Chapter 38
A month later everyone met again, but this time in Texas. The gifts around the tree were stacked almost half way up the tree. All of the children protested that Gerald and Adel had gone way over board in the gifts for their grandchildren. Gerald and Adel ignored them.
When Liiani got a moment alone with AJ she asked him, "What would you think of me becoming a stay at home mom when the babies arrive?"
AJ contemplated his answer and then said, "Akaliiani if that is what you want, I will fully support you in whatever you decide."
"I just don't think I could go back to work and leave them. I really want to be with them all the time."
"Then that is what you should do," he said.
Valentine's Day had just come and gone. Liiani was seven months along and beginning to waddle a bit when she walked. AJ knew better than to tell her about this, however he couldn't help but smile each time he saw it happen. She had promised herself she would work as long as she could, however she was so tired by the time she finished work for the day that she knew it was time to quit.
On her last day of work Vince called from Little Creek. Collette was in the hospital and they were very afraid she might lose the baby. She could hear that he was trying his best to keep tears at bay at the same time he was apologizing to her for putting this on her plate when she was pregnant too. But she and AJ were the closest and he really needed family there.
Liiani told her boss what was going on and he was very understanding as to why she had to leave. Calling AJ she explained what Vince had said as she headed to her car. She told him she was on her way to pick him up.
Quickly calling Harm, who had become his Chief of Staff, into his office AJ explained that Harm would be in charge until he returned. When Liiani arrived, AJ insisted that she let him drive, because she could barely keep her tears at bay. Liiani simply nodded and moved to the passenger seat.
"Do you have any idea what is wrong?" AJ questioned.
"No, all he would say was that she was in the hospital and could lose the baby. When I tried to question him further, he said he needed to call the rest of the family."
"Okay, we'll be there before long and we can find out."
AJ pushed when he could, getting the three hour drive down to two and a quarter. When they arrived he put his arm around her waist to support her as they hurried inside.
They found Vince in the waiting room slumped in a chair with his head in his hands. Hurrying over to him Liiani put her hand on his arm and said, "We're here Vince, where is Collette? Why are you out here?!"
He lifted his head to look at her and she could have sworn that he had aged ten years since they had seen him at Christmas. "They took her into delivery," he stated hoarsely.
"Oh Vince, what happened?"
"I don't know. They said she was in a lot of pain at work and then collapsed. They called me to say she had been rushed here. They only let me see her for a moment before they took her away."
"What did the doctor say, Vince?" AJ asked him gently.
"That Collette had a prolapsed uterus and we could lose the baby, and that she was in danger too. I could lose them both!"
Liiani put her around her brother then she and AJ took seats on either side of him. After an hour of sitting there in the waiting room a nurse entered and called out, "Mr. Benet." She called twice more before AJ and Liiani helped Vince to his feet and the three of them approached the nurse.
"He's used to be called Captain Benet," AJ told her.
Nodding the nurse said quietly, "I just came out to tell you that your daughter was just born. She is very small and her lungs are underdeveloped. She is being taken to our neonatal NIC U."
"And Collette?! What about my wife?!"
To be continued…..