“But you aren’t getting up.”
Right. I’m still laying down. My hands find the warm grass and I push myself up. Idaline protests, but I’ll be fine. My kids need to see I’m okay. Even though my vision swims a little and Idaline places a hand on my back to steady me. “See? A-OK, kids. Just a little bump on the noggin’. Dad will be okay.”
Corrine crawls onto my lap and cuddles against my chest.
“You scared us,” Idaline says what they all seem to be thinking.
“It’ll take more than falling out of a tree to bring me down. Go pack up what you’ll need to carry everyone to the hospital. Sawyer can stay here with me until the ambulance gets here.”
She looks like she wants to hesitate, but it hits her what I said. That I’ll definitely be going to the hospital. Idaline rounds up the kids and takes them inside with her. Sawyer and I sit quietly next to one another until the ambulance arrives.
“Can I ride with you, Dad?”
“I’ll be fine. Go with your mom. Help keep her calm and look after your brothers and sisters.” Sawyer opens his mouth to object. “You’ve seen her when she’s worried, right? But you’ve never seen her when she’s worried about me. Go help your mom and look after her for me. I’m okay. Just need to get checked out.”
He nods and off I go to the hospital. Unfortunately, they diagnose me with a concussion. When the doctors are done, I expect Idaline to waltz in at any minute, and I start to worry when she doesn’t. I really worry when Sawyer walks in with the rest of his siblings lagging behind him.
“Where’s Mom?” I ask. All of their faces are pale and scared. “Where’s Mom?” I repeat, while pressing a button for a nurse.
“I don’t know,” Sawyer answers. “She was getting antsy waiting and then I don’t know what happened, but doctors came and took her away on a stretcher. They wouldn’t tell me anything.”
“NURSE!” I shout. Pain pierces my skull, but it’s worth it because a nurse rushes into the room. “Where is my wife?”
“Your wife?” she parrots.
“Yes, my fucking wife. Where is she? My kids say doctors took her on a stretcher while they were waiting on me. I need to know what the fuck is happening with my wife.”
“Okay, okay. What’s her name?”
“Idaline. Idaline Hart.”
She scurries off to find out what we all need to know. The kids are all huddled together, looking worried sick.
“Come here. Everything is okay. I’m fine. I hurt my head, but I’ll be better soon. It’s nothing serious.”
Sawyer sets Corrine and Ashley on the bed with me. He stands while Declan and Vincent sit on the edge down by my feet.
“Mom will be okay too.” I hope I’m telling the truth, considering I don’t have the faintest idea what happened out there. We sit there, waiting in silence for what feels like forever. My girls fall asleep on me. Poor little Vincent won’t say a word. He’s a momma’s boy for sure. He looks the most worried out of everyone, if that’s possible.
The nurse finally returns. “Mr. Hart, your wife is being examined. She wasn’t feeling well while she was waiting and she fainted. They are just looking her over to make sure she’s okay and that it wasn’t anything more than stress.”
“When will I be discharged?”
“They are working on your papers right now.”
“Can I go see her?”
She looks over my children. “It may be best if you stay here with your kids.”
“What about me?” Sawyer asks. Declan and Vincent look at her hopefully, already planning to tag along I’m sure.
The nurse flicks her eyes over to me. “Mrs. Hart didn’t ask to see anyone.”
All of my boys’ shoulders fall. I’m not about to leave Idaline somewhere in the hospital. They apparently want me to stay put, so, “Show them where their mother is.”
“I really don’t think—”
“It’s either all of us, or only three of us. Your choice.”
She sighs, but leads the way for my boys.
The only thing left for me to do now is wait to be discharged and for news on Idaline. My discharge comes first. That leaves me carrying the sleeping girls to where Idaline waits. I hear her voice before I see her. Hear her laughter. That alone relaxes me completely. Whatever is going on, we’ll all be okay.
When I see her and my boys, they are all smiling.
“Hey,” Idaline says. “What happened with you?”
“You first.”
“Mom’s pregnant,” Sawyer says with a shake of his head and a small smile. “Looks like we’re not quite complete after all.”
I stare at her as if I’ve never received that news before. It’s the same every time with Idaline. I hear we’re having a baby and I can’t quite believe that we’re being blessed with another baby. Idaline laughs and wiggles a finger at me.
“This is the last one, FC. I mean it.” I nod in understanding. I’ll have to schedule a procedure here soon; that’s her underlying message. “Now, what’s going on with you?”
“Concussion. When do you get out of here?”
“They are in the process of discharging me now. Are you okay?”
I walk over, shooing kids out of my way as I go. “I’m fine. Are you?” She was pretty assertive just a few hours ago that she didn’t want another baby and now we’re getting one.
Idaline nods with a smile. “I’m okay. It feels right. It feels like we’re supposed to have one more. I’m excited.”
“Come kiss me.”
She leans forward despite the groans from our children. “I love you, FC.”
“I love you too, Idaline. More if you’ll go ahead and kiss me.”
She laughs and does just that. Our life is about to get crazier, but even better. Thank god for this woman and these children. I’d be lost without all of them. But I won’t have to worry about that because Idaline’s here for better or for worse and well, my kids couldn’t get rid of me even if they wanted to. This is most definitely a life full of so much light and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.
If you are in a domestic violence situation and would like to reach out for help,
consider family, friends, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
You can also call them at 1-800-799-7233.
Next up is Collin Kessy’s book in the Carolina Rebels series.
Check Lindsay’s website and social media for updates!
Thank you, Kristalyn Thornock. It’s been too long since I’ve seen you and we must plan a get-together ASAP!
Thank you, Angie Wells, for being a beta reader for me! Your feedback is much appreciated!
Thank you, Shannon Page, for editing my work and for being so fantastic to work with.
Thank you, Robin from Wicked by Design, for creating two absolutely beautiful, perfect covers for this duet.
Thank you, Julie from JT Formatting. I would flail without you!
Thank you, reader, for taking the time to read this story. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Lindsay Paige is the author of multiple Young Adult, New Adult, and Sports romances. She also enjoys writing books with characters who deal with anxiety and depression, issues which are close to her heart. Lindsay is a North Carolinian who loves watching hockey, sharing puns, having conversations with her miniature Schnauzer, rewatching episodes of M*A*S*H, and living her dream of writing books for a living.
If you would like to hear news before anyone else, interact with Lindsay, and have a place to discuss her books with fellow fans, join Lindsay’s League on Facebook.
Lindsay has written the following books/series:
Bending Under Pressure
Bold as Love series
Bracing for Love series
Carolina Rebels series
Don’t Panic
Hearts in Carolina series
Heaven and Hell Duet
Sanity series
Without a Doubt
You Before Me
She has cowritten
the following series:
The Penalty Kill Trilogy
Oh Captain, My Captain series
The Ninth Inning series
Author Links:
Website
Facebook Page
Facebook Reader Group
Instagram
Light in the Dark Page 14
