When I Lie With You

Chapter 41

Rory

3 Months Later…

I stood in the middle of the nursery and looked around. It was huge. Ian had the wall knocked out between both bedrooms and had them completely renovated. I felt sorry for the workers because Ian was on their asses every second of every day to get the job done. They finished two days early. I slipped them some cash and apologized for my husband’s behavior. It turned out exactly the way Ian and I had planned. We decorated with the colors of soft pink and cream. It was perfect and so were the two paintings that Ellery painted for us that hung above each of the girls’ cribs.

“It’s beautiful in here,” Ian said as he wrapped his arms around me.

“It is. Now that it’s complete, we just need to wait for our daughters to be born.”

“Ah, they’ll be here soon, Rory. Filling this room with laughter.”

“Laughter won’t come for a while, babe. They’ll fill the room with cries.”

Ian chuckled and kissed my head. “I can’t believe all the things we got from the baby shower. People were so generous,” I said.

“They always are, sweetheart.” He smiled.

Ian and I went out to pick up a couple more things for the babies. As we were walking down the shopping plaza, we ran into Andrew. Suddenly, I felt sick as I held onto Ian’s arm.

“Ian, Rory. Wow, look at you. You look great,” Andrew said.

“Excuse us, Andrew. We’re in a hurry,” Ian replied.

Rory and I began to walk past him and then stopped when we heard him speak.

“I need to apologize to both of you. I want to apologize to both of you.”

Ian turned around and looked at him with anger in his eyes. “How dare you.”

“I’m in therapy, and I have been for months. I even met someone that I think is really special.”

“Good for you, Andrew,” I said. “Keep getting that help.”

“I miss your friendship, Ian,” Andrew said with sadness.

“Yeah, I miss your friendship too, except the part where you had my wife pinned to the ground on a cold bathroom floor in a club. I hope you get all help you need, and I hope that your relationship works out. Take care, Drew.”

Ian took my arm and led me down the sidewalk. He didn’t say a word for quite a while after that. I knew there was a part of him that missed Andrew, but he would never forgive him for what he did, even if I had made peace with it.

“I have to pee,” I said.

“You just went to the bathroom ten minutes ago,” Ian said.

“And? What’s your point? Do you have any idea what it’s like to have two human beings inside of you, pushing down on your bladder?”

“Good point, sweetheart. I apologize. Now let’s get you to a bathroom.”

Ian and I were lying in bed. He was doing some work on his laptop and I was looking through a Cosmopolitan magazine. Suddenly, Ian looked over at me and smiled. “Can I play with my girls?”

I sighed. As much as I loved his attention to the babies, he actually got them all wound up when he talked to them. They would start kicking away and he thought it was funny. “Ian, they’re settled for the night.”

“Please, Rory. Just a couple little words. Please,” he begged.

“Fine. Just make it quick. I’m tired.”

He smiled and kissed my tummy. “Hi, it’s your daddy. I just wanted to say good night to both of you.”

And there it was; the kicks had started. Ian put his hands across my stomach and smiled with each kick. He was so cute, and I had no doubt in my mind that he was going to make the best daddy. He’d kept a close eye on me ever since the first ultrasound, and when he couldn’t be with me because of work, he usually had Mandy keep me company. I sighed with each kick because one of them was kicking my bladder and it hurt. I was already feeling the pressure of them down there and he was making it worse.

“I love you, but fuck, Braxton, your children are really making me uncomfortable, and I have to go to the bathroom.”

He kissed my stomach three more times and got up and helped me up from the bed. “Rory, it’s getting harder for you to get up.” He laughed.

“I’m so happy you find it amusing. How about I stick two babies up your penis and see how comfortable you are.”

He glared at me. “Right. Sorry, sweetheart. I won’t say another word.”

I went into the bathroom and smiled when I heard him yell, “Oh, by the way, don’t expect me to ever get hard again after what you just said.”

“I have no doubt that you’ll be just fine.” I climbed into bed and Ian immediately put his arm around me and rested his hand on my belly.

“Don’t you dare,” I warned.

I heard a light chuckle as he inched his hand away from me. “Good night, sweetheart. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Ian and I left the doctor’s office and went to grab some lunch. He said that I could go into labor any day and if I didn’t within the next week, then he would schedule me for a C-section. I didn’t know if I could hold out for another week. I was so uncomfortable, I could barely stand it anymore. Small cramping pains started and I wasn’t feeling well. I was so tired and I just wanted to go home.

“Can we get lunch to go, honey? I’m so tired and I’m not feeling well.”

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked with concern.

“I just feel a little sick. I think I need to lie down for a while.”

“Okay. I’ll just have Charles make something at home,” he said as he helped me into the car.

When we arrived home, I walked up the stairs and was startled by a severe cramp in my stomach. A cramp so bad that it sent me to my knees. I let out what sounded like a howl. Ian came running from the kitchen.

“Rory, what’s wrong?!”

“I think I had contraction.”

He took my hand and helped me up. “I’ll call the doctor.”

“No, don’t. It was just one pain. I’ll probably start getting them here and there. We don’t have to worry until they come closer together.”

Ian helped me up the stairs and to the bedroom. Another contraction started. “Holy fuck!” I screamed.

“Shit, sweetheart, I’m calling the doctor. I’ll be right back. I left my phone downstairs.”

“Don’t leave me, Ian,” I whined.

Ian started screaming Mandy’s name and, after a few moments, she came running into the bedroom.

“Mandy, I need you to go to the kitchen and get my phone. I need to call the doctor. Rory’s in labor.”

“Here, Mr. Braxton, just use my phone,” she said as she pulled it from her pocket and handed it to him.

Mandy walked over and rubbed my back. “I know it hurts, Rory, but you can do this.” She smiled.

“OH MY GOD! It’s happening again,” I screamed.

Suddenly, I felt a steady stream of water running down my legs. I looked down and gasped.

“Oh, your water broke!” Mandy exclaimed.

“What?! Ian said.

“Mr. Braxton, forget calling the doctor. You need to get Rory to the hospital now.”

Ian gave Mandy the phone and both of them helped me downstairs. Ian ran to the kitchen and grabbed his keys and phone while Mandy helped me in the car.

“Mandy, please have Joshua get Rory’s bag from the bedroom closet and bring it to the hospital.”

“Will do, Mr. Braxton. Good luck, Rory!”

I was scared, in pain, and unsure about everything. Ian took my hand and held it while he drove us to the hospital. Another contraction started and I squeezed Ian’s hand as I let out a yell.

“Why does this hurt so badly?” I screamed. “This can’t be normal!”

“Breathe, sweetheart. We’re almost at the hospital and everything will be fine,” Ian said.

“Nothing will be fine until I get these babies out of me!” I yelled.