Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come;
but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish
because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.
John 16:21 (NASB)
Evergrace University Hospital
Evergrace, Texas
Friday, September 24, 2010
Please, protect my daughter, God. Protect my grandbabies too.
Elissandro prayed silently as he held Freedom’s hand and wiped sweat from her flushed face as her labor and delivery began. His grandmother, Sweet Alyce, stood on the other side, holding Freedom’s left hand and offering encouragement, while his grandfather, Randle, had stayed in the waiting room.
The large labor and delivery room was full of medical staff garbed in blue scrubs, all of them anxiously awaiting the arrival of what some of them had already nicknamed the Evergrace Septuplets. Although Ocean Bleu had done his best to afford Freedom some privacy and Elissandro had done his best to protect her and his grandchildren from the media, there was still the chance that someone on the medical team or in the hospital could still leak news of Freedom’s natural delivery of seven babies.
Freedom had been adamant about having a natural—unmedicated—delivery, and that was another reason for Elissandro praying so fervently for his daughter and grandchildren. He knew of all the complications that could arise—the worst being the death of his daughter and one or more of his grandchildren. God willing, they would all survive.
“Here comes the first baby.” Dr. Bleu got into position at the foot of the bed. “When I say push, push, Freedom. All right?”
She nodded, the strain of the pain on her light-brown face.
Elissandro glanced at Sweet Alyce, and she blessed him with the biggest smile.
“Get ready to meet your first grandchild, Eli—my first great-great-grandchild too.”
He bobbed his head, bearing the pain, too, as Freedom squeezed his hand, then pushed on Dr. Bleu’s command.
Soon, the babies began arriving, one by one, through natural childbirth, and in the end, after much toiling and many tears, Freedom had four boys and three girls, all of them healthy, all of them precious, all of them miracles, all of them blessings.
The first two were identical twins—dark-haired, blue-eyed boys: Everson and Eston.
The next three were triplets, one green-eyed boy and two identical green-eyed girls: Essam, Everly, and Echo.
The last two were twins, too, one gray-eyed boy and one blue-eyed girl: Given and Gift.
Instantly, Elissandro fell in love with all of his grandchildren: the boys, his grandlads, and the girls, his grandladies.
After Dr. Bleu left, giving them some privacy, Elissandro held and kissed each one of his grandchildren and blessed each one aloud in prayer before handing them to Sweet Alyce, who showered them all with tears of happiness.
Elissandro raised Freedom’s hand, then kissed it, his eyes damp. “I love you, and I’m proud of you too.”
Freedom smiled through tears. “Thank you for staying, for being here with me.”
“There’s no other place I would have rather been,” he said. “I believe God led us to each other so we could love each other, help each other, and raise these babies together.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
After the nurses placed all seven babies in Freedom’s lap, more tears fell down her flushed face. “They’re so gorgeous, so beautiful, so perfect, so precious, and they’re all mine too.” She raised her head toward heaven. “Thank You, God, for my seven miracles—my seven blessings.”
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The door opened, and Dr. Bleu peeked his head inside before stepping completely inside and closing the door behind him. “I’m afraid the word is out already,” he said. “There’s a crowd of reporters, photographers, and television crews outside, waiting for the first glimpse of what they’re calling the Evergrace Daughter and the Evergrace Septuplets.”
Frustrated, Elissandro frowned. “How did they even know Freedom and I were here?”
“Someone from the hospital must have tipped them off,” Dr. Bleu said. “This is big news, not just because you’re involved, but because your daughter is one of few women to naturally conceive, carry, and deliver seven healthy, live babies.” He glanced at Freedom. “Would you like to make a statement to the press, or would you rather someone from the family or staff do so—preferably Elissandro or myself?”
Freedom shook her head. “I’m not compromising the safety and well-being of my babies, nor am I putting myself or anyone else in danger. Even if I am the Evergrace Daughter, and my kids are the Evergrace Septuplets, our faces won’t be splashed across newspapers and magazines, nor will our privacy be invaded.”
“She’s right!” Elissandro said. “Neither she nor the babies signed up for any of this. So, they have a right to privacy and protection.” Elissandro looked at Freedom, still in bed, with her babies bundled across the bed. “I have a military buddy that I’ve mentioned before, and he runs a stellar security agency. He might be able to get you and the babies out of the hospital to another location that is more safe and secure, possibly even Bethesda Medical Center in Heaventon Hope.”
“That sounds better than being barricaded here, waiting for more news leaks and more curious reporters to show up.” Freedom looked at Dr. Bleu. “Are the babies and I clear to be transported to another hospital?”
Dr. Bleu sighed. “Normally, I would advise against it. But since we’ve got some extenuating circumstances here, I’ll put a transport team together and make it happen.”
“The fewer the people who know, the better,” Elissandro said. “We don’t need a media frenzy in Heaventon Hope either.”
“Don’t worry,” Dr. Bleu said. “I’m just as committed to protecting Freedom and these babies as you are.” He bowed his head. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll see about the transport crew.” Abruptly, he turned, then walked out, shutting the door softly behind him.
Elissandro glanced at Sweet Alyce. “Do you mind staying with Freedom and the babies while I make some phone calls?”
“Not at all,” Sweet Alyce said. “Do what’s necessary, and I’ll call your granddad and let him know what’s happened.”
“Thank you.” Elissandro pulled out his cell phone and walked to the other side of the room, where he punched in his friend’s phone number.
On the first ring, his friend answered. “Eli?”
“I need your help.” As quickly as possible, he explained the situation, and his friend said that he and his security team would be there in no time. After Elissandro disconnected, he felt more at ease. If anyone could protect his daughter and his grandchildren, it would be J.U. Shield.
Within two hours, J.U., like a dark knight, strode into the labor and delivery room, tall and commanding in a dark suit, flanked by a couple of equally tall and impressive young women in black suits who bore a strong resemblance to him, in their dark-brown skin tone, except one had hazel eyes and the other gray.
“Freedom, this is the friend I mentioned earlier—J.U. Shield.”
Freedom reached out her hand, and J.U. grabbed it and shook it.
“The name’s Johnathan Ulysses, but my friends call me J.U.,” he said. “Congratulations on the babies.”
“Thank you.” Suddenly, she squinted. “Have we met before?”
J.U. shrugged. “Have you been to Cheerwell, Texas?”
“Once, for the Cheerwell Twin Festival, when I was younger.”
“Then it’s possible,” he said. “My wife and I would always take our kids to the festival, at least until they got old enough to drive themselves.”
“How many kids do you have?” Freedom asked.
“Six living, one in heaven.”
“Are you related to Jacson Ellis Shield?”
“He’s my son—a twin as well.” J.U. pointed to the babies in the incubators. “My wife had multiples too. So, I know what you’re going through, and I’m here to help as much as possible.”
“Thank you! For everything.”
“No problem.” He faced Elissandro, grinning from ear to ear. “Eli! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” J.U. hugged him, then slapped him on the back before stepping back beside the women.
“Yes, it has, my friend! It’s good to see you again.”
“You too.” He motioned for the women to step forward. “These are my daughters—twins too—Jerrica, the eldest, and Journee, the youngest, and they work with me at The Sword & Shield Security Agency.”
Elissandro greeted Jerrica, the hazel-eyed daughter, first. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same here,” Jerrica said, a diamond engagement ring on her finger.
Next, he greeted Journee, the gray-eyed daughter. “Thanks for helping me out.”
“It’s not a problem,” Journee said. “I feel like I know you already, as much as my dad talks about you.”
Elissandro glanced at J.U., who stood with his massive arms folded and his long legs spread. “Hopefully, you had something good to say; otherwise, this might get embarrassing. For me.”
J.U. laughed. “Nothing but the best, Eli. Nothing but the best.”
Elissandro sighed. “I need the best tonight.”
Freedom cleared her throat, looking directly at J.U. “Can you really help me and my babies get out of here safely and discreetly? Without us getting our faces splashed across the evening news?”
J.U.’s dark-brown face split into a grin. “I’m the best in the business, and I’m a faithful, loyal, and prayerful man of God too. So, rest easy about your and your babies’ safety. You’re in good hands.” He motioned for his daughters to step forward. “The Sword & The Shield Security Agency is a family-run business, and more than mere clients, we invite extended family. So, welcome to The Sword & Shield Security family.”
Freedom leaned forward in bed. “Can you guarantee we’ll be any safer in Heaventon Hope than we are here?”
“Of course I can,” J.U. said. “We’ve already got a great staff in place to take care of you and the babies, and when you’re ready to be discharged, we have a plan in place.”
Freedom sighed. “I’m tired of running, hiding too. I’ve been doing that since I was
sixteen years old. Now, I just want a normal life, a peaceful one.”
J.U. reached out and then grabbed Freedom’s hand. “Stay strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, don’t be discouraged, and don’t give up. God is with you, and He’s with these babies wherever you are. Just have faith. Just believe.”
Tears fell from Freedom’s eyes. “I’ll try.”
J.U. released her hand. “Don’t try, sweetheart. Just do it.”
Three short knocks sounded on the door, and J.U. nodded, asking Jerrica to open the door.
A young dark-brown woman with light-brown eyes, wearing a royal blue uniform, returned with Jerrica, and she stopped at the foot of Freedom’s bed. “Hello,” she said. “I’m Psalm Careson, and I’m one of the neonatal nurses at Bethesda Medical Center in Heaventon Hope. I’ll be overseeing the transfer and care of the septuplets after they’re transferred from here.”
Freedom’s eyes got big. “Did you say you’re a Careson?”
Psalm nodded. “That’s right! My oldest brother is Honor Careson—the star quarterback for the Houston Texans.”
“Wow! Your brother’s great!” Freedom said. “He’s good on and off the field.”
“So is yours,” Psalm said. “He can’t wait to see you again.”
Freedom frowned. “Who are you talking about?”
“Forrest Cross—your adopted brother,” she said. “He and I are close friends.”
“What a small world,” Freedom said. “It’s nice to meet you, Psalm.”
“You too,” she said. “Since you haven’t seen Forrest in years, you probably don’t know it, but he’s a photographer, too, and he talks about you all the time. He’s proud of you—of all that you’ve accomplished—before turning thirty.”
Tears glistened in Freedom’s eyes. “I didn’t know he was keeping tabs on me.”
“He’s your big brother, and he loves you, regardless of where you live, who your birth family is, or what your last name happens to be.”
Freedom thumbed her tears dry. “Sounds like you and Forrest are more than friends.”
“I love him,” Psalm said. “He loves me, too, and one day, hopefully soon, we’re going to get married. Then, you and I will be family too.”
“I look forward to it,” Freedom said. “Thanks for sharing that with me.”
Psalm nodded. “You’re welcome.”
J.U. clapped his hands. “Now that we’ve gotten introductions out of the way, let’s get this young lady and these babies out of here.”
Elissandro grabbed Freedom’s hand, then gently squeezed it. “Are you ready for this? For motherhood?”
She bobbed her head. “Yes, Dad. I am.”