Page 53 of Jeremy
Fuck.He plans to trap the miners.
“Yeah,I remember that. Fuck, this could work.” I try to sound impressed and awed, andapparently, I pull it off.
Heslaps me on the back. “Yeah, it can. I’ll need a few guys to take care of theguards. Can you handle one of those rifles?” he asks as we leave, and he locksthe place back up.
“Absolutely.Just make sure I‘m clear before you make that call,” I joke, and he laughs.
“We’llbe miles away, getting drunk off our asses.”
“So,do you have a date in mind?”
“Thetech guy who is modifying the cell phone and planting the C4 has another jobbefore ours. So, it’ll be a month at least. You’ll know as soon as I know.” Westop walking and he looks me in the eye. “This stays inside our circle. Shaunand Jose are the only other people who know the plan, other than the tech guy.”
“Idon’t run my mouth.” I force a smile. “I’m a little excited though.”
Anthonylaughs, and we head back for the house. “I’d be disappointed if you weren’t.”
ChapterFifteen
Melissa
He’sso tiny and helpless my heart shatters every time I see him. Calvin is fourweeks old, and while he’s made amazing leaps forward, he won’t be out of thehospital anytime soon. He has to weigh four pounds at the least and have notrouble breathing on his own to be able to go home.
Inthe last week, they’ve been able to remove the ventilator in lieu of a machinethat puffs oxygen into his nose, and so far he’s doing well with it. They’vealso started giving him my breast milk through the tummy tube and he’s gainingweight steadily.
I’mso grateful he isn’t struggling like a lot of other preemies do. Another littlegirl born at twenty-six weeks is in the NICU and her alarms and monitors alwaysseem to be screaming. She’s been through multiple surgeries and her poorparents are exhausted and devastated.
I’vebeen so lucky to have the support system I do, especially since I expected tobe handling my pregnancy and raising my baby alone. Now, I’m surrounded bywonderful people who care for him almost as much as I do.
Zoeand Leah have been a godsend. We’ve spent most of the last month together, sowe’ve gotten to know each other quickly, but it wasn’t hard to see how amazingand compassionate these girls are. I’d be thrilled to think of them as family.
Jeremyhas been busy with work, which makes me a bit nervous now that I know what hedoes, but talking to the girls has helped. If they live normal lives with theirhacker husbands, I don’t see why I can’t too.
Leahsits beside me as the NICU nurse approaches and asks, “Would you like to holdhim?”
Hasa stupider question ever been asked? I’ve never held my son. It’s all I’vethought and dreamed about since he was born.
“He’sready?” My voice wavers.
“Yes,I’ll stay nearby and monitor. We want to try him on a bottle for a bit as wellsince he’s handling the breast milk well.”
Thenurse picks Calvin up, carefully arranging the tubes and wires attached to him,and places him in my arms. He’s so light, a little over three pounds, and I’mterrified of hurting him, but he only snuffles a bit and opens his eyes.
They’rea brilliant blue that makes Leah gasp. “Oh my goodness.”
Thenurse smiles down at us. “They’ll probably darken as he gets older.”
“Minedid,” I murmur, running a finger over the short, fine hair on his head. “Mysweet boy,” I coo at him. His eyes don’t look for the sound, but his head turnsas he searches for it.
“Herecognizes your voice,” Leah says softly. Tears spill over, running down hercheeks and she wipes at them. “That’s so beautiful.”
AfterI cuddle him for a few minutes, the nurse hands me a bottle and cautions methat he may not be interested in it yet. “It may have to be offered many timesbefore he takes it.”
Hislittle mouth opens and closes like a fish, and he latches onto the nipple withno problem. I’ve had trouble with my milk, and now it’s pretty much dried up,but I have some saved up that should last him a couple of months. Once it’sgone, we’ll have to switch to formula. The doctors have assured me that even afew months helps give him the immunity and vitamins that will help him grow.
Hedoesn’t drink much. His eyes fall closed, and I jump at the sound of his oxygenalarm. The nurse calmly reaches over and removes the bottle, then jostles him alittle.
“That’stypical and the main thing we need to watch for now. Preemies have troubleregulating their swallowing and breathing. Whenever that happens, just give hima little rest and try again.”
