Chapter 186 - How to explain this... - Feddos
Roland
I left Veronica sleeping, took a couple of photos of her—she looked beautiful with her big belly. After getting ready, I went downstairs where Mr. Fausto was waiting to go to work. I had to admit that these five months with him had been gratifying in some way; each day I saw him more as a father.
At first, it bothered me that he looked at my mother like a lovesick fool, but seeing the changes in my lovely lady, I set aside my idiotic and selfish jealousy. Mom had suffered a lot; she didn't know what it was like to have a man by her side who would go out of his way to take care of her, honor her, and cherish her.
If I had that with Veronica, why couldn't my mother have the same? And if it was my father-in-law, all the better. At least I wouldn't interfere with their feelings.
"Good morning, Mr. Fausto."
"Good morning, son. How are my daughter and my grandchildren?"
"She's very nervous, and they're having a party in her belly." I saw him smile. "You look different, you seem happy." He got nervous.
"I feel like a young man, Roland..."
I raised my hand; my intuition never failed me. He and my mother had been doing adult things.
"Mr. Fausto, it's not necessary. You've acted like a father; I really would like to see you as one."
"I'm also your father-in-law, and if you treat my daughter badly, I'll stop being your father."
"I wouldn't expect anything less. Just make my mother happy. She doesn't know what it's like to have a good man by her side."
"I never thought I'd get a second chance. Your mother is wonderful."
"If I see her cry, I'll become Mr. Roland Sandoval." We shook hands. "Make her very happy."
"I'll make her my wife. I'll settle in this country in a couple of months. After everything with Veronica, I'll go to hand over the farm as my inheritance to Santiago. I've already talked to Luisa; I'll buy her share of Las Alondras. That will be Veronica's inheritance. The new lands I'll buy will be for your mother."
"Veronica doesn't..."
"I know she doesn't need it, and what I'm leaving her doesn't compare to what she already has. But when you hold your princess and your little intruders," I laughed hearing him call my kids what I called them, "you'll know it's your responsibility to leave them protected."
"As you say."
"When all this is over, we'll move from your house to ours."
Veronica's right actions had her father's stamp. If I die, my mother and sister will be with good men... wait a minute... I can't die. I have to make sure Victoria never marries, but with the mother she chose, by thirty, she'll already be with some unfortunate guy.
"Just make my mother happy, make her happy."
"Promise of a gentleman." I looked at him and nodded.
From the balcony, I saw Father Gabriel getting out of the car with Gustavo and Arnold. I went into the bedroom, and Veronica was stirring in bed.
"What's wrong?"
"I have no idea, honey. I feel strange. Help me get up, I need to go to the bathroom."
I helped her, then stepped out of the bathroom to give her some privacy. I hadn't closed the door when I heard her scream, and my heart skipped a beat.
"Veronica?" I went into the bathroom and saw the red stain on her underwear.
"This isn't good."
She adjusted her underwear, and I carried her like a baby. As I came out of the bathroom, the priest and my friends were coming in. It was quite a sight. It should have been a grand welcome.
"Veronica started bleeding. Father, you have no idea how happy it makes me to see you here. Make yourself at home, but I need to get to the clinic."
The idea was for them to tell her I was alive. The priest's face was filled with happiness and fear at the same time because of the situation. I looked at my friends so they would understand, and we entered into a sort of mission.
Miguel opened the door, he would drive. Arnold, Gustavo, and Simon walked to the babies' room, each took their bags, and Simon also took Veronica's. They followed me as I helped my wife, who was a bundle of nerves, down the elevator.
"Can I go with you?" asked the father.
"Of course, go in Gustavo's truck and Arnold can go with you. I'll go with Miguel and whoever wants to come with me."
"Onion, drive carefully," I said.
"Don't worry, Roland." Arnold had the bags, we went out, and I saw two more trucks following behind.
"This isn't a good sign..."
"Everything will be fine, Veronica." I pulled out my phone and called Dr. Jones.
"Hello, Roland."
"We're on our way, Veronica has blood in her underwear."
"The cervix can't hold any longer. I'll get everything ready for a C-section. My children will be born today. Are the babies moving?"
"Honey, the doctor is asking if the babies are moving." She nodded. "Yes, doctor."
"I'll be waiting at the clinic."
Looking at the time, I realized the doctor had already finished her shift or was about to. This woman earned my eternal gratitude. I admire and thank professionals who love their careers.
Even though I felt like I was about to pee myself, I had to stay calm for my wife, who was the complete opposite. She looked pale, nervous, and hadn't stopped crying silently. When we arrived, the doctor was indeed waiting for us. I don't know how Miguel did it, but we got there very quickly and didn't feel the journey.
I laid her on the stretcher. Arnold had a bag on each shoulder and the baby's and mother's bags in each hand. The doctor told me to follow the nurse, they would prepare me, I would be in the delivery room. I imagine my mother stayed in the waiting room with my father-in-law. I entered the operating room, they already had Veronica prepped, and the doctor was on the phone with someone.
"She was scheduled for tomorrow, but you know better than anyone that this isn't an exact science. I'm sorry, Dr. Williams, you are her oncologist. I'll see you at the clinic in less than half an hour, however long it takes to assist with the deliveries. You need to tell me where to cut the cervix. You have already studied the case. I'll see you in twenty!"
She ended the call, took a breath before putting on her gloves, and when she looked at me, she smiled, and that smile calmed me down. They placed me next to Veronica, I held her hand. I didn't want to watch them cut her, well, that would be a justified scar. I winked at her, her hand was trembling, we looked at each other when a cry shook my existence.
I looked at the doctor, and she was holding one of my sons upside down. My firstborn was here. A nurse took him, they cut the umbilical cord, placed him on Veronica's chest for a few seconds, she kissed him, and they showed him to me. He was a beautiful little intruder, I kissed his bloody head.
"Welcome, Dante Sandoval Vasquez."
Something swelled in my chest, I heard another cry, and it was my princess. When they placed her on Veronica's chest, she kissed her, and I teared up. That beauty was mine, I made that... they handed her to me, and I swear something inside me shook.
"Victoria, my princess."
I whispered. The third cry was heard, the satisfaction that all three were well and alive filled me with indescribable joy. I had no idea of the feeling, I could only say that I would do anything for them. My children were born, my two intruders and my princess. The third cry was my little one.
"My Enrique, my little one."
I kissed his forehead too. They took them away. I kissed Veronica's forehead and noticed she was very pale.
"Doctor, Veronica is very pale." I looked at her, her expression wasn't what I expected.
"Roland. I don't know how to explain this..."