Logan — 3
I pulled Rhett into my side, for his comfort just as much mine. I knew I couldn’t show exactly how scared I was. I knew I needed to be strong for Rhett. I almost always did. He was the only person that saw the other side of me, the only person I allowed completely in. But right now, I knew he was barely hanging on and needed me. That was fine though. It helped to distract me from my own nervousness.
“We were told you were on the way. I believe we have a certain lady up in L & D OR waiting for you,” the nurse said to us as we walked through the automatic doors.
“Is she okay?” Rhett asked, the worry evident in his voice.
“Everything is fine. We have her epidural in and her IV started, and she’s being prepped for surgery. If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you upstairs and you can get changed.”
As we entered the elevator, I thought it was a good thing we had someone to follow because there was no way I’d have been able to find our way through the maze that was the hospital otherwise. We’d been to the labor and delivery clinic several times with Allison, but never by entering through the emergency room doors.
We were led to the OR and were instructed to put on horrible blue gowns, hats, and masks. I understood why, but they were certainly not my favorite. Once we’d suited up, they allowed us in the operating room, and Rhett immediately went to Allison’s side and held her hand. He leaned down, whispering something to her I couldn’t quite hear at first. But when I walked to the other side of her head, I smiled at both my husband and the young woman who was giving us more than we could ever repay her for.
When Rhett looked at me, he was crying, which caused me to tear up. I wasn’t ashamed, nor would I be. Our lives were changing, and hopefully our agreement with Allison would give her the means to make the changes she desired.
“Hi, dads. I’m Sally, one of the nurses that will be with you today. Do either of you want me to snap pictures? Allison has agreed to them if you want,” Sally asked. I dug out my phone and handed it to her. This was certainly something I wanted to have forever in pictures. I just wish I’d thought to bring a camera. Although, the camera on my phone wasn’t exactly bad.
But when the doctor smiled at me from behind his own mask, I swear my heart stopped before it started racing. I watched his arms move, unable to see beyond the screen that was covering Allison’s lower half. The doctor and his team worked in sync, and it was reassuring that they knew exactly what they were doing.
“Baby A is a boy,” the doctor said after just a few moments. I stared in wonder as I looked at my son. He had a head full of wet hair that I couldn’t wait to run my fingers through after it had been washed and dried. I was pulled from my perusal when the doctor asked if I wanted to cut the cord. I stepped over to the screen, took the pair of scissors, and cut the cord just as our son let out a loud wail, causing me to smile as tears ran down my cheeks. We had a son. Rhett and I were now responsible for another human. A tiny one with a serious set of lungs.
I glanced back at Rhett and I could see the tears in his eyes that I knew matched my own. We’d both wanted this for some time, and thanks to Allison, it was happening.
“Oh my god. Thank you. You can’t know how much,” Rhett said to Allison as I walked back toward her head and my husband.
“Yeah, I do. You ready to meet your princess?” Allison asked as she smiled up at Rhett.
“What? The other one is a girl?” Rhett’s eyes met mine just as I broke down. I couldn’t believe it. We were getting our own little princess. I just wanted healthy babies, but knowing I would have my own little girl to spoil was…
“And here she is,” the doctor said, interrupting my thoughts. Just like her brother, she was beautiful. When Rhett declined cutting her cord, I stepped up, and after wiping my eyes, I once again cut our child’s link to Allison.
Another nurse snatched her up fast enough and whisked our little girl away, taking her over to a table where her brother was. I walked back to Rhett and Allison, intending on seeing Allison through the rest of the delivery, but she had other plans.
“Go be with the babies. I’m looking forward to spending the next several weeks getting pampered by Wendy, and then we’re going on vacation once I’m cleared.”
“No, I’ll stay with you,” Rhett said, and I agreed. We wouldn’t even be here if not for her.
“No, Rhett. I did this for you and Logan. My job is done. Now it’s your turn to take over. Go meet your babies.”
I leaned down and gave Allison a quick kiss on her forehead, “Thank you so much. I’ll never be able to say just how grateful I am,” I told her before standing back up, and then Rhett and I joined our babies on the other side of the room. They were so tiny, yet they seemed big for twins.
“Would you like to hold him?” one of the nurses who had been tending to the babies asked my husband. Rhett reached for our son and made grabby hands, causing everyone to laugh. My heart already belonged to Rhett, but when I saw him hold our little boy and coo to him, he somehow managed to steal it all over again.
“Hey there, little guy. You look just like your daddy. I promise to love you forever, no matter what,” I heard Rhett say as our daughter was gently placed in my waiting arms. I was wrong—she was tiny. Smaller than Chloe or Phoebe, but that was expected because she was a twin. I couldn’t get enough of the bundle in my arms, nor the view of seeing the smile on Rhett’s face while he held our son.
“What are we going to name them?” Rhett asked as he looked at the bundle in my arms. Unlike her brother, she was bald and her eyes were blue, a sure sign she was going to be a little hell-raiser like her daddy.
“I thought you had names picked out already?” I asked as I gently rocked our daughter, who seemed content to just hang out for now.
“You mean you want to go with those?”
“Why not? They’re great names. Besides, Ash and Abi are cute nicknames.”
“So, Asher Taylor and Abigail Grace?” Rhett asked, sounding somewhat unsure.
“Yeah. I think those are excellent names. And I’m sure your papa and my mom will think so, too.”
“Oh? Are they named after their grandparents, then?” Sally asked as she repositioned us and then snapped several more pictures.
“The middle names are, yes. Taylor is my papa, and Grace is my mother-in-law’s middle name,” Rhett told her. He smiled at me and I leaned down, gently placing my forehead on his, our babies both safe and secure in our arms
“I love you, Rhett. Thank you for being such a fighter and for just…everything. I promise to keep doing my best to make you happy.”
“I already am. Just love me. That’s all I need.”
“Merry Christmas, munchkin.”
“Merry Christmas, Logan.”
“Aww, I just love you two. You’re perfect,” Sally said while sighing. I smiled at Rhett as he blushed. “Since the babies are healthy, we’re getting a room set up for the four of you. You’ll be in a double room, but it’s going to be just you daddies and your babies. If you have any questions, just ask. There’s a call button on either of the beds.”
“Thank you,” I told her. Rhett and I reluctantly gave the twins back to the nurses, who placed them in clear bassinettes.
“Before we leave, we need your wrists. These will match the ones on the babies’ ankles, and you’ll have to have them scanned before you can leave the hospital with the twins. The transmitter in the bracelet on the twins’ ankles will have to be deactivated in order to leave the ward with them. The doors will be locked if you try to approach with a still-active bracelet,” Sally told us. I nodded in understanding, as it was something that had been brought up already, so it was expected.
Once Rhett and I both had a pair of bracelets on our wrists, our gowns, hats, and masks were removed, we followed our twins out of the room. We were told that Allison had gone on to recovery, and I made a mental note to be sure to ask what her room number was later on. I respected her wish to not have anything to do with the twins from here on out, but I had a huge bouquet of roses with her name on it; I just needed to make a quick call. Well, actually, Boone probably would, but that wasn’t the point.
Rhett and I were daddies, and we wouldn’t be without Allison and all she’d done for us. The least we could do was send her flowers.
Once we were settled in the room, I fired off a group text to our parents, letting them know where they could find us. I knew James and Taylor were excited to meet their first grandchildren, and my parents were happy to meet any new babies. Rhett and I quickly put the green hats on the babies, knowing the pink and blue ones would give away our last little surprise. We had two adorable gender-neutral outfits to take the babies home in, but I knew we’d be overloaded with pinks, purples, and ruffles in no time once word got out that we had a little girl.
Rhett picked up Ash and sat down with him on the love seat that was under the window in the room. I picked up Abi and did the same. I knew that once the family visits started, we wouldn’t get much time with the babies, so I was taking what little bits of cuddles I could get now.
“Knock, knock,” James said as he poked his head in the doorway. I couldn’t help but smile as our parents came into the room. Mom covered her mouth, trying not to gasp, but I could tell she wouldn’t last much longer before she would be asking to hold one of them. When I looked at her again, she had tears in her eyes, something that seemed to be the current norm.
“Would you like to meet your grandson or new granddaughter first?” I asked, looking at Mom. Everyone in the room quietly gasped.
“There’s one of each?” Mom asked, looking down at the bundles in our arms.
“Yes. You’re welcome to hold her if you want. I’m not sure Rhett will give up our son yet though,” I said as I got up from my seat, ready to hand over my bundle.
“I will. Papa, would you like to hold Asher?”
When I glanced at Taylor, there was no mistaking the emotions he was going through. He nodded before walking to the sink and washing his hands beside my mom. Once they were back, Rhett and I handed off our twins and watched as our parents met the newest members of our family.
“They’re so tiny,” Taylor said as he started cooing at Ash.
“They’re no smaller than Sean and Jasper were,” James said as he held out a finger to our son.
“So what are their names? Other than Asher?” my dad asked.
“The first one born was Asher Taylor, and his sister, Abigail Grace, followed two minutes later,” I replied as I pulled Rhett into my arms. We stood off to the side, watching our parents with our kids. These were memories I knew I’d never forget.
“You named him after me?” Taylor asked, shocked.
“I couldn’t think of any other name I wanted him to have, Papa. You’re the reason I’m here, and you mean the world to me. I only hope I’m half the father you and Dad are. We know we won’t have any others—these two will be it for us—and we wanted to make sure their names were special,” Rhett said as he snuggled into my side. We’d discussed names long and hard, and in the end, we agreed. We were only doing this once, and we needed to be sure we had no regrets where their names were concerned.
“My middle name is Grace, as is Chloe’s. I’m honored they’ve chosen to name another granddaughter after me,” Mom told Taylor and James. I pulled Rhett over to one of the beds we’d be occupying for the next two days, but I’d not have it any other way. I knew this is where we both wanted to be, and my heart couldn’t have been happier.
Several hours after our parents all left, we had two clean, dry, and fed babies that were sleeping in their bassinettes. Abi had fussed, but she’d calmed down once we put her in with Ash, and now they both were sound asleep.
I did my best to relax on the uncomfortable bed, but no matter what, it was still better than sleeping on a bedroll on the ground.
“Thank you, Logan,” Rhett said as he curled up beside me. Having him in my arms made up for the uncomfortable bed.
“What for? I haven’t done anything.”
“Yes, you have. You loved me. Without that, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and we certainly wouldn’t have the twins. I love you so much,” Rhett whispered just before he dozed off. It had been a crazy day, but one I wouldn’t change. I felt the same as Rhett though. Without him in my life, I’d be alone. He brought happiness to my life.
“Love you, too, munchkin.”