Tolerance (Heart of Stone)

by Sidebottom, D H

  “Come with me Ava” he panted and I pressed another finger to my clit as my fingers worked frantically inside me “Yes Mason, I’m coming” I cried as I watched him jerk and buck in the water, his spunk spurting from him and gushing onto his hard stomach.

  I closed my eyes and regained my composure before I slid off the unit, walked over to him and slipped my fingers into his mouth. He closed his eyes and groaned in appreciation as he swirled his tongue around them “Fuck Ava, you taste good baby” I smiled and kissed him and as I stood up he grabbed my arm. I frowned at him and his face was bleak and woeful

  “Mason?” I asked as I slid my palm over his cheek, he closed his eyes and leant into my hand “I can’t let you go Ava…I won’t let you go” he stated earnestly with his piercing eyes locked on mine. I smiled gently and nodded “I know Mason, I know” he smiled contentedly and kissed my palm. I dropped my hand and as I turned to leave he slapped my backside “I’ll be staying over tonight” he said bluntly and I nodded “Okay, is it safe to cook?” I asked cautiously and he scowled at me “Yes Ava, I promise” I blew him a kiss and swayed my hips sexily as I walked to the bedroom “Carry on and you won’t be making it into work after all” he shouted after me.

  CHAPTER 28

  The next several weeks flew by and it was now early April. Mason and I had settled into a regular routine of weekends at mine and a sneaky night in the week. I was still waiting to hear from William and with each passing week my heart sank a little more as I reserved myself for failure. My babies were growing more and more and getting livelier every day and as my 26 week mark passed I relaxed more and started to really enjoy my pregnancy even though it was a strain to do simple things such as walk and bend. Rebecca had delivered a girl a couple of weeks ago and I was surprised that Mason hadn’t turned into the devoted fiancé but he kept his visits and attention to me regular and I couldn’t have loved him more for it. I didn’t feel guilty for keeping him from Rebecca, she should have turned to the real father instead of being deceitful and manipulative and she may have had some help with her new-born.

  It was a busy, chaotic Monday morning at NSC and after a horrendous morning, the afternoon got even worse. My PC monitor blew up…literally, the fax machine ate six sheets of important documents and Nate was in a foul mood. I could hear him cursing and slamming things about and I avoided him as much as possible.

  At 2:00pm a tall thin redhead walked into the reception. Her face was pulled into a tight scowl but she was incredibly beautiful “Good Afternoon, can I help you?” I asked pleasantly and she scoured me up and down “Yes, I’d like to see Nate please” she snipped “I’m sorry, do you have an appointment with Mr Carter today?” I asked, knowing that she didn’t. She cocked her head to one side “Now, you know I haven’t but if you could just tell him I’m here please” she sneered and I bit my tongue “What name shall I give him Miss?” I asked sweetly, thoroughly wanting to punch her in the face “Eleanor St Clair. He’ll see me” she curled her lip at me and I took a deep breath “One moment please”

  I picked up the phone to ring through to Nate as she suddenly made a dash for his office. I spluttered and jumped up from my chair, jolting my stomach into the corner of the desk and pulled a damn muscle in my stomach causing me to bend over and snatch in a breath “Fuck!!!” I hissed and dragged myself over to Nates office.

  “I’m so sorry Mr Carter, she just barged in” I apologised as I entered his office, holding my now extremely large stomach and taking some deep breaths as the pain got worse.

  She was sat on the edge of his desk, her legs crossed at the ankles in front of her as she practically drooled over him. Nate looked furious by her invasion, his head snapped round to mine and he glared at me “For fucks sake Ava. Is it so hard to keep people from barging into my fucking office? That’s what I fucking pay you for after all!” he barked and I winced as the pain in my stomach seemed to tear through me.

  I let out a deep breath coupled with a long groan and collapsed.

  I came round to Nate fussing over me frantically “Ava!” he sagged in relief and I frowned “Nate?” I groaned as the pain in my stomach savagely pulled at me “Fuck it hurts Nate!” I cried “I know Ava, Mason’s on his way sweetheart” he soothed as he stroked my hair off my face.

  I curled up, panting and gulping for air “Shit” I hissed. I had never felt pain like it

  “She’s bleeding!!” Nate shouted at somebody across the room and I saw the paramedics rush over “Hello Sweetie, were gonna get you all sorted” she smiled warmly as she sunk down beside me and immediately felt for my pulse. I nodded “Don’t let me lose them…please” I sobbed as another pain floored me “We are gonna do our very best” she said as numerous monitors and needles were attached to me “How far along are you?” she asked as she reached for something in her bag “31 weeks” I groaned as another agonised pain came “Can you tell me what happened?” she asked as she spread a sheet over me and Nate pulled away “Don’t leave me Nate” I pleaded and he smiled “Ava, I’m just going to be over here while they sort you out, okay” he said tentatively and I nodded faintly “I need Mason” I cried and tried to curl into myself

  “Try and lie still sweetie” the technician said softly as I heard a commotion and Mason came running over to me, my man never came quietly “Ava!” he cried and scooted down onto the floor beside me “What happened baby?” he asked frantic, his face etched with worry and anguish. I cried out as another piercing pain tore through me “Don’t let me lose them Mason…please” I begged “Not again”

  The technician took my hand in hers “Sweetie I need you to tell me what happened” she probed “I don’t know, I think I stood up too quick to stop someone entering Nates office and banged my stomach into the desk, It just felt like I had pulled a muscle” I tried to explain as I pulled up my knees and groaned loudly “Okay sweetie, I’m just gonna have a quick look down below and make sure nothing is happening okay?” she asked calmly and I nodded as she disappeared below the sheet and opened my legs, removing my knickers and inserting a couple of fingers into me.

  “Oh baby” Mason sighed as I cried out again “Is there nothing you can give her for the pain?” he snarled at the other technician who just stared at Mason and shook his head, prompting a vicious snarl from Mason “But she’s in fucking agony!” The technician just shrugged and Mason bit his lip harshly “Baby, please” I pleaded with him to calm down. He glared at him but then turned back to me and tipped his head “Everything will be fine Ava, I promise, okay?” he declared with encouragement and I wished I shared his confidence “Well it doesn’t look like you’re in labour Ava but we’re going to take you in and get this pain and bleeding sorted out” she eyed the other technician and my stomach sank “What’s wrong?” I asked cautiously but she shook her head “We’ll get you in and get the specialists to take a look at you” she said as she gave me a false smile.

  Mason caught the falsity to it too because he then gave me another fake smile “Don’t fucking smile if there’s nothing to smile about” I snapped and he cringed. He went to have a word with Nate while the paramedics placed me on a stretcher

  “You what?!!!” Mason shouted at Nate and I rolled my eyes “Mason…Get over here now. It’s not Nate’s fault” I shouted and then cried out again as another pain came. He looked over at me and then back at Nate but decided I was his main priority “We’ll be taking her to the Royal” the female technician told Mason as they wheeled me towards the elevator and Mason nodded “I’ll meet you there Ava” he smiled encouragingly “You touch Nate and I swear…” I told him and curled up against the agony.

  He sighed but nodded “I mean it Mason” I grumbled but then the most torturous slicing pain shot through me and I screamed as whiteness enveloped me “Shit!!!” I heard the technicians shout and then Mason’s anguished cry before I passed out.

  The room was dark, my mouth was dry but I wasn’t in pain so that was good. I grumbled and tried to turn over but my legs seemed t
o have disappeared. I tried again but I just couldn’t move “Ava” I heard Masons gravelly voice from somewhere “I’m just gonna put the light on baby” he said and then the room filled with brightness and I blinked furiously against it.

  I was in a hospital bed, that much I could work out and then it came back to me. My hand shot to my stomach to find it flatter and empty and I lifted my eyes to Masons “Mason?” I asked full of anguish as he came over to me and sat on the edge of the bed “It’s okay Ava. They had to deliver the babies but they’re strong baby” he grinned “and so beautiful Ava. The girl has your copper hair and the boy…well, just as handsome as his father” he beamed and I choked out a sob “But they’re okay?” I tested, the terror for my babies consuming me “They’re in neo-natal at the moment but they’re doing great baby” he stroked my hair off my face and leant down to place a gentle kiss on my forehead.

  “What happened?” I asked and motioned for a drink of water. He held the straw to my lips as I took a sip “Your uterus ruptured so they had to do an emergency caesarean Ava but…but…” I narrowed my eyes on him “What Mason?” I asked and he sighed and grabbed my hand “They had to do a hysterectomy Ava, I’m so sorry” he agonized “Oh!” I breathed.

  The thought that I would never be pregnant again pulled at my heart but then the other part of me was excited that I had two beautiful babies waiting to meet me and for the moment I couldn’t decide how I felt about it, my emotions were too conflicting to take it in.

  “Can I see them?” I asked as the uncontrollable urge to hold them tore through me. “I’ll get the nurse” he smiled but bent to kiss me tenderly on the lips “I love you so much Ava, when…when you screamed on that trolley and…the blood, it was…it was everywhere…I thought…I thought…” he broke down, his head buried against my chest as he sobbed and sobbed, proper wailing cries which broke my heart and brought my own tears forward “Shush Mason, I’m okay baby, I’m okay. The babies are okay, we’re gonna be fine” I soothed as I stroked his hair and planted kisses on his head.

  The nurse peeked her head through the door, smiled gently as she saw the scene before her and then gestured 5 minutes with her fingers. I nodded and turned my attention back to my man, he needed me for a change. It was usually him consoling me but this time it was down to me to give him the love and devotion he so needed

  “Shush baby” I whispered as his sobs calmed and he climbed on the bed fully, careful of all the tubes and wires inserted into various parts of my body, laid out beside me and wrapped me up carefully in his embrace “I love you baby” he breathed against my neck as he nuzzled me “And me, you Mason, with everything I am baby”

  CHAPTER 29

  My breath wedged in my throat and my lungs seemed too big for my body, my hands shook and my blood coursed through my veins as I saw my beautiful babies for the first time; they were tiny, gorgeous and absolutely perfect.

  A sob tore through my throat as I saw them hooked up to what looked like every machine in the hospital “It’s just to monitor them, they’re doing brilliantly” the nurse said, she reminded me of a sergeant major with her near shaved head and stern expression but she had the softest calming voice I had ever heard.

  I nodded and turned my attention back to the two little incubators “Hey” I whispered as I leaned in further to observe them more “Would you like to hold them?” the nurse asked as Mason sunk into a chair beside me “Yes!” I choked out and she beamed at me and proceeded to unhook some things and connect some other things before she lifted the girl out and manoeuvred her and the wires over to me.

  The feeling of pure love, worry and adoration shrouded me as I held my daughter for the first time, she was absolutely stunning and I knew then that she would break many hearts, from her large eyes to her curly copper hair and her tiny nose

  “Hi Katie” I whispered and Mason choked back a sob as he heard her name for the first time. His hand slid into my hair and he placed a kiss on my head “Katie?” the nurse asked and I nodded “Katie Hope Fox” I informed her as she wrote it down on her clipboard “Katie after my friend and Hope after my mother” I smiled thoughtfully as I stroked her smooth chubby cheek with the back of my fingers “Would you like to hold your son?” she asked Mason, who grinned widely at her.

  She chuckled and leant over the crib “Daddy’s back” she said to my baby boy and I gathered that Mason had been a regular visitor while I had been out cold “Any names for this one yet?” she asked as she lay him in Masons arms “It’s Daddy’s choice for him” I smiled as I leaned over to take a look at my handsome boy. Mason tipped his head at me and I nodded eagerly.

  He kissed our baby on the head “George Mason Fox” he whispered and a tear slipped free from my eye “George after his step-grandfather and his Uncle and Mason, for me of course” I frowned quizzically at him “His uncle?” I asked and he nodded “Kerrie’s twin, my brother was named George” he said softly as he planted another tiny kiss on George’s wispy brown hair.

  I had known they wouldn’t be identical but I was amazed that they were so different; each of their features seemed to be the complete opposite of their sibling; from their hair colour, the shape of their eyes and the size of their noses. George was a little bigger than his sister but Katie seemed to be a little longer and I instinctively knew that George, being the bigger of the two would protect his sister with his very soul and that knowledge thrilled and comforted me.

  “They’re so beautiful” I sighed “They are, but with our looks baby they didn’t have much choice” Mason winked at me.

  Katie gurgled and fidgeted in my arms and my heart swelled to an enormous size as she opened her eyes and stared straight at me “Hey sweet pea” I whispered “You are gonna want for nothing Katie, I’m gonna make sure you have so much love, you and your brother. I will be here through everything and I promise that no-one will ever hurt you” I kissed her forehead and turned to see Mason regarding me, his eyes glazed and his lips sucked severely behind his teeth “I promise Ava, I promise to take care and protect you all” his face was pained and I knew he was referring to the unconventional relationship we had. I grabbed his hand and brought it to my lips “I know Mason” I said adamantly but he looked away “Hey, none of that today” I stated and he looked back at me and nodded hesitantly “We are a family Mason, whether you’re with us or not” he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and then opened them, once again displaying all the love, warmth and dedication he felt for us.

  There was a tap on the window to the side of us and I looked up to see Courtney, Sam and Marcy beaming at us “You’re not supposed to have too many visitors but I’ll let them in for 5 minutes” the nurse smiled and she waved them in.

  All three wasted no time and within seconds they were at our side, cooing and ahhing at my children. “Oh Ava, they are beautiful” Marcy declared, hugging me with eyes full of tears. Sam slapped Mason on the back and then kissed my cheek “Congratulations Ava” he whispered as he placed a gentle kiss on each of the babies’ heads.

  I looked up and saw Courtney regarding us from the edge of the room, her face tight as she tried to rein in her emotions.

  “Aunty Courtney, meet Katie and George” I said to my friend and she gulped before approaching slowly and squatted in front of them both, stroking their faces softly and declaring to each of them to protect and love them as tears slid down her face.

  “Speaking of George, I rang him last night” she said as she stood and kissed my cheek “He’s on his way” she grinned at me knowing I would be ecstatic at the thought of George coming. “I’m afraid times up” the nurse told them and they nodded

  “You need anything Ava?” Courtney asked but Mason shook his head at her “No, I fetched all Ava’s stuff in last night” he told her and she smiled and nodded “Okay, mama and papa, I’ll see you later” she bent to kiss me again and then kissed Mason on the cheek and I heard her tell him to take care of me but I knew he would anyway.

  I was allowed home ten days
later but I was anxious about leaving the babies behind “Ava, they’ll be fine” Mason said as he unlocked the cottage door and ushered me in. I inhaled deeply, relaxing instantly at the familiar smell of my home “I know” I sighed with tears in my eyes

  “Come on, I have something to show you” he grinned and my brow furrowed “What are you up to?” I asked hesitantly but he grinned at me and took my hand, leading me upstairs and into the spare bedroom.

  My mouth dropped open as I exhaled noisily. The room had been transformed into a beautiful nursery, all decorated in lemons and soft greys. There were two white antique metal cots, two changing tables, two little wardrobes and drawers but what took my breath was the wall above the cots. Above each one the babies’ names had been painted beautifully in a script font and the effect was stunning

  “Oh Wow!” I breathed and Mason embraced me from behind, his chin resting on the top of my head “Do you like it?” he asked quietly and I scoffed “I love it” I swallowed heavily and his mouth found my ear as he nibbled on my earlobe “I did it myself” he divulged and I turned wide eyed to stare at him “Really?” I was stunned. He nodded and smiled shyly “Mason…it’s amazing. It’s perfect” I palmed his face and pulled him down for a kiss “I love you” I breathed against his lips “Thank you for…for everything, but most of all, for our perfect children” he kissed me this time “No Ava, it’s me that should be thanking you, you’ve made me complete baby”