Forbidden

by Vanessa Devereaux

  Jon ran his hand over her belly and kissed it.

  She held his head there, knowing that when he went back to Mallorca she was going to miss him like never before.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Maggie, please don’t get upset like this.” Jon wiped her tears away with his index finger. At the airport, he felt like he was at the lowest point of his life. He’d been about to go through security when Maggie had just lost it and burst into tears. He didn’t want to leave her either. He wanted to be with her all the time, watch her stomach get bigger each week, feel his babies swimming around inside her.

  “We’ll talk every day. We’ll even use the webcam I’ve set up on your computer so I can see your belly get bigger. I’ll be back before you know it.”

  “I know the time will pass quickly and I’ve got lots of work to keep me occupied, a nursery to get ready. I’m going to make you miss your flight so just hurry through the security before I break down completely.”

  He kissed her and pulled her in tight to him. “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you too. I’m not going to wait, so don’t turn around to wave when you get through the other side, okay? It’ll make me too sad.”

  “I’ll email you as soon as I get to Mallorca because it will be too early in the morning to call and you need your sleep.” He gave her one final kiss before getting in line.

  He was relieved that Maggie didn’t want him to turn and wave one last time. He didn’t think he was up to it either.

  * * * *

  Maggie decided she had to do something to keep herself occupied. If she went straight home after saying goodbye to Jon, she’d just sit there and cry. She phoned Katie and asked if she’d like to grab something to eat with her, then do something Maggie knew she had to start thinking about. Buying things for the babies.

  “This seems so weird. This time last year we were in this same store and you were helping me pick out baby furniture,” Katie said, holding her mother’s arm.

  “Some days I still think I’m dreaming.”

  “So I guess whatever you like the look of, we’re going to need two of. Maybe I should throw you a baby shower,” Katie said.

  “Katie, no, not at my age, please.”

  “It would be a great way of getting things you need for my baby brothers or sisters.”

  “No, I’m still embarrassed about my condition.”

  “You shouldn’t be because you’re glowing. Or is that because Jon’s been with you?”

  “Probably a little of both… Katie, I couldn’t help overhear you and your sisters talking on Christmas Eve.” The conversation had been bothering her so long that she had to finally get it out in the open.

  “Oh that, they’re just jealous,” Katie said, pulling out some baby blankets from the shelf.

  “What, of Jon?”

  Katie shook his head. “They’re jealous of the twins. Annie and Sarah have been your two little ones and now they won’t have all your undivided attention. Well, yeah, Jon has that too. So if there’s any animosity towards him on their part, jealousy’s the reason. Doesn’t worry me because I lost your complete attention when they entered the picture, so I’ve had lots of practice. But they haven’t.”

  “So you’re okay with all this?”

  “What, with you and Jon?”

  Maggie nodded.

  “Do you love him?”

  “Yes, I really do.”

  “And you’d be with him even if he hadn’t got you pregnant?”

  “Of course,” Maggie said.

  “Then I don’t think you need to worry about a thing. Now let’s go crazy and buy a whole bunch of things for my new siblings.”

  * * * *

  Jon was slotting a chart into the wall rack when a heavily pregnant young woman waddled into the waiting area, reminding him of Maggie. How was he going to tell her he didn’t want to give up his work here in Mallorca? Once she’d had the babies and they were old enough to travel he’d insist the three of them move here. That way, he could continue being a doctor and properly provide for her and the children rather than try to live on an intern’s salary. The adjustment would be tough, but if she loved him, she’d do it. After all, relationships were all about compromise, right?

  * * * *

  The last few months had flown by, much to Maggie’s delight. She’d hired a service to clean the house once a week. She’d also accepted that she needed to do some work at home. She’d forgotten how uncomfortable late pregnancy could be and having two babies inside her was a nightmare. They’d been overly active the last few days and she hadn’t had any sleep. She yawned, almost tempted to grab a cup of coffee, but stopped herself before she reached up on the top shelf for the coffee container.

  “Ms Rogers, would you like me to vacuum the nursery?”

  Maggie jumped, not expecting the cleaning lady to appear in the kitchen. She’d just been cleaning the bathroom mirrors.

  “That’s probably a good idea. I unpacked some lamps and I think some of those packing peanuts fell out. In fact, let me get the boxes out of your way so I can put them in the recycling bin.”

  Maggie followed the cleaning lady along the hallway where both women went into the nursery. She walked over to one of the boxes, bent over and felt her first twinge.

  She stood up, holding her belly. Another deeper twinge took her by surprise. “No, you can’t come yet, it’s too early,” Maggie told the twins.

  “Did you say something?” asked the cleaner.

  Maggie sat down on the rocking chair she’d bought, knowing it would be ideal for getting the babies to sleep while she fed them. She ran her hands over her belly, knowing from her experience with three previous pregnancies that she was going into labour.

  “Ms Rogers, are you okay? You look pale.”

  The next wave of pain was so severe she felt lightheaded. This was far too early and Jon wasn’t here with her either.

  “Could you phone one of my daughters? Their numbers are by the phone in the kitchen. I think I’m about to have my babies.”

  * * * *

  Jon’s cell phone vibrated in his lab coat pocket. “Nurse, could you finish dressing this wound for me, please?”

  He hated leaving a patient in mid-treatment but he sensed the call might be urgent. Pulling it out, he saw a number he didn’t recognise. He didn’t catch it fast enough to talk and instead plugged in his voicemail code to retrieve his messages.

  “Hi, Jon. It’s Maggie’s daughter Katie. Could you call me back as soon as you get this? It’s urgent.”

  Jon’s heart beat faster. His stomach did a flip. Maggie. Something was wrong with her. He hit the buttons but was all fingers and thumbs and couldn’t do it. He took a deep breath and slowed his fingers down. It was ringing.

  “Hello.”

  “Katie, it’s Jon, I just got your message.”

  “It’s Mom, she started having contractions this morning. They took her to the hospital and that’s where she is now. They’ve given her something to halt the labour. She’s petrified and—”

  “I’m on my way, okay? Tell her I’ll be there as soon as I can get a flight.”

  “Oh, Jon, you’re a sweetheart.”

  * * * *

  Jon hoped he wouldn’t get a speeding ticket while he talked non-stop on the phone driving to his mother’s house, hoping she or Miguel could drive him to the airport ASAP.

  The airlines had told him if he could get to Madrid there was a direct flight to New York later that day. He’d called his mother and filled her in on the situation. She’d phoned him back with the good news that Miguel had come to the rescue.

  Jon had grabbed his passport and an overnight bag, and then raced to his mom’s house, hoping Miguel was ready to take him to Palma. His stepdad’s friend would fly him to Madrid on his private plane.

  “Honey, calm down. You can’t get there any quicker by rushing around,” said his mom.

  “I know, I know, but I promised her I’d be there w
hen she had the C-section.”

  His mother hugged him tightly. “Those babies won’t come until you’re there.”

  Miguel sounded the horn on his car. Jon kissed his mother’s cheek and headed outside.

  * * * *

  Maggie felt a whole lot better knowing Jon was on his way. Whatever the doctor was pumping into her was working. The labour pains had stopped but she hated being in a hospital bed flat on her back.

  Annie stepped into the room.

  “Hi, sweetie,” Maggie said.

  “How you doing?” She squeezed Maggie’s hand.

  “A lot better than this morning.”

  “Twins always arrive early.”

  Maggie nodded. “The doctor said he’d like me to go another couple of weeks if I can.”

  Annie found a chair and sat nearby, and Maggie reached out to take her hand. Holding it made her feel good, less nervous.

  “Honey, nothing’s going to change between us, between you, Sarah, Katie. Yes, I’ll have my hands full with two babies but that won’t stop me from being your mother too. I’ll love all of you equally.”

  Annie burst into tears and leaned over to hug Maggie. “I’m sorry for what I said. Katie told me you overheard things but it’s…it’s just that we’ve been pushed down the pecking order so many times when Dad’s had other kids.”

  “I know. The last thing you expected was for me to join in too. But I promise I'll always be here for you. Jon and the babies won’t ever change that.”

  “I think Jon will make a great dad, really I do. And he’s a keeper, that’s for sure.” She wiped the tears away with the back of her hand, managing a smile for her mom.

  Maggie smiled back, now at peace with herself and her daughters.

  * * * *

  His legs felt like lead weights, his eyes like sand had been poured into them. He saw Katie standing at the baggage carousel when he headed down the stairs at Portland airport.

  “How’s your mom?”

  “She’s doing fine but making a big fuss about the doctor keeping her in hospital. She wants to go home so badly.”

  “Did you tell her I was on my way?”

  Katie nodded. “She told us we shouldn’t have alarmed you but I think she’s excited about seeing you. She’s been scared since she had the contractions.”

  “Can you drive me to the hospital? I know it’s late but I want to see her tonight.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to get a good night’s sleep or at least take a nap? You look beat.”

  He really wanted to say yes but he hadn’t come all this way to sleep. “I’ll be fine.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Maggie opened her eyes. She couldn’t remember falling asleep but the medication was good—too good. The room was dimly lit and a familiar silhouette was in the chair by the window reading a magazine.

  “Jon?” Was he a dream?

  He stood and walked to the bed, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

  “Are you real or have I died and gone to heaven?”

  “I’m real.”

  “How long have you been here?”

  “About an hour. You were asleep when I arrived and I didn’t want to wake you so I sat and read. I even got five minutes of shut-eye.” He leaned over to kiss her.

  “You’re taking your chances. They haven’t let me get up to brush my teeth since I was brought in here,” Maggie said.

  “I’ve been travelling for the last twelve hours so I think we’re equal.”

  Maggie ran her hand down his face. He kissed her and then rubbed his nose on hers before he pulled away. “You feeling okay?” he asked.

  “Much better than I did. Whatever they gave me stopped the contractions.”

  Jon looked at the IV bag, checked the contents and then the line going into her hand. “What did the doctor tell you?”

  “That he’d like me to go at least another couple of weeks before I give birth because it will make the babies that much stronger. However, if they couldn’t stop the contractions then the babies would probably need to be in paediatric ICU for a while.”

  Jon ran his hand over her belly. “Most of the time twins arrive early but if we can keep them inside you longer that will be great. I think I’ll ask the nurse if they can bring something for me to sleep on. The chair isn’t that comfortable.”

  “Not that I don’t want you here with me all night, but you look tired. Take the key to the house, phone for a cab and get a good night’s rest.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m positive. There’s nothing you can do here anyway.”

  “Okay, but I’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning.”

  * * * *

  Jon wasn’t the first visitor of the day. When he arrived the following morning Sarah was sitting by Maggie’s side. “Thought I’d drop by and see her before my first class, but now she’s got another visitor I guess I’ll be on my way,” she told him as she stood.

  “You don’t have to leave because of me. In fact, I hope you’re not leaving because I’ve arrived?”

  She shook her head. “Nope, I’m already late so think of it as taking over for me.” Sarah kissed her mother and then was gone.

  “They like you, really they do,” Maggie said.

  “I couldn’t blame them even if they didn’t. I mean, I know how they feel. A man comes into Mom’s life and then along comes not one but two siblings. It must seem like things are changing for them.”

  Maggie nodded. “They’ve been my three babies for so long and then their father has been constantly reproducing since we went our separate ways. I hear he’s dating again so who knows, these two might not be their last siblings.”

  Jon sat on the bed and held Maggie’s hand. “You still feeling okay?”

  “Great and the doctor decided to stop the IV to see what happens. He said if I can go throughout the day without going into labour they’ll let me go home tomorrow but I’ll be on bed rest until my due date.”

  “That’s not such a bad thing. Having everyone wait on you twenty-four seven.”

  * * * *

  Maggie couldn’t stand it. She’d been sent home a week ago and since then had been in bed, only getting up to use the bathroom and shower. The girls had brought her and Jon ready-made meals. Jon had done laundry and shopping. Her assistant had brought her work and she’d chatted with clients by phone and email.

  This morning she was restless—if she stayed in bed any longer she’d go crazy. She walked along the hallway and found Jon putting the last few touches to the nursery, hanging the two mobiles over the cribs.

  “Shit, why won’t that stay together?”

  She smiled when she heard him swearing when the mobile fell apart for the second time.

  He was doing his best but she sensed Jon was petrified of the whole fatherhood thing. Not because he didn’t want to be a dad, but because he had self-doubts about dealing with babies. Maggie crept up behind him before putting her arms around his waist and resting her head against his back.

  “What are you doing out of bed?” he asked, without turning around.

  “Sorry, Dr Gunderson, but I’m bored.”

  He rubbed her arms, turned slowly and kissed her. “Let’s take a nice slow walk back to the bedroom,” he said getting hold of her hand.

  “Can I at least sit in the living room and watch TV? I promise to put my feet up.”

  “I think I can allow that just this once.”

  They walked to the living room where Maggie sat. Jon lifted her feet and placed them on the ottoman.

  “Looks like it’s going to be a gorgeous weekend for the Memorial Day holiday,” she said, pressing the remote. “Not that I’ll be going out.”

  “I’ll just take a quick shower, then get us some breakfast.”

  Maggie flicked through the channels without finding anything she wanted to watch. How did women stay at home all day and watch soaps or daytime talk shows?

  Maybe she’d get some work done. Her lapt
op was on the countertop in the kitchen. She stood. Outside, the neighbour across the street was planting flowers. She really was missing out on just about everything going on. They’d had all new landscaping installed in the front and side yards. She waddled over to the window to take a closer look.

  It looked really nice and they’d even added a gazebo at the side. She stood on her tiptoes, hoping to see more but felt a pulling sensation in her lower belly.

  Jeez, I’ll be in trouble… She rushed back to the couch but felt a twinge again. She sat back and tried to relax. Surely that little walk to the window hadn’t done anything to her.

  The dreaded labour pains again. She grimaced. She’d have to get Jon, but she wouldn’t tell him she’d been walking around. Maggie held the chair to steady herself as she stood and made her way to the bathroom where she could hear the shower still running. Halfway there, moisture cascaded over her legs.

  Her water had broken. This is it!

  She made it to the bathroom. Jon had just turned off the shower and was stepping out of the stall.

  “Maggie, what are you doing?”

  She collapsed onto the floor. “I’m in labour. My water just broke.”

  Jon, as a doctor, didn’t panic, but helped her onto the bed and then called for an ambulance. A few of the neighbours watched as she was wheeled out on a gurney and hoisted in. Jon held her hand all the way to the hospital.

  Rushed into the ER, she hugged Jon, arms wrapped tightly around him, her face in his chest while being given the epidural for her C-section. He smelt of soap and shampoo, reminding her of the first time they’d had sex in Mallorca, almost nine months ago. She’d gone on vacation to see her best friend, fallen for her son and now was about to become mother to his twins. How bizarre was that?

  “Ouch,” Maggie said, squeezing Jon’s waist. “Thought you said it wouldn’t hurt.”

  “It’s all done.” He kissed her head.

  She didn’t want to tell him how petrified she was when they put a surgical cap on her and wheeled her to the ob-gyn OR. Jon looked every bit the doctor in his own cap, mask and paper gown as he sat beside her.

  “Kiss me, because I’m scared,” she said when they put up a sheet so she wouldn’t be able to see them cutting her open.