AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dr. Rhodes is my OB-GYN,” Olivia cries out between contractions.
Zara takes over the wheel and moves the car out of the bay while I stay by Olivia’s side and pay attention to the questions they ask as they roll her into the hospital and through a series of hallways.
“Pulse is one twenty,” one of the nurses says, while the other is checking her blood pressure.
They settle Olivia in one of the private birthing suites upon my request. I barely move as they check her vitals and hook her on to the monitors.
“What… What are you still doing here?” she asks, briefly lost in a haze. The pain seems to be taking quite the toll on her ability to speak, let alone focus on her surroundings.
“I’m not leaving you, Olivia,” I tell her, feeling every word to the core. “I’ll apologize and beg you to forgive me later. Right now, I’m here with you, and you’re not on your own anymore. What do you need me to do?”
Dr. Rhodes comes in, putting on gloves while the nurse lifts Olivia’s knees, then spreads them. “You’re a little bit early, honey. Didn’t we agree to see you here on the twenty-second?”
“I know… I… They’re in a rush…” Olivia mumbles, sweat dripping down her pale face.
“They?” I hear myself say.
“And who might you be?” Dr. Rhodes asks.
For the first time, I get to say these words aloud and against the very NDA I signed. “I’m the father…”
“You’re having twins,” the doctor says.
It’s like a punch in the chest. Her words knock the air out of my lungs and leave me speechless for a good minute while she checks on Olivia’s situation. The nurses buzz around like bees, preparing for the birth. My heart is doing jumping jacks, my stomach is twisting itself into a pretzel, my pulse is through the roof and my very soul is about to explode as I realize that my life hasn’t been the same since I first met Olivia.
Since the day she flipped me off in front of that coffee bar, I have been taken by her. She’s had me since then, and I’ve been a fool to think I had any say in the matter. I hired her because I understood her potential, but also because I wanted her close. I wanted her in my world and within my reach. When she agreed to come to Clearlake Cellars, I was giddy for days. All I had to do was be good to her.
But it was simply too beautiful, too wonderful compared to what I’d gotten myself used to. I didn’t love myself growing up. I succeeded out of spite, out of a desire to survive and not much else. I didn’t even recognize the love that Olivia brought into my life until I lost her. And even then, I dragged my ass in self-punishment instead of… doing the simple and most necessary things. I take Olivia’s hand in mine and squeeze gently, prompting her to look at me.
“I’m here,” I say, my voice trembling.
The chaos around us dissolves for a moment. The nurses, Dr. Rhodes, the monitors beeping, the rush of people outside dealing with other emergencies. The stock market. Bucklow Tech. Everybody and everything fades away as Olivia and I lose ourselves in each other’s eyes, as she understands that I am really here. That I am not leaving her alone again.
“It’s about to get real busy in here,” Dr. Rhodes says, forcing me back into the present. “It might be best for you to wait outside, Dad.”
“Go,” Olivia says, her voice barely a breath. “I’ll be… I’ll be okay. I’ll see you after.”
“Even now, you’re the one trying to reassure me,” I reply, then kiss her lips gently and make my way out of the room, leaving the professionals to look after my woman and my children. Holy crap, the weight of such words is undeniable. It’s worth more than anything I might’ve made in the market.
My woman. My children.
CHAPTER26
WILL
I’m pacing around the waiting room like a caged lion.
The more time I have to myself, the more I reprimand myself for not having done this sooner. Zara waits patiently in one of the seats, texting Olivia’s brother Rick to keep him updated. I’m nervous for so many reasons, but it’s mostly about how everyone in Olivia’s life knows that I’ve wronged her, while I am eager to make up for it, to catch up and do my part.
I want to be in her life. I… I love her.
She deserves more. I deserve better. Our children will never feel like they’re missing their family. They’ll have a mom and a dad to love them into infinity. Our children will not live through my trauma and misery, and I will no longer use my trauma and misery as a barrier to stop me from being happy, dammit.
“You have got to sit down, man. You’re making me dizzy,” Zara exclaims.
“Sorry, I can’t. It’s… It’s taking too long. She looked so pale in there. What aren’t they telling me?”
“Will, take a deep breath. I didn’t even know she was having twins. That’s two babies, you know? Two mini humans that she needs to safely bring into this world. Give the girl a break.”
