*****
Leanne's eyes flickered open slowly. She felt as if she was coming out from a deep fog and someone was slowly lifting the blinds. A frown touched her forehead as she gazed around the unfamiliar room.
When she tried to move her hand, she realized it was trapped. Turning her head to the left, she saw the figure huddled in the chair.
Christos! It all came flooding back. Her babies. The party, the excruciating pain. The ride to the hospital and then nothing.
A moan escaped her and had him sitting up immediately, instantly awake.
"Leanne? Baby? You're awake." His tone was raw, his eyes bright. "Oh sweetheart. You're awake. How do you feel?"
"Groggy," she whispered. "My babies. Christos, I want to see my babies. Please tell me they're okay. You promised me..."
"Hush darling." Abandoning the chair, he eased onto the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle her. "The babies are in NICU, but they're doing fine. I need to call the doctors..."
"No." She shook her head. "I need to see them. Please."
He looked up as a nurse came into the room. "She wants to see the children."
"Let me check her vitals and get a chair for her."
Chapter 15
"They're so tiny," she whispered, putting her hand over the glass that separated her from her daughter. "Especially Athena. Is she going to be all right?"
He could not very well confess that since the three days she had been under, he had not focused on their babies. His thoughts had been filled with her. His family had been the one to see to them, getting constant reports on their progresses. But he had been too embroiled in his bitter regrets and fear, to even concentrate on them.
"So, I was told," he assured her. "They're getting better with each passing day."
"I want to hold them."
"I'll talk to the doctors."
"Have you done that?"
He thought about lying to her but decided against it.
"No. I'm afraid of causing them harm."
She looked at him then and saw for the first time, the haggard expression and stubble on his face. He looked so tired. She knew she had been out of it for three days and it had been rough going.
"Take me back to my room."
Pushing the chair, he did as she requested.
"The family just left. Your mother was here as well."
She looked surprised at that but did not comment as he scooped her into his arms and placed her gently on the bed.
"Would you like something to eat?"
"No." She held his hand and stopped him from moving away. "You've been through hell."
He laughed at the understatement.
"Something like that. We should get you something to eat."
"Christos, talk to me."
