Michael
Not even a year later
"Twins?" Michael asked, looking totally dumbfounded. "Are you serious? Two of them? Two babies? Does Ivy know?"
"Of course she knows," the nurse said. "She was sedated for the delivery, but she's already met the babies."
"She has? They already came out? Two of them? Are they here? Where are they?"
Ivy's family was in the waiting room with Michael, listening to everything that was being said. They heard the birth process had begun four hours before, and Michael had been pacing the waiting room floors ever since.
"Mrs. Bishop is still a little groggy, but everything went well. She had the chance to meet the babies, and they're both healthy."
Ivy's mother let out a relieved sigh and collapsed into her husband's arms.
"Are you saying there were two babies in my wife?" Michael asked.
The nurse looked at him. "Yes sir, two," she said. "A little boy and a girl."
Michael felt light headed, and Ivy's mom made the noise to match—another gasping sigh that sounded like she wanted to pass out.
"So, they're not identical?" Jacob asked dazedly.
Honestly, it didn't seem like a bad question to Michael at the time, but the nurse chuckled at Jacob.
"No, they're not identical," she said. "One's a boy and one's a girl."
"Two babies?" Michael asked, staring at the nurse but not really seeing her.
"Yes sir. Congratulations. They're nice looking little ones."
Another happy whimper came from Ivy's mom.
"And you're sure you have the right person?" Michael asked.
"Ivy Bishop," the nurse said with a smile. She reached out to pat Michael's shoulder, indicating that she wanted him to follow her. "I think the mother would like to see you, if you're ready."
Michael followed the nurse down two long hallways before they reached Ivy's room. The door was cracked, but Michael couldn't see anything until he stepped inside. The nurse went in before him, and Michael had to take a few steps into the room before he could see his wife.
There she was—her dark hair pulled away from her face—that angelic face that was smiling sleepily at him. She had two bundles in her arms, and both of them were swaddled and seemed content. One was in pink and the other in blue, and Michael glanced at them for a second before looking at Ivy again. She was completely out of it, but he could see that she was happy and seemed comfortable.
There was another nurse in the room when they arrived, and Michael didn't even see her before she spoke. "She's already fed them both," the second nurse said. "She believes in breast feeding, so we brought one of our leche nurses up here to get her going. I think they did real good. The babies are resting." She leveled Michael with a stare and gestured to Ivy. "She's going to be tired for a little while, and she's going to have her hands full with two babies, so you take care of her. Is her mama here to help?"
Michael nodded dazedly.
"Good, well, I'm going to let you meet your children. Congratulations, Mr. Bishop. We'll be right next door at the nurses station if you need anything." She nodded at nurse one, and they both walked out, leaving Michael in the room with his new family.
He instantly went to Ivy's bedside. He started to sit next to her, but he couldn't help himself. In one agile motion, he kicked off his shoes and swiveled to sprawl out right next to her. He lifted his arm above his head and settled on his side, staring down at Ivy. He meant to look at his new babies, but he couldn't take his eyes off of his wife. She stared back at him with a tired but altogether serene smile, and he got lost in her dark brown eyes. She was beautiful. He loved her so much.
"Do they look like you?" he asked, hoping they did.
(Another tired smile.) "Look at them and see," she said, staring up at him.
She stretched upward as if inviting Michael to kiss her, and he did so with no hesitation. He kissed her cheek and then her mouth. "I can't believe there are two of them," he whispered.
"I know," she whispered back. "I don't remember anything. They just woke me up and told me."
Michael finally tore his eyes off of his wife to look at his children—first the little girl wrapped in pink, and then her brother. "Which one's older?"
"Jane."
"I hope that's the one in pink," Michael said, teasing her.
She smiled and nodded sleepily.
"Are we still going with Jesse for a boy?" he asked.
Ivy nodded.
"Why'd you change your mind about Shannon for a girl?" Michael asked.
Ivy shrugged one shoulder. "I just did. I don't have to change my mind. We can still go with Shannon if you want. I just thought Jane sounded good with Jesse, you know, for twins. But we don't have to. I'm good with anything."
Michael looked at his beautiful daughter. He touched her delicate forehead with the utmost tenderness. He had never felt something so soft. "Are you Jane Bishop?" he whispered. His eyes stung when he said it, and he took that to mean that Jane was the right name. He glanced at his wife, nodding with wide eyes in hopes of keeping them dry. "I think she's Jane," he said. "Jesse and Jane. I like it."
Ivy gave Michael a content smile as she stared up at him. "Don't forget Ivy and Michael," she said, tiredly. "We're gonna love each other forever and ever."
She nudged her chin for another kiss, and Michael put his mouth on hers the instant she looked up, kissing her three times in a row like he just couldn’t stop at one.
He smiled at her. "Ivy and Michael forever and ever," he said.
The End
(till book 2)
Thank you for reading Ivy and Michael's story. The Bishop Family Series will follow the lives and loves of Ivy and Michael Bishop's children and grandchildren. Next stop, the eighties.