Nicholas POV:
“What’s the bad news?” Willow asked, squeezing my hand.
“We’re going to keep you here. You’re going to spend the rest of your pregnancy in this bed. I’m sorry. I know it’s the holidays, but it’s safer to keep you on complete bed rest and under observation. We’re going to give you injections, which will help mature the babies’ lungs. This blood pressure monitor will take measurements every ten minutes, and we’ll continue taking daily blood and urine samples, along with daily ultrasounds.”
Willow and I were both quiet for a minute. “How long do you think I’ll be here?” she finally asked.
“It’s always best for the babies to mature as long as possible inside you, but at the first sign your health is being compromised, I’ll deliver them.” Dr. Whitney marked something off on Willow’s chart before looking back over at us. “It could be hours, days, a week. It’s difficult to give a firm timeline right now. But we want to keep you hear until the C-section is due.”
As soon as Dr. Whitney left the room, Willow burst into tears. I wrapped her up in my arms as much as possible without disturbing all the monitors. I hated seeing her upset. I tried to comfort her, but she kept rambling on about how sorry she was, what a failure she was, how she hated disappointing William, and how she was ruining his Christmas, all in between sobs.
“Willow, stop,” I finally demanded, hovering over her and putting my hands on her wet cheeks. “Don’t blame yourself for any of this. Quit wasting your energy being sad about things out of your control. Concentrate on yourself and the babies.”
She hiccupped and wiped her eyes. “It’s just frustrating. I feel weak. Like I’m letting everyone down.”
“You’re not letting anyone down. The only thing I want is for you to be okay. For you and the triplets to come home to me.”
When her crying had been reduced to sniffles, I pulled a chair over to sit next to her.
“Nicholas Rowe, don’t even think about it.”
I lifted my eyebrow. “What?” “You are not going to camp out here and leave William at home. You go be with him.”
“I’m not leaving you here alone. He’s okay with Laura right now.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “I don’t like him being without both of us for too long.”
She was right. But so was I. I needed reinforcements. Another nurse came in to check her monitors, and I started making calls. First to my parents, then to Lory and Courtney. It was obvious she wouldn’t be happy if I stayed with her all the time, so I needed help if I was going to split my time between home and the hospital.
“Mom and Dad are going to be here soon,” I told her after I finished my calls. “When they arrive, I’ll go home and have dinner with William.”
“Come here,” she said, holding her hand out. I stood over her bed, letting her pull me down close. “I want you to promise me something.” Her eyes started watering again.
“Anything.” “No matter what happens with me, promise me you’ll put our kids first.”
“Of course,” I answered automatically. It wasn’t until later, and I was on my way home, that her request really sunk in. When I really understood what it was she was asking of me.
She was making me imagine a reality where she wasn’t with me. She wanted me to promise the kids came first, even if my world was again without Willow. I watched the lights of the city whiz by as we drove home, praying I’d never truly have to face that situation.
It had been six days since Willow had been admitted to the hospital. Six days of constant worry. Six days of splitting time between home and her bedside. It was also six days before Christmas.
I had taken William to the hospital a few times, but he was confused and sad to see his mom in a bed with all the machines. It hurt to see some of the light in his eyes fade each time he asked if Mommy would be home today and I had to tell him no.
My parents and our friends had been a huge help; someone was always there with Willow when I couldn’t be. As I walked into her room today with William, I found her there talking with Mom and Dad.
“Hi, Mommy!”
Willow’s face lit up with a smile and she held her hand out. I let go of William and he ran over to her. “How’s my boy today?”
I watched the two of them talking, and my father walked over to stand next to me.
“It might be today, Nicholas.”
I turned toward him. “What happened?”
“Willow’s been having some pain in her chest and headaches this morning. Dr. Whitney just left right before you walked in. I imagine she’ll tell you that Willow will get the surgery today.”
I walked over to Willow, leaning down to kiss her as William stood on a chair talking.
“And then Aunt Courtney took me to see Santa. I got a picture and sat on his lap, and he asked what I wanted for Christmas.”
Willow sniffled, looking at the picture. “What did you ask for?”
“It’s a secret, Mommy!” He jumped around and Mom put her arms around him with a laugh to keep him from falling off the chair.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” Willow winced a little.
“Are you hurting?” I asked quietly.
She turned toward me. “I’m okay. Dr. Whitney should be back in a minute.”
This time I knew for sure she was trying to hide her pain. Either from me or William. Or both. Just as I was about to go roaming the halls for Dr. Whitney, she walked back in.
“Okay, I’m going to have to ask the family to make their way to the waiting room. It’s time to deliver the babies.” She said it with a smile, but there was also a sense of urgency.
Like it needed to happen in a hurry. Mom kissed Willow and took my hand. “I’ll make the calls and keep William with us.”
“William, give me a kiss,” Willow said, tears in her eyes. I picked him up so he could properly say goodbye. He kissed and hugged her.
“I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you, too.”