MOMENTS SO DEAR
NOVEMBER PART TWO:
KATE'S BIRTHDAY
NOVEMBER 17
"What the hell are you doing?"
Kate rolls her eyes as she lifts herself back on the bed, tries to reach behind her to adjust the pillows at her back. She huffs in frustration when all she manages to do is somehow make them less comfortable, and she ignores Rick's exasperated sigh when he approaches the bed. He helps her lean forward, moves and plumps the pillows until they're to her liking in a well-practiced move.
He steps back when he's done and crosses his arms. "Bed rest means bed rest, Kate," he reminds her.
"I had to pee," she argues, mirroring his pose.
"You should have waited for me."
She scoffs. "Yeah, until you're in this exact situation and can experience just how little bladder control you have, you can't tell me what I should do," she argues. When he just shakes his head, she levels a glare at him, her chest swelling with pride when he sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. He mumbles something, and she leans forward slightly, tilts her head to the side. "What was that?"
"I'm sorry," he repeats, louder this time. "I just worry, Kate. I don't want anything to happen to you or the boys." He closes the distance between them and perches on the bed, sweeps her hair off her forehead. "I'd never forgive myself," he adds in a low voice, cupping her jaw.
She lifts her hand to cover his and meets his concerned gaze. "I know. But I know my body, Rick. I know my limits."
He chuckles. "Yeah, because you never push yourself too far." He brushes his lips across hers to show her that he's teasing. He doesn't have to - he's not wrong - but she never says no to a kiss.
She pinches his thigh, takes some satisfaction at his surprised yelp. "Did Lily go down okay?"
Rick nods, and she breathes a sigh of relief. At almost three-and-a-half, she's bordering on not needing daily naps. But they're about to have two newborns, so they're keeping Lily in the same routine as long as possible to make life easier for everyone.
"Can I get you anything?" he asks, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "Water? A snack?"
She nods and leans into his touch, her eyes fluttering shut. "Sit with me awhile?"
He winces and glances back towards the living room. "I should clean up a bit. The kitchen's a mess, it looks like a tornado blew Lily's toys all over the living room, laundry's piling up-"
"It can all wait," she interrupts. "Please?" She looks up at him through her lashes; it isn't fair, she knows, since he can't resist when she gives him the look.
He sighs and leans forward to peck her on the lips. "Okay. Give me two seconds."
She watches him duck into the closet, and she shifts, tries to get more comfortable. He emerges a few moments later with his arms full of presents, and he drops them on the bed when he spots her, rushes to help her.
"Better?" he asks, pressing a kiss to her temple when she settles against the pillows again.
"Yeah." She jerks her head towards the pile. "What are those?"
He grins and joins her, curls his fingers around her thigh. "Presents."
"Yes, I can see that. For what?"
"Your birthday," he says, as if the answer is obvious. Which, of course, it is obvious; today is her birthday, after all, why else would there be presents?
"You don't want to wait until later?" She reaches for one despite her question, and at his encouraging grin, slides her finger under the wrapping. She unwraps it quickly, uncovering a small, thin box, and she glances at Rick before lifting the lid. "What's this?" she asks, picking up the gift card.
"A massage. Post-partum," he adds when she lifts her brow. "I was going to schedule it for you, but I didn't want to assume when you'd feel up for it. It's at the same place you went after having Lily."
She smiles and cups his cheek. "I already can't wait to use it."
He turns his head, keeping his eyes on hers as he brushes his lips against her palm. "And maybe after, you can give me a massage," he teases with a low rumble.
She chuckles and reaches for the next gift. By the time she opens them all - including a new Kindle (with all of his books already loaded, naturally), a coffee advent calendar that she'll start opening the moment after she gives birth, and an empty ornament photo frame that they'll fill once the twins are born - she can't stop herself from yawning. Even though she's been on bed rest since her false labor a week ago, she's exhausted all the time, seemingly all of her energy going to her boys.
There's a noise from the baby monitor, and she and Rick glance at it in unison, but Lily settles back down. She reaches for her husband's hand, laces her fingers through his. "Thank you," she whispers, tugging his hand so he looks at her.
Noting the creases in his forehead and bags under his eyes, she can't believe she hasn't seen until now just how tired he is. They both are, but being on bed rest leaves the vast majority of responsibilities with him. Their family and friends are a constant presence; in fact, this is the first day in a week that they haven't had a visitor first thing in the morning. Her dad, Alexis, and Martha are bringing dinner later, but the few hours of help are just that: a few hours.
The time does allow Rick to dote on her, help her shower and take one himself, take a brief nap, catch up on laundry. But the vast majority of responsibility has fallen on his shoulders.
He'd never complain, never admit that he's tired or stressed. But he doesn't need to: she can read him almost as well as he reads her, sees the concern in his eyes every time she moves, hears the exasperated sighs when Lily argues or doesn't obey him.
And she feels awful about it.
"I'm sorry, Rick," she whispers, the guilt catching up to her.
His eyes flutter open and meet hers. "For what?"
She sighs. "I pushed too hard, and that's why I'm here now. You're doing everything because I couldn't slow down or stop, and-"
"Hey," he interrupts, taking her other hand and cradling them to his chest. He brushes a kiss to the knuckles of her ring finger, bare for now, her fingers too swollen to wear her wedding ring.
"We're a team," he adds. "Sometimes one of us has to pick up the slack. Now it's my turn. You're growing two people, Kate. Don't worry about me, too." He kisses her knuckles again. "Partners, remember?"
She smiles and tugs him forward so she can press her lips to his. "I love you," she murmurs. "What would I do without you?"
He chuckles. "Great question," he teases.
There's a loud noise from the baby monitor, and they glance over to see that Lily's awake. Kate squeezes Rick's hands. "Looks like you're up."
He drops his gaze to his lap, looks back at her with a smirk tugging at his lips. "Not quite, but I can be soon."
She just laughs.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: Thanks again to Jenn for her input, especially the present ideas. Any mistakes are mine.