Chapter 194 A Staycation

Chapter 194 A Staycation
\[Lilah’s POV\]

I feel a wave of relief slam into me at Vincent’s words, but even then, I feel a bit nervous.

Just because he confirmed that the babies were okay, it didn’t mean that I was out of the woods and if something were to change…

I wouldn’t have anyone to blame but myself.

“The babies are fine.” Collin says, taking my silence as panic. “They’re fine. Listen, their hearts are beating perfectly.”

Frowning, I listen intently to the room around me and when I hear the familiar sound of the babies heartbeats, I feel even more calm wash over me.

“Good,” I murmur, hating that I almost caused something so horrible. “I’m glad.”

“You’re not out of the woods yet.”

Vincent’s voice rings out and as it does, Collin turns a glare on him, but the man remains impassive.

“You’ve been doing a piss poor job of taking care of yourself and your unborn babies.” He shrugs. “I’m not going to sugarcoat things.”

“She’s already dealing with enough,” Collin begins, but stops as Vincent shoots him a look.

“Going through things or not, she has a responsibility.” He says now. “Both of you,” he continues, his gaze narrowing on Collin. “Have been doing a piss poor job of handling things.”

“We’ve done the best we can.” Collin counters, but it is clear that Vincent isn’t buying it.

“Things have happened,” he says, crossing his arms. “But those things have passed and now the thing that matters is moving forward.”

But how?

How did he expect me to move forward when Tony’s face haunted me and when my mother laid unmoving in a bed?

“Honestly, you should go a vacation or something.” Vincent huffs. “Even if it is simply a staycation where you spend some time away from the hospital and focus on relaxing and recuperating, that would be lovely.”

“But mom…”

“Is in good hands.” Collin tells me, making it clear that he wasn’t exactly opposed to Vincent’s suggestion. “If something changes, I’m certain Vincent will inform us immediately and when he does, we will come running.”

“We don’t have to go anywhere.” He continues. “We can just stay in and relax and focus on making sure that you make a full recovery after your collapse.”

“But even then, I don’t want to leave my mom.”

“Keeping a close eye on her isn’t going to change her condition.” Vincent tells me. “And all you are doing is driving yourself crazy.”

“But…”

“Don’t make me have to ban you from the hospital.” He warns and my eyes widen.

“You wouldn’t!”

“Try me.” He smirks. “You’ve been causing a ruckus and disturbing the other patients with your outbursts. I am in my full right to have you banned.”

I open and close my mouth, shock rushing through me, mixing with anger over what Vincent is saying, but I can’t say anything.

“Just do as he says.” Collin murmurs, drawing me out of my head. “He means well and as a professional, he knows what he is saying.”

I slowly process Collin’s words. Taking them in as I consider whether or not I will take them at face value and when dizziness slams into me and the wooshing around us quickens, I know that what he has said is true.

“Alright,” I sigh, suddenly feeling exhausted. “I’ll take some time to myself, but I won’t go anywhere far away.”

I didn’t want to leave my mother, but I would do it for my unborn children. However, that didn’t mean that I would be willing to go anywhere far away. Instead, I would simply rest in bed for a few days and then return to this place with a new headspace.

“Good girl,” Vincent smirks and I grimace. “Sorry, I guess you only like Collin calling you that.”

“Vincent,” Collin warns. “Mind what you’re saying.”

“What?” He asks. “Don’t pretend to be innocent when she is clearly pregnant.”

I watch as Collin opens his mouth to make a retort, but when he realizes that he can’t, he just shakes his head.

“Perverted old man.” He grumbles as Vincent’s smirk grows.

“I’m old, not dead.”

“Gross,” Collin gags, before turning his attention back to me. “I’m sorry about him.”

“Don’t be,” I tell him.

Honestly, the back and forth was a good distraction from all the thoughts whirling through my head and if I could just sit here and listen to it a bit more, maybe I could slowly begin to let my mood brighten just a bit.

You’ve got to get it together, Lilah. I silently tell myself as I look down at my stomach. If not for yourself, you need to do it for them, and…I shift my gaze to Collin who is watching me…I need to do it for him too.

I knew that it would take time to get back into the swing of normalcy, at least, the most normal that we could get given the circumstances, but I couldn’t just remain stuck in this place.

I acted like this after dad’s death and ended up hurting the only family I had left and now, I was risking hurting the family that I was beginning to build.

“Collin,” I say now, settling on what I needed to do despite my anxiety screaming not to. “Am I good to leave or do I need to stay a bit longer for observation?”

“Vincent?” Collin asks, turning his gaze to the man in charge. “What’s the verdict?”

For a moment, Vincent doesn’t speak as he begins to look over the machines that are to the side of me and when he gives a nod, I know that for now the crisis is adverted.

“You’re fine to leave.” He tells me. “But you’re to be on strict bedrest. No fooling around or having sex, got it?”

“Of course,” I smile. “I’ll make sure to do as instructed and please call me if anything changes with mom.”
"I will," Vincent assures me. "If she so much as moves a finger, I'll give you a call so that you can come up here."