Текст книги "Forever Us"
Автор книги: Sandi Lynn
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Forever Us
Forever Trilogy – 3
by
Sandi Lynn
Acknowledgements
Forever Us, the final book in the Forever Trilogy, is dedicated to every one of my fans who believed enough in me to make this book possible. Without your support and kindness, this trilogy would never have been written.
So here’s to you! Thank you for being such loyal readers!
Forever You
Denny drove us to the restaurant, where we met Peyton and Henry for dinner. They were already sitting down in a booth when we arrived. The waitress showed us to our seats, and Ellery stood there, looking at the booth.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“There’s no way I’m going to fit in there.” She frowned.
Ellery was big, and she looked like she was going to give birth any day.
“Elle, I’m sorry. I should have requested a table. I don’t want you squishing my goddaughter.” Peyton laughed.
I called the waitress over and told her we needed a table. She accommodated us immediately. We sat down, and I asked Ellery if she was okay. She looked at me as we both started laughing about her not being able to fit in the booth.
“I better lose all this weight,” she said.
“We’ll go to the gym together, and I’ll hire you a personal trainer,” I said.
Peyton grabbed Henry’s hand and told us they had an announcement. She held out her left hand and showed off her exquisite engagement ring. Ellery wanted to jump up and hug her, but she couldn’t.
“Peyton, it’s gorgeous! Congratulations!” she exclaimed.
I got up from my seat, kissed Peyton on the cheek, and shook Henry’s hand. “Congratulations to both of you, and may you have a wonderful life together,” I toasted as we all held up our glasses of wine, with the exception of Ellery; she had water. Ellery turned to me and gave me a look as if she was trying to figure something out.
“You knew, didn’t you?” she asked.
“Knew what?”
“You knew Henry was going to ask Peyton to marry him, and you didn’t tell me.” She glared.
I smiled and that was enough to let her know that I knew. “Of course I knew. Who do you think went with him to pick out the ring?” I laughed.
“Wow, Connor, how could you not tell me?”
“Maybe because it was a surprise, and I know you. You would’ve called Peyton and told her about the ring.”
“No, I wouldn’t have,” she said.
“Yes, you would’ve, and then you would’ve told her to act surprised,” I said as I kissed her cheek.
Peyton looked at Ellery. “He’s right; you probably would’ve,” she said.
“I know, I would’ve,” she said as she rolled her eyes.
The waitress brought our meals to the table. I looked over at Ellery, but she wasn’t eating like she normally did. She was picking at her chicken. “You okay, baby?” I asked.
“I’m fine, honey. I’m just not very hungry.” She smiled as she turned to me.
Henry and I talked about sports as Peyton and Ellery threw around some ideas for the wedding. We had a nice dinner, and we were in the company of great friends. I couldn’t ask for a better evening. I ordered us another round of drinks and dessert for everyone. The waitress had been flirting with me and Henry all night. She brought the desserts to the table and brushed up against me with her breasts.
“Excuse me,” Peyton said. “I saw what you just did, and don’t think I haven’t noticed what you’ve been doing all night. That man right there, that you just boob-brushed, is married with a baby on the way, and this man right here is my fiancé. If his wife wasn’t about to give birth, she would have kicked your ass by now. So back off our men, and go find someone who isn’t already taken.” The waitress glared at her and then looked at Ellery.
“Yeah, what she said,” Ellery spat.
The waitress turned and walked away in a huff. Henry took Peyton’s hand and started laughing. Ellery put her hand on my leg under the table and squeezed it. I looked over at her as she stared at me.
“Connor, my water just broke; it’s time,” she said.
Chapter 1 Ellery
Connor stared at me as if he didn’t understand what I’d just told him.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“My water broke, Connor. The baby’s coming. We need to get to the hospital,” I said as slowly as I could.
He jumped up out of his chair and helped me out of mine as he looked at Henry and Peyton.
“Her water broke. It’s time!” he exclaimed.
Peyton quickly got up from her seat and ran over to me, while Henry remained calm.
“OMG! It’s time! Henry, what do we do?” Peyton asked in a panic.
“Everyone relax,” he said. “Ellery, are you having any pain yet?”
“No, not yet.”
“Okay, good. Let’s get in my car, and we’ll get you over to the hospital.” Henry smiled.
Connor put his arm around me as he guided me out of the restaurant. Before we made it to Henry’s car, I abruptly stopped and doubled over in pain.
“HOLY SHIT!” I screamed.
Connor stopped with me and put his hands on my stomach.
“It’s okay, baby. Breathe in and out, like we learned in our class.”
I nodded my head and did what Connor said as the pain started to subside. Henry and Peyton told us to wait while they pulled the car up. When Henry drove up to the curb, Connor opened the door for me, and I slid in the back seat. He shut the door and walked around to the other side. Connor climbed in, sat beside me, and pulled out his phone to call Denny. After he hung up, he reached over and pulled me into him.
“I can’t believe our daughter is coming,” he said as he kissed my head.
I buried my face into Connor’s neck as another contraction started. The pain was unbearable; it was worse than my cancer treatments, and I didn’t think that could be possible. Connor held my hand and kept telling me to breathe. I swore I was going to lose it if he said it one more time. Peyton kept turning around and looking at me from the front seat.
“Are you all right, Elle?”
“Do I look like I’m all right, Peyton?” I said with gritted teeth.
It seemed like it took forever to get to the hospital. Once we arrived at the ER, Henry got a wheelchair, and Connor helped me from the car. I had only had a couple of contractions, and I was already wishing this was over. Connor wheeled me inside, and Henry led us up to the Labor and Delivery unit. Stopping at the unit desk, Henry gave them my name as the clerk showed us to my room. She handed me a cloth gown and said a nurse would be in shortly.
I changed into the cloth gown that was all too familiar to me. Connor helped me as Peyton and Henry stepped out of the room. I could feel another contraction coming, and I bit my bottom lip as tears started to fill my eyes. A nurse walked into the room and looked at me and Connor. It was Nurse Bailey. She looked at me with a smile as she walked over and patted my hand.
“It’s good to see you again, sweetie.” She smiled. She turned and looked at Connor. “Are you still the friend?” she asked.
Connor grinned, as he replied, “No; I’m the husband.”
Nurse Bailey smiled and nodded her head. “Very good. I’m glad to see things worked out for the two of you. I knew they would.”
She turned back to me as she hooked me up to the fetal monitor. “Look at you! You’re having a baby.” She smiled.
I tried to smile back, but another contraction was starting. I bit down on my bottom lip as Connor grabbed my hand. Peyton and Henry walked back into the room, and Peyton rushed to my side.
“I paged your doctor, Ellery, but I haven’t heard anything yet,” Henry said.
“Who’s your doctor, sweetie?” Nurse Bailey asked.
“Dr. Keller!” I yelled through the pain.
“Dr. Keller had a family emergency yesterday and had to leave town for a few days. His partner, Dr. Reed, is taking care of his patients. I’ll go call him,” she said as she patted my hand and left the room.
The contraction ended, and I felt like I could breathe again. Connor sat on the edge of the bed and softly kissed my lips.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too,” I whispered back.
Henry walked over and explained to us how the fetal monitor worked. He showed us at which point a contraction was starting, when it was at its peak, and when it was ending. Connor looked intrigued as he studied it. Peyton and Henry left the room to grab some coffee and to bring me back some ice chips.
“Can you believe Nurse Bailey is my nurse?”
“No, baby, I can’t believe it. But I’m glad she is.”
“Me too.” I smiled.
“Look at our daughter’s heartbeat,” Connor said as he pointed to the number on the fetal monitor.
I smiled as I looked over at it and another contraction began. I grabbed Connor’s arm and dug my nails into his skin. Did I feel bad? No, the pain of my nails is nothing compared to the pain of childbirth.
“Breathe, baby.” He smiled at me as he stroked my forehead.
Peyton and Henry walked into the room with a cup of ice chips. She took one out and started rubbing it across my lips.
“Maybe this will help you feel better,” she said.
“The only thing that’s going to help me feel better is getting this baby out of me!”
Nurse Bailey walked in and said she needed to examine me. Henry and Peyton stepped out of the room again while Connor sat on the edge of the bed next to me, holding my hand. She explained that she needed to see how much I was dilated. When she finished, she looked at me and pursed her lips.
“Hmm, you’re only dilated to one centimeter. You said your water broke while you were at the restaurant, correct?”
“Yes, I was sitting down at the restaurant when it broke,” I replied.
Nurse Bailey looked directly at Connor. “You didn’t by chance have sex today, did you?”
I looked at Connor, and he looked at me. “This is your fault!” I said.
“My fault? You’re the one who invited me to take a shower with you before we left for the restaurant.”
“Just relax, Ellery. Everything will be fine. I don’t want you to worry,” she said as she walked out of the room.
* * *
A few hours passed, and I wasn’t any further along. The contractions were getting worse, and Nurse Bailey stepped out of the room to call Dr. Reed. Henry was keeping a close eye on the fetal monitor, as was Connor.
I was lying on my side, and Connor wiped my forehead with a cool cloth. A contraction had just ended. I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes. I felt Connor kiss me softly on the forehead as he pushed back my hair.
“Get ready, Elle. Here comes another contraction,” he said as he stared at the monitor.
“Why do you have to tell me, Connor?!” I yelled.
“I want you to be prepared so you can start your breathing. I don’t want you to be caught off-guard.”
Every bit of me wanted to kill him at that moment. The pain with each contraction was intensifying, and I felt like my body was trying to rip itself in two. As always, he was right and another contraction came.
“Breathe, Elle. Come on, baby; deep breaths.”
“Connor, I think you better lay off; she’s getting pissed,” Peyton said.
I started screaming in pain. I promised myself that I wasn’t going to be one of those women, but at that moment, I didn’t care. I didn’t care who heard me, and I didn’t care what they thought. Connor was still telling me to breathe, and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Tell me to breathe one more time, and I swear I’ll castrate you, Connor Black!” I screamed.
I heard Peyton burst into laughter, and Connor looked at me.
“Wow, Elle. That was uncalled for,” he said.
“No! What’s uncalled for is you making me feel worse than I already do. I don’t want to know when another contraction is coming! I don’t want you to tell me to breathe! I know you’re trying to help me, but all I need from you, babe, is silence.”
Connor stared at me and took my face in his hands. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean—”
“I know you didn’t, Connor. It just hurts so badly, and I want it to be over,” I said as I interrupted him.
“I know you do, and I can’t wait to see our daughter. She’s going to be beautiful, just like her mother.” He smiled.
A tear fell from the corner of my eye and down my cheek as another contraction started; the worse one yet. I looked over at Henry.
“Please, Henry, give me an epidural. Please, I’m begging you.”
“Ellery, I can’t. You’re not dilated yet. I’m sorry,” he said as he shook his head.
I wanted to die. This baby was tearing me apart inside, and something didn’t feel right. Nurse Bailey walked in and told Henry that Dr. Reed asked her to call him when I was dilated to five centimeters. Connor sighed, got up from the bed, and walked over to Henry.
“How much longer is she going to be like this?” he asked.
“Every woman is different, Connor. It’s hard to tell. She’s not even dilated to three yet. This could go on for another twenty-four hours.”
“WHAT!” I exclaimed.
Peyton took my hand and started rubbing it softly. “Don’t worry, Elle. We’re here to help you through this.”
Connor turned and looked at me. He tilted his head and gave me a small smile as he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. “If I could have this baby for you, I would. I hate seeing you in so much pain,” he said as he grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips.
“I love you, Connor,” I whispered as I closed my eyes and braced myself for the next contraction.
“I love you, Ellery.”
Chapter 2 Connor
Seeing Ellery in pain like that was killing me. My heart ached for her with every scream she let out and every tear that fell from her eyes. I called my mom, dad, and Cassidy to let them know that Ellery had gone into labor. They stopped in the room for a few minutes to talk to her and then took seats out in the waiting room. Ellery and I had discussed that we didn’t want anyone else in the room during the delivery. Peyton had a hard time with our decision at first, but then understood. As Peyton and Ellery talked in between contractions, Henry asked me to step out into the hall.
“I don’t want you to worry, but Ellery isn’t dilating like she should be. I’m getting concerned because her water broke, and I don’t want to risk an infection setting in. I think we need to let her get up and do some walking around to try and get her dilated.”
“You tell me not to worry, but you’re worried about an infection,” I said.
“I’ll call Dr. Reed and ask him what he advises,” he said as he put his hand on my shoulder. “I’m watching her and the baby very carefully.”
“Thanks for keeping me posted, Henry.” I sighed as I walked back into the room.
Ellery was lying on her side, panting and trying to breathe through another contraction as she squeezed Peyton’s hand. I walked over to her, sat on the edge of the bed, and grabbed her other hand.
“Ellery, look at me. I need you to focus on me, not the pain.”
She nodded her head and looked at me as her pain continued to spin out of control.
“Our daughter is killing me, Connor. She’s going to KILL me!” she screamed as the contraction came to an end.
Ellery closed her eyes. I took the cloth from the table and gently wiped her forehead with it.
“It’s okay, baby. I’m here with you, and I’ll get you through this. We’ve been through so much, and this is nothing.”
Her eyes flew open as if Satan himself took over. “Nothing! Did you just say this is nothing?!” she yelled at me.
“Baby, you know what I mean.”
“Uh oh, I think someone’s in deep shit. If I were you, I’d get the hell out of here, and run as fast as you can.” Peyton laughed.
I couldn’t say anything right. Everything I said was wrong and just pissed Ellery off. I got up from the bed and pulled my phone from my pocket. After I had an idea that might help keep Ellery calm, I called up Claire and asked her if she could bring Ellery’s classical music CD and the small painting of the baby cuddled up in the moon amongst the stars. I would stand in the doorway of the nursery, late at night, and watch Ellery as she stared at that painting while rubbing her belly. One night, I asked her about it.
“This is the fifth night you’ve been in here staring at that painting.” I smiled as I walked into the nursery and placed my hands on her shoulders.
She reached her hand up and placed her hand on top of mine. “I feel serene when I look at it. I’m not quite sure why, but I do. So, whenever I start to feel nervous or anxious, I come in here, and it calms me down.”
As I hung up with Claire, I walked over to Ellery and kissed her on the forehead.
“Claire is on her way with something that I think will help you relax.”
She looked at me and tried to smile, but another contraction was starting. I sat down on the edge of the bed and let her squeeze my hand as tightly as she needed to. I was in awe of this beautiful woman that I called my wife and what she was going through to give me a child. When the contraction ended, she brought my hand up to her lips and kissed it softly.
“I’m sorry, babe. I know I’m hurting you,” she said.
I gripped her face lightly with my hands. “You’re not hurting me, Ellery. I love you, and I love what you’re doing for us. You do what you need to in order to get through your contractions. I’m here for you, baby.” I smiled.
Chapter 3 Ellery
I lay there and stared into my husband’s eyes as he tried so hard to make me comfortable. Peyton was sitting in the chair next to the bed and she looked exhausted.
“Why don’t you go find Henry and grab something to eat?”
“I don’t want to leave you. You’re going to need me.” She smiled as she took my hand.
Connor looked over at her. “Peyton, I love you, but I’m her husband and the only person she needs right now.”
Peyton knitted her eyebrows at him. “I suppose you’re right, but I want to be here for her.”
“You are here for her, and I appreciate it, but you really should take a break,” Connor said.
“You and Henry should go have sex in one of the rooms,” I said as I gave her hand a squeeze.
A smile brightened her face. “That’s a great idea, Elle, but don’t go and have that baby until I get back!” she exclaimed.
As Peyton walked out of the room, Claire walked in. Another contraction had started just as she set my favorite painting on the chair next to me.
“Oh God!” I started to scream.
As Connor looked over at me, he instantly grabbed my hand, and I bit down on my bottom lip.
“Look at the painting, baby. Focus on the painting, not the pain.”
“I can’t, Connor. The pain is too horrible. I can’t concentrate on anything but the pain!” I screamed.
Claire grabbed the cloth from the stand and wiped my forehead. “I remember the pain, Ellery. Just remember what the end result of that pain is.” She smiled as she pressed her lips to my forehead.
As I smiled at her and slowly closed my eyes, Connor got up and walked her out of the room. I heard him in the hallway, thanking her for bringing the CD and the painting. Nurse Bailey came back into the room and told me she had to check me again to see how far I was dilated. She sighed after she finished checking me, and Connor walked back into the room.
“Any progress?” he asked.
“No. She hasn’t dilated at all. I need to call the doctor. I’ll be right back.”
I looked at Connor as he leaned over and kissed my head. “I’m scared something’s wrong,” I said.
“Don’t be scared. Everything’s going to be fine. I just think our daughter’s stubborn. She’s starting to remind me of someone.” He smiled as he ran his hand down my cheek.
Just as I was beginning to relax, another contraction started. Connor looked at the fetal monitor.
“How can you be having another contraction already? It’s only been a few seconds since the last one.”
The pain was different this time. It was more intense and radiated throughout my entire back. The pressure was so bad that I had to push.
“Connor, I have to push. I have to!” I screamed.
“No, Ellery. I don’t think you can do that yet.”
He held onto my hand as the sweat dripped from my face, and I screamed in pain. Henry, Peyton, and Nurse Bailey ran into the room. As I looked at Nurse Bailey, Peyton came over and took a hold of my other hand.
“I have to push. I have to. Please help me,” I begged as the tears streamed down my face.
“Ellery, you can’t push,” Nurse Bailey said as she looked at Henry.
Suddenly, the monitor started beeping and all eyes went to it. Henry stood there and shook his head.
“Her blood pressure’s dropping and so is the baby’s heart rate. We need to get this baby out now!”
“I called Dr. Reed and he said he’s on his way, but he said it’ll take at least thirty to forty-five minutes for him to reach the hospital,” Nurse Baily said.
“I don’t give a shit how long it’s going to take him. Go make sure an operating room is available, and page an anesthesiologist, STAT!”
The voices around the room were getting deeper and slower. The room started to spin as Henry clasped my shoulders.
“Ellery, stay with me,” he said.
I wanted to give up. I couldn’t do this anymore, and I couldn’t stand the pain. My body was tired, and I could feel myself slowly drifting away. Suddenly, I heard Connor’s voice.
“Baby, don’t you dare give up. You better not give up on me. We’ve come too far, and we fought too hard to have our life together, and you will not give up! Do you understand me!” he yelled.
Suddenly, a group of people came running into the room and transferred me to another bed. I looked at Connor as I opened my eyes and the tears began to fall.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I love you,” I whispered.
Another doctor came from behind and put a mask over my face. “I need you to take in a deep breath, Ellery. This will help you to relax.”
With the mask on my face, I looked over at Peyton and saw that she was crying. They started to wheel me out of the room, but I wouldn’t let go of Connor’s hand.
“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll be right there. I promise you that I’ll be there with you.”
