Southern Spirits

by Shelley Stringer

  “Well, let me see those babies.” John came over closer and watched them as they slept in my arms. “They’re perfect, Chandler. Congratulations, guys. They’re beautiful.” He smiled as he stepped back over to Brie, who was keeping her distance. I knew certain situations still made her uncomfortable, and she was still extra cautious, putting space between herself and humans on occasion. She blew me a kiss, and then stepped out of the room.

  “It’s still hard for her sometimes. I’d better go and see about her.”

  “Certainly, John. Go and get her. We’ll see you later,” I urged as he followed her.

  Banton took the babies and put them back in their bassinettes, and then pulled them over close to the bed so we could watch them sleep.

  Later that day, Dr. Renault came in to check on us. I’d been napping, but the pain had worsened, and I was fighting tears as he came over to check me.

  “Chandler, are you hurting?” he asked, pulling my gown up to check my incision.

  “No, I’m good,” I lied.

  “She’s not, Doc, but she won’t ask for anything because she wants to nurse the babies,” Banton said. I frowned at him for ratting me out.

  “Chandler, there are things we can give you to help. It won’t hurt the babies.” He left the room, and then came back later with two pills.

  “Take these, and the nurse has a heated pillow for you to hold over your abdomen. It helps when you need to cough or to walk. I also want you to get up and walk every two hours or so. If you continue to do well and the Pediatrician releases the babies, you can go home tomorrow afternoon if you would like.” He patted me on the leg, and then turned to leave.

  Banton rose and crossed over to the bed, and sat down gently on the edge. “Can I get you anything? Rub your back, maybe?” He asked, stroking my arm. I lay my head back on the pillow to gaze into his eyes.

  “Nothing…but just stay near me. It seems I can’t get close enough to you.”

  He leaned over to kiss me.

  Everything was so new again. His kisses, like when we went on our first date. I felt like I needed to slow time, to take in every moment, every sound. I pulled away again to gaze into his eyes.

  “What is it, Andie?”

  “I…I’m just still so overwhelmed. I know what it is like to lose you. I don’t want to take one moment for granted. I feel like I’m experiencing everything over for the first time.”

  Banton chuckled and pulled me in closer to his side, pulling the covers up over us both. “And we will. I want to re-acquaint you with everything,” his eyes burned brightly with promise. “I can’t wait to take you and the babies home for good.”

  We lay watching the twins sleep as he stroked my shoulders, leaning over every so often to place a kiss on my neck. I sighed and slid down lower in the bed beside him.

  “You’d better get some more rest while you can, Chandler. The babies will be awake soon and they’ll surely be hungry again.” Banton urged me softly.

  “’kay,” I replied, glancing up apprehensively.

  “I’m not going anywhere, I promise. I’ll be right here beside you when you wake up,” he promised.

  Chapter Twelve

  Banton’s cell ringing woke me from a pleasant dream. I moaned as I stretched, feeling as though I’d been run over by a freight train.

  I reached over to touch Banton and found the bed empty. Apprehension immediately took over, and I sat up in bed to search the room. He was nowhere to be seen. I seemed to have trouble focusing again on anything, much like looking through someone else’s prescription glasses. I blinked hard, trying to focus. The problems I was having with my eyesight made me more unsettled. My heart began to pound as a strange anxiety took hold of me. It was the first time since Banton had come home he hadn’t been in the room with me when I woke.

  Get ahold of yourself, Andie. He can’t stay in the same room with you forever, I thought. I knew my reaction to his absence was silly, but I couldn’t control it just the same. I broke out into a cold sweat, flinging off the sheets as I pushed myself from the bed to rise. I spotted a glass of water on the nightstand, and decided I needed to drink something. As I reached for the glass, I realized my hands were shaking badly, almost like I’d lost part of my muscle control. I reached to grasp the glass and missed, knocking it clumsily to the floor. The shattering of the glass broke the extreme silence in the room.

  I jumped and gasped as the sharp noise startled me. Both babies stirred in their cribs as the door to my room opened.

  Banton rushed in, full weight on his booted leg, alarmed by the noise. “What happened?” he asked as he noticed the glass on the floor at my feet.

  “Don’t move, you’ll cut yourself. Sit back down, and I’ll get it,” he commanded. I sank back on the bed in relief. As he knelt to pick up the pieces of glass, he looked up at me.

  “Chandler! You’re so pale. What’s going on?”

  “I…woke, and didn’t see you…” my voice shook as I spoke. Banton placed the pieces of glass back on the nightstand, quickly wiping the water from the floor with a towel.

  Reaching over to touch me, he exclaimed, “You’re shaking like a leaf! I can hear your heartbeat,” he checked my pulse and then eased me back into the pillows.

  He continued to watch me intently as I offered, “It’s silly. I guess I had a panic attack or something.” I took a deep breath, and then looked past him to the babies, who had begun to whimper. “And I guess I woke the babies,” I said.

  “Sweetheart, I’m sorry. I just stepped out to answer the phone. You were sleeping so peacefully I didn’t want to wake you. I know I promised I wouldn’t leave your side,” he frowned, wiping the sweat from my forehead. “I hate what my disappearance has done to you,” he murmured.

  “I’m just being over-emotional. I’m fine now, really,” I assured him, grasping his hand. He watched me intently for several moments, and then moved to pick the babies up, first Elly, then Matty, and brought them over to me to nurse. After I’d finished feeding both of them, Banton helped me change them, and then he sat down to rock Ellyson while I continued to hold Matty.

  “Banton, who was on the phone earlier?” I asked.

  “Oh, it’s a secret. You’ll find out tomorrow,” he replied with a mischievous look.

  Both babies drifted off, dry and comfortable with their little tummies full. Banton rose to put them both in their bassinets, and then joined me back on the bed.

  “So, I guess it’s time I asked you for an update. Where do things stand, did you get the ringleader, Dante? Is it over?” I almost whispered.

  Banton played with the lace on the front of my gown for several moments, and then reached up to stroke my cheek as he let out a sigh. “No, Chandler. We took out a compound where we knew he was operating. We killed twenty or so Orcos there, along with some Somali pirates, and then we followed their trail to another location. We thought we had them several times, and they were always able to elude us. We killed Grant,” he paused as I studied him. “But we never caught up to Dante or Lucien. Damn, but I’d hoped we’d get both of them and end all of this. We’ve bought some time, and we’ve brought their operation to its knees. But I know in my heart, you’ll never be out of danger until those two are dead.”

  “You were able to rescue those hostages,” I began.

  “Yes, but I knew the whole thing was a ploy to get us over there. We were ambushed, Andie…several times. I still don’t know how either one of us made it back. The Navy considers the whole operation a success, even with losing the ship. But they don’t know Dante the way we do. They think we’ve taken him out of operation. Reed wouldn’t listen to me; he blows off our warnings about what he’s capable of with a wave of his hand.”

  “Banton, you almost sound like you want to go back,” I surmised cautiously.

  “I do. I want to end him and all the evil the Orcos represent.”

  I shook my head furiously.

  “No! Banton, you can’t! I won’t lose you again! N
o!” My heart pounded as if it would jump from my chest as I pushed up in bed to challenge him.

  “Andie, calm down…Shhh. I’m not going anywhere, not now, anyway. Shhh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up. It’s all right,” he soothed. “I’m staying right here with you for a while, I promise. Calm down. I’m so sorry. I can’t stand what this has done to you.”

  He continued to hold me, and then after several minutes, he pulled my face away to look down into my eyes.

  “I’m on extended leave, to heal and spend time with you and the babies. With everything that has happened, Ty and I have both been told our service terms might be shortened, so my time as a SEAL might be shorter than we thought. I might be able to get out early,” he offered as I smiled at him. “So get used to it, lady…you’re stuck with me.”

  I wound my fingers in his hair and pulled him down toward my lips. “Forever, I hope,” I whispered against his.

  * * *

  The next morning found me up before dawn, ready to get my family home. After the Doctors had both given us their blessings of good health, Banton loaded me and the twins in our new SUV.

  I watched the babies nervously from the front seat, checking them every few minutes.

  “Is everything all right?” Banton asked as I checked them again.

  “It just bothers me I can’t see their faces with them facing backwards. I should be back there with them,” I sighed as he chuckled.

  “You are going to wear yourself out before we even get home. Relax, Andie, they’re fine,” he assured me.

  As we turned onto Rue Dauphine, it was as if a page had turned on a dark chapter of my life. I was returning to the house I loved with my family intact. Banton sensed my joy, and reached over to squeeze my hand. I searched the vehicles parked in front of our house.

  “Hmm,” I murmured as I shot a glance back at his amused face.

  “Oh, Sweetheart, this won’t be a quiet homecoming, I assure you,” he grinned. “But I’ll run everyone out the minute you give the signal,” he joked. I shook my head and leaned over to kiss him.

  “Well, that’s good…because I think everyone we know is here,” I remarked as he parked our SUV and jumped out.

  Before I could even get out, John and Ty were bounding down the steps.

  “Andie-girl, welcome home!” John greeted me as he kissed my cheek. “Here, let me get Matty out. I’ll carry him in for you,” he offered, lifting the car seat from behind me. Banton came around the side carrying Elly, who was promptly picked up by Ty. Both Ty and John bounded up the stairs and through the front door with our children, without as much as a backwards glance.

  “Well, you see how we rate,” I mumbled. Banton chuckled and leaned over to kiss me.

  “We’ve got babies!” I heard John yell as the front door slammed behind him.

  Banton laughed at John’s announcement and then took my hand and hobbled up the stairs to the front porch.

  “Bant-dweeb!” Julia’s squeals met us in the foyer. In an instant, Julia jumped at Banton, and in spite of his boot-cast, caught her in mid-air and swung her around in a circle.

  “Ju-bean, it sure is good to see you,” Banton breathed into her hair as he hugged her tightly.

  “I still can’t believe you are home,” she whispered, gazing over his shoulder at me.

  I smiled at her as I asked, “Aunt Julia, did you see your new niece and nephew?”

  “Oh, gosh…I almost forgot,” she whirled as Banton put her down and rushed into the living room to see the babies.

  “Chandler, they’re so beautiful,” Claudia came into the foyer to hug me with Will close behind her.

  I nodded to her as we embraced. “They are, aren’t they?”

  “Beau! Come here, boy!” Banton exclaimed, patting his leg. Beau stood, wagging his tail silently in the hallway, waiting for Banton to notice him. He lurched into motion, flying at Banton and knocking him backward a step or two as he nudged against Banton’s legs. Nothing would suffice but a complete hug and roll on the entry floor. I giggled at the way Beau’s entire body seemed to wag in complete joy at being reunited with his best friend.

  As we heard the patter of Ava’s little feet, I turned and looked down at her. “An Andler, no one will wet me see my babies,” she pouted, placing her little hands on her hips.

  “Ma Petit, come here. Uncle Everett will let you see them,” he called out from the sofa. Banton and I followed Claudia and Will into the living room.

  Everyone was talking at once. Mrs. Elaine and Mr. Matt sat on the sofa, each of them with a baby in their lap. Everett walked over and took Ellyson from Mrs. Elaine, and then knelt down and sat down in the floor so Ava could sit on his lap. He then placed Elly in Ava’s little arms as he continued to support her head and her tiny butt, allowing Ava to appear as though she were holding the baby herself.

  “See, my little Ava, here is your little baby Elly,” he cooed to her. Ava looked up excitedly at me and Banton.

  “What do you think, Ava…should we keep them?” I asked her. She nodded furiously.

  “Chandler, we have a little surprise for you,” Banton whispered as he placed a kiss on my neck.

  “What is it?” I asked as I turned back to look at him. I caught a movement over his shoulder as he chuckled and moved to the side.

  “Laurilee! Dan…when did you get here?” I squealed when they both appeared around the corner by the staircase.

  “We got here early this morning! We just had to come and see you and the babies and Banton!” Laurilee gushed as she hurried over to hug me.

  “Banton, it sure is good to see you alive,” Dan shook Banton’s hand warmly. “I wish I had a video of Laurilee’s reaction day before yesterday, when she realized she was talking to you on the phone. I don’t know which hit the ground first, her jaw or the phone!” Dan said as he moved over to hug me. “Man, Chandler…you sure spit out some good-lookin’ stock there!”

  “Gee thanks, Dan…I think,” I teased as I moved over to gaze down at Matty.

  “Andie, do you need to go on up? “ Banton moved close behind me and placed a kiss on the back of my neck.

  “No, I’m good. I’ve had enough of hospital beds to last me a lifetime. I will sit a bit down here, though, and visit with everyone,” I replied as John ushered me over to the sofa.

  Everyone took their turns holding the babies and exchanging their own versions of just how exciting Banton’s homecoming, the hurricane, and the babies’ births had been. After a couple of hours, Matty and Elly finally tired of all the excitement and let everyone know how hungry they were.

  “Crap, Chandler…those things come with an ‘off’ button?” Cade asked, his hands over his ears for effect.

  “Very funny, Cade. Chandler, I’ll help you and Banton get them fed and settled in upstairs,” Aunt Sue offered as I rose.

  “Let me carry him upstairs,” Uncle Lon added, rising with Matty in his lap. Banton took Elly from Mrs. Elaine and followed us up the staircase. After I settled down in our bedroom, Banton and Aunt Sue brought the babies in to me.

  “I’ve got a few things to do in the nursery, and I’ll leave you to nurse them. Call me if you need me,” Aunt Sue leaned over to kiss me and handed Elly to me. “Chandler, I don’t want to alarm you, but have you noticed Elly’s color?” Aunt Sue asked, straightening.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, her complexion has been a healthy pink until today. I just think she’s a little pale, that’s all,” she murmured, brushing a lock of hair back behind my ear. “It’s probably just the lights here at the house.”

  “I’m still a little worried about her appetite. It doesn’t seem like she eats like Matty,” Banton added.

  “I know. I asked Dr. Renault about it, and he didn’t seem too concerned yet,” I replied. I watched her as we talked. It did seem her skin was more translucent and pale.

  “Well, I’m sure she’ll be fine. Most babies lose a few ounces when they first come home.” Aunt Sue
assured me as she left the room.

  Banton sat down gently on his side of the bed, and then slid closer to me as he cuddled Matty to his chest. He watched me nurse Elly as he rocking and patting Matty to pacify him until she was finished. When he switched babies with me, he leaned over to kiss me.

  “Andie, I don’t know how you are going to keep this up, nursing both of them every two hours or so. One baby is exhausting. Did the Docs say anything about you supplementing with bottles?”

  “I can do this. Everything I’ve read says it’s so much better for the babies if you breast-feed. I want to give them the best start possible. Besides, this is the only chance I’ll get to do this,” I whispered, glancing up at him.

  “Chandler, we don’t know for sure,” he murmured, sliding his thumb down my cheek. “I’ll help you as much as I can. I’m just worried about how much sleep you can get.”

  I had to laugh. “Believe me, if I can catch a full two hours here and three hours there, it will be much more than I got the last month with them tumbling around inside,” I replied.

  Just as I finished nursing Matty, Aunt Sue returned to help Banton carry the babies back to the nursery. I snuggled down in my mother’s comforter on my bed, the down enveloping me like a warm hug. Beau raised his head from his paws, yawned, and then rolled over to his side to nap beside me on the rug. I watched the warm sunshine spread across the foot of the bed, and as Banton re-entered our bedroom, I smiled. We were finally a family in our house on Rue Dauphine.

  * * *

  Banton’s wounds healed quickly, and his cast, boot and bandages came off soon after we arrived home. Sadly, I could tell he was far from back to normal. As the first couple of days passed, I sensed something was off. I could feel anger coming off of him like radiation. There didn’t seem to be any particular trigger, and I couldn’t pinpoint what was causing it. I knew Laurilee picked up on it too, and she and Dan had made plans away from the house to give us some alone time.