Soulmates

Chapter twenty-four

After giving Claire a full body massage with relaxing lavender oil, she had fallen asleep. I dressed her in some loose fitting clothes and quietly head downstairs to find everyone was still in the living room. 

Again, all conversations stop as I walk in the room. "So it's me who is not allowed to hear the conversation," I choke quietly, nodding. "If Claire wakes up before I get back, have her call me."

"Jennifer, wait," Kelly calls out in a choked whisper and I turn to face her as tears roll down my cheeks. "We're worried about you. You just made detective and our daughter had open heart surgery. Your anxiety when you walked in my office scared me. I was surprised you didn't pass out from hyperventilating. 

"You're close with Peyton and today I walked in our room and you were snuggled with Kennedy. It was the most I've seen you interact with her since you delivered them. I just want to be here to help you and not have you hide from me," she chokes quietly, taking my hands.

"I did enough emotional releasing. I come down after napping with our daughter and everyone stops talking because they're afraid I'll have a meltdown. Its exactly why I stay closed off from my feelings until they turn into anxiety," I choke quietly, taking my hands from her and walking out the door.

I drive to the hospital and bump into Devon. Tears fill my eyes and choke quietly, "Can I just look in at her from the hallway, please?"

She lets out a defeated sigh and nods before leading me to Peyton. I thank her and ignore Kelly's ringtone. Devon looks at me knowing it's her ringtone, but says nothing. Moments later her phone rings and she looks at me as what should she say. I shrug carelessly and look in at Peyton. 

She was laying in a crib with a small breathing tube sticking from her mouth. I bring my hand up to trace my own scar on my chest and felt guilty that I was possibly the reason for being here. I took bullets for Jamie, a shard was lost around my heart and ruptured an artery on my wedding night.

I don't know how long I was standing there, looking at her, but I was brought to attention when someone took my hand. I look down and notice Grace. I immediately pick her up and hold her to my chest. I turn around and spot Carrie and Monica standing with Devon, Kelly and Claire. 

I turn back to Peyton and I see Kennedy being placed next to her. I watch the rhythm of Peyton's heart monitor increase as Kennedy grabs her hand. I break into uncontrolled sobs and Grace pulls back to caress my face in her small hands.

Monica comes up moments later, taking Grace and Claire takes me in her arms. I caress her stomach and instantly start to calm down. I could feel all three of them kicking at me and let out a relieved breath. "I want to see them," I choke in shaky breaths. "I can't have another child suffer like Peyton."

She takes my hand and leads me towards maternity. Kelly takes my free hand and I pull away from her. "I give Kennedy just as much attention as Peyton. You only seem to walk in when I have Peyton. Thanks for giving me the chance to give her a hug and kiss before sending her in a highly sanitized room," I choke in anger and Claire continues to lead me away so we didn't cause a scene.

We find Bryce and she looks at us in sympathy. "Here to check on the triplets because of what happened with Peyton," she asks sympathetically. 

"I just need to see them, please," I choke quietly and she nods with understanding. 

She leads us to a vacant room and I help Claire up in the examination chair. She exposes her stomach and takes my hand. Moments later we could see all three of them snuggled up the be best they could with each other. "Their cords aren't tangled in any way," I ask in a choked whisper.