Southern Spirits (The Southern Series Book 3)

by Shelley Stringer

  “Chandler, wait…we’re both tired. You need to rest,” he protested as he buttoned his shirt.

  “I’m not that tired, and I just woke from a nap,” I began as I stretched to kiss his neck. He pulled away as he replied, “I’ve got a couple of things to do downstairs while they’re sleeping. I’ll be back in a little while,” he retorted as he rose and left the room.

  Never at any time in our relationship had he ever pulled away from me, or acted like he didn’t want me. Just as when I’d felt his anger and frustration with John, I could feel disappointment now. I disappointed him. My heart sank as I ran over a dozen possibilities in my head. Now, since I had given birth, I no longer appealed to him. I had heard of men that reacted this way to having children, but I couldn’t believe Banton could be one of those. It just didn’t fit.

  I had to pull things together. Maybe he was disappointed in the way our lives had changed. He had to help me so much, and he hadn’t been out with the SEALs in days. I rose to find him and suggest that he go with Ty and the others to work out. As I walked out on the landing, I heard him talking to the babies, so I turned and went into the nursery. I found him leaning over Ellyson’s crib.

  “And baby-girl, you are so beautiful, just like your mother. Do you know how precious you are to me?” he murmured, placing his lips on her little forehead. “Oh, God…she’s so pale! She’s…she’s not breathing!” he exclaimed as he grabbed her from her bassinette.

  I crossed the room to Banton’s side, my heart pounding. Banton immediately turned Elly over, and patted her tiny back and then turned her upright again. He pressed gently on her chest as he breathed into her mouth. Tears ran down my cheeks silently as I watched from beside him.

  No sooner than he had drawn back from her little face, she began to squirm and cry out. I breathed a sigh of relief as he turned to me, still cradling her close to his chest.

  “Let’s get them to Dr. Lane’s now!” he shouted as I grabbed Matty out of his bassinet and headed down the staircase behind Banton. Dan and Laurilee heard the commotion and followed us out the front door and to the car.

  “Chandler, what’s wrong?” Laurilee asked breathlessly. “I heard Banton shouting.”

  “Elly quit breathing and turned blue. We’re taking her to the clinic. Call Constance and Ev for me, please?” I sobbed out as I buckled Matty into his car seat.

  “Sure, Chandler. Be careful, and call me…let us know if there is anything we can do,” she called out as I crawled over Matty’s car seat into the middle between the twins in the backseat.

  “Chandler,” Banton began.

  “I’m riding back here so I can watch her, in case…” I breathed out as he nodded at me. We flew down the highway. I had no idea how fast Banton was going, for I never took my eyes from Elly’s face. I kept holding her chest gently, making sure she was still moving. Her breathing seemed labored, and she was lethargic, only opening her eyes occasionally. Matty watched me silently as though he sensed the intensity of my emotions. He never cried out or made a fuss. Banton called ahead to the clinic to alert Dr. Lane. He was waiting for us with the doors open as we slid to a stop at the emergency entrance.

  “Doc, she quit breathing, and her color isn’t good,” Banton exclaimed, jumping from the vehicle as he threw it in park.

  “Just let me have her,” Dr. Lane said calmly. He removed her from the backseat. Banton followed him into the clinic as I took Matty out of his carrier and rushed to follow them in.

  “I’ve called Renault; he is bringing the Aldon Pediatrician with him. They should be here in about an hour,” Dr. Lane commented as he hooked several monitors up to Elly. After he had the monitors on her, his nurse joined him and gently removed Elly’s clothes while the Doctor started an IV.

  “Banton, Chandler…I’m going to start her on an IV and take some blood, so I can have some results for Renault to look at. We’ll know more about what we are dealing with when he gets here. But from the looks of her, kids, she needs a transfusion. It’s common with Aldon children, and I think that is what we are dealing with. Has Matty had any symptoms like hers?” he asked as he looked up at me. I cradled Matty close to my chest as I shook my head.

  “Why don’t you take Chandler in the waiting room and tend to Matty. I’ll come and get you in a bit,” he urged Banton.

  “Come on, Andie. We need to let him work,” Banton murmured as he placed his arm around my shoulders.

  I hesitated, not wanting to leave Elly’s side for a second. Banton pulled me again as he whispered in my ear, “Please, sweetheart…she’ll be all right, and we are only in the way.”

  I nodded at him, my eyes filling with tears. As we sank down into the cushions on the sofa, Banton’s cell rang.

  Banton retrieved it from his pocket and murmured, “It’s John. Hey, John…yeah, we just got here….no, not yet. Doc’s in with her now. Thanks, yeah, tell them we will call when we know something. Okay, brother, I will. Thanks, Bye.”

  Banton’s tone surprised me. He talked to John as if he’d never been rude to him . The jealousy and bitterness seemed to have passed, and I was relieved. I patted Matty’s behind rhythmically as I hummed to him, cradling him to my chest. As Banton watched silently, I held our son closer as he nuzzled in between my neck and collarbone, making little sucking noises while he napped. Banton reached over and touched his cheek gently as he murmured, “John said Laurilee called him after she called Constance and Ev. Mr. Lon and Mrs. Sue are on their way here, and John said he and Brie are coming too.”

  I nodded at him numbly.

  “Chandler, she’ll be okay,” he tried to assure, pulling me into his shoulder. I began to sob, not able to cope with the thought we might lose her.

  “Shhh.” He stroked my hair as he held me.

  “You saved her, Banton,” I whispered. If you hadn’t found her just then,” I breathed out as he kissed my temple.

  “Sweet Bebe, what on earth happened? Is Elly okay?” Everett rushed breathlessly through the front doors.

  Banton rose and embraced him. “The Doctor is with her now. He’s running some tests,” he answered.

  “Laurilee said she quit breathing,” Ev continued as he took in my red-rimmed eyes. I nodded silently.

  Everett crossed the room to me and sat down beside me. “Please, Bebe…let me have Matty.”

  As soon as I handed Matty to him, Banton pulled me around and into his arms. I held him tightly as he rested his cheek on top of my head.

  Aunt Sue and Uncle Lon arrived soon after Everett, and just as Banton began to relay what had happened to Elly, Dr. Lane came to get us. I flew to him as he pulled me back into the room where he’d been examining Elly. I rushed to the bassinette and found her sleeping peacefully on her side.

  “Banton, I’ve done some blood work, and she’s extremely anemic. We’ll start a transfusion, but there’s a lot going on. She isn’t processing your milk, Chandler. Although Matty doesn’t seem to be having the same problem, I fear he soon will. I can’t be positive, until I talk to Renault and the other Aldon doctor, but I think we need to start them on whole blood.”

  “What? I thought Aldon could live on human food, too,” I began as Banton rubbed my arm.

  “They do. But they have to have blood…whole mammal blood. Just your rich diet of raw meats isn’t enough. We will get some animal blood to get her started. We’ll blend it with a special mixture.”

  “I don’t really understand. If the babies are Aldon, doesn’t that make them immune to sickness like this?”

  “Not until they’re a little older, Chandler. Aldon children are as vulnerable to infant mortality as human children, maybe more. Their little bodies seem to fight between the two worlds, only wanting to process one food type or the other. Her little body is fighting itself right now. If I’m right, she’ll get a lot better when we start her on the blood.”

  “Why didn’t you start them on blood from the beginning?” I asked, not masking my irritation.

  “I’m still
not sure about the Aldon thing, and neither is Dr. Renault. The tests aren’t showing us Aldon results. The blood could make them sick if they aren’t fully transformed. We wanted to wait until we knew for sure,” he said as Banton nodded to him. “All of the injections we were giving you were probably still built up in their systems, but now they need more. Her birth weight was lower, and we’ve always been concerned about her gaining. This just confirms.”

  “Is there anything else we can do?” Banton asked as he continued to hold me.

  “Yes, bring Matty in and let my nurse take some blood. I want to have something for the other two Doctors to look at when they get here, so they can compare the two. And Chandler,” he began as I looked up at him. He walked closer to me and reached up and gently pulled my bottom lid down, checking my eye, “I think you are anemic too. I’ve got a feeling you need a transfusion. Your body is going through lots of changes too, and I want to run some tests on you. Elly isn’t the only one I’m concerned about,” he admitted as Banton turned back to look at him.

  “What’s wrong with Chandler?” he asked, alarmed.

  “I’m not sure, but her color isn’t good. Let’s get you in a room, and I’ll get my nurse.”

  I numbly followed him back to an empty room. Banton helped me get into a gown as the nurse came in and began to draw blood. After she’d left the room, Banton sat down on the edge of the bed.

  “Chandler, maybe your body isn’t bouncing back after the babies, because of the transformation,” he murmured as he held the side of my face. I just nodded at him as I glanced up.

  “I know you’ve probably bled a lot after the birth, and your body may not be making blood to replace it, like it should…since you’ve transformed. I’m so sorry that nothing is normal for you.”

  I murmured, “I haven’t bled, since I left the hospital.”

  “What? What do you mean? Aren’t women supposed to…” he began.

  I nodded as the tears began again. “Normal women do, usually for several weeks. I stopped right after the birth. That’s why I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get pregnant again. My transformation is complete, I guess,” I whispered as I looked back up at him. I was beginning to feel defeated. It was just one more thing to add to the list of things that were wrong with me, things for Banton to be disappointed in.

  “Chandler,” Banton pulled me up into his arms. “You don’t know that for sure. Don’t worry about it, because I’m not.”

  I took a deep breath. “Just go out and get Matty for Dr. Lane. Stay with the babies, I’m all right here,” I urged him.

  He stood and then paused at the door. “I’ll be back in a bit,” he said as he closed the door.

  I lay back on the pillows, feeling the most useless and helpless that I’d ever felt. My babies were both in danger, and there was nothing I could do. Once the nurse and Dr. Lane had the blood going for my transfusion, Aunt Sue and Uncle Lon arrived.

  “Sweetheart, we came as soon as Constance called us. She and Ty are at your house with Laurilee and Dan. She filled us in. Do you know anything yet?” Aunt Sue asked as she sank down on the bed beside me. Uncle Lon sat down in the chair on the other side of the bed.

  “No, Banton is in with the babies now. Dr. Lane is running tests on both of them, and on me too,” I replied. She brushed the hair from my forehead and leaned over to kiss me

  “Has he called that vampire doctor? I’ll feel better if he’s here to help him,” Uncle Lon blurted out as I smiled.

  “His name is Dr. Renault. Yes, he should be here any time, and he’s bringing the Aldon pediatrician with him,” I assured him as he relaxed.

  “What’s this they are doing with you?” Aunt Sue asked. She checked the machines they’d hooked up to me.

  “Transfusion. Doc says I need blood, and he’s running some more tests.”

  “You’ve let yourself get too run down, Chandler. You are doing too much, and you and Banton are both worn out.”

  “Well, I don’t have to worry about nursing anymore. I think they’re going to put Matty and Elly both on whole blood,” I informed them as Uncle Lon made a horrible face. “I know, it sounds awful. But Dr. Lane thinks Elly’s body is fighting itself, and she needs a pure Aldon diet,” I tried to explain.

  “Boy, this is one I never thought I’d deal with concerning my grandkids,” Uncle Lon shook his head as Aunt Sue smiled. She patted my leg, and then she grasped my chin and turned it back toward her. “I know you, Chandler Ann. You somehow blame yourself for your milk not being enough for the babies. That is absurd, of course! Normal mothers have the same problems, and this is all anything but normal. Everything is going to be fine.” She pulled me into a hug and whispered, “Grandmothers know these things.”

  I laughed through my tears and nodded at her. They waited with me until Banton returned about thirty minutes later. When Uncle Lon’s cell rang for about the fourth time signaling yet another call from Constance, he rose and motioned for Aunt Sue to follow him.

  Banton joined me on the bed. “The other Doctors are here. They’re checking her out thoroughly. It’s puzzling they still don’t have conclusive results about the Aldon thing, but the other Doctors agree with Dr. Lane. They’ve already started her transfusion, and her color seems to be a bit better to me.”

  He watched my expressions intently as I processed. “Are they optimistic?” I asked hesitantly.

  The muscles in his jaw clenched, the agitated twinge showing that always signaled his frustration. “I wouldn’t go that far, but they seem to think they’re on the right track. Matty seems good, but he’s getting fussy. They have some of the new formula ready and were about to feed him, but I asked them if they would bring him to you. I knew you would want to do it if you feel up to it.”

  I nodded at him enthusiastically and smiled.

  “God, Chandler. That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile like that in days.” His statement took me by surprise, because I felt the same way about him. He pulled me into his chest and murmured into my hair, “I’ve been so worried about you, and we’ve both been exhausted. I admit, I’ve been frustrated that I couldn’t help you more, and it made me angry at myself. It didn’t seem fair you had to get up with both of them every time to feed them all night long, and I couldn’t relieve you. Now we can take turns, and you can sleep through some of the feedings.” He sighed as he pulled back to look into my eyes.

  “Oh, Banton…I’m so relieved!” I exclaimed as he shot me a puzzled expression. “I could sense your frustration and anger, and I thought it was me, that somehow you were disappointed about how hard everything was, and you were somehow unhappy with me…” I trailed off as he shook his head.

  “Never. I could never be unhappy with you. I can’t believe you even thought that,” he murmured as he held my face in his hands. “I just felt inadequate and I hated myself for it,” he stated. “And I hate to admit it,” he began as he looked back and forth in to my eyes.

  “What?”

  “I miss touching you and I’ve been really, really impatient. I’ve been fighting the venom…the anger and adrenalin again, since I’ve been back. I’m a little selfish when it comes to being intimate with you.” He slid his hand down to my shoulder as he gazed at it, and then glanced back to my eyes.

  “I’ve been worrying about why you haven’t tried to…haven’t touched me like that since you’ve been home,” I admitted, watching his reaction. “I was afraid somehow your feelings had changed.”

  He studied me intently for several moments, and then crushed his mouth to mine. I weaved my fingers in his hair, holding him there as I returned his kiss. It was like I was finally home. He kissed me with a desperation I felt down to my core. Breathless, he drew back and exclaimed, “Nothing could be further from the truth. I adore you, you know that. I was holding back, afraid of the anger again, and of my own strength. And I just thought we had to wait, thought that you would still be bleeding, and I didn’t want to start something we couldn’t finish, I’m so,
so sorry,” he finished as I pulled him back down to hold him close. The sound of the door opening interrupted the moment. Banton straightened, and touched my cheek as he turned to see who it was.

  The Nurse carried Matty in to me, and then handed the strange-looking bottle of blood formula to Banton.

  “See how much he takes, and then let me know. I’ll be back to check in a bit,” she instructed as she checked the machines hooked to me before she left. Banton moved to sit down on the bed beside me, and watched as I fed Matty. As usual, Matty latched on immediately and sucked the bottle dry, seeming to adjust to the taste of the formula as though it were nothing different.

  “He’s a Gastaneau, all right,” Banton chuckled as I removed the empty bottle from his mouth. I switched him to my shoulder, and after several moments of gently patting him, the inevitable burp erupted.

  “All Gastaneau,” Banton repeated as he grinned at me and flashed his dimple. I reached up and circled it with my finger, like I’d done a million times.

  Matty drifted off to sleep in my arms as I watched him.

  “Do you want me to take him back and put him in his crib?” Banton asked. I shook my head.

  Thinking of my tiny daughter in the next room, I replied, “No, I want him here with me. I need to feel his skin against mine.”

  Banton nodded silently and then pulled me in close to his side. After a bit, Dr. Lane and Dr. Renault stepped into my room.

  “Chandler, Elly seems stable, but we have a ways to go. We should know more by morning. I have to tell you, it’s been touch and go.”

  Banton held me tighter as he felt me take a deep breath.

  “Touch and go? She’s going to be all right, isn’t she?” my voice rose.