Looking at myself in the mirror I began to trace the small outline of my birthmark with my fingers. Anxiety began to claw at the back of my mind because of the fear of the unknown.
Some of us have many birthmarks and some of us only have one just li...
I was in the bathroom showering when I heard Ashley joyfully yell, “mommy, you're awake.” I damn near slipped and fell in the tub trying to get out of it.
Tears rolled down my cheek when I heard her say to Ashley, “I had to come back to my sweet little princess.” I was putting on my clothes so fast that I buttoned up my dress shirt all wrong. I quickly fixed my clothes and put on my shoes, then rushed out of the bathroom.
“Daddy look, mommy is finally tired of sleeping,” Ashley says in an innocent voice as soon as she sees me.
“Thank you for sending her back to us.” I fell to my knees and prayed.
“Liam, honey, come here,” Lily says in a tearful voice. I stood up on wobbly legs and slowly made my way over to where she lay in the hospital bed, holding Ashley's hand. “I'm so sorry for not waking up sooner.” She says as I leaned forward and kissed her on the lips.
“All that matters is that you came back to us,” I replied in a strained voice.
“Daddy, daddy tells her about the baby, tell her about Chloe, my sister.” Ashley gleefully demands while jumping up and down. Instantly, Lily's hand went to her stomach after hearing Ashley mention the word baby.
“Our baby is fine. She's a healthy, happy little girl and I named her Chloe Leandra Rowen just like we discussed.” I quickly say trying to put her mind at ease.
“Where is she?” Lily tearfully asked me.
“One of the nurses came and got her not long ago to take her to get cleaned up,” I replied, then pressed the call button for the nurse.
“Yes, how may I help you?” A female voice says over the intercom.
“Ms. Carmichael has awakened and can someone bring our daughter to the room?” I speak out loud.
“The doctor will be there in a few seconds to check on ms. Carmichael and I'll have someone bring your baby to you shortly.” The lady replies.
“Hello ms. Carmichael, I'm Dr. Beverly Jenison.” The doctor introduces herself to Lily after entering the room. “You gave us quite a scare a few days ago. Your wounds are healing up fine. If you continue to progress the way that I think that you should, I believe that you'll be able to go home in a few days with your beautiful daughter.” Dr. Jenison tells her just as a nurse walked into the pushing a portable baby bed. “ I'll be back tomorrow to check on you, that's if nothing happens today that will cause me to come back sooner.” Dr. Jenison says before exiting the room.
“Ms. Carmichael, I think that little Miss Chloé is ready to meet her mother.” Nurse Shelby says as soon as the doctor closed the door behind him. She picked our daughter up out of the crib and placed her in Lily's arm. Chloe squirmed a little before finally settling back down and falling back to sleep. “I've already fed and changed her, so She should be good for an hour or two.” Nurse Shelby tells her, then proceeds to leave the room.
“What's wrong, honey?” I asked Lily when I saw tears falling from her eyes.
“She's so beautiful.” She tearfully replies, then says,” She looks just like you, Liam.”
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“She can't help but be beautiful when she has a gorgeous mom and handsome dad,” I respond, followed by wiping her tears away with a few kleenexes.
“What about me?” Ashley blurts out.
“You're beautiful, too, sweetie.” Lily and I say simultaneously while gazing over at her.
“I was scared that I was going to lose our daughter while I was chained up to the bed…” Lily was saying when she suddenly fell silent and closed her eyes. I knew what she was thinking about, and who she was thinking about. With trembling lips and her eyes still closed, she asked, “What happened to Mandy?” This very question has terrified the heck out of me. I knew eventually that I would have to tell her about Mandy's death. I had hoped though that I would have a little more time to prepare myself for how she was going to react when I gave her the devastating news.
“Can we talk about this later, Lily?” I asked in a low voice.
“She's gone, isn't she?” she asked in a pained voice.
“Yes, honey,” I replied in a voice that didn't sound like mine. It hurt me to see her struggling to keep her tears and emotions at bay.
“Mommy, I love you.” Ashley blurts out when she hears Lily let out a loud, agonizing sob.
“She put her life on the line as she attempted to save our daughter and me, Liam.”
I didn't know what to do or say after hearing that my daughter and Lily might not be here with Ashley and me if it wasn't for Mandy. I felt guilty that her life may have been cut short because She put my family life before her own. I'm abruptly brought out of the little pity party I was having myself when I hear the monitors that were hooked up to lily begin to sound off. Taking Chloe out of her arm, I placed her in the baby crib, then rushed back over to where Lily and Ashley were. They both were crying for two separate things. Lily was mourning the loss of Mandy, and Ashley was crying for Lily. I knew that she was worried about losing Lily when she blurted out, “Mommy, I need you!” I didn't know who I should try comforting first, so I tried consoling them both.
“I know that learning that Mandy was taken away from us hurts Lily, but you have to try to calm down. Our kids and I need you. Ashley and Chloe need their mom to show them how to become loving and intelligent young ladies. I need you in my life now and forever.” I blurt out as I gather her and Ashley in my arms. I rocked them back and forth while praying for my family to pull through this traumatic time. By the time the nurse made it in the room, I had calmed down both Lily and Ashley enough for them to administer Lily a high-power sleeping medicine in the Iv that was in her right hand.
“I'm sorry for scaring you, Ashley. I need you and your dad too.” She says before falling into a peaceful sleep.
“Daddy, I'm tired,” Ashley says before getting down out of my lap and walking over to the extra bed in the room, and laid down.
“Do you want me to read you a short story?” I asked while searching through her Minnie mouse backpack.
“Daddy, I'm not a baby anymore.”
“Well, you're still my baby and daddy needs to do something to occupy my mind,” I replied at the same time I pulled her favorite book, The Little Princess, out of her backpack. I picked up Chloe out of the crib before sitting on the bed beside Ashley. I leaned forward and kissed both my daughters on the forehead before beginning to read The Little Princess.
Hello everyone, I'm sorry that it took me so long to update this book. I plan to finish writing this book by next Friday if it's the Lord's will. I hope that you guys enjoyed reading this chapter. Please vote, comment, and Share.
