feeling you’re ready, so let’s take a look,” Dr. Newton says after a nurse helps her put on protective covering and gloves.

  “She’s fully dilated. McKenzie, I want you to push for me. It’s going to hurt since we couldn’t give you an epidural, but you can do this.”

  I tighten the hold on my mom and Luke’s hand. They’re on each side of me at the head of the bed. Beginning to push, the pain cuts through me. I feel as if I’m being ripped apart.

  My head falls back against the bed after one long push. “I can’t. It hurts!”

  Luke leans over and looks me in the eyes.

  “You can do this, Kenz. Do it for the babies.”

  Taking a huge breath, I feel the pain in my chest again, but it doesn’t compare to the pain I’m feeling trying to deliver these twins.

  I’ve pushed several times now, and one of them need to get the hell out of me already.

  “The head is right here,” Dr. Newton says. “Give me one more long push.”

  Luke’s hand is probably bleeding from my nails digging into i
t. I do as the doctor asks and feel such relief when baby number one is out. I’m coughing loudly, but I manage to hear her say that the first one is a boy.

  She passes him on to a nurse who rushes him to the incubator. In seconds, we hear his cry. It’s no time at all before I feel the overwhelming need to push again.

  It seems harder to do this time, and I can’t stop coughing. Maybe it’s due to the fall, but I’m exhausted, and as much as I want my baby girl out, I don’t have the energy. I hear an alarm going off on the machine hooked to me.

  “McKenzie, I need you to help me and push again. We have to deliver her now,” Dr. Newton says.

  Luke leans in and cups my face. “Kenz, please push one last time.” He appears anxious, and I sense something is wrong.

  “Mom’s oxygen is still dropping,” a nurse says.

  Someone in scrubs turns up the oxygen and straightens the tubing at my nose, and I feel the air increase. “Push McKenzie, now,” Dr. Newton adds aggressively.

  I have to get the baby out, so I bear down and push as hard as I can, groaning the entire time. The relief hits me before I go into a coughing fit. Stuff comes up from my lungs, and when I look down, I’m covered in blood and feel as if I’m choking on it. I grab Luke’s shirt. Someone help me fast. I can’t breathe.

  Luke

  Hospital staff are shoving Charlotte and me out of the way. They direct us over near the babies, but I need to see that Kenzie is OK. The blood coming out of her mouth looks like something from a horror movie.

  A nurse tell us that we have to go to the waiting room, but I don’t want to leave her and the twins. I feel as if I’m on the verge of losing everyone important to me. “I’m not leaving McKenzie,” I say.

  Charlotte takes hold of my bicep.

  “Luke, I don’t want to leave her either, but I know they’ll take good care of her.”

  Some other staff are running into the room as we’re leaving. A neonatal nurse informs me that they’ll let me see the babies as soon as possible and claims they appear to be a healthy weight for their week of birth. At least that’s some good news.

  Charlotte and I go to the waiting room to see what is happening with Liv. Almost everyone stands when we enter. “Well?” Mom asks.

  “She delivered the babies, but she’s not OK,” I reply. I feel myself getting choked up, so Charlotte grabs my hand.

  “Kenzie began coughing up blood. I believe it’s from the bruising to her chest. All we can do is wait to see what happens.” Charlotte looks to me, fighting tears as she attempts a smile.

  “The babies cried, so that’s a wonderful thing, and they’re larger than I expected.”

  “What about Liv?” I ask.

  “We don’t know anything yet,” Dad replies solemnly.

  I pace around the room a few minutes before Noah approaches me. “Man, I’m sorry you’re going through this. Do you need anything?”

  “No, but thank you for helping Kenzie and Liv.”

  “You’re welcome, but I didn’t do much other than call 911 and track you down. Dalton helped Liv, and Stew looked after McKenzie. You probably don’t want to hear it, but he took really good care of her.”

  A doctor comes out and approaches my parents, so I rush over to them.

  “As far as surgery, we’ve done all we can for your daughter. There was an extensive amount of internal bleeding, and we had to remove her spleen. She also has a few broken ribs and some lacerations.”

  “Is she going to make it?” Dad asks.

  “I’m optimistic, but there can always be complications with this type of injury and surgery. We’re doing everything we can, and you should be able to see her within the next couple of hours.”

  The physician leaves, and my Mom sobs against my dad’s chest. He strokes her dark brown hair and makes a soothing noise repeatedly against her ear.

  The intense love and worry I already feel for my twins makes me empathize with my parents for what they’re going through. They’ve had eighteen years to love Olivia, and I have no doubt that they do. I get it now.

  Dalton falls into a chair and leans over to rest his head on his arms. He loves Liv, too, and I’m sick with worry that I could lose my sister, the love of my life, and my children all in one day.

  Dr. Newton finds Charlotte and me in the waiting room and pulls us aside. “Kenzie is stable and sleeping. The straining from pushing was hard on her lungs due to the bruising they sustained from the fall.

  “We’ll do another X-ray soon, and if there is more blood or fluid built up, we’ll have to put in a chest tube.” She gives me a sympathetic look.

  “I was going to walk you to the neonatal unit before I leave, but since you’re doing the adoption, I didn’t know if you planned on seeing them.” Her eyes are weary as she waits for my response.

  “I’m dying to see them.”

  She smiles. “I had a feeling that’s what you’d say. Grandma, it’s up to you, too, if you want to visit them.”

  “Yes, ma’am. They are my grandbabies.”

  After arriving where the neonatal unit is, we’re taken into a room where we wash our hands and are given some instructions by a nurse.

  We’re then led into a larger room, where people can see in through a long row of glass windows going across the front of it.

  “Are you ready to see your precious babies,” Mr. Harris?” a nurse asks.

  “Please.” We follow her to two incubators that are side by side, and my lungs take in a sharp breath of air as my eyes glance from one to the other.

  “They’re a good weight for how early they are. Your son weighs three pounds and three ounces, and your daughter’s weight is three pounds and one ounce.”

  “They’re–they’re so tiny.” Turning around, I look at Charlotte. The tears she had been battling are falling freely. I need reassurance from her, but for what I don’t know. I wish my parents were here and happy to see them. She pats me on the shoulder.

  It’s scary seeing them with masks, tubes and stickers stuck to their thin skin. The nurse explains the purpose for each medical device, and that eases my mind some. Fortunately, they’re both breathing on their own with only help from a little oxygen.

  “You can touch them. It’s important for them to have the physical contact,” the nurse says, giving an encouraging smile.

  I reach my hand through the round opening and gently run my finger down my baby girl’s soft arm. She’s beautiful and fragile, and I love her already.

  Moving so Charlotte can see her, I go to my son and reach inside. Running my fingers down his arm, too, he flinches, and when my fingers reach his hand, he grabs hold.

  For such a small guy, his grip is firm. Tiny toes and fingers move and the little blue cap on his head makes him adorable. How is it possible to feel this kind of love for someone you just met?

  McKenzie

  My eyes open when I feel something on my head. Luke’s hand is brushing hair from my face.

  “Hi,” I say. My voice is hoarse, and my throat is sore. “The babies. Please tell me they’re OK.” I’m panicked, waiting for his response. Luke gives me the broadest grin.

  “Hon, they’re perfect. I mean, they need a little help, but I’ve never seen anything cuter in all my life.”

  I feel enormous relief. “So, they’re healthy?”

  “They’re breathing on their own, and so far, there doesn’t appear to be any major health problems. They’ll have to feed from a tube down their nose until they’re stronger, and they’ll be here for a while, but for how early they are, they’re great.”

  “What about Liv?”

  His smile disappears, and I’m worried all over again. “She had surgery, and her spleen was removed but she’s stable.”

  Tears spring from my eyes as I’m overcome with emotion. We brought life into this world tonight, and I pray one isn’t taken for it.

  “Luke, what are we going to do?”

  “I don’t know, Kenz, but you need rest tonight. You were hurt
, too, and I can’t have something happening to you.”

  He smiles. “You’re going to fall in love with them as soon as you see them. It’s the craziest thing. I can’t explain it.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “We have to name them, so think about it. I know we never planned on being the ones to do it, but they deserve to have names right away.”

  “I will.” Leaning over, he kisses my forehead.

  “I love you, McKenzie Baker. We’ll get through this together. Your mom wants to see you, so I’m going to go back and check on Liv. All of our friends are here and worried about the both of you.”

  “Thank them for me.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Luke

  “Luke, wake up.”

  I sit up straight and blink a few times. A nurse is standing by Kenzie’s bed, putting some kind of contraption together.

  “Are you OK?” I ask.

  “Yes, um, I have to try to pump milk for the babies. I thought you might want to find out how Liv is. You’ve been in that chair all night.”

  “Do you want me to leave?” I ask with a smirk.

  Kenzie blushes. “Only this time. You know, while I’m trying to figure out what I’m doing.”

  Stretching, I go over and kiss her forehead. I pull out my phone and read a text from my parents, letting me know they are in a waiting area near my sister’s room. I travel through the hospital until I find them.

  “Luke, how’s McKenzie?” Mom asks.

  “She seems good this morning. Did you two stay here?” Mom looks exhausted.

  “Yes. We couldn’t bring ourselves to leave when all the important kids in our lives are in this building.” She stands and hugs me. “Liv is stable, and we’re waiting for another update from the doctor. Do you want to have some breakfast?”

  “I need to see the twins again first,” I say.

  “You saw them?” my dad asks, sounding surprised.

  “Yes, Dad, and I’m going to continue to see them. I’m their father. What? Did you expect me to sign them over to social services already?” I ask angrily.