Handle With Care
Summary: She thought she was doing what was best for her son and family, who knew it would be the one single thing taring them apart.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even the idea actually, sad but true. Its an amazing book by Jodi Picoult. The infamous Lucas and Brooke are owned by their owners leaving me only owning Cade and Ethaniel. At least its a start...
Author's Note: So this story is going to jump from person to person's point of view for each chapter, similar to the book so you'll know how each character is going through. I started with Brooke since she is kind of the one taking it the hardest. Its an ah-maz-ing book and I wish all you would read it, I couldn't put it down and finished it in a couple of days. I've been working on this for a while now, then stopped and now found it and want to finish it. So here goes nothing…
Chapter One
Brooke's Point of View
We wanted a healthy normal baby, isn't that what all parents want? One just like my first son, Cade, was. A kid that wouldn't have to worry about if he'll trip over things, or sleep the wrong way and breaking a new bone- one that probably broke before, but thats what we have to go through with Ethaniel.
OI took over our lives the day we found out something was wrong when E, was born. OI, or osteogenesis imperfecta is a rare bone disorder that causes fragile bones which are easily to break. I guess its my fault he is like this, I was supposed to keep him safe, I guess I didn't do my job well.
"Morning you," My husband of the past ten years smiled at me as I walked into the kitchen, a cup of coffee waiting in his hands for me.
"Oh this is heaven." I smiled smelling the aroma of the coffee. It was the perfect wake up call for me. Those lazy days of summer were far and gone, fall came bringing in the cool breeze in our small Carolinian town.
"Cade's up and moving, slowly, but moving." Lucas stated kissing my forehead. Before he came along I was a wreck in the making. Going from job to job trying to make ends meet for Cade and I. It was a long four years before he came along, and I couldn't change that at all.
"Thanks," I answered taking a sip.
"B, we need to figure out how we're going to afford all this." Lucas said looking at the pamphlet which E, put on the counter. A time for him to go to a convention with people, mostly kids, just like him. It seemed depressing to me if I do say so, but when Dr. Murphy brought it up at the last check up a month a go E was the most excited I have ever seen him. "I can try to see if I can find a second job, the teaching gig is bringing in enough for some bills, but not all. Plus since you don't want to send him anywhere…."
"Luke you know full well that those schools didn't not know what to do to protect him." I stated, he knew they didn't. As soon as we visited them, I made up my mind completely. I was going to stay at home with E all day. At first I worked from home, designing random things, like peoples dresses for special occasions and such, but as the years gone on and E got older and more mobile I couldn't take the risk of not watching him.
"Brooke, what else is there for us to do? Huh? The money from your parents and my dad are coming to an end soon. The money that we put away in Cade's college fund have slowly been used to pay the bills. There's nothing else to do. We need more money." Luke rubbed his temple. "I can't ask for a raise, its too risky since they started cutting back a lot."
"We'll make do, Lucas, don't we always?"
"Yeah, but…"
"No buts, we'll get through." I put on a fake smile. I had to be my cheery self, its what I was known for and stress wasn't going to stop it.
"Mornin'" Cade walked into the kitchen, earphones in and music blasting.
"Cade, you know the rules. Ipod off when you're at the table." I went into full on mom figure with Cade.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
"Momma guess what today is?" Ethaniel ran into the kitchen, thank goodness Lucas picked him up carefully of course.
"Bud, be careful. You know better, we don't need another hospital visit." He was true, at the hospital people knew us by first name bases now. "So what is today?"
"I get to see Dr. Murphy."
"Why is a four-year-old so excited about a doctors visit?" I laughed. For a four-year-old, E, was as tall as a two year old- but don't you dare tell him that. He hated his hight and being treated like a 'baby' cause of it, but it was something he will have to grown use to with OI.
"I get candy duh!" E smiled brightly.
"Not too much though, we don't need you having a belly ache." I smiled.
"Testing day?" Luke asked me.
"Yeah, its just you and Cade for tonight and maybe tomorrow. But pray only for tonight." I faked another smile, "Food's in the freezer so just heat it up and you should be good." Hospital visits for testing range from one day to a week, all on how E feels by the end and the tests in themselves.
"Cade, you need a ride?"
"Nah, I'll walk." Cade said his goodbyes before walking and slamming the front door. Our house didn't really fit in with there small town, Tree Hill has big house and well, our house was a small three bedroom house. It helped moving from the big house to the small when he was born to help with the bills.
"Time for me to take off too." Lucas sadly smiled at Ethaniel. He hated not being able to go to the testing anymore, but with the need for a steady income and all, using his sick days or vacation days is not an option.
"Daddy, you promised you'd come this time."
"Bud, you know I want too." Luke looked sad.
"Then come,"
"I can't. I have to go bring in the money so we can help you get better."
"I perfectly fine the way I was made," He wasn't ashamed of it like Luke or I felt at times, he was perfectly happy cause he didn't know any different.
"That is true bud, we love you the way you are." Luke smiled, kissing E on the forehead before walking out the door.
"Momma, look. I get my own tv!" Ethaniel smiled excitedly. Always smiling was what he did, he never saw the down side in things, well life in general.
"I see that babe," I looked up from my book. He looked so little on the hospital bed. Pillows surrounded him making sure he didn't fall or hit one of the metal bars. Safety first.
"Well look whose back," I heard a familiar voice. My best friend/ OBGYM doctor, one Haley James. We've been best friends since middle school, or before that. I couldn't really remember at that one moment, but its been a while. She was the first one doctor who was more then just a doctor. When Ethaniel was born she was there as support for me and Luke.
-Flashback-
Something wasn't right, i could tell. I knew the feeling of going into labor after having Cade, but something was wrong.
"B, hang in there okay? We're going to rush you down to the OR and get this baby out of you." Haley smiled supportively at me. There was something beside's support and hope in that smile she wore. It was worry.
"Wait, why?"
"The baby's heart rate is really low, Brooke. We need to get the baby out before its too late."
The first warning sign.
"Where's Luke? Hales, he needs to be here."
"He's putting on the scrubs Hon, he'll be here as soon as we get you ready." Haley said calmly. I wasn't calm at all right now, I was freaking out. Ten minutes, thats how long it took for Lucas to be back at my side, my support. "Okay, you're going to feel some pressure Brooke,"
"Luke, I'm scared."
"It will be okay," Luke kissed my forehead. That's when I knew it will be.
"Brooke, you have a new little baby boy," Haley smiled holding the baby over the blue tarp.
"Why isn't he crying?" I knew a baby is supposesd to cry when they are born, its the way you know they're perfectly fine.
Another warning sign.
-End Flashback-
That day was the worst day ever, when it should be the best.
It turns out, when he was born, Ethaniel had two broken legs, cast where put on his little legs. It was the saddest day ever.
"Aunt Haley!" E screamed from his bed.
"Hey, how's me rockstar doing?"
"Awesome. I get candy when they finish."
"Candy, really?"
"Yeah." Ethaniel finished turning his attention back to the tv.
"So how are you doing, B?"
"I guess as good as someone can who has a kid with OI." I shrugged.
"Brooke, you can live a normal life, and try and let E live one. He deserves a childhood too." Haley pointed out to me. I wish I could give him that childhood he hoped for, but Lucas and I where to scared too.
"Hales, I'm doing the best I can."
"I know B." Haley said as her beeper went off. "Well looks like I'm needed downstairs. Bud, I'll be seeing you soon."
"Bye," E said not looking away from the screen.
"Honey, why don't you lower that? Maybe even try and rest before they start testing?" I asked. He was going to be tired, these always make him tired. A nap would do him good.
"Why don't we get this started?" Dr. Murphy smiled walking into the room. "But first Brooke, can I talk to you in private?"
"Sure," I was surprised. Dr. Murphy usually doesn't talk in private because most the time E is past out sleeping from the tests being down by the time she tells me whats going on.
"We've been doing some research on OI lately. We found something that your OBGYN should've noticed by the middle of the first trimester." Dr. Murphy explained to me, "There's normal test done and the proportion of the bones should've given your doctor a second look at something is wrong. I want to give you this to look at and talk over with Lucas later. It maybe the best way to help fund Ethaniel's needs."
Looking at what she gave me in my hands was more information on OI- all the test that should've happened in my monthly check ups- and a pamphlet on Wrongful Births Suit.
Could this actually help us? Many thoughts went running through my head. Haley should've told me. She should've warned me something was wrong from the beginning, but she didn't. I needed Luke's opinion on this whole thing. I put the pamphlets right into my purse and continued reading the magazine. The discussion would have to wait until we got home. Testing 1 down till the next in a month.
End Chapter One.
So it's short and all. But it's just a little preview somewhat of what the story will be like. I don't know much about OI, but reading the book "Handle with Care" and doing some research online helped a little. I hope you liked this. I'm trying to get back into writing and this idea wouldn't leave my head. So please tell me what you think. -Den.