Chapter 26

Shiloh’s POV:

'What is the source of that infuriating sound?' I blink my eyes open with much difficulty and hiss from the bright light coming from the window. I look around the room to find out which room I am in since I can’t seem to remember anything.

I am currently lying on a bed, a hospital bed, but what am I doing in a hospital? Did I have an accident?

The room is a decent size. It is neat and tidy and even smells nice. In one corner, there are two small couches and a wooden table. The two windows are open, and the white and blue blinds are pulled up to letting the sunlight in.

The irritating noise is coming from the heart monitor connected to my finger.

What exactly happened? I search my mind for any reminders. Bit and pieces of information come crawling back to me. I remember having a fight with Sam and Chance. I also remember leaving and driving to the church. But wait a minute, something is different.

I look frantically around the room taking in every detail, but there is no crib anywhere in this room. I place my shaky hands on my belly and feel that it’s no longer hard and big, but a bit swollen and tender.

My breath becomes heavy as fear and panic overwhelm me. I didn’t lose my baby. I can’t lose my baby. My baby is alive. Maybe the nurses took my baby to check its health. Or maybe Sylvia and Mum came to take the baby to give him away. God, no, you can't let this happen. I know you won’t let that happen, right? Oh God, Oh God.

"Relax and take a deep breath," a feminine voice says beside me while rubbing circles on my hand. "Like this: In. Out. In. Out," she repeats.

I follow her instruction taking deep relaxing breaths before my breath returns to a normal pace. I glance up at the lady standing beside me. She’s in a blue top and pants and has blonde hair tied up in a bun, blue eyes. She’s smiling down at me.

"Who are y-y-you?" My voice is raspy.

"Wait a second. Take this," she says, filling up a glass with water. "And to answer your question, my name is Chole Cali Carter. I’m a nurse that’s been assigned to you by Mrs. Cristian," she says.

I gulp down the water and give her the empty glass.

"Okay. Let me just check your heartbeat and some other necessary things." I watch silently, only speaking to answer her questions.

After removing the blood pressure cuff, heart monitor, and IV, she leaves to get a wheelchair for me.

"Okay, now let’s go see your baby."

"My baby?" I ask with a wide grin and a boost of happiness.

"Yeah! You actually flatlined during the delivery but the doctors were able to bring you back. You did slip into a coma though" she explains while helping me into the wheelchair.

I frown in confusion. " How long was I in a coma?"

"You were in a coma for three days," she says, wheeling me out of the room.

I gasp. "That’s a really long time."

In no time we stop in front of a nursery. "Which one is my baby?" I ask.

She points at a baby wrapped in a blanket. The baby faces us with its eyes closed and lips parted slightly creating an O shape.

"Wow, that’s my baby." I place my left hand on the glass wall separating us as tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

I watch Chole as she walks in and picks up my baby, who makes a low whining sound. "Here you go," she says softly, placing the baby into my arms.

"My baby is a boy." I cradle him with one hand under his head and the other under his legs. I stare at his face with happy tears rolling down my cheeks. Amused with his sweet face, I cuddle him to my chest. "Mommy is sorry she didn't come to see you earlier and she’s also very sorry for trying to leave you," I apologize softly. "Chole thanks so much."

"No need to thank me. I love my job," she laughs lightly. "I know you must be starving so let’s get you something to eat. In the meantime, a nurse will prep a crib to bring to your room," she says, wheeling me towards a cafeteria.

I focus intensely on my son, taking in every detail like the way he whimpers anytime I touch his nose or the way his eyes are closed tightly while he sleeps peacefully.

I’m upbeat now, jittery with excitement that I have him here wrapped in my arms. He looks just like the baby version of Chance, but I have to push away those unwanted thoughts because I really just want to focus on this moment right now.

"I wonder what color eyes you have," I whisper before placing a light kiss between his eyes.

I was so focused on my thoughts that I didn’t notice we had arrived at the cafeteria. Chole asks me what I would like to drink. "Orange juice, please."

She nods and instructs a nurse to bring the food to the room. She wheels me back to the room, takes him from me, and then helps me get in the bed. Two nurses walk in. One is holding a tray with a covered plate, a jug of orange juice, and an empty glass, while the other pushes in a crib.

As the nurses walk out my belly growls.

"I am starving after all. I haven't eaten anything for three days!" We both laugh quietly, so we don’t wake up the baby.

She helps me into a sitting position then pulls up a table that’s attached to the bed so that it hangs over my lap. She places the tray on the table. I remove the lid.

"What is this?" I ask, staring at the plate. It looks like tofu, and tofu is one of my favorite meals.

"Vegan mapo tofu. Go on and try it. You will love it,” she says.

I take a bite and the sweet flavor melts into my mouth. My taste buds come alive.

"This is so scrumptious," I say. I take another bite from my new favorite food. "Does this hospital always serve delicious meals?"

"No, this is a special request from Mrs. Cristian."

"I have so much to thank her for already." Elaina has done so much more than my real mum and I am so grateful to her. She treated me just like her daughter.

I grin wide. Chole looks confused.

"What?"

"This is none of my business, but are you related to Mrs. Cristian?" she asks warily.

I shrug nonchalantly. "Not really. She’s just like a mother to me."

Chole nods.

After finishing the food, Chole takes the tray away. She claps her hands together in front of her with a wide grin.

"Okay, it’s time to feed the baby," she proclaims.

"I actually read some maternity book about breastfeeding, but I still don't know the first thing about it."

"No need to worry. I’ll teach you what to do," she says.

She places two blue pillows behind my back so that I’m in a semi-reclined position.

"Do your breasts feel hot or full?" she asks, carrying the baby gently from the crib.

"Both," I say.

"Okay." She gives me the baby and helps me undo my gown. "You just have to stroke the baby's cheek with your finger, and he'll turn to suckle," she says warmly.

I do as she says. His eyes remain closed, but he turns his face to my finger as I stroke his cheek.

"Now lift your breast and push the nipple down slightly near his month. We'll see if his instincts kick in," she says, watching his reaction.

He flails one chubby fist in the air and strokes my breast gently before instinctively rooting around for my nipple.

I am so amused as he turns his head for a few more seconds. Then he latches firmly and securely onto my nipple and begins sucking.

"He did pretty well for his first," she says. She takes a seat.

I laugh happy feeling every tug while he nurses.

"Let’s just say my son is really a fast learner. I think I have to grow an extra hand to be able to do this constantly," I joke.

"That’s what new daddies are for."

I tense up at her words. If only she knew the reality of my life right now. I am trying so hard to forget but I can't run from my memories.

I blink back tears and cough the sobs back. "Um…his eyes are still closed. Why?" I ask, changing the subject. I caress his forehead while he makes a cooing noise.

"Maybe he is trying to hide his beautiful eyes from you," she teases, flipping through a magazine on her lap.

After a few minutes, he releases my nipple from his mouth and starts wailing. Chole walks over to me. "He needs to burp."

I put him on my shoulder and pat his back softly. He emits a loud, moist belch that echoes in the room. I continue patting his back. "There you go, my baby. Does that feel better now?" I croon.

"It seems he’s sleeping already," she says.

"My baby loves sleeping." I place a kiss on his temple before letting her place him in his crib.

"I’ll let you rest but if you need anything just press this button over here," she instructs, pointing at a white button beside the bed.

I pull the gown back up before lying on the bed facing the crib. After a few minutes of staring silently at the crib, I try getting up. I hold onto the bed for support since my legs feel a little bit shaky.

I move my hand from the bed and place it on the crib while staring at my baby with a boost of overwhelming love and contentment.

"I could not wait to hold you in my hands and watch you while you slept," I whisper softly. "I cannot help but smile when I see you. And here you are filling me with so much exhilaration and hope. I promise to be with you at every step and stage of your life. I promise never to deprive you of anything." I caress his chubby cheeks, laughing at the way his lips form into a pout.

"You weren't planned to happen at this stage of my life, but I am happy that fate brought you to me." I bite my bottom lip, trying to stop the tears from falling. "See? Mum is crying when she should be happy you are here," I laugh, lightly wiping my eyes. "You know something, son? Your mum has always loved and held on to people that didn't care whether she was alive or dead. I feel stupid because no matter how much they kept hurting me, I still loved them so much. But I couldn't take it anymore.

"I am sorry for crying this way, but Mummy just feels so lonely right now. I mean, I have been out of a coma for about three hours but there is still no sign of my parents or my friends." I sigh audibly, feeling all kinds of emotions.

Shiloh, stop with these depressing thoughts and focus on your son and your happiness.

I place a light kiss on his temple, making him coo. I get back into the bed and stare at the door for a few minutes before giving in to sleep.

*********

"He's so cute and adorable," I hear Louis's voice say.

"Louis, stop touching his nose. He hates when you do that," Damien scolds.

"Can you guys just behave? You’ll wake Shiloh up," Emma whisper-yells.

I blink my eyes open and yawn as I push myself into a sitting position. "You have succeeded in doing that already," I say with a playful smirk.

"Shiloh!" Emma yells, hugging me tightly.

"…Can't breathe," I say as she tightens her hold on me.

She pulls back letting me breathe with an apologetic smile. "Sorry! I am just so happy you are out of your coma." She hugs me again before pulling away.

"I’m so happy you guys are here. I was dying of boredom," I say, looking at them with a playful glare.

My baby wails, making himself known.

"Look, he is crying for our attention," Louis croons and picks him up.

"Louis, don't you dare drop my baby," I say when I see he’s having a little trouble holding him.

"Relax, he had a younger brother," Emma blurts out before covering her mouth.

We all laugh awkwardly finding no humor in her words. Louis's younger brother is actually a hard topic for him. His brother died of leukemia when he was just six years old. Louis was sixteen and it was a very hard time for him.

But after his death, Louis's parents bought a leukemia treatment foundation under his name and Louis invested in charity events for leukemia patients.

"Louis, I am so sorry for saying that," Emma says, looking guilty with a glimmer of tears in her eyes.

"It’s okay," he says, shrugging it off. "He looks so much like Chance. He even has his eyes," he says. Damien slaps him across the head.

"Remember, don't mention that name around Shiloh," Damien whispers.

"He is right. He looks so much like Chance, but I have yet to see his eye color," I say urging Louis to bring him to me. Louis places him in my arms. "He has hazel eyes just like Chance. Now I feel jealous. He doesn’t have any of my features.” I pout.

"Come on. Give him to me. I don't need you infecting him with your jealousy," Emma says, taking him from me.

I laugh with excitement. I just want to focus on this moment that is so delightful. It looks like I had no reason to feel lonely because I have these crazy friends to keep me company.