release them and they take a small step back, not out of panic, but to meet my eyes. I can tell they’re trying to read me, all three of them.
Smart, just like their mother.
Nycole in the center, protectively places her arms around her sisters, ready to step back into her motherly role. My throat constricts. I attempt to swallow, and after inhaling and exhaling deeply, my eyes move to each set of theirs before I begin.
“Girls, your mom’s okay, but there was an accident.” I take a break to let them absorb my words, and once I feel they’ve wrapped their minds around it, I continue.
“After you left with Grandma Nancy this morning, she went upstairs and when coming back down, she tripped.” Rylie gasps and takes off towards the stairs. She runs all the way up the steps, and when she reaches the top, she lets out a loud cry.
“Tatum!” I yell from where I’m still stooped in front of Nycole and Kyndall.
Tatum barely pokes her head out of our bedroom, her black hair falling forward, her crystal clear blue eyes filled with worry. I jerk my head to the stairs. “Can you check on Rylie? I’ll be there in a minute.” After a quick nod of her head, I watch her quickly dart up the steps and hear her attempts to comfort a now wailing Rylie. Once she quiets down a bit, I refocus on the other two. Locking my eyes with theirs I continue, because I want them to know that I am here, and I will be here, for them always.
“Your mom had to be rushed to the hospital, and the baby had to be taken out of her tummy so that they would be safe, but they are fine, both of them. Your mom’s still sleeping from her surgery, and the baby is in the care of very good doctors and nurses who are going to make sure he stays okay. I know you’re scared, girls, but everything’s going to be alright.” Kyndall’s chin starts to quiver. I bring her to my chest and she places her head in my neck, letting the tears fall into a steady stream onto my shirt.
Rubbing soothing circles on her back, she remains there while I look up at Nycole. I can tell she’s trying to be strong, God love her. Extending my arm toward her, I reach for her hand, and when she takes it, I squeeze it tightly. “She’s going to be fine, Nyc. I won’t let anything happen to her,” I reassure her. I have to be strong for them.
Tenderly, she releases my hand, and bends at her waist so that she’s right in front of my face. “I know, Blake. You’ll bring her back.” She leans in, puts her arm around my neck, and standing right next to her sister, she simply whispers in my ear, “I know you will. I love you, Blake. Thank you.”
Well, damn. There’s no escaping the tears now. I hold the girls as tightly in my arms as I can. “I love you too, girls.”
After a couple of seconds of silence, there are absolutely no words for this moment, I release them and stand. I graze Kyndall’s chin with my knuckle. “Chin up. She’s going to be home very soon, don’t you worry.” Her blue-grey eyes, still filled with tears, relax with my words.
Nycole places her arm around her. “Come on, Kyndall, she’ll be okay. Let’s go make some stuff for the baby…for when he gets home.” Nycole’s eyes widen with obvious excitement. “We can totally decorate his room with welcome home signs! I’ll even let you use my glitter.” With that, Kyndall smiles. I watch them head up the stairs and take in another deep breath.
“Blake!” Tatum yells. “Rylie would really like to talk to you!”
I turn, and after taking two steps at a time, I stop halfway up the stairs after finding myself greeted by a beautiful tear streaked face, being consoled by her sisters and Tatum. When her big brown eyes meet mine, Rylie jumps up and runs to meet me where I stand. She throws her tiny arms around my waist and begins to sob. “Oh, Blake! It’s horrible. Mommy is gonna hate me! Forever!” she howls.
Reaching behind my back, I break the curiously strong hold she has on me,
Smart, just like their mother.
Nycole in the center, protectively places her arms around her sisters, ready to step back into her motherly role. My throat constricts. I attempt to swallow, and after inhaling and exhaling deeply, my eyes move to each set of theirs before I begin.
“Girls, your mom’s okay, but there was an accident.” I take a break to let them absorb my words, and once I feel they’ve wrapped their minds around it, I continue.
“After you left with Grandma Nancy this morning, she went upstairs and when coming back down, she tripped.” Rylie gasps and takes off towards the stairs. She runs all the way up the steps, and when she reaches the top, she lets out a loud cry.
“Tatum!” I yell from where I’m still stooped in front of Nycole and Kyndall.
Tatum barely pokes her head out of our bedroom, her black hair falling forward, her crystal clear blue eyes filled with worry. I jerk my head to the stairs. “Can you check on Rylie? I’ll be there in a minute.” After a quick nod of her head, I watch her quickly dart up the steps and hear her attempts to comfort a now wailing Rylie. Once she quiets down a bit, I refocus on the other two. Locking my eyes with theirs I continue, because I want them to know that I am here, and I will be here, for them always.
“Your mom had to be rushed to the hospital, and the baby had to be taken out of her tummy so that they would be safe, but they are fine, both of them. Your mom’s still sleeping from her surgery, and the baby is in the care of very good doctors and nurses who are going to make sure he stays okay. I know you’re scared, girls, but everything’s going to be alright.” Kyndall’s chin starts to quiver. I bring her to my chest and she places her head in my neck, letting the tears fall into a steady stream onto my shirt.
Rubbing soothing circles on her back, she remains there while I look up at Nycole. I can tell she’s trying to be strong, God love her. Extending my arm toward her, I reach for her hand, and when she takes it, I squeeze it tightly. “She’s going to be fine, Nyc. I won’t let anything happen to her,” I reassure her. I have to be strong for them.
Tenderly, she releases my hand, and bends at her waist so that she’s right in front of my face. “I know, Blake. You’ll bring her back.” She leans in, puts her arm around my neck, and standing right next to her sister, she simply whispers in my ear, “I know you will. I love you, Blake. Thank you.”
Well, damn. There’s no escaping the tears now. I hold the girls as tightly in my arms as I can. “I love you too, girls.”
After a couple of seconds of silence, there are absolutely no words for this moment, I release them and stand. I graze Kyndall’s chin with my knuckle. “Chin up. She’s going to be home very soon, don’t you worry.” Her blue-grey eyes, still filled with tears, relax with my words.
Nycole places her arm around her. “Come on, Kyndall, she’ll be okay. Let’s go make some stuff for the baby…for when he gets home.” Nycole’s eyes widen with obvious excitement. “We can totally decorate his room with welcome home signs! I’ll even let you use my glitter.” With that, Kyndall smiles. I watch them head up the stairs and take in another deep breath.
“Blake!” Tatum yells. “Rylie would really like to talk to you!”
I turn, and after taking two steps at a time, I stop halfway up the stairs after finding myself greeted by a beautiful tear streaked face, being consoled by her sisters and Tatum. When her big brown eyes meet mine, Rylie jumps up and runs to meet me where I stand. She throws her tiny arms around my waist and begins to sob. “Oh, Blake! It’s horrible. Mommy is gonna hate me! Forever!” she howls.
Reaching behind my back, I break the curiously strong hold she has on me,
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