Cristina was happy. Even though Owen was still away, she was as happy as she could be without him being there. Having Irene around was indeed a blessing. All of the housework was now shared by the two women and made life a lot easier for Cristina.
Irene usually made breakfast for everyone and also packed the girls' lunches and snacks, while Cristina got the girls ready in the morning. After breakfast, Cristina and the girls would leave for the day. Irene would do the grocery shopping and prepare dinner in the evening. It was really great for Cristina and the girls to have a hot meal ready for them, when they got home. Things were definitely much better between Owen and Cristina. He had peace of mind that Paul was no longer hanging around his family, while Cristina had a companion in Irene, who was always ready to listen and to support her. The arrangement was working out really well.
Since Cristina still had to encounter Paul on a daily basis during the work week, it was a little awkward at first. Neither of them wanted to discuss the real reason why it was so uncomfortable between them. Instead, they were polite to each other and that seemed to work out for the best. Their children were still friends, so it was imperative that they appeared to get along.
Irene was glad that Paul was no longer around. She knew that it bothered Owen greatly when Paul seemed to have become an important part of Cristina's life. When Owen had called her to move to California, he knew it was going to be a huge favor to ask. After all, she would be uprooting her whole life in Seattle to move to California for an indefinite period of time. When she heard the strain in Owen's face and voice, she knew she had no choice. She would have done anything to make it better for him and his family. She had quickly settled down into the Hunt household. She hadn't realized how much she loved being around the two little girls. Though they were not her flesh and blood, she loved them as much as any grandmother could.
Irene was extremely excited about Cristina's pregnancy. These were her very first grandchildren. When Owen had told her that Cristina had been expecting twins, she had jumped for joy. Now, she was helping her daughter-in-law as much as she could to prepare for the impending birth of the twins. It was Irene, who accompanied Cristina to the doctor's office. She was there when Dr. Ratner told Cristina that the two babies were going to be boys. Irene cried tears of real joy in the ob/gyn's office. She was so emotional. She was so happy that when Owen called to find out about the gender of the babies, she couldn't help herself but blurt it out. Cristina didn't mind because her mother-in-law seemed so genuinely ecstatic about it all.
"Boys? Two boys? Two boys!" Owen yelled over the computer. "Wow, we will have two of each. I wonder if they will be identical."
"I am hoping that they are not identical," Cristina said. "Can you imagine two identical mischievous boys trying to fool me? No, siree. They are not going to pull the wool over their momma's eyes."
Owen chuckled. "By the way, I am making arrangements so I can get leave when the babies are born. I have already spoken to the CO about it. So if everything works out as I am hoping they would, I will be there for my babies."
"That is so wonderful, Owen," his mother said. "The whole family together."
"Cristina?" Owen said. She hadn't said anything.
"Don't mind me, I am just a little bit tired," Cristina said. "I am very happy that you will be home for their birth. I think I am going to take a nap. You two can continue talking. Bye, Owen." She got up from in front of the computer and headed to her bedroom.
When she left, Irene could see the anxiety on Owen's face. "Is everything alright with her?" he asked.
"The doctor says she's quite anemic," Irene said. "Common in women during pregnancy but even more so in women carrying more than one baby, the doctor said. The anemia has her feeling tired and weak. They are upping her iron intake and making sure she's increasing her folic acid and Vitamin B12."
"Mom, you will take care of her?" Owen said. "Please. I know anemia carries a lot of risks, like pre-term delivery."
"Yes, son, I will. I will make sure she takes all of her supplements," Irene said. "Don't you worry. I am just as invested as you in having a healthy mother and two healthy babies. Trust me."
"Thanks, mom," Owen said. As he hung up the call, he wondered if it would be better if Cristina quit her job as guidance counselor at the middle school. It was stressful enough with the pregnancy and taking care of Iris and Laurel, but she was also somehow taking on the burdens and demands of those children who sought her counsel. It all seemed to be taking a toll on her health.
It wasn't like if she needed the job, anyway. She was more than financially secure, especially with her inheritance from her father. The reason she got the job was also gone. She had gotten the job when their marriage was just one of convenience, when it was just a support so that she could finally stand on her own two feet. But that was no longer the case. Theirs was a real marriage, one that was built on love and family. So, maybe it was time that she no longer worked and just looked after herself and the children. He wanted to talk to her about it.
Cristina lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She was tired but it was so hard to sleep. She was not surprised when the doctor told her she was anemic. She had been feeling extremely tired at school and nearly passed out in her office. She had told no one that, not even her doctor, because Irene was there in the office. Irene would have told Owen and he would have been worried.
She remembered it well. She had started seeing black spots and she knew she was going to hit the floor, so she grabbed on to her desk and collapsed into her chair. She put her head down between her legs, until the feeling had subsided and she had started feeling better. With increased supplements, she figured that would help the anemia. Though she knew she was probably partly responsible for her health issues, Cristina had not been taking her supplements the way she should have. It was because she was so busy with the kids, the job and the house. She knew she had to do a better job at it.
When Owen spoke to her the next time, he made the point of asking her about quitting her job. She was taken aback that he would ask her to do such a thing. She enjoyed her job and helping the children with their issues.
"Cristina," he said. "You have to take better care of yourself and the babies you are carrying. You are my top priority."
"I can handle it, Owen," she tried to assure him. "I will take my supplements and everything is going to be alright. I am going to pass my next blood test with flying colors."
Owen looked doubtful. "Alright, if you say so, but if your blood work doesn't improve, we are going to discuss this again."
"Agreed," she told him. "But it will be fine. Trust me." She gave him a sweet smile. Trust me, he thought. Those were the exact words his mother had used when he had discussed Cristina's anemia. He really hoped that he could trust the both of them.
Cristina woke up with a start. She looked at the time. Her alarm did not go off. She was going to be late for work and the kids for school. She hurriedly brushed her teeth and then ran to wake up her daughters, who were both reluctant to roll out of bed. She saw Irene making breakfast in the kitchen. "Irene, why didn't you wake me up? Now we are all so late," Cristina said.
"You were so tired yesterday, I thought I would let you sleep in a little more," Irene said, apologetically. "I am sorry."
Cristina ran back to her room and got dressed as fast as she could. Then, she went to make sure the girls brushed their teeth and washed their faces, before getting them dressed. Time was passing so fast, Cristina thought.
She went to the kitchen and stared at the lovely sandwiches that Irene had prepared. They didn't have time to sit down and have breakfast. She grabbed the sandwiches and put them in a bag, along with two juice boxes. The children could have them on the way to school. She picked up their lunch bags and hurried them out to the car.
Irene yelled, "What about you, Cristina? What are you having for breakfast? What about some coffee?"
"I will grab something on the way to work," she said. "I just don't have the time, especially since I have to drive Iris off the base."
"Okay," Irene said, not liking the way Cristina was rushing out without eating. "Don't forget to take your supplements."
"Yeah, sure," Cristina said. She buckled up the children and jumped in the car. She handed Iris the bag with the sandwiches and told her to take one and give the other to Laurel. Iris did as she was told. The two children happily munched at their sandwiches and drank from their juice boxes.
Cristina was in a total tizzy. She hated being late. It made her feel unprepared for the day.
"Mommy, aren't you eating breakfast?" Iris asked.
"Yes, I will but I am driving, now. I can't eat and drive at the same time," she reminded Iris. "Don't worry, honey, I will get something to eat before I drop Laurel to school."
They were nearly there to Iris' school, when Cristina started feeling faint. She started seeing the black spots again. She knew exactly what was going to happen. She had seen those warning black spots before. There was no way she was going to black out in the middle of the street, with her girls in the car. With everything she had in her, she pulled off to the side of the street and switched off the car. Then, she lost consciousness. Her head hit the steering wheel exactly where the horn was, making it blare, incessantly.
"Mommy!" Iris screamed. She knew something was very wrong. She unbuckled herself from the seatbelt, climbed to the passenger front seat. She used all her strength to push her mother back from the steering wheel. Her mother had a red bruise on her forehead where her head had hit the steering wheel.
Iris shook her mother but she was not responding.
"What's wrong, Iris?" Laurel asked from the back seat.
"I don't know," Iris said. "Mommy is not waking up."
"I am scared," Laurel said and she started to cry. Iris wanted to cry, too but she knew she had to do something. She dug in Cristina's purse and pulled out her mother's phone. Mommy had told her that if there was ever an emergency, she should dial 911. Clearly, this was an emergency, Iris thought, as she dialed the number.
"Hello, 911," the operator said. "What is your emergency?"
"My mommy won't wake up," Iris said. "We're in our car on the side of the road."
"Okay, honey, how old are you?" the operator said. "Is anybody else there with you besides your mommy?"
"I am five. My sister, Laurel is here, too. She is three," Iris told the operator.
"Well, okay, could you tell me where you are, if you know?" the operator asked, anxiously. The children were quite young, so she needed to get help as quickly as possible.
"We are near my school, the Thomson School for Gifted Children," Iris said. "We are parked next to a big sign that says KTLV – Channel 11 Action News."
"Yes, I know exactly where that is, Iris. Help is on your way. I guess you are really gifted to read that sign. Not many five-year-olds would know what that is," the operator said. "My name is Lulu, Iris. So just stay on the line until help comes. A police officer will be there as well as an ambulance for your mommy. What is your mommy's name?"
"Cristina Hunt," Iris said. Iris and the operator chatted for a bit until a policeman knocked on the glass of the window, telling her to open it. Iris hit the button to release the doors and the policeman opened the door.
"Hello, my name is Officer Phelps. I am here to help you," the officer said. Iris was so grateful that she gave the policeman a big hug.
"Help my mommy," Iris whispered.
A/N Please leave your thoughts and comments. I do appreciate when you take the time to review. Thank you very much.