Oh my gosh. Guys I'm sorry I abandoned my stories! No worries though I'm back and have plenty of chapters to update this story with! TTYL -Ree
"Trixie? Have you seen Shelagh?"
"Room Seven with Mrs. Cottingham" Patrick nodded, and headed off down the hall to room seven.
"One last push Ruby!" Patrick looked at his wife's face fall and rise back to a faked smile, instantly he put on gloves and stepped in. Ruby's head fell back against the pillows in exhaustion as Patrick quickly took the baby across the room to examine her.
"Where's my baby?" Ruby quickly turned to panic as she didn't see her daughter close to her.
"She's safe Ruby, Doctor Turner is just examining her." Shelagh held her hand to reassure her gently. Ruby's hand started to go limp and her vitals quickly went down.
"Patrick, Call O.R. now! She's Hemorrhaging!"
"Oh no no!" Patrick hit the emergency button and rushed out of the room.
After Ruby was in surgery and her daughter was taken to the intensive care unit the couple met in Patrick's office.
"Patrick? What's wrong with baby Cottingham?"
"Edwards Syndrome…"
"No." Shelagh's heart sank.
"Any defects other than facial?" Patrick reached out his hand, which she gladly accepted.
"Yes. She has a small head as ED babies do, but we also know her kidneys aren't formed properly, and neither is her heart. It's only a matter of time, Shelagh."
"Oh, Patrick. How did they not know?"
"Ruby Has only had prenatal care in the first bit of pregnancy, the rest she hasn't been seen." The two sat and debated how they were going to tell Ruby when she was out of recovery and awake.
"Oh." Shelagh sighed heavily and leaned further into his chest.
"Come on shifts over and time to go home. We have three kids waiting for us, they need us now."
As they pulled into the drive they noticed Julie's car parked on the street.
"Shelagh I didn't know your mother was coming for dinner."
"She wasn't Patrick." Stepping out of the car they both heard the screaming coming from inside.
"Oh my god!" Shelagh ran into the house only to hear sirens wailing in the background and Julie holding Angela in her lap tightly so she didn't move. The neighbor who was watching them was sitting next to her holding Amelia.
"Mum? What's going on?" Shelagh frantically moved in front of Julie and Angela and knelt down.
"MAMA!" The toddler cried, trying to reach for her mother but crying out again when she tried. Shelagh looked at her mother with a pleading look.
"Calm down sweetheart, it looks like its a fracture. Rebecca laid her down for a nap and she climbed out of her crib and fell. We looked at the baby monitor footage, she went from the top rail to the floor." Shelagh's eyes filled with tears as the paramedics came through the door.
After a long trip to A&E, a tiny purple cast, and a lot of tears later the family finally made it home.
Angela was still stirring, uncomfortable and frustrated that she couldn't get the hard thing off her arm.
"Patrick, I think shes ready for some more paracetamol." Shelagh and Patrick had said their goodbyes to Julie and thanked her for staying with the kids. They also reassured Rebecca that none of this was her fault and that it was an accident. She was only 17 and shook up over the whole thing.
Patrick brought her the grape flavored medicine and Shelagh gently dressed their daughter in her night clothes. She sat down in their big bed and Patrick followed with a whimpering Amelia in his arms.
"Here, let me." She reached out and tucked Amelia in her left arm and Angela in her right. She unbuttoned her shirt and let Amelia latch, with ease she settled and closed her eyes. Shelagh rocked both of her girls in her arms and watched them settle. She laid her head back and just enjoyed the quiet time. She felt her blouse move, but didn't think much of it. That is until she felt Angela snuggle closer to her and start to sleepily nurse. She looked down at both of her girls and smiled, knowing that she was able to comfort both of them. Patrick watched from his side of the bed, one hand gently rubbing Amelia's foot. He gently hummed a sweet song to them, watching their eyes slowly flutter shut. After both girls were asleep Shelagh laid Amelia in her bassinet by their bed and Angela next to her.
"Patrick i'll meet you at home later tonight. Tim is picking up Angela and im taking Amelia with me to have tea with mum and dad."
"Alright sweetheart, see you tonight." Patrick gave her a kiss and went back to his rounds on the ward.
Shelagh stopped by the hospital nursery and picked up Amelia, then headed to the main entry to meet Julie.
"Hello mum, are your ready?" Shelagh asked seeing her mother and walking up next to her.
"Hello dear, sure am. And how about little miss, Is she ready to?" Julie patted Amelia's back through the stretchy wrap she was snuggled in on Shelagh's chest.
"I think all she's worried about is having to vacate mummy's snuggles." Shelagh and Julie shared a laugh and headed out the door and towards the corner coffee shop.
The two sat down after ordering a stout espresso and a milky tea.
"So, mum how are you and da doing? I feel like I don't see him much anymore. It feels like im five again waiting for him to come back from one of his work trips for the railroad."
*Flashback to 1983*
"Mumma, where's papa?" Six year old Shelagh stood next to her parents' bed.
"Oh my darling girl, papa is working on the trains remember? He has to make them strong so they can chuuuuuuuugga chuuuuuuugga chooooo!" Julie lifted Shelagh up and shook her slightly before she threw the squealing girl in the air and caught her, wrapping her up tight next to her in the big bed. Shelagh snuggled in and whispered before closing her eyes.
"One day mama, I'll be a twain confuncter too! Just like papa!"
"Yes my dear, you can be anything you want to be. Shelagh ignored the adorable lisp that the small child had, and giggled softly.
"Goodnight my sweet." Julie kissed her forehead and turned the light off, snuggling in for the night with her beautiful little girl.
"I know the feeling, it seems he's always working or doing this or that. I feel like i never see him anymore." Julie said, as she shrugged her shoulders.
"How about you, Patrick and the kids come for dinner on thursday?"
"Mum, that sounds lovely!" Amelia started to squirm and cry on her chest. Shelagh took her out of the wrap and used it to cover herself as she let Amelia nurse.
"Thursday it is then! She looks so big now, she must be growing three inches a week!" Julie exclaimed, softly rubbing the tiny foot peeking out from under the blanket.
"Don't remind me, I think she's teething. She has slept in our bed the past few nights and fusses constantly if shes not with one of us." Shelagh could tell Amelia was getting a bit warm under the cover and lifted it of her a bit, rubbing her back as she did so to soothe her.
"Have you tried diluted clove powder?" Julie asked, sitting back and taking a sip of her tea.
"I have. You have spoiled Angela though, she thinks she's entitled to some too now!" Shelagh playfully grumbled and lifted Amelia to her shoulder to burp her. After she was settled Julie reached out her arms for the infant.
"Grandmas turn! Gimme" Shelagh chuckled and handed Amelia over to her mother and watched and she immediately calmed and started to fall asleep.
"You know what, just keep her." Shelagh scoffed and rolled her eyes at her mother fawning over the babe.
"Careful what you wish for my dear, that's what I did with you!"