Chapter Three- Thomas and Willow.
Eight months later, and I looked and resembled a beach ball. I remember how Molly looked in the final months of her pregnancy with the Hamish and Lizzy. I remember how she felt and how tired she was and I could now relate to that level. Anthony and Fliss were great. Anthony had experience but for Felicity this was all new territory. She was a bit hurt at first when I couldn't do as much as she wanted, but she got used to it. If I was lay on the sofa, she would either pretend to make me a cup of tea or she would curl up next to me, her head on my swollen belly, listening to the babies.
I knew this time I couldn't give birth at home, which I was upset about. But Dan and I both agreed that if something happened, it would be better for me and the babies if I was at the hospital. Anthony and Felicity were going to stay with their Aunty Keira and Uncle Matthew as they didn't have children of their own yet. I had decided that Michaela was going to be my midwife on this. She had been the one to tell us we were having twins and it only seemed right to let her finish that journey.
Then, one day in mid-December, I felt the sudden need to go to the toilet and the next thing, I knew my waters had broke, all over the kitchen floor.
"DAN!" I yelled. He came running in from the living room.
"What? What is it?" He panted.
"Waters…gone…" I said, my face screwed up in pain.
"Really. You're not due for another three weeks…"
"Dan, my waters have gone, we need to go!"
"Right!" Dan helped me into the car. Our hospital bags had already been in the car for a week. We drove as fast as we could in London traffic.
"Dan, can you go any faster?" I gasped, needing to push.
"Not really, Ab, I'm trying."
"Well, unless you want your first baby to be born in the car, you need to get a move on, or pull over!"
Dan put his foot down and I put my hand in between my legs, "I can feel a head!" I gasped.
"Hold on, Ab. We're nearly there!"
"Try telling your son or daughter that!" I moaned.
Dan's face was ghostly white as he weaved in and out of traffic.
"Dan, you need to pull over!" I yelled, holding onto the doorframe, "Now!"
"We're only five minutes away…"
"This baby is coming now, Dan. Please pull over!"
Dan did as he was told and pulled into a layby. He jumped out the car, keys still in the ignition and opened my door. I shuffled the best I could over to the edge of the car seat.
"My god, Abi!" Dan said, "I can see its head!"
"I know!" I moaned again, "That's why I asked you to pull over!"
"What can I do?" Dan asked, looking up at me, eyes full of panic.
"Get ready to catch!" I said, and I pushed with all my might.
Dan had his hands ready and helped to guide the baby out. One push later and the sound of crying pierced the air.
"It's a boy!" said Dan, smiling at me as he held his tiny son in his arms.
"A boy?" I asked.
"Yeah, and he's perfect!" Dan said, getting up and passing him to me.
"Hi little one!" I said, as I brought my son close to me.
Dan helped get my legs back into the car and drove as fast as he could to the hospital. He parked right outside and ran in to get someone, explaining our situation. He ran back out, quickly followed by a team of staff and Michaela. I smiled when I saw her.
"This little one couldn't wait to see the world, huh?" she said, as she cut the cord.
"Something like that." Was my reply. She took the baby.
"Have you had any more pains?" she asked, checking him over as I was wheeled into the hospital and up to maternity.
I shook my head.
"That's ok. With natural twin deliveries, it can take a while for the contractions to start back up again."
She got me onto a bed, delivered one after birth and gave me an exam.
"Heartbeat's strong!" Michaela said, smiling, "This one just seems cosy."
"It doesn't want to come out, unlike it's brother!" said Dan. He seemed to have recovered from his roadside midwifery duties.
Michaela chuckled, "I'm just going to do a scan to make sure everything is as it should be."
"How's our son?" I asked, as she set up the machine.
"He is doing just fine." She said, "Seeing as he was born on the motorway and delivered by his dad!"
"Hey, I thought I did a good job!" Dan said, defensively.
"You did, Dan, you were amazing out there!" I said, looking up at him, "Thank you!"
Dan smiled softly and kissed my forehead, "I'm just glad you're ok. That you both are!"
Michaela smiled, "You seem to have a pretty good life here, Abi!"
"I've been lucky!" I smiled, as she put the scanner on my tummy and flicked the screen on.
"Do you ever miss it?" she asked, looking at the screen.
"Sometimes. But I've enjoyed seeing my kids grow up and I'm grateful that I was able to stop working to raise them." I smiled at Dan.
"I heard you've even been on the stage!" she said, looking at me incredulously.
I laughed, "I managed to get an ensemble part in Jesus Christ Superstar with Dan's sister, yes."
"Look at you, girl!" she smiled.
"Fliss was only six months old as well." Dan added.
"Geez, Abi!" gasped Michaela, "How on earth did you manage it?"
"I only did evening performances after Anthony was in bed, and left Dan in charge of Fliss. I was only in it for a few months before it went on tour."
"You, madam, are wonder woman!" she smiled as she turned back to the monitor, "Huh!" she said, softly.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Baby is being a pickle, if I'm looking at this scan right. Let me just go and get the consultant. Don't worry, she's nice!"
I looked at Dan and he looked at me, calmly. "It'll be ok, Abi. We knew this time was going to be harder."
I breathed out slowly, "I know. I just keep thinking of Molly and Lizzy. She had been a difficult delivery and then she died 18 months later…"
"That won't happen this time. John said that Lizzy was very unlucky. She was perfectly healthy when she was born, but just became poorly. I know you are worried, but you have no reason to be." He kissed me, gently, "We'll be ok, I know it."
I smiled slightly. At that moment, Michaela came back in followed by…
"Nicole?" I asked, incredulously.
"Hello Abigail!" she smiled warmly.
"You're a consultant now?"
"Yep!"
"Well, what do you know?" I laughed softly.
"And you're a mum of three, soon to be four!"
I smiled, "It was only meant to be three. We were happy with two, but then this one…" I gestured at Dan, who waved, blushing, "Ended up being away for a year and the next thing…"
"You're pregnant with twins?"
"Exactly!"
"Well, let's have a look and see what this one is doing." She looked the monitor and put the scanner back on my belly.
I held my breath.
"Well, it looks like this one has got itself in a bit of a tangle!" she smiled, "It's all caught up in its cord."
I let go of my breath, "The baby will be ok?"
Nicole nodded, smiling, "We'll see if you can deliver naturally, if baby will untangle itself, but if not, we'll do an emergency C-Section, ok?"
I nodded, relieved that my baby was going to be ok.
"I'll leave you in Michaela's capable hands. She'll give you something to induce labour and we'll take it from there." She gave me a quick hug, "Good luck, Abi." And with that she left.
"Once I give you this, it shouldn't take too long for the contractions to start again." Smiled Michaela, "Hopefully, baby will untangle itself."
I smiled, ready for what was about to come.
While we waited, Dan and I decided on a name for our baby boy, Thomas James. Dan took a photo and sent out the announcement and added, Just waiting for my twin brother or sister and I can't wait to meet you all, especially my big brother and sister.
About ten minutes after I had been given the medication to bring on labour, I felt a sharp cramp in my abdomen and cried out. Dan went to get Michaela and the whole process started again.
It took about five contractions before I needed to push again.
"Hold on, Abi. Let me just check how baby is!" She quickly set up the ultrasound and had a look. She smiled widely, "Good news! On baby's decent, they untangled themselves."
"So no C-Section?" asked Dan as I was in the middle of a contraction.
"No C-Section!" smiled Michaela, coming round to examine me.
"Everything ok?" I asked, panting slightly.
"All good. On your next pain, you can push."
Ten minutes (and a lot of screaming later) more cries punctured the air.
"Congratulations Abi!" said Michaela, "You have a baby girl!"
"One of each!" cried Dan, waving his hands in the air, tears falling down his cheeks and kissing me.
"Is she ok?" I asked, anxious to get a look.
"She's perfect, Abi!" smiled Michaela, bringing her up to me, "Absoultely perfect!"
I started to cry as I held my little girl in my arms. She was fine, her brother was fine and I was fine. My world was complete.
Dan went out of the room and brought Thomas back in. Dan held him tightly and I held my girl.
"Willow." I said softly, looking down at her, "Willow Luna. That's your name, little one!"
"Suits her perfectly." Said Dan, "Willow and Thomas Holmes."
"Born the week before Christmas. The sweetest gift anyone could ask for!" I said, smiling, tears falling down my face again.
In that moment, I was reminded of a song that I had been singing. It was a song I found comfort in when Lizzy died but looking at our babies sleeping peacefully in our arms, I was reminded of the lyrics:
But the sweetest gift is knowing where you are. Yes, the sweetest gift is knowing where you are. Yes, the sweetest gift is knowing you're in his arms. You're with the Son of God.
The sweetest gift I had ever been given in life was my children. I loved each and everyone of them the same and now we had Willow and Thomas in our crazy mix and I knew in my heart, that this Christmas was going to be the best one yet!