“Don’t finish all my brandy,” I directed before leaving. I hadn’t seen Mel in over an hour and my hands were starting to twitch. Every damn lock had been changed for a second time, we had added at least twenty different cameras and now had men checking the grounds every hour. None of that extra security really gave me any peace of mind when it came to her.
“Mel,” I called out when I entered our room. Our bed was still made. I had figured she would be asleep.
“In here,” she yelled from the bathroom. Following the scent of vanilla and the soft glow of candlelight, I noticed her dress and shoes in a pile next to the door. The sight of her soaking in our bathtub—the mounds of her breasts covered with suds, her hair in a messy bun, strands sticking to her neck and her eyes closed—was almost enough to bring me to my knees.
“Stop staring. I would invite you in, but it’s a little warm for you,” she said softly, not bothering to open her eyes.
“Yeah, sure. You and I both know you want that tub to yourself.” Rolling up my sleeves, I took a seat on the marble right next to the pearlescent tub, and rubbed circles onto her stomach. She took a deep breath, her breasts rising, before she relaxed into my hand.
“Antonio asked Adriana to marry him,” she whispered. “I’m not sure how she’s going to handle this, and I don’t have time to help her…I don’t know how.”
“We can’t. The only thing we can do is cut off the witch’s head.”
She smiled, her eyes only opening slightly. “Who gets what part? I want more than a pound of her flesh. One for me and one for my father.”
“You’ve been reading The Merchant of Venice to him again, haven’t you?” The kid was going to come out speaking old English.
“It beats you reading Atlas Shrugged any day.”
“That novel is—”
“A vision of what the world could be, blah, blah, blah. Thank God you read it while I’m sleeping.”
“Obviously you weren’t in a deep enough sleep…”
Before I could finish, she splashed the water with her hands, soaking my face.
“Couldn’t help myself.” She laughed.
“You’re lucky you’re pregnant.”
“Correction: you’re lucky I’m pregnant because I would so easily kick your ass. Again.”
“You beat me once.”
“Once is all you need.” She waved her hand over her stomach as if to prove her point.
I was too tired to even argue. Resting my head against the tub, we both sat in the calmness trying to unwind. But my wife didn’t believe in rest. She was always thinking about work.
“How much did Roy pay us?”
Sighing, I didn’t move. “We made just over 312 million, most of the money is going offshore, remember? Are you planning on taking the money and running?”
She shook her head and sat up straighter. “Nope, just thinking maybe we should go away when the baby is born.”
“We have a few weeks.”
“Actually, I think my water just broke.”
“What!” I yelled, jumping up. “Are you sure? How can you fucking tell? You’re in water!”
“Ahh…” she hissed, grabbing the sides of the tub. “I’m fucking sure, so stop panicking and help me out of this damn thing!”
Dropping a few towels on the floor, I grasped her arm and her waist, holding her to me as I pulled her out. I wanted to just lift her, but I doubted that I would be able to. Slowly, I walked her back into our room, and helped her onto the bed.
“Adriana packed a bag.”
“Got it,” I stated, running to her clothes. “Ahh shit, I just stepped on one of your fucking heels!”
“Liam, I need clothes, my soft sweats.”
Glancing around the rows upon rows of clothing, I had no idea where the hell any of her shit was.
Grabbing the black pair, I rushed over to see her breathing quickly. Looking up at me, she stared at the sweats in my hands. “That’s not the one.”
“Does it really mat—”
“Your son is trying to push his way through my motherfucking vagina! I want my bloody grey sweatsuit!” she screamed, before taking a deep breath, and rubbing my hand onto her stomach.
I felt myself freeze. She’s in labor. Holy shit, my wife is in fucking labor.
“Oh, please, please don’t do this, Liam! Don’t be that guy who faints! I need my clothes!”
Nodding, I ran back into her closet, avoiding her damn shoes, and pulling the suit off the hanger before rushing back to her. Kneeling before her, I pulled her pants up around her legs.
“Ah, this really fucking hurts,” she hissed, grabbing hold of my shoulders as another contraction started.
“Just breathe, baby.” Holding the sides of her stomach, we stared at each other, breathing until it passed.
Sighing and cracking her neck, she put on her jacket.
“Thank God for baby books.”
“Dad,” I said into the phone. “Listen, Mel’s water just broke…”
“What?” he screamed before yelling for my mother. “Evelyn! Mel’s in labor…”
“Pop, listen to me! I need a barrier around us as we get to the hospital. We’re heading down now.” I think he got me, but I couldn’t tell with all the shuffling around the room.
“Of course you were going to come early and when I was exhausted,” Mel whispered to her stomach. “As if I wasn’t nervous already.”
Taking her hands, I kissed the palms of each of them. “We’re going to be okay. All of us are going to be okay, I swear.”
She nodded, her eyes drooping slightly; the clock on the dresser beside us seemed to taunt us, as it flashed, 2:04 a.m.
“I’m not ready for this. He’s early, Liam. He can’t be early because I’m not fucking ready. I can only do this when I’m ready,” she whispered through deep breaths, as who could only be my mother, knocked against our door repeatedly.
“Liam? Mel? Are you okay? Can we come in? How far apart are your contractions?” My mother knocked like she was fucking SWAT.
“If there is any woman on this planet that can do this, it’s you.” I waited for her to nod before calling out to my mother. “We’re good, come in.”
“Oh thank Jesus!” she yelled, running in with curlers still in her hair, while wearing a pair of sweatpants I didn’t even know she owned.
“ARGH!” Mel screeched through her teeth. “Can someone please get me to a damn hospital? No way in hell I’m having this baby here.”
MELODY
“These endorphins better kick in hard when he gets here!” I screamed through another contraction before falling back onto the pillows. “It’s been nine hours. I just want sleep, damn it.”
“Shh, baby, I know,” Liam whispered, dabbing the sweat off my skin.
Finally, I smacked his hands away. “Your fucking hands were what got me in this shit. The moment this is over, I’m cutting your dick off and buying pit bulls just so they can eat it!”
“Mrs. Callahan, we need you to relax—” said a nurse.
“Have you ever tried to relax with a head trying spilt your vagina? I have a nice vagina. A cute, tight, great vagina! Ask him, that’s the reason why I’m like this. I’m trying to calm down, but again, there’s a head coming through my fucking awesome vagina! Now, you people leave me alone, I want everyone out!”
I’d tried everything and the damn meds they were giving me weren’t working. This was what you got when you spent years experimenting with different drugs. My body could eat epidurals for damn breakfast. They wouldn’t give me more for the baby’s safety and what I could say to that? Fuck it, I want meds. The doctors and nurses wouldn’t leave, they just wrote me off as though I was just another bitching pregnant woman.
“Liam, I want them out. I need a second, please,” I whined, covering my face with the blanket.
“Okay.” He kissed my head before snapping at the doctor,
He ushered them out of our birthing suite. Our usual doctor wasn’t her
e, so we were stuck with some random woman who kept probing me like we were on a damn date. I didn’t look up. I just wanted the pain to stop.
He brushed my hair back as he spoke. “I know this is a dumb question, but how do you feel?”
“Scared. Tired. Frustrated, and so fucking tired,” I whispered, leaning into him as he held me in his arms.
“You’re doing great, love. It’s almost over.”
“How do you know?” I’d overheard the damn nurses say this could be another long one and that was only after hour eight. “I’m so done being pregnant, Liam. I swear to God!”
Before he could tell me some other placating bullshit, I clutched his hand as another wave of aching rushed through me. I clenched my teeth together so hard I thought they would break; I couldn’t even hear myself scream.
“Mrs. Callahan? What are you feeling?” The doctor yelled, rushing back in with a new pair of gloves in her hands.
Staring at her for a moment fighting the urge to rip her head off. What the hell? I was feeling pain! What kind of motherfucking question was that?
“Pain. I want to push,” was all I could bring myself to say.
She checked my dilation with one hand as she used her other hand to push against my stomach “I’m sorry, Mrs. Callahan. You can’t.”
Fuck.
“How are her vital signs?” she asked, turning to the male nurse next me.
“Her blood pressure is elevating with each contraction, but not going down.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Liam snapped, pulling away from me for the first time since we had come into the suite.
She looked at the number on the monitor as she listened to my stomach for a moment, then the doctor shook her head. “We’re going to have to do a cesarean, Mr. and Mrs. Callahan.”
“You want to cut her open.” Liam shook his head, as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He glanced at me helplessly, and I could see the worry in his eyes.
“Your baby isn’t positioning himself right, and your blood pressure is rising. This is the safest way for you and your child—”
“Then do it,” I demanded, taking Liam’s hand. “If it’s the safest way.”
Nodding at her, Liam kissed the back of my hand as he sat beside me. “You’re going to be fine.”
“Okay, we’re going to prep you…”
I just tuned her out, and focused on the lights above me. I relaxed slightly at the feeling of the cold towel Liam was using to blot my skin. Everything just had to be so fucking complicated, damn it.
“Mrs. Callahan, I’m the anesthesiologist, Dr. Meroe. I’m going to give you something to make sure you feel nothing, but you’ll still be aware enough to greet your bundle.”
I wanted to speak but I couldn’t. I was too tried, and all I could do was nod and fight back the nervousness building at the base of my throat.
“Can you feel that?” Liam whispered, staring down at my stomach, his eyes glistening with…something…as he watched me.
“Believe me, if I felt it, you would know,” I said, trying to readjust myself.
“Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Callahan. Your son is going to be here in a few seconds…”
“Seconds!” My head snapped to the side, but I couldn’t see anything. Hands gripped me and loosened just slightly. There was a tug, and a lot of pressure, then nothing.
“Here we are,” the doctor cooed from behind her mask as a soft cry—my son’s cry—rang throughout the room.
I felt myself take in a deep breath just as Liam did, biting his lips and trying his best not to let the water building under his eyes to fall. There he was, a bundle of blood and fluid, wailing.
“Would you like to…”
“Yes,” Liam answered, cutting her off and taking the pair of scissors. I didn’t realize I was crying until I had to wipe my face, as I watched Liam cut the cord.
Our son’s little hands were waving everywhere.
I held my arms out for him, and the moment he was in them, I knew I never wanted to let him go.
“Hello…” I cried, kissing his head, “I’m your m…mo…”
“She’s your mommy.” Liam finished for me as he kissed my shoulder. He stood beside me before brushing our son’s little red checks.
Nodding, I cooed to him softly. “I’m your mommy, Ethan.”
“Thank you,” Liam whispered before kissing me once again. “Thank you so much for this…for him.”
THIRTY-TWO
“The value of marriage is not that adults produce children, but that children produce adults.”
—Peter De Vries
LIAM
I watched him. I couldn’t help it. He was just so tiny. I could hold him with just one hand. I hadn’t slept in hours…days? Who gave a shit, I had a son. He was here in my arms, drooling. He’d been in the world for only six hours, yet still I couldn’t imagine a moment without him.
“Liam, please, stop hogging him,” My father huffed, moving to stand behind me. “The old folks would like to hold him before we die.”
“Be careful,” I hissed, slowly transferring him into Sedric’s arms.
“Hello, little one,” he said to him, and once again, my son just waved his arms around in his sleep, as if he wasn’t used to all the space around him. “Your father says I have to be careful, but forgets that I once held him and his brothers like this. Thankfully you got your looks, and hopefully your smarts from your mother.”
“I’m right here.” I rolled my eyes at him as he walked over to the couch next to Mel’s bed. She was only partially asleep, watching my father and me through barely opened eyes. She had only taken short naps; surely she needed more sleep.
“Love,” I murmured, brushing her hair back before kissing her head. “Sleep. You not only need it, but deserve it.”
She smiled, her eyes closing as she reached for my hands, which rested on the side of her face. “I know, and I want to, but I’m afraid. What if I miss something or he needs something? He’ll be hungry again soon. It’s been a few hours since I fed him.”
That was probably the most awe-inspiring thing I had ever seen in my life. Before I could say anything, there was a short and soft knock on the door right before my mother wheeled in a very excited Coraline. She had a yellow scarf around her head, and shopping bags in her lap. Behind her came Declan, Neal and Olivia, each of them holding balloons, flowers and cards.
“Oh my God, he’s so cute!” Coraline squealed, trying her best to keep her voice down while bouncing out of her seat. “Cancer survivor calls dibs after grandpapa!”
“Coraline! I called it already, I’m his first uncle.” Neal scowled at her as a faint smile played on his lips.
“Cancer beats uncle.” Coraline stuck her tongue out at him. “Doesn’t it, Mel?”
Mel giggled—actually giggled, nodding for her to go next.
“Only six hours old and he’s the most mature person in the room,” my mother stated, kissing his little feet before coming over to us. I wasn’t sure if I liked the fact that all of them were here, hovering over my son. In all honesty, I just wanted it to be my wife, my son and myself for now. Guessing what I must have been thinking, Mel took my hand, and squeezed tightly before letting go.
“Congrats, brother, he already looks like a hell raiser.” Declan laughed, pulling me into a quick hug.
“If he’s anything like how we used to be, I may end up with more gray hairs than Mom and Dad.”
“I don’t have gray hair, Liam.”
“Of course, Mother,” Declan and I said at the same time, which only made us both laugh and grip hands again.
Yeah, I was going to be in for it, but I had no doubt that it would be worth it.
“May I say Mel, you look beautiful.” Neal smiled, handing her a bundle of yellow roses.
“You may, even though I know you’re lying,” she replied, taking the flowers from him. “Thank you, Neal. They smell great.”
“Look at this, I turn my back for one moment, and he’s
charming my wife immediately after she gave birth to my child,” I joked as he reached out to shake my hand. I pulled him in, giving him the same hug I gave Declan.
“He’s just trying to charm her so that he can hold Ethan before anyone else.” Olivia smiled, her gaze fixated on the little man now in Coraline’s arms.
Evelyn was close by, showing her how to hold him.
“So it’s official, right? Ethan Antonio Callahan?” Coraline asked and when he took a deep breath, she, my mother and Olivia practically melted where they stood.
The sight of his little chest going up and down was the most beautiful thing in the world.
“Actually, it’s Ethan Antonio Giovanni Callahan,” Mel spoke up, reminding me of our earlier conversation.
“Antonio?” Olivia frowned. “You mean after the guard who died?”
“Yes, the guard who took a bullet for me…for us both. It was the least I could do for a man who was in many ways my friend as well.” No one could argue with that. No one dared.
Ethan hadn’t been in Neal’s arms for more than a few minutes before he started to wail. Mel sat up, immediately reaching for him. Swaying back and forth, Neal placed him in her arms. I had no idea how she knew what to do or when those instincts kicked in, but she knew exactly what he needed.
“Now, why are you crying?” she whispered to him. He reached up, smacking her face a few times and putting his hand into her mouth before relaxing. It was like he knew who she was, and just by knowing she was his mother, he was at ease. Part of me felt a twinge of jealously at how close they were already, but it was overwhelmed by the amount of joy and excitement I felt. He was finally relaxed when a flash went off, causing him to stir again.
“Mom!” I snapped, as she held her phone to her chest.
“Oh hush before you make him cry. Let me enjoy this. I need to send this to the rest of the family, and you can’t expect me not have his picture.” She grinned, flipping through her phone.
“You already took a hundred pictures from the second you saw him.” She was going crazy with glee, and not just her, my father was just as giddy. They were…well, they were happy. We were all happy. Reaching out, my son grabbed hold of my finger, squeezing as tightly as he could, as though he was trying to prove something. Like he was trying to say ‘Look dad, look how strong I am’.