Go Baby Grow
Chapter 8- Beating Hearts
Monday, April 19th
"Dad," Olivia stated sternly at breakfast as she leaned toward him.
Owen, breaking his own rules about reading at the table, was studying a patient file for M&M. He glanced over the top of his reading glasses and responded flatly, "Yes?"
"I'm mad at you," she declared in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Join the club, Olivia," Owen grumbled as he returned to his file.
Olivia huffed. He was ignoring her. Again. The other day, one of her teachers was teaching about birth order theory. Without a doubt, Olivia saw herself as best fitting the baby of the family characteristics. Her treatment within her family, however, was another story. In her estimation, they treated her as if she were squarely in the middle. Being the baby was a more ideal role for her, Olivia believed. Sitting before her was proof of her theory: her father didn't have time for the middle child.
"I'm the youngest trapped in a middle child's positioning," she sighed, hoping to capture Owen's sympathy. He kept reading and wondered, What in the world is her plight now? I thought raising Lissa was an experience in teenage drama. She was only a warm up.
"Daddy!" Ria called out from the middle of the stairs. After Owen acknowledged her, she continued, "Something is wrong with my brace. Can you look at it?"
"Sure, honey. Come on down here," Owen suggested.
Ria added, "No, like really wrong, Daddy. It's twisted. I'm not sure I should walk with it like this."
Faster than he could inhale, Owen set his phone down and ran to the staircase. Olivia could not hear the actual words, but Owen's tone of voice was both reassuring and concerned. He asked Ria questions and followed up with further questions after each answer.
"Olivia!" Owen beckoned.
"What?" she replied impatiently.
"Come upstairs. Lucas and Anna need to be ready in 5 minutes," Owen explained.
That meant she was responsible for having them ready in five minutes. Put upon. Penalized for running early and following the rules. From Olivia's perspective, life was phenomenally unfair to her.
"They're old enough to deal with themselves," Olivia retorted.
"Now," Owen bellowed.
"No," Olivia persisted boldly. The more she considered her life, the more sure she had become that she was no longer willing to be her parents' built in babysitter and maid. She left the breakfast table and walked onto the patio to breathe in the spring air and feel the breeze on her face. Closing her eyes, she stretched out her arms and invited the sun to cascade upon her.
A few minutes later, Lucas interrupted Olivia's moments of bliss. "Dad says he is disappointed with you, and I need you to tie my tie."
She turned around and shifted from serenity to impatience with one beat of her heart. Exhaling loudly, she grabbed the ends of Luke's tie and pulled him closer to her. As she wrapped the tie around itself, she commentated, "It's like I'm a slave around here. 'Olivia, do this,' 'Olivia, do that,' 'Olivia, you're the oldest now that Ryder's gone. We expect more from you.' 'Olivia, Olivia, Olivia.'"
Lucas cocked his head as he observed his sister's rant. When she paused, he asked, "Are you talking to me? Because I don't know what I'm supposed to say back."
"No, Stupid. I'm declaring my mistreatment to the universe," she declared loudly as her arms spread wide on either side.
"I'm not stupid and you know you can't call me that," Lucas, the little man dressed in his adorable school uniform, argued.
"Lucas…" she vented. "When will you learn that life isn't fair? That's why I call you stupid – because you think everything in life should play out as planned. Well, guess what? It doesn't… Stupid."
Frustrated with his older sister and her spite, Lucas kicked her shin and ran quickly into the house. Owen was doling out backpacks and commented, "Luke… great. Just in time. Here." Lucas grabbed his backpack and ran to the car. Smiling, Owen believed he'd finally succeeded in convincing Lucas that being on time was worthwhile.
"Where is he?!" Olivia growled through gritted teeth as she limped far more than necessary.
"He, who?" Owen questioned as he walked toward the garage. "C'mon, let's go."
"Where is that slimy weasel of a brother who just KICKED me?" she escalated as she emphasized the kicking. "I have an important dance practice today, Dad, and that worthless, annoying, violent brat just kicked my leg."
"Get in the car, Olivia," Owen groaned, not up for her dramatics and complaints.
She slipped into the front passenger side and lit into her father, "Did you hear what I said? He kicked me, Dad. KICKED me. Why is that acceptable? Why did you send him down as your personal messenger to tell me you're disappointed? Then, when HE kicks me, all you do is grumble at me. Don't you see this is all your fault? You have no use for me, do you?"
"Olivia, I'm not arguing with you right now," Owen stated plainly as he drove. The Littles looked on with intrigue, watching Olivia emotionally spin out of control.
"You are not listening to me! OWEN HUNT – LISTEN TO ME!" she screamed.
Owen drew in a deep breath and replied, "Olivia Elise Hunt. Do not yell while I'm driving."
"See? You just proved it. I thought you were smart. Don't doctors have to be smart? I just told you that you're not listening and then you ignored what I said. I can't believe you! I HATE my life," she fumed as she turned and gazed out the window.
Rather than drop the kids off in the regular order, Owen started at Anna's school, then drove to St. Frances. After hugging and kissing Ria, whose brace was removed and headed to the hospital to be fixed, Owen promised he'd be available if she began experiencing any pain. He handed her a note to deliver to her teacher, excusing her from physical activities.
As Lucas began to hop out of the SUV, Owen inquired, "Did you kick Olivia?"
"Dad! She was bugging…" Lucas began.
Interrupting, Owen held up his hand, "Lucas. I don't want a description of what occurred. I want to know if you kicked Olivia."
"Yes," Lucas pouted. "But she was calling me names and being mean and talking to the universe." Lucas wasn't sure what talking to the universe was all about, but he threw the accusation in and hoped the news would displease Owen.
"You need to apologize, Lucas Owen," Owen stated flatly.
"I'm sorry I kicked you," Lucas yelled with hostility.
"You are not, you little liar," Olivia snarled. "Dad! If Nolan or Ryder had done that at his age, you would've spanked them."
"Don't tell me how to parent, Olivia," Owen stewed. He turned to Lucas and advised, "Get to class. You and I will discuss this after school, little man."
Olivia huffed and looked at her phone impatiently. "I'm going to be late you know."
"Olivia," Owen inhaled as he turned toward her. He pulled into a parking spot at the school and turned off the car. "I am not sure where this sass and attitude came from, but you need to stop. I do not appreciate being told no, it is unacceptable for you to argue and complain in front of the other kids, and I will not allow you to yell while I'm driving. Is that understood?"
The two redheads squared off with their blue eyes boring into one another. Olivia tightened her lips and informed her father, "I don't care what you say. I'm tired of you bossing me around, Owen."
Tilting his head to one side and trying mightily to maintain a calm demeanor, Owen responded, "You're not allowed to call me by my first name, Olivia Elise. The attitude needs to stop…now."
"All of this wouldn't be a problem if you even cared at all about me or ever listened to me. All you care about is your kids. I'm just an inconvenient pain in your ass," she screamed, finally allowing the source of her pain rise to the surface. As she concluded, she folded her arms and turned away from him. Angry with herself, she began breathing quickly as tears gathered in her eyes.
Owen, torn between Olivia's obvious tears and obnoxious behavior, sighed. He rested his head on the back of the seat and stared forward. After a minute of silence, he slowly shared, "Olivia, you are my oldest daughter. I've been nuts about you since the moment you were born. I remember being there with Kayla at your birth and gazing in your beautiful eyes as I held you. You are one of my kids. Please don't ever doubt that again." He started the car and pulled out of the parking spot. Driving toward Olivia's school, he added, "I need to discuss your attitude with your mom. What I do know is that you'll come home right after school today. We'll figure the rest out from there."
Sniveling, Olivia responded while continuing to look away, "I have dance after school."
"Not today," Owen stated firmly. "You should have considered that before choosing to behave the way you did."
Olivia said nothing the rest of the short drive. When Owen pulled to the drop off area at her school, he asked with compassion and concern, "Do you need a minute before you go in? I can pull over and let you pull yourself together."
Turning toward him as she exited the car, she informed him she was fine. Sneering at him as hostility held her face and tears watered her fiery red cheeks, she disclosed with contempt, "I hate you. I hate you so much. You're a horrible father." She slammed the door and walked with purpose through the school doors, not looking back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~''
One key lesson Owen and Amelia had learned over their years of parenting was to expect the unexpected. Halfway through the day, while Amelia was in surgery, Lucas made his way to the nurse's office complaining of a headache. Unable to reach Ryder, Lissa or Lynne, the school nurse called Owen. Frustrated, he slipped away from the hospital briefly and brought Lucas back to his office.
"You need to lie down," he instructed flatly, unconvinced that Lucas was actually feeling unwell. "There's a blanket in the closet if you want it. And take your blazer off and set it over the back of that chair."
Owen walked around to the other side of his desk and took stock of the paperwork before him. After Olivia's stinging words that morning, he'd been unable to concentrate on his work. He was determined to at least address the most pressing matters. Before beginning, he peeked over his reading glasses at Lucas to confirm that the little boy was resting. Lying on his back, Lucas had crumpled the blanket over his body from his chest to his knees. His formal, shined dress shoes wiggled back and forth and tapped into one another. Lying on his back and dangling his hands over his head, Lucas gathered his fingers toward one another in various arrangements. Owen smiled at the sight. My, how his life is about to change, Owen thought as he considered the baby who would arrive before long.
"Do you need some Tylenol, Luke?" Owen inquired.
Gathering his lips to one side and furrowing his brow, Luke weakly begged, "Please. My head is pounding."
Grinning, Owen grabbed his phone and messaged his current intern. He turned the situation into a quiz, asking the young doctor to calculate the appropriate dose of pediatric Tylenol for an eight-year-old weighing 59 pounds and bring it to his office.
Owen's door flung open a few minutes later with Amelia's sultry voice preceding her physical appearance. "Hey, Handsome…" she flirted as she let herself in. "How about…"
Interrupting her, Lucas flew off the couch and ran toward the door, "Mommy!"
Pulling her eyebrows together and smirking, Amelia tilted her head and mouthed, "Why?"
"Luke, I thought your head was pounding," Owen wondered aloud.
Slapping his hand onto his forehead, he declared, "Oh, yeah. I forgot." His eyes drooped and his lower lip jutted out slightly as he looked up at Amelia and groaned, "Mommy, I had to leave school 'cause of my headache."
"Really?" Amelia nodded with one raised eyebrow. "Then you'd better rest, hmm?" She brushed Luke's curls away from his face and stroked his head.
Weakly, Luke begged, "Can you carry me over there?"
"No, she can't," Owen interjected. "Mommy's pregnant, remember?" Lucas turned toward Owen and held up his arms like a toddler. Owen added, "No… you can walk, Lucas."
With a desperate sigh, Lucas dragged his body six feet and fell onto the couch dramatically. "Can you cover me all the way up, Mama?" he pled sounding like a preschooler.
"Wow, Luke, you sound really, really weak," Amelia observed as she walked to him and slipped off his shoes before pulling the blanket over his feet and tucking the blanket in around his body.
With a fake cough, Lucas agreed, "I know." Peeking at Owen out of the corner of her eye, Amelia smirked.
Making her way to one of Owen's guest chairs, Amelia leaned her head back and rested her feet on a side table. She pulled off her surgery cap and sighed as she closed her eyes. Owen glanced up and smiled with fondness at his wife, wanting to embrace her and steal her way to some tropical getaway. He returned to his paperwork and real life reluctantly.
After ten minutes, Amelia walked around his desk and inquired, "You ready?"
"For?" he questioned.
"Our appointment with Arizona. High risk pregnancy and all that," she reminded him.
"Of course," Owen attempted to fake a recollection. "Yeah… let me sign this stack and take it to Patricia."
Leaning her head toward the couch, Amelia hunched, "I guess three of us are attending?"
With a gently smile, Owen responded as he gazed at Amelia's torso, "Three and a half."
Amelia giggled softly and turned to Lucas. With enthusiasm, attempting to sell the event, Amelia announced, "Lukie, Mommy needs to visit Dr. Robbins today and see the baby on a monitor. Daddy's coming and you get to come, too."
"Can Daddy carry me?" Lucas sighed.
Exhaling loudly, Owen responded, "Sure."
The three of them made their way down the hallway and to the elevator. When the doors opened, they discovered Derek already inside.
As they stepped onto the elevator, Derek commented, "Hello Hunts. Lucas? Shouldn't you be in school?"
"My head has a bad headache," he explained as he flopped his temple onto Owen's shoulder.
Looking at Amelia, Derek joked, "Hmm… possible aneurysm. Very serious."
"Serious enough to come home from school," she smirked.
"What floor?" Derek asked as his fingers hovered over the buttons.
Owen nodded as he glanced at the lit up button, "Same as you."
"Maternity? Really?" Derek inquired. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at his sister. "Joint case for trauma and neuro?"
"My mommy's having a baby," Lucas announced. "I'm not gonna be the baby anymore. I'm gonna be a big brother."
"Really? Hmm," Derek quipped, glancing up toward the ceiling as the elevator ascended. "Surprises are your specialty, Amy."
Amelia glanced at Owen who shrugged and encouraged her to not take in Derek's sarcasm. Owen winked at her and the elevator doors opened. Stepping out first, Owen placed his hand on the small of Amelia's back and gently coaxed her to the left, "C'mon Mia." He nodded to Derek, who headed to the right.
"Congratulations," Derek added as he walked away perplexed.
A few minutes later, the family found themselves in an exam room. Amelia had changed into a gown and was ready for an ultrasound. Owen encouraged Lucas to sit quietly while they waited for Arizona. He handed him some sticky notes and a pen from his med coat and encouraged him to draw some pictures.
When Arizona appeared, she'd been told by her assistant that Lucas was accompanying his parents. She opened the door and kidded, "Well, that's funny… my note says that Amelia Shepherd is having a baby. It doesn't say anything about Lucas Hunt being pregnant."
"I'm not pregnant, Dr. Robbins," Lucas giggled as he hopped down and ran to hug Arizona.
Arizona knelt down so she was eye-to-eye with the boy. "How are you feeling about this baby?"
"I'm not gonna be the littlest anymore," he smiled.
"Will you be a nice big brother?" she wondered.
Glancing upward out of the corner of his eye, Lucas shared with a grin, "Mostly."
Laughing, Arizona questioned, "Of all your big brothers and sisters, who's been your best teacher about how to be a big brother?"
"Hmmm…" Lucas pondered. "Not the twins," he began. "Ria's nice but she's not old enough to be my teacher and Anna's crabby a lot." As everyone giggled, he continued, "Olivia calls me stupid all the time and was super naughty on the way to school today."
"She was?" Amelia interjected as she gazed up at Owen. He took in a deep breath and raised his eyebrows while nodding. He mouthed, later.
"So that leaves Nolan and Ryder," Arizona summarized.
"And Lissa. She's my bestest teacher," Lucas declared with certainty. "She even went to college to learn to be a teacher."
"There you go," Arizona smiled. "Would you like to take a peek at your little brother or sister? I'm going to do an ultrasound and peek inside your mommy." She pulled over the doctor's spinning stool and let Lucas sit there after placing it in an ideal spot where he could see the monitor. Arizona arranged the drape and Amelia's gown, then flipped on the ultrasound monitor and put the transducer to Amelia's tiny bump.
"Look at that!" Arizona celebrated. "What a great view." The angle was such that the monitor displayed the baby from the front. The group had a clear view of the arms and head. Whispering to Lucas, Arizona added, "And if we turn this up, we'll hear a heartbeat."
Amelia and Owen teared up as the tiny beat sounded through the machines. Lucas was fascinated and commented, "It sounds like my heartbeat! Does that mean the baby is gonna be like me?"
"Maybe," Arizona smiled. "It's a little too early to know all the details, but do you see the arms? They're developing fantastically." She caught eyes with Amelia and confirmed, "The spinal cord appears intact. That's great news. We'll keep a close eye on it in the coming weeks."
Owen held Amelia's hand as he lost himself in the images of their baby, stating gently, "This site never gets old." Amelia grasped his hand tightly.
"How have you been feeling, Amelia? Any morning sickness? Tenderness? Heartburn?" Arizona quizzed as she cleaned the transducer and Amelia's belly.
"I'm tired quite a bit," Amelia began to summarize.
Interupting, Lucas shared, "And tender. She told me all about how Mommy's bodies get tender when there's a baby inside."
"That's right," Arizona confirmed.
Reporting from his point of view, Owen shared, "There's been some moodiness, anxiety and round ligament pain."
"I haven't been anxious," Amelia protested.
Grimacing, Owen reminded her, "Remember the parent packet from the Academy, Mia?"
"That was not moodiness," she insisted. "Arizona, you wouldn't believe what that place does to the kids who enroll there. It's insane. The rules, the physical expectations, the harassment…"
"My brother went there," Arizona grinned. "Ryder will be fine, Amelia."
"If I let him get on the plane," she huffed. "The buffoons that run that place – they're cruel."
"Yeah, what was I thinking?" Owen couldn't help but add. "No moodiness or anxiety whatsoever." Amelia glared at him as Arizona widened her eyes and conveyed a warning.