Chapter 85
“It was so hard to cope with everything on my own. I was keeping our home clean, building on it, working full–time, and cooking. I think if I’d been truthful with myself, I would have realized I felt stuck because I didn’t want to admit I was wrong. I didn’t want to admit that I deserved better,”
“You do know now that you deserve better–so much better?” Benjamin whispered to her, but she got so caught up in his eyes that she didn’t answer.
“Breakfast for two,” someone said and she looked at the door to see Peter standing there, with an ‘oh shit face‘.
“Thanks, Dad,” Benjamin commented as he cleared his throat. He moved out of the bed as Peter walked into the room.
“Well, I am going to sit with your mother and spend some time with my grandsons before I need to start work.” Peter moved his eyes to Pandora. Then he proceeded to tell her how every one of their friends and family members was going to take turns watching the boys. In the end, Peter raised an eyebrow almost as if he was asking if she agreed with the plan they had set out.
“Yes, that sounds amazing; thank you,” she told him with a smile and felt relieved and touched to have so many people around her.
“Thanks, Dad,” Benjamin said softly as he hugged Peter. After their short hug, Peter walked out to go to the NICU.
Benjamin silently sat back down next to her, pushing the tray closer to her. “By the time we are finished eating, David should be here. Once he is through, we can get washed, dressed, and go back to be with the boys.”
“Okay,” she whispered as she started to eat.
“Pandora, speak up if you think you’re being pushed around or don’t think you are being heard.”
“I don’t,” she said, reassuring him. “I just want to be with the boys, all the time.” Benjamin opened his mouth, but she shut him up quickly by kissing him. ‘I know I need to eat so I can stay healthy for them and be able to produce milk.
Benjamin smiled goofily and kissed her back.
Just like Benjamin had said, David deemed that she was fit and healthy, and able to be released. Thankfully, Emily came in and said that she would pack up her belongings and place them in Peter’s office, so they were safe and still there at the hospital.
Pandora washed her hands before they walked into the neonatal unit, heading right for the boys.
“Hey little guys, did you miss me?” she asked as she smiled broadly at them.
“They have.” Her head turned to see a sleepy Lana standing and yawning. “They’ve been good, just about due to be changed and fed,” she said before hugging Pandora, ‘I’ll leave you two alone. I am in need of my bed, and have no idea how I pulled this off when I was a young woman.”
Pandora nodded at her, already fully aware that she could no longer do all–nighters, and already enjoyed the odd cat nap during the day.
“Hey, Momma and Daddy,” a nurse said with a smile as she looked over Jack. “Would one of you like to change Jack?” she asked without looking their way.
Benjamin chuckled. “Yes, Mommy here would love to change him,” he replied. She looked at him, and he winked. “I’ll be right here with you,” he said into her ear. “But you’ll need both of your hands.”
She frowned and he tilted his head down. Her own eyes followed to see that at some point, she had gripped his hand, and the fact that it looked red… she knew that she had a tight hold on him.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered, pulling her hand away, but he kept a hold of it and pulled her close. She let out a shaky breath as the nurse showed her the diapers and supplies.
Love, just nice and easy, Benjamin encouraged. She closed her eyes and his hand trailed down her arm. His other hand held her close by the hip. “You’ll be fine, love, it’s just like changing any other diaper,‘ he said.
She nodded at his words and set about the task. Jack was so small. It made her afraid that she was going to hurt him. As she changed the diaper, she couldn’t help but giggle because he liked his feet tucked up to his bottom.
Once the fresh diaper was on him, Pandora turned and smiled at Benjamin. “I changed his diaper.”
She turned and hugged Benjamin, feeling happy yet surprised over the fact that she was crying. “I saw you, good job, Mommy,‘ he whispered and pulled her closer to his chest. He turned her, but kept her in his arms, and then sat down on the rocking chair with her in his lap.
8:08 PM
Chapter 85
They both need a middle name,” she said as she thought it over. “What are your thoughts?”
“What about Walter and Ron?” She turned and looked at him, and he chuckled. ‘I hit Ron. It would be a nice way to make it up to him.” She snorted, shaking her head. “And he told me that he did all the things Derrik was supposed to do. Didn’t he go to your company anniversary party as your date?”
She pulled her hair as her mind went to that night. ‘Oh yes. That. Where Derrik got shit–faced by one in the afternoon, and you still remained married to that fucker?‘ her inner voice snarked.
‘Yeah, I agree, so how about Micheal Ron Parks? Wait… will your dad be upset over the fact that one of our sons is named after my dad but not him?”
Benjamin shook his head. “Maisey has Dad’s first name, Alexis has my mom’s first name to give to their firstborn.”
“What did you get?‘
“I got both their middle names to use.”
“Which are?”
“Marie and Walter, Benjamin chuckled,
Ah, so we get to take care of two birds with one stone?”
“Yep, we sure do.” He smiled and kissed her head. Just as she leaned into him, Micheal’s alarm sounded. Pandora jumped up and jiggled his foot, and the alarm stopped. She turned to find Benjamin smiling at her.
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