Page 25 of Double Kisses for the Omega
Nate nodded, and she and her husband Marcus stepped into the room.
I walked over and gently nudged Rick’s shoulder. “Rick? There are a couple people here to see you.”
Rick blinked his eyes open, then saw his mate’s parents at the foot of the bed. Immediately his eyes filled with tears. “Mama? Marc?”
Eleanor rushed to his side and wrapped her arms around him. “We’re so proud of you honey.”
“What are you doing here?” Rick asked.
“Your alphas called us to let us know that you were due any day. They invited us to be here.”
Rick turned to us, tears streaming down his face. “You… you’re ok with this?”
I nodded, walked over and took his hand. “They’re always going to be a part of your life, so we didn’t want to exclude them on such an important day.”
“Thank you!” Rick blurted out as he started sobbing.
“We’re never going to ask you to forget, or take you away from them,” Nate said.
“We’re so proud of you dear,” Eleanor said. “We know Brian would be too. You’re so strong, and now look, Rebecca has two little brothers.”
“Mama…”
She was crying as well, but the smile on her face told me everything. It was a bittersweet moment for her, but one she’d been waiting for as well.
They were all finally moving past the worst of the pain.
“I brought something… some things, actually,” she said.
“Huh?” Rick asked.
Eleanor reached into a bag and produced two crocheted stuffed animals.
Rick burst into fresh tears as she set one in each bassinet.
“You didn’t have to…” he started.
She shook her head. “Of course I did. I made one for Rebecca, and I plan to make one for all of the grandkids.”
“Thank you mama.”
She nodded, then wrapped him in her arms. “I’m sorry we weren’t there as much as you needed. But we plan to be as involved as you’ll let us now. You’ll always be a part of our family, even if you have to wait to be with Brian again.”
He hugged her back. “Thank you.”
She sat back after a moment. “There is one thing.”
Rick studied her with a concerned expression.
Eleanor sighed. “I did call your mother to let her know about the pregnancy. But that was it. I told her you were still alive, and was pregnant.”
“Why?” Rick asked.
She took his hand. “Because what they did to you was horrible and cruel. It never should have happened. But as more time passed, I started to realize that they were scared. You were alive, but only because of the machines. They couldn’t bear to watch you go too. Even if you’re not in contact, knowing that you’re still here at least makes what they did not in vain.
“I’m not asking you to forgive them. But maybe you can hate them a bit less.”
Rick bit his lip. “I don’t think I’m there yet.”
Eleanor gave him a soft smile. “I don’t expect you to be. But maybe, when you look at the faces of your little ones, remember that that act of cruelty is what kept you alive to make those beautiful babies.”
Rick looked over at the bassinets, and Nate and I made our way over to flank him on the bed.
It was going to take time, but maybe our omega could finally start to heal properly.
And Nate and I would be with him every step of the way.
