He laughed shakily, his anger evaporating. Crossing the room, he sat back down and took her hand in his. "I was scared and no, I did not have time to take a shower and shave." Lifting his free hand, he scrubbed at his hair-roughened cheek.
"You look sexy."
He stared at her with narrowed eyes. "Trying to butter me up?" he asked mildly.
"Is it working?" She asked hopefully.
"Maybe."
"I adore you."
His eyes smoldered, his grip tightening. "You know my weakness." Lifting their joined hands, he kissed her fingers.
"Have you seen them?" She asked after a few seconds of silence.
He nodded.
"And?"
"Like the doctor said, they're holding their own." His eyes met hers and he decided to be straight. "Sofia is--" he hesitated and wondered if he should tell her the truth.
"Just say it."
"Baby," he had to swallow the lump that had lodged itself in his throat. "She's severely underdeveloped and has several issues. They're watching her, but we should prepare ourselves--"
"No." She shook her head vigorously, displacing the neat ponytail a nurse had done her hair in. "She's going to make it." Her hand gripped his and he felt the ache inside his chest at the tormented look on her lovely face. She had been through so much. All throughout the pregnancy and even before that, the press hounded them because of their unusual circumstances. They were celebrities and it was known they were having quads.
"Please, darling, you have to believe with me. We cannot give up on her. We can't."
"You're right." Making a decision, he kicked off his shoes and slid in next to her. "We won't give up on her. She's our little fighting princess." When she turned her face into his chest, he held her close. "She's going to make it, I promise."
*****
"You look... how do I put this nicely? You look like a mother."
"What does that mean?" She had been in the private hospital for three weeks now and was about to be released tomorrow.Her sons were thriving and would be released with her, but her daughter was making small steps in terms of recovery.
"I consider that a compliment," she told him loftily. "And if you're here to insult me, you can just leave."
"It was a compliment." Blair smiled at her serenely. "How are you, darling, really? The press is having a field day in the speculating department. One very persistent reporter cornered me while I was having lunch with Jerrold Arnold -- you know, the sexy actor from the latest action flick. Well, we were well into our shrimp salad when this person slid into the booth and asked point blank if it's true that one of your darling babies had died. Just like that. I had him booted from the restaurant and was so distressed, I couldn't finish my meal." He fanned his face vigorously. "The nerve -- the very nerve--"
"Blair." Grabbing his hands, Eliza laughed, his intensely injured expression making her feel light. The past three weeks since she gave birth and was able to see her babies had put so much stress on her that she was having a tough time keeping it together. "You're so good for me. I'm happy you came."
He beamed at her. "I would have come sooner, but your husband is like a rottweiler. He guards his territory with such ferocious intensity. There are guards stationed outside the hospital doors and you are under a lot of scrutiny before you step foot inside."
Her smile faded. "He's under a lot of pressure. Not only the work and the company, but he's here every day without fail. He looks so tired and I feel so damn guilty."
"Whatever for?"
She spread her hands wide in a helpless gesture. "I was the one who pushed for the IVF. He never wanted it, but I insisted. I had to have my own way and now--" She paused, a miserable expression on her face. "My daughter is stuck in the NICU with tubes all over her. It pains me to see her like that. She's so tiny! I keep wondering if she's going to make it."
"And that's not like you." Edging forward on the chair, Blair forced her to meet his gaze. "I stopped by the nursery where there's also a very large and very unfriendly nurse guarding those babies, and the triplets are simply adorable. Yes, your baby girl is going through her issues right now, but I can see that she's definitely going to be a princess." He reached for her hand. "It will work out and that man of yours? He's completely committed to you. Did I tell you last week when I called that I saw him at that premiere and he was solo? The man had women begging to be his date, but he stuck with a group of directors and remained unavailable."
She had to smile at that. She lay in her hospital bed at nights when he was forced to attend these functions and tortured herself with the image of him with someone else. She knew that the pregnancy had taken its toll on her body. Her abdomen wassagging because she was still recovering. Her hair was a mess and she wasn't wearing makeup.
Blair had said she looked like a "mom," but what he really meant was that she looked the worse for wear. She could not think about prettying herself up when her baby girl's life was hanging in the balance. But she was terrified that her husband would break under the pressure and find solace in another woman's arms.
Their love life had become hectic and passionate. They had found their way back to each other, but right after, she had discovered she was pregnant and carrying quads. It was going on more than six weeks since they had been physical, and she knew her husband was a virile man. She found herself wondering if he was getting his release somewhere else. And she hated that she had become so needy and lacking in confidence.
