Code Blue • Jackson Avery

Chapter Eighty Six

THREE YEARS LATER....

"Nana, I understand you were looking forward to us coming for Christmas but Jackson won't be able to come and I don't think it's right for the kids to not spend Christmas with him" I said into the phone that was balancing between my ear and shoulder as I cleaned up the family room for the hundredth time today.

"Listen I know. We will try to come for Easter or something" I said. Suddenly Jacob and Gia came running down the hallway playing with toys.

"Shhh" I whispered as their laughter became increasingly loud. "The twins are sleeping"

Gia and Jacob ran back to the playroom to continue playing with each other.

"Nana, I have to go... no I'm not doing everything alone. Jackson is home most nights and I'm able to handle four kids during the day.... no I'm practically not a single mother, I am married. Yes, I'll call you later. Bye" I said hanging up the phone frustrated.

My grandmother lately has been vocal about me divorcing Jackson. She feels as though my decision to stay home and raise the kids was solely his decision, something forced upon me. I choose to stay home after the accident wanting to spend time with them, watch them grow up. Jackson and I both decided that I would still remain a board and foundation member which allowed me to stay home while still "working" and being involved.

A couple months had passed and we decided then it was the best time to have another kid. Unexpectedly we had twins, two more girls.

I was now three years into being a stay at home mom with four kids ranging from 7 to 2 years old. While I enjoyed being home, watching them grow up I was also beginning to miss surgery a lot. Tonight I was hoping to talk to Jackson about coming back.

"I'm home" Jackson called out as he walked in the front door. The kids ran out from the playroom jumping into his arms.

"Kisses for you guys and kisses for my wife" Jackson muttered as he placed a couple of kisses on my lip.

"How was work?" I asked as we walked into the kitchen. Jackson grabbed a water from the fridge before sitting down at the island.

"Good. I have a trip planned for tomorrow. Both the donor and the transplant recipient are at the same hospital in Montana. I was wondering if you and the kids wanted to join me?" Jackson asked.

"How long is this trip?" I asked watching Gia and Jacob play with their toys from the corner of my eyes.

"Three days max. Figured we could take the kids skiing or something. Just get away you know" Jackson continued. I sighed knowing a break from here would be good.

"Fine it's settled. I'll have the kids ready to leave tomorrow"

"Great. My mother has the plane ready"

I smiled knowing a few days away with just Jackson would be good for the kids, and for me. It was time well needed.
———
The next morning we all boarded the Avery family jet.

"So how simple is this transplant?" I asked as the plane took off. I sat next to Jackson watching him remove the charts and notes.

"Should be easy. So has your grandmother called this week yet?" Jackson asked sighing.

"Yesterday. Still convinced I'm leading a single mother lifestyle and should divorce you. What's frustrating is she knows how demanding a surgeons' life is. I think you do the perfect job at balancing it all" I said wrapping my arm around his shoulder and snuggling like my head against his body.

"Thanks. Sometimes I feel as though I'm absent a lot" Jackson confessed. I picked my head up to look at him.

"Absent? That's crazy. The kids spend plenty of time with you and you're home most weekends. There are far worst parents out there" I said trying to change his mind. He snickered at my comment.

"I should get back to reviewing the notes" Jackson said.

We arrived at the hotel, the driver dropping me and the kids off first before being Jackson directly to the hospital.

"I'll see you later" Jackson whispered giving me a kiss goodbye. "Be good for mommy"

"Bye daddy" Gia and Jacob called out as we walked in. The two older kids walked in front while one of the twins rested on my hip and the other walking holding my hand.

We explored the hotel before strolling along the outside of the property, stumbling upon a small bar in the middle of the mountain.

"You guys thirsty?" I asked looking at Gia and Jacob. The two shook their heads. I ushered them inside and placed them down at a table when the man working from behind the bar approached me.

"Can I get you guys something?" He asked. I smiled at him.

"Just four waters please and one coffee" I said, he smiled back and headed to get the waters and coffee.
I sat there for a few minutes as the kids sipped their drinks.

"So you here on vacation?" The man asked.

"Kind of. My husband is performing a transplant surgery on a patient at the hospital" I explained. The man sighed.

"Ah, the wife of a surgeon. I use to be a surgeon myself. What type?"

"I'm a neurosurgeon myself, married a plastics and ENT, I just took a break to raise kids" I said giving a nervous laugh.

"Impressive. One lucky husband I would say" the man commented before heading back to the bar to help customer who walked in.

Once the kids were done I began to clean up and get the kids ready to go back into the cold.

"Leaving so soon?" The man asked as he collected the empty glasses.

"The kids have ski lessons soon. Thank you again-?"

"Robert, Robert Avery. You are?" he said.

"Isabella Shepherd"

"Shepherd. I've heard that name buzz around"

I smiled and thanked him again for the drinks. I then ushered the kids out and we walked back to the resort.