This story is super hard to write... I have the mind of a cinematographer when I write these things... but can't seem to articulate the details... Thank you Word Master for your help on this chapter You get a five course meal! I have been so tired lately from work that this story suffers a lot compared to the other two.--S.K. Allen


The Talk

Fortunately Carl and Sue did not stay too long. After they left, Rod carried Mac upstairs, helped her get ready for bed, and then carried her back to bed. He knew she was both physically and emotionally exhausted.

"There you go, kiddo." He bent down and kissed her, allowing himself to linger a bit.

"You're not really going to sleep in the guest room, are you?"

"I thought you might sleep better... I don't want to disturb you." But then seeing something in her expression, he asked, "Are you scared? Do you me to stay?"

Mac was scared but that, of course, wasn't the reason she wanted him to stay. She wanted her husband back. She needed him... needed his touch. But if admitting to being scared was what it took to get him to stay, she'd do it. "Yeah... It helps just knowing you're here with me."

In truth Rod was relieved that she wanted him to stay. He'd only been kidding when he made the suggestion, but then he'd begun to worry that maybe she would like it better that way. It had been weeks since they shared the same bed, and he hadn't wanted to put any additional stress on her. "Okay, let me shower and stuff. I won't be long."

But by the time he returned from his very cold shower, Mac was fast asleep. He slid into bed and wrapped his arm around her, placing the palm of his hand on her abdomen. Unconsciously Mac molded herself against him. He was home.


The next day was Sunday. While Rod made breakfast, Mac took the opportunity to call her mom and to ask her to come and stay for awhile until she could again be self-sufficient. She knew Rod needed to get back to work... and she wanted the guest room occupied so that he wouldn't again be tempted to suggest that he sleep in the other room.

Kate readily agreed. She really wanted to be there for her daughter and had just been waiting for the invitation. When her daughter had told her that she was expecting twins she knew the day would come that she would be confined to a bed, and she was ready for it. When she and Michael arrived that afternoon, Rod greeted them at the door.

"Hello, sir. It's good to have you back." Rod extended a hand towards his father-in-law.

Michael accepted his hand shake. "Thank you, son. It's good to be home."

Rod then hugged his mother-in-law. "Kate, thanks for staying with us."

She kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear. "My pleasure. It's good to have you back where you belong."

Rod smiled, but then noticed that Mac's dad had begun to carry her luggage upstairs. "Just leave those bags, Michael. I'll take them up to the guest room when I bring Mackenzie down."

Michael continued walking upstairs with the bags. "Nonsense... I'll take them up. Besides I want to see my little girl..."

"Michael," Kate interjected, "you can't just barge into their house."

"No, it's okay," Rod told her, before turning his attention back to Michael. "She's in our room, of course. She's anxious for your company."

While Michael was upstairs, Rod and Kate went into the kitchen. "How's she doing?" Kate asked him.

"She's scared, exhausted and overwhelmed." Rod sighed. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Just some water." Kate sat down on a barstool. She studied her son-in-law while he got her drink. He, too, looked scared, exhausted and overwhelmed. "And how are you feeling?"

Rod looked closely at his mother-in-law for a few unguarded seconds. "Thrilled about the babies, terrified of losing them... and my wife. I'm still really hurt and confused about why she hadn't told me she was pregnant."

"Have you asked her that why?" Kate asked, taking the offered glass of water and gesturing for him to take a seat.


Mac smiled when her father walked into the room. "Hey Daddy." She put down the deposition she'd been reading. A courier had brought her some work from the office. She'd been glad to have something substantive to occupy her time.

"Hey there, baby girl." Michael kissed the top of her head and then looked down at his daughter. She was definitely rounder than he was used to; but though he was no expert on the subject, he thought she was still rather tiny for twins. However, what really concerned him was the fear and confusion he saw in her eyes. He pushed a stray hair back from her face and asked, "How are you?"

"All right, I guess... better physically than emotionally."

"Want to talk about it?" His tone was gentle. He sat down besides her on the bed and put his arm around her.

"I messed up, Daddy... I mean, this time I really messed up." Mac put her head on his shoulder. "I'm ten weeks pregnant with twins and I didn't tell my husband until I was on the verge of a miscarriage. He must hate me."

"Why didn't you tell him?"


"Kate, I can't ask her that now," Rod said joining her at the counter. "She's fragile... both physically and emotionally."

"Her mouth is functioning just fine." Kate took a sip of her water. "You two need to talk about what happened the past couple of months... and particularly about why she didn't tell you about the twins."

"I know you're right. I'm scared... scared that I might upset her, you know. And if she gets too upset, well..."

"Rod, what about your feelings?" She knew he was suffering.

"They don't really matter right now." He shook his head. "I just want her to be well."

Kate placed a hand gently on his arm. "She will be. But she needs you now more than ever. All of you... and you can't be there for her completely if you're burying hurt feelings and resentment. Talk to her, Rod. Tell her just how much you love her, and then talk to her."


Mac changed positions so she could look at her father. With a sigh, she said, "I tried to tell him several times... but he made me so angry."

"So knowledge is power and you had the knowledge?"

"Yeah... something like that. But then he decided to send me separation papers?"

"You were getting legally separated?"

"Well, I basically had kicked him out of the house, told him we needed a break, and I missed a counseling session because of a doctor's appointment. He'd had it and told me he'd have separation papers drawn up. Of course, this made me even angrier so I didn't try to stop him." Mac ran her hands through her shoulder length auburn hair. "Now I'm just afraid that he's really only here out of a sense of duty."

"Baby, he was here with you when you started to bleed. Were you arguing?"

"No, we were... Dad I don't want to talk about that." Mac felt her cheeks become red.

Michael laughed. "Okay... I understand. But I think there's your answer right there. He loves you. He always has. You need to talk to him... and apologize. You're the one who has to bring it up because he won't... not with you in your condition."

"I know, Dad. But somehow we keep talking around the subject."

"Then you get to the point." Michael knew how stubborn his daughter could be. He pointed at her stomach and quipped, "And do it before my grandchildren arrive."

"Thanks, Dad."


Later that night, both Rod and Mac sat in bed reading. However, neither of them could concentrate on the written words in front of them. Both were preoccupied by their respective conversations with her parents.

At the same time, they put down their books, turned to each other, and said:

"Rod..."

"Mac..."

They laughed, but then said simultaneously, "You go first." This, of course, was followed by a brief period of silence as neither wanted to interrupt the other any further.

Finally Rod said, "Talk to me."

She nodded. She really should go first. Meekly she told him, "I tried to tell you about the twins."

"When, Mac?" His tone was not so meek.

With open defiance, she told him, "The three weeks after you left... I found out that Tuesday. I kept calling and calling."

"This was important... you could have told me that. And it wasn't like you didn't know where I was. You could have come to me." In spite of himself, Rod felt his anger finally rise to the surface. "What about when I did come home? What about that day? You could have told me then... You should have at least told me then."

Mac glared at him. "As I recall, I was being accused of cheating on you. So excuse me, for not telling you then."

"Yeah... and before that you were throwing cell phones and shoes..." Rod stopped. He ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath. This was getting them nowhere. "I'm sorry. I don't want to fight."

He took one of her hands and lightly caressed it. "Mac, the way I see it, we have two choices: One, we can continue to have this argument time and again about who was more responsible for what went wrong between us the past couple of months. Or two, we can both admit we were wrong, apologize, and put it behind us. Personally, I prefer the second choice..."

"Me, too... but can I blame my actions on hormones?"

Rod laughed, but with a sense of wonderment in his voice replied, "Yeah... I guess you can."

"I am sorry, you know."

"Me, too. I never should have let my anger get the better of me. And I never should have left this house... left you."

Mac smiled and then lay down. With a hint of mischief, she told her husband, "You know what we would usually do after we talked like this..."

"Yeah..."

"I could use some of that right now... this bed rest thing is killing me."

Rod laughed and then joined her in a horizontal position. He wrapped his arms around her and began to nibble on her neck.

Mac began to giggle loudly at his playful nips. Suddenly their bedroom door opened and their recreational activity immediately stopped. "I hate to interrupt," Kate said in a no-nonsense tone. "But I'm pretty sure monkey business is not allowed."

"Mom!" Mac buried her face in her pillow.

"I'm just saying... you brought me here to help. I'm just making sure my grandchildren get here safely." Kate turned around, but before she closed the door behind her, she told them, "It's about time the two of you came to your senses."

After she left, they both rolled over and stared at the ceiling. "Thank God, it's temporary," Mac told him softly. "Because I think this no sex thing is going to kill me."

Rod laughed sardonically, thinking about all the cold showers he would be taking. But then he leaned over and kissed his wife. "It will be worth it, honey... when we see those two perfect little people"

"What if they're not perfect?" Mac asked worry evident in her tone.

"God will not give you anything you can't handle."Rod whispered. He kissed the top of her head and athey both settled for the night.