Longing For The Beach Billionaire Daddy
Chapter 203

*Michael*

We were on our way to the doctor’s office for Shelby’s check-up, and I could tell she was trying to put on a brave face for me. We had just had an appointment two days ago, but the office called us and had us come back in due to something showing up in Shelby’s urine.

They asked that we come to a different office today, one that was attached to the hospital. I tried to tell myself it was just a precaution, but I was nervous.

She looked as beautiful as the day I met her, but her eyes had grown weary from a rough pregnancy. Bedrest had taken its toll on her, and her body was tired from growing two babies. The back and forth with her b***d pressure, plus the stress from everything going on recently, had caused many headaches. It was hell to watch, but we were almost at the finish line.

The driver pulled up and dropped us off at the door. I took Shelby’s hand, leading us inside to the receptionist’s desk.

“Hello,” Shelby said. “We’re here for our three o’clock appointment.”

The receptionist checked us in, and we sat in waiting room chairs for what felt like the millionth time, though we’d never been to this location before.

“Are you sure you’re feeling okay? Your face looks a bit swollen,” I whispered.

“I’m having some pain below my ribs, and I’m dead tired, but I swear I feel fine other than that,” Shelby reassured me. She left the waiting room and went into the restroom to leave a urine sample.

As Shelby disappeared from sight, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread wash over me. Something was wrong, and I knew it. This entire pregnancy had been a rollercoaster of emotions, and I had a feeling we weren’t out of the woods yet.

After what felt like an eternity, Shelby returned with a look of concern etched on her face.

“I’m okay,” she said quickly, clearly she saw how worried I looked. “I just feel really nauseous.”

She sat beside me and rested her head on my shoulder, her hair cascading over my chest, the scent of her shampoo invading my nostrils.

We waited no more than ten minutes, and the nurse called our names to come back. They took Shelby’s weight and guided us to a room. Once we were seated, they began to take her b***d pressure, not once but twice.

The look on the nurse’s face was enough to tell me something wasn’t right. She gave us a quick smile as she walked to the door. “I’ll be right back, I just need to grab the doctor,” she said calmly.

Shelby leaned forward and grabbed my hands tightly, “That’s never happened before. Something’s wrong, Michael. Why would she leave so quickly?”

“We don’t know that yet, Shelby. Please try to take a deep breath. Let’s wait for the doctor to come in,” I reassured her, even though I felt sick with apprehension.

The nurse knocked three times, then entered, Dr. Adams walking in behind her.

“Hello!” she said, her warm smile not giving anything away. “How are we feeling today?”

She sanitized her hands as Shelby answered, “I’m feeling okay, just a little nauseous. The babies have been moving like crazy today, so my diaphragm feels a little sore from their soccer antics.”

“I’m glad to hear you aren’t feeling too badly. Let’s check this b***d pressure again really quick, then we can move on with our exam, okay?” Dr. Adams said, still perfectly cheerful and pleasant.

She grabbed a cuff, placed it on Shelby’s bicep, and pumped it up. As she released the pressure, her brow furrowed.

She took it one more time, then said, “Shelby, I’m afraid your b***d pressure is 210/129, which is dangerously high. Have you been feeling especially tired or having any headaches or blurry vision? Anything at all that could be associated with swelling?”

*Michael*

We were on our way to the doctor’s office for Shelby’s check-up, and I could tell she was trying to put on a brave face for me. We had just had an appointment two days ago, but the office called us and had us come back in due to something showing up in Shelby’s urine.

Shelby nodded her head, “Yes, but I really attributed most of those things to all of the stress we’ve been under. I’ve been limiting activity and doing everything I can to keep my b***d pressure under control,” she said softly, eyes now starting to fill up with tears.

At this point, Dr. Adams leaned closer and said, “The reason we called you back in today is you had high levels of protein in your urine at your last appointment. I’m also concerned with the functioning of your liver. I believe you have HELLP Syndrome, and it can be very dangerous. I’m sorry, but this means we’re going to have to get you guys prepped and ready for delivery.”

My heart skipped a beat. I looked over to Shelby who had tears in her eyes. “D-Delivery?” she gasped between sobs. “You mean … we’re going to have the babies now, like today now?”

Dr. Adams nodded as she stood up. She grabbed a set of scrubs from a nearby cabinet and handed them to me.

“Yes, we are. Based on the severity of your b***d pressure and the fact that you’re carrying twins, it’s safest to get you into an OR for a C-section. Your b***d pressure is within the range that could potentially cause a stroke, so unfortunately a vaginal delivery just isn’t safe.”

A few more tears spilled down Shelby’s cheeks as Dr. Adams continued to tell us what was going to happen next until she was interrupted by a nurse bringing in a wheelchair. There was a hospital gown laying on the seat.

“Shelby, we’re going to give you just a minute to get changed, then we’re going to go straight to the OR. Please take your time. We’ll wait outside,” Dr. Adams said as she and the nurses stepped out into the hallway.

I helped Shelby strip out of her clothes and slide the thin material of the hospital gown over her shoulders. She trembled as I tied the knots to keep the gown closed.

“My body is betraying me, Michael. I can’t believe we were dumb enough to think things were going well, for once,” Shelby muttered through tears.

I leaned close to her and kissed above her left ear, then said, “Listen to me, baby. There is nothing you could have done differently. Your body has grown these babies to the best of its ability, and we’ll take this in stride just like we have everything else, okay?”

“I’m scared, Michael,” Shelby cried as she leaned back into me. I wrapped my arms around her waist and cradled our babies in the womb for the last time.

“I know, but everything is going to work out. I’ll be here every step of the way, my love,” I reassured her as there was a light tap on the door.

“Come in,” I called out, and Dr. Adams and the nurses entered swiftly.

They helped Shelby into the wheelchair and took her out of the room. I followed behind, carrying the scrubs, trying to avoid the flurry of activity down the hall. Nurses and other doctors were scurrying about making sure all was ready for Shelby’s cesarean.

We were taken to a large white door with big bold lettering that read “OPERATING ROOM” above it. This was where our babies would be welcomed into this world shortly. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and fear as they took her in.

I had to put more protective equipment on before I could go in but followed soon after.

The nurses moved into the delivery room, focused and efficient. They draped a blue sheet over Shelby’s legs and torso before unpacking their supplies: shiny stainless steel instruments in perfect rows, plastic IV tubing, bags of clear liquid, and the red-lined monitor to track Shelby’s b***d pressure and vitals during surgery.

One of the nurses wheeled in a machine and placed an ultrasound wand firmly on Shelby’s taut belly, searching for the two babies inside. Dr. Adams joined the nurse, watching as images of our babies flashed across the screen.

The anesthesiologist hurried into the room with a tray of syringes and introduced himself to Shelby as Dr. Finn. Then, he began thoroughly explaining the anesthesia he was about to inject into her body. He continued to talk to her while administering it, slowly numbing her from the chest down.

Shelby’s breathing picked up, so I stroked her hair. “You’re so strong, baby,” I whispered to her. “Stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.”

The operating room was filled with a mixture of antiseptic and disinfectant smells and the metallic odor of the instruments used for the procedure. Dr. Adams’ hands skillfully performed the delicate procedure with precision, slicing through the skin and muscle that separated the doctor from our unborn babies.

Tears streamed down my face as I took in the moment that our tiny, mighty twins made their way into the crazy world.

The beep of the monitors reverberated through the quiet operating room, a harsh sound against the hushed whispers of nurses. With each passing second, Shelby’s surgery drew closer to an end.

“You’re doing amazing, Shelby,” I whispered, my voice little more than a soft breeze. “They’re getting so close. It’s almost over.”

“I feel a lot of pressure, and I feel like I’m going to be sick, Michael,” Shelby said faintly, her voice trembling with anxiety.

“That’s totally normal, just close your eyes and try to relax,” the anesthesiologist reassured her while patting her on the shoulder. Silence filled the room as everyone was focused on Shelby’s surgery.

The quiet whispers of the nurses and the harsh beeping of the monitors barely registered with me. I was too focused on staying calm and coaching Shelby through the moment.

My grasp was firm, my knuckles white, and my palms sweaty as I held onto Shelby’s hand. Dr. Adams was hunched over, focused intently on her work. Her hands were steady as she delicately lifted the newborns out, one at a time. She held each baby up, small and pale, so that Shelby and I could see them.

A beautiful girl was born first, followed by our son. Shelby’s relieved sobs echoed through the room when she heard the nurse say both babies were breathing on their own. The NICU team silently moved in, their steps echoed in the otherwise silent room. Hearing them cry as the nurses began to pat them down made me tear up all over again. I’d waited so long to hear those sounds.

Both babies were taken away down the hall to the NICU, but the nurses reassured Shelby and me before they left by saying they looked great. I knelt down beside my beautiful wife and softly kissed her forehead, then gazed lovingly into her eyes.

Her skin was ghostly white, her lips a faint wisp of blue, and I could tell something was terribly wrong. Shelby smiled weakly up at me, tears glistening on her cheeks. Her eyes seemed glazed and almost unfocused.

Dr. Adams regarded me seriously and calmly said, “Michael, go follow those babies, now. I just need a few more minutes here with your wife.”