Over Him ✔

|Bonus Chapter|

Five years later ...

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

Were the stairs always this long?

Holding onto the railings, I finally get to the last step and turn into the living room. I didn't feel like I could make it to the kitchen so I'd decided to rest a bit in the living room.

Once again, most of what I'd eaten was gone. The morning sicknesses had reduced but they were still there, draining me. The babies were doing just fine and I couldn't be anymore proud of myself.

Staring at the clock, I note down mentally that Colt will be arriving home from work soon.

Ever since I'd found out I was expecting, I'd cut off some days from work after taking permission of course and due to the number of kids we were having, Colt was even suggesting that I stopped working for now.

I loved my job and there was no way I was giving it up but he was right. Having three kids inside of you was one way to knock off your energy.

At this point, I was totally happy that I didn't have to wake up to go to work. There was no way I would even be able to fit into my work clothes.

Five years, that's how long it's been since Colt and I got married and although our mothers expected us to dive into having kids right away, we just didn't want that. We wanted it to be just us. No one else.

There were lots of things that came with pregnancy, the first being gaining a few extra pounds, the swollen feet, cramps and then the small bladder. Three babies were sitting on my bladder! I'd already gone to the bathroom five times today.

Climbing the stairs was all the excerise I needed. It was a lot of work but I knew it was important I stayed active.

My appetite had also skyrocketed and thankfully, Evelyn and Martin got me covered. They were always bringing in food every weekend and if I needed more, they were more than happy to help.

When Colt and I had eventually told our parents during a family meeting that we were finally expecting, Ben was the first to break down in tears which meant I'd lost a whole hundred bucks to Colt.

By the time we'd calmed down, Christine and Evelyn got out a list of baby names they thought we should consider.

Cherry, on the other hand, was happy for us. She was even more happy that she was going to become an aunt and as I expected, the first thing she'd asked me was how it felt since she had never done it with Xavier.

Now that wasn't something I was willing to talk about with her. It was personal, just between with Colt and I and knowing that he was the first and only guy that would experience that with me had even made us both overjoyed.

Our wedding was very beautiful. Dr.Whites surprisingly had decided to sponsor the wedding and a lot of co-workers had also thrown in some cash.

Stephanie and Cameron had showed up, even Tristan. I still didn't know how he found out but at least he tried to look happy for me. The last thing I needed was for someone to walk away in tears.

I knew it was hard for him but it was something he had to accept. After Colt and I got married, I cut off all communication with him. I was going to focus solely on my marriage and my family, nothing else.

Just as I'm about reaching for my phone, sharp piercing pain zaps across my stomach and I hiss, sucking in my breath. The breathing excerise helped but now it was like no matter how many times I tried to do it, it just wasn't helping.

The pain is different, almost like even breathing makes it worse. Tears brim at my eyes and I lay back on the couch amidst the pain trying to pull myself together.

Another sharp pain pierces through me and the tears fall. I was confused, what was going on?

I wasn't due to deliver until next week. Another pain rages through me and the kicking starts. This time around they're more aggressive.

Biting down on my lip to hold back the cry aching to rake through me, I reach for my phone and do the one thing Colt and my parents had advised me to do.

Call an ambulance.

Once I'd called them, I lay back on the couch, waiting to see if the pain would subside but it doesn't, instead it gets worse. I dial Colt's number and he picks up in two rings.

"Hey princess, how're you doing? Someone miss me?"

"Babe I think it's happening." I can practically feel him frown over the phone.

"What're you talking about? What's happening?"

More pain rakes through me and soon I'm sobbing, holding onto my stomach, the phone call forgotten and the distant sound of ambulance siren getting closer and closer.

Slowly my vision begins to blur. I try to shake it off but it doesn't work, instead it gets worse. By the time the paramedics walk into the house with a stretcher, the only thing I can see is their silhouette.

••••

Panic mode.

An hour ago, April had called and a few minutes into the call something topples over and I can hear her groaning in pain. Her words earlier connect in my head and my eyes widen, the first thing coming to mind is that I'm not home with her.

In the blink of an eye, I'm grabbing my jacket and keys off my desk and rushing out of the building without even asking for permission. Donald's a nice man, he'll understand. Hopefully.

I was starting to grow weary. I'd been waiting for an hour to get a update since I wasn't allowed into the operating room. Sure I wanted to be there for her but I'd showed up twenty minutes late.

The doctors didn't want me walking into the operation theatre just like that since I was coming from work. Infection wasn't an option.

It hurt that I couldn't be there for her right now but I believe she's in safe hands.

A couple of minutes later, a doctor steps out of the room whilst peeling off his nose mask and I rush up to him.

"Is she okay? What happened?"

"Well, your wife is doing pretty well. She passed out but we've been able to get the baby out of her. Congratulations Mr.Rivers on your triplets." He shakes my hand, gives me a pat on the back and walks back inside.

"Wait what about my wife?" I ask, rushing after him.

"She's fine. She woke up a couple minutes ago. We'll let you in when we're done inside."

Joy washes over and tears blurs my vision. I wanted to see them now. The four of them, now.

Minutes later I'm allowed inside to see her and more tears well at my eyes when I see April laid out on the bed, a small tired smile on her lips and her eyes pinned on me.

"Hey babe..." She croaks, her voice sounding so fragile, so weak. I can see tear stains on her cheeks and it breaks my heart all over again to know that I wasn't there for her.

"We did it sweetheart." Swooping in for a kiss, I cling on, tasting her and the salty tears mixing between us. As I pull away, the first thing that comes to mind is the bible passage April had shared with me years ago.

"I have plans to prosper you and not to harm you."

~~~

Finally this is the end of the book. Please vote. My eyes are starting to hurt since I've been staring at the screen for so long and my hands are starting to hurt but it's all worth it.

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