Rewritten (Unwritten Book 2) (30 page)

My dad wraps his arm around me. “It’s ok Allison. We’ll be right here. Go with him.”

I look up at him, still not able to move or breathe. Charlie steps closer, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me in so we’re centimeters apart and whispers, “Breathe,” before kissing me softly.

He steps away holding my hand tightly and pauses when he sees I’m not following him. He looks back with pain in his eyes.
Please Allison.
He mouths to me.
Please come with me
.

I take a deep breath in then slowly start to move forward looking straight into his eyes. I need those eyes looking back at me. They are my comfort, my everything. As long as I have those to look into I know I can do this. My whole body trembles with fear as I wrap my other arm around his arm, holding myself up as we walk out the door. I’ve never felt so faint in my life but having my rock, my Charlie, by my side helps calm me more than ever before.

I can do this.

We enter a room where a doctor has his back facing us writing in a chart. He turns when we enter and it’s hard to read his facial expression.

Not able to wait a second longer, Charlie asks, “So what happened? Is my son ok?”

The doctor looks at him, then at me. “I’m sorry to say but Jacquelyn didn’t make it.”

Charlie looks at me, trying to hide his happiness, knowing this is not something people would normally be celebrating, but oh my God I feel like I could float away on could nine right now. My chest opens up, I can finally breathe. Filling my lungs with what feels like the best air ever created on this earth. I try really hard not to smile and just grip Charlie tighter.

The doctor continues, “Once we started the procedure her blood pressure started to spike and we tried everything. We were hoping the hormones released after the baby was delivered would bring something back to life but the medication we had to give her had the opposite affect and it was too much for her body to handle. It turned into an emergency surgery to get the baby out as fast as we could so we could try to revive her but unfortunately there was nothing we could do. She was already gone.”

We both look at each other, knowing what our hearts are feeling before Charlie looks back to the doctor. “And the baby?”

His frown turns slightly up, “Congratulations. It’s a boy. He’s this way.” The doctor puts his hand on Charlie’s back, “Come meet your son.”

Tears instantly flow down Charlie’s face and I can only think they are tears of happiness, tears of relief, tears of sorrow for his parents, and tears of joy for his son. He wraps his arm around my waist and leans in to give me a sweet kiss before pulling back and whispering, “Come on. Let’s go meet our son.”

We walk into another room to see a little boy wrapped up in a blanket in a clear bassinet with a nurse standing over him.

She looks up to Charlie and smiles, “This must be your beautiful little boy.” She looks down, then back at him. “He has your eyes.”

Charlie’s eyes well up again as he leans down to see his son for the first time. He looks at me, then to the nurse. “Can I hold him?”

The nurse laughs, “He’s yours sweetie. You can do whatever you want with him.”

Charlie’s face lights up as he reaches down and timidly wraps his arms around his son and begins to lift him up to his chest. He cradles him in his arms looking to him as he rubs his soft head that is lightly covered with soft brown hair.

My heart melts like never before. Seeing a brand new baby is a feeling that can’t even be described. I was there the moment Sonia’s daughter was born and this feels the same. That instant love, the instant happiness and knowing you would do anything for that baby is all too consuming.

You want to hold them tight but you’re terrified to hurt them because they are so tiny. You can’t help but stare at them as your heart grows five times bigger than you ever thought possible.

I know, in this moment, that I can love Lyric as my own son. He is mine. I am his mom. Just like I love Sonia’s daughter as my own. It doesn’t matter if I didn’t give birth to him; we are a family now.

I’m his mommy.

He looks at me as more tears fall. I step toward him, leaning down and kissing Lyric’s head before leaning in and kissing Charlie on the lips as tears fall from my eyes as well.

“He’s beautiful, Charlie,” I whisper looking back up at him. “Hello Lyric,” I pause, looking up to Charlie and then down to Lyric again. “I’m your Mommy,” I say closely to him before kissing his head.

Charlie’s body visibly constricts as he lets out a sob he can’t hold in, wrapping his arm around me so the three of us are in our first family hug. Hands down this is the best moment of my life. One I will remember forever. The birth of our son. I hold on to Charlie and Lyric never wanting to let go.

We sit in an embrace until there’s a knock on the door. Nichole walks in whispering, “Can we come in?”

We both look up, wiping our eyes, smiling as Nichole, Paul, along with my mom and dad all walk through the door.

Nichole squeals as she jumps over to where we’re standing smiling from ear to ear, “Let me see him, let me see him!”

She wraps her arms around both Charlie and I looking down to Lyric. “He’s beautiful. God Charlie, he looks just like you.”

Charlie looks at her then back down to Lyric, rubbing his head again, “He does, doesn’t he?”

Paul walks over placing his hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Congratulations, bro.”

“Thanks man. I’m glad you’re here.”

I look at Charlie, “Can I hold him?”

“Of course,” Charlie hands him over to me and steps back, taking in everything that his life has become.

A huge smile grows over his face. We catch eyes as we both smile and whisper, “I love you,” at the same time.

I look over to my parents who are standing next to the door, timid about their presence. I look back to Charlie who shrugs and nods his head their way.

I’m ready to forget everything that’s happen. I can forgive my mom because I know now that no matter what, family is the most important thing. We need them in our lives. Lyric needs them. We will show this little boy that he is more loved than anything in the entire world.

Slowly, I walk toward them with Lyric in my hands and smile, “Lyric. I’d like for you to meet your Grandma and Grandpa.”

My mom covers her mouth with her hands as tears flow freely down her face. She places her hand on his head softly and smiles at me mouthing the word,
Thank you
.

I whisper back, “You’re welcome. Here, would you like to hold him?”

She reaches out, without hesitation, and wraps her arms around her new grandson. My dad leans down and kisses my mom on the head before lightly running his hands over Lyric’s head. “He’s beautiful you two.”

Charlie walks up behind me, grabbing my shoulders and lightly kissing the back of my head. “He really is.”

I lean back into Charlie, placing my hand on his while resting the back of my head on his chest and let out a breath I feel like I’ve been holding for the last nine months, knowing now that my life is complete.

T
he three of us spent the night in the hospital before bringing Lyric home for the first time. Since Jacquelyn could not verify that I was the father, the hospital ran a paternity test and when it came back that Lyric was definitely mine we were allowed to take him home.

Allison and I hold hands as Lyric sits quietly in his car seat in the backseat of the Mustang. With smiles covering both of our faces, we head toward our future together.

Marry Me
by Train comes over the radio and I can’t take my eyes off of Allison as we sit at a red light.

I lean over kissing Allison on the cheek, whispering, “Getting the nerve to say hello in the café was the best thing I ever did.”

Adjusting to having a baby took a few days but we’re working through it with nothing but love for one another and love for Lyric. Our life was complete until the third day when my text went off again:

I see she died. Lucky bastard. Lucky for me too.

I’m thankful that Allison is not in the room as I grit my teeth replying back:

Who is this? Why are you texting me?

You’ll see soon enough. I know you did this for her money and I want some too or I’ll turn you in.

What are you talking about? What money?

Don’t lie to me. You know what money.

NO I DON’T!!!

Pretend all you want. I’ll get mine. Just you wait.

Look, I don’t know who you are or what you think you know but you’re wrong. Leave my family alone!

I slip my phone in my back pocket just as Allison walks in from the bedroom holding Lyric and thankfully not noticing anything that was going on.

“I’m going to put this little angel down for bed, do you need anything from in here before I do?” she says.

I walk over, kiss Lyric on the head before leaning in and kissing Allison on the lips, “No, I’m good. Night buddy,” I whisper to Lyric.

Once I walk out of the room I grab my cell phone from my back pocket to see that there’s a reply:

Meet me in an hour at the front entrance of Pier 39. I’ll find you.

My jaw clenches and my eyes squint, reading the text again.
Shit. What do I tell Allison? I can’t tell her where I’m going.