“It’ll be okay,” Chelsea said between contractions. “If they’re coming now, maybe they’re just ready.”
Her soothing words seemed to go right over Matthew’s head. He drove faster than he ever did, cutting people off, throwing them the finger. Chelsea stared at him. She’d gone and married herself a crazy person. Still, it was sweet seeing the lengths he’d go through to take care of her and the babies. They pulled up in front of the hospital. Matthew threw his keys to the valet before he helped settle Chelsea into a wheelchair.
Once they were inside, he frantically looked around the lobby, unsure of where to go. Chelsea had to point to the desk between contractions, her hands gripping her stomach as she doubled over. The pain was more intense than Chelsea thought she could handle at that point. She tried to remember to breathe, to relax, but muffled moans escaped her lips as she was wheeled to the ob area.
She could vaguely feel Matthew’s hand pressed against her shoulder, The hallway however was shifting, turning. She felt sick. Chelsea reached out a hand, desperately grasping for Matthew’s hand. Something wasn’t right. She could feel it now. She tried to ask what was happening, but everyone was moving so fast. She wrapped her arms around her belly.
Thinking back on it, Chelsea realized everything had happened so quickly she didn’t have time to be afraid. She was worried, anxious, but not afraid. All she could think about were her babies, if they were okay. She blamed herself for ever thinking badly about them, for not appreciating every moment she had with them. As Chelsea felt herself being strapped down to a table, she could only think that it was all of her fault. They didn’t let Matthew in, told him to go out to the waiting room. They’d have news for him soon. Her mouth was dry, but she kept calling out for him. She needed her husband.
A nurse ran her hand over Chelsea’s trying to soothe her. Between the pain and her anxiety over her children, she couldn’t calm down. They lifted her head, pressed an oxygen mask against her nose and mouth. She knew right away that it wasn’t just oxygen. Doctor Petcher was explaining to her what was happening, but nothing registered. She found herself nodding again and again as the anesthetic began to kick in. She found herself drifting off to sleep, but she fought against it. She wanted to know what was happening. It was no use. Chelsea’s head rolled to the side as she fell asleep.
*****
When she came to, the world was foggy and dull. She looked around herself lazily, unable to figure out where she was or what had happened. She felt a tug as she tried to move her arm, an IV was firmly planted there. Chelsea rolled her head to the other side, where a woman sat beside her bed. Slowly, the more the drug wore off, the more she remembered what had happened.
“My babies? Are they-” Her voice cracked.
“Your babies are fine. They’re in the NICU just for the night. Your husband hasn’t left their side.” The woman stood up, wrapping a blood pressure cuff around her arm. “Once you’re fully l awake, he can come and visit you too.”
Relief flooded Chelsea. She felt herself crying, the warm tears blurring the room into nothing more than light. She sniffled as she pushed her hands over her face, pushing her hair back. Chelsea didn’t think she’d ever been happier than at that moment. Doctor Petcher came in and talked to her about what happened, but told her she and the babies would be fine.
“When do I get to see them? I want to hold them.”
“Well, the twins are doing fine. They’re breathing on their own, eating, everything a healthy baby should. They’re a bit small, but they’re healthy. Let them rest for the night in the NICU just to be safe, then you can hold and feed them in the morning.”
Chelsea nodded. She wanted to see the babies now, but she knew it was best for them if they stayed where they were. After constantly checking her vitals, they let her leave an hour later, wheeled off on her bed to a private room to heal and recover. She wasn’t alone in the room for twenty minutes before Matthew came bursting through the door.
Matthew grabbed her up in his arms, kissed her face until she couldn’t help but laugh and cry. She held on to him, her fingers digging into his skin, but he didn’t care. He wiped his thumbs under her eyes, collect the tears, pushing them away. His blue eyes found hers and held them.
“I thought I was going to lose all of you.”
“It takes more than that to knock us down,” she said. “After all, we are Rawlins.”
Matthew laughed, a relieved sound that flooded her with calm. He kissed her deeply, not wanting to even come up for air. A knock on the door was the only thing that made them break apart, even then, Matthew wouldn’t let go of her hand. She turned as Sangi rushed in with Andrew. Right on her heels were her parents and Matthew’s. She was hugged, kissed and worried over until she thought her heart would burst. She really did have a wonderful family.
Catherine stepped close to the bed, still keeping her distance. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she said quietly.
Chelsea could see that she really meant it. She opened her arms to the women, waving her closer. She hugged Catherine just like she would her own mom. As far as she was concerned, the past was the past. If she could come that close to dying, there was no reason to ever hold a grudge. When they pulled apart however, Chelsea was surprised to see Catherine crying. So was everyone else it seemed.
“Oh stop staring. You act like you’ve never seen me cry.”
“I haven’t seen you cry since I was eight,” Matthew said.