Chaste (McCullough Mountain) (58 page)

She
shifted her shoulder and stepped away. “Pain in the arse. Get yer damn dessert
and go.”

Kelly
marched back in the den like a proud peacock, cobbler in hand.

“This
is bullshit!” Finn snapped, striding into the kitchen like a man on a mission.
“Ouch!”
He returned to the den cradling his empty hands. “She hit me with the
spoon.”

Luke
laughed. Colin stood and gave it a go. A few minutes later he returned with a
bowl of cobbler.

“The
crazy wench has favorites!” Luke said, outraged.

Kelly
stretched out his legs and moaned over a large bite, the warm mixture of peach
and buttered crumble melted in his mouth.

Luke
scowled. His arm shot out and he snatched the bowl from him. “Hey!”

Grinning
with a look of pure intimidation, Luke said, “Go ahead, take it back. I dare
ya.”

“Kelly.”

“I
ought to kick you in the nuts, brute,” he mumbled, knowing he didn’t stand a
chance against Luke.

“Kelly.”

“Well,
what did I do to her?” Finn whined.

“Kelly.”

“You
were the meanest about the fart,” Colin commented, shutting his eyes in ecstasy
as he bit into his cobbler.

“Kelly!”

He
turned and saw Ashlynn frowning. “What, love?”

“Something’s
wrong.”

“I
know,” Finn said. “I wasn’t half as bad as Luke—”

Kelly
shot to his feet. “Shut up, Finn.” He went to Ashlynn. “What is it? Are you in
pain?”

She
slid her half-eaten bowl on the table. Frank stood, as did the rest of them.
Ashlynn suddenly gripped her stomach and doubled over, her voice crying out and
cutting right to Kelly’s heart.

There
was a clatter of motion and curses.

He
dropped to his knees and gently gripped her shoulders. “Ashlynn! Ashlynn, look
at me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Call
Dr. Marcel. Something’s happening.”

He
raced into the kitchen and grabbed the phone off the wall. “You’re not getting
any more until after supper—Jesus, Kelly, what’s wrong?” His mother said, her features
paling.

“Something’s
wrong with Ashlynn. I think it’s the baby. I don’t know the fucking doctor’s
number!” He slammed the phone down in a fit of panic and his mother caught his
arm.

“Look
at me, love!” she snapped, a fierce glint in her eyes. “Ashlynn’s a strong girl
and everything will be fine. You need to be strong for her. Women have babies
every day.”

“It’s
too early to have the baby!”

“Breathe,
Kelly. Give me your phone. The number’s in there. I’ll call and you go tend to
your wife. Maybe drive her to the hospital.”

Right.
He had the number in his cell. “It’s Dr. Marcel.” He handed the phone to his
mum and darted back into the living room. Finn was holding Ashlynn’s shoulders as
Colin spoke softly to her. Luke caught his arm in the hall and jerked him to a
stop. He glared at his brother. “Let go!”

“Kelly!”
He snapped. “They’ve got her. Colin says she’s in labor. You need to calm down.
Give me the keys to your truck and I’ll drive you to the hospital.” He handed
his brother the keys and ran into the den, skidding onto his knees at her feet.

“Ashlynn,
are you all right?”

Her
face contorted with pain as a contraction hit. “It’s too early,” she moaned.

His
mother and father crowded in. In a calm voice, his mother said, “Ashlynn love,
go ahead and try to stand. Kelly, give her a hand. The doctor’s going to meet
us at the hospital.”

Ashlynn’s
glassy brown eyes met his. He was breathing hard. This couldn’t be it. It was
too soon. He saw the fear in her eyes and galvanized his expression. He was her
husband and he had to be strong. “Give me your hand, love.”

The
weight of her palm settled in his and she let out a sharp cry. Her head came
down and her grip tightened, nearly crushing his fingers. Wasting no more time,
he scooped her in his arms and stood. “Get the door!”

His
family followed him out to the car where Luke waited. As soon as Kelly had her
safely on his lap, he yelled for his brother to go. They took the fastest route
as Ashlynn moaned in his arms. He held her tight as terror took hold.

There
was a gush of moisture on his lap. “Fuck, I think her water broke! Go faster.”

“I’m
sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she cried.

Her
hair had gotten longer. He brushed it out of her face and cupped her jaw. “Look
at me, Ashlynn. No apologizing. This is happening to
us.
There is no I.
Everything’s going to be fine. Just hold on. We’re almost there.”

As
Luke tore into the hospital parking lot a lifetime later, Kelly was in a full
sweat. Ashlynn was crying and moaning and he wasn’t sure what was happening.
Wrenching the door to the truck open, he ran toward the automatic doors and
yelled the first thing that came to mind. “Help! Something’s wrong with my
wife!”

Chaos
erupted and nurses surrounded him. Ashlynn was removed from his arms and the
absence of her weight was crippling. She was his lifeline. They rushed her through
a set of doors on a gurney. That’s when he saw it. Blood.

His
knees buckled and strong arms caught him. “Come on, Kelly. This way.”

Luke.

“She’s
bleeding,” he cried. “Luke, what’s happening?”

Luke
grabbed him by the back of his neck and stared hard into his eyes. “I don’t
know, but she’s with the doctors and we won’t know anything until you pull
yourself together and move. She needs you, Kelly. You have to be strong.”

Breath
pummeled out of him as he nodded. Fear choked him. “I need her.”

“And
she needs you.”

Luke
brought him to a reception desk and spoke to a nurse.

“Kelly
McCullough?”

He
turned and saw a nurse waiting for him, holding a folded pile of blue scrubs.
He left Luke and went to her. “I’m Kelly.”

“You’re
wife’s in labor and the baby’s coming quick. I need you to put these on and
I’ll take you to her.”

He
grabbed the scrubs, his hands trembling like autumn leaves in a hurricane. “Is
she all right?”

“The
doctor’s with her now. The faster you get those over your clothes the faster I
can take you to her.”

His
legs shook as he fed them through the scrubs right there in the ER waiting
room. Once he was somewhat covered he chased the nurse through the long winding
corridors and prayed for forgiveness for everything he’d ever done wrong.

Please.
Keep her and the baby safe. She’s so good. Please don’t take her from me. She’s
my world.

In
those fleeting seconds a million fears rushed through his mind. What if this
was all because they weren’t supposed to have a baby? What if this was because
he wasn’t meant to be a father? He was selfish and lazy and no matter how much
he tried to be a good man for Ashlynn, he knew there were always ways he could
be better. Everything seemed like a punishment in the light of such stark fear.

Please…

They
entered a delivery room and Ashlynn was hooked to an IV. Her face was flushed
and she smiled weakly when she saw him. He went to take her hand, but a tech in
scrubs stepped in his way. “Mr. McCullough, your wife’s going to need a C-section
immediately. The cord’s wrapped around the baby’s neck and there isn’t much
time. She’s signed the forms and we’re going to move her.”

“Kelly?”
Her voice was so small.

“I’m
right here, love. Everything’s fine.” He went to his wife and gripped her hand.

“What’s
happening?”

Strong.
Be Strong.
“We’re
having a baby. Everything’s fine. He’s just a little early.”

She
laughed through her tears. “He?”

“She.”
He had no idea. He just wanted their child delivered safely and Ashlynn to be
okay.
Oh God, did men still have to make snap decisions in situations like
this?
He couldn’t. The only courageous decisions he’d ever been able to
make he’d made with her by his side. Without her he was a scared little boy. He
held her hand tighter.

“We’re
going to move you now, Mrs. McCullough.”

A
swarm of medical staff surrounded her and instructed her on what to do and what
was happening. A nurse told him to follow her to the OR. He kissed Ashlynn’s
fingers. “I’ll be right behind you, love. I’m right here.”

She
nodded and they wheeled her gurney away, their fingers touching until the last
second. Wiping the sweat off his brow, he drew in a deep breath. His phone was
going crazy in his pocket so he shut it off and followed the nurse to the OR.

Ashlynn
was already being prepped. Blue sheets were suspended with large clips. Bright
dome lights hung overhead. He lifted his mask and knew he looked like everyone
else in the room.

Her
stomach peeked through a drape cut with an open square to show where they’d
operate. Someone drew an iodine line over her belly and he couldn’t watch
anymore.

Moving
to the head of the table he looked into Ashlynn’s eyes and gripped her hand.
“Are you in pain?”

“No.
They took care of that. It’s going to be okay, right, Kelly?”

He
nodded and bit his lip. “Everything’s going to be fine, my love.”

Requests
were made and the mood of the room settled as numbers were called out and words
that made no sense were spoken. Ashlynn winced.

“Pain?”
He didn’t want her in any more pain.

“No,
but I feel them tugging. It’s weird.”

He
peeked on the other side of the curtain suspended above her chest and nearly
fainted. A woozy sensation came over him and he wobbled.

“Easy
there, Dad. We need you on your feet,” a man in a mask said as he grabbed
Kelly’s arm.

“Jesus.”
He glanced at Ashlynn. Her eyes were squeezed shut and her mouth was moving
quickly. He leaned in and recognized her words as The Lord’s Prayer. Holding
her hands and leaning close, his voice softly joined hers.

Minutes
traveled at the speed of light and took years. There was no time, only fear. He
kept his face pressed to his wife’s as they prayed. Nothing had ever taken so
much love, hope, and devotion. This child had taken so much out of them he
feared ever having to do it again. How could he have let Ashlynn convince him
to do this? She was too important to risk.

Oh
God, please…

There
was a squawking sound and then someone announced, “It’s a boy. A healthy boy!”

His
entire body shivered with chills.
A son.
He sobbed into Ashlynn’s shoulder. “You hear that, love? You have a son.”

Her
lips pressed to his damp brow. “
We
have a son.”

“We,”
he agreed.

The
cries grew louder. They were raspy but hardy.

Drawing
in a deep breath, he whispered into Ashlynn’s ear, “I love you. So much it
hurts. The only thing that could hurt more is never knowing the love you’ve
given me. You’ve given me everything, Ash. You’re my everything.”

“I
love you too.” Strength rippled from her in waves. “Be brave, Kelly. You’re my
hero. Now go meet our son.”

* * * *

His
name was Nathanial McCullough, meaning gift from God. He was small, but he was
perfect, with hair as golden as his mother’s and eyes as blue as his father’s.
He was their son. Their healthy—early—little miracle.

He
was everything she ever wanted, and everything he needed. He was their family,
their love come to life and their faith in years of blessings ahead.

Once
the McCulloughs invaded it took days for them to leave. Nate needed some extra
care and that was okay, because he was gaining weight and would be coming home
with them soon.

Ashlynn
recovered beautifully and there had never been a more stunning image than his
wife holding and nursing their baby boy. Kelly passed the long hours of the
night sketching those memories that humbled him, never wanting to forget these
precious moments or how the journey to this point in time had changed him—made
him a man.

He
had everything he never knew he wanted right here. All because a chaste little
church mouse named Ashlynn decided he was worth loving and showed him what love
truly was about.

It
was patient and it was kind. Love did not boast and was formed of greater
things than a man’s pride. It rejoiced in truth and, just as she’d reminded him
every time he lost his way, love was founded on trust, protected hearts, and breathed
hope. Love like theirs
always
persevered.

She
had found him and in turn, he’d found out what it was to truly have faith
again. And every day his love for her grew in ways so private and personal, only
they would ever know. The façade was gone and everything they shared, ever
stolen glance, chaste kiss, and show of pure affection was, unarguably, real.
And
that
was the beauty of their
love.