Chapter 187 - Two Intruders, a Princess and a Sneaky One - Feddos
Roland
They shouldn't scare a person like that. A doctor approached my wife to check her vital signs while I watched the other doctor deliver a new member of our family. As soon as they handed the baby to the nurse, they ushered me out of the operating room. In the hallway, they showed me my fourth child, my unexpected one.
"Welcome, Liam Sandoval Vásquez."
We had to give him a name. I kissed him on the forehead, but they took him away quickly, not letting me see him well. I saw the oncologist handling Verónica's case rush in. This constant anxiety was going to give me a heart arrhythmia. The nurse led me to where everyone was waiting for news.
"Be thankful it's a small clinic and you are favored by the owner. There are many people for one patient," the nurse commented irritably. "We'll let you know when you can see your children in neonatal."
"Roland, how did it go? How is my daughter? You have blood on your clothes." I looked at Don Fausto and then at myself; my gown was stained.
"She's a bit pale. The oncologist is treating her now. They made me leave. The blood is from carrying my children."
"Why do you look like that, son?" My mother took my hand. Everyone was waiting for my comment.
"There were four, not three, but four."
I was worried about my last child. Maybe it was because everything happened so quickly, but little Liam looked different from the rest.
"Four!" More than one person echoed, and I nodded. "I have four children." Only now did I understand the doctor's words: "I can't explain this." "They were all born healthy."
I needed to pray, I really did. I took off my cap and gloves, reached the reception, and asked a nurse.
"Pardon me, is there a chapel in the clinic?"
She nodded and pointed the way. Instinctively, I started walking. Before entering, I discarded everything, even the bloodied gown. Many people stared at me, but I needed to talk to the Lord God. I sat in front of the altar.
"In your hands, I leave her, and I accept any challenge with my last child because I know he's not normal."
"Roland." I looked at Father Gabriel.
"Father." We hugged. "Thank you for being here. We owe you a big talk. Thank you for what you did for my wife when we thought she had died."
"Relax, we will have time. The boys told me your existence is a confession secret. Now keep praying. I will do the same."
"Thank you."
I said nothing more. I was immersed in that warm silence experienced in every place meant for worshiping the Supreme Being. There was nothing more to do or say, and pleading was not my style. After an hour, we left. I felt calmer. I went to the information desk; they said nothing about Verónica or my children. I sat next to my mother, who silently took my hand.
"We're leaving," Luisa whispered. "Simón will come back later. He's taking us to La Apuesta." I kissed her on the forehead. "Andrea and Milena are getting restless."
"Thank you, Freckles."
"We're leaving too," Diana said, with Lupe behind her.
"They're coming with me," Simón said. "Miguel is staying; I'll be back in a bit." I hugged Simón.
"Thanks, the waiting is killing me."
"Everything will be fine." I felt Inés's kiss on my forehead.
"I trust in the Lord God."
Inés sat on my other side. I had my two mothers with me. Don Fausto brought coffee for everyone, as did Father Gabriel. Another hour passed with no news. It was nighttime; we had arrived at six. I looked at the clock; it was almost eleven. Too much time had passed. I was getting impatient when Dr. Jones came through the door, followed by Dr. Williams.
"Mr. Sandoval," everyone stood up, but I was the only one who approached.
"How is my wife?"
"In recovery."
At that moment, I let out everything I had been holding in. A mix of laughter, tears, and desperation escaped me.
"That's good, right?"
"She is on the right track," the oncologist said. "We removed everything and the affected part. We'll wait fifteen days to proceed with iodine therapy and a chemo session. It's better to wait a bit for her to recover from the surgery. You can't see her yet, but you can see your children." The doctor left after shaking our hands. Dr. Jones stayed, looking at me.
"Roland, I still don't know how I missed the fourth baby. The last baby... I want to tell you..."
"That he's special?" I said, and she nodded.
"And they're giving the nurses a hard time, crying non-stop. We'll make an exception for you. I'll let you into the neonatal room. Verónica told me they would calm down when they felt you in her belly. Let's hope it works."
"Can they see them?"
"Just see them. I'm doing this because I feel bad for making such a big mistake."
"Everything went well, Liam slipped in for a reason."
He was a messenger of the Lord God. When I held him, I knew how special he was; he was born with his mother's gift. We all entered the hallway, and through the glass, my mother and Inés met my children—four Sandovals. Now that they were clean, it was clear that Liam had Down syndrome.
"Our grandchildren are beautiful," the two women said, wiping away tears.
"They are, Mom."
They would look at the babies and then return home. I stayed because my children hadn't stopped crying, which partly frustrated me; I wanted to comfort them. After my two mothers, Don Fausto and the Father came in. My father-in-law cried upon seeing his grandchildren, and the Father congratulated me. Then Arnold and Gustavo came in, and we shared a couple of hugs. Finally, Miguel and Simón, who had already returned, entered.
"I’m the godfather of one of them, right?" Miguel smiled as he said this.
"Of course, and woe to us if we aren't," Simón replied.
"I wouldn't find godparents like you anywhere in the world," I said, looking at my children. "Gustavo and Arnold will be the godfathers of Dante and Enrique." I looked at them. "I entrust my princess and Liam to you."
We looked at each other intently. It was the same look I gave them when I said I entrusted Veronica's life to them alone. Now I was entrusting the care of my two children to them, should anything happen to me. Not that my other two children weren't important; they were born strong. But my daughter was my princess, and Liam was special.
They smiled, silently showing their gratitude for understanding how important they were to me. They also knew who would be the godfather of each child. Simón would be Victoria's godfather, and Miguel would be Liam's. We said our goodbyes, and I was called into the room. They gave me surgical clothes again, and finally, I could get close to them.
I reached Dante, and he calmed down as soon as I touched his little feet. They were in separate cribs. A minute later, I was caressing Enrique. Both were identical, with black hair like mine. Despite being born at seven months, they looked like they were going to be big. They had a lot of wrinkled skin. "My champions," I felt proud. These tiny beings were mine and Veronica's, my intruders one and two.
"Daddy's here. You need to get strong so that when Mommy comes, she'll see you even more beautiful than you are."
They calmed down. Victoria and Liam were still crying. I approached them. My princess was beautiful, with hardly any hair; the little she had was brown. She was smaller than her brothers, and her skin was so soft. She calmed down at my touch, just like the other two. Finally, I reached Liam. He looked like his brothers, though his syndrome was evident. He stopped crying as soon as he felt me and smiled, anchoring me to that gesture.
I couldn't understand how there could be bad parents, what went through their minds, why they didn't feel the responsibility of caring for their children. I had been a scoundrel, but I would give my organs, blood, and life for these four tiny beings and their mother.
"You managed to calm them," the doctor said.
"It seems so," I replied. At that moment, they started crying again. "I failed," I remembered what I had read. "Doctor, is there a big crib to put them all together?" She nodded.
"I'll have it arranged. We didn't realize the babies would miss each other." Minutes later, the nurses began to move them.
"Put the girl in the middle of her two brothers, and place Liam horizontally near them."
The doctor looked at me with a furrowed brow. When they were placed, Dante, Victoria, and Enrique raised their little hands and touched Liam.
"How did you know?"
I shrugged. It was the most beautiful image, and tears welled up in my eyes.
"Intuition. They greeted us that time during the ultrasound. They covered their little brother, and somehow, I feel they were protecting him." Seeing my children care for and protect each other filled me with pride.
"Do you know what I see, Doctor? Not just the miracle of life, but the love and protection of siblings. I imagine it's the same bond I developed with my sister Luisa. I would also defend that Freckleface with my life." The doctor's tired eyes showed a certain glow of satisfaction.
"I'll speak sweetly as my wife would like to hear it. My two sons, Dante and Enrique, will be the pillars, one on each side, protecting Victoria. But at the same time, the three of them protect Liam. They know he isn't like them; my children know Liam will need different care, and the three are willing to defend him."
"And in your words?" she smiled.
"Intruders one and two protect the princess, and together, they shield the little stowaway."