Chapter 73 It takes a village

Chapter 73 It takes a village
Hayden’s POV

The apartment has never been this quiet. I watch as Alexis stirrs in her bassinet beside the couch. I release the breath I wasn't even aware I was holding when she continues sleeping.

I rub a hand over my face, exhaustion clinging to every bone in my body. Tired from the long nights and early morning hours.

Six months.

Six months have passed, yet every morning I still reach for the other side of the bed before remembering…

Shaking my head of the memories playing in my head, I quietly stand up from the couch and move to the kitchen to make myself a sandwich to eat.

As I focus on making the sandwich exactly how she would make me one each time I would stay locked up in my office working, my phone vibrates in my back pocket. I clean my hands with a kitchen towel before reaching for it and see a text message from my mother in the family group chat.

“Are you still coping with Lexi? You know I don't mind coming to help you with her for a few months until you have adjusted.”

I sigh heavily as I read it, only for another one to arrive from Catherine.

“Noah tells me you have been working from home. Call any of us when you're overwhelmed, we will be more than willing to come over.”

Since everything happened my mother and Catherine have been throwing careful text to offer help with Lexi. Mum even suggested I take Lexi to stay with her back at home, but I couldn't let my daughter be so far away from me. Not after her mother…

“I'm sorry I'm late, traffic was bad.” I hear the voice before I see her.

I turn my back and a smile plays at my lips as I take her in, she's wearing a sky blue summer dress with black sandals and her hair is in a bun. Her cheeks red from the heat.

“Hello to Hayden.” She says no closer to me.

“I lost you for a second there. What's going on in that head of yours?” She asks frowning.

“Just how lucky I am to have you here with us and that I should never take you for granted.” I tell her holding her waist and smoothing the frown on her forehead.

“I'm the lucky one here.” She says bringing my face lower to hers and kisses me deeply and pulls away when we hear a sound from the bassinet.

I follow her as she walks to the bassinet and holds Peanut, kissing the top of her head and breathing in her beautiful baby scent.

“Hey, Peanut. Did you miss mummy all day?”

Lexi smiles at Victoria as she blows raspberries on her cheeks. Taking in the scene unfolding in front of me takes me back to six months ago.

…………

Six months earlier

The door to the theatre opens, “Nurse Kim, is she okay?”

Instead of answering, stillness filled the hallway.

Nobody said a word.

Nobody had to.

“Victoria is stable now, nurse Kim will take you to her as soon as she's awake.” Dr. Maxwell says emerging from the theatre doors.

“Thank God.” Catherine's voice said.

I didn't even notice they had arrived.

“Will she be okay?”

“What happened doctor?”

Noah and I ask in unison and the doctor's lips twitches just slightly before explaining.

“She suffered a postpartum haemorrhage, she lost a lot of blood and I'm guessing her body went into shock due to her attacks and her heart stopped beating briefly, but we managed to revive her.”

“Her heart stopped?” I murmur and feel myself slacking off to the floor.

“Hayden!”

“He's worn off, he needs liquids and something to eat. I don't think he's had anything to eat since he arrived here this morning.” Dr. Maxwell says helping me with Noah to a chair nearby.

For the next hour my mother fusses over me like a child, bringing me water and a sandwich to eat while we wait.

“She's awake and is asking for you, Mr. Collins.”

I stand fast from the chair and follow Nurse Kim to Victoria's room. The nurse opens the door and I stand like a statue at the door, my breath knocked out of me as I look at Victoria nursing our daughter.

“Hade.” She calls softly and I rush to her side.

“I t-thought I had lost you.” I cry holding her tight, forgetting what her body has been through and pull away right away.

“Shh, it's okay. I'm here now and I wouldn't leave you and our daughter. You hear that?” She says wiping my tears with her free hand and I wipe hers.

“I was scared. They told us your heart stopped, how would I raise her on my own?”

At this Victoria kisses me hard, reminding me that she's here and real.

“I'm not going anywhere, not after everything we've been through.”

I believe her, and for the first time in over 12 hours I relax, watching my beautiful daughter as she drinks her milk.

After watching our daughter, she asks. “Is everyone here?”

“Yes.”

“Only two people are allowed at a go, who do you think should meet Peanut first?”

“Her uncle.” I answer quietly. “He needs assurance that you're okay.”

After Alexis finishes nursing and is sleeping I take her and put her in the bassinet near the bed.

In a few minutes door opens and Noah walks in, his eyes red and tired. Takes in his sister.

She's pale.

Weak.

Barely able to keep her eyes open now.

Victoria simply says,

"Come meet your niece.”

…………..

Victoria's POV (A month later)

“Why won't you sleep, Peanut?” I ask her like she would actually answer me.

At seven months Alexis already has character, each day we get to see her development. Each day brings warmth to my heart as I watch my heart in a human form.

Lexi has my brown eyes and Hayden's dark brown hair. Scarlett and mum says she looks more like me, but I think she's more like her daddy.

Her temper is definitely mine.

“Right, peanut? That's probably why you don't want to sleep so mummy can rest.”

I gave Hayden a day off from his duties so he can rest and be out with his friends for a change. Since my almost dying incident, he doesn’t want to get me out of his sight for more than a few hours.

“She's stubborn like her mummy.” A voice says as the door startling me.

“Liam, you nearly gave me a heart attack.” I admit.

Liam looks better than the last time I saw him in person during Christmas, six months ago.

“What're you doing here?”

“I'm back for good.” He says walking closer and I give him a side hug.

“What? Is everything okay?”

“Can I hold my goddaughter before bombarding me with 21 questions?” He asks already taking Lexi in his arms.

“Look how you've grown?” He says and Lexi blows him raspberries, happy to be in his arms.

“The last time I held you, you were two weeks old.”

“Go rest, I will take care of her.”