fated love

Chapter eighteen

Abbigail

Melanie just confessed her love for me. The last person she said it to was her husband and daughter almost six years ago before she left for Iraq. I let out a calming breath and tilt my face upward to hers. I brush my lips against hers and our breaths hitch. 

I hear her whimper, wanting me. Tears roll down my cheeks and I lay a gentle kiss on her lips. "I love you too," I choke in a whisper. "I just need to focus on Shawn waking up before I step forward with our relationship. Please give me time."

I hear her sigh in relief and chokes in a whisper, "I understand completely. I'm just glad you feel the same."

I lay my head on her chest and she scrunches my hair. I hear someone enter the room and tighten my hold on Melanie. "Shh, its okay," Melanie says in a soothing tone. "It's Joyce and Beth. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."

"I don't want to jump every time the door opens. I want to go home, but not after Beth got that threatening letter and not without Shawn," I choke in a scared whisper. 

"Come here sweetheart," Joyce chokes quietly and rubs my back comfortly. 

I hesitate, but I go to Joyce. I let out a calming breath and nuzzle my face in her neck. I was starting to feel tired from the stress and lean into Joyce. "Easy sweetie," Joyce says in a soothing tone and steadies me on my feet. 

"I think I need to lie down," I say in a disoriented whisper and sway on my feet before falling against Melanie. 

"We need to check on those babies with how stressed out she's been," Joyce says in a worried whisper. 
 

I woke up in a hospital bed and felt two fetal monitors strapped to my stomach for the twins. I could feel someone's hand holding mine and the orchid smell told me that it was Melanie. I could feel her head on the edge of the bed next to my leg and knew she was asleep. I gently squeeze her hand and feel as she jumps up.

Her hand caresses my face and asks in a soothing whisper, "How are you feeling?"

"I feel relaxed," I say in a calm whisper. "Are the twins okay?"

"They're okay. Heart beat and activity are normal," she says softly and kisses the back of my hand. "Shawn is still in the coma, last I heard."

"I don't want updates unless she's awake and that accomplice is found. I don't want to know anything unless it involves the twins," I say quietly and let out a relaxed sigh. "Can we talk about anything that's stress free?"

"Want to know the genders," she asks and I could hear the joy and excitement in her voice.

"How can I say no when you sound like a child on Christmas morning," I say with a smile and feel her bounce with excitement next to me.

"They're girls Abbigail, two beautiful girls, just like their mommy," she chokes with joy and kisses my forehead. 

"Can they tell if one of them will develop Shawn's condition," I ask softly. 

"I'm not sure, I don't think we'll know until they're born," she says in sympathy. 

"I don't care if they do, I just want to make sure I prepare them for everything Shawn went through," I say in a protective tone. "I don't want them to go through what she did."

"And they won't," Melanie says in a soothing tone. "You're babies are going to have what Shawn didn't."

"What's that," I ask in a curious whisper. 

"They'll have you, Shawn and the entire police department to protect them. I will protect them as if they were my own daughters," Melanie chokes in a protective tone and kisses my fingers. "I wasn't there for mine, but I can be here for yours."