123 - Benjamin Scott

123 - Benjamin Scott
Benjamin Scott

My hands trembled as I was guided through the corridors smelling of alcohol and ether, heading toward the Neonatal ICU. It felt as though I had left my heart in the operating room with Camilla, but now there were four little pieces of her in the world, waiting for me. I watched as a nurse opened the unit's door, and the sounds of machines, beeping, and rhythmic breaths enveloped me.

My eyes filled with tears when I saw them for the first time inside the four incubators, side by side, each holding one of our little miracles. So small, so fragile, but alive. They were alive, just like their mother in that other room.

I approached the first incubator, where my little girl, my princess, rested. Her skin was reddish, and she looked so delicate that I was afraid to touch her and hurt her fragile skin. I bent down to get a better view of our little warrior, feeling a hand on my shoulder. A nurse offered me a chair and showed me how to place my hand through the small opening to hold her.

"Hi, my princess," I whispered as my fingers touched her tiny hand. She stirred slightly, and my heart nearly stopped. "You’re so beautiful, you know? Just like your mom."

I spent a few minutes there, speaking softly to her, telling her how her arrival was unexpected but so full of love. Then, I stood and moved to the second incubator, my first son.

"And you, little speedy one?" I smiled, looking at him. "You already have that serious look, huh? I bet you’ll be just like your grandfather, Andreia, just as determined as he is."

He seemed calmer, but as I held his tiny hand, I felt the same shiver of connection I had felt when holding Giorgia’s hand. Looking at him, I couldn’t understand how it was possible to love someone so small so instantly.

The second boy, my second son, was next. I looked at Vincenzo. He was the most restless of them all, moving more, his tiny arms lifting as if ready to take on the world and protect all his siblings.

"Oh, you’ve got my temper, haven’t you?" I joked, trying to keep my tone light, even with tears still streaming down. "We’ll need to work on that, kid. I know your mom won’t be thrilled if the two of us are training boxing and making a mess, you know?"

Finally, I reached the fourth incubator. Will be the smallest of them all, but there was something so strong about him that it gave me an unexpected sense of courage. He was slightly larger than Giorgia, who seemed to be the tiniest among them.

"You’re the family warrior, aren’t you?" I asked, placing my hand on the side of the incubator. "Don’t worry, I’ll take care of all of you until your mom comes back. And I promise she will come back, okay?"

I looked at the four of them, feeling crushed by the responsibility but also filled with a love that felt bigger than myself.

"Listen up, you four," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need you to behave, okay? No scaring the doctors, no giving the nurses a hard time. I want you all to grow up strong and healthy because soon enough, Mom will be here to take care of you."

My voice broke at the end, and I let myself cry a little more.

"You have the best mom in the world, you know that? And I... I’ll do everything I can to be the dad you deserve."

I stayed there for a while longer, going from one to the other, memorizing every detail of my children, their movements, every feature that reminded me of Camilla or even myself. They were living proof of our love, and I needed to hold on to that to keep going.

I stood up slowly, taking one last look at each of them. My heart was still heavy with worry about Camilla, but there was something I needed to do now. I took my phone out of my pocket. I knew everyone in the waiting room was desperate for news, hoping for any sign of hope.

I returned to the first incubator. My little girl lay quietly, her tiny hand so small it seemed unreal. I adjusted the angle of my phone and took the first picture, trying to capture just how perfect she was.

"You’re going to be the star of the family, my princess. Everyone’s going to fall in love with you."

I moved on to my first son, the calmest. He seemed at peace, breathing slowly, protected by that little glass universe. I took another picture, angling the phone to get the best shot.

"Your grandpa will say you have his eyes, I just know it," I murmured, smiling faintly. "And he’ll fill your head with stories about the family."

My second boy was as restless as before, his little arms moving back and forth. I chuckled softly, feeling a pang of relief in my chest.

"You’re already ready for a fight, huh?" I commented, snapping several photos as he kept moving. "I promise I’ll give you everything you need to be as strong as you feel right now."

Lastly, I reached my smallest baby. He was calm, but something about his expression, even as he slept, told me he was strong. I took a few more photos, getting close enough to capture his delicate features.

"You’re all my fighters..." My voice came out as a whisper. "And everyone will fall in love with you as soon as they see you."

I slipped the phone back into my pocket for a moment, taking a deep breath before leaving the NICU. My heart was still torn between the pride of meeting my children and the fear of losing Camilla. But I knew I had to be strong for all of them now.

In the hallway, I found my father-in-law, Andreia, and other family members who had been granted permission to wait outside the NICU. As soon as they saw me, they all stood, their eyes filled with expectation.

",  So, Benjamin? How are the babies?" Andreia asked, visibly anxious.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened the photos, showing him the first image.

"Meet the newest members of the Scott family," I said, my voice choking with emotion.

Relief and emotion filled everyone’s faces. Andreia brought his hand to his mouth, his eyes brimming with tears.

"They’re perfect... so tiny, but so beautiful!"

I passed the phone around so everyone could see the photos. Each reaction was filled with love and hope. People laughed, cried, and made comments about how each baby resembled either Camilla or me.

"This one is Julian!" I explained, pointing to the photo of our little sprinter. "And these are the boys, and lastly, our little princess."

Everyone gathered around, hugging me, giving me strength. I knew Camilla was the reason behind all of this, the heart of our family.

"Camilla is going to be so proud when she sees them," Andreia said, gripping my hand tightly. "She’s going to get through this, Benjamin. You’ll raise these babies together."

I nodded, holding back the tears that still threatened to fall.

"She has to make it," I murmured. "They need her as much as I do."

While everyone continued admiring the photos, I felt a bit of the weight on my chest lift. I wasn’t alone. Love surrounded me. And as hard as it was, I had to believe Camilla would be with us soon.

I was leaning back in one of the corridor chairs, trying to calm my heart after showing the baby photos to everyone when Sebastian and Jackson stood beside me. Their expressions told me they didn’t bring good news, but there was also a sense of determination in their eyes.

"Benjamin, Oleg is ready for you."

I looked up immediately, my fists clenching instinctively. Just his name was enough to rekindle the anger I was trying to suppress.

"And where is he now?" I asked, my voice colder than I intended.

Jackson exchanged a quick glance with Sebastian before replying:

"In the basement. The place we usually use... to handle situations like this."

I understood immediately what he meant. That basement, hidden beneath the main building of the Scott whiskey distillery, was reserved for the darkest moments of our reality. I didn’t like to think about what happened there, but if anyone deserved to be in that place, it was Oleg.

"Is he conscious?" I asked, my jaw tightening.

"For now, yes," Sebastian replied. "But that could change quickly, depending on how you want to handle him."

My mind started spinning, imagining what I would do when I saw him. Part of me wanted to go down there right now, but another part knew I couldn’t leave Camilla alone, not while she was still fighting for her life.

"Alright." I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. "And Gianni?"

Jackson crossed his arms, seeming a bit more comfortable with this part of the conversation.

"Gianni went to a hotel. He made it clear he doesn’t want to cause trouble here but said he’ll wait until you’re able to speak with him. He seems to understand what’s going on."

I nodded, grateful for Gianni’s patience. He had always been a man of few words and precise actions, but he also knew when it was time to wait.

"Alright." I looked at the two of them, trying to decide where to start. "First, I want Oleg to know I’m coming. Don’t do anything definitive with him until I see him. He needs to understand that what he’s done… will have consequences."

Sebastian tilted his head in agreement.

"He’s already well aware of that, but we’ll keep things under control until you’re ready."

"And about Gianni," I continued, "let him know I appreciate his patience. As soon as Camilla is stable, and the babies are safe, I’ll meet with him."

"Understood, brother!" Jackson said with a slight nod.

For a moment, silence fell between us, and I realized they were waiting for further instructions. I looked down the empty corridor, at the door to the Neonatal ICU, and finally at the two men who, despite their flaws, had always stood by my side.

"Thank you for handling this..."

I sat there, staring at the photos of my children, and after hours, the doors to the operating room opened. The doctor who had been operating on my little devil stepped out.

"Mr. Scott?" His somber gaze and exhausted expression were enough to tell me something had gone wrong…