Melting Ice

Chapter 65

One month later
It feels as if a lighting bolt hits my stomach.
"Shit", I whispers. The baby is coming. "Cato?", I call.
"Yes baby...oh god", he says, "W-what do I do?".
The pain in unbearable but I manage to croak out, "Grab the bags from upstairs". I try and sit myself up, clenching my teeth. I just want to sink into the ground.
At the hospital we are allocated a room. Cato calls our family to let them know while the doctors and midwives check me.
"Is everything okay?", Cato asks.
"She is coping well but the bump seems too big for a baby. I'm going to check the ultrascans now".
"Can she please get the anaesthetic?", Cato calls after her.
"Not yet", the midwife says and hurries along.
Cato wipes the tears from my eye, "Why are you crying", he gently whispers.
"I don't want to die", I tell him.
"Your not going to die Clovers, I'm not going to let that happen". He tries to kiss me but I'm too much of a mess so I just let his lips sit on mine, his hand brushing through my knotted hair.
"We have some news", he announces. I feel sweat prick my forehead. Cato pulls away.
Cato clears his throat, "Yes?".
"Your having twins". I feel myself get hotter and hotter, the panic setting in even more.
"Can she get the damn anaesthetic now?", Cato yells, clearly also panicking.
"Yes, now she can".
And I get it.
The pain becomes much easier to bare and I feel less likely to die.
"Okay Clove. You need to push now sweetie", the midwife informs. I gulp and glance at Cato who is biting his lip.
"Okay", I finally say.
Curse words swirl through my mind. I shut my eyes tight as I push, squeezing Cato's hand ever so hard. I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die.
"You can do it Clove!", the nurse says encouragingly.
I open my eyes and look at Cato, "No...", I gasp through waves of pain. I mustn't give up now.
"Yes you can baby", Cato exclaim, "Just one more push, come on Clovers". His lips touch my forehead and I feel strength again. I take a deep breath and gather all the strength I have left in my frail and aching body and push as if my life depended on it; which it does.
And then I hear screams.
"It's a girl!". Now I know for sure that I can't give up, just a few more pushes... I clench my teeth with pain and push again, and again, and again.
"It's a boy!".
The midwives take them both away to be cleaned. I exhale out, relieved.
"Well that was fun", I laugh.
"If I could, I would of taken all the pain away and put it in my body, and you know that", Cato says, leaning down to hug me, "Does it still hurt?", he asks.
"A little bit", I tell him quietly.
"Here are your babies!", the midwife exclaims, carrying them both in creamy coloured blankets. she places the girl in my arms and the boy in Catos.
"Have you thought about names?", she asks. Cato and I spent nights upon nights thinking up names, for a boy or girl but now, we have one of each!
"Oh, Cato look at her hair!", I exclaim, "It's the exact shade as yours".
"So she has, she's gonna be beautiful", he says, "She needs a name like yours".
"What, impatient, fiery?".
"A name to remember".
"Blaze", I say.
"Blaze?", he repeats.
"No, maybe.Mackenzie".
"Mackenzie is perfect". I stroke her soft locks of hair.
"Mackenzie Hadley", I say with a smile.
"As for this little guy...", Cato's says, kissing his brown head of hair, "I think he looks like a Will".
"Will Hadley...sounds perfect". Finally, I relax. I am married to the love of my life, have two beautiful children and am finally happy and safe. Cato puts Will in his cot, tucking him in, then Mackenzie.
"You did it Clovers", Cato whispers, leaning down so our lips touch. Our lips barely brush before the door bursts open.
"Congratulations!", says many voices. I pull away and look up. In front of us stands a very excited Kayla and both our parents.
"Where is this little cutie?", my mum asks, carrying bags upon bags of items.
"Actually, there is two", Cato informs, grasping my hand.
"Good thing I brought too much baby stuff!". We all laugh.
"Can I hold one?", Kayla asks nervously, without her phone for once.
"Of course". Cato gets up and takes Mackenzie out of her cot whilst Kayla sits in a chair next to the bed.
"This is Mackenzie", Cato says, placing her in Kayla's arms, "And the boy is called Will".
"Such beautiful names!", exclaims Cato's mum, making her way over to Will's cot, "Such beautiful babies!".
"She is so tiny", Kayla says no louder than a whisper, "Her eyes are so brown, like chocolate!". We watch as Kayla begins to talk to the baby, introducing herself, "My names Kayla. I'm your mummy's little sister...so I'm your auntie. But you can call me Kayla". Both our dads sit next to Cato, filling him in on all the sports he has missed. Typical.

I'm updating today because I'm away this weekend