Revelation of Hearts (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #3) (57 page)

At first, Shane thought he was dreaming as he raised his head up and looked at Stacey. When she asked her question he was so over come he could hardly answer, “Just a few days love, welcome back,” he said as he held her hand kissing it over and over. Stacey looked pleadingly at Shane and asked, “Our babies, Shane, are they okay?”

“They’re in the preemie nursery, sweetheart, but their doing well. They are tiny little angels, but they have a strong little grip. They did ask me, “Where is our mommy and when are you going to spring us from this joint?”

Shane had Stacey laughing as the sister in charge came in to check her vitals. “Well, good morning Mrs. McLeod, did you have a nice nap? I hear the scuttlebutt is that you have two little rowdies down in the nursery that are threatening a break out.”

“Yes, I did hear that rumor sister and we promise to get them out of there as soon as possible,” Stacey said with a happy smile.

After both, Doctor Shaw and Doctor Harris examined Stacey; she was moved to a private room on the maternity floor. As predicted, the first thing Stacey asked about was the new twins then the children at home. Even though Stacey was awake and talking everyone knew, she wasn’t out of the woods yet. Stacey wasn’t surprised to see her parents and Shane’s parents at the hospital, but was happy and surprised to see both sets of her grandparents there. Aunt Lora and Richard were minding the children so Mr. Chen could visit.

After much pleading, Doctor Shaw gave permission for Stacey to use a wheelchair and go to the nursery to see her babies. Shane had told her about how they held on to his finger and the heart felt courage he received from those tiny little hands. “Sweetheart, I truly felt they were communicating with me. I know that sounds daft, but I can’t explain it any better.”

Stacey was smiling at him and said, “Shane McLeod, I love you.” As she pulled him to her with a weak but heartfelt kiss.

A week later Stacey and the babies were discharged with many stipulation. As Stacey walked into the house, Nicky and the twins came running. They hadn’t fussed too much about not being able to go to the hospital to see their mommy and the new babies. Shane had used his mobile and downloaded pictures on the computer, plus they had many grandmas and grandpas there to entertain. Even so, these two tiny little people fascinated the children.

Two days after Stacey and the babies came home, the McLeod’s returned to Scotland. A week later, Stacey’s parents, grandparents and uncles flew back to Texas. The young McLeod household seem to run smoothly under the supervision of Mr. Chen, Mrs. Wyatt and Aunt Lora of course. Stacey spent much time upstairs with the children and new twins. The older twins, Jessica and Jacquelyn now age four were in pre-school. Stacey had her hands full with the little twins and Nicky who was fascinated with the babies. He was happy, but at the same time, he was a little jealous that there was another boy in the house to share the masculinity with him and his daddy.

Stacey’s incision was healing nicely. Doctor Shaw gave her permission for normal activities as long as she didn’t over do. In December, when Stacey’s parents came for the holidays, Patrick and Cassandra were christened with Doctor Fein and Molly as godparents. Shane’s parents; as well as Grandmother McLeod, Mrs. Beebe, the Foley’s with Andrea and family attended the christening as well as Shane’s close friends from the medical center.

Shane knew he was a lucky man with a beautiful wife and healthy happy children. Stacey was alive and well and he knew she loved him, but still he couldn’t shake his jealousy of Eric Fitz-Morgan. He asked himself; how stupid can I be? The earl has been dead for almost seven hundred years. I surely need to let this jealousy go.

Chapter-78

A Secure Family

One night after making love to Stacey, Shane was holding her in his arms when she said, “You know Shane, when I was unconscious I had the strangest dream.”

Stacey felt Shane’s body tense up, and wondered what she had said that affected him so, but continued her story, “I dreamed Eric and Jennifer came to see Nicky and the girls. Eric told me the new twins were going be okay. I believed him because he never lied to me, not ever. I wanted him and Jennifer to stay, but they said they couldn’t, and then floated out the door.”

Shane’s body relaxed after hearing Stacey’s dream. He now felt it was Eric and not the earl that Stacey had asked not to leave. As he held Stacey in his arms, he knew he must stop this insane jealousy, he felt for the long dead earl. Stacey was alive and warm in his arms. Together they had solved the mystery and the kinship, of Eric Fitz-Morgan, the Earl of Dun-Raven and the family of Dun-Raven castle.

Many months had passed and the McLeod household was its usual noisy domicile. Mr. Chen was back in Hong Kong and the Texas families were busy with their own lives. In other words, ‘God was in his heaven and all was right with the world, well, with the McLeod world, anyway.’

Stacey had finished feeding the new twins and put them down for their nap. The older twins and Nicky often watched their younger siblings as they were fed and rocked before their nap. One afternoon, while the twins were napping, Stacey was sitting in the rocker; held out her arms and asked, “Who would like to rock with Mommy?”

Nicky’s face lit up, as it had been a while since he had been rocked. Jessie had told Jackie and him, “Now that babies are in the house we are too big to be rocked.”

Stacey was waiting with her arms out when Jessie said, “No, Mommy, rocking is for babies.”

With disappointment in her voice, Stacey asked,” Who told you this nonsense?”

Both Jackie and Nicky looked to Jessie. Stacey said, “Well, I’m sorry you feel that way I was looking forward to rocking and singing silly songs again. But if that is what each of you feel I will just have to rock and sing with Patrick and Cassandra I guess.”

Stacey could see both Jackie and Nicky wanted to rock, but Jessie’s attitude kept them at bay. They didn’t want to be referred to as babies. Stacey rocked for a bit then held her arms out to Nicky. Without looking at Jessie, he climbed into his mother’s arms and said, “I don’t care what Jessie says, I like rocking.”

Stacey kissed his head and said, “I’m so glad my love, because I love our rocking time and I have missed you so much.”

“Did you miss me too, Mommy? Jackie asked.

“Yes, I did, very much. Would you like to rock with me too?”

“Oh, yes Mommy, more than anything.”

Jessie had been watching and finally said, “I guess rocking is okay Mommy, since we’re not in primary yet.”

“Thank you, darling. That’s very thoughtful of you,” Stacey said as she hid a smile.

That night in bed, Stacey was telling Shane about the rocking incident, and how happy she was that her older children didn’t feel they were too big to rock with her. Stacey had been sitting, propped up in bed, reading when she let the book fall limply to the covers, and said, “I know I’m being silly Shane, but I dread our children growing up and leaving home.  The world is a big place and there are many temptations out there. What if we don’t prepare them well enough to meet the challenges, and recognize the temptations, for what they are?” Shane was laying watching Stacey with a smile on his handsome face, when she asked, “What’s that self satisfied smile all about?”

Shane took his wife in his arms and said, “I will share my thoughts with you, sweetheart, but first, don’t you think you’re worrying years too soon, they are yet a few years from maturity. Now, as to my thoughts, I was thinking what a lucky man I am and how much I’m looking forward to the future with you and I together, watching our children grow and become their own individual personas.”

Stacey laughed as she snuggled in her husband’s arms and said, “Of course, you’re right, Shane, with our guidance our children will meet the challenges of life as they occur. You’re a good husband and a wise and wonderful father. I hope when they’re teenagers you still have this tolerant attitude. Goodnight Shane and sweet dreams of the future, my love.”

I hope each of you, my readers; have enjoyed the Trilogy of the McLeod family.

Thank you each and every one for your many e-mails and your very kind words.

Hopefully the saga may go on as the McLeod children grow up.

As always, I will enjoy and look forward to reading your thoughts on this.

In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy reading my latest novel, The Reluctant Heiress.

Best Regards, Rikki M. Dyson  [email protected]