Chapter 16: It's Time!
A/N: Again, I didn't have too much homework, although what I did have was hard. I had to draw a self-portrait, while looking in the mirror and I couldn't look at what I was drawing. I came out looking like a troll. At least it was somewhat humanoid right? I hope I don't look like a troll. Anyway, you should all try to draw something and not look down while you are drawing. It's pretty interesting. This chapter is set in the last week of January.
(Annie's POV)
It's been several months and things have returned to as close to normal as they will return to at the Camden household. Lucy is almost to her ninth month. She and Kevin moved into a little house several blocks away. When they told me they were moving, they were afraid I would be upset, but really I was happy. Moving into your first house is an unforgettable experience and with a baby on the way, they need some privacy. It does seem more lonely without Lucy and Kevin around every day, but they visit frequently.
It breaks my heart that Ruthie still won't speak to anyone. We had to keep her out of school because she can't go if she's not talking. I just pray to God that she won't be silent for the rest of her life. For now, I am home-schooling her so she won't fall too far behind. Simon continues to go to therapy and he is improving. He was severely depressed, but he is learning to deal with his feelings more openly than just repressing it all. He is being home-schooled until the end of this year, then he will return to school in the fall for his senior year. He apologizes to me every day. He says it's his fault Ruthie won't speak and he knows it's hurting me. I don't blame him though. We've all tried to prod her into saying something, anything. I guess she'll say something when she's good and ready.
"David!" I called up the stairs.
"Coming," he hollered back.
He came thundering down the stairs.
"Ready to go?" I asked him.
"Yes Mommy," he replied.
"Okay. You do like going to this group, don't you? Because if you don't like it, you don't have to go," I explained to him.
"No, it's fun. There are some other kids there and the adults are nice," he replied.
I smiled down at him. I couldn't believe how well he had adapted to not having his brother around. In early December, we received a letter from a group called 'Twinless Twins'. It was a support/therapy type group that was for people who lost their twins. Twinless twins of any age met with others and discussed how their losses felt and what it was like to live without their twins. Most of them still sensed a presence and felt their dead twin acted as a guardian angel. At first I was wary of the group, but we signed David up anyway and he is doing wonderfully. He tells me all sorts of things that he learns in group and that he feels better when he goes. They do a good job of helping cope with life alone. As long as the group is helping him, I will let him keep going.
"Eric?" I knocked on the door to his office.
"Yes?" came the reply.
"I'm taking David to group and then I'll come back to give Ruthie her lessons," I explained.
"All right. I'll be here, working on my sermon and then I'll be at the church to do some counseling. I'll see you later," he told me.
"Okay. I love you," I said. These days I made it a habit to tell my family that I loved them often. That way if, God forbid, anything should happen to me, they would all know I love them.
(Simon's POV)
I look back now at how close I came to dying and it scares me. I don't understand how I could have gotten so bad I felt I had to die. I thank the Lord everyday for letting me live. I plan to dedicate at least part of my life talking to depressed teens and making sure they get help. I don't want anyone to ever go through what I went through and put my family through. Poor Ruthie, she hasn't said a word to anyone since she found me. I keep telling her I'm sorry for what I did and that I'm getting better and I love her no matter what, but she just stares at me. I know it's breaking Mom's heart that Ruthie won't speak. I've begged and pleaded with Ruthie to just say something to Mom, but she vehemently shakes her head no.
It's weird around here with Lucy and Kevin gone now. I know they need their own place, but the house seems so empty these days. It's just me, Mom, Dad, Ruthie and David. Luce visits all the time, but it's not the same. And Ruthie's so quiet, she might as well be a wall. I love her, but she just frustrates me so much. Mom and Dad are busy all the time, trying to keep their lives more normal. Mom won't leave the house without telling everyone she loves us.
"Simon? May I come in?" Mom called out.
"Yes," I said, putting down the magazine I had been reading.
"I'm taking David to group, then I'll be back to start your lessons, okay?" she asked.
"That's fine with me, I was just getting ready to finish that essay you assigned last week," I told her.
"Good. And I love you," she added.
"I love you too, Mom," I said.
(Kevin's POV)
I was sitting in the patrol car with Roxanne when my pager went off. It flashed my home phone number and I figured it was just Lucy wanting me to pick up something she was craving for. I borrowed Roxanne's cellphone and called the house, expecting a normal call.
"Kevin! Thank God you called. My water broke and I'm in labor, but I can't drive. No one else is answering, so you gotta come get me to go to the hospital," she spat out all in one breath.
"Calm down, I'm on my way," I said soothingly.
"Calm down! The baby is two weeks early! That can't be good," she was nearly in tears, I could tell.
"Remember what the doctor said about first children being a little premature. The baby should be fine," I told her.
Roxanne's eyes grew wide as she mouthed," She's having the baby now?"
I nodded and started the car.
"I hope you're right Kevin. When will you be here?" she demanded.
"Two minutes tops, we're really close by. Just try and remain calm and remember your breathing exercises," I tried to keep my own cool. Deep down inside, I was excited. My first baby was about to be born.
I pulled into my driveway and ran into the house. Roxanne got out and followed me in.
"Lucy?" I called out.
"I'm in here," she yelled.
I ran toward her voice and found her laying down on our bed," Ready to go?"
"Yes, let's get a move on," she gave me her hand.
I helped her up and directed Roxanne to grab a duffel bag we had sitting next to the door for when it was time. I assisted Lucy to the back seat of the squad car. I slid in next to her so that I could be with her. Roxanne jumped into the driver's seat and quickly headed to the hospital. When we arrived, I took Lucy to the Maternity admissions desk. The receptionist looked worried when a pregnant woman showed up with two cops. I quickly explained that she was my wife and Roxanne was my partner.
"Lucy Kinkirk," I told the receptionist.
"Okay, can you spell that for me?" she asked.
"K-I-N-K-I-R-K!" Lucy screamed, cleary exasperated about it taking so long to be admitted.
"All right, all right, no need to yell," she said, then called over a nurse," please assist the Kinkirks to room 401."
The nurse sat Lucy in a wheelchair and I followed them down the hall, leaving Roxanne to sit in the waiting room. The nurse got Lucy all settled in and then said a doctor would be along soon. As soon as she left a man entered the room.
"Mrs. Kinkirk?" he asked.
"Yes," Lucy snapped.
"Calm down sweetie," I reminded her.
"Sorry," she said.
"Okay, I'm Dr. Swanson and I'm here to check how far along in the labor you are. I'll be the one to deliver your baby," he explained.
"Wait, I'm confused. YOU'RE my doctor," Lucy furrowed her eyebrows," I was expecting a woman."
"Male OB/GYN's are quite common," Dr. Swanson explained as he examined Lucy," looks like you're only dilated about two centimeters. You've got a long way to go. It could be several hours or maybe not even until tomorrow before you deliver."
"How far do I have to be?" Lucy asked.
"Ten centimeters," came the reply.
"Oh man," she groaned.
I knew I was in for a long day.
"I'll be back in an hour or two to check you out. If you need anything, just page a nurse," the doctor said.
As he left, I said," So, who should call first?"
"My parents, then your Mom. Then everyone else," she said.
"Okay. Do you want me to do all the talking or do you want to do some of it?"
"You do it," she said, looking so disgusted that I could even suggest she speak on the phone," I don't feel like talking on the phone."
A/N: I was running out of things to do in the last chapter, so I thought a jump ahead in time would be appropriate. And if anyone was wondering there is a real group for twinless twins. It's basically the way I explained it in the story. Did you know that Elvis was a twinless twin? His brother died shortly after birth and Elvis was plagued most of his life by feelings of guilt for his brother's death. Just some interesting facts for you. Hope you liked this chapter.
Coming Soon: Is Lucy in for a long or short labor? Will her delivery be easy or difficult? Can anything get Ruthie talking again?
A/N: Again, I didn't have too much homework, although what I did have was hard. I had to draw a self-portrait, while looking in the mirror and I couldn't look at what I was drawing. I came out looking like a troll. At least it was somewhat humanoid right? I hope I don't look like a troll. Anyway, you should all try to draw something and not look down while you are drawing. It's pretty interesting. This chapter is set in the last week of January.
(Annie's POV)
It's been several months and things have returned to as close to normal as they will return to at the Camden household. Lucy is almost to her ninth month. She and Kevin moved into a little house several blocks away. When they told me they were moving, they were afraid I would be upset, but really I was happy. Moving into your first house is an unforgettable experience and with a baby on the way, they need some privacy. It does seem more lonely without Lucy and Kevin around every day, but they visit frequently.
It breaks my heart that Ruthie still won't speak to anyone. We had to keep her out of school because she can't go if she's not talking. I just pray to God that she won't be silent for the rest of her life. For now, I am home-schooling her so she won't fall too far behind. Simon continues to go to therapy and he is improving. He was severely depressed, but he is learning to deal with his feelings more openly than just repressing it all. He is being home-schooled until the end of this year, then he will return to school in the fall for his senior year. He apologizes to me every day. He says it's his fault Ruthie won't speak and he knows it's hurting me. I don't blame him though. We've all tried to prod her into saying something, anything. I guess she'll say something when she's good and ready.
"David!" I called up the stairs.
"Coming," he hollered back.
He came thundering down the stairs.
"Ready to go?" I asked him.
"Yes Mommy," he replied.
"Okay. You do like going to this group, don't you? Because if you don't like it, you don't have to go," I explained to him.
"No, it's fun. There are some other kids there and the adults are nice," he replied.
I smiled down at him. I couldn't believe how well he had adapted to not having his brother around. In early December, we received a letter from a group called 'Twinless Twins'. It was a support/therapy type group that was for people who lost their twins. Twinless twins of any age met with others and discussed how their losses felt and what it was like to live without their twins. Most of them still sensed a presence and felt their dead twin acted as a guardian angel. At first I was wary of the group, but we signed David up anyway and he is doing wonderfully. He tells me all sorts of things that he learns in group and that he feels better when he goes. They do a good job of helping cope with life alone. As long as the group is helping him, I will let him keep going.
"Eric?" I knocked on the door to his office.
"Yes?" came the reply.
"I'm taking David to group and then I'll come back to give Ruthie her lessons," I explained.
"All right. I'll be here, working on my sermon and then I'll be at the church to do some counseling. I'll see you later," he told me.
"Okay. I love you," I said. These days I made it a habit to tell my family that I loved them often. That way if, God forbid, anything should happen to me, they would all know I love them.
(Simon's POV)
I look back now at how close I came to dying and it scares me. I don't understand how I could have gotten so bad I felt I had to die. I thank the Lord everyday for letting me live. I plan to dedicate at least part of my life talking to depressed teens and making sure they get help. I don't want anyone to ever go through what I went through and put my family through. Poor Ruthie, she hasn't said a word to anyone since she found me. I keep telling her I'm sorry for what I did and that I'm getting better and I love her no matter what, but she just stares at me. I know it's breaking Mom's heart that Ruthie won't speak. I've begged and pleaded with Ruthie to just say something to Mom, but she vehemently shakes her head no.
It's weird around here with Lucy and Kevin gone now. I know they need their own place, but the house seems so empty these days. It's just me, Mom, Dad, Ruthie and David. Luce visits all the time, but it's not the same. And Ruthie's so quiet, she might as well be a wall. I love her, but she just frustrates me so much. Mom and Dad are busy all the time, trying to keep their lives more normal. Mom won't leave the house without telling everyone she loves us.
"Simon? May I come in?" Mom called out.
"Yes," I said, putting down the magazine I had been reading.
"I'm taking David to group, then I'll be back to start your lessons, okay?" she asked.
"That's fine with me, I was just getting ready to finish that essay you assigned last week," I told her.
"Good. And I love you," she added.
"I love you too, Mom," I said.
(Kevin's POV)
I was sitting in the patrol car with Roxanne when my pager went off. It flashed my home phone number and I figured it was just Lucy wanting me to pick up something she was craving for. I borrowed Roxanne's cellphone and called the house, expecting a normal call.
"Kevin! Thank God you called. My water broke and I'm in labor, but I can't drive. No one else is answering, so you gotta come get me to go to the hospital," she spat out all in one breath.
"Calm down, I'm on my way," I said soothingly.
"Calm down! The baby is two weeks early! That can't be good," she was nearly in tears, I could tell.
"Remember what the doctor said about first children being a little premature. The baby should be fine," I told her.
Roxanne's eyes grew wide as she mouthed," She's having the baby now?"
I nodded and started the car.
"I hope you're right Kevin. When will you be here?" she demanded.
"Two minutes tops, we're really close by. Just try and remain calm and remember your breathing exercises," I tried to keep my own cool. Deep down inside, I was excited. My first baby was about to be born.
I pulled into my driveway and ran into the house. Roxanne got out and followed me in.
"Lucy?" I called out.
"I'm in here," she yelled.
I ran toward her voice and found her laying down on our bed," Ready to go?"
"Yes, let's get a move on," she gave me her hand.
I helped her up and directed Roxanne to grab a duffel bag we had sitting next to the door for when it was time. I assisted Lucy to the back seat of the squad car. I slid in next to her so that I could be with her. Roxanne jumped into the driver's seat and quickly headed to the hospital. When we arrived, I took Lucy to the Maternity admissions desk. The receptionist looked worried when a pregnant woman showed up with two cops. I quickly explained that she was my wife and Roxanne was my partner.
"Lucy Kinkirk," I told the receptionist.
"Okay, can you spell that for me?" she asked.
"K-I-N-K-I-R-K!" Lucy screamed, cleary exasperated about it taking so long to be admitted.
"All right, all right, no need to yell," she said, then called over a nurse," please assist the Kinkirks to room 401."
The nurse sat Lucy in a wheelchair and I followed them down the hall, leaving Roxanne to sit in the waiting room. The nurse got Lucy all settled in and then said a doctor would be along soon. As soon as she left a man entered the room.
"Mrs. Kinkirk?" he asked.
"Yes," Lucy snapped.
"Calm down sweetie," I reminded her.
"Sorry," she said.
"Okay, I'm Dr. Swanson and I'm here to check how far along in the labor you are. I'll be the one to deliver your baby," he explained.
"Wait, I'm confused. YOU'RE my doctor," Lucy furrowed her eyebrows," I was expecting a woman."
"Male OB/GYN's are quite common," Dr. Swanson explained as he examined Lucy," looks like you're only dilated about two centimeters. You've got a long way to go. It could be several hours or maybe not even until tomorrow before you deliver."
"How far do I have to be?" Lucy asked.
"Ten centimeters," came the reply.
"Oh man," she groaned.
I knew I was in for a long day.
"I'll be back in an hour or two to check you out. If you need anything, just page a nurse," the doctor said.
As he left, I said," So, who should call first?"
"My parents, then your Mom. Then everyone else," she said.
"Okay. Do you want me to do all the talking or do you want to do some of it?"
"You do it," she said, looking so disgusted that I could even suggest she speak on the phone," I don't feel like talking on the phone."
A/N: I was running out of things to do in the last chapter, so I thought a jump ahead in time would be appropriate. And if anyone was wondering there is a real group for twinless twins. It's basically the way I explained it in the story. Did you know that Elvis was a twinless twin? His brother died shortly after birth and Elvis was plagued most of his life by feelings of guilt for his brother's death. Just some interesting facts for you. Hope you liked this chapter.
Coming Soon: Is Lucy in for a long or short labor? Will her delivery be easy or difficult? Can anything get Ruthie talking again?