Karen had fallen back asleep waiting the arrival of their son when the door to her room opened. Karen's parents entered followed closely by Tom and Julia. Derek immediately stood up and offered the chair he had been using to Karen's mother and made his way over to Julia. He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek mouthing the words thank you. Derek assumed Tom must have called Julia hoping that her presence would ease the building tension. Maybe it was the fact that Julia was a mother herself but Karen's mom seemed to feel comforted by her and shortly after the altercation in the waiting room had started to use Julia as a go between Derek and them. Julia wasn't at all comfortable with the position they had put her in; but for Derek's sanity she kept quiet and did her best to keep them informed.
Karen's mother took her daughter's hand and called "Baby, please wake up sweetheart, your Dad and I want to see those big brown eyes of yours." "We want to see for ourselves your ok." She continued. Karen remained still and in what appeared to be a peaceful sleep. "Why isn't she answering us" her mother asked in a voice laced with concern. "Remember the doctor said she was still going to be under strong medication" Derek stated. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about and besides she needs her rest." Hearing Derek's reaction Karen's mother became angry. "So it doesn't concern you that Karen isn't responding. You aren't going to call the doctor or nurse." She glared.
Trying to deflate the rising stress level, Julia suggested "Why don't you let Derek try to wake her" Karen's mother looked at her husband and then to Julia and slowly started to get out of her chair. Derek motioned her to stay sitting and he proceeded to walk around to the other side of Karen's bed. Bending over her, Derek placed a kiss on her forehead. He gently brushed the side of her cheek with his fingers and whispered "Love, it's me Derek. Can you open your eyes?" Karen's eyes began to flutter. Struggling to keep them open Derek continued to encourage her by saying "There you go, I know you can do it" his finger all the while brushing her cheek. She turned to his voice and seeing him she gave a quiet sigh and said "I was having a really good dream about you why did you wake me; is Dustin here?" Derek, Julia and Tom all laughed at her reaction but then quickly realized Karen's parents weren't the least bit amused. "No love, Dustin isn't here yet." "Your mom and dad want to see you and Tom and Julia are here too." "Oh" was all she said and she turned to the sound of her mom's voice.
"Mom and Dad you shouldn't have made a trip, I know it's expensive and Derek can take care of me" she said, her words somewhat slurred as she held her mother's hand. "I'm sorry to have worried you." She smiled. Then turning to Julia and Tom she said "I hope he hasn't he been too unbearable." Karen laughingly said "Surprisingly he has been more than then tolerable given the circumstances" Tom and Julia told her. "Good, thank you for being here for him." Karen said, still struggling to keep her eyes open. "Love why don't you rest" Derek told Karen but just as the words left his mouth the door to her room opened again. This time the guests consisted of Dr. Baxter a nurse and Dustin Christopher.
When Karen saw them her face lit up and a smile reached from ear to ear. She tried to immediately get up but was hit by wave of sharp pain as she tightly grabbed onto Derek's hand. Almost instantly the monitors went off alarming everyone in the room. The doctor rushed over to Karen and calmly instructed her to take a few deep breaths. She reminded her of their prior conversation regarding the recent surgery. She told Karen they would raise the bed slightly and would then gently ease her up.
Julia and Tom offered to leave but the doctor told them it was more than fine to stay if it was alright with Karen. Karen nodded her approval as they moved her; all the while never letting go of Derek's hand as she tried to bear the pain.
Finally in a sitting position, the doctor asked the nurse to bring Dustin over. Karen looked up at Derek as she held his hand. She could see tears starting to form in his eyes and gave his hand a tender kiss before letting go. Placing Dustin in Karen's arms the doctor instructed her to let Dustin's body rest in her lap rather than cradling him completely as it would help to minimize the pain that would result from lifting or carrying the baby's weight. Karen nodded her understanding but in reality the moment Dustin was in her arms Karen was lost in her own world. The doctor looked at Derek and he too nodded his understanding and with that she left the room.
Karen & Dustin & Derek
Holding their son Karen was in heaven. Placing tender kisses on his face all the pain Karen was experiencing and the grogginess of the medication vanished. Dustin's expression was one of content. His big green and golden brown eyes focused on the woman talking to him and the corners of his mouth turned up in a tiny grin. His little hand tightly held Karen's finger. "Hello handsome" Karen whispered "Mommy's here now and she loves you" she continued as Dustin happily wiggled at the sound of her voice. "Were you a good boy for Daddy" she cooed. "I bet you already have him wrapped around your little finger right" At that question Dustin gurgled.
"Hey buddy" Derek who had kneeled next to Karen interrupted. "Don't be selling out your Daddy to Mommy" he laughed "I see how it's going to be with you two" He kissed Karen's while brushing Dustin's cheek gently with his finger. Dustin responded with a squirm and squeal. The three of them continued on for a few minutes more, obviously to the others in the room until Karen's mother coughed to get their attention.
Karen & Her Mother
"Karen" she said "If Derek isn't going to tell you anything I think I should." She commented. "Your body has just undergone major trauma and we almost lost you; don't you think you should take it easy?" "Maybe you should ask the nurse to take Dustin back to the nursery so you can rest."
Karen who had looked up to see her mother was stunned at the comments. She turned to her father and then to Julia and Tom. When she noticed all three avoiding eye contact with her, she knew something wasn't right. "Mom" she said. "I admit I'm tired and yes I'm in pain but trust me, I will tell Derek when I've had enough. In fact, Derek will probably pick up on my body language before I even tell him." "I thought you of all people would understand my wanting to be with Dustin."
Karen's mother was taken aback by the bluntness of her daughter's statements but was not yet ready to back down. "I understand sweetheart but I love you and as my daughter you are my sole concern. You don't know how hard it has been for your father and me to just sit back and watch Derek make decisions regarding your life without even consulting us" she said tears now streaming from her face. "You could've died and all Derek was concerned about was the baby. Do you have any idea how hard that is to see?" "Mom, Dad, I'm sorry for causing you pain" Karen said. "But you have no right to sit here and pass judgment on Derek. I made Derek promise me that he'd save Dustin." Karen said crying "Darling" Derek said "its ok" as he tried to get her to calm down. The monitor showed her heart rate increasing and Dustin was also getting agitated. "No Derek" she said. "I'll calm down but this is something that needs to be said." Derek reached for Dustin and Karen made no attempt to stop him. Cradling their son, Derek walked over to Julia and Tom, both immediately reached to take Dustin with Tom getting to him first.
Derek returned to Karen's side and grabbed her hand in his rubbing small circles on her palm. Karen's heart rate started to slow but she still made no effort to turn her gaze away from her mother's. "Karen, I don't know what Derek has told you or how he has portrayed your father and me to you but I stand behind everything I said to him." "You are our daughter and if he loved you, his concern should have been your life not that of your unborn child." She said. Karen looked at her father and could see that while he was not in complete agreement with what her mother was saying, he also didn't complete disagree. Disappointed Karen looked at him this time when she spoke and said "Derek didn't tell me anything about what happened during my surgery or while I was sedated. But I'm glad you just did because at least I know where the both of you stand. "I have one question for you" Karen turned back to her mother. "After the delivery when you knew I had made it through; did you help Derek with Dustin?" "Were you there for your grandson?"
"Karen" Derek said "Look at me, the important thing now is that you and Dustin are safe. Seeing you breathing with a respirator was hard on everyone but it's in the past." "I love you Derek Wills" she said "But just like you believed in me when I was needed you too and you were strong enough to go against my parent's wrath" I really need to know if my Mother believed in me." "I need to know if when my family needed her she was there for them" her voice although weak filled with resolve. Karen turned to her mother.
"Karen, you have to understand, seeing Dustin, holding Dustin was too much. All I could see was you in him and I wasn't ready." "I see" was all Karen could bring herself to say. Looking at her father whom she knew had probably tried to change her mother's mind she felt sadness and the same sentiment was reflected in his eyes. Turning back to her mother she said "You know Mom, your right, I'm feeling tired and I'd like for you to leave so that I can rest." "I'll call you when I'm up for another visit. When will you be leaving?" Her father spoke up for the first time and in response said "Two days, we'll be leaving in two days." "Ok" she said in a whisper. "I'll call you before then." "Bye"
Weeping, Karen's mother felt her husband's hand on her shoulder as he helped her to her feet and led her out the door. Karen who was holding tightly onto Derek's hand turned to face him and with a tears forming in her eyes said I'm a little tired, will you be ok if I slept?" she asked "Of course Love, I'm not going anywhere." Then turning to Julia and Tom she said "I'm sorry for what just happened and I really appreciate the support. Derek told me the two of you have been life savors." She smiled. "Do you think it would it be too much to ask if at least one of you could keep my boys company while I sleep" she timidly asked. "Not at all sweet heart" they both responded. And with that Karen felt exhaustion overcome her and she succumbed to the peace of sleep.
