Chapter 32: Addison Visits
When he found out the ultrasound was over, Alex offered to keep Bronwyn and Oliver overnight. Jo had the next 24 hours off, so she could help out too. Owen was deeply grateful and began to try to figure out the logistics of getting the kids home the following day. Alex assured him that he and Jo would be more than happy to bring them home. As Owen enveloped Amelia in his arm, Alex walked alongside them to get the carseats.
After Owen kissed her and then closed the passenger side door, Amelia began searching for her phone. Before Owen finished removing the car seats and made it to the driver's side, Amelia was already on the phone with Addison.
"Addie, I'm so glad you answered," Amelia sighed. "I really have to talk."
"No problem, Amy. How are my godchildren?" Addison answered playfully. Amelia had called her earlier on in the pregnancy as soon as they found out about the multiples. She knew Addison could help her really understand the Vanishing Twin situation.
Amelia didn't respond for a few seconds. She blinked her eyes several times and covered her mouth with her hand briefly.
"Amy, are you still there?" Addison inquired.
"Yeah," Amelia answered quickly. She was so determined to not fall apart until she arrived at home, but her resolve was crumbling. Amelia swallowed hard. Trying to sound chipper, Amelia shared with a cracking voice, "They're both girls."
"What's wrong, Amy? C'mon, it's me here," Addison responded seriously as she heard the unsteady announcement.
Amelia began to cry. Owen glanced at her quickly and moved his hand over to hers. Grasping it and raising his hand to her quivering lips, she kissed it gently. He loosened his grip and gently wiped the tears off her cheek before re-grasping her hand. Their vital connection rested on the seat the rest of the drive home.
"Um…" Amelia stuttered.
"Sweetie…Amelia…take your time. I'm here as long as it takes," Addison assured her.
Amelia croaked out the words, "Twin Two…she has Spina Bifida D. I have to have surgery. I need you here."
Addison slowly closed her eyes as she asked, "Where are you right now, Amelia?"
"In the car. Owen's here. We're going home," Amelia explained.
As Amelia spoke, Addison was quickly throwing clothes in a bag. "I can be on my way tonight. The next flight out," Addison offered.
"Please," Amelia sobbed. "I'm scared, Addison."
"I know," Addison affirmed. "Amelia. You are strong and resilient. A woman of resolve and determination. Somehow this will all work out." Owen pulled the car into the garage but remained in the car with Amelia.
"What if it doesn't?" Amelia cried. "Addie, what if she's paralyzed or blind or gets hydrocephalus or has seizures or…"
"Amelia…Amelia…stop. Deep breath," Addison interjected. "No 'what ifs.' Slow down and just get through the next hour with Owen at your side. I'll call you as soon as I book a flight."
"Ok," Amelia whimpered as she hung up the phone. She squeezed Owen's hand and pointed toward the door to the house. Unbuckling her seatbelt and opening the car door, she followed Owen as he stepped inside. Owen held on to Amelia as if she couldn't walk alone, even though they both knew she truly could. While normally such tending would rub her the wrong way, Amelia leaned into Owen's chest as she mumbled, "She's coming up. As soon as she can."
"Ok," Owen said softly as they approached the stairs. Without asking, he reached down and picked Amelia up. He was a bit unsure if it would get him in trouble with her but decided to proceed. Amelia melted into his grasp, trying to share the conversation with him and attempting to run through the afternoon's schedule.
Repeating herself unintentionally, Amelia muttered, "She's on her way."
"Mhm," Owen responded gently as he neared their bedroom.
"Finley. He needs to be picked up from school. What time is it? And the little kids, they're going to need clothes and toothbrushes and PJs…"
Interrupting, Owen whispered, "I'm on it. Finley gets out of school in 45 minutes. Everything is handled."
As Owen set Amelia on the bed and snuggled up with her, she insisted, "You need space, too, Owen. These are your babies too." She concluded her statement by placing her hand over the babies and Owen mimicked her moves. Twin One was kicking and moving around and Twin Two seemed to be pushing toward Amelia's skin and ribs.
Owen chuckled lightly and suggested, "I think Two's trying to wipe Mama's tears."
Amelia smiled through her slowing tears and turned to kiss Owen. "You need to take care of you too, Owen," Amelia re-emphasized.
"I will. I promise," Owen pledged. "What can I get you? Are you hungry? Thirsty?"
Amelia rubbed her face with both of her hands and requested, "Maybe some water."
Looking deeply and seriously into her eyes, Owen assured her, "I'll be right back. You sure you don't want anything else?" Amelia nodded.
While he was downstairs, Owen heated up some soup and put together some simple snacks. He thought Amelia might eat if there was food in front of her. As he maneuvered around the kitchen, he called Lynne, who was due back the day after next. After that brief call, he headed back upstairs with Amelia's water and soup. Upon entering the Master Bedroom, Owen found Amelia asleep. He set the tray on a side table where she would see it if she woke up and covered her up in a blanket. Then he stood in the doorway gazing at her for a few minutes before leaving to pick up Finley.
Finley seemed to be in an infinitely better mood than he'd been that morning. Hopping into the car and noticing the little kids weren't there, he asked Owen about them. Owen shared that they would be spending the night at Alex's because he and Amelia had received some concerning news about the babies. In an oversimplified description, Owen explained that one baby's spinal cord wasn't fully inside the spine like it should be.
"Is the baby going to be ok?" Finley asked with a tinge of fear and concern.
"Yes. I think so. We're still learning about our options and about her situation," Owen offered.
Finley caught the gender reference immediately, "Her?"
Owen chuckled, "Two of them."
"Isn't Bronwyn enough?" Finley joked with a grin.
On the way home, Owen and Finley stopped to replace Owen's shattered phone. On a day like the one Owen had, he didn't even attempt to calculate the best deal or option. Instead, he just explained the situation honestly and offered a glimpse into Oliver's fall and their chaotic morning. The representative explained that since he was within the first 24 hours, she could void the previous contract and they could simply start again with a replacement phone at no cost. The offer sounded too good to be true, but Owen signed the papers and left with a new phone. He was fairly sure the rep had found a way to maneuver around the system, but he took the surprise as a sign of grace and hope.
On their way home, Owen offered Finley the option of joining the other kids or staying home that night. In a moment of rare preciousness – which occurred less and less frequently lately – Finley expressed, "I want to stay home. You guys probably need help around the house and stuff." Owen grinned proudly and agreed as they pulled into the garage.
Amelia was watching TV as Owen came to the bedroom to check on her. He looked at her with his blue eyes as he sat on the edge of the bed and uttered, "How was your nap?"
"Nice," Amelia smiled. "Jake called to let us know Addison's arriving at SeaTac at 6:00pm. I can go get her and give you some down time. Where's Finley?"
Owen shared Finley's offer to help and then suggested, "I'll go to the airport. You just rest. I'll get some stuff together for the little kids and drop it by Karev's on my way there. It's no problem."
"I'm not a fragile and helpless maiden, Owen," Amelia smirked as she cocked her head.
"I know, I know. Truth be told, I need to stop at the hospital so I can bring some work home and I want to grab a short-term disability form for Annalisa to sign. Assuming that you want to take some time off," he quickly covered his level of protection by confirming the decision with Amelia.
"Whether I like it or not, yes. Maybe I should resign, and we can figure everything out after the babies are a little older," Amelia mused much to Owen's surprise.
Owen suggested, "Let's not make such a huge decision today, Mia. One step at a time?" Amelia nodded.
Not long afterward, Owen left for his multiple errands. He figured Addison would want to see the images right away, so he decided they could stop at the hospital on their way home from the airport. Calling Annalisa to give her a heads up, Owen explained Addison's friendship and visit. Then he stopped at Karev's. His house was already a huge mess as Alex and the kids chased each other around the racetrack of his living room, dining room, kitchen and hallway. Jo answered the door and joked that it was like any other night, only with three kids instead of one. Owen hugged each of the kids and told them good night. Alex walked him out to the car to hear an update on Amelia's state of mind. Sharing just a small amount of Amelia's call to Addison, Owen mentioned that he was on his way to pick Addie up at the airport.
Addison sent a text to Owen to coordinate the pick-up spot and saw him just as he drove up. Hopping in the car, she kidded, "So, this is what budding families of 7 are driving these days, huh?"
Owen chuckled as Addie held her gaze on him and put her hand on his arm, "Just between us, how are you?"
"It's… uh… it's tough news. I'm holding myself together. I figured I could have some time alone while you and Amelia caught up," Owen disclosed.
"It is tough news. I'm so sorry," Addison shared.
Owen pursed his lips and responded, "Thanks." After a brief pause in the conversation, Owen summarized the ultrasound and findings, concluding with, "If you'd like, we can stop by the hospital and you can review the scans and her file."
"Sure," Addison agreed with surprise. Owen most certainly was containing himself emotionally if he was considering the level of detail he had just shared.
By the time they arrived at the hospital, the day shift had clocked out and the smaller night crew was on duty. The hallways were quiet, and the hospital seemed more peaceful when it wasn't bustling with emergencies and people. "I love my job and the daily chaos, but there is something wonderful about being here at night," Owen mused as they approached Annalisa's office.
Annalisa had downloaded Amelia's file and scans onto a tablet shortly after Owen had called on his way to the airport. Leaving Addison to peruse the films, Owen ran to his office and gathered paperwork to take home. When he returned, Addie was speaking to both Arizona and Annalisa by phone. The amazing after-hours dedication of his staff and friends touched his heart.
When Addison and Owen arrived back at the house, she commented that it was even quieter than the hospital had been. Owen joked that leaving the little kids with Karev and Jo made the silence possible. The duo headed to the Master Bedroom and found Finley and Amelia snuggled together and asleep. Owen mouthed, "Wine?" to Addison and she nodded.
Returning downstairs, Addison looked at the pictures of the kids and the family displayed on the front of the refrigerator while Owen opened a bottle of Cabernet. "The five of you make an incredible family. What are the kids' names and ages, again?" she asked him as she took a sip of wine.
Owen stood next to Addison, wine glass in hand, and proudly shared, "This one here is Finley. He's eleven, is an avid and talented soccer player, and a great student. He's at that stage where one minute he's practicing being a snarly teenager and then next minute he's cuddled up like he is right now. Over here, that's Oliver," Owen paused and chuckled before continuing, "Oliver is a fireball of 1st grade energy. He's seven and wants to do everything his brother does. Too busy to focus on details, he'd go to school naked if we didn't remind him to get dressed. He just lost one of his front teeth, so he speaks with a lisp now. And this little beauty is Bronwyn. She's nearly four and, as you can see, a redhead. She has the stubborn and determined personality to match the stereotype. Dancing, tattling on her brothers, and choosing mismatched outfits are her talents."
Addison smiled broadly at Owen and shared her observation, "You're a loving dad, Owen. I loved watching your face light up as you spoke about each of them."
Shifting his feet, Owen blushed slightly and admitted, "Even though it hasn't been very long, I honestly can't imagine life without them, and I barely remember my life before them." He paused and then held his hand out toward the couches, "Would you like to sit down?"
"Sure," Addison responded with a grin. She curled up in the corner cushions and snuggled under a blanket. Owen started a fire in the fireplace and sat directly across from it.
"So…" Addison broke the comfortable silence a few minutes later, "any questions about the babies or the upcoming series of events?" Amelia heard the question as she approached the stairs. Rather than walking downstairs as planned, she sat down on the top stair and eavesdropped on the conversation.
Owen gazed into the fire and lay his head on the back of the cushion as he stretched his feet onto the coffee table. With plodding words, he said, "I have a million questions. I know we're in great, talented, skilled hands. Amelia's resilience and resolve will serve the babies well. It's hard to know where to start, what to worry about, what not to worry about. You know?"
"Absolutely," Addison answered after taking another sip of wine. "I don't want to be pushy, either. It's been a tremendously long day for you. If you'd prefer to talk about something else or to not talk at all, I'm amenable."
After waiting about 30 seconds, Owen stood up and offered to refill Addie's glass. When he handed it to her, he checked the fire and then headed to the windows. He opened two windows just enough for them to hear the sound of the water lapping on the shore but not enough to let the evening breeze blow in. Facing outward, he described his actions with a soft laugh, "I like to do this – have a crackling fire and then open the windows to hear the water. Amelia gets after me because it affects the heat bill." Amelia smiled to herself from the top of the stairway, knowing Owen's story was 100% accurate.
Addison remained silent, hoping the space would open up an opportunity for Owen to let down his guard. Owen took a sip of wine, continued gazing outside, and brought up questions about the timing of the surgery, "I'm confused about the sweet spot where the in-utero surgery can work its best magic and the baby or babies could safely be delivered if necessary."
"It's not an easy answer and, truthfully, I'd like to review Amelia's situation more deeply before providing a definitive answer. The surgery can occur between 19-25 weeks. Viability increases tremendously at 25 weeks to 55-70%, but, honestly, viability does not ensure freedom from lifelong disabilities. My goal would be to keep Twin One as intact as possible so she can be as close to full-term as we can get her. We'll do everything possible to prevent delivery of Twin Two when we operate, of course. The sweet spot is usually around 24 weeks in my book, but every specialist has solid reasons for other timing preferences."
"What's the likelihood Twin Two will die on the table?" Owen asked flatly. "The question has haunted me all day, but I didn't want to utter it in front of Amelia."
"Very, very low," Addison assured him. "However, not surviving beyond the NICU or beyond infancy is always a concern."
Owen continued to gaze into the dark skies on the other side of the windows, "Times like these are not good times to be a doctor. I know just enough to have far too many complications and possibilities on my radar."
"I know," Addison responded with compassion. "Have you chosen names yet?"
"No. Haven't even talked about it. I was thinking Hope would be a great name for Twin Two, but I'd want to make sure Amelia's on board with it. I'd like to choose names as soon as possible, though. It feels so impersonal to call them Twin One and Twin Two."
"I have a few name ideas," Amelia interjected as she approached Addison and hugged her.
Owen turned toward the room and grinned at Amelia, "You do, huh?"
Amelia smirked at Owen as she sat down on the sofa, "Hope is a beautiful name, Owen, but 'Hope Hunt' doesn't work for me."
Chuckling, Owen acknowledged her insights, "Maybe it's the two one-syllable words. I hear you."
"I love the sentiment, though," Amelia affirmed.
"How about Asha? It means hope and life," Addison suggested. The couple met each other's eyes.
Owen tried the sound, "Asha Hunt." He nodded and smiled toward Amelia, "Twin Two: Asha Gabrielle. Amelia? What do you think?"
Amelia nodded, "I like it. I hope she has dark hair. Doesn't sound like a redhead's name."
"You can color it. What the hell!" Addison laughed. "What about Twin One?"
"Madeline?" Amelia glanced at Owen.
He shrugged lightly, "Sure. Madeline Hunt. I like it. Madeline What Hunt?"
Amelia looked up to the ceiling. "Hmmmm…Madeline Carolyn and Madeline Evelyn both sound ridiculous," she pointed out trying each of the grandma's names.
"Madeline Hope," Finley answered sleepily from the kitchen counter as he poured himself some water.
Simultaneously, Amelia and Owen exclaimed, "Perfect. Love it."
Just so you know, the babies names have not been officially chosen yet.