Shadows in Me (13 page)

“Yes.  Am I aloud to kiss you now?” I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. 

“Yes, please! I’ve been dying to ask you for a kiss.”

Trust her to make light of everything.  The tears were still running down her face, I wasn’t too sure if they were sad tears or happy tears.   

“I have something else to ask you.”  I knelt down on the floor next to the bed and took the ring out of my pocket. 

Vincent

The big day

My stubborn girl actually said no.  She was convinced I had only asked her to marry me because of the baby.  It had taken some convincing from my side as well as reinforcement in the form of Jo and Heather. 

Our wedding was arranged within a month.  It was small but beautiful. We had it on the beach, with just our close friends and family present.  

Caitlin looked so beautiful, she was afraid that her baby bump was going to show, but I was proud of that bump, and I wanted the world to see it.  She wasn’t too happy that the dress she had originally chosen couldn’t be altered, I was obviously blamed, and had a few things thrown at my head, but eventually Jo had saved the day and found her the most amazing Vintage lace dress. It still showed her tummy, but it was perfect. 

We said “I DO” and prepared ourselves to live happily ever after.  All was going according to plan, until today:  

I was woken up this morning at five thirty with Caitlin screaming in my ear.

“Oh fuck my water has broken!”  She was going crazy. 

It took me a few seconds to focus on what was happening around me.  Once reality hit I jumped out of bed.  I helped Caitlin up; she waddled to the bathroom to get cleaned up.  From the classes we had taken I remembered them saying that it would take some time from this point, but we needed to start timing the contractions.

I tried to be really calm but inside I was freaking out, the wildness in her eyes scared me a little.  I got dressed quickly, and then sent all the necessary texts to everyone concerned.  I also phoned the doctor to let her know.  I was still putting on my shoes when she screamed from the bathroom. 

“Are you still in bed? We need to get to the hospital!”

“I’m dressed, I’m waiting for you.”

“Get the bags and load the car, I’m just going to take a shower and then I’ll be downstairs.” 

My girl was so organised she had the baby’s bag packed over a month ago, ready and waiting by the front door. She even had her clothes picked out for today, including matching panties and bra.  Fuck, I wish I could be this organised.  On my way down to the car, Jo phoned, asking millions of questions that I had no answers for. I grabbed my keys off the counter and unlocked the door.  I walked outside and was about to go back inside to grab the bags when Caitlin came down the stairs. 

“Wow, that was quick.”

“Who are you talking to? Get off the phone, we need to get to the hospital, my contractions are eight minutes apart.” As she got to the stairs she stopped, she cupped her tummy and started swearing like a sailor. 

“I take it that’s a contraction?”  I closed the door behind me quickly and then tried to take her hand. 

“JUST WAIT!!”  Her eyes were closed but from the expression on her face, I could see she was in pain. 

Once the contraction was over, I got her into the car and we were at the hospital within ten minutes.  Everyone was amazing.  Caitlin had arranged a pre- book in, so we were admitted immediately. We were set up in the delivery room waiting for the doctor to arrive in no time at all. 

“Vincent, where are the bags?”  Caitlin’s voice was very calm.

“Uhhmmm, I ….  think I left them at home.  I’ll go get them.”  I started walking away from the bed, but she grabbed my wrist. 

“You are not going anywhere, phone Heather, she can go and get them.”  How could she be so calm? I wished I had that type of control. 

As I was sending Heather the message the doctor walked it. 

By then the contractions were two minutes apart; the doctor did her examination and was happy that all was going according to plan.  Caitlin had decided that she was going to do it the all-natural way, no epidural, no drugs.  I thought she’d lost her mind but it was her choice. 

The next thirty minutes went past in a blur.  I felt like I wasn’t present in my own body, like I was watching it all from above. The moment my baby girls head appeared, my world came to a standstill.  I watched as her head crowned, then her wrinkly little nose popped out.  The moment I heard her cry, I was in love.  They cleaned her up and handed her to me.  I was in awe with this perfectly beautiful little pink angel.

“Do you think you could share Lilly with me?”  I looked up at Caitlin; I had no words to answer her.  She looked exhausted.  I lay my princess on her mommy’s chest and watched as she latched onto her nipple. 

“Hmmm….ok, she can play with my toys, but not all the time.” 

“Vincent, there are people around, don’t say that.” 

I bent down and whispered in her ear.  “You have deprived me for too long, seeing your tits out like that is making me hard.”

“VINCENT!” 

*****

The

End

BOOK 3

Finding Me

Brent’s story

Coming

Christmas 2015