Chapter 16
Gary stoked the fire once more before he sat down upon the couch. Wrapping his arm around Isabella’s shoulders, Gary placed her other hand on her growing stomach. He looked up at her, and they smiled simultaneously. He kissed her forehead, electric shocks went through him. God she’s so beautiful. How would I live without her?
The cloth from Gary’s t-shirt felt smooth and soft against her cheek, as she laid her head upon his chest. Thump, thump. His heartbeat, what a great lullaby. I could sleep to it forever. Her eyes grew heavy as she tried to blink away the sleep that was trying to take over. She sighed.
“What is it babe?” Gary asked, looking down at her hand, gingerly playing with her fingers.
“Honey, we have to talk.” She sat up, away from the coziness of being so close to him.
“About what?” Gary asked, furrowing his brows and racking his brain. I hope she doesn’t decline my proposal now. Could she have butterflies already? I just proposed a few hours ago!
“I know you love me, and I love you, but… I’m scared. A commitment so big scares me. Gary I have to be sure this is where I’m supposed to be.” Isabella stared into Gary’s big, blue, cool eyes.
“Oh Belle, I don’t know what to say... I do love you, and I can promise you this is forever, and that I’ll never hurt you. Now all you have to do is trust me.” With pleading eyes Gary tried to hold her stare, but she was unfocused, lost somewhere deep inside herself.
How can I trust you? A country star traveling around the world, girls throw themselves at you all the time. I just… I’ve been hurt so many times before. There was Adam the opportunist, then there was Justin the care-free hippie, and what about Clayton, the sex… I mean the no-job-life-sucking pervert who held my attention for three long years. She takes a big breath of air into her lungs, and slowly lets it out. But you, you have never hurt me. You’ve only loved me from the beginning. You were supposed to be my best friend… now here I am in love with you. What if I mess everything up? What if…
Her hands were shaking, and tears dared to spring from her eyes as she said, “Okay… I trust you.”
His blue eyes twinkled, as the worry lines on his face softened around his eyes. He became less tense, letting out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding in. tightness around the corners of his mouth soften as he dove down for a sweet kiss. She pulled back just a smidge. We can’t be so happy all of a sudden can we?
After another deep breath of air, she buried her head into the snug of his shirt and let down that wall around her heart. Her tears soaked through his flesh and upon his own heart which hurt for her. Nothing was said as he smoothed her hair with his fingers and repeatedly kissed the top of her head.
***
January and February were months full of setting up baby rooms and throwing baby showers, and March started the waiting game. One morning Isabella woke up; not an inch of her was sore or tired from her restless sleep. She walked around the house straightening up the little things. Having had no sleep the night before, she couldn’t go back to sleep. She wasn’t even tired. Her heart was thumping, and she was excited, today might be the day.
Isabella walked out to the front porch and sat on the cool, breezy, wicker chair. It was a beautiful spring day outside. The golden rays, from the sun just coming up into the frosty sky, beamed over the purple, yellow, and red tulips opening around every corner, along sidewalks, and in front yards. She couldn’t stop thinking about how gorgeous it was outside when the most agonizing pain washed over her.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. I must be having false labor pains. I can’t be in labor. She opened her eyes, as she took small, panting breaths. Once the first contraction passed Isabella was cautious, waiting for the next. She was aware of a small, subtle breeze passing by her as a second contraction hardened her abdomen, ten minutes after the first.
The denial she felt seemed to cement her to that old, wicker chair. Sweat started to bead along her forehead, and her fingers clenched the arms of the chair. If she gripped them any harder they would disintegrate into dust. Letting out a harsh breath between clenched teeth, she finally let go of the arms of the chair. It was time, she decided, to slowly make her way back up the stairs to inform Gary of the arrival of their children.
The door creaked loudly, and the firm carpet supported her feet as they shuffled inside. Her knees were weak, carrying around all this weight for nine months; all the energy she had felt early seemed to drain away, but she determined to get upstairs before another contraction came. With every step she had to muster up all of her energy. Leaning against the railing she took slow small steps up the stairs. Just making it to the top a stronger contraction started in her back and traveled along to the front side of her abdomen.
Isabella screamed, as she clutched the banister in attempt to help her stay standing. Gary crept out of dreamland slowly before realizing it was indeed his wife the one screaming. He swung his legs out from under the covers and ran to see what was wrong.
“Belle, what’s wrong?” Gary asked rushing towards her.
“Gary, the babies, they’re coming.” She took a deep breath. “It’s time,” she said, as another contraction rushed through her body.
“Okay, okay. Just umm… just stay calm. Lets get you in the car.” He supported her up as they slowly made their way back down the stairs. He was starting to perspire more than she was. His legs felt like jell-o, and his heart was going a mile a second.
Making small stops along the way for Isabella to take deep breaths, pain racked her body leaving her in pain and exhaustion; they eventually made it to the car. God, this hurts so bad. Please just let me make it to a hospital. She clenched her stomach with one hand and searched for his with the other, “Ow. Gary make it stop.”
“Babe, take long deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth. We’ll be at the hospital soon.” Gary held her hand as she tried to do as he said.
Gary made good on his promise to get her to the hospital soon. Running through red lights and stop signs, he was sure he had broken a sum of five laws to get his wife to the hospital in time.
The hospital was a packed house. It seemed like every baby in Nashville wanted to be born on the same day. Screams and cries could be heard from every corner of the maternity ward. Upon their arrival Gary had to fill out stack upon stack of papers. A nurse took Isabella to a private room and told Gary he could fill the papers in their while waiting for their doctor to come in and check on Isabella. Once Dr. Sage finally got to their room Isabella had been in labor for three hours.
“Let’s see what we got here.” He put her legs up in the stirrups.
“Well, you are around four centimeters dilated, but...” Dr. Sage hesitated, as he put her legs back down and got out an ultrasound machine.
Isabella’s mind was rushed with pain and worry; she shut her eyes tight. Not again, please not again. Dear God please let my babies be ok. Healthy as horses, let them be delivered today. Please, please, please. She broke into sobs as Gary started rubbing her arm and squeezing her hand. She didn’t want to be touched, and drew away from him.
