We spent a week goofing off around the house. The kids were in heaven. We decided to give them a summer break, and they didn't have to do much work. We figured out Kohbi was a water baby. She’d never been in a pool before. Galdiart was too dry for enough water to swim in. I promised her we’d put a pool in at our house in Tennessee.
The highlight of the week happened while I sat with Tammy after breakfast, sipping on my coffee, and she, her blood. We were in comfy camp-type chairs in the back garden, enjoying the sunrise. Daniel ran out of the house, blood pouring out of his nose. He went straight to Tammy. My heart broke.He wants comfort from her.
But he surprised me. He only wanted to tell on Talem. “Talem threw his bowl of oatmeal at me and now my nose is bleeding!” Once he vented his ire at her, he came to me, climbing in my lap as best he could with my monstrous belly.
I’d brought a towel outside to wipe the dew off of the chairs, so it was at hand for his nose. The feeling of my boy tucked around me while I helped him stem the flow from his nose healed a big part of my cracked heart.
***
We were downstairs bowling when it happened. The three-lane bowling alley was crammed full with the entire family playing. I was intently watching my ball as it traveled toward the pins, finally cracking into them. “Strike!” I screamed. As I threw my hands up in the air, my stomach popped, like a rubber band snapping. Clear fluid gushed out of me and splattered all over the floor.
I stared at the wet floor in shock, then looked at my family, who quickly gathered around me. “I guess it's time.”
CHAPTER TEN
RILEY
I'd given birth twice before. In hospitals. With doctors, and advanced equipment, and drugs, and Michael by my side.
Before I could take in a single panicked breath, Anthony was by my side, arm around me, whispering in my ear. “Axoular has already got the healer on the phone, see?” I looked around the room until I found him, phone to his ear, grinning encouragingly. Nodding my head, I leaned on Anthony. Elias walked carefully around the mess on the floor and gently turned my face to his. “Let's go to the birthing room and get comfortable. You'll start having contractions soon, right?”
I nodded again, soothed by the actions of my three wonderful men. “I'll clean up the mess if one of the kids will run after some towels.”
Axoular, who had moved closer to me while he spoke to the healer, shook his head no. He moved the phone away from his mouth. “I'll get it. Get her comfortable. That sort of thing doesn't bother me at all.”
Stephen ran in with a bunch of towels. I hadn't even seen him leave the room. Elias grabbed one before leading me out the door. Once we were away from the prying eyes of the kids, I wedged it up under my dress, between my legs to catch any fluid that would leak while we walked upstairs.
In such a large house it was a long walk.
We'd prepared the birthing suite right after we arrived. It had everything in it I could think of for a safe birth. The healer had stopped by a few days ago and added a few herbs and potions, labeled in a language I didn't know.
“I know everything will be fine,” I said. No contractions had set in yet, which was perfectly normal. The water could break hours and hours before the contractions started. I was able to walk normally to the stairs.
“Do you want to take the elevator?” Anthony asked.
“No, but thank you. I'm not in pain.” We started up the stairs, moving slow. “Well, no more than I was before my water broke. My hips still hurt, and it still feels like his head is trying to shove my pelvis apart.”
Elias chuckled. “It's almost over. And I'd be willing to bet you'll heal quicker this time, with your newfound power.”
Axoular joined us on the stairs. “Stephen insisted on doing it. I think he's becoming fond of you, Riley.”
I stopped and turned to face him. “Really? He did that?”
Axoular nodded, smiling, and my emotions overtook my rationality. Stephen cleaning up my amniotic fluid was a sweet and mature gesture, but it didn't really warrant the torrent of tears cascading down my cheeks.
Trying to walk forward was difficult, considering I couldn't see where I was for all the tears. Sadness and fear overwhelmed me.
Anthony took pity on me and scooped me into his arms, and we were on our way again. With him carrying me, we got there in no time, and I was deposited gently onto the bed, on top of an absorbent pad. I wiggled out of my panties and Elias brought me a gown. He threw my wet dress and panties into a basket in the corner.
Elias climbed around me and pulled me into his arms. “This isn't because of Stephen. What's wrong, Riley?”
I sucked in my breath and focused on my emotions. Michael's face and the memories of delivering my boys kept flashing through my mind. “I miss Michael,” I said. “I've never done this without him before.”
Anthony climbed in on my other side, and Axoular sat at the end of the bed.
“He's here with you, Riley,” Anthony said. “He'd never leave you. He loved you with a passion only someone who has also loved that deeply could understand. I think we do, and I think you do.”
“Yeah, I think I do,” I said. “Even if it's my wishful thinking, I like the idea that he's here with me.”
