Chapter 25

TWENTY-FIVE

Sunday August 1, 2010

I had the c-section. My test results were getting so bad that my ob-gyn decided not to delay the procedure. I now have a beautiful baby boy with soft brown hair, just like Lyle’s.

He was there when I woke up, already holding our son. The love in his eyes erased weeks of paranoia. Now he spends every day at my bedside, telling me everything he sacrificed to save me and the girls is worthwhile, because our family is complete.

I broke down, apologizing for all those crazy accusations. Lyle just smiled and said it was normal. Paranoia is a woman’s survival instinct to protect her baby from danger. When he explained it like that, I didn’t feel quite so stupid.

He visited every day with flowers and cards from our girls, along with photos of them helping him to set up the nursery. I can’t remember the last time I felt so loved. Amy wrote a darling little story that filled my heart with warmth. It’s about a princess who fought a monster to save the queen and the newborn prince.

She’s finally coming out of her shell and trying to connect. Dolly wants to name the baby Delta, after the principal of her summer school, who sent her a certificate for her outstanding achievement. Lyle wants to name him after his father, Heath.

We were discharged four days after Heath’s birth and returned home on Friday evening. When I found the house was empty, I asked about the girls. Lyle drove them to Three Fates in the morning, so I could settle back home without distractions.

I wanted to speak to them right away. Lyle said I should relax and let him make dinner, but I insisted on calling Three Fates. The line was busy, but I kept calling, even though Lyle looked at me like I was crazy. Maybe it was my leftover paranoia, but I burst into tears, needing to see my daughters.

When he asked for permission to call Charlotte’s number, I felt like the world’s biggest bitch. Charlotte answered and brought the phone over to the girls’ dorms. We had a video chat. Amy burst into tears at the sight of her baby brother. Dolly sat back and smiled.

I asked if they were getting along, and Dolly said she was taking care of Amy. My girls sat together, like sisters, with no traces of animosity. Looks like Lyle was right. The baby really brought us closer together.

The girls wanted to know everything, including when they could come home. It was too late in the day to send Lyle out to get them, so I said tomorrow morning.

Lyle didn’t like me wasting the money he’d invested on a quiet weekend break, but I needed my family under one roof. He apologized, remembering I’d spent so long in the hospital and at home under bedrest. It’s natural that I would want my family to be together.

That night, I had my best sleep in months. Maybe I was no longer resistant to my medication. I wasn’t about to question why. I woke up the next morning, drowsy and relaxed, seeing Lyle standing over me, feeding the baby.

He didn’t want to wake me. Isn’t that sweet? He let me cuddle with Heath before taking him back to his crib. Over breakfast in bed, he told me that the girls were just an hour away and would arrive by the time I showered and dressed.

I fell asleep again, relieved that all was finally well. Later, I woke up to the sound of chatter. My girls were in the room with Lyle, taking turns holding Heath.

And standing at the doorway with a serene smile was Charlotte.