Every Breath She Takes [CURRENTLY ON HOLD]

Chapter 20: Bone of my Bone

Cam grew quickly, and soon he was going to day-care. It was a good experience for him, and it got him out of the house a couple of days a week. My bookstore was growing, and I soon extended it, making more room for books, and other nooks and crannies to hide away and read in. Jack and I also expanded the house. Cam needed a room of his own, and I took over the spare room, building some bookshelves in it. It became known as the Reading Room, the walls lined floor to ceiling with bookshelves. All were filled to overflowing with books. Jack’s study got a bit of a makeover too, adding in another window to bring in more light, and to air it out. He finished another book in the year or so it took to do the renovations, but had trouble with the next one. That one took the better part of two years, but neither of us were worried. With the bookstore booming, and his previous books still on the bestsellers list, we weren’t troubled. Soon, another challenge came to us. Cam was to start school the next  year. Before that, however, I had news to share with Jack. News that I hoped he would be over the moon about.

“Jack?”

Her voice filtered through his concentration, making him frown. She said his name again, and something in it made him turn to her, dragging himself away from the chapter he was writing.

“Yeah?” She was smiling at him, and he eyed her, unsure. He pushed himself away from the desk, sensing that it was important.

“I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

She came forward and sat on his lap. He put his arms around her as she nestled in. She took one of his hands, and placed it on her stomach, waiting. He didn’t understand for a moment, then it dawned on him.

“You’re pregnant?”

She nodded, returning his grin. “Yes.”

“That’s wonderful!” Unable to stop himself, he spun her around the room, overjoyed. “Do you know how far along?”

She nodded. “Two months.”

He felt his grin spreading, and held her close.

The months passed quickly, and soon I was reluctant to move out of the house. Cam was fascinated by the idea that a baby was growing inside me, and loved to press his hand or ear on my belly, waiting for the baby to kick. At night, when I lay awake sometimes, I talked to the baby, wondering what they would be like. It was on one of those nights that I realised something. Something that made me very happy indeed. I turned it over and over in my mind, debating whether to wake Jack and tell him, or wait until I gave birth.

“Ro, I can hear you thinking.”

I jumped, startled at his sleepy voice, and then grinned. “Sorry.”

He lifted his head to look at me. “You’re not,” he said, voice rough with sleep. “You’ve done it every night this week. What’s the matter?”

I shook my head. “Nothing,” I said. “It’s close, that’s all.”

He grunted, and lay back down, falling asleep again. I smiled to myself, and curled up next to him, drifting off slowly. Before I did, though, I felt his arms snake around me, holding me close.

Again, I had a home birth. Both I and the nurse knew, but I couldn’t wait to see Jack’s face. I hoped he would like it. It hurt more than last time, but we both knew what to expect this time, so it wasn’t as bad. Once, I looked at him, pushing my wet hair out of my face, and grinned at his expression. It was taking longer as well.

“Are you alright?’ he whispered.

It made me laugh. The nurse looked up, startled, but she didn’t speak. I slowly stopped laughing, but couldn’t stop completely. It made Jack look even more worried.

“Ro?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine,” I murmured. “I know what’s happening.”

The nurse interrupted us at that point. “Push, darling,” she ordered. “He’s coming.”

I obeyed, feeling that familiar snap as our connection broke. The nurse caught the baby, and wrapped them, before giving them to me. I looked down, and smiled to see my baby girl’s face. Jack’s hand stroked her head softly, and he kissed me.

“Well done, sweetheart.”

I smiled at him, and then the nurse told me to push again. I did, knowing what was coming. Judging from Jack’s face, all he was expecting was what had happened last time. I grinned, just as the nurse gave me my other baby.

“Congratulations,” she said. “A boy and a girl.”

Jack stared at me, and I started laughing again. The girl stirred, and I let her feed, while her brother just kept on sleeping.

“Thank you,” I said to the nurse. She nodded at me, and cleaned up before leaving us on our own. Jack sat on the edge of the bed near me, unable to take his eyes off the twins. I grinned, and handed him the boy.

“Here,” I said. “You hold him.”

He did, now unable to take his eyes off the baby. “They’re so…” He shook his head, at a loss for words.

“What shall we name them, Jack?”

He was quiet for a while, thinking. “Mark,” he said finally. “What do you think of Mark?”

I nodded. “I like it.” I tilted my head a little, getting a longer look at the boy. “It suits him. What about this one?”

He shrugged. “You name her,” he said. “She’s yours.”

Startled, I stared at him, and he nodded. I looked down at her, gently tracing her cheeks. “Emma,” I murmured. “She’s a little Emma.”

“Perfect,” he replied.

Emma stopped feeding, full now, and started to doze. I gave her to Jack, and retrieved Mark, letting him feed now. Jack rose, and walked out. I knew he was going to deal with the nurse. When he came back, Cam was with him, and Mark had fallen asleep again. I smiled at my eldest son as Jack helped him onto the bed.

“Gentle, Cam,” he reminded him. He was still holding Emma in one arm.

Fascinated, Cam crawled over to my side, curling into me. He stretched out a hand and touched the baby’s head. Then, he looked at me.

“Baby brother?”

I  nodded. “Yes, Cam. His name is Mark.”

He looked at his father, who was sitting on the bed as well. “Baby sister?”

I nodded again. “Her name is Emma.”

“Emma,” he repeated. “Mark.” He began to smile, and rested his head on my arm. His eyes were beginning to close, and I let him sleep. We were safe, all of us.