by Rikki Dyson
Shane felt as if he were walking in a vacuum, as he followed Stacey to recovery. They were there only a few minutes when Hugh came in with coffee for both of them. “I spoke with Doctor Shaw, and then I called Annie. She’s worried sick.”
“So am I,” Shane said, and rubbed his eyes and then went to the lavatory and washed his face. “I need to call Lora and Richard and Mr. Chen of course.”
“Not necessary, mate. Lora and Richard are in the waiting room now. They were down at the nursery viewing your little darlings. Why don’t I stay here with Stacey and you go visit your little ones. You don’t want them wondering where their dad is, now do you?”
“Thanks Hugh, I won’t be long.” In the waiting room, Shane hugged Aunt Lora and shook hands with Richard. “Thank you both for being here. Have you called Stacey’s parents and Mr. Chen?”
“Yes, I called them last night after Mr. Chen called us. They’re on their way as we speak. I’m almost afraid to ask, but how is she Shane?”
“Not good, Aunt Lora. She lost an awful lot of blood. She’s on the critical list.” Shane ran his finger through his hair as he always does when agitated. “If you will excuse me, I must call my parents and return to Stacey. I’m sorry, how are our babies? That will be the first thing Stacey will ask me when she wakes.”
Lora didn’t want to tell Shane the twins were barely hanging on to life. It would be best if he saw them for himself.
Stacey’s parents, Scott grandparents, Flemming grandparents and her twin uncles flew in to Heathrow late that afternoon. Sam and Jessica came to see their daughter and to consult with Doctor Shaw. Shane’s parents arrived that night. Everyone was worried about Stacey and the tiny twins.
Shane had not left Stacey’s side long enough to visit the twins. Jessie encouraged him to go to the nursery, “Shane, you know as well as I do, when Stacey wakes the first thing she will ask you is how the babies are. She will be very upset if you tell her you haven’t seen them.”
“Yes, I know, but I don’t want to leave Stacey.”
“Shane, I don’t want to hurt you, but my daughter damn near lost her life to bring those babies into this world. Go see them; they’re fighting for their tiny lives too.”
Shane was shocked; he thought Diane said they were doing well. Shane made his way to the premature nursery. Diane and two neonatal nurses were attending the tiny twins. Diane looked up and saw Shane. She came out and took off her gown, “How is Stacey?” She asked.
Shane’s haggard look as he rubbed his hand over his two day beard was enough to make Diane realize things were not going well with Stacey. Shane saw the tubes and IV’s that were keeping his tiny twins alive. He didn’t want to ask how they were, but he knew he must. “Please, Diane, give me some good news to tell Stacey when she wakes.”
“I know it doesn’t look good from out here, but those tiny two are viable and fighting. I wish I could give you a better prognosis. If they make it through the night...” Diane hugged Shane and said, “I’m not leaving them, Shane. I’ll be right here with them until they turn the corner.”
Shane washed up, put on a gown and went into the nursery to look at and touch his tiny children. Here he was a doctor but he felt so bloody helpless. And what did Diane mean about turning the corner. Did she mean if they lived or died? Oh, god, what if I lose Stacey and the babies too. God, this can’t be happening. Our lives were so good. What will the children or I do without Stacey? As Shane kissed their tiny little heads and put his finger in their hands, they both squeezed his finger slightly. Shane felt his heart flip-flop. He smiled and said, “Daddy must go check on Mommy, but we both will be back and take you little darlings home to meet your brother and sisters.” Diane noticed as Shane left the preemie nursery that he had a smile on his face and a spring in his step as he went back to Stacey.
Back in recovery, Sam and Jessie were both with Stacey. Shane smiled and said, “They are a bonny lad and lassie. Thank you, Mrs. Scott, now I have much to tell Stacey when she wakes. Has Doctor Shaw been on rounds yet?”
“No, but a Doctor Harris was in. He’s a little concerned that Stacey hasn’t waken,” Sam said. “I see no harm in her resting. Her vital signs are improving. I’m sure you know this already, but our daughter is a fighter and I think those two little scamps in the nursery are fighters too.”
“Yes, I agree with you, Doctor Scott. When I put my finger under their little hands each of them squeezed my finger. I can’t begin to describe the emotion I felt,” Shane said with a smile and hope in his heart.
Stacey parents and grandparents had been in to see her. They were all worried about her. Shane was sitting, holding Stacey’s hand when she moaned and mumbled, “Eric, where are you? Don’t leave me Eric.”
Shane sat up straight. He was hurt, and wondered how she could call for that bloody earl when it was his heart that was breaking at the thought of losing her. Shane felt a bit ashamed of himself for feeling so jealous of a man who died centuries ago. Hoping she was regaining consciousness, Shane was talking to her about the children and how much they and he needed her. Stacey could hear Shane from a long way off. Finally, she was able to open her eyes and look around, that was when she saw Shane beside her bed. She watched him for a couple of minutes then reached over and smoothed his hair back and said, “How long have I been here, Shane?”
At first, Shane thought he was dreaming as he raised his head up and looked at Stacey. When she asked her question he was so over come he could hardly answer, “Just a few days love, welcome back,” he said as he held her hand kissing it over and over. Stacey looked pleadingly at Shane and asked, “Our babies, Shane, are they okay?”
“They’re in the preemie nursery, sweetheart, but their doing well. They are tiny little angels, but they have a strong little grip. They did ask me, “Where is our mommy and when are you going to spring us from this joint?”
Shane had Stacey laughing as the sister in charge came in to check her vitals. “Well, good morning Mrs. McLeod, did you have a nice nap? I hear the scuttlebutt is that you have two little rowdies down in the nursery that are threatening a break out.”
“Yes, I did hear that rumor sister and we promise to get them out of there as soon as possible,” Stacey said with a happy smile.
After both, Doctor Shaw and Doctor Harris examined Stacey; she was moved to a private room on the maternity floor. As predicted, the first thing Stacey asked about was the new twins then the children at home. Even though Stacey was awake and talking everyone knew, she wasn’t out of the woods yet. Stacey wasn’t surprised to see her parents and Shane’s parents at the hospital, but was happy and surprised to see both sets of her grandparents there. Aunt Lora and Richard were minding the children so Mr. Chen could visit.
After much pleading, Doctor Shaw gave permission for Stacey to use a wheelchair and go to the nursery to see her babies. Shane had told her about how they held on to his finger and the heart felt courage he received from those tiny little hands. “Sweetheart, I truly felt they were communicating with me. I know that sounds daft, but I can’t explain it any better.”
Stacey was smiling at him and said, “Shane McLeod, I love you.” As she pulled him to her with a weak but heartfelt kiss.
A week later Stacey and the babies were discharged with many stipulation. As Stacey walked into the house, Nicky and the twins came running. They hadn’t fussed too much about not being able to go to the hospital to see their mommy and the new babies. Shane had used his mobile and downloaded pictures on the computer, plus they had many grandmas and grandpas there to entertain. Even so, these two tiny little people fascinated the children.
Two days after Stacey and the babies came home, the McLeod’s returned to Scotland. A week later, Stacey’s parents, grandparents and uncles flew back to Texas. The young McLeod household seem to run smoothly under the supervision of Mr. Chen, Mrs. Wyatt and Aunt Lora of course. Stacey spent much time upstairs with the children and new twins. The older twins, Jessica and Jacquelyn now age four
were in pre-school. Stacey had her hands full with the little twins and Nicky who was fascinated with the babies. He was happy, but at the same time, he was a little jealous that there was another boy in the house to share the masculinity with him and his daddy.
Stacey’s incision was healing nicely. Doctor Shaw gave her permission for normal activities as long as she didn’t over do. In December, when Stacey’s parents came for the holidays, Patrick and Cassandra were christened with Doctor Fein and Molly as godparents. Shane’s parents; as well as Grandmother McLeod, Mrs. Beebe, the Foley’s with Andrea and family attended the christening as well as Shane’s close friends from the medical center.
Shane knew he was a lucky man with a beautiful wife and healthy happy children. Stacey was alive and well and he knew she loved him, but still he couldn’t shake his jealousy of Eric Fitz-Morgan. He asked himself; how stupid can I be? The earl has been dead for almost seven hundred years. I surely need to let this jealousy go.
Chapter-78
A Secure Family
One night after making love to Stacey, Shane was holding her in his arms when she said, “You know Shane, when I was unconscious I had the strangest dream.”
Stacey felt Shane’s body tense up, and wondered what she had said that affected him so, but continued her story, “I dreamed Eric and Jennifer came to see Nicky and the girls. Eric told me the new twins were going be okay. I believed him because he never lied to me, not ever. I wanted him and Jennifer to stay, but they said they couldn’t, and then floated out the door.”
Shane’s body relaxed after hearing Stacey’s dream. He now felt it was Eric and not the earl that Stacey had asked not to leave. As he held Stacey in his arms, he knew he must stop this insane jealousy, he felt for the long dead earl. Stacey was alive and warm in his arms. Together they had solved the mystery and the kinship, of Eric Fitz-Morgan, the Earl of Dun-Raven and the family of Dun-Raven castle.
Many months had passed and the McLeod household was its usual noisy domicile. Mr. Chen was back in Hong Kong and the Texas families were busy with their own lives. In other words, ‘God was in his heaven and all was right with the world, well, with the McLeod world, anyway.’
Stacey had finished feeding the new twins and put them down for their nap. The older twins and Nicky often watched their younger siblings as they were fed and rocked before their nap. One afternoon, while the twins were napping, Stacey was sitting in the rocker; held out her arms and asked, “Who would like to rock with Mommy?”
Nicky’s face lit up, as it had been a while since he had been rocked. Jessie had told Jackie and him, “Now that babies are in the house we are too big to be rocked.”
Stacey was waiting with her arms out when Jessie said, “No, Mommy, rocking is for babies.”
With disappointment in her voice, Stacey asked,” Who told you this nonsense?”
Both Jackie and Nicky looked to Jessie. Stacey said, “Well, I’m sorry you feel that way I was looking forward to rocking and singing silly songs again. But if that is what each of you feel I will just have to rock and sing with Patrick and Cassandra I guess.”
Stacey could see both Jackie and Nicky wanted to rock, but Jessie’s attitude kept them at bay. They didn’t want to be referred to as babies. Stacey rocked for a bit then held her arms out to Nicky. Without looking at Jessie, he climbed into his mother’s arms and said, “I don’t care what Jessie says, I like rocking.”
Stacey kissed his head and said, “I’m so glad my love, because I love our rocking time and I have missed you so much.”
“Did you miss me too, Mommy? Jackie asked.
“Yes, I did, very much. Would you like to rock with me too?”
“Oh, yes Mommy, more than anything.”
Jessie had been watching and finally said, “I guess rocking is okay Mommy, since we’re not in primary yet.”
“Thank you, darling. That’s very thoughtful of you,” Stacey said as she hid a smile.
That night in bed, Stacey was telling Shane about the rocking incident, and how happy she was that her older children didn’t feel they were too big to rock with her. Stacey had been sitting, propped up in bed, reading when she let the book fall limply to the covers, and said, “I know I’m being silly Shane, but I dread our children growing up and leaving home. The world is a big place and there are many temptations out there. What if we don’t prepare them well enough to meet the challenges, and recognize the temptations, for what they are?” Shane was laying watching Stacey with a smile on his handsome face, when she asked, “What’s that self satisfied smile all about?”
Shane took his wife in his arms and said, “I will share my thoughts with you, sweetheart, but first, don’t you think you’re worrying years too soon, they are yet a few years from maturity. Now, as to my thoughts, I was thinking what a lucky man I am and how much I’m looking forward to the future with you and I together, watching our children grow and become their own individual personas.”
Stacey laughed as she snuggled in her husband’s arms and said, “Of course, you’re right, Shane, with our guidance our children will meet the challenges of life as they occur. You’re a good husband and a wise and wonderful father. I hope when they’re teenagers you still have this tolerant attitude. Goodnight Shane and sweet dreams of the future, my love.”
I hope each of you, my readers; have enjoyed the Trilogy of the McLeod family.
Thank you each and every one for your many e-mails and your very kind words.
Hopefully the saga may go on as the McLeod children grow up.
As always, I will enjoy and look forward to reading your thoughts on this.
In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy reading my latest novel, The Reluctant Heiress.
Best Regards, Rikki M. Dyson [email protected]
