Page 26 of Twisted Fate

His face was exhausted, unshaven, confused, but his eyes so warm and crystal clear.

“What happened? Where are the babies?” She was almost afraid to ask the question, a fear she’d refused to allow at the forefront of her mind. She would not think it, but she’d fear it in a primal part of her soul that knew better, that knew she didn’t deserve to be happy.

“Two are in the nursery. The smallest is in the NICU until she’s out of the woods. Her lungs aren’t developed enough yet. Her pediatrician is pretty confident she’ll be okay, though. How do you feel?” He stood up to brush sticky hair away from her face, to kiss her forehead, before he pulled away.

“I’m okay. I guess it’s the drugs. Just thirsty.”

“Here’s some water,” Violet mumbled as she and Rosa got up from the couch and came over to Keily. “I’ll go get some and let the nurse know you’re awake. Welcome back to the world, Mommy.”

Keily saw her sister’s proud smile and felt pride rush into her as a flush of warmth that brought tears to her eyes. “Thanks.”

Rosa came over, pecked her cheek, and rushed out of the room, hiding a sob as she left.

“What happened?” Keily asked, confused by what had just happened with Rosa.

“You scared the fuck out of us Keily. There were...” Logan paused and looked down at where his hand was still wrapped in Keily’s. “There were complications, and you lost a lot of blood. The doctor couldn’t control it and I’m afraid he was forced to perform a hysterectomy. You won’t be able to have more children, Keily.”

“Oh.” She answered, confused about why that didn’t seem so important now. “But I’m not dead?”

“No.” Logan laughed softly. “You aren’t dead.”

“That’s why it doesn’t seem important then.” She smiled, relieved to be alive and awake. “Being dead is worse than not being able to have more children.”

“I know, that’s what I thought.” Logan stood up to sit beside Keily, his eyes examining her. “I guess the doctor can explain it better, but your uterus was damaged by the placenta of one of the girls, and the bleeding wouldn’t stop, so they had to do it, Keily.”

“I might be upset about it later, Logan, but right now, the girls are in good hands and so am I. I can’t be upset right now, I really can’t.” She looked around, hoping the babies would soon be in sight.

“Maybe it’s the drugs you’re on too.” Logan pointed up at the stand that held several bags of drugs, all dripping into an IV in her arm.

“Maybe. I want to see the girls.” She looked up at him, a plea in her eyes.

“I’ll get the nurse to bring them in.” Logan started but a nurse soon bustled in and pushed him out of the way.

“You can see your gorgeous girls once I check you over, madam.” The nurse, her name Joan according to her nametag, pulled blankets away to check stitches, looked for signs of blood or infection, and recorded Keily’s vitals before she stood back with a pleased nod. “Alright then, I’ll bring the girls in to you.”

“Except the smallest one, Logan said?” Keily said and the nurse nodded.

“Baby C, as we’re calling her for now, has been put into NICU. You may be able to see her in the morning. She’s doing well though, I checked before I came in because I knew you’d want to know.”

“Thanks,” Keily mumbled, concern creasing her forehead. The smallest baby, the one she’d worried about throughout the pregnancy, was fighting her way to life. Keily wanted to see her badly, a need unlike anything she’d ever felt before, but she controlled herself. For now.

Two other nurses brought in the two bigger girls, both still small at five pounds nine ounces and five pounds three ounces. “They’re so tiny.”

Keily was almost afraid to breathe around them. Not only were they early, they were tiny, but breathing and thriving on their own so they had been taken to the nursery. Keily followed the instructions the nurse gave her and took one baby while Logan took the other. “Let me see yours, Logan.”

Logan sat down with the little baby girl in his arms and held her out so that Keily could see her. “They’re so pretty.”

“And identical,” Logan added. “They all are.”

“That’s even more rare.” Keily laughed a little. “Maybe it’s best I had the hysterectomy. If I lucked out the first time, I’d hate to see what happened if I got pregnant again. I couldn’t do multiples again, no way.” It was a coping mechanism, perhaps, to laugh at a time like this, but she didn’t know what else to do. While she felt complete joy at seeing two of her girls, one was in intensive care and that broke Keily’s heart.

“You survived, that’s all that matters,” Logan responded and held the baby closer to his heart.

He was distracted with the girl so Keily looked at the baby she held. A tiny little scrunched-up face with blonde hair hidden under a knit cap, and tiny little limbs made up the little girl she loved instantly. She loved them all, but this was the first one she’d held. Now she had to figure out their names.

“Shall we do them in alphabetical order?” Logan asked, again reading her mind.

“Maybe. Does she look like a Zara?” Keily moved the baby so that Logan could see her more clearly.