Megan was so glad to see the twins and they were so excited to meet Abbie. From Sophie's chatter, she must have told the whole school.
It thrilled her when Peter took pictures of the twins meeting their sister. She felt like he belonged there and didn't at the same time. She could tell he was purposefully staying back. When he finally held the baby, he reminded her of how good he was with the twins as newborns. It was typical Peter when he insisted on changing her. He never complained about doing his share of diapers and there were a lot of them.
She was glad when he offered to bring her home. She had seen him look at the form that she had yet to fill out. Then he texted her to let her know he was still willing for her to list him as Abbie's father. She was torn about what to do. She thought about asking her father, but knew it had to be her decision.
Her visit with her father was nice. He thought she looked just like Megan as a baby. She asked about the elephant in the room.
"I told her last night, and she knows I was leaving the office early to stop here. She's busy with her dinner party tonight. So I can't stay too long. I'm sorry."
"Did you show her the picture I sent?"
"No. She was too busy to look."
"She didn't want to." Megan felt hurt all over again.
"Honey, I think she's afraid if she looked, she might care."
"I don't think so, Dad. She made her opinion of me and my bastard child quite clear."
It was only a few weeks ago when their paths crossed. Both were walking on the beach in the opposite direction. Megan knew it was her before she even got close, because of the way she speed walked. She was like the Energizer Bunny. Megan thought about turning around or walking up to the road instead, but she should walk wherever she wanted.
She was hoping to walk right past her and said, "Mom." It was an acknowledgement not a greeting.
Her mother stopped. "Megan. I still can't believe you put yourself in this position."
"You may not believe me, but I want this baby. It's mine."
"It's a bastard." She walked away.
"Your mother says a lot of things that she doesn't mean."
"Dad, why won't she accept that her precious Peter and I are in a good place right now? We parent well and we are both content. We're friends again... just friends."
"I don't know sweetheart. I don't know."
"She's hurt me more than anyone realizes."
"I'm sorry, but today is a happy day. Don't let your mother ruin it."
He left shortly after and she was alone - not alone she had her baby. She thought about the form and about Peter's reasoning. She knew now after meeting her daughter she didn't want to share her with Evan. She thought of her mother. It would still make Abbie a bastard since she wasn't married, but at least her father would have her last name. Abigail would be a Brenner just like her siblings. Megan never considered changing her name with the divorce. She had wanted to share her children's name and at work they knew her as Ms. Brenner and liked the sound of it.
The last reason for going ahead with Peter's idea was the hardest to think about. If things ever worked out between them, she would already legally be his daughter. Megan wavered back and forth on the chance of their new friendship evolving the way their original one had. She refused to admit to herself what she wanted. She took a deep breath and completed the form. She decided that it could be her secret.
Megan faced another night alone in the hospital. She hated sleeping in hospitals, but most everyone did. The last time was not as bad, because she had a husband to stay with her. He even climbed in her hospital bed and spooned her while they slept for an hour or two. The night nurse came to take the babies to the nursery for some checks and saw them.
The twins had done remarkably well for thirty-four weeks. Only Nick needed the oxygen for about twelve hours, but that was more of a precaution, but they were all cleared for discharge on the third day. She had never been so scared leaving the hospital and all its support behind. Still, she was glad to be going home to start their new life as parents.
The night nurse poked in, as Megan was awake feeding. Abbie would fall asleep whenever she ate, so she wasn't taking in very much at a time. Sucking was a lot of work for her. The nurse checked to see that her position was correct, and that she was latching right.
"I'm experienced. I nursed twins."
The nurse looked her up and down. "I think I remember you. You were so young and scared, but your husband was calmer. Neither seemed old enough to sit at the bar and you had twins."
"We were twenty-three." Megan smiled. "I really don't remember you."
"Where's your husband? He never left your side."
Megan didn't want to explain her personal life. "He's with the twins."
"How old are they now?"
"Just seven." Megan opened her phone to show the picture of them meeting their sister.
"They look so sweet."
"They are, Sophie does all the talking which suits Nick just fine. He is quiet and calm."
"Like his father?"
"Yes, I suppose so."
Peter had always been the cool voice of reason. He had a way of calming her down. She wished he stayed and calmed her down that night so long ago.
In the morning, she was told they wanted to delay her discharge until later in the day because Abigail was a little yellow. It was common for newborns to be slightly jaundiced and they wanted to run some labs and monitor her.
She called Peter to explain. He asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, just disappointed, but she'll be fine."
"You'll let me know when you're released and if you need anything."
"I will. Thanks."
"Hey Meg, if you want I can pawn the kids off and come sit with you."
Her heart skipped a beat every time he called her Meg. She assured him that she would be fine.
"Okay. Bye then."
She wasn't sure she could sit alone with him for a long time. There was so much left unsaid and she wasn't ready to say it - not in the hospital. Aside from that pawning them off meant her mother, and she definitely didn't want that.
She would enjoy her quiet day with her baby. She would find out soon enough what it would be like to be the mother of three.
YOU ARE READING
Shattered Hearts (TP1)
Romance(Complete) Peter isn't prepared for the reality of another man spending the night with his ex. He should be, but his heart has never let her go. Peter, who was abandoned by his father as a young boy, will do anything for his kids. He won't stop unt...
