*******Warning: Adult content. Reader discretion advised.********
Chapter
Eighteen
Mallory
woke and felt her back burning. Because of her belly, she couldn’t roll to
relieve the pain so she scooted to the edge of her bed. Maybe walking for a
minute would help.
As she rose, a
flood of water escaped from below her nightgown. “Oh. Oh no! Nora!” she cried
as a severe contraction grabbed hold of her body.
Nora came flying
into the room and switched on the light. “What? What’s wrong?”
“My water just
broke. The babies are coming.”
“Okay. Okay, I
can totally handle this. Sit down. We’ll get you into some dry clothes. I’ll
call Dr. Fletcher and let her know we’re coming. You’re sure it was your
water?”
“Yes, Nora. I
didn’t wet my pants.”
“Just checking.
Okay, get dressed in this,” Nora said as she tossed a cute blue maternity
sundress onto the bed beside Mallory. “I’ll go call the doctor and get your
hospital bag then I’ll tell Tate we’re leaving.”
“Okay,” Mallory
said, breathing through another contraction. “Nora, the cribs are still in the
boxes.”
“We’ll figure it
all out, Mallory. Just breathe and try to relax. Well as much as you can during
labor.”
Mallory chuckled
and changed clothes. She slipped on a pair of backless tennis shoes, grabbed
her cell phone and purse, and started making her way downstairs.
Nora met her at
the door with her hospital bag. “Ready, Mama?”
“I guess I can’t
really say no, can I?”
“Sure you can.
Just cross your legs and that should do it.”
“Don’t tell Syd
that. We’ll get an anatomy and biology lesson,” Mallory said laughing.
They made their
way to Mallory’s car and headed toward the hospital. Nora kept glancing over at
Mallory and it was making Mallory crazy.
“I’m doing my
breathing. Stop staring at me.”
“That’s not what
I was wondering.”
“Then what?”
“Did you call
him?”
Mallory closed
her eyes. “No. They’re still on the road. What good would it do? Besides, I
haven’t heard from him since he left the hospital three weeks ago.”
She looked down
at the ring on her right hand. She had thought seriously that morning about
taking it off but she had promised him as much time as he needed. It hurt every
day to look at that ring and not know if he was coming back.
“Mal, I think you
should call him. He loves you.”
“I know but he
needs space.”
“He would want to
be there during the birth of his children,” Nora argued.
“I know that,
too. Please just drive, Nora. I can’t do all this right now.”
“Fine.” Nora kept
her gaze forward the rest of the way to the hospital. When they arrived, she
stopped at the main entrance.
“They’re waiting
for you up in maternity. Your doctor should be here soon. I’ll go park then
meet you up there.”
“Alright. Thank
you,” Mallory said and squeezed her sister’s hand.
“Go get ready to
have those babies.”
After Mallory
levered herself out of the car, Nora drove around looking for a parking spot.
She found one then picked up her phone. “Sorry, Mal. You don’t always know
what’s best.”
She dialed and
waited for the voice on the other end.
“She needs you.
The babies are coming,” she said when he answered.
“I’m on my way
right now.”
Nora sat at her
sister’s bedside, exhausted. Coaching Mallory through the birth of her twins
had been one of the most physically, mentally and emotionally taxing events
Nora had ever gone through.
She was beginning
to doze when the door opened but she thought nothing of it. Nurses had been
coming in periodically to check on Mallory. But the whispered voice coming from
behind her was no nurse.
“Oh God. Nora.”
She jolted and
turned to see Patrick standing in the doorway.
“What are you
doing here?” she asked, her hands shaking.
“I needed to see
you, to make sure you were alright.” His eyes coursed over her entire body as
if looking for marks, his gaze landing on the scar on her right arm where Mrs.
Thatcher had cut her.
“I’m fine.”
“Christ, Nora. I
didn’t even know you had left North Carolina until your mom called my mom to
say Mallory’s twins had been born. Then I got the full story about everything
that happened. I can’t believe you were taken hostage.”
She didn’t know
what to say so she remained silent. Which was beneficial because he kept
talking.
“I did what you
asked Nora. I stayed away. But it scared me when I heard about what happened
here. I left James with my parents and made arrangements and I got the first
flight out that I could find.”
“It was three
weeks ago,” she said, wondering why James was with Patrick’s parents and not
his own mother but refusing to ask the question.
“Not for me. For
me it was this morning.” He took a step in her direction but she took one back.
She shook her
head. “Patrick, I can’t do this.”
“I just have to
tell you-”
“No!” She winced
at her own raised voice and glanced over at Mallory’s sleeping form. She
motioned Patrick out into the hall. “No,” she said again quietly. “I don’t want
to hear it. I don’t want to know anything.”
“You can’t just
cut me out of your life,” he argued. “We’ve been friends for fifteen years.”
“I have to,” she
pleaded, hoping he could understand. “Please, just let me go. I can’t stand by
and watch you with a baby that should have been mine. I can’t do it. So please,
if you care for me at all, leave me alone. You make it hurt too much.”
Nora felt the
tears escape her eyes but she couldn’t stop them.
Patrick watched
the girl he’d always known and the woman he loved fall apart. Because of him.
Because he had been blind to what had been in front of him for years. So, he’d
give her what she wanted. For now.
“Okay. I’ll
leave. I just had to see you for myself.”
“And I appreciate
you coming out here but what I really need is a clean break.”
Patrick shook his
head. “I’ll give you space, blue eyes, but there will come a time when you’re
going to need me and I’ll be right there.” He stepped closer again and cupped
her wet cheek in his palm. “And from that day on, Nora Katherine Carlyle, you
won’t be able to push me away.”
With that he
kissed her gently on the lips. “I still love you,” he whispered then turned and
left a shattered Nora in his wake.
“Mal.”
Groggy, she
opened her eyes and looked at Denny in the hospital room doorway. “What…”
“Nora called me.”
God, she looked so tired. He walked to her bedside and reached for hand. “How
do you feel?”
“Kind of empty.”
She smiled slightly and squeezed his hand. “I’m just tired. And a lot sore.”
“I bet.”
“Have you seen
them?” Mallory asked quietly.
“Yeah. God, baby,
they’re so beautiful. We did that. How could something so perfect come from
me?”
Mallory sat up
gently and cupped his face in her hands. “Because you are perfect, Denny
Thatcher.”
“Mal…”
“Wait, just wait
please.” When he nodded, she continued. “You weren’t the only one who needed
time to think. I screwed up so many times I don’t even know where to start
apologizing. You were right about everything. I was scared of getting hurt and
letting you in. I was scared of losing you if you didn’t want the babies. I was
scared you’d find someone that was more interesting. Every accusation you
hurled at me was dead on and I’m sorry I let you down.”
“Mallory, stop.
Don’t cry. I hate when you cry.” Denny sat beside her on the bed and pulled her
into his arms. “Shh, baby. I’ve got you.”
After she calmed,
Mallory pulled back a little. “Are you okay?”
Denny exhaled
deeply. “I was getting there but when Nora called me, everything clicked into
place. I knew where I needed to be and what I needed to be doing. The past
can’t be changed but I know that I’m not responsible for Daniel’s death. My
mother’s death is still going to mess with me a little but I think with you
holding my hand, I can make it through.
“We both
sabotaged our relationship for reasons we may never understand fully. But I
have to live with the fact that I missed my children’s birth.”
“I should have
called you,” Mallory whispered against his shirt. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too, baby.
I’m sorry you had to go through this alone.”
“Nora was with me
but I wish it had been you. Even if I had called, you probably wouldn’t have
made it in time. So don’t feel bad.”
Denny smiled
sadly. “Can’t help it.”
Mallory smiled
back at him. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you,
too.” Denny leaned down and kissed her softly. “I promise I won’t ever walk
away again, no matter how much space I think I need.”
“Good to know.”
Denny grabbed her
right hand and slid off the ring she placed there three weeks ago. “You told me
before I left that I’d have to be the one to put this back where it belongs.
I’m sorry I made you doubt me. I’m sorry you had to go through this alone. I’m
so sorry for everything that has happened but I know as long as we’re together
we can take on anything that may come our way.” He slid the ring onto her left
ring finger. “Now, for the last time, will you marry Mallory?”
She smiled and
wiped the tear off her cheek. “Of course I will. But I have one condition.”
“Uh oh. How bad
is it?”
She smacked his
arm softly. “Shut it, Thatcher. I don’t want some big media frenzy. I just want
my family there. So as soon as they all get here, can we just get married? No
huge plans, no designer gown, no massive wedding cake. I just want to finally
start our lives together. Today in the hospital where our children were born.”
Denny smiled
sweetly down at the love of his life. “That sounds pretty good to me. And then
we can go home to my place and start living that life. You’ll have to tell me
what you think of the kitchen.”
“Yeah, about
that. I have still never seen the inside of you house.”
“Don’t worry.
You’ll love it.” Mallory eyed him warily but he just laughed. “According to
Nora, I’m the only parent of those twins with a ready nursery.”
Now she smiled.
“You put your cribs together?”
“Well, yeah. The
day after we got them.”
“I’m still
nervous about your house.”
Denny laughed.
“Just trust me.”
“I do,” she said
softly. “Always.”
Denny kissed her
lips once more then rose from the bed. “Let’s go see the babies.”
“I didn’t name
them yet. I wanted you here for that. We hadn’t really discussed names.”
“Yeah, I know.
What were you thinking?”
“Well, I like
Bayleigh Jane and Benjamin Daniel. What do you think?”
The tears
shimmered in his eyes as he held Mallory close to his heart. “It’s perfect.
God, I love you. Thank you, baby. So much. For waiting for me, for loving me,
for choosing me when you could have anybody else.”
Mallory
placed her hands against his cheeks and forced him to look her in the eye. “I
would choose you, Denny. Every time.”
Epilogue
Somehow, her
family had turned the drab hospital chapel into a magical wedding venue. Light
from the candles softened the harsh white walls; supermarket flower arrangements
now adorned every surface in beautiful vases and even a few water pitchers from
the nurse’s station.
Mallory sat in a
back pew and looked around the room, Bayleigh in her arms. “Well, buttercup,
your daddy has no reason to forget your birthday or our anniversary.”
“Hey, I resent
the idea that I’d forget either,” Denny growled from behind his soon-to-be wife
and their daughter.
Mallory turned
around laughing, then just smiled at the way Denny cradled Benjamin in his
arms. “Looks good on you, Thatcher,” she said softly.
He smiled back
and looked down at his son. “I think so too. You don’t look so bad yourself.
The Carlyle ladies strike again.”
Mallory glanced
down at the white sundress her mother brought to the hospital. Her hair was
curled, her makeup was flawless and her hospital slippers matched her dress
beautifully.
“They did good.
This place is wonderful.”
“Well, thank you,
sweet pea. We tried.”
Denny and Mallory
turned to find the whole Carlyle clan standing behind them. Well, almost everyone.
“Mama, where’s
Nora?” Mallory asked as her mother relieved her of Bayleigh’s small form.
Becca glanced at
her husband and Sydney before answering. “She left.”
Mallory shook her
head. “What do you mean she left? That’s not like her.”
Tom handed a
piece of paper over to Mallory and ran a hand down her hair. “This was at Cam’s
house when we got there.”
It was just a
simple piece of notebook paper but it felt like much more than that in
Mallory’s hand. She unfolded the note as Denny sat beside her.
In her sister’s
sweet handwriting, they read:
Mal,
I’m sorry I have to miss your wedding day. You can’t imagine how much I want to
be there for you and Denny. But my life is a mess and I need to figure out who
I am and where I’m going. I love you so much. Thank you for taking care of me
and for always just being there. I’ll let you all know where I am when I get
there. I love everyone and I will see you all soon. Kiss those babies for me.
I’m proud of you, Mal. You’re an amazing woman and you’re going to be an amazing
mother. Talk to you soon. Nora
Mallory
wiped the tear off her cheek and rested her head against Denny’s shoulder. “Why
would she just leave? Why not talk to somebody?”
“I
don’t know, baby, but she seemed pretty upset when I got here.”
A
light cough sounded from behind the family. “Is this the Carlyle-Thatcher
wedding party?”
Mallory
looked back at the gentleman and smiled. “Yes, thank you for coming.”
He
nodded before speaking again. “Well, shall we get you married?”
Mallory
looked over at Denny. “We can wait for Nora if you want, Mal.”
She
looked down at the note in her hand and exhaled. “No. She wouldn’t want that. I
know she wants to be here but something is preventing that from happening. So
we’ll get married today like we planned and hope we can help Nora with whatever
has her so upset.”
Denny
smiled and kissed her. “Sounds like a plan. I love you.”
“I
love you too.” She glanced down at the note once more and said a silent prayer
for Nora.
“Coming,
baby?” Denny asked as he stood and held a hand out for Mallory.
She
accepted his hand and finally felt at peace with her life as she heard her two
children start to cry.
