Chapter 15

My parents spent the week with us, and left after telling us to call when the babies were born. Dad said he was going to come right back and see his grandchildren. Mom said the two new mothers would need help for the first few weeks, and she is less expensive than a baby nurse. Rachel said we could afford it, but grandma and grandpa could come and play with the babies for as long as they liked.

That night Rachel woke me.

"My water broke! Alan, get up."

"Caroline, get up, your mother's water broke."

"I think my water broke too."

I called and left a message for the doctor, and then rushed them to the hospital, knowing that the doctor would meet us there. The drive seemed to take forever.

At the admissions desk they asked me which one was my wife. I told them that they were both my girlfriends. I was allowed in the delivery room and watched as Rachel delivered Caroline's brother, she insisted on naming him Alan. Then, 30 minutes later Caroline delivered a daughter who she named Mary. After seeing my new family, I called my parents. They had just gotten home from the airport. Dad said they would get the first flight they could. Mom got on and asked how everyone was. I told her that the girls were fine and gave her all the details. Then I told her that I couldn't wait to see them.

After I tucked everyone in I left the hospital to get some rest. I hadn't been home for 10 minutes when the phone rang. It was Sheila, Caroline's best girlfriend, she was crying.

"I'm so sorry, I just heard."

"Heard what? That I was a father twice."

"Oh Alan the hospital didn't call yet, you don't know?

"Know what?"

The line went dead.

The phone began to ring, and I knew something was wrong. I didn't want to answer it, but I did.

"Hello"

"Hello this is Dr. Delgado at Mercy Hospital, is this Alan Wright?"

"Yes it is, is there anything wrong?"

"There have been some complications in Caroline's case. We need you to come to the hospital now and discuss it."

I hung up the phone without answering the doctor and rushed to the hospital. When I got there, Dr. Delgado met me at the nurse's station. He led me to a small room on the side and began his speech.

"After you left here Caroline had a seizure. Evidently a blood clot formed and traveled to her brain. It was small but it seems to have caused a great deal of damage. She might not survive the night or she may however recover fully or she could remain in a coma for many years. We will have to wait and see."

I asked Dr. Delgado if I could see her. He explained to me that they were working on her and hooking her up to the machines that would keep her alive until (hopefully) she awakened from the coma. This would take several hours. After that I would be allowed to see her.

I sat down and began to cry. I was sure that Rachel didn't know. I would have to tell her but it would wait until she was stronger. My parents finally arrived and I continued to cry, as I fumbled through what had happened. My mother held me and cried as well. I could tell that dad was choking back his tears.

Exhausted, I finally fell asleep on a chair in the waiting room. My mom and dad watched over me as if I were a small child again. Morning came and I asked to see Caroline. They allowed me to look into her room through a window in her door. She had been moved into this room from a treatment room, only minutes ago. She was on a respirator and looked so small and helpless. All the wires and tubing seemed to be sucking the life out of her, although I knew they were there to help her. I could only watch for a little while before I started to cry again.