Chapter 10: "A new life".
See my Original A/N (added 19-01-2018 in Ch1) for the "they aren't mine, I'm just playing with them" disclaimer. To this, I now add "apart from any fictional character created by myself". Mike
Now, on with Chapter 10 - we follow Carolyn further through her pregnancy and we settle Loren into her next home as the last step of her resurrection draws near.
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Start Ch. 10 - "A new life and a new living"
Tuesday, 26th May 2015
Obstetrics Suite, Private Hospital
Washington DC
13:29hrs EDT
The room was silent, as Angela Hickson handed Carolyn a handful of tissues to remove the ultrasound gel from her stomach then reached for the printer attached to the ultrasound unit. The shocked silence in the room continued as she sat back and looked at Carolyn, who was gripping David's hand and starting to bubble with laughter, despite her sterling attempts to maintain decorum and resist laughter.
Then David giggled, no doubt provoked by Carolyn's pregnant body wobbling against him with suppressed laughter; that set off Lizzie, who caused Lorna to start laughing. Carolyn joined in, howling with laughter as the sheer incomprehensibly awful truth finally struck home. Eventually even Angela joined in with a chuckle, trying to hide her face behind her laptop: she failed! For a good, long minute, everyone howled with laughter at the unexpected result from the ultrasound.
Finally, when decorum had been restored and the belly-wobbling laughter had subsided, Angela looked at Carolyn and asked the one question which no-one had even thought of when they had first met in March for the first OB/GYN consultation. In truth, it was a question which was so far off-the-wall that no-one in her right mind would have thought to ask.
In future years, Carolyn would remember the sheer chill of terror which ran through her stomach at that moment. The words echoed through her head.
"So Carolyn, David: is there any history of twins in either of your families?"
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Tuesday, 26th May 2015
Obstetrics Suite, Private Hospital
Washington DC
13:32hrs EDT
Carolyn shivered and thought back, through her family history (which she had documented, as a High School project back in Michigan, years ago).
"Angela, as far as I can tell, no there are no twins. Damn, David and I are going to be breaking another family record between us! David, any twins on your side?"
"Not as far as I know, but Danielle is the family historian; let me check with her".
He opened his phone and selected a number, stepping away to avoid disturbing the other patients in the consulting rooms next door. Some minutes later, he came back in with a smile on his face. "Apart from a second cousin to my grandfather, who lives in California and who married into a family with a history of twins, we are also twin-free Carolyn. This is just a freak happening I'm afraid; oh, and by the way, Danielle wishes you good luck".
"Gee, thanks future sister-in-law!" Carolyn replied, smiling to soften any implied criticism.
Angela looked at Carolyn: "OK, so we are looking at a cause closer to home. You mentioned hormones, being peri-menopausal late last year then becoming sexually active again after what you described to me as your 'dry decade' when we first met?"
Carolyn nodded and Angela smiled conspiratorially as she continued her reply: "Well, the likelihood of a double random ovulation is not unheard of as the menopause arrives and sets in for, dare I say it, women of your age group". She smiled, to cushion the blow of her medical revelation to Carolyn.
Carolyn wasn't much comforted; "Oh boy, this means more fluid, more weight, double the pain at delivery *and* I shall *still* be 70 when they enter University".
Angela took her hand; "Actually Carolyn, twins tend to be slightly down on the birth-weight scales and if needed, we can always perform an elective C-section".
Carolyn looked up at her and frowned. "No, I started this naturally and I shall plan to end it naturally; if I can physically push these babies out in the L&D ward, they'll come out the natural route. It will complete my journey as a woman - oh, remind me of this when I'm screaming the walls down! Besides" she smiled as she took David's hand "the father will be showing me off afterwards on various beaches around the world afterwards and I want to be scar free". David hugged her once more, then kissed her and said "Just name the beach, darling Carolyn; and thank you for taking on this new adventure for us".
Angela flipped open her laptop. "Well, let's have a look at that Carolyn and try to set your mind at ease. About half of all twins weigh at least 5½ pounds at birth. (Below 5½ pounds, or 2,500 grams, is considered a low birth weight, with a higher potential for complications.) In comparison, the average singleton weighs 7 pounds, but it's not that she's comparatively bigger, it's because on average she's hanging about in utero for another five weeks and ripening every day. That said, it's not unusual for some women to deliver twins that each weigh around 7 pounds if the pregnancy lasts until week 37 (just think how much better you'd feel when you were done carrying that load around)".
Carolyn sank back onto the table. "Seven pounds, twice? Oh dear lord, I'll be walking like John Wayne. Ah well, I'm in it for keeps now, so there isn't much I can do just now".
"Atta-girl, good spirit" replied David, punching her bicep; Lorna and Lizzie both looked on happily - the upcoming arrival of the new sister and brother for Lizzie had caught their imagination.
Carolyn glared at David, then smiled: "Hey buster, you won't be the one with the stretch marks and balance problems over the next few months". Then she turned her attention once more to Angela.
"So Angela; we're going to be aiming for 37 weeks at least, right? That means early November for my delivery" She sighed and shrugged her shoulders: "Oh well, home for Thanksgiving" Carolyn chuckled.
"Yes Carolyn. Plus, as you can see from the printout, you are carrying one of each. This means that you won't need to go into another pregnancy in the interests of balancing the battle of the sexes; your boy and your girl will give you a full set in November".
"Gee, thanks doc. David, I need to book a small operation for you some time in the next six months!"
Carolyn was still reeling from the revelation that she was carrying twins. She knew that, at her age, the likelihood of her embarking on pregnancy again - ever - was slim to vanishingly small. And yet, as the realisation settled in, Carolyn realised that the alignment of fates was probably in her destiny. A matched pair of siblings meant that historical choices of boy and girl names could be made when the time came for her to give birth.
She just wasn't certain that she was ready for the pain of childbirth. Whilst her former JAG colleague "Mac" MacKenzie would have blustered "I'm a Marine" and tried to tough it out, Carolyn harboured a severe doubt that even "super-Mac" would come through a natural birth of twins unscathed. Thank heavens for epidurals and "gas and air". She would have to pick Harriet Simms-Roberts' brain for experience and advice before she headed towards the delivery room.
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Thursday, 28th May 2015
Home of Carolyn Imes
72xx Old Dominion Drive
McLean, Virginia, 22101
20:55hrs EST
Carolyn and David sat cuddling on the sofa in her lounge. The shock of the revelation that Carolyn was carrying twins had worn off slightly by now. Thursday evenings had evolved from the "evening out in DC" into an "evening by the fire" as Carolyn's unexpected pregnancy developed, where they shared a meal then relaxed on the sofa as they planned their wedding and the upcoming November delivery of Carolyn's twins.
"David, what about names for these two?" asked Carolyn as he gently stroked the swelling abdomen where his/their children were incubating. He looked up at Carolyn with deep love and affection in his eyes. "Darling, so long as they are both healthy (and, even more importantly, that *you* are well), I really don't care". He took her hand: "and as long as I don't lose you in this process, I shall be a very happy man". He kissed Carolyn full on the lips, emphasising his commitment to the flame-haired lawyer who was carrying the evidence of their shared passion.
Carolyn smiled and came up with her big idea for the baby names.
"OK, here's an idea. I've been exchanging emails with my long-time pen-friend Rae in the Netherlands. She gave me an alternative approach. I was thinking, because I am carrying "one of each", about naming them "Peter David" and Amanda Carolyn" - in other words, names which pick up on our lost loves. However she had a counterpoint which makes sense to me".
Carolyn slowly reached down and picked up her laptop from the floor and read out Rae's email: .
"Carolyn: as for naming the twins: my personal preference is always to give kids their own names, mostly. Having said that, I can totally see why you and your David would want to name their kids that way (given your history), so for the sake of their individuality, why not pick a unique first name?. But the decision is yours, because you are doing the hard work, my dear American friend. So I'd say, go for it!"
David caressed her hand, where her slightly swollen fingers meant that the engagement ring was seated snugly on the third finger of her left hand. "Hmm, you know what, Rae is right - let's go for three names each. How about you pick the name for the girl and I'll pick the boy name?"
Carolyn thought for a moment then nodded. "Yes, and because it is so distinctive and because she helped me settle the confusion, I'll go for "Rae Amanda Carolyn" for our daughter".
David kissed her then replied: "And, remembering my father's name, I will choose "Richard Peter David" for our son".
Carolyn nodded. "That's a great idea; I'll email Rae; it's obviously the middle of the night in Europe, so she will get it when she logs in tomorrow morning. Come on you, are you heading home or staying over?"
David picked up his car keys. "I'll head home darling. Lizzie mentioned that she had a slight problem with a piece of homework, so I'd better go and look after my existing daughter after spending time with the twins - whom I leave to their wonderful expectant mother who is responsible for my next daughter (and our son) wrapped up safely in her home".
They hugged, kissed once more and then David hopped into his car and headed for home.
Carolyn was in bed by 22:00hrs and was soon asleep. Her babies were settled in her womb and did not disturb her night's sleep, which she needed given the upcoming momentous event - moving Loren home after 12 years in the facility.
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Saturday 30th May 2015
Home of Carolyn Imes
72xx Old Dominion Drive
McLean, Virginia, 22101
09:45hrs EST
Carolyn rose steadily from the breakfast bar and walked across to the kitchen sink. At Week 15, she was beginning to notice the growing presence of the twins as she moved around. Taking a cup of tea, she stepped out onto the verandah at the back of her house to breath in the fresh air, filtered by the forest of trees around the area. She realised that the construction of Loren's new home next door had, inadvertently, helped her house by shielding a little more of the distant roar of the I-495 Beltway which lay to the west. She went to sit in the plastic chair alongside the table, briefly cursing the growing inflexibility of her pregnant body.
Carolyn realised that she was now in uncharted territory - past the point where she had miscarried with Pete's baby back in 2003. This day held the prospect of new experiences.
However, today of all days Carolyn wasn't going to be held back by her pregnancy. Today, almost two years to the day after her awakening, Loren Singer would finally leave the Facility and move in next door as her new neighbour. Loren had made even better progress than had been expected and had decided that she wanted to start the month of June as a resident in the new home. Dr Andersen, along with Debbie Cromwell the physio, had approved the early release and both had expressed their joy that one of their clients would be walking, unaided, out of a long-term care facility after a long period in coma.
Carolyn was so pleased that Loren had survived her "swim" at Great Falls on that January night so long ago. She was not yet prepared to cut young Lorna fully loose (mainly because of the huge emotional ties which she had formed during 12 years of nurturing the girl during Loren's long coma and two-year resurrection), but this day was an inevitable step in Loren's resurrection.
Additionally - and, to be frank, in her interests - Carolyn needed to cut back on her childcare commitments with Lorna in order to focus on her upcoming deliveries in mid-November (if the twins went to term, which was not always assured).
Lorna had gone across earlier to the Facility by taxi to help Loren pack up the final items in her room. Carolyn would be driving over for an arrival at 10:30hrs, and would then run Loren (and Lorna) home to Old Dominion Drive. Most of Loren's possessions from Room 1013 had been relocated to Old Dominion Drive the day before.
With breakfast finished, she sat still for a moment in the plastic chair, talking quietly to the twins; she had begun this morning conversation the day after she had discovered that she was carrying twins. She was very happy chatting quietly to "Bump One" and "Bump Two" as she had named them. The shock of Tuesday's discovery was ebbing away and she had accepted the idea and was now working through the impending logistics of being a 50-plus year-old mother of new-born twins.
From the Netherlands, Rae had replied to Carolyn's email during the Friday, enthusiastically endorsing Carolyn's naming conclusion and expressing her appreciation at being honoured by the naming of Carolyn and David's upcoming daughter. Rae and her husband were already planning a trip to DC for 2016, using the excellent worldwide airline network of the KLM-Air France group centred on Amsterdam's Schipol airport.
With the names chosen, Carolyn felt a greater sensation of contentment as she contemplated achieving motherhood for the first time at the age of 51. She had a different perspective now, as a pregnant 51-year-old fiancée, compared with a pregnant 39-year-old defrocked former JAG officer. The Carolyn Imes of 2015 was far improved above the broken, defeated, worn-down, lost and secretly-pregnant woman who had slunk away from JAG HQ believing that her life was over.
"Well Carolyn, you always strove for greatness; this one may stretch you more than you expected" she observed to herself. Her mobile pinged, displaying an alarm-clock message reminding her to head out to the facility.
Pulling on her coat and collecting her handbag, she headed out into the garage, closing and locking the internal doors behind her. She climbed into her car and then carefully aligned the seatbelt around her babies, pulling the lap belt low over her hips. She drove out as the automatic door-opener raised the garage door out of her way and then closed the garage door securely. She admired the recently-completed home next door, and was grateful to think that the design incorporated a covered walkway between the two sites.
In designing the walkway, she had expected (when designing Loren's home last year) to be using the walkway to support Loren, whereas now it was far more likely that Loren (and Lorna) would be coming across to assist her in her pregnancy and afterwards with her early stages of motherhood as she, David, Lizzie and "The Bumps" grew into a strong cohesive family. Lizzie had enthusiastically supported the idea of naming the babies and was looking forward to welcoming "Rae Amanda Carolyn" and "Richard Peter David" into their new home in the Autumn.
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Saturday, 30th May 2015
Room 1013, Long Term Care Facility
McLean, Virginia
10:25hrs EST - Rehab: the very last day in room 1013
Heading in through the entrance gates, Carolyn suddenly realised that, barring accidents and given a fair wind, this would be the last time that she would ever visit here; the last time she would drive into the parking lot; the last time that she would walk up to the entrance; the last time that she would walk through the sliding doors, sign in, navigate these corridors to Loren's bedroom and, most importantly of all, chat with the wonderful staff who, for 12 long years, had kept Loren safe and eventually assisted her resurrection.
Apart from Andersen, several of the staff had been in attendance throughout all of the 12 year vigil - including some who had stepped away occasionally for things like maternity breaks and the resulting christenings, but then returned to carry on the overwatch. The "Facility Family" had grown from being just extraordinary carers and specialists into truly long-term friends. Loren had already announced her intention to set up an annual reunion party in May every year.
Carolyn tried to work out how many times she had driven in through these gates since 2003 and rapidly abandoned the attempt to tally up her almost-daily visits over 12 years as futile. "This is the final visit - just remember that fact and rejoice".
When Carolyn arrived in room 1013 she saw that Loren was ready and fully-dressed, sitting in a wheelchair per facility policy, clutching two walking sticks in one hand, with her handbag on her lap. Lorna stood alongside with Loren's laptop shoulder-bag and a roll-along case, while a nurse was behind, ready to push Loren to the Reception desk, again per Facility policy.
Carolyn cast her eyes around the room; the slightly tired-looking and shabby wall covering (which would no doubt be refreshed before the next occupant arrived) was bare and devoid of the posters, mementoes or other items which had accumulated during Loren's time here, especially in the past two years since she had awoken. It looked like what it was, a well-used hospital room which had served its purpose and was now ready for something (or, sadly and more likely, someone) else. Carolyn shivered slightly and offered up a prayer for the next occupant to experience as successful an outcome as Loren had achieved in room 1013.
Most of Loren's possessions had been transported to her new home on Old Dominion Drive the day before, so Lorna was only carrying a small roll-along pack containing the last-minute and "immediate use" items for her mom. The room was now, officially, "Loren-free". With one last long look around the room, Loren let out a deep sigh. It was time.
"Ready Loren?" Carolyn asked.
"Yes, ready aye Carolyn. Let's go".
As the small party left the room, Loren raised a hand in the universal "halt" sign. Leaning to the left, she plucked the label, bearing her name, from the wall-mounted clip and slid the red sign across from "OCCUPIED" to the green of "AVAILABLE". Pointing a walking stick forward, she uttered the famous "Buzz Lightyear" phrase: "To infinity and beyond". The TV documentary film crew (who had worked behind the scenes as an attachment to Lorna's school project) followed her triumphant progress to the exit door.
Down the corridor in Reception, Karl Andersen along with Debbie Cromwell and many of the staff members had gathered, along with a photographer. Group photographs were taken, as a souvenir of the truly momentous things that had occurred during the past 12 years. Despite losing several patients to deaths which had occurred along the way, Andersen was overjoyed that a decade-long coma patient was going home conscious, sentient and fully-functioning. Anderson leaned in and kissed Loren gently on the cheek. "Now, apart from routine checkups, be sure not to need a return here, and thank you my darling for all the information which you have enabled us to acquire for future patients who will come here".
The nurse handed over the wheelchair to an orderly, who wheeled the chair up to Carolyn's car and applied the brakes. Carolyn held the door open for Loren as she stood up from the wheelchair and climbed up into the passenger seat of Carolyn's car and buckled up. Although her eyes had long-since become accustomed to full daylight, Loren had automatically donned a set of shades, in a style which matched her "driver". Lorna dropped the night-case into the trunk then took up position by the rear seat as the orderly wheeled the chair back into the building. Wincing slightly at the pressure of the growing twins on her pelvis, Carolyn took up position in the driving seat and carefully adjusted her seatbelt once more, to protect her precious cargo. Lorna buckled up in the rear passenger seat.
With smiles and happy waves, Carolyn's car drove slowly around the entrance apron of the facility before heading towards the open road.
Loren had left the building.
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Saturday 30th May 2015
Home of Loren Singer (the new home)
73xx Old Dominion Drive
McLean, Virginia, 22101
14:47hrs EST
"Welcome to my home, Carolyn and thank you for *all* your help".
Loren greeted Carolyn as she walked into Loren's home via the covered walkway and halted on the threshold. Loren stood ahead of her with arms outstretched in welcome, with Lorna away to the left, smiling at Carolyn as they welcomed her into the entrance lobby.
"Permission to come aboard, Lt Singer?"
"Permission granted and thank you for everything, Commander Imes". The two women embraced and hugged, both shedding happy tears as they pulled Lorna into the grouping. David and Lizzie would be arriving in the early evening, for a celebratory meal in Carolyn's home next door. All three sat at Loren's breakfast bar as Loren served the first cups of coffee to her first guest in her new home.
Loren had survived the river, recovered from her injuries and was home with her lovely 12-year-old daughter. The rest of her life lay ahead. Carolyn had performed her duties as guardian with admirable effectiveness; now she could concentrate all her considerable energies on becoming a mother with a successful late-in-life unexpected pregnancy to assuage the pain of her 2003 miscarriage.
The future looked golden as the two former JAG colleagues sat together and contemplated the start of June 2015.
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End Ch. 10- "A new life and a new living"
A/N: 06-05-2018 - final part (The Epilogue) to follow on/around Sunday 20-05-2018. Mike