managed to get by bribing someone. I couldn’t
discover anything at the City Hall. Upset by my questions, Dad shouted that I
was born abroad. So...” He opened his hands. “I don’t know anything about my
roots, my real country, my birth parents, my genes. I’d rather not risk
transmitting criminal genes to any children.”
“Oh Nick, don’t say that. You
have nothing criminal about you.”
“I’ll never know.” He came closer
to her and touched the babies’ cheeks delicately. “Who knows? Maybe I have a
twin somewhere.”
“What?” Horrified, Madelyn
searched his face for a sign of sadness. None. Just a blank expression as if he
was analyzing the possibility.
“Anyway, I came to invite you to
visit my new home. The furniture—what I have so far—is in place. I need help
with the decoration. I’ll order a pizza. Six okay?”
“I’ll be there around six. I love
decorating.” She nodded and smiled, happy that Nick wanted more of her company.
They saw each other every day in delivery or at the hospital cafeteria, and
went out together for dinner three days ago.
A wail alerted her. Celia
fidgeted. Liana immediately echoed her twin.
Madelyn lowered her eyes. And
gasped at the awkward position of Celia, her head too deep in the crook of Madelyn’s
elbow. She tried to raise the preemie but her right hand felt weird. Tingling
spread in her arm and soon tickled her feet.
What was going on? She had her
pills two hours ago. Their effect shouldn’t have dwindled already. Was her mal
escalating?
Not now, please .
Her left hand’s fingers spasmed
on the baby’s wrap. Dread dried her throat. She was stuck in a difficult
situation with Nick in front of her.
“Nick, call Sandra,” she groaned,
her gaze shifting from one baby to the other and watching her own fingers. “I
can’t take care of the two.”
Unaware of her drama, he
chuckled. “I’ll help you.” He grabbed Celia and laid her in her bassinette, and
then took Liana and set her in hers. Both babies screamed louder. “They like it
better in your arms.”
Madelyn had already pressed the
nurse’s number. “It’s already 3:30. I’ll have a round in the nursery.” Worried
her feet wouldn’t carry her, she didn’t move from the rocking chair.
“Three-thirty? We have a
C-section in fifteen minutes. See you in delivery.” He left her at the same
time Sandra stormed into the room.
“What’s up?”
“The twins are crying. I think
they need a bottle.”
Sandra opened big eyes. “You had
me rush here because they’re crying?” Her lips stretched in frustration and she
clamped her fists on her hips. “Explain to me how you and Nick can save babies’
lives any time, yet you don’t know the abc of how to handle them. The babies
were comfy in your arms. They don’t like it in their cribs so they protest.
Simple.” She quickly checked their diapers. “They’re not wet and probably not
hungry. You want them back?”
“No.” Madelyn was not in a laughing
mood. She gripped the arms of the chair and stood, took a deep breath and a
step forward. Dizziness overwhelmed her. She backed up and fell in her seat.
“Madelyn, what’s wrong? You’re so
pale.” Sandra seized her wrist and took her pulse. “It’s low.”
“I know. Give me a glass of
water, please. And don’t ask questions now.” She rummaged in her scrubs’ pocket
for the little bottle.
Waiting in front of her with the
glass of water, Sandra observed her as she fumbled with the damned tight lid
she couldn’t unscrew. “Here’s your water. I’ll open this for you.” The nurse
grabbed the bottle, twisted the lid open, and handed it back to her. “Take your
pill and tell me what’s going on.”
Madelyn swallowed her medicine
and leaned her head on the back of the chair. “I’m tired. Leave me alone.”
“Not on your life. I need to know
what’s wrong with you so I can help.”
Giving up the pretense, Madelyn
gave her the bottle.
“I don’t
discover anything at the City Hall. Upset by my questions, Dad shouted that I
was born abroad. So...” He opened his hands. “I don’t know anything about my
roots, my real country, my birth parents, my genes. I’d rather not risk
transmitting criminal genes to any children.”
“Oh Nick, don’t say that. You
have nothing criminal about you.”
“I’ll never know.” He came closer
to her and touched the babies’ cheeks delicately. “Who knows? Maybe I have a
twin somewhere.”
“What?” Horrified, Madelyn
searched his face for a sign of sadness. None. Just a blank expression as if he
was analyzing the possibility.
“Anyway, I came to invite you to
visit my new home. The furniture—what I have so far—is in place. I need help
with the decoration. I’ll order a pizza. Six okay?”
“I’ll be there around six. I love
decorating.” She nodded and smiled, happy that Nick wanted more of her company.
They saw each other every day in delivery or at the hospital cafeteria, and
went out together for dinner three days ago.
A wail alerted her. Celia
fidgeted. Liana immediately echoed her twin.
Madelyn lowered her eyes. And
gasped at the awkward position of Celia, her head too deep in the crook of Madelyn’s
elbow. She tried to raise the preemie but her right hand felt weird. Tingling
spread in her arm and soon tickled her feet.
What was going on? She had her
pills two hours ago. Their effect shouldn’t have dwindled already. Was her mal
escalating?
Not now, please .
Her left hand’s fingers spasmed
on the baby’s wrap. Dread dried her throat. She was stuck in a difficult
situation with Nick in front of her.
“Nick, call Sandra,” she groaned,
her gaze shifting from one baby to the other and watching her own fingers. “I
can’t take care of the two.”
Unaware of her drama, he
chuckled. “I’ll help you.” He grabbed Celia and laid her in her bassinette, and
then took Liana and set her in hers. Both babies screamed louder. “They like it
better in your arms.”
Madelyn had already pressed the
nurse’s number. “It’s already 3:30. I’ll have a round in the nursery.” Worried
her feet wouldn’t carry her, she didn’t move from the rocking chair.
“Three-thirty? We have a
C-section in fifteen minutes. See you in delivery.” He left her at the same
time Sandra stormed into the room.
“What’s up?”
“The twins are crying. I think
they need a bottle.”
Sandra opened big eyes. “You had
me rush here because they’re crying?” Her lips stretched in frustration and she
clamped her fists on her hips. “Explain to me how you and Nick can save babies’
lives any time, yet you don’t know the abc of how to handle them. The babies
were comfy in your arms. They don’t like it in their cribs so they protest.
Simple.” She quickly checked their diapers. “They’re not wet and probably not
hungry. You want them back?”
“No.” Madelyn was not in a laughing
mood. She gripped the arms of the chair and stood, took a deep breath and a
step forward. Dizziness overwhelmed her. She backed up and fell in her seat.
“Madelyn, what’s wrong? You’re so
pale.” Sandra seized her wrist and took her pulse. “It’s low.”
“I know. Give me a glass of
water, please. And don’t ask questions now.” She rummaged in her scrubs’ pocket
for the little bottle.
Waiting in front of her with the
glass of water, Sandra observed her as she fumbled with the damned tight lid
she couldn’t unscrew. “Here’s your water. I’ll open this for you.” The nurse
grabbed the bottle, twisted the lid open, and handed it back to her. “Take your
pill and tell me what’s going on.”
Madelyn swallowed her medicine
and leaned her head on the back of the chair. “I’m tired. Leave me alone.”
“Not on your life. I need to know
what’s wrong with you so I can help.”
Giving up the pretense, Madelyn
gave her the bottle.
“I don’t
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