Soulmates

Chapter twenty-nine

****given that Kelly has had two chances of her own POV, here's Claire's after what happened to Jennifer in the previous chapter****

Claire

Bryce was surprised to see I was calm and that the triplets were all at their normal heart rate with the added stress of what happened to Jennifer. Yes, I'll admit I was terrified when I heard her over the speaker, but I had Caroline and Kelly keeping me calm. I had to, my babies depend on me keeping calm. Kelly was with Jennifer now and my mother walks in, asking for privacy with me.

Caroline kisses my forehead and and I'm left alone with my mother. She climbs in the bed with me and I cuddle  into her. She rubs my stomach, but they refuse to kick. They haven't kicked since I heard what was happening with Jennifer. I knew only her touch would get them moving, but for now Kelly requested that I be monitored until tomorrow morning.

Sobs erupt from my lips and my mother does her best to calm me. It's no use, I needed Jennifer. Devon walks in with sympathy and says in a soothing whisper, "Jennifer made it through surgery with minor complications. As your friend I thought you should know that her current conditions are critical, but she's holding on. I just left her room and Kelly was able to get her heart rate to slightly increase. From all the damages and blood loss, she's in a coma. It could take weeks or longer for all of her injuries to heal and for her to wake up.

"All of us here at the hospital are here for you Claire and those babies. Any time you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask, we'll all drop what we're doing if we can and be there for you and for Kelly."

I shutter a calming breath at hearing Jennifer was okay. I'm grateful to have the friends I do to help me keep as calm as possible. As if the triplets were waiting to hear for themselves about Jennifer, they start kicking for the first time in almost eight hours. I break into relieved sobs and hug my stomach. I feel their hands press at my stomach as if they were telling me they were okay. I place my hands over their imprints on my stomach and shutter a calming breath. Their hands stay there until I start falling asleep on my mother's chest.

"How is she," Kelly asks in a choked whisper as I feel someone rub my stomach lightly.

"She was stuck on an emotional rollercoaster until I updated her about Jennifer," Devon says quietly.

"Babies are all at a normal heart rate and their activities picked up after Devon spoke with her," Bryce says quietly with relief. "I know it was scaring her that they weren't moving. She's been sleeping since."

I wake to a kiss on my forehead and Kelly smiles lightly. "Morning sleepy head," she says in a soothing whisper and I give her a sleepy smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Lay with me," I murmur quietly, closing my eyes.

She spoons me, caressing my stomach and I let out a content sigh. I move her hand to where small hands pushed from the inside. I feel her smile against my shoulder and her thumb sweeps over the slight raise of my stomach. "Mmmm," I hum quietly they retract their hands, relaxing in my belly. "How's Jennifer doing?"

"Good, her heart rate has increased by twenty percent since last night," Kelly chokes with relief and kisses my cheek. "I know you want to see her, but I wanted to be the one to tell you what her condition is."

"Please Kelly," I plead in a choked whisper. "I couldn't care less if she were wrapped up like a mummy, I need to see her. The triplets need her touch, even if it's just her hand resting on my belly."

"Shh," she soothes me, rubbing my stomach and I shutter a calming breath. "Okay, but can you eat first, please?"

I nod lightly and she lets out a relieved breath. Jessie walks in with a sympathetic smile and a tray of breakfast with enough for both us us to share. Kelly helps me position myself between her legs and I let her feed me. If it helps distract her than so be it. I relax against her and her free hand caresses my stomach. I hum in content and she kisses my temple.