Chapter 7
"Leland we have to go. This baby is coming and I am not having it here so move it!" I was stood by the front door hugging my pillow while Leland ran around getting my bag and both of our phones and chargers. I was only 8 months along so we weren't organized yet.
"Are you sure this isn't a false alarm? I mean you're only just 8 months babe so it could be a practice run. Lyssa had it with Maddy; she was in slow labor for 3 weeks." He was panicking. Beth was supposed to be with us but she was on a plane heading back from Colorado and wasn't sure if her and Dog would make it.
"My waters have broke Leland. Your child is impatient like it's father. I'll call Baby Lyssa in the car and she can meet us there." I grabbed the keys from the side and headed outside. I nearly fell to my knees when another contraction hit but Leland was there holding me up and helping me through it. He got me into the car and locked the front door. I dialed Lyssa and waited for her to answer. "Lyssa I'm in labor and Beth isn't here and I'm scared. I'm not due yet so this can't be happening. I'm scared Lyssa." I didn't even give her chance to say hello.
"OK T. You'll be fine girl. Get Leland to head to the hospital now and I'll meet you there. I'll ring them for you and explain the situation. Just breath Honey and relax. You and bump are going to be fine. I've got to go now though so tell that brother of mine to hurry up!" She put the phone down and I tried to do as she said and relax.
Leland drove as fast as he could without it being dangerous. I think he was more afraid than I was. When we got to the hospital Lyssa was already outside with a wheelchair for me. She grabbed my bags while Leland lifted me into the chair. They took me straight to my room and hooked me up to a monitor. The midwife confirmed that the baby was definitely coming but it's heart sounded healthy and it didn't seem distressed. The tension evaporated from the room. As long as the bump was fine then we were all happy.
Lyssa was amazing and she kept me and Leland sane through it all. Beth arrived about 3 hours after we got to the hospital and even Dog came. I was in labor for 38 hours and Leland never once left my side. Beth and Lyssa took turns to stay with us until the last few hours. It was hell on earth but Leland was amazing.
Eventually our little girl came to join us and she was perfect. She had a full mop of reddish brown hair like mine but she had chocolate brown eyes like Leland. She was small; 4lbs 1oz and could fit in her dads hands. "She's amazing T. Thank you," He was crying and smiling at the same time. The nurse took her to be checked over and everyone was crying and smiling. "I'm so proud of you. I love you."
"Why are you thanking me?" I was still a little bit out of it. The only drug I had used during the whole thing was the gas and air. Now I was paying for it. It hurt so bad and without her precious face to look at the pain was taking over.
"You just went to hell and back to give me an angel. You are amazing and I love you." He was looking at me and he could tell something was wrong. I couldn't even focus my eyes to look at him. "Nurse! Something is wrong. What's wrong with her?" He was shouting now. I knew by the tone in his voice that he was afraid. I was staring into his eyes when everything went black.
Leland was screaming when the doctors came in. Dog and Duane Lee had to physically pull him away from me. He didn't want to let go. They figured out that I was hemorrhaging blood internally and rushed me down to surgery. Beth and Lyssa were crying but Leland fell to bits. He crumbled to the floor and was sobbing when the midwife brought our daughter back to him. Beth tried to take her but he refused to let anyone touch her. "Nobody gets to hold our Angel until her mother has!" He was angry. He wasn't angry at anybody except God. "You aren't taking her God! You will have to take me first because she's mine!" He screamed at the sky.
7 hours later I was out of surgery but still unconscious. The doctors weren't sure how long it would be until I woke up. I had lost nearly 17 pints of blood before they finally stopped the bleeding. If they hadn't gotten to me with a steady supply of blood I would have died. I had flat lined 3 times on the operating table.
The whole family was gathered around my bed. They were trying to keep Leland's spirits up by telling funny stories of their past bounties. Duane Lee simply stood behind Leland with his hands on his shoulders. It was the only comfort he could offer. Leland never once put the baby down. She slept peacefully against his chest without a care in the world. Finally the talking stopped and Leland drifted off into a light sleep. He still had the baby cradled against him. He had taken his t-shirt off at some point so she could lie on his bare skin. He had done it with all of his children because it helps them recognize your scent.
That is the vision that greeted me when I woke up a few hours later. I thought I was in heaven at first. The sun was just starting to rise and Leland and our daughter were bathed in the soft glow of first light. They looked so peaceful and they were beautiful. It took my breath away and my chest ached just looking at them. "Leland." I whispered. I didn't want to wake the rest of the family who seemed to litter every single available space in the room. I reached out and touched his knee. "Lee, wake up darling."
He slowly opened his eyes and stretched. Then he looked at me and the biggest smile lit up his whole face. He was crying when he stood up to kiss my forehead. "Morning sleeping beauty. Finally decided to come and meet our angel huh?" He placed the sleeping baby against my chest and I knew then that I loved her completely. I would die for this precious little thing. In fact I almost had. "You scared me half to death woman!" He kissed me then and I knew that this was my own personal heaven.
Slowly everyone started to wake until they were all crowing round to see if I was OK and take turns holding our daughter. "So what's her name then?" Dog asked while he cradled the tiny little thing in his arms.
Leland shrugged and I smiled sheepishly. "I kind of thought that maybe we could call her Angel Barbara if that's OK? I mean I'll understand if you would rather we didn't but it seems to fit. I had an angel with me to get through all this and I know it was Barbara." I looked around the room and everyone was smiling and crying.
"That is perfect Princess and I would be honored. If I could choose any perfect little bundle to carry that name again it would be this one." Dog kissed Angel then and she opened her eyes and looked right into his. They stared at each other for a long time. it was like they were measuring each others souls.
"I couldn't have chose a more beautiful name." Leland whispered against my ear. he had made me move over so he could sit next to on the bed. He was content. His family was complete now; he had always wanted a little girl and it was perfect that she had 2 older brothers to look after her.
"You did choose it silly. You said I went to hell and back to give you an angel." I snuggled in against his side and he wrapped his arms around me. I felt myself falling asleep again but this time I was happy. It felt peaceful and safe now because I knew Leland would be waiting when I woke up.
The doctors finally let me go home 3 days later. They said I had to take it easy and I couldn't do any heavy lifting for about 4 weeks at least. That didn't seem like it was going to be a problem though since Leland wouldn't even let me make my own tea because the kettle might be too heavy. He took time off work to stay at home with us and even convinced Maui to let the boys fly over and stay with us for a few weeks. They were adorable with Angel and kept promising that they would look after her forever. It brought tears to my eyes to see my 3 men being so loving. Occasionally Dog would call Leland for help and he would go for an hour or two but he felt happy doing that because Dakota and Cobie fussed over me nearly as much as he did.
The whole family doted on Angel but none more so than Dog. He came to visit as often as he could and was constantly holding her and walking with her in his arms talking away. I think he was talking more to his daughter, Barbara, than Angel but that was OK if it helped him then I was happy.
I'd been home about 8 weeks when Leland finally let me go into the office with him. We set up a moses basket in Beth's office and Leland set up the baby monitors. He kept one permanently hooked to his belt. Whenever we had clients in someone was always with Angel; she had her own personal bodyguards. "Lee we need to consider getting her into daycare or something. I'm going crazy here.!" I wanted to be back on the team full time but Leland was fighting it. I love spending time with Angel but I felt like I was losing who I was and becoming something else. All I did was look after the baby, cook and clean. I wanted action and adventure in my life.
"OK." He said and my mouth fell open. We had been having this same discussion for about 4 weeks and he had never even given an inch until now. "On one condition." I smiled. I knew there would be a catch somewhere. "You have to marry me first." I stared at him for a long time. I must have heard him wrong. Leland had always swore that he would never get married again so he couldn't have just asked me to marry him. I knew everyone was looking at me but I didn't care. I couldn't figure out what he had actually said. Leland laughed. He understood what was going on in my head. He dropped to one knee and pulled a gorgeous platinum ring with a single 2 carat diamond out of his pocket. "T, Will you marry me?"
That time I cried. The lump in my throat stopped me from speaking so I just nodded. I had given up on ever being his wife because of what he had gone through. I would have been happy just being with him for the rest of my life but when he slid that ring onto my finger the flood gates opened. I threw myself into his arms and clung to him. He stood up and spun me round and round. "I almost lost you T and I'm not letting you go again. You're stuck with me forever." He kissed me then and I knew I belonged with this my in every sense. We were business partners, friends, lovers and parents.
We were soul mates and had weathered every storm imaginable before we could even admit it to ourselves.
Just a short note to say that I will be using these characters in future. I just thought that this was a good place to leave them for now.
