by Roxy Wilson
Triston stood slowly. He walked over to Selene, gave her a tight hug and then kissed her on the forehead. With a reassuring hand on her shoulders, he escorted her out.
It was all in the judge’s hands now.
Chapter Twelve
A few days later, Selene received a call from the lawyer, who informed her of the next court date. It was only a few days before the baby was due to be born. The entire pregnancy was now overshadowed by the worry that she might actually lose her daughter. Selene wondered how she would be able to cope with the anguish of losing her firstborn.
Why had she put herself in this situation? She cursed herself for not thinking through it. By nature, she was not a dishonest person. If the Stevens hadn’t backed out of the agreement, she was sure she never would’ve considered keeping this child. But the fact that they breached the contract had given her time to ponder over her child’s fate. It created a mother-daughter bond that she hadn’t felt when she conceived the little girl.
Saying that her belly was big was putting it mildly. It was ginormous. She found it difficult to get around and stayed home most of the time. Triston, ever optimistic, busted his gut to get the nursery ready for the baby. He refused to consider the possibility that they wouldn’t have their daughter with them.
Selene wished she had faith that was even one-third of his.
She got a call from the publisher who’d interviewed her.
“Hello. May I speak to Mrs. Selene Walker, please?”
Selene crossed her fingers. “This is she.”
I’m calling from Crossword Publishing.”
Hope flared in her heart. “Yes?”
“I’m happy to inform you that we would like you to join our team of freelance editors. We’re in the process of setting up our offices, but we’ll be hosting a one-day workshop very soon and would like you to attend if you accept our offer for employment. Would that be all right?
“Yes, I accept your offer.”
“Good. I’ll call you again when we’ve finalized the date for the workshop. But I would like you to note that we wouldn’t be officially giving any assignments for the next couple of months.”
“That’s fine.” The timing was perfect. Her baby would be born and already a few weeks old before she actually started working.
Now if only things would work out at the court. The anxiety was consuming her every waking hour.
When Triston got home, she gave him the news, not sure of what his reaction would be. She knew he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of her going back to work. He surprised her by beaming happily. He gathered her in a hug and deposited a kiss on her neck.
“I’m happy for you, babe. It’s the perfect opportunity. You can work and take care of our baby, right in the comfort of our home. I’ll be on paternity leave soon, so I’ll be able to roll up my sleeves and help you with her.”
It was on the tip of Selene’s tongue to tell him not to get too excited. What if they lost custody of their child?
But she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. Instead, she hugged him, finding strength in his arms.
The court date arrived with nauseating speed. They were due to appear in court at three in the afternoon. Selene hadn’t slept well for the last few nights. The court’s outcome would decide their fate. She couldn’t relax until they were passed the danger of losing their daughter. Her back was paining a little. It was probably because she hadn’t been able to get comfortable in bed the night before. Triston tried massaging her back, but she got no relief.
At one o’clock, Selene made her way upstairs where Triston was setting up the crib. He’d opted to stay at home with her rather than go to work because he knew she was anxious.
The nursery was white with pink stripes. Though she hadn’t wanted to get emotionally invested in the process of preparing for the baby’s arrival, Selene had finally caved in and painted pretty, pink butterflies on one of the walls. Jamie, Heather and Tasha wanted to throw her a baby shower, but she’d refused because she didn’t want to pin all her hopes on having her baby, only to have it snatched away from Triston and her.
She wondered if their daughter would be able to enjoy everything that they’d bought for her. As she entered the nursery, she saw Triston putting the brand-new mattress in the crib.
Seeing him do that, she felt giddy with overwhelming love. How could she have thought that she wouldn’t be happy with him? He was an absolutely amazing, loving, and caring man.
And not to mention, handsome, too.
“Hey, how is it going?”
Triston whipped around. “What are you doing up here, babe? You know you shouldn’t be climbing up and down the stairs.” Rushing over, he helped her to the rocking chair that they’d bought for the corner of the room.
“What you mean is that I scared the crap out of you because you couldn’t hear a fat, pregnant lady sneaking up the stairs,” she joked.
“You’re not fat. You’re pregnant. There’s a big difference.”
Selene smiled at him. As she raised her head to kiss him, a sharp pain ripped through her. She doubled over, whimpering in pain.
“Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance? Tell me what’s going on.”
Selene gritted her teeth until the pain subsided. “I’m okay. I think…maybe it was a contraction.”
“She’s not due for another week. She can’t come early.”
“Babies don’t come on a timetable. I think we better get to the hospital and check it out.”
“Maybe these are false contractions,” he offered as he helped her to stand and took one of her arms to steady her. They went downstairs. Triston collected the two bags that she’d packed. He rested them on the back seat of his SUV.
Another contraction gripped her. Selene breathed through it as she’d been taught at the birth class.
Triston looked back at her as she stood by the door of the passenger side.
“What’s wrong?”
Trust Triston to sense that something wasn’t quite right. But she was too caught up in what was happening to her to give it more than a passing thought.
“Oh my God.” Selene stared down at the flow of water that was rushing out from between her legs. “My water broke.”
Their daughter was determined to be born even though the court still hadn’t decided her fate.
****
Triston ignored every road sign, speed limit, and stop light on the way to the hospital.
“Slow down,” Selene said. “We’ll get pulled over by the cops.”
And sure enough, they heard a siren behind them. Triston couldn’t think straight. His mind was consumed by worry. All he wanted to do was to get her to the hospital.
“What if we just outrun them?”
Selene looked appalled. “No! You pull over right now. I don’t want my husband to go to jail on the same day our daughter is born.”
Triston pulled over. He turned off the engine and dug out his license from his wallet.
An officer stepped up to the rolled down window. “License, please.”
Triston handed them to him. “We’re in a hurry, officer.”
“I can see that, sir, but there’s a speed limit.”
Triston was antsy. He didn’t want to waste time with the cop. “Officer, my wife’s pregnant and her water broke. I need to get her to the hospital.”
“Which one?”
Triston told him the name of the hospital.
The police officer bent a little more so he could see Selene. His keen gaze noticed her belly and the wet spot on the front of her dress. He handed Triston his license. “Go ahead, sir. I’ll give you a police escort. Just stick close behind me, ok?”
“Thank you, officer.”
Triston couldn’t believe his good luck. A few seconds later, the police cruiser went hurtling passed them with sirens and lights flashing. Within minutes, they were at the hospital. As they pulled up at the emergency room parking lot, Triston could see that there was already a team
ready with a wheelchair. He was a little confused as to how they’d known about their impending arrival. The officer went over and greeted him.
“I called ahead and told them you were coming. I hope everything goes well for you guys.”
Triston couldn’t thank the officer enough. He was happy to hand over Selene to the medics, as they were the experts. As far as he could tell, her contractions were now four minutes apart. Everything happened fast. The medics knew what they were doing, and before he could get a handle on things, Selene was in bed being checked out by a nurse. Triston left her with the nurse to fill out all the forms. When he was done with the paperwork, he pulled out his phone. It was two in the afternoon. He would have to inform their lawyer that they couldn’t make it to court.
“Hello, it’s Triston Walker.” After he’d apprised the lawyer of the situation, the lawyer assured him that their presence wouldn’t be required at the hearing because of the medical emergency. He would inform the judge of the situation and tell them about the final decision.
When Triston entered the delivery room, Selene was panting through a contraction.
“Two minutes apart, already,” the nurse announced cheerfully. “This baby’s in a hurry.”
Triston gripped Selene’s hand as she rode the wave of pain.
God, he hoped all that Selene was going through at the moment was not in vain.
Suppose, the judge ruled in the Stevens’ favor?
Suppose as soon as Selene delivered, their daughter would be taken away from them?
Suppose…
He mentally shook himself out of his dark thoughts and concentrated on Selene. She needed him, and he was determined not to fail her.
The nurse checked Selene. “It’s going to be time to push in a minute or two. The doctor will come any time now.”
Not long after, Dr. Mardsen strolled in. “How are we doing?”
“I can’t feel anything from my waist down. Is that normal?” Selene said.
“Yes, it’s normal to not feel anything after you’ve been given the epidural.” The doctor’s tone was calm. He probably handled dozens of panicked pregnant women a day.
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
“You’re doing fine,” the doctor assured her.
“Okay, Dad, stand by Mom’s head,” the doctor instructed Triston.
Triston wondered if he was up to the task. But as quick as a wink he stamped down the thought. For Selene, he would face anything. Triston did as the doctor instructed. She raised her chin and peered at him through long lashes. He kissed her softly on her lips.
“You’re going to be fine, babe,” he promised. He clasped her hand in his.
The doctor took his place. “All right, you’re ready to push. This is what we’ll do. I’ll count for you, and when I say push, you start to push. Keep pushing until you just can’t anymore, okay?”
Selene nodded and squeezed Triston’s hand for reassurance.
“Bear with me while I count. Here we go. One, two, three, push.”
Triston could feel Selene bearing down with everything she had. He craned his neck but there was nothing to see.
The doctor didn’t appear perturbed that the baby hadn’t made an appearance. Was it normal? Triston decided not to worry since the doctor seemed to be in control of the situation.
“Once more, Selene,” Dr. Mardsen said. “One, two three, push.”
Selene pushed.
“That was a nice, strong push. Get ready for another one, here we go. One, two, three, push.”
Selene pushed with all her might. The veins on her temple looked like they were ready to burst.
“Good girl. A couple more pushes like that and she’ll be right out. Don’t quit on me now. One, two, three, push.”
Selene let out a yell as she bore down again. It seemed like their daughter slipped out straight into the doctor’s waiting hands.
Triston heard their little girl cry. He wanted to see her but the doctor gave her to one of the nurses, who took her over for cleaning. Triston didn’t want to leave Selene although he was dying to see their daughter.
“Is she okay? Is my baby all right?” asked Selene. Tears were streaming down her face.
“She’s perfectly fine. She’s getting cleaned up a little. In a minute, you can hold her,” said the doctor.
Dr. Mardsen looked at Triston with a smile on his face. “Now it’s time for you to cut the cord.”
Triston snipped the cord, surprised by the spray of blood.
But there was another thing that surprised him even more, and that was the depth of the emotions he felt at the moment.
The love for his wife.
For his daughter
Love simply overwhelmed him.
It was the most moving experience of his life, second only to the day Selene became his bride.
He went back to his wife’s side and bathed her face in kisses.
Kisses of gratitude for bringing such joy in his life.
As promised, the nurse brought the baby over and handed her to Selene. Triston leaned over to take a look. The tiny little face was absolutely perfect. Her soft, caramel skin, the few springy curls of hair on her head, her ten fingers and toes, were perfect, too.
“She’s beautiful.” Selene kissed and hugged their daughter and then gave her over to Triston.
Gingerly, he took their daughter in his arms. As he rocked her, the baby girl yawned. Her pretty lips pouted and she began to wail. “What happened? Is she in pain?”
What had he done? Had he hurt his own child?
The doctor chuckled. “She’s hungry. A feed will settle her.”
As Triston deposited her into Selene’s waiting hands, his cell phone began to vibrate. It was their lawyer. Triston’s heart pounded in his chest.
This is it.
He picked up the call. “Yes?”
After a few moments, he slipped the phone back into his pocket.
“Who was that?” Selene asked as she watched entranced as the baby girl suckled at her breast like a champion.
“It was our lawyer.”
Selene looked up, a horrified expression on her face. Her hands clutched the baby closer as if she feared someone would take her away at any moment.
“What did he say?” Trepidation filled her voice.
“The judge granted you full custody of our daughter.”
Selene’s eyes widened. “She’s ours?”
“Yes, ours. In every sense of the word.” Triston punctuated each word with a kiss on her lips, her nose, her eyelids, her cheeks, her forehead. And then on her lips again.
Selene laughed and cried all at once. Triston knew that her tears were cathartic. After months of economic hardship, making a life-changing decision, two, in fact if she were to count her decision to marry him, dealing with her pregnancy, and the legal battle against the Stevens, he had to admit she deserved a good cry. Triston plucked tissue from the box on the table and wiped the tears off her face.
“Now, we’re really a family,” he said. He probably looked like a clown with the silly grin on his face, but he didn’t give a damn. As long as the two ladies, who clutched his heart in their hands, were in his life, he would be the happiest man alive.
“A family,” Selene echoed in wonder.
“So about her name? Any last minute changes?” he whispered with a grin.
“No.” She smiled. “She’s Shiloh.”
Triston thought the name they’d finally chosen was the perfect name for their perfect little girl. They hadn’t bothered with the silly combinations of their names, but the name Shiloh was even better. It meant ‘his gift’. When Selene had happened upon the name while searching the internet, she’d told him that the best gift she could ever give him was their daughter.
She was wrong.
The best gift she’d given him was herself. Their daughter, Shiloh, was a bonus.
Yes, it had taken him a while to have the woman of his dreams.
The w
oman who’d captured his heart when he was all of fourteen.
The woman whom he’d left to serve the country he would forever love.
The woman who’d taken him back and had promised him her love.
The woman who’d given him Shiloh to love as his own.
His Selene.
His love.
His wife.
His life.
***THE END***
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Roxy
Coming in July…
Baby, You're Mine (A Bundle of Joy Series, Book 3)
Fulfilling a friend's wish...
Jamie Alexis’ fast-paced life comes to a screeching halt when she's summoned by her terminally ill friend, Brandi Stephen, who asks her to care for her two-year-old daughter after she's gone.
…isn't going to be easy...
