Entwined Souls

by Cindy Pike

  Luckily, she must read the tension that’s resurfaced as we wait for her to give in, so she just nods her head in acceptance.

  We all follow her back to Nora and our baby boys.

  Heath

  I let the others go before me and bring up the rear.

  As soon as we enter, my gaze goes to Nora, running over her in the hospital bed, looking weak but okay. Alive. Thank you, God.

  Once I’m certain she’s okay, I instinctively go to the babies while Owen pulls up Nora’s stats on the computer screen. I’m sure he’ll be checking and double-checking everything that’s been noted in her file. I leave him to it, feeling a distant, amused pity for the medical staff who won’t be spared from his hawk-like gaze as he battles to make sure Nora and the boys get what they need.

  Both baby boys are wrapped up tight and sound asleep. At the sight of them, my heart lifts, filling with love to the brim. When baby B smacks his lips in his sleep, I hope Nora wakes up before they get hungry. She’s eager to breastfeed them, if possible.

  Unable to resist, I pick up the baby labelled baby A.

  He’s perfect. They both are.

  I don’t care if they’re biologically mine or not because regardless, they’re just as much mine as they are the rest of the guys’.

  Flynn

  Once I’ve made sure, and confirmed with Owen, that Nora is okay, I follow Heath to the babies, aware that Owen and Kyle need to be with Nora far more than the rest of us right now.

  They’re lying there, asleep, so tiny and fragile looking that I’m afraid they’ll break if I touch them.

  Heath doesn’t seem to have the same reservations because he picks one of them up without a moment of hesitation.

  With a hand that I’m half-aware is trembling—from the fear of almost losing Nora or the fear of hurting this baby, I’m not sure—I reach out and stroke sleeping baby B’s cheek. It’s softer than I expected.

  I’m standing there, awed. A repeating mantra of wow ringing through my head. How can something so tiny own my heart in just the moments I’ve known him?

  The baby wiggles at my touch and I quickly pull my hand away.

  Owen comes up beside me, placing his hand on my shoulder. “You’re not going to break him,” he teases, not realizing how on the mark he is.

  “I feel like I will,” I whisper, trying to not wake anyone.

  Owen just smiles at me and picks the baby up, holding him close as he talks to him softly.

  Kyle

  Without a second to think, I charge straight for Nora the moment we enter, needing to feel her heart beating, the warmth of her skin against mine. I need proof that she’s okay, more proof than just the nurse’s words.

  Gently, I press two fingers to her neck, just under her jaw. Her pulse is there, confirming what the monitor on the screen already has. I lower my forehead to her hand, not moving until I feel her start to stir.

  She’s alive. Blessedly alive.

  I smile, desperate to see her beautiful brown eyes after what feels like a lifetime.

  Silas

  Standing at the side of the doorway, I watch as the others do what they need to cope with the events of the last half an hour. Was it only that long? I close my eyes then immediately pop them open when an image of Nora’s lifeless body flashes behind my eyelids.

  I have never been so fucking scared in my life. If she hadn’t made it, I’m not sure what I would have done. I try to steady my nerves with some deep breaths and nearly manage to when Nora starts to stir, making my heart go off racing again.

  Suddenly, the urge to be close to her overwhelms me. I rush towards her, standing just to the side of Kyle. When her beautiful eyes open, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

  There’s my doll. Thank fucking God.

  Nora

  A beeping brings me out of the depths of unconsciousness.

  Why is there always a damn beeping keeping me from resting?

  “She’s coming around.”

  Why do I recognize that deep voice that sounds so far away?

  “Nora? Honey, can you hear me?”

  The sensation of home eases my heart. I open my eyes to a warm chocolate gaze staring back at me. Kyle.

  My eyes feel so heavy, it’s a struggle to keep them open. My mouth feels like I’ve been stuffed full of cotton and my throat burns.

  The grogginess dissipates at the thought of my boys and I desperately look around for my babies.

  Heath has one in his arms. I swear if I didn’t already love him, I would have fallen right then. To see such a powerful man being so gentle with our son is indescribable.

  He looks up and catches my eye. The look of love and gratitude on his face has me fighting to hold back tears.

  To keep them at bay, I look for my other son and find him in Owen’s arms, immediately losing the battle with the tears as one spills down my cheek.

  How did I get so blessed with such amazing husbands and two baby boys?

  Heath and Owen come over to my bedside and Owen hands me the baby he’s holding.

  I take him in my arms. I can’t believe he’s here. In my arms.

  “This is baby B,” Owen says.

  Looking at him, I know exactly what I’m going to name him. He’s so tiny. A strand of black hair is peeking out from under his beanie, but his eyes are closed so I can’t see what color they are.

  “This is Liam Brent Molano,” I announce. When they decided the boys would take my last name, I was unsure but now, it feels right.

  I look at him for a bit longer before Owen takes him from me and Heath hands over my other son. This little guy has blonde hair and his blue eyes are wide open.

  I smile down at him. “Say hello to Lukas Ray Molano.”

  Their perfection awes me. It all feels like a miracle.

  As I stroke Lukas’s cheek, I look up at my guys. “How long have I been in recovery?”

  “About thirty minutes,” Owen replies. “You started to hemorrhage and your blood pressure dropped drastically. We almost lost you. Thankfully, your team was quick to respond.”

  I take a moment to process and come to terms with the fact that I almost died.

  “Are they hungry? When can we go to the recovery room?” As I shift, I notice the tightness in my legs and realize that I’ve got clotting cuffs on. A twinge of pain pulls at my abdomen. “They had to get Liam out with a c-section?”

  I know the answer but for some reason, I need to hear it.

  Flynn comes to the other side of my bed, speaking for the first time since I woke up. “They did.”

  Lukas starts to root around. When I took my breastfeeding class, they told us that was a hunger cue.

  I unsnap the hospital gown that I purchased online, glad that I splurged for it. It’s got a pretty flower design on it and it’s so soft, far better than the rough, scratchy gowns that the hospital provides.

  Silas helps me bring Lukas to my breast to get him latched on. As soon as Lukas clamps on, my eyes widen. Oh my goodness! That hurt!

  “He seems to have a good latch. You’re doing beautifully, gorgeous. Good job, little man,” Owen compliments the baby chugging away at my boob.

  Liam starts to get hungry too and Heath helps me to get him in my arms. When we try to latch him though, he struggles.

  I look to Owen for guidance, trying to hold back my worry at the unsuccessful feeding attempt.

  “It’s okay to give him some formula if we need to,” Owen says. “Since he’s premature, he might not be able to breastfeed yet. Or you can express and give it to him on a spoon and we can give him a bottle later if needed.”

  I know he gave me multiple options to calm me and it works. With a grateful smile his way, I let Heath take Liam back, who takes the prepared formula from Flynn and feeds Liam.

  It doesn’t really matter to me how they’re fed, as long as they’re healthy.

  I look around at the seven guys in my life and am filled with contentment.

  Our
family is complete.