The Dysfunction Of Evan: Books 1-3 Collection

70. Three Makes Five

After the holidays, we went back to London. As much as I loved the country house, it still didn't feel quite like home. Most of our stuff was at the London house, and would be until we relocated over the summer. Tom started working with a contractor for the remodeling we wanted to do, and he continued to talk to them while he was in Africa.

Tom brought Keyleya back with him; she really enjoyed her time with us, and Tom and I decided to continue the adoption process. She and the twins clicked right away, and everyone was excited about the prospect of becoming a family.

By the time she left, I was extremely pregnant. We'd extended her stay by another two weeks, and now I only had four weeks left. I was on total bed rest now, only allowed to get up to use the bathroom and take a quick shower. I had sixty minutes a day to be out of bed. I didn't mind, because I was so big that even the thought of moving hurt. Doctor Klepper came once a week to check on me.

Two weeks before my due date, as Tom was taking the twins to school, I had my first contraction. Melanie was still with us, and she started getting my things ready for the hospital. I called the doctor and she said to wait until they were ten minutes apart before going in. She'd get things ready to meet us there.

Considering the stress of giving birth to the twins, I was extremely calm this time around. Shortly after three in the afternoon, Tom took me to the hospital, and by midnight I was in full active labor.

"How are you, my Darling?" Tom asked after a rather nasty contraction ended. He was shaking the hand I'd tried to squeeze off.

"How do you think I'm doing?" I snapped. I flopped back on the pillows. "I want her out!"

"I know, baby." Tom said, trying to soothe me. He tried to rub my shoulders.

"Don't touch me." I grumbled, swatting his hand away. I was dripping in sweat and miserable. I still wasn't dilated enough, and I couldn't get my epidural yet.

"Sorry." He muttered. I knew I should feel bad about taking my discomfort out on him, but I was more focused on the pain and just wanting relief.

Twenty minutes later, Doctor Klepper came in and did another exam. She smiled up at me and called for the epidural. Thank the fucking gods. Another twenty minutes later, I was feeling much better.

"Okay, I'm going to go get some things ready, then I think its time to have a baby!" Doctor Klepper said as she stood up. After she left the room I looked at Tom.

"I'm sorry I've been a bitch." I said.

"You're about to deliver a baby, Astrid. You can be a bitch all you want." He laughed. "You don't need to apologize for it."

A nurse popped her head in and told Tom that if he was going to stay, he needed to scrub up. He kissed me quickly and left the room. He returned five minutes later.

"Well, hello Adam." I joked. He rolled his eyes.

"I guess the drugs are helping you." He said, grabbing my hand. "The birthing team is on the way."

As soon as he said the words, Doctor Klepper and a team for four nurses came in, closing the door behind them.

"Okay, Astrid, let's do this." The doctor said. Even with her mask on, I could tell she was smiling.

"She's so perfect." I said softly, looking down at the baby bundled in my arms. She'd arrived after a good forty minutes of pushing, right as Doctor Klepper decided to so a c-section. That was two hours ago. Tom held her briefly before handing her to me. The nurses then took her to get cleaned up and examined. I'd been holding her since they brought her back. Tom was snuggled up with me in the bed.