I glace over at Eryc. He is sleeping in that hard metal hospital chair with its minimal cushioning. This is the third or fourth time I have caught him sleeping like this and I wonder why he keeps putting himself in this position.
The angle his neck is bent in has to be causing him pain. Even though he could have gone home and slept in his own bed, he chose to stay here with me so I wouldn’t be alone. That touches the very center of my heart.
A light knock on the door has me turning my attention from Eryc. Rene walks in with a nurse who is wearing those pale pink scrubs.
The nurse smiles and introduces herself. “Hi, sweetie. My name is Marie and I’ll be your nurse this morning.” She heads over to the machine and presses a button. The cuff on my arm inflates, cutting off blood flow to my arm.
Rene watches the numbers on the machine and smiles once the air deflates from this stupid cuff. “Perfect.” She glances over at her nephew and shakes her head with a smile. “That boy is as stubborn as they come.”
I follow her line of sight and find Eryc beginning to stir. Blinking his eyes open as if he can sense our gaze on him, he smiles and leans forward with a wince. Rubbing the back of his neck, he stretches his head from side-to-side which results in two loud cracks.
Tucking my feet under me, I pat the mattress in front of me. Eryc raises his brow but sits on the bed. “Turn,” I say.
He does and I start to rub his shoulders and neck. Lowering his head, his whole body begins to relax and he lets out a satisfied moan.
Rene chuckles and then hands me a few papers. “Nurse Marie will get you ready to go home after you’ve had breakfast. Everything looks great and I don’t foresee any complications.”
“Okay.” I cannot wait to get home. No offense to the staff here but I’m ready for my comfy bed and Netflix.
“Great. I need to get back to the clinic and attend to my patients, but I’ll stop by tonight with dinner and check in on you.” She pats me on the leg and waves to Eryc on her way out the door.
The nurse finishes typing on the computer and goes over the papers Rene gave me. Things to watch for like bleeding, persistent pain, sudden dizziness and loss of balance. Eryc pays close attention and I have no doubt that he will be keeping a close eye on me. As she goes over the last page, another nurse walks in carrying a tray of food with a glass of orange juice and a carton of milk.
Eryc watches as I eat the eggs, bacon, and oatmeal. I try offering him a bite, but he refuses and urges me to eat it all.
While I eat he talks about football. Football is a sport I know nothing about. Yes, I go to all the home games but I don’t know the first thing about the sport. I do know what a touchdown is, so there is that.
I continue listening while I eat, nodding every now and then when he says something that sounds important.
When the last of my food is consumed, Eryc grabs a bag from a nearby chair. Handing it to me he says, “I had Thaddeus bring you some clothes and proper soap and shampoo.”
“Thank you.” I take the bag and carry it to the bathroom. A nice hot shower is just what I need.
The shower indeed was what I needed, now I feel more like myself. Per my request, Eryc is driving me to the rehab center to see my mom. It has been a couple of days since I have been in to see her and I miss her like crazy. Silence fills the car but it’s not uncomfortable at all. Eryc’s fingers are twined with mine and his thumb gently caresses the back of my hand. I’m on cloud nine and smiling like an idiot.
Walking into the rehab facility, hand-in-hand with Eryc, I wave at the nurses on my way to mom’s room.
Thaddeus is walking out of the room as we approach. “Hey, I was just on my way to see you.”
Letting go of Eryc’s hand, I wrap my arms around my brother. Sadly, he smells like two-day old whiskey. “Thaddeus, you need to quit drinking. It’s not healthy.”
Planting a kiss to the top of my head, he says, “Don’t worry about me.” I wish he wouldn’t shut down on me like this. “Mom just finished her morning therapy, she’ll be happy to see you.” Slipping his cell phone from his back pocket, he sends out a text and then walks away.
Mom is sitting in bed when we walk in. Smiling from ear-to-ear, she puts her magazine down and waves. “Hi, baby, I missed you.”
“I missed you too, momma.” I lean over and give her a gentle hug. She is a lot stronger now but I can’t help handling her with care.
She kisses me on the cheek and then motions for Eryc to come closer. “Come here, Eryc, and give me a hug.” Eryc does and mom holds on to him for a good two minutes it seems. “I hear you’ve been taking good care of my Makayla.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Once mom releases him, Eryc stands behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder.
Mom’s eyes travel from Eryc to me and back again. When his hands press against my stomach protectively, mom raises a brow but she doesn’t say anything.
Reaching out, I take hold of her hand. “Mom, we have something we’d like to talk to you about.”
Eryc gives me a gentle squeeze, encouraging me to continue. Mom doesn’t speak, she gives me her full attention.
“Momma, I’m pregnant.”
My mom smiles and pats my hand. “Oh, baby.” Moisture builds in her eyes and wets her lashes. “This is not what I expected during your senior year of high school.”
I frown at her words.
“But I know you will be the best mom in the world and I’m happy for you two.”
My mom thinks Eryc is the father? Obviously, because she doesn’t know about Brandt. That is a complication I will not burden her with until she is healthy and back at home. I will not comprise her recovery with that wicked truth.
“Thank you, Brenda,” Eryc says. “We’re very excited about them.”
“Them?” my mom questions. After a second she sucks in a breath and smiles big. “You’re having twins?”
“Yes, momma.”
The smile on her face grows even bigger and it lights up her eyes. “Oh, my little girl is having twins. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Eryc
Five months later
The last several months have been hard on Makayla. She finally found the courage to go to the police with her journal. Brandt and Lee were charged. Vince got a slap on the wrist since he didn’t physically touch her. But despite the stress of the trial, my girl was a trooper through the whole ordeal. And to our surprise, Brandt waved away his rights to the babies. He said he had no interest in being a father.
Brandt waving away his rights was music to my ears and I rejoiced. I didn’t want to share my kids with that sorry piece of garbage anyway.
In preparation for the babies, I took some extra classes and was able to graduate early. My parents were against it but I needed to free up my schedule so I could work full time in order to support my family. Those measly two hours a day were not cutting it.
Makayla is sitting on a barstool, sipping ice water when I walk in. She is a month away from her due date and miserable. The twins take up so much room, she has a hard time getting around. Hiding my surprise behind my back, I plant a kiss to the top of her head.
“And what are you hiding?” she asks.
Bending down, I kiss her lips as I slide the glass vase onto the counter in front of her. When I pull back, her eyes zone in on the dozen red roses.
“Those are so beautiful, Eryc.”
“Not as beautiful as you, baby.” I touch her swollen belly and one of the twins kicks my palm. “Somebody’s happy to hear my voice.” Another kick to my palm. I love feeling them kick and move beneath my touch. “Oh, I have something else for you.” Bringing my other hand out from behind my back, I hand her the heart-shaped box of chocolates. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
The wrapping crinkles loudly as she unwraps the box. Popping a chocolate in her mouth, her eyes roll back and she moans. “Oh, my goodness, these are amazing.” Once she swallows, she
licks her lips and says, “Happy Valentine’s Day to you too.” Selecting a chocolate, she holds it up to my lips.
Opening my mouth, I bite into the creamy goodness. She’s right, it is good. I watch my girl eat another chocolate and marvel at where we are. We have been a couple since October and are madly in love.
“I have one last surprise for you.”
“What? Eryc, you didn’t have to get me anything else.”
“I know that.” Footsteps sound in the hallway and Makayla turns to see her mother, Thaddeus, both of my parents, Rene, Chad, and Alesandra walk in.
While she is focusing on them, I slip down onto my knee and pull the soft velvet box from my pants pocket. “Makayla?” At the sound of my voice, she glances at me and gasps. “Baby, I love you more than I love the air I breathe. You are my entire world. Without you I am nothing.”
Tears run down her face.
Opening the box, I pull the ring free. “Makayla, will you marry me?”
“Yes, of course.” Cheers and clapping fill the room and Makayla giggles into our kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I help her when she starts to slide off the barstool.
She gives her mother a hug and then makes her way to everyone else. Just as Alesandra kisses her cheek, Makayla doubles over, clutching her stomach. “Oh, that hurt.”
I’m quickly at her side, supporting her under the arm.
Brenda reaches out to her daughter. “Makayla, honey, are you alright?” Just as Makayla straightens, she doubles over again. “That’s it, we’re going to the hospital,” Brenda says.
I gaze at my little auburn-haired babies, one boy and one girl. John and Irene. I have a feeling our little girl is going to give us a run for our money. Only minutes old and she already has an attitude.
Brenda is holding Irene and my mom is holding John, each woman is cooing and babbling at the babies, and I can’t help but laugh at them.
This is my family.
Epilogue
Makayla
I couldn’t be happier. The birth of my twins was the most amazing experience of my life and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I am so glad I made the decision to keep them. They bring such joy to my life.
I’m still in group therapy and Dr. Fuentez is so much more than just my doctor, she has become part of my family. Alesandra is my best friend and has been a blessing to me and my babies. In fact, we refer to her as their Aunt Al. Eryc’s best friend, Chad, has been given the title of Uncle. He has been around to help us every day. In fact, I think he has fallen in love with my kids.
Today is the day. The day that I become Makayla Delmonte. My mom is fussing over my hair and Janet, Eryc’s mom, is fussing over my makeup. I just want time to fast forward so I can walk down the aisle and marry the love of my life.
Janet picks up Irene and mom picks up John. The two of them carry the babies from the room and Alesandra straightens my veil. “You ready?” I nod. “Good, because it’s time to get this show started.”
We walk out hand-in-hand and meet Thaddeus at the double doors. My father should be the one to give me away but unfortunately, he is a loser that gave me up before he got to know me. That’s okay. I have my brother. Thaddeus holds his arm out and I loop mine through his. Alesandra opens the double doors and the music starts the instant she steps foot in the sanctuary.
Thaddeus walks me down the aisle and gives me away then takes his place beside Chad as Eryc’s groomsman. Handing my bouquet to Alesandra, I take Eryc’s outstretched hands.
Eryc’s father is conducting the ceremony. When he gives Eryc the go ahead, Eryc recites his vows.
“Kay, you are my everything. You are my best friend. The woman that I love. I take you, not just as my best friend, but my lover, the mother of my children, and my wife. I will respect and love you in your successes and in your failures. I’ll care for you in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
I swallow the tightness from my throat. His speech was so beautiful, there is no way mine will sound as good.
“Eryc, you are my world. I take you to be, not only my best friend, but my lover, the father of my children, and my husband. I will respect and love you in your successes and in your failures. I will care for you in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
Taking the ring from Thaddeus, Eryc slips it onto my finger. “With this ring, I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.”
Alesandra hands me the matching band and I slip it onto Eryc’s finger. “With this ring, I thee wed. Wear it as a symbol of our love and commitment.”
Eryc’s father, my father-in-law, smiles and says, “You may now kiss your bride.”
Eryc cups my face and leans in ever-so-slowly. The anticipation of this kiss is almost more than I can bear.
When his lips finally touch mine, electricity sparks between us. This kiss is different from all the others we have shared. This one is a uniting of our hearts and our lives.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Eryc Delmonte.”
Playlist
Alter Bridge – Watch Over You
Bishop Briggs – Dark Side
Luke Bryan – Crash My Party
Luke Bryan – I Don't Want This Night to End
The Calling – Wherever You Will Go
Miley Cyrus – The Climb
Miley Cyrus – When I Look at You
Daughtry – It's Not Over
Five Finger Death Punch – Wrong Side of Heaven
The Fray – Look After You
The Fray – You Found Me
Chase Goehring – Hurt
Hozier – To Be Alone
Sam Hunt – Take Your Time
Imagine Dragons – It's Time
Lady Antebellum – I Run to You
Lady Antebellum – Just A Kiss
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
Lifehouse – You and Me
Maroon 5 – She Will Be Loved
Tim McGraw, Faith Hill – Speak to A Girl
MUSE – Dig Down
NF – Let You Down
NF – Oh Lord
Christina Perri – Jar of Hearts
P.O.D. – Alive
Seether – Broken
Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
Shinedown – If You Only Knew
Shinedown – Simple Man
Justin Timberlake – Not A Bad Thing
Justin Timberlake – Say Something
Justin Timberlake – Until the End of Time
Twenty One Pilots – Heavydirtysoul
Keith Urban – The Fighter
Acknowledgements
I want to thank Shalisha Cooper for helping me choose the names Kurt and Lee. I would also like to thank Jennifer Wedmore for helping me choose the names Brandt, Vince, and Alesandra.
Note from the Author
Asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of. If you are struggling with depression, ask for help. Talk to your parents, a teacher, a counselor, a pastor, or call a hotline. There are people out there that want to help you.
You are not alone.
About the Author
Tich is an Oklahoma resident and the mother of five. Her passion for reading started at an early age when her Aunt Vicky gave her the novel Heidi for Christmas. She didn’t start writing until middle school, after being inspired by her best friend’s short stories. “Genny’s stories weren’t just great, but they inspired me to put my pen and paper to good use.”
Connect with her at facebook.com/TichBrewsterAuthor
Join her reader group at facebook.com/groups/TichBrewster
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Pieces of Me Page 21
