part 15

"Ok" Gina said wheeling over Olivia in her carriage

 

"Will you guys build me a castle?" I said handing Bailey shovel

 

"CASTLE!" Bailey yelled clapping

 

"Mama, Dig" Maggie said

 

"Ok Ok" I said digging through the sand

 

"So Any luck on the job hunt?" Annie asked

 

"Not really,I'm going from being Senior Editor of one the top-rated Magazines to going back to being a columnist, it's a huge step down the ladder and a heck of a pay cut". I said

 

"Why did you leave the magazine?" Gina asked taking Olivia out of her carriage 

 

"I left because i'd taken two maternity leaves and with John's accident, it would be more time away and i couldn't do that, it wouldn't be fair." I said watching Maggie and Bailey play

 

"It still doesn't make sense to me" Gina said

 

"I know me either but what am i going to do?" I said taking Olivia out of her stroller.

 

"Good point."  Annie said standing up and brushing the sand off her jeans

 

"Ok guys, what do you say we eat lunch then go get Daddy's present?" I said putting Olivia on my hip

 

"Yayy!" Bailey clapped

 

"Mama, look at the kitty!" Maggie said pointing to a stray cat

 

"That's good, honeybunny but we have to go" I said putting Olivia into her car seat

 

"But Mama, can we pet the kitty please?" Maggie said tugging on my jeans

 

"Mags,we have to go..we have to go eat then we're gonna go visit Daddy and your aunt Catie is coming into town with your Uncle Will,who'll be so excited to see you!" I said buckling Oliva,"So we have to go..Maggie?"  I turned around and realized she wasn't behind me,"Maggie?"

 

But she was gone

 

"Maggie!" I called,"Maggie Elizabeth!" I picked up Bailey and ran around the playground

 

"What's wrong?" Annie asked getting out of the car

 

"Maggie's gone!" I said panicking

 

"She was just here.." Annie said,"MAGGIE!" 

 

We ran around the playground

 

PART 14

I walked into my old room, where Ali's old crib and my old crib were set up plus Ali's old Bassinett, which had been in storage for the past eight years

 

I didn't realize how much i needed help because trying to put three babies to sleep is alot easier with two people instead of just one, Luckily Bailey was exhausted and fell asleep but Maggie and Olivia were determinded to stay up all night.

 

I put the girls  in the my bed and tried to read them a story but i was so tired it was difficult to see the pages.

 

"Mama, where Daddy?" Maggie asked

 

I had been dreading this question

 

"Well, Honey, Daddy was hurt and he's going to be away for a little bit." I said trying to downplay it

 

"Daddy gots an owie?" Maggie asked concerned

.

"Yes, HoneyBunny, Daddy has an owie." I said," But soon you can come and vist him, he'll be so excited to see you, Bailey and Olivia."

 

"Yayyy!" Maggie clapped her hands

 

"But for now, it's bedtime." I said picking her up and putting her in the crib," I love you baby."

"Love you Mama". Maggie said as her eyes were closing

 

I fell asleep with Olivia in my arms, worrying about what was going to happen next.

 

Over the next few weeks , i worked it out with Kathy so that her, me and George would always be with John, Kathy would take mornings, George would take afternoons and i'd take the night shifts.

 

My family and our friends  was great about helping me with the kids and Andy helped me move our stuff from New York to Boston, i had to sell the house because i couldn't keep up with the bills from the house and John's medical  bills, so i sold it to some couple whom had had seen the house from the realtor while i was in Boston, so i didn't even know who bought it. it killed me to sell that house

 

It was now two days  before christmas eve and Maggie's third  birthday, we were planning on our usual birthday bash, except instead of doing it the week before her birthday we were going to do it the week AFTER christmas.

 

I had decorated John's hospital room with pictures of our wedding, pictures of the kids and everything that was familiar to him so that when he did wake up, he would recongize the things he loved most before his accident.

 

So like i said before, it was two days before christmas eve, i was sitting with John, planning on the food we were going to have at the party and what kinds of games to play with the kids, when it happened.

 

John's hand twitched, just a little bit i wasn't sure if i was seeing things so i went back to my list when his hand twitched again.

 

"John.. ?" I called,  this is what i wanted for Christmas Santa, just for my husband to wake up

 

"Nik?" John whispered, grabbing my hand

 

"Oh my god! John!" I shot up from the chair

 

"Nik, water please?" John said licking his lips

 

"Of course." I filled up a dixie cup with water and put the water in his mouth

 

"Mmm, good." John said,"Nik, what day is it?"

 

"Umm, it's December 22nd," I said

 

"What?!" John shot up

 

"Careful, you'll hurt yourself worse." I said crying

 

"Why are you crying?" John said asking holding my hand

 

"I was so afraid i'd lose you." I said looking down

 

"Hey, i'm not going anywhere, remember there's no place like home." John said,"come here and sit beside me."

 

I tentatively laid down beside him

 

"Where are the kids?" John said looking around

 

"With Annie, my mother, your mother Stacey and Auntie Diane Christmas shopping." I said

 

"How are they?" John asked taking my hand

 

"they're ok, they miss you like crazy, Bailey keeps yelling Daddy whenever he sees your picture or when we talk about you. Maggie keeps asking when Daddy's owies are going to heal  and well Olivia is mastering on getting her fist into her mouth without  choking." I said

 

"I've missed so much."  John said

 

"Not too much, although my mother did teach Bailey a few choice phrases that we'll have to unteach him later,i'll bring them by later." I said putting my head on John's good shoulder

 

"Nah, don't bother because i'll be out of here soon enough and we'll be back in New York hopefully for New Year's eve." John said kissing my hand

 

"Oh John, honey i hate to break it to you, but we can't go back to New York because of your knee, your going to need months of physical therapy." I said not mentioning i had to sell the house, i didn't want him to have a complete nervous breakdown

 

"Are you serious? Oh damn!" John said

 

"I'm sorry," I said

 

"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault, " John said,"So where are you and the munchkins staying?"

 

"With my parents." I said watching the ceiling

 

"Oh fun." John said laughing

 

"Oh yeah, apparently my mother thinks i can't even take care of my own babies and my my father is trying to teach Bailey about World War ll, whenever my father stops to take a breath, Bailey yells "UH OH!" and Olivia is becoming quite the snuggler, she waits for me to pick her up and she immedately curls up." I said

 

"Is she getting big?" John asked

 

"Yup,she's just like her Daddy, eats everything and i'm trying to teach her to sit up, but she's just not quite getting it yet." I said

 

"That's my girl," John said turning toward me,"does she have hair yet?"

 

"Yup, it's thick and dark black". I said

 

"I miss them so much, i can't believe that i missed nearly month and a half of their lives" John said frustrated

 

"I know, but your awake now and you won't miss anymore." I said kissing his nose

 

"Ow!" John said wincing in pain

 

"Sorry!" I said forgetting his nose was broken

 

"It's all right" John said scrunching up his face

 

"Well, i should get home and put the kids to sleep," I said starting to get up

 

"Don't go please". John begged

 

"Ok i'll stay," I said

 

We fell asleep and didn't wake up until the nurse came in, to check his vitals the next morning, then i had to go home because i needed to change my clothes and to  tell everyone John was awake.

 

"I'm going to bring the kids in tonight, ok?" I said getting off the bed

 

"Yup," John said watching the tv

 

"Do you want anything from the house?" I said putting on my jacket

 

"Yeah, my portable CD player," John said

 

"Ok, i love you." I said kissing him

 

"I love you too." John said

 

I drove home in my father's old car, smiling for the first time since this whole thing happened. When i pulled into the driveway, i threw the car into park and ran up the stairs.

 

"Where the hell have you been?" My father said putting a pancake on Maggie's plate

 

"At the hospital," I said picking up Bailey and swinging him around

 

"Careful, he just ate!" My mother said throwing her hands up

 

"Maggie,guess where we're going tonight?" I said completely ignoring my mother

 

Maggie's eyes widened

 

"We're gonna go visit Daddy!" I said

 

"yayyy!" Maggie clapped her hands

 

"Do you think it's wise to take them where their father is lying in a coma?" Pop asked stuffing a pancake in his mouth

 

"He's awake! he woke up last night!" I said dancing in the kitchen with Maggie and Bailey

 

"What?" Masaid stopping short

 

"He woke up last and we talked for hours,it was so amazing." I said spinning Maggie around

 

"Oh my god, Nik that's incredible!" Pop said picking up Bailey and joining in our dance party

 

"I know, my christmas wish came true." I said putting Maggie down,"I've got to get Olivia,"

 

"She's still sleeping, she had a rough night last night." Ma said

 

"What happened?" I instantly became panicked

 

"She's got a little cold, and the sniffles." Ma said sitting down at the table

 

"Did you take her to the doctor's?" I asked putting my hands on hips

 

"Of course! don't be stupid." Ma said helping Bailey into his chair 

 

"Please do not use that phrase in front of my children." I said putting Maggie into her booster seat,"So what did the doctor say?"

 

"He said to give her some cough medicine and that if it doesn't work by Monday, to go back and he'll take from there," Ma said cutting up Maggie's pancake. 

 

"Is it working?" I said putting a piece of pancake in Bailey's mouth

 

"Yeah, but it keep Olivia up all night to the point we moved Maggie and Bailey in Mine and Pop's room and i stayed with the baby all night." Ma said,"Maggie please sit down in the chair right"

 

Maggie was attempting to slide down the chair and on the floor

 

"Come on Mags, sit up and eat because we need to get dressed so we can go to the park then we're going to get Daddy a surprise and afterwards we're going to go eat lunch then come back for a nap and then we're going to go visit Daddy." I said 

 

"It sounds like you guys are going to have a busy day," My father commented

 

"Yup, so you guys need to eat." I said opening my bedroom door quietly but when i looked in on Olivia, she was wide awake.

 

"Hi Livvy!! Hi Babygirl!" I said picking up the baby,"Did you miss Mama, cause  i missed you!" I said putting her on the floor and changing her then blew raspberries on her belly, which always got a smile but this time she laughed!

 

"Oh my god! you laughed!" I said clapping my hands,

 

I changed her into a jeans and a purple t-shirt then , i put her in her swing chair and gave her bottle and sat down with Maggie and Bailey. .

 

"So what should we get Daddy as a surprise?" I asked

 

"puppy?" Maggie asked drinking from her sippy cup

 

"Good Idea!,"I praised her," Bay, what do you think Daddy would like for a present?" 

 

"Truck!!" Bailey yelled banging his plate

 

"Somehow, i don't think you can wrap that" Ma said picking up the dishes

 

"Ok guys, let's get dressed!" I said picking up Bailey 

 

Maggie ran into the room and started digging through the suitcases and pulled out overalls and a blue shirt

 

"Here Mama, " Maggie said proudly

 

"Good Job, now see if you can put the shirt on by yourself," I said taking off Bailey's pajama bottoms and putting him in jeans

 

"Ok" Maggie then started to take off her pajama top but was having trouble with the buttons

 

"Do you need help?" I asked helping Bailey with his shirt

 

"No No" Maggie said then somehow got the shirt over her head  and then put the other shirt on but got her head stuck in the arm sleeve,"Help!"

 

"Come here," I said laughing then straightened her out, "there's Maggie!"

 

"Yayy!" Maggie jumped up and down

 

"Ok guys, go see Nana and she'll help you put your jackets on." I said opening the door then got myself dressed  and called Gina and Annie to come to the park with us.

 

Annie and Gina met us at the park and we took turns going on the equipment with the kids.

 

"Mama, slide!" Maggie yelled from the bridge

 

"Ok, " I said pushing Bailey on the slide,"Auntie Annie, will you push Bailey." 

 

"Sure, Ok Bailey-Boy, want to go really high?" Annie asked

 

"Yah, Yah!!" Bailey yelled

 

"Here we go!." Annie said pulling back the swing and letting it go

 

Bailey giggled

I climbed up the wooden ladder and picked up Maggie then sat down on the slide

 

"Are you ready, Maggie?"I asked putting her on my lap

 

"Yup." Maggie said 

 

I pushed off with my one free hand and we slide down the cold metal slide

 

"Oh Boy, wasn't that fun?" I said once we got to the bottom

 

"Sandbox." Maggie said climbing off my lap 

 

"Ok Ok" I said following her,"Auntie Annie, Auntie Gina, why don't you come over here?"

 

 

 

Part 13

"Say Hi Aunt Stacey" I said

 

"Tacey Tacey!" Bailey said as Stacey kissed his head.

 

"Stacey, take him for a second while i go get Maggie." I said handing her Bailey

 

"Mamama" Bailey cried

 

"I'll be right back,Sweetie". I said walking out of the room and over to the nurses station

 

"Hi, I'm looking for my daughter, Maggie, she was brought here after my husband was involved in an accident." I said to the nurse

 

"What's the last name?" The nurse asked

 

"Distefino" I said

 

"I'm sorry, we have no record of a Margaret Distefino being admitted." The nurse checking her computer

 

"That's because her name is Maggie, not Margaret M*A*G*G*I*E" I said 

 

"Oh Ok, oh here she is. she's in room 213, down the hall." The woman said

 

"Thank you." I said walking away then muttered to myself,"Are you kidding me, it's six letters?"

 

I found the room but just before i opened the door, i heard Maggie yelling

 

"NO NO NO NO!" Maggie screamed

 

"Nurse, i think we need to sedate her" a voice said

 

"The hell you will" I said opening the door

 

"Excuse me, who are you?" the doctor said

 

"Your worse nightmare, I'm her mother and you will not be sedating her, i'm taking her home." I said picking up Maggie

 

"Mama!!" Maggie said

 

"She needs to be examined," the doctor said

 

"Fine, but i want a another doctor preferably one with a bedside manner that can deal with children." I said

 

"Fine if that's what you want." The Doctor, " Nurse, please find Dr.Leiya"

 

"Is that the doctor who also examined Bailey Distefino?"I asked

 

"I believe so"  The doctor said sitting in a chair

 

"Hi, I'm Doctor Katherine Leiya" a short woman came into the office,"what's the seems to be the trouble."

 

"My son and daughter were brought here after my husband was admitted here following a car accident, Why were they separated and why is it necessary to sedate a child who doesn't want to be examined?"." I said sitting on the table

 

"First of all,i'm terribly sorry about your husband,secondly, Both Maggie and Bailey were only separated for a little bit whilethey were being examined, and we never sedate a child, especially without the mother's consent. Doctor Andrews,i'd like to see you in my office afterwards please." Dr.Leiya said

 

"Ok now is there anything wrong with Maggie and Bailey?" I asked letting Maggie play with my cell phone  

 

"Bailey is perfect, no broken bones or concussions, when the firefighters arrived on the scene, he was buckled into his safety seat." Dr.Leiya

 

"And Maggie?" I asked

 

"She got some minor whiplash because the carseat was thrown forward a little, it was buckled but not as a tightly as Bailey's, i'm going to write a prescription for a minor painkiller that can be crushed up into a bottle or sippy cup. other than that they are in perfect health, your very lucky, Mrs Destifino, you have two very strong  fighters." Dr.Leiya said pulling a lollipop out of her pocket.

 

"Look Mags," I said as she took the lollipop,"can I take them home please?"

 

"Of course." Dr.Leiya said,"Maggie, come back and vist me ok?"

 

"kk" Maggie said

 

"Thank you so much," I said climbing off the table

 

The other doctor followed Dr.Leiya out, the other doctor looked scared

 

"Mama, i gots a owie" Maggie said holding up her hand

 

"You do?" i said, "do you want Mama kiss and make it better?" i kissed her hand

 

"Betta" Maggie said

 

"Ok honeybunny, let's go get Bailey." I said picking her up,"Oh one day with your grandmother and your so heavy!" 

 

We walked out to the hallway of the NICU, where Stacey was showing Bailey a fish tank

 

"Ok guys,your gonna go with Auntie Stacey then home with Nonie and Pop". I said handing Stacey Maggie

 

"Are you sure you want us to leave before you see John". Stacey said struggling to carry both kids

 

"I'm positve, Don't forget Maggie's allergic to strawberries, Bailey's allergic to peanuts and Olivia can only have Apple Juice before bedtime." I said

 

"Gotcha Mom". Stacey said getting into the elevator.

 

I took a deep breath and went over to see the babies in the nursery before i went down to see my husband.

 

I went down to the elevators and then walked to John's room.Before i walked into the room, Kathy came out

 

"Nicole, before you go in and see him. i want to warn you his face is quite bruised and he's on alot of painkillers." Kathy said standing in front of me

 

"Ok" I said then followed her into the room

 

John was lying motionless on the bed, his normal face the size of an egg was now the size of a watermelon, he had cuts and bruises all over his face, his leg was in traction and his arm was lying across his chest.

 

"Oh my god" I said crying again, i walked slowly over to him,"Hi Honey"

 

"Excuse me?" a voice said, it was an orderly

 

"Yes?" George said

 

"I just wanted to give you Jonathan's personal effects". The orderly said holding up a plastic bag

 

"Thank you" Kathy said reaching for the bag

 

"Can i see that bag?" I asked

 

"Of course". Kathy gave me the bag.

 

I dumped the bag on the bed, out came John's wallet, his wedding ring, his cell phone and the gold chain i gave him on our first wedding anniversary.

 

"His wedding ring" I said holding up the silver band that never even left his hand when he worked,"i can't do this" i sat down and sobbed,"Please John wake up,we need you"

 

"Nicole, i think we're going to go now,but we'll be back later" George said

 

"Ok, see you" I said

 

After they left, i sat there and sobbed for hours until i passed out. When i woke up, i realized ineeded to call everyone to tell them what happened, I reached over John and grabbed the phone, i called Annie first because i knew she'd tell the world.

 

"Hello?" Annie said

 

"Hi Honey" I said sitting back down

 

"Babygirl! how was your thanksgiving?!" Annie asked

 

"It was interesting..." I trailed

 

"How so?" Annie asked

 

"John was in a car accident" I said trying not to cry

 

"What? is he ok? where are you?" Annie said stunned

 

"No, he's unconscious, he's got broken bones and concussions, we're in Boston right now and it's all my fault." I said crying

 

"How is it your fault?" Annie asked after a few minutes

 

"I told him to go, he took the kids to his mother after i inisisted and then he got hit by a drunk driver." I said

 

"Are the kids ok?" Annie said

 

"Maggie and Bailey are fine, the baby was with me." I said

 

"Ok that's it, i'm coming to Boston." Annie said

 

"That's sweet but you don't have to, my mother will help me out." I said

 

"Yeah, right you can't even be in the same room with each other for more than 20 minutes." Annie pointed out,"so instead of Arguing with me, just say, i can't wait to you see you Annie"

 

"I can't wait to see you, Annie" I repeated.

 

"Good, do you need anything from your apartment?" Annie asked

 

"Yeah, all the clothes you can cram into the two suitcases in my closet." I said realizing i didn't pack enough clothes for any of us.

 

"Ok, anything else?" Annie asked

 

"Some toys for the kids because we didn't bring that much stuff." I said

 

"Gotca,ok so i'll be there as soon as i can."Annie hung up

 

I called Vin then Gina and finally Stevanne, they all said they'd come out as soon as they could. We have such great friends.

 

"John, remember when we watched the Wizard of Oz, with Maggie and Bailey, Olivia was only a couple days old, remember how we went around quoting lines from the movie and how you said, if we ever got scared just to say "there's no place like home. please John, just remember, there's no place like home please John." I begged him

 

I wanted him to argue him to argue with me, to say something so i knew he was in there but it was no use.

 

"When your ready to talk, i'm ready to listen." I said as if i were talking to one of my kids, i leaned forward and kissed my husband's swollen lips.,"I'm leaving but i'll be back tomorrow, i love you." I stood up and before i left, i took his wedding ring and put it on the chain around my neck.

 

I realized once i got outside, i didn't have a car because john had crashed mine and Stacey had taken the kids in her car.it was going to cost me at least 100 bucks to get home, fabulous i'm nearly a widow and now i have to find my own way home.

 

I whipped out my cell phone and started to dial 411 when someone beeped at me, i realized it was Andy.

 

"Hi, what are you doing here?" I asked getting into his truck

 

"Well Stace got back to the house and realized you didn't have a car so i waited for a bit then called the hospital and they said you were getting ready to leave so here i am." Andy said starting up the truck

 

"You are too sweet." I said

 

"Yeah, i know, So how is he?" Andy asked turning onto the highway

 

"He's in rough shape, I'm not gonna jerk you around, there's a good chance he'll be in there til next year and he's  going to need months of physcial  therapy." I said fiddling with the radio

 

"Oh wow Nik, what're you going to do?" Andy asked

 

"I've got to get a job around here and find a house because i can't live at home with my mother, father and three kids, it'll be too cramped," I said leaning back against the seat

 

"What about the house in New York?" Andy asked turning off the highway  

 

"I guess i'll sell it, which is too bad because i love that house," i said

 

"Can you afford to move back to Boston?" Andy asked turning into the driveway of my mother and father's house

 

"Yeah with the sale of the house and both banks accounts, i think i manage it," I said reaching for my purse.

 

"I would wait a little bit before you actually sell the house." Andy said shutting off the car

 

"I know, but i have to be realistic, especially for Maggie Bailey and Olivia." I said starting to get out of the car.

 

"What would John say if he knew what you were planning on doing?" Andy asked grabbing my arm

 

"He'd tell me to do whatever it took to make sure that the kids were taken care of regardless of what the cost is, i know he'd do the same for me if the situation was reversed." I said climbing out of the truck "Thanks for the ride."

 

I walked into the house, trying to be quiet because i figured everyone was asleep but it was useless because everyone was awake.

 

"Hi, What's everyone doing up?" I asked picking up Bailey who was rolling his truck all over the floor.

 

"We wanted to wait up for you." Ma said holding Olivia

 

"You didn't have to, besides i think these guys should be in bed, it's after 11." I said checking my watch

 

"Well, they wanted to wait for you." My father said bouncing Maggie on his lap

 

"Pop, they're two,one and six weeks old , they have no concept of time yet." I said sitting on the chair

 

"Well neither do you" My mother said

 

"Ma, please i've had a long day, come on guys let's go to bed." I said standing up, putting Bailey on the floor and picking up Olivia, then picked up Bailey again,"let's go Mags".

 

Maggie kissed my father goodnight and toddled over

 

"Say Night Night Nana and Pop." I said

 

"Night Nannie, night night Poppy". Maggie said sticking her finger in her mouth

 

"Night Maggie, night Bailey." My mother said