Chapter Twenty Five
Ramsay
At first I thought bed rest would be kind of nice. I could catch up on movies and magazines that I’d meant to read but after three days, I was bored. So mid-way through week three, I was ready to tear my hair out. Sure, I could work from bed but I was only supposed to do that three hours a day. The ladies had made regular visits, the men had stopped by too. Cress and Brian had made a special trip so that I could meet Liam Rye McGuire who had slept through the entire time.
I told anyone and everyone that I wanted these babies to be born. I was tired of only being able to be out of bed for the thirty minutes twice a day. I had become so crazy that I didn’t mind the three hundred trips to pee a day.
So why then was I so nervous tonight? I glanced for the hundredth time at the suitcase that was sitting by our bedroom door. Billie and Edwin had packed it yesterday. As much as I liked my assistant, I didn’t want him touching my undies.
“What’s going on?” Osi had a towel wrapped around his waist as he walked out of the bathroom.
“Nothing,” I sighed.
“Babe?” He gave me that look that told me that he already knew.
“You know I hate it when you read my mind.” I grumbled.
“Then confirm that I’m right,” he grinned.
Fuckin’ Osi. “I guess I’m nervous about everything.” I admitted.
He sat on the side of the bed. “Ramses, it’s going to be fine. You’ll be terrific.”
I nodded.
He dropped the towel, turned off the light and climbed into bed. “I set the alarm.” He wrapped his arm around me.
“I don’t know why we have to get there so early,” I complained. “I mean, the surgery isn’t until one.”
“They want to hook you up to all kinds of machines and go over everything with us. I think they are even going to show us the NICU.” He sounded so calm.
“What if something is wrong...” my voice caught.
“Stop. Shhh.” He shifted me even closer. “The kids are at a good weight, their hearts are strong. That’s all good, it all will be good.”
I’d done everything right, followed all of the doctor’s orders and suggestions but as the time approached, my fears increased. “I’m being silly.”
“No. You’re being a mother.” He kissed the place where my shoulder met my neck.
“Are you scared at all?”
“I’m not scared,” he told me. “But I’m concerned.”
That made me feel better. “Good,” I sighed.
“I worry about the state of the world, will my daughter be a hellion like here mother and will my boy, want to climb tall trees. I worry that I won’t have the right answers when they ask the tough questions. I worry that I won’t be able to give you everything that you deserve.”
God, I loved this man. My husband. “Then we are a good pair. I worry about things like, what if they want to only wear flannel shirts and hate books. I worry that I won’t be able to make it to every basketball practice and ballet lesson. What if I’m too tired when you get home to…to.”
“To be with me?” He lightly nipped my shoulder. “You’ll be with me because I’m going to be right beside you. And when we add to the family, I’ll be around more.”
“I don’t want you to give up what you love.” I whispered.
“I love you and our kids. Our life.”
“Tell me that tomorrow is going to be all right,” I urged.
“Ramses, it will be better, it will be amazing.”
I was still waiting for the amazing part. I don’t know anybody that is a fan of hospitals. So far I had been weighed, poked, prodded, asked the same questions six times and I was tired of it all. Plus I was wearing a hideous gown that maybe, once was a terrible light teal color. Plus every once in a while, I swore that I could smell bleach.
“So what questions do you have?” Our Birth Coordinator asked Osi. Yes, I shit you not, that was her fucking title.
“When will Dr. Loeb arrive?” My husband was his typical, calm and cool self.
“Probably about twenty minutes before you are set to go back,” Valencia gave Osi a smile.
Yeah, she was not addressing any of her talk to me after I’d told her that no I didn’t want any more talk. I wanted just a few minutes of uninterrupted quiet. I wanted, no I needed… I didn’t know what I needed but it wasn’t some stranger walking through the door every three minutes.
“If you like, I can bring the DVD of a typical Caesarian birth for you to watch.” The Coordinator offered.
“No thank you.” I told her snippily. I wanted to watch her tight little ass in her pencil skirt walking out the door. I shot Osi a look and he nodded once.
“Valencia,” he started as he stood. “I think at this time, we have everything that we need. In fact, could you arrange for us to have some quiet time. Perhaps, twenty or thirty minutes. Ramsay likes to do her meditation.” He started walking toward the door. “I’m sure you understand.”
I didn’t fucking care if she understood or not, I just needed some quiet.
“Well, all right.” She seemed reluctant to go.
“If I have any questions, I’ll message you.” He told her as he opened the door.
“I say something to your nurses.” Valencia finally walked through the door.
I closed my eyes and tried to relax my body starting with my feet. Osi was moving around very quietly. I turned my head to see what he was doing. He had dimmed the lights and was looking at the screen of his phone. “What are you doing?”
“Our friends are here, or most of them. I was telling Billie that I wanted you to rest a little.” He flashed me a tiny grin.
“I’m trying to relax.”
“All of the traffic is making you crazy.” He put him phone in his pocket and sat on the bed beside of me.
I snuggled closer to him. “I’m better already.” I closed my eyes and I felt his hand take mine.
“And you’re nervous.”
Fuckin’ Osi. “We are taking on a huge responsibility. I mean, sometimes I feel like I can barely take care of myself.” I admitted and then opened my eyes to watch how he was handling my concern.
“It is huge but we’re ready. I mean, you practically raised yourself.”
“And look how great I turned out?” I rolled my eyes.
“Yeah, being smart and successful, it’s so disappointing.” He was using his matter of fact voice.
“I feel like I should have read more books or I don’t know, borrowed a kid for a week.”
“Babe, we’re ready.” He sounded confident.
“Are you sure?” I needed to hear the words.
“I wouldn’t lie to you.” He lifted our joined hands to his lips and kissed my knuckles. “I’m sure.”
“You’d better not be wrong.” I grumbled.
I’d asked Billie to stay in the room while Dr. Loeb did his final check. Well she stood far away from my draped vagina. Something about how careful the staff was to keep me covered in front of my husband, the man who knocked me up, and my best friend made me laugh.
“Good to see the mother in such good spirits,” He scooted back on his wheeled stool and started stripping off his gloves.
I couldn’t feel anything from the ribs down. He could have been tattooing Osi’s name on my pussy lips. I felt nothing.
“Everything looks good. I say, let’s bring these babies out into the world so they can meet you.” The doctor had delivered countless babies, so that probably didn’t strike fear into his heart.
Osi knew. He leaned down, over me. “I promise.” Our eyes met and suddenly, I wasn’t so afraid.
“Ten minutes. Mr. Browne, we’ll take her to the surgical area and then you’ll be given your uniform and brought in.” Dr. Loeb told Osi. “I’ll see you soon.”
Billie returned to my bedside and Osi moved away. Not too far but enough so that he wasn’t hovering. “Wow.” She looked a little overwhelmed.
“I know.”
She sank down on the edge of my bed facing me. “No, I do know. You are going to be such a wonderful mother, Ramsay. You took care of me when I was helpless. I know that your babies are going to be so loved.”
My sudden tears blurred my vision. “At least I didn’t have to change your diaper.”
Billie’s nose scrunched and she looked so cute. “Jeeze, that’s so gross.”
I blew out a huge breath that billowed my cheeks. “It’s not like I can take being this size much longer.” I was huge and lumbered like a huge bear when I walked.
“You’ll be in your tiny jeans and high heels in no time.” She smiled at me.
“Thank you.” For everything, for being my friend, for loving me through all of my mistakes.
“You’re welcome.” I knew by the look in her blue eyes that she’d heard the unspoken words. “I’m going to go so you and your man can have a few minutes.” She started to stand.
I gripped her arm, halting her movement. “I…”
She whispered, “It’s okay to be scared but honey, nothing bad is going to happen.” She glanced at Osi who had moved closer. “He wouldn’t let it.”
I nodded.
She kissed my cheek and then spoke softly to my husband who pulled into a brief hug.
I fucking loved it that they got along so well. Tye included, although Osi and he were competitive. Jesus, they were pains in my ass.
“So…” He gave me the smile that I adored.
“I think I’m ready.” I told him.
“Then, let’s meet our kids.”
We kissed. It wasn’t a sweet one like in a fuckin’ sugary chick flick, no it was wet and hot with lots of tongue. Jesus, I probably would be knocked up again as soon as he could be inside of me. Again, Fuckin’ Osi.
There was a knock on the door and I heard it open. Two of my nurses appeared and started doing a hundred things. They were all business.
I didn’t really listen to them. I concentrated on Osi’s hand in mine. It was like my head was in a vacuum and I might be able to only hold onto one thought. I wanted it to be him.
Jesus, the surgical room was so Goddamn cold but I was sweating. Osi had smoothed my hair back. Layla had put it in a high ponytail so that It wouldn’t bother me. He was watching the top of the Dr. Loeb’s head above the curtain that blocked our view from my belly.
It was a really weird feeling, knowing that someone was cutting into me and I couldn’t feel a thing. For a second, I started to panic. “Osi,” I whispered.
“I know.” He squeezed my hand more tightly.
“Okay, ready for baby number one?” the doctor asked.
“We are,” Osi answered.
I couldn’t speak. I stared intently at the draping.
Then I heard a shriek. It wasn’t a cry. It was a high pitched, loud shriek.” The nurse held our…
“Your daughter has made herself known,” Dr. Loeb had scooted around the curtain.
I was breathing heavily and I was crying. She was so beautiful.
“Definitely, takes after you.” Osi told me as we watched the nurse take her to be cleaned, weighed, and tested.
“Now for her brother.” The doctor scooted away.
I tried to get my bearings. I wanted to remember every second of this but I was having trouble focusing. I kept looking in the direction where was and yes, she was still crying. Another sound of crying filled the air.
The nurse stepped around the drape holding our son who was moving his arms and tiny legs.
“They’re so loud.” I was amazed.
“Definitely, your kids.” Osi told me.
“Are they all right?” I shifted my shoulders but I couldn’t see anything.
“Of course they are,” Osi assured me.
I knew that the doctor was sewing me up. I kept staring to my left but I could only see the backs of the staff tending to our twins.
The next thing I knew, Dr. Loeb was standing by my bedside. “So we are going to wheel you into recovery. You’ll stay there for maybe an hour. Then back to your suite.” He glanced over his shoulder. “If everything checks out, you can hold your kids in a little while.”
“Are they,” I had to clear my throat. “Are they okay.” I’d held on for thirty-four weeks.
“Nobody’s reported anything. They are good sized and they seem to have strong lungs.” He chuckled.
“Thank you.” I told him.
“Yeah, thanks.” Osi joined in.
“It truly is my pleasure.” The doctor gave a huge smile and then walked over to where the babies were.
“Do you want me to stay with you or go out to our friends?” Osi asked after he had kissed me again.
“I don’t know.” I looked at him helplessly. I wanted to laugh and at the same time I felt like I was going to cry some more.
“Then I’ll stick with you.”
Jesus, I loved this man.
Chapter Twenty Six
Osi
I’d followed Ramsay into the recovery room. I’d never felt so torn in my life. A part of me didn’t want to leave our babies. I knew that they were getting the care they needed but it felt wrong to let them out of my sight.
In the Recovery Room, Ramsay had gone through a bout of the shakes. We’d been warned that this might take place but Jesus it was hard to watch. After her system had calmed down and she had regained her strength, they took her back to the suite. About two minutes later, they brought in our kids.
Our Kids!
We’d been told that we could have a friend in to video this moment but I’d refused. I wanted this to be between us. Now I was happy with that decision. I’ll never forget the look on my wife’s face when they handed her our son and me our daughter. Ramsay looked so full of joy. I know that I felt the same.
We’d put the babies back into their little beds. Ramsay had asked me to take down her hair and I was brushing it. “You’d probably better go tell them.”
I didn’t want to leave our family. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“Just bring them all in.” She instructed.
“You sure?” She looked tired.
She smiled proudly, “Yeah, I’m sure.”
When I turned down the hallway that led to the waiting area I saw Mad and Tye pacing. Tye saw me first, “So?”
“Everybody is fine.”
Mad pulled me into his arms. “That’s great.” He pounded on my back.
Tye led us back into the waiting room. “He’s here.”
The rooms seemed to be filled with our people. For a moment, that overwhelmed me. They all had stopped their lives to share this moment with us. “Ramsay is great. She did just great.” My voice wavered for a moment. I swallowed to moisten my throat. “And the babies are fine.” I felt a pinch in my cheeks, because my smile was huge.
Jerry, Tye and Forde’s father, asked, “What’d you name them?”
“So our daughter came out first, Storhy James.” I glanced at Billie to see if she understood. We wanted our daughter to carry a little bit of our friend with her.
“Oh Osi,” She burst into tears. Tye pulled her against his side all the while his eyes were shining.
“And our boy, Saylor Burke matched his sister in length but weighs three ounces less at six point one.”
My mother’s voice was loud, “What’s with the names?”
“Well Saylor is for,” I shot Mad a look and then met my mother’s gaze, “Maddoc because he’s imparted a great deal of wisdom out on his damn boat.”
Sapphira smiled at me and pulled me in for another hug.
When I was free again, “And Burke well, I figure that it’s always good to have an attorney around.” Tyler was beaming as was his father.
“I told Ramsay that I was naming the kids so Storhy is for Bean.”
Ramsay’s sister looked surprised, “For me?” She first looked at Ollie and then back to me.
“Ramsay told me how you used to read to her and how important what you’d shared was when you were on the run.” I told the couple.
“Oh Brother,” Ollie was crying. My brother-in-law opened his arms and came to me. “That’s just…beautiful.”
Then Bean hugged me.
I finally ended my explanation with, “We didn’t want to use Bilan,” I looked at Billie and she nodded in agreement. “I used your last name. I think it has a nice rhythm.”
“Storhy James Browne,” Billie said, “Sounds soulful.” Then she grinned and the room laughed.
“When can we see Ramsay?” Zoe asked.
“And the babies?” Cress added.
“Now.” I turned and I heard them follow me. “Come meet my family.”
The bed wasn’t made for a man of my size and another but Ramsay wanted me beside her and I wasn’t going to refuse. The twins were sleeping after their last feeding.
Ramsay had worried about breast feeding with her implants. We had made a multiple plans depending on if she could produce enough milk.
Watching my woman feed our children was a memory that I would treasure forever.
“You asleep?” she asked quietly.
“No,”
“You know if you close your eyes, we’ll all still be here.” I could hear the teasing in her voice.
“I know but I don’t want to miss a moment.” I tried ran my hand down her arm to find her hand.
“Was it like this before…with Isaiah?” Her voice had gone rough.
“No. It was very different.” Today had brought back many memories. I was too young back then and I wasn’t ready to give a child what he would need.
“I felt him with us.”
“You did?” Ramsay surprised me. She’d never said a word about woo woo shit. At times that was my mother’s thing.
“After Storhy… after they let us see her and then they took her away. I just sort of felt him…you know with us.”
I smiled. She had been drugged but I liked it. That she always included my son. “He’s watching over us.”
“Did I make us waste too much time?” She rushed her words.
“Not too much.” I tried to weighed my words carefully. “You didn’t make it easy but we got there, or here.”
“I get scared.” She admitted and this time I knew that she meant in general not over specific issues like would the babies be healthy.
“Nothing wrong with being scared, you just can’t let it take over. That’s when you can’t think or reason, you just react.”
“I don’t want to be scared anymore.” She sighed.
“Then let me handle that and you can handle things like vacation plans.” I sounded like I was joking but I was serious.
“I love you,” she reached for my shoulder to pull me closer.
“Never doubt that I love you, Ramses.” I kissed the woman that had given me everything.
“Well God knows, you wouldn’t give up.”
“I knew that I wanted you, that I had to have you.” I kissed her again.
“Good thing that you’re a hunter.” Her eyes were warm and full of love.
“Patient, thorough and always around.” I told her.
“We’re going to have a good life aren’t we?” She wasn’t asking and that made my heart skip a beat.
“That’s the plan.”
The End.
I liked the rhythm of using the word “cunt” but I know that some readers have a real problem with that word. What would you use?