Page 54 of Need Me
When Brooke released him, Chase inhaled a calming breath and let it out slowly. He lifted a prayer heavenward, but it wasn’t God whom he asked forhelp.
Nana and Granddaddy, please watch over Anna and our babies. Keep them safe and pull some strings if youcan.
Dr. Rutger’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Chase, get ready for your firstbaby.”
A nurse said, “I’ll lower the screen just enough for you to see them born, Mr.McIntyre.”
Chase stood up, trembling inside with nervous anticipation. “Okay.” He reached down and grabbed Brooke’s hand. “C’mon, Aunt Brooke. I want you to see this,too.”
“Chase, are yousure?”
He frowned at her. “Get your ass uphere.”
Brooke stood, her eyes shining at him and he returned his attention to the medicalteam.
Rutger smiled behind his surgical mask. “Meet your daughter,Chase.”
Chase stood on his tippy-toes as Rutger held up the first baby. He was shocked at her small size, but she let out a mighty squall. Immense love enveloped Chase as he gazed at the little life he’d created with Anna. “She’s beautiful,” he whispered, awestruck. “Anna, we have a daughter and she looks just like you.” Excitement flowed through him. “I want to hold her. Can I holdher?”
Dr. Rutger said, “Just for amoment.”
He gave the baby to one of the nurses, who brought her over to Chase. Although he handled TJ all the time, Chase was nervous about holding his tiny daughter.She can’t weigh more than four pounds, if that,he thought. He made a cradle with his arms and held still as the nurse carefully transferred the baby tohim.
He smiled through happy tears. “Hello, baby girl. I’m your daddy and I love you so much.” He touched his daughter’s hand, the fingers of which weren’t even long enough to wrap around his pinky. “Is she okay?” he askedBrooke.
Brooke put an arm around him. “Her color is good and she seems to be breathing justfine.”
“I better take her,” the nurse said. “We have to take her vitals and get her temperatureup.”
“Oh. Okay.” Chase stroked the baby’s dark, damp hair. “Daddy will see you after a bit, sweetheart. I loveyou.”
The pediatric nurse took the baby and Dr. Rutger announced that the second baby was almost born. Chase wondered what sex it would be, but he didn’t really care. He just wanted it to behealthy.
Rutger said, “Well, this isunexpected.”
Chase’ heart hammered in his chest as panic constricted his throat. “What’s wrong? Whathappened?”
The surgeon’s smile perplexed Chase. “How do you feel about having threebabies?”
Stunned, Chase’s system flooded with adrenaline. “What?” Chase’s loud question echoed in the delivery room and the surgical team laughed. “Three? From thinking I couldn’t have any children to THREE! Are yousure?”
Rutger shot him an amused look. “Three itis?”
Even though he was anxious, Chase fell silent so the professionals could work. “Three?” he whispered to Brooke. “Three babies.” Louder, he asked again, “Are you sure, Dr.Rutger?”
“Positive.”
“How come you didn’t know beforenow?”
Brooke said, “Sometimes a triplet won’t show up on tests. It happens more often than you’dthink.”
Dr. Rutger said, “That’s right. We have daughter numbertwo.”
Chase laughed with delight. He bent and kissed his wife’s forehead, wishing with all his heart that she was awake. “We have another little girl, Anna.” Straightening, he asked, “Can I holdher?”
Rutger shook his head, his expression somber. “No. She needs to go right to the NICU. She’s having a little troublebreathing.”
Chase approached the screen so he could at least see the baby. She was even smaller than her sister. He fought down his rising fear.No bad thoughts, just positive energy. “Daddy loves you, Twinkle. You hang in there, and I’ll see you after a littlebit.”
