Chapter 37: 12: Treehouse Emergency

SHAY

Shay spent the night tossing and turning, sleep eluding her.

She had retreated to baby Nate’s room after the argument, phone in hand. The words they had exchanged kept replaying in her mind, a broken record of regret.

She found herself staring at the crib, waiting for dawn to break. She hoped for a chance to talk to him before he left for work. She needed to clear the air, to understand where he stood.

She was grateful that baby Nate had slept soundly through the night. The quiet was a welcome companion as thoughts of Adam swirled in her mind. She found herself questioning if Adam was right, if she was betraying him.

She knew nothing physical had happened, but her feelings were a confusing blur. The line between love and hate was indeed thin.

As she glanced out the window, she realized dawn had arrived. She had been lost in her thoughts, staring at the crib for hours. She thanked her lucky stars it was a weekend, and she didn’t have to rush the twins to school.

It was a rare day off, free from soccer practice and other activities. She finally managed to peel herself off the cozy nursing chair, stretching to ease her stiff muscles. With Nate still sleeping peacefully, she tiptoed out of the room to return to her own.

She noticed her bedroom door was slightly open. She pushed it open gently, not wanting to wake Adam, even though they needed to talk. The bed was neatly made but empty, and the house was eerily quiet.

She frowned, wondering where Adam could be. As she stepped into the room, her eyes scanned the table for his watch. It was missing, and she sighed, realizing he had left, probably to avoid talking to her.

She walked over to her side of the bed and plugged in her phone. She then changed out of her clothes and prepared for the day ahead. She had to push aside thoughts of their argument; there were things to be done.

After preparing breakfast, her friend Josephine came over. With Jo’s help around the house, Shay was able to feed baby Nate. She kept checking her phone, hoping for a message from Adam. They had never fought this long before, and she was unsure how to navigate this unfamiliar territory.

“Mom, can we play in the treehouse?” Elijah asked, interrupting her thoughts.

She glanced out the window; it wasn’t a sunny day, but she knew the treehouse was the twins’ latest obsession. Her father had finished building it a few weeks ago, and the twins loved spending time there.

“Sure, but be careful, okay?” Shay warned.

The twins nodded eagerly before running off. She wasn’t worried; she could see them from the sofa, and the property was secured with heat sensor cameras. Safety was a priority for her, a trait she inherited from her father.

She placed baby Nate on his tummy to play while she grabbed her laptop. She had work to do, and she had hoped to have some quiet time to get it done. But with Adam gone, she was left to care for the kids alone.

She read and replied to a few emails, making a note of tasks for Monday. This was her usual weekend routine, balancing work with caring for the twins and their activities.

“Jo, can you please take baby Nate for his nap?” Shay called out.

She put her laptop aside and picked up Nate, who was starting to yawn.

“Coming!” Jo responded.

Shay rocked Nate gently, his eyes slowly closing. She played with his soft curls, smiling at her beautiful baby boy. She touched her own belly, knowing she would be doing this all over again soon.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air. She whipped her head toward the treehouse, her heart pounding. Jo heard it too and rushed over. Shay handed Nate to Jo and ran outside.

“Mama!” Liam yelled.

She spotted the twins on the grass, Eli clutching his arm in pain.

“What happened?” she asked, rushing to their side.

Jo was right behind her.

“What happened?” she repeated, crouching down next to them.

Eli was crying, and Liam was in tears.

“We…we…were playing and Eli fell down,” Liam managed to say between sobs.

“Eli baby, let Mama see,” Shay said gently.

She inspected Eli, finding no visible cuts or bruises on his head. But his arm looked wrong, and her heart sank.

“Liam, get Mama her phone,” she instructed.

“Okay,” he replied, running back to the house.

“Everything is going to be okay, Eli,” she reassured him, cradling him in her arms. She brushed his hair out of his face, trying to stay calm despite the panic rising within her.

“It hurts,” Eli sobbed.

“Jo, please get me some ice,” Shay instructed.

Jo hurried off as Liam returned with her phone. She dialed Adam’s number, her gaze fixed on Eli.

“Where else does it hurt, my love?” she asked, her heart pounding as the phone rang.

But Adam didn’t answer. She tried calling him again, but he declined her call once more. She took a deep breath, then dialed the next person she knew would pick up.

“Everything’s going to be all right, sweetheart,” Shay murmured, her fingers gently combing through his hair.

Suddenly, her phone illuminated.

“Shay?”

A wave of relief washed over her as she heard his voice.

“Eth,” she responded.

“Is everything okay?” His voice was laced with worry.

It had been years since they’d spoken on the phone, their communication limited to texts. But now, Shay had a reason to call.

“Eth, Eli fell. I need to take him to the hospital. Can you come? I can’t drive, I need to hold Eli. I’ve been trying to reach Adam, but he’s not answering,” Shay’s voice broke, her hand never ceasing its comforting strokes on Eli’s head.

“I’m actually just a few minutes away,” Ethan replied.

Shay nodded, setting the phone down without a care if it was still on or if Ethan was still speaking.

“Ethan’s on his way, okay?” Shay reassured.

She glanced up at Liam, his tears a clear sign of his guilt. They were twins, their bond deeper than just blood. Shay understood that bond, she was a twin herself. Some things were just inexplicable.

With her free hand, Shay reached out to Liam. He instantly took her hand.

“We’re going to be okay,” Shay promised, her gaze shifting between the two of them.

Despite her own panic, she knew she had to remain strong for her twins.

“Jo,” she called, turning her attention to the nanny.

“Take Liam inside and wait by the door for Ethan. We’ll take Eli to the hospital while you stay with Liam and Nate,” Shay instructed, struggling to keep her composure.

“Of course, dear.” Josephine helped Liam to his feet and comforted him as they headed toward the house. Shay was grateful for Jo’s presence. She knew she couldn’t handle everyone at the hospital.

Between Eli and Liam’s tears, and Nate’s obliviousness, the best thing she could do was get Eli to a doctor.

“Mummy, it hurts,” Eli whimpered.

Shay’s heart shattered at his words. It had been a long time since he’d called her ‘mummy’.

She knew he really needed her. “We’re going to make it better, okay? We’re going to the hospital so the doctors can check you out, all right?” Shay reassured, wiping away her own tears.

Shay wasn’t sure how long she sat there on the grass with Eli, doing her best to comfort him. Her mind was a whirlwind, unable to focus on anything else.

“Shay?” Ethan’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

A wave of relief washed over her as their eyes met and he rushed over. “What happened?” he asked as soon as he reached them.

“The twins were playing in the treehouse, and Eli fell,” she explained, watching as he assessed Eli. Shay had taken premed. She knew the signs of a broken bone, but she kept her suspicions to herself.

She didn’t want to scare Eli; it was better to reassure him that everything would be okay. “We need to get you to the hospital,” Ethan told Eli gently.

Their son nodded in response. “Can you carry him? My back…,” Shay admitted.

Ethan nodded, and Shay carefully extricated herself from Eli as Ethan picked him up. Eli’s cries intensified as Shay grabbed her phone and followed them.

As they made their way back to the house, Shay tried calling Adam again. It went straight to voicemail. With a sigh, she tucked her phone into the back pocket of her jeans.

“I’m going to the hospital with Eli, okay?” Shay told Liam.

“Can I come?” His eyes were red and glossy from crying.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she said, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “I need you here. Can you take care of Nate and Jo for me?”

“Yes, Mama,” he replied, nodding.

“That’s my good boy. I’ll be back soon, okay?”

“Love you,” he whispered.

Shay managed a small chuckle, hoping to provide him some comfort. She noticed Ethan was already at the car.

“I love you too. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. I need you to be a big boy and take care of Nate and Jo, okay? Listen to Jo,” she reminded him, pressing one last kiss to his forehead before leaving.

Josephine handed her bag to her, knowing Shay would forget it in her rush. “Call me if you need anything,” Shay told Jo.

“I’ve got everything under control here,” Josephine reassured her, cradling baby Nate in her arms. “Everything will be okay, dear. Kids are tough, and God is watching over them,” Jo reminded her.

Shay nodded, grateful for Josephine’s motherly wisdom and reassurance.

Ethan had already settled Eli in the back seat of his car by the time Shay reached it. She climbed into the back seat, positioning Eli’s head in her lap. As soon as she was settled, Ethan started the car.

Shay stroked Eli’s hair, pulling out her phone to try calling Adam once more.

Voicemail.

Frustrated, Shay shoved her phone into her bag. “Mummy,” Eli whimpered.

“Shhh, it’s okay, baby,” she soothed.

“I’ll drop you off at the emergency room entrance and then park,” Ethan said.

Shay met his gaze in the rearview mirror and nodded. She silently thanked God that Ethan had been on his way to her place, that there was no traffic, and that nothing was obstructing their path. She knew they were speeding, but she didn’t say anything.

They were rushing for Eli. The car came to a sudden stop, and nurses were immediately rushing toward them with a wheelchair.

“This is my son, he fell from a tree,” Ethan explained as he helped Eli out of the car.

“What’s his name?” one of the nurses asked.

“Elijah Ramsay-Haze,” Shay answered, rushing out of the car. “I’m his mother,” she added.

“Let’s get a doctor to check you out, okay Eli?” a blonde nurse said to Eli.

Everything happened so quickly after that. Shay was ushered inside, filling out forms while the doctor took Eli for a CT scan and X-ray. Shay stayed by Eli’s side the entire time, reassuring him that everything would be okay as they ran tests.

In between tests, Shay tried calling Adam again, but each time it went straight to voicemail. Deciding not to call him anymore, Shay focused solely on her son.

Ethan had parked his car and was now waiting patiently as Shay accompanied Eli through a series of tests. Eli was currently asleep in the bed, the stress of the day having worn him out.

Shay was perched on the edge of the bed, while Ethan occupied a nearby chair. They were both anxious for the results, but Shay was grateful that Eli had managed to calm down enough to fall asleep.

Ethan broke the silence. “What did the doctor say?”

“She should be coming soon,” Shay replied, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

“Everything will be okay,” Ethan reassured her, reaching out to touch her hand. His other hand rested gently on Eli’s leg. Shay just stared at him, her mind too full to form words.

The air between them was thick with unspoken thoughts. The sound of the curtains being drawn back startled Shay, and she instinctively pulled her hand away. She straightened her posture as the doctor entered the room.

“Elijah Ramsay?” the doctor asked.

Shay and Ethan nodded in unison, while Eli continued to sleep peacefully.

“Did he break any bones?” Shay asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“From the scans, we found a small fracture on his arm but otherwise everything seems okay. We will give him a cast, it would help with the healing and some pain medication,” the doctor informed them.

Shay absorbed the news, relief washing over her.

“Will it cause any long term damage?” Ethan asked, his voice steady.

“No,” the doctor replied, shaking her head. “He just needs to be more careful and to not over exert himself during the healing process. He should be back to normal within a few months.”

Shay nodded, her gaze fixed on Eli. The doctor explained a few more minor details before leaving them alone in the room. Shay was thankful that Eli didn’t need to stay overnight.

“Uh, Shay?” Ethan’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

She turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow in question. “You’re leaking,” he pointed out.

Looking down, she noticed her shirt was soaked with milk, seeping through her maternity bra. She sighed; this was happening more often than she would have liked.

“Worst timing,” she muttered, accepting the tissues Ethan handed her.

She dabbed at her chest, trying to dry herself as best she could before stuffing tissues into her bra to absorb the remaining milk. She had almost forgotten she was still breastfeeding.

Her body had grown so used to the sensation of her breasts filling with milk.

“Here, wear this,” Ethan offered, removing his outer shirt to reveal another layer underneath.

Shay accepted the shirt without hesitation, the scent of him clinging to the fabric. She resisted the urge to bury her nose in the shirt, instead buttoning it up to cover herself.

“Thanks,” she mumbled.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

“Yeah, thanks for rushing us over,” Shay replied, giving him a small smile.

“I’m glad I was already reaching your place,” he responded.

They spent the next two hours waiting for the doctors to discharge Eli, the room filled with a comfortable silence. Ethan was engrossed in his phone, while Shay lay next to Eli, gently stroking his head.

It pained her to see her son in discomfort; as a mother, she never wanted to see her children hurt.

“How’s Eli?” The panicked voice of Adam pulled her from her thoughts.

She sat up, annoyance flaring as she noticed his gaze drop to her body, taking in Ethan’s shirt.

“Ethan, could you look after Eli for a while? I need to speak to my husband,” Shay said, not even sparing a glance at Ethan.

“Yeah,” he replied.

With a quick nod, Shay left the room, leading Adam out of the emergency room. She kept her head down as they passed doctors, nurses, and other patients.

“Why weren’t you answering me?” Shay asked as soon as they were outside.

Adam hung his head, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

“We had an argument and I thought you were only calling me to argue and I didn’t want to deal with it,” he confessed.

“Yeah, but I called you so many times. I even got Jo to call you. You were unreachable, ignoring all of our calls. Eli was hurt and I needed help!” Shay argued, not caring about the curious glances from passersby.

“I’m sorry. When I realized that it was an actual emergency, I called you back. I called Jo and she told me what had happened and I felt so guilty,” Adam confessed.

Shay stared at him for a moment, then let her guard down and nodded.