He's Captured My Soul (Captured Series Book 3) (17 page)

Shit! Not what I was expecting.

The doctor smiles at me knowing I’ve got it. Alex looks between both of us. “Could one of you explain?” Alex asks.

“Miss Stewart would you like to do the honours?”

“Well Alex, it would seem we have more than one baby to look forward to. We’re having two, at least I hope it’s just two and not anymore.”

“No Miss Stewart, just two. I’m pleased to tell you, you’re having twins.”

I look at Alex, who seems a little lost for words. He is sitting staring blankly into space. The doctor leaves so I can fix myself.

“Alex, can you help me please? I’m still a bit too sore to do this on my own.”

“Yes baby, of course.” He manages to help, on auto pilot, not managing to put two words together. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alex look so shell-shocked. It really is quite funny. I know I shouldn’t laugh, and I try really hard not to.

“Alex. Can I speak to you before the doctor comes back in?”

“Of course.”

“Are you okay? Are you happy?”

“Baby. I’m more than okay. Of course I’m happy.” He kisses me softly on the lips. “I have a million things running through my mind. I can’t believe we’re having twins. You’re giving me not one precious gift, but two. It’s a lot to take in, but I can’t wait to tell the world.”

“Hold it right there, buster. You do realise twins run in the family,” I say smugly. “It’s still really early to be broadcasting it to the world. I still need time to get my head round the idea. So I would rather keep it to ourselves for a bit.”

“That might be a bit hard . . .” He softly says.

“Why?”

“Because our parents are all on their way here. I called them whilst you were sleeping. We will need to tell them something, to stop them worrying.”

We are taken back to the accident and emergency, where I was first seen. The doctor that saw me earlier wants to go over a few things with me.

“Miss Stewart, Mr. Mathews, congratulations on your news. Twins, double the trouble. I should tell you, your family is in the waiting room. I will let them see you soon. Okay, you have damaged the muscle when you fell. I can give you some medication for that to help with the pain. It should start to ease off in a few days. I will also have a prescription for vitamins for you. I need you to eat normally, none of this eating for two, or in your case three.” He smiles warmly at me. “I don’t believe in it. Have you had any sickness?”

“Only today and I had put that down to a hangover.”

“There will be no more alcohol for you. The consultant will be in touch about your pregnancy care. I have no reason to keep you here tonight, so you are free to go home. But any problems in the next twenty-four hours I want you to come straight back in. I will send your parents through.”

“Thank you,” Alex says to the doctor.

Alex sits on the bed beside me, and takes my hands in his. My eyes lift to his. I shift on the bed closing the gap between us. His face lowers and his lips find mine. Pulling his hands out of mine, he wraps them around me pulling me flush against him. My mouth moulds to his, as I kiss him back.

And in this one single moment of togetherness, all my fears from the night disappear. I know without a shadow of a doubt, this is the man I will spend the rest of my life with. The man who will care for me, protect me, but most of all love me for who I am. He is going to be a great dad to our babies.

He breaks our kiss and stares into my eyes. His smile is infectious. “Not only am I to be blessed with you as my beautiful wife, we are to be blessed with not one but two beautiful children.”

“I knew it,” my father says as they enter the room. “I told you Jane, didn’t I tell you.”

Alex and I both turn to all our parents, who have obviously heard our news. So much for keeping it to ourselves for a bit. Alex moves and lets my dad approach me.

“So how did you know Dad when I didn’t?” I ask him.

“Your mother will tell you I told her when she was expecting you and Ethan. She didn’t have a clue. Not sure how I knew, I just did. But I did think you two knew, especially when Alex asked for my permission to marry you.”

“Twins! Congratulations, my beautiful baby girl.” My mother has tears in her eyes as she embraces me. “You are going to be a brilliant mother, sweetheart. You are both going to be great parents.”

My mum swaps places with Sarah, who is overjoyed. “I can’t believe I get to be a grandmother this coming year. I’m so happy for you.” Richard also offers his congratulations to us both, albeit a bit more reserved than his wife.

“So how far along are you Libby?” my mother asks.

“According to the scan, about six or seven weeks.”

“Lovely August for these two babies. I do hope it’s not too warm a summer for you,” Sarah says.

“Okay, I think it’s time to get you home,” Alex says coming back toward me. “I think you’ve had enough excitement for one day. And you’re under doctor’s orders to take it easy for a few days.”

“Yes sir,” I reply with a smile, to his amusement.

Both sets of parents leave us. My parents are heading home, Alex’s are going out to the car. Murphy brought them here, so we will all go home together. But there is one person I need to tell, before anyone else does or anyone else finds out. Ethan. After speaking to Alex I decide to call him. Well we do get two for the price of one, Sophie is at Ethan’s house.

He answers after a few short rings.

“Libby, I thought we were going to speak tomorrow?” he asks.

“Yes we still can, only you will need to come to me.”

“What’s wrong? I can hear it in your voice.”

“I’m on my way home from hospital . . .”

“Libby!”

“Ethan, if you would stop I would tell you. Is Sophie there?”

“Yes.”

“Okay put the phone on loudspeaker, so she can hear as well.” I hear him pressing the buttons on the phone. “No interruptions until I finish speaking. I’ll give you the short version and fill you in properly tomorrow. You’re both going to become an aunt and an uncle in August.” Sophie shrieks through the phone, causing me to move it from my ear. “Now I should tell you the rest. I’m having twins.” Again with the bloody shrieking, although I was ready for it this time.

“Libby, are you okay?” Ethan asks with concern.

“Yes, I will be fine. I’m just leaving the hospital. Come over tomorrow and we can talk. I just need to take it easy for a few days. I will see you both tomorrow. Sophie, if you're going to stay out, please let your mum know. Alex doesn't need the grief just now.”

I hang up and Alex smiles as he takes hold of my hand. Leaving the hospital, Murphy is waiting in the car with Richard and Sarah. Richard sits in the front, while the rest of us sit in the back. Alex sits talking to his mother, who seems very excited with all the recent events. I sit and don’t really take much notice of any of the conversations going on around me. I’m quite content to just, sit and watch the world go by, as we head home. Alex keeps his hand in mine, the whole journey, reminding me he’s close. As if I could ever forget.

THE STAIRS UP TO THE
flat, proved a little difficult, considering the pain, I’m in. Alex was his usual self, and just pick me up carrying me up them all. His father looked on in amusement. With the ease he done it, it would be obvious to anyone, he’s done that before. The door is open and we are greeted by Michael.

“You do know bro, you don’t need to carry her over the threshold, until after the actual wedding.” Michael laughs.

“Alex you can put me down,” I tell him.

“Not until we are in the sitting room.” He continues to walk as he talks. Walking straight to the living room, and setting me down on the couch. “Now I can. You will be resting the rest of the night.”

“Yes sir!” What’s the point in arguing with him, I’m not going to win.

“So, what’s the story Libby?” Michael speaks. “Too much to drink last night, unable to stay on your feet today.” What do I say to that? He has got a point. Richard and Murphy stand talking in low voices to the side, and Sarah heads straight into the kitchen, where I presume Joan is. Whatever Joan is cooking smells great.

“Michael, my friend, Libby needs to rest and not be bothered by you,” Alex tells him rudely.

“Alex, just tell him.”

“Tell me what? I already know about the wedding, so what else is there to tell me?”

Alex lets out a deep sigh, as he sits down with me, joining our hands. “Well bro, I hope you’re up to changing diapers and doing a bit of babysitting.”

“Shit! All joking aside what is it you want to tell me?” Michael asks. I laugh, a deep belly laugh that has my stomach hurting.

“I’m pregnant.” I pause, watching the change of emotions sweeping over his face. He looks between Alex and I with wide eyes.

“You’re . . . going to be parents?” He stumbles over his words.

“Yes . . . with twins,” I add.

“I don’t know what to say to you both.”

“The usual response is, congratulations,” I tell him.

“Sorry guys. Of course I’m happy for you both. Congratulations. Just not what I was expecting.” Michael comes over and kisses me, Alex looks on in approval of the friendship that is now between Michael and I. Michael asks a lot of questions about my fall which led me to the hospital. The first one he asks is if the babies are okay. He always manages to surprise me. Michael does have a heart, and a really big one at that, if you’re lucky enough to be close to him.

Joan enters the living room with Sarah closely behind her.

“Miss Stewart, Mr. Mathews, congratulations on both your engagement and the twins, such lovely news,” Joan says as she bends to give me a kiss and a cuddle, taking me by surprise. We didn’t mention our engagement when, we picked them up at the airport. Alex had a lot on his mind, with Sophie. She then does the same to Alex. I have grown very fond of her. “Miss Stewart, I’ve run you a bath. It might help with the pain.”

“Thank you Joan. I hope you both had a lovely time in Ireland.”

“We did, hopefully we will get to see the family more.” She smiles. I can only presume she is thinking if they stay here, she can spend more time with family. “Now after your bath, I will serve dinner for everyone.”

“Dinner smells lovely, I hope you and Murphy will be joining us tonight?” Alex tightens his hold on my hand and the smile on his face, says I said the right thing.

I slowly ease off the couch, with Alex’s help. Michael offers to help, but Alex assures him he can manage, up the stairs with me. And I know exactly just how he plans getting me up them. He bends down and lifts me in his arms, and we leave the others down stairs.

Alex takes me straight into the bathroom, where he puts me down. He checks the water and doesn't flinch, not as hot as I usually have my baths. I laugh.

“What?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all,” I reply.

I undress slowly and carefully. Alex helps me remove my trousers. This feels so different from previous times he’s done this. I jump as he runs his hand across my stomach to my hip, and when I look down there is a very nice bruise.
Perfect
. He takes my hand, as I get into the bath. Stepping back, he watches me.

“Will you join me?” I ask.

“Libby . . .”

“Alex, I only want to be in your arms.”

“Okay.”

He undresses and climbs in behind me, wrapping his arms around me. I relax into him and close my eyes. This is what I needed after today’s event. Strong arms resting softly on my stomach. I’m so relaxed, I could fall into a deep sleep. My heart swells with nothing but love, for my perfect man, as his hands rub lightly, where our babies grow within me.

“Libby, are you really okay with everything?”

I open my eyes and turn my head toward him. His smile is full of warmth and love. “Yes of course I am. It was just a shock hearing it in the hospital. As someone once said, ‘there are worse things in life that can happen,’ a baby, or in our case two are a blessing. Although I’m hoping I now manage to find a wedding dress to fit me.”

“Whoever said that, is right our babies are a blessing.” He pauses. “Of course you’ll find a dress and you will be a stunning bride, but I would still marry you, even if you are wearing a sack.”

“A sack could be what I end up wearing. You do realise, I’m going to get big very quickly, carrying twins. Lindsay didn’t start showing until she was about five months gone. I have this feeling I’m going to be huge. I will just get bigger and bigger, until I’m fit to burst. Will you still love me, when I end up the size of a house?”

He looks at me and laughs. I glare at him. “Baby, there is no way you’ll end up the size of a house. And I would put money on it, that in five weeks when we get married, you won’t be that big.” Our lips touch and his hands never leave my stomach.

“Come on let’s get you washed, so we can get downstairs for dinner. I’m hungry, it’s been a long day.”

Hasn’t it just.

Alex gets out first, gets dried and dressed in his t-shirt and jogging pants. While I lie back, relax and enjoy the view. He helps me stand, then lifts me out. It amazes me that, I don’t feel any pain as he does, he’s so gentle with me. A girl could get
so
used to this.