When I Lie With You

Chapter 43

Rory & Ian

It felt like I was being ripped apart. Ian was so supportive and so loving and tender that he made it so easy to focus on him. The contractions were seconds apart and the pushing was the hardest thing I’d ever done. I yelled with each push and Ian was right there, helping me through it.

“That’s it, sweetheart. You’re doing great. I’m so proud of you. Stephen would be so proud.”

“Who’s first?” I asked as I gave another push.

“What do you mean, sweetheart?”

“Ashley or Ariel? Who’s first?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t think about it. You pick.”

“Doesn’t matter, honey.”

“We’ll decide when we see her,” Ian said.

The last push was the hardest. “Rory, I see the baby’s head. One more push. Come on,” the doctor spoke.

“Rory, our first baby girl is right there. You can do it, sweetheart.”

I closed my eyes and pushed as hard as I could. Suddenly, I heard the cries of my baby girl.

“You did it, sweetheart. She’s beautiful. Look at how beautiful she is,” Ian said with tears in his eyes.

I looked at my baby as the doctor held her up. “Ashley. She’s Ashley,” I whispered and then let out a scream.

Another fucking contraction. “We have one more baby to deliver, Rory. I need you to push again,” the doctor said.

I was so tired and it felt like my body had been hit by a truck. I felt paralyzed and I just couldn’t do it.

“Ian, I can’t. I’m so tired. I just can’t do this anymore.”

He looked at me as he wiped my forehead with a cloth. “Rory, you are to push right now. It’s not a request; it’s a command. Do you understand me?”

I nodded my head and pushed with every last ounce of strength I had left. “Rory, you did it!” Ian exclaimed.

I threw my head back on the pillow and tried to catch my breath. I heard the cries of Ariel and smiled. The nurse had just handed Ashley to Ian, and the doctor handed me Ariel. My girls were finally here and they were perfect. I looked at Ian, who had a tear streaming down his face.

Ian

“Our little girls are beautiful, sweetheart. I’m so proud of you,” I said as I kissed her head.

It was hard to believe my little girls were finally here. Rory did such an incredible job bringing them into the world and I’d never been more proud of her. As I held Ashley, I reached over and softly rubbed Ariel’s little hand. These two little girls that I stared at had instantly changed my life. The love that poured out of me for them was astounding. I had three beautiful girls in my life and I couldn’t have been happier.

“I think they look like you.” Rory smiled.

“You think? Because when I look at them, all I see is their beautiful mother. I’m going to go to the waiting room and tell everyone the girls have arrived. I’ll be right back, sweetheart,” I said as I kissed her head and carefully handed her Ashley.

I walked out to the waiting room where Adalynn, Daniel, Mandy, Jimmy, and Richard were sitting and waiting for the news.

“Ashley and Ariel have arrived, and they’re very healthy little girls,” I announced with a grin on my face.

Adalynn stood up and hugged me with tears in her eyes. Smiles graced everyone’s face as congratulations were said.

“Can we see Rory and the babies?” Adalynn asked.

“Sure. She’d love that.” I smiled.

Adalynn was the first one to run in there and coo over both girls. Both she and Daniel held them and I could tell Adalynn was loving it.

“I see that look on your face,” I said to her.

“What look would that be, Daddy?”

“The maternal look. The look of ‘oh I want a baby now.’”

She looked up at me and smiled. “Don’t get me wrong, I love kids, but I don’t want any of my own and neither does Daniel. We already discussed it before we got married.”

“Look at me! I didn’t want kids either.” I smiled.

“Nah, you were just waiting for that special woman to give you one or two.” She winked.

After everyone took their turns with congratulating us and holding the girls, they said their goodbyes. Rory looked exhausted, so I took Ashley and Ariel from her and laid them down in their hospital cribs. Both girls were asleep, so I climbed next to Rory and held her close.

“I love you, sweetheart, and I want to thank you,” I said as I kissed her head.

“Thank me for what?” she asked.

“For coming into my life, marrying me, and giving me the best gift any man could ever ask for: two little girls.”

“I love you and you’re welcome. But don’t forget you had a big part in helping me make those little girls. So thank you.” She smiled.

“Get some rest, sweetheart.”

“Will you stay with me?” she asked.

“Of course I will. I’m never leaving you or my girls.”

She closed her eyes and, within seconds, she was sound asleep. I couldn’t help but smile every time I looked at my little angels. I was tired, so I figured I’d get a little rest with Rory while Ashley and Ariel were asleep. I closed my eyes, and I could feel myself drifting to sleep, and then, it happened: they both started crying at the same time.