by Santo, JC
“She’s going to be okay, babe. All three of them are going to be fine. They have to be,” I whisper.
“God, I hope you’re right,” she says with unshed tears in her eyes.
“Ready?” She nods, “Let’s go.”
We walk inside, hand in hand, ready to face anything the doctors and Hunter tell us about Tessa.
This is the first time I’ve ever felt worried for a woman before. Multiple women, at that. I know Tessa will be fine. Granted I have no idea what high blood pressure has to do with the twins, but judging from the look on Tegan’s face, I can only assume it isn’t good.
I’m not a praying man, but as we proceed through the sliding glass doors, I say a quick word to the Man upstairs that everyone makes it through all of this healthy.
I pull out my phone to see a text from Hunter giving us a room number. We bypass the front desk and head straight into the elevator. The seconds seem to drag by between each ding of climbing floors. Tegan’s hold on my hand tightens with each passing floor.
Unintentionally, her nerves begin to rub off on me. What if Tessa and the twins aren’t alright? What do I do? How am I supposed to comfort her?
I unlock our hands and tug her into my side, wrapping my arm around her shoulder just as the elevator finally arrives on our desired floor.
With a kiss to her temple, I guide us out of the elevator and down one of the many long corridors, searching for the number in Hunter’s text.
Finally finding room 428, we walk in to see Tessa sitting in a bed wearing one of those ugly hospital gowns. She doesn’t appear to be in any pain, but does seem tired. Understandable, considering we’ve all had a long day and little, or in her case, no sleep. Hunter’s incessant pacing stops when he sees us.
He gives Tegan a kiss and hug before pulling me into a quick bro hug. Tegan goes straight to her sister’s bedside as soon as Hunter lets go of her. He and I stand back and give the sisters a few moments alone to talk while he updates me on everything.
“The doctor just left. Her blood pressure has come down slightly, but they still want to go ahead with a cesarean section. They’re worried she could start showing signs of preeclampsia now. Should be an hour or two before we head into surgery.” He glances down at his watch.
Honestly, I have no clue what the hell he’s talking about. I’m a dude with no kids—I have no fucking idea what all the preggo lingo means, all I know is it doesn’t sound good. And a c-section means they are taking the babies by surgery, not letting them come on their own. Which can only mean to me that it’s best to end the pregnancy for Tessa and their health. Do I know how c-sections work? Nope, and sure the fuck don’t want to know either. Not unless the day comes that I have to go through one with Tegan.
The thought hits me like a ton of bricks.
I just insinuated that Tegan and I will have a child one day.
Normally, that type of thought would scare the hell out of me, but standing with Hunter watching Tegan and her sister talk, I’m not scared.
Not only am I not scared, but it’s actually something I want.
I want to have Tegan by my side forever, and I want to see her belly swollen with my children. Not anytime soon—I want plenty of time for the two of us to enjoy our time together first—but in the future, you bet your ass.
Tegan looks over and gives me a small smile, I take it as my cue to join their conversation. Wrapping one arm around Tegan’s waist, I lean over a place a small kiss to Tessa’s head.
“Hey, T.”
“Hey, Reed, thanks for bringing Bug tonight.”
I look at Tegan and smile. “No problem, we’re here for the long haul tonight. Have you called anyone else yet?”
Her eyes go wide.
“Shit. I haven’t called Momma and Daddy! Hunter, did you call them yet?” She whips her head to where her husband has resumed his pacing.
“I sent them a text when we got admitted, but haven’t said anything else yet.”
“Okay, we need to call them. Bug, can you do that?”
Tegan nods and pulls out her phone, scrolling through the contact list to make the call.
“And, babe?” Tessa looks back to Hunter.
“Yeah?”
“Will you call your dad? I know it’s late, but I want him and Sawyer to be here as soon as they can. I don’t want her to miss out on meeting these two before everyone else does.” She gently rubs her basketball-like stomach.
“You got it, Sailor girl. I’ll call them now, but you know Dad will probably wake her up and they’ll come up here now, right?”
“I know.” She laughs. “But she needs to be here, and Marshall too. Family first, then all of our friends can come meet them.” She shifts her attention back to me. “Reed, will you call Marshall?”
I nod and step out in the hallway to make my designated phone call. Once the twins arrive, I’ll hang out in the waiting room while Tegan, Marshall, and the rest of the Stevenson gang meet the new additions. There was no offense taken when Tessa said family first. I get it.
Even though I understand it, it does sting slightly to know I’m once again not considered a part of a family.
Thirty minutes later in a now overly-crowded hospital room, two nurses and a doctor come in. One of the nurses hands Hunter a set of scrubs and tells him someone will be back shortly to get him. They then wheel Tess out toward the operating room.
Everyone gathers all of our stuff and wishes Hunter good luck as we make our way to the waiting room when another nurse comes to collect him.
“Good luck, man,” I say as I clap him on the shoulder.
“Take care of our girl, bro,” Marshall says as he stops and allows Sawyer to kiss her father.
“Love you, son,” their dad says as he passes by.
“Go take care of my sister.” Tegan plants a kiss to Hunter’s cheek and takes my hand to lead us to the waiting room.
Our huge group fills up most of the cramped waiting room down the hall. And time seems to stop as we wait for Hunter to come out with an update. Tegan sits nervously wringing the bottom of her shirt. Marshall is mindlessly tapping away on his phone to pass the time, while Jeremy, Hunter’s dad, and Sawyer keep discussing how the babies will look and what an excellent big sister she will be.
No one knows the sex of the babies yet; Tessa insisted it be a surprise. We all thought Sawyer knew since it was mentioned at the baby shower that she knew their names, but oddly enough, she can’t remember the names her parents told her. We’ve all asked her multiple times over the past few months, but no one has found out the sexes or names from my adorable niece.
Marshall left a message with Jo and one to J.C. letting them know what was happening, but so far neither have called him back yet. It’s now currently 3:00 AM. They’re probably both sleeping still and will rush here once they wake up.
Jo ended up leaving Tessa’s shortly after I announced that Tegan and I were together. I have no idea what’s going on with her, but something isn’t right. She seemed on the verge of tears all day and avoided everyone. Tegan noticed that she refused to acknowledge Tess’s very large stomach, and she didn’t ask any questions regarding the pregnancy like she usually does.
J.C. told me that he was going to swing by her place and check on her when he left tonight. I’m sure they ended up arguing and possibly sleeping together, like they always do. The two of them have a volatile relationship.
After what seems like hours, Hunter emerges through a set of double solid doors with a huge smile on his face.
We all stand and race to him, excited to hear the news.
“Everyone is doing great. We have a beautiful baby girl and a handsome little boy!”
Cheers and hugs are exchanged.
“How’s Tess?” Tegan asks.
“She’s good, they are setting up a room for her now, and as soon as she’s moved from recovery into it, I’ll come get all of you. The twins are in the nursery having their vitals ran right now.” He finds his daughter’
s eyes. “I think they need their big sister in there while they get their first bath, you ready to see them, Princess?”
Sawyer’s eyes go wide. “Yes, Daddy!”
“Alright, let’s go, sweetie.” He takes her from Jeremy’s arms and looks back to all of us. “I’ll be out shortly to get all of you.”
Then they disappear behind the doors again.
We all sit and wait again, only this time, relief and happiness seem to be the general mood of the group, whereas before worry was present.
A short while later, Hunter comes back out alone and announces that Tessa and the twins are now in a room. Everyone climbs to their feet, ready to go meet them, while I’m somewhat lost. I follow the group who’ve fallen in line behind Hunter, but when we arrive at the room, I lean against the wall instead of walking in.
Tegan must have noticed I was no longer behind her, because she turns to see me leaning on the wall.
“What’s going on?” she asks as she steps back up to me.
“Tess said family first, babe. I’m not family, so I figured I’ll just hang out here until you all have had your time with them first.”
“You’re taking what she said too literal, Charlie; you are family. You’re a part of my family now, and I want you with me when I meet my niece and nephew, so can you puh-lease come on?”
I put my hand on the back of her neck and guide her lips to mine.
“You’re my family too now, babe,” I breathe against her mouth before pulling her bottom lip into my mouth. “You ready?” I ask when I pull away. Her eyes are still closed and her forehead pressed against mine.
“You can’t kiss me like that. You’re distracting me from the reason we’re here.” She laughs.
“Babe, I’ll always kiss you like that if you let me. Now, let’s go see these babies before your sister sends out a search party looking for you.”
Even before seeing Tegan hold and caress the twins, I know it will only reiterate what I’ve already learned about her. She’s a beautiful person inside and out.
It also opens my eyes even more to the fact that not all women are destined to be like my birth mother. I know when Tegan becomes a mother, she’ll be loving, tender, and compassionate.
Watching her in this hospital room just confirms my feelings of love for her. Now I just need to tell her.
Tegan
I have never experienced instantaneous love like I do the moment I see my niece and nephew. If becoming an aunt has this much of an impact on me, I can only imagine how I’ll be if I ever become a mother.
“What are their names?” Marshall asks, never taking his eyes off the baby boy he’s holding.
Tessa looks at Hunter and they share a nod. “Sawyer, wanna tell everyone your brother and sister’s names?”
Sawyer, who’s sitting in Hunter’s lap stroking her new baby sister’s chubby cheek, perks up at the mention of her name.
“Yes,” she whisper-yells as to not wake up the baby. Hunter shifts the girls around so she’s able to slide off his lap and commands the attention of the room with her exaggerated throat clearing. “My brudder’s name is Parker, and my sisser is Madison.”
Everyone gives the appropriate oohs and ahhs to satisfy her. Tessa motions for her to come over and she carefully climbs in next to her mother.
Hunter tells us the names again.
“That is Parker Sean, and this little beauty is Madison Jean. Wanna hold your new niece, Bug?”
I nod. “Of course.”
Hunter stands and passes the tiny bundle of pink blankets over to me. I’m instantly in love the moment I feel her tiny body in my arms. I carefully take a seat with Charlie beside me and take in all of her physical traits.
She has chubby cheeks and a head full of brown-sugar-colored hair. After a few moments, her eyes open for a split second. So far, they look deep green, but I know that could change with time.
I hold her close and sporadically place kisses to her forehead and the one small hand that’s managed to slip out of her blanket cocoon. I’m so wrapped up in learning every single detail of Madison, I forget Charlie is next to me. That is, until I feel movement on my side. He leans against my side and places a finger to her small cheek.
“She’s gorgeous, just like her mom and aunt.” He places a small kiss to my cheek.
Marshall chooses that moment to bring Parker over and hands him off to a now very uncomfortable looking Charlie.
He doesn’t turn away or argue against holding little Parker, and after a couple minutes, and some minor adjusting on his hold, Charlie looks as if he’s held a dozen babies before.
Seeing his big body curled around this little wad of blue blankets is panty-melting. He’s attentive, just as lost in their private little moment as I was with Madison just a few seconds ago.
He must feel my eyes on him. His head comes up and his eyes find mine immediately, and a smile breaks out across his face.
“He’s wide awake.” I lean over, careful not to disturb the sleeping Madison, to get a good look at my nephew. His bright, blue-green eyes are wide open, glancing around the room taking everything in. His hair is a bit lighter than his sister’s, more like a deep shade of blonde versus the brown of hers.
Even wrapped in their blankets, the size difference is easily noticeable.
“He’s handsome. Oh my gosh, they are perfect.”
“They are pretty awesome.”
Our conversation is interrupted when I see the flash of a camera go off. Marshall is standing across the room with shit-eating grin.
“Maybe you two will be next,” He lifts his eyebrows to the sleeping babies in our arms.
“Let’s not rush anything, okay? Focus on the now,” I rush out.
I don’t want anything to scare Charlie into thinking babies or marriage or any of that is what I’m wanting to go to right now.
Everyone carries on with other conversations, but I keep my focus on Madison for a few more seconds. When I think the coast is clear, I sneak a glance at Charlie, only to be surprised by him staring back at me with an intense look in his eyes.
“What?” I whisper.
“Nothing.” He shakes his head, clearing the look from his face and places his hand on the nape of my neck, guiding me toward him where he proudly kisses me in this hospital room full of our friends and family.
“What was that for?” I say against his lips.
“Just because I can,” he murmurs back.
He pulls away from me and peeks down at Madison who’s waking up and starting to squirm.
I move my attention from the gorgeous man that is my boyfriend and see that my sister is sitting in her hospital bed watching us with a few stray tears rolling down her cheeks.
“You okay?” I mouth at her.
She wipes her eyes and nods, mouthing back the word hormones, with an eye roll.
Madison’s small cry begins echoing through the room. And Hunter, already the doting father, is by my side in a heartbeat carefully lifting her out of my arms and carrying her to the clear, plastic, infant bed for a diaper change.
“You want to hold Parker now?” Charlie asks. I quickly nod, excited to meet this handsome little guy as he places him in my arms.
He’s fast asleep, but that doesn’t take away from the beauty I see in him. I unwrap his blanket enough to get a good look at his body. The tiny little thing.
“How perfect is he?”
Charlie wraps his arm around my back and pulls Parker and me in close to his side.
“He is pretty perfect.”
It isn’t long before Parker is wailing his little bitty lungs out in hunger, so I perform a quick diaper change and hand him over to his waiting mom.
Two ounces of formula later, he’s in his crib and out like a light. Glancing at Tess, I see that she is fading as well. The adrenaline from everything must be wearing off now. Hunter is already napping in the small recliner with a snoozing Sawyer draped across his chest.
Jeremy and Marshall stepped
out to get food for everyone and to grab the hospital bags that were left home in the rush of the night.
Seeing one grown man asleep, three snoozing little ones, and one exhausted momma, it looks like the perfect time for Charlie and me to leave.
I walk over to Tess and place a kiss to her temple. “We’re gonna head out, T. Get some rest, and call me if you need anything.”
“No.” Her eyes pop open. “Stay. Talk with me. We haven’t had any girl time lately.”
“Tess, you’re exhausted, and we couldn’t have girl time anyway. What about Charlie?”
She juts out her chin in the direction behind me, “You mean your man over there? The one who’s practically drooling while he’s passed out in a chair?”
I look back to see that I was wrong in my counting a few minutes ago. It seems there are two grown men sleeping and snoring in this room, along with all the littles. The exhaustion must have hit Charlie quickly. I watch him for a second and see his head bobbing back and forth where he’s not quite asleep yet.
Both of us snicker.
“You need to get some sleep; I’ll be back later today. And I obviously need to take him to bed.”
“Alright, sis, olive you.”
“Olive you too, T.”
Reed
Tegan drove us back to her apartment. It seems the roles have reversed now. Leaving Hunter’s house, it was Tegan who was worn out. Apparently meeting her niece and nephew has caused a second wind and pulled my fatigue out even more than before.
We both collapse on the couch as soon as we walk in the door, me sitting with my head leaned back along the back of the couch, her lying with her head in my lap.
“Thank you for going with me,” she quietly states.
I bring my head forward to look down at her and give her a small smile.
“I wouldn't have not gone, babe. You're my woman, and you needed me there, but also Hunter and Tess are my friends. I wanted to be there to support them as well.” I trace my thumb along her jawline. “But I mainly went for you. I’ll go anywhere or do anything to support you Tegan. Fuck, I don't know what it is about you, but I don't ever want to disappoint you, never again. I made that mistake once, and I had to suffer for four months without you.”
