Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 112382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
“What is it, love?” I had to clear my throat a time or two to remove the frogs.
“I don’t know anything about babies. I wasn’t going to stay here. What am I going to do?” I got the feeling that that last was more to herself than me, so I concentrated on the rest of what she said. I imagine that, like me, she was thinking about all that she’d been through and worrying about bringing a child into a world where such things were possible, so I went with that first.
“We’ll learn everything we need to to make sure that the little one is safe and happy. I’ve helped raise my nieces and nephews, so I’m not exactly green, and we have all the women upstairs who are more than willing to show us what we don’t know. I’m always going to be here, so you’ll never have to do it alone.”
“I used to think that about my dad. But then he left us, and mom and I were never the same.” She gripped my arm in panic. “I don’t… I can’t…I won’t put a child through that.” There was wild fear in her eyes, so I didn’t feel even a little bit of anger or disappointment at what she was saying.
Drawing her in closer, I set about reassuring her. Knowing the place, she was coming from, I tackled it head-on. “No one will ever get through me to get to you or our children. What happened to you, I will fix it; I’ll make all those involved pays and pay dearly. But our child will never face what either of us has had to. Our child is going to have a strong, beautiful mother who’s going to teach him or her how to be just as amazing as she is, and I’m going to be there every step of the way.”
I saw movement out the corner of my eye and looked towards the door where a middle-aged woman was about to knock. “May I come in?” She asked with a smile. I’d never seen her before, but that wasn’t saying much since the place was crawling with personnel. I positioned myself more in a protective stance next to Roxana and nodded.
“I’m Dr. Singh; Mr. Mancini has asked me to take over your care for the duration of your stay here, Roxy.” She came forward with her hand out held. “May I?” She did the strangest thing, putting what looked like a silk cloth over Roxana’s wrist before placing two of her fingers over it. I realized she was checking her pulse only because of the way she held those two fingers.
“Oh, I see, he’s testing me again. It’s early days yet, but the essence is there.” I got the feeling she wasn’t speaking to either of us, but I had to ask all the same.
“I’m sorry, what do you mean? Who’s testing you?”
“Oh, no, it’s just a little inside humor. There isn’t much that needs to be done at this stage, but I’ll write up a nutrition list for her to follow. You haven’t been eating very well for some time, have you love?” She patted Roxana’s hand before moving away from the bed.
“Not to worry, I’ll have you in tiptop shape in no time. By the way, I think there may be two.” She waltzed out of the room after dropping that bombshell.
‘Two? What does she mean, Jason? Two what?” Before I could answer, she fainted, dead away. It’s been that kind of day.
Mancini
I watched Dr. Singh, one of many on staff here, leave their room on the monitor. The way she searched out the hidden camera in the hallway and smiled told me she was onto me. Yes, I’d tested her. Dr. Singh is a healer; her ancestors were healers. She uses a strange blend of ancient and new in her treatment of women all over the world. But she also comes from a long line of empaths, of which she is one of the strongest.
Like everyone else here, she is more than what the world perceives her to be. I gave her the care of Roxana because I wanted to see how sharp her skills were and I’m not disappointed. Truth is, I’m very excited about this baby and will trust no one else with its care from beginning to end. I have a feeling about the kid and can’t wait to see what strengths he or she might have.
I’m almost certain that the child’s strengths will outshine the father’s. It’s going to be a pain waiting for these kids to grow up, but there is much we have to do in the meantime to make their paths ready. I haven’t shared this part of things with the others yet because I’m not sure how ready they are for that particular truth, especially Lyon. I myself am very protective of my baby and find myself dealing with what her future will bring even though I’ve been long prepared.