The New Ship
Chapter 24
Grace was in a lot of pain the next morning and really couldn't much because of the babies. It worried Mike and he stayed close by. The kids were occupied with their grandparents and had only came over to love on Grace.
Mary stayed with Grace while Mike ran to get take-out and a few groceries. She had had a slight concussion and Mike didn't want her left alone. He got home and put their take-out on plates and on a tray to carry up the stairs. He'd pulled up the stair runner due to the amount of blood on it and was against buying a new one. Mary was reading to Grace and smiled at Mike when he walked in.
"Mom, are you sure about keeping the kids again tonight?" Grace asked.
"Yes. You need your rest." Mary said before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks, Mom." Grace said.
"You're welcome." Mary said. She reached up and gave Mike a kiss on the cheek and rubbed his arm. She was gone just a moment later and after changing into his pajamas, Mike settled next to Grace.
"Your dad and I are going to take Eli school shopping tomorrow. Your mom and Liv will be here with you." Mike explained.
"Okay." Grace said. Mike cut her chicken up for her and helped her prop up on the pillows.
"And I removed the runner off the stairs. I tried getting the blood off with no luck. Your mom tried too," Mike explained.
"I think I caught my food on it. I wouldn't want to carry a baby down those stairs and catch my foot on it." Grace said.
"Oh, speaking of a baby. I got a baby name book. I always loved picking out the names." Mike said. He pulled the book out of the bag and opened it.
"Liv is sure excited. Eli is just Eli." Grace remarked.
"He'll be okay. So, I was thinking…two girls and a boy." Mike said.
"Claire…Cecilia…Carter." Grace replied.
"I like those names." Mike said. He grabbed a notepad and wrote the names down.
"Or…Claire…Carter…Cooper." Grace suggested.
"Ah…I hate to a nay-sayer, but Cooper may not be a good choice. We can if you really want…" Mike said.
"How about Connor instead?" Grace suggested.
"I do like Connor. My mother's maiden name was Connor." Mike said as he wrote the name down.
"We can do Connor instead of Carter if you want?" Grace asked.
"Let's wait to make those decisions when we know the genders." Mike said.
"Or…we could wait. Not find out." Grace remarked.
"I'm game." Mike said. He reached over and gave her a long kiss.
"My secretary called. I probably should go in Monday. The press is asking how I fell." Grace said.
"Can you issue a release from home?" Mike asked.
"Possibly. I'm going to try that first. I told her I would draft a statement tonight and send it to her." Grace said.
"Hopefully that suffices." Mike said.
"One of the reporters is saying you threw me down the stairs." Grace said. Mike immediately pulled away.
"You don't actually think that, do you?" Mike asked.
"No, absolutely not. But you know the media?" Grace remarked.
"So…what needs to be done?" Mike asked.
"I am going to sing your praises as a husband and father. Explain that you weren't even home when I fell. That as soon as you walked in, you've rarely left my side." Grace replied.
"I would never hurt a woman…or unborn babies." Mike said.
"I know that. I'll eat and write it. Don't stress." Grace said. She gave him a kiss and cuddled close. She finished eating and Mike gave her the laptop to work on while he was downstairs. He walked back into their bedroom and found her still typing away.
"I'm going to shower." Mike said.
"Okay." Grace said with a smile. He leaned down and gave her a kiss before walking into the bathroom. By the time he got done, she had finished and handed him her laptop. "You should read it." Grace said. Mike got comfortable and sat the laptop on his lap.
"Late Thursday afternoon, I was carrying a laundry basket full of laundry down my stairs to my ground-floor laundry room. My foot caught on a stair runner and I fell down the stairs. At the time of my fall, my children were visiting with my mother and father and my husband was getting a nearby house ready for a friend that is moving in soon. I was home alone.
I did try to get help but my ankle was badly twisted and I was unable to get to my phone and my house is sound-proof so no one heard me yell for help. I was in and out of consciousness for approximately one hour, until my husband, Admiral Michael Slattery (retired) came home. He immediately called for an ambulance and administered first aid.
I was transported by ambulance to George Washington University Hospital, where I was diagnosed with a mild concussion, a laceration on my forehead, twisted ankle and broken left wrist. During the examination, my husband and I were informed that I was pregnant with triplets. We were aware I was pregnant, but not with triplets. We are thrilled with the news and we are both relieved that the babies were unharmed during my fall.
It has been brought to my attention that some media outlets are reporting that my husband threw me down the stairs. That is absolutely not true and I am prepared to share the security camera footage of me falling down the steps, laying for an hour and Michael coming in the front door, if necessary. If media outlets continue sharing this story, I will be suing for libel.
My first husband was physically abusive and I was very selective in dating after he died. Michael has been nothing but gentle and loving to myself and my children, whom he has adopted. I eagerly anticipate seeing him with our three little ones. His record stands for itself but I will not stand for his name to be sullied.
"Are you sure you want to talk about Kent being physically abusive? The kids?" Mike asked.
"They'll be okay. Liv is too young to understand and Eli adores you. You've become their father…in every way that actually matters." Liv said.
"If you're sure…send it." Mike said. Grace took the laptop and quickly emailed the statement to her secretary.
"Done." Grace answered. She sat the laptop on her nightstand and gave Mike a long kiss.
"Hopefully it works. I love you." Mike said.
"I love you more." Grace said. He moved her laptop and helped her settle into bed before climbing in next to her.
