Triplets Make Five

“What does that mean?” I asked. “Is that what caused the bleeding?”

“The pain she felt was from the shifting of her placenta. The bleeding was part of her uterine lining being shed because of the moving. I’m going to get a nurse in here to take frequent ultrasounds to keep tabs on the babies heart rates, but as far as I see only one in distress is Miss Kent.”

“Then let’s fix that,” I said.

“Is there anything we can do, doctor?” Marcia asked.

The doctor looked at us before his eyes fell to Delilah. Her eyes were closed as the terbutaline worked its way through her system. She was in a great deal of pain and snuggled up as close to me as she could get.

And the doctor saw that.

“The best thing you can do right now is let her rest. She needs the father of these children right now. That’s all,” the doctor said.

“We’re her parents,” Phillip said. “I’m her father.”

“And as her parents, you want what’s best for her, right?” the doctor asked.

“Of course. Always,” Marcia said.

“Then give her and Mr. Walker some space. Let’s get her labor under control and stopped, and once she can leave the hospital safely all of you can figure out what will be best for Miss Kent and these babies. Because that’s all that’s important right now.”

I nodded towards the doctor before I pressed a kiss to Delilah’s head.

“I’m so tired,” she said.

“Then get some rest. I’ll be right here when you wake up,” I said.

“Please don’t leave me,” she said with a whisper.

I leaned my forehead against hers as she sighed. I captured her lips within mine, feeling the way she melted into me. I could feel a part of myself cracking. Giving way to her as my confidence began to fade. We were teetering on the edge between a future and a total disaster, and the only thing I was focused on was keeping her safe.

No matter who I had to keep her safe from.

“I missed you today,” Delilah said breathlessly.

“I missed you, too,” I said as I kissed her skin. “So much more than I care to admit to.”

A giggle fell from her lips as her body relaxed into the bed. I held tightly onto her hand as she fell asleep, her parents standing in the corner. I scooted my chair closer to her, watching her as she slept. My heart pounded in my chest and my legs began to grow weak. I watched Delilah’s shapely chest rise and fall with her breaths as I smoothed my free hand over her stomach.

I was shaking. My strength was cracking. I could feel a lump in my throat threatening to choke me to death as I swallowed hard. I had almost lost them today. All of them because of this damn secret. Because I had to be pulled between her and work instead of being truthful and getting the time with her I deserved. I leaned my head next to hers as she slept, feeling her soft breaths against my lips.

There was something about Delilah that drove me nuts.

And there was something about her that drove me home.

Twenty-Four

Delilah

When I woke up, I saw Preston’s face laying next to mine. I smiled as I kissed the tip of his nose, edging him awake. I lifted my head and saw my parents in the corner, my body feeling heavier by the second.

I didn’t care that they were in town for me. All I wanted to do was make them go home.

“How are you feeling?” Preston asked.

“Delilah? Are you up?” my mother asked.

I felt my mother rush to my side and take my hand, but I pulled it from her. She looked at me with wild eyes before shooting a glare over towards Preston. I had no idea what the hell had gotten into them, but they weren’t bringing this drama into my life. Whatever it was they are fighting about, they could work it out between the two of them.