Tolerance (Heart of Stone) (27 page)

He sighed but nodded “I mean it Mason” I grumbled but
then the most torturous slicing pain shot through me and I screamed as
whiteness enveloped me “Shit!!!” I heard the technicians shout and then Mason’s
anguished cry before I passed out.

The room was dark, my mouth was dry but I wasn’t in pain
so that was good. I grumbled and tried to turn over but my legs seemed to have
disappeared. I tried again but I just couldn’t move “Ava” I heard Masons
gravelly voice from somewhere “I’m just gonna put the light on baby” he said
and then the room filled with brightness and I blinked furiously against it.

I was in a hospital bed, that much I could work out and
then it came back to me. My hand shot to my stomach to find it flatter and
empty and I lifted my eyes to Masons “Mason?” I asked full of anguish as he
came over to me and sat on the edge of the bed “
It’s
okay Ava. They had to deliver the babies but they’re strong baby” he grinned
“and so beautiful Ava. The girl has your copper hair and the boy…well, just as
handsome as his father” he beamed and I choked out a sob “But they’re okay?” I
tested, the terror for my babies consuming me “They’re in neo-natal at the
moment but they’re doing great baby” he stroked my hair off my face and leant
down to place a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“What happened?” I asked and motioned for a drink of
water. He held the straw to my lips as I took a sip “Your uterus ruptured so
they had to do an emergency caesarean Ava but…but…” I narrowed my eyes on him
“What Mason?” I asked and he sighed and grabbed my hand “They had to do a
hysterectomy Ava, I’m so sorry” he agonized “Oh!” I breathed.

The thought that I would never be pregnant again pulled
at my heart but then the other part of me was excited that I had two beautiful
babies waiting to meet me and for the moment I couldn’t decide how I felt about
it, my emotions were too conflicting to take it in.

“Can I see them?” I asked as the uncontrollable urge to
hold them tore through me. “I’ll get the nurse” he smiled but bent to kiss me
tenderly on the lips “I love you so much Ava, when…when you screamed on that
trolley and…the blood, it was…it was everywhere…I thought…I thought…” he broke
down, his head buried against my chest as he sobbed and sobbed, proper wailing
cries which broke my heart and brought my own tears forward “Shush Mason, I’m
okay baby, I’m okay. The babies are okay, we’re gonna be fine” I soothed as I
stroked his hair and planted kisses on his head.

 
The nurse
peeked
her head through the door, smiled gently as she saw
the scene before her and then gestured 5 minutes with her fingers. I nodded and
turned my attention back to my man, he needed me for a change. It was usually
him consoling me but this time it was down to me to give him the love and
devotion he so needed

“Shush baby” I whispered as his sobs calmed and he
climbed on the bed fully, careful of all the tubes and wires inserted into
various parts of my body, laid out beside me and wrapped me up carefully in his
embrace “I love you baby” he breathed against my neck as he nuzzled me “And me,
you Mason, with everything I am baby”

My breath wedged in my throat and my lungs seemed too big
for my body, my hands shook and my blood coursed through my veins as I saw my
beautiful babies for the first time; they were tiny, gorgeous and absolutely
perfect.

A sob tore through my throat as I saw them hooked up to
what looked like every machine in the hospital “It’s just to monitor them,
they’re doing brilliantly” the nurse said, she reminded me of a sergeant major with
her near shaved head and stern expression but she had the softest calming voice
I had ever heard.

I nodded and turned my attention back to the two little
incubators “Hey” I whispered as I leaned in further to observe them more “Would
you like to hold them?” the nurse asked as Mason sunk into a chair beside me
“Yes!” I choked out and she beamed at me and proceeded to unhook some things
and connect some other things before she lifted the girl out and manoeuvred her
and the wires over to me.

The feeling of pure love, worry and adoration shrouded me
as I held my daughter for the first time, she was absolutely stunning and I
knew then that she would break many hearts, from her large eyes to her curly
copper hair and her tiny nose

“Hi Katie” I whispered and Mason choked back a sob as he
heard her name for the first time. His hand slid into my hair and he placed a
kiss on my head “Katie?” the nurse asked and I nodded “Katie Hope Fox” I
informed her as she wrote it down on her clipboard “Katie after my friend and
Hope after my mother” I smiled thoughtfully as I stroked her smooth chubby
cheek with the back of my fingers “Would you like to hold your son?” she asked
Mason, who grinned widely at her.

She chuckled and leant over the crib “Daddy’s back” she
said to my baby boy and I gathered that Mason had been a regular visitor while
I had been out cold “Any names for this one yet?” she asked as she lay him in
Masons arms “It’s Daddy’s choice for him” I smiled as I leaned over to take a
look at my handsome boy. Mason tipped his head at me and I nodded eagerly.

He kissed our baby on the head “George Mason Fox” he
whispered and a tear slipped free from my eye “George after his
step-grandfather and his Uncle and Mason, for me of course” I frowned quizzically
at him “His uncle?” I asked and he nodded “Kerrie’s twin, my brother was named
George” he said softly as he planted another tiny kiss on George’s wispy brown
hair.

I had known they wouldn’t be identical but I was amazed
that they were so different; each of their features seemed to be the complete
opposite of their sibling; from their hair colour, the shape of their eyes and
the size of their noses. George was a little bigger than his sister but Katie
seemed to be a little longer and I instinctively knew that George, being the bigger
of the two would protect his sister with his very soul and that knowledge
thrilled and comforted me.

“They’re so beautiful” I sighed “They are, but with our
looks baby they didn’t have much choice” Mason winked at me.

Katie gurgled and fidgeted in my arms and my heart
swelled to an enormous size as she opened her eyes and stared straight at me
“Hey sweet pea” I whispered “You are gonna want for nothing Katie, I’m gonna
make sure you have so much love, you and your brother. I will be here through
everything and I promise that no-one will ever hurt you” I kissed her forehead
and turned to see Mason regarding me, his eyes glazed and his lips sucked
severely behind his teeth “I promise Ava, I promise to take care and protect
you all” his face was pained and I knew he was referring to the unconventional
relationship we had. I grabbed his hand and brought it to my lips “I know
Mason” I said adamantly but he looked away “Hey, none of that today” I stated
and he looked back at me and nodded hesitantly “We are a family Mason, whether
you’re with us or not” he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and then opened
them, once again displaying all the love, warmth and dedication he felt for us.

There was a tap on the window to the side of us and I
looked up to see Courtney, Sam and Marcy beaming at us “You’re not supposed to
have too many visitors but I’ll let them in for 5 minutes” the nurse smiled and
she waved them in.

All three wasted no time and within seconds they were at
our side, cooing and ahhing at my children. “Oh Ava, they are beautiful” Marcy
declared, hugging me with eyes full of tears. Sam slapped Mason on the back and
then kissed my cheek “Congratulations Ava” he whispered as he placed a gentle
kiss on each of the babies’ heads.

I looked up and saw Courtney regarding us from the edge
of the room, her face tight as she tried to rein in her emotions.

“Aunty Courtney, meet Katie and George” I said to my
friend and she gulped before approaching slowly and squatted in front of them
both, stroking their faces softly and declaring to each of them to protect and
love them as tears slid down her face.

“Speaking of George, I rang him last night” she said as
she stood and kissed my cheek “He’s on his way” she grinned at me knowing I
would be ecstatic at the thought of George coming. “I’m afraid times up” the
nurse told them and they nodded

“You need anything Ava?” Courtney asked but Mason shook
his head at her “No, I fetched all Ava’s stuff in last night” he told her and
she smiled and nodded “Okay, mama and papa, I’ll see you later” she bent to
kiss me again and then kissed Mason on the cheek and I heard her tell him to
take care of me but I knew he would anyway.

I was allowed home ten days later but I was anxious about
leaving the babies behind “Ava, they’ll be fine” Mason said as he unlocked the
cottage door and ushered me in. I inhaled deeply, relaxing instantly at the
familiar smell of my home “I know” I sighed with tears in my eyes

“Come on, I have something to show you” he grinned and my
brow furrowed “What are you up to?” I asked hesitantly but he grinned at me and
took my hand, leading me upstairs and into the spare bedroom.

My mouth dropped open as I exhaled noisily. The room had
been transformed into a beautiful nursery, all decorated in lemons and soft
greys. There were two white antique metal cots, two changing tables, two little
wardrobes and drawers but what took my breath was the wall above the cots.
Above each one the babies’ names had been painted beautifully in a script font
and the effect was stunning

“Oh Wow!” I breathed and Mason embraced me from behind,
his chin resting on the top of my head “Do you like it?” he asked quietly and I
scoffed “I love it” I swallowed heavily and his mouth found my ear as he nibbled
on my earlobe “I did it myself” he divulged and I turned wide eyed to stare at
him “Really?” I was stunned. He nodded and smiled shyly “Mason…it’s amazing.
It’s perfect” I palmed his face and pulled him down for a kiss “I love you” I
breathed against his lips “Thank you for…for everything, but most of all, for
our perfect children” he kissed me this time “No Ava, it’s me that should be
thanking you, you’ve made me complete baby”

The next few weeks were exhausting as my life revolved
around visiting the hospital, spending time with my man and preparing for the
babies to come home. They were doing great and I was told they should be able
to come home in a couple of weeks.

Every morning when I stepped into the nursery at the
hospital they appeared to have grown and become stronger and I couldn’t hold
back the grin that erupted on my face every time I looked at them, they gave me
so much joy and love already. Mason tried to visit as often as possible and
always made sure he spent the weekend with us but I understood the weekdays
were hard but he phoned me every night for an update.

The following Saturday morning I was rushing about,
trying to clean the house as I got things ready for my hospital visit when my
phone rang and I looked around manically for it, cursing when I couldn’t spot
it. I eventually found it under a pile of ironing on the table. My heart
skipped as I saw who it was and with shaking hands I swiped the screen

“William, please tell me you have good news?” I asked as
I closed my eyes “Oh, the best Ava, the fucking best” William laughed and I
collapsed into a chair and calmness settled over me for the first time in
weeks.

“Nate” I said as I heard him answer his phone “Hey Ava,
how are you?” I sensed the smile behind his voice “Excellent Nate, in fact I’m
better than excellent but I need a favour” I grimaced as he paused “Why am I
worried Ava?” he winced and I laughed “Don’t worry, you don’t have to do much…I
just need you to make an appointment with Commissioner Delaney. I know he won’t
entertain an appointment with me so I need to do it in your name and…I need you
to come with me” I asked apprehensively and he was silent for a moment
“Ava…what are you up to?” he asked quietly “I can’t tell you yet but please Nate”
I begged “I really need you to do this” he sighed heavily “Okay, I’ll text you
a date and time” he said slowly “But you have to promise me Ava, that you’ll be
careful” I smiled at his protectiveness “I promise Nate and I promise to tell
you everything once I have done this” I declared “Okay, give me an hour” he
said and ended the call. I rang the hospital and told them to inform Mason I
was running late and I made my way over to The Black Panther.

“You ready for this Ava?” William chuckled and I knew
this would be good by the look on his face. I nodded and he inserted the disc
into the slot beside a huge screen and it fizzed and then exploded to life.

 
My eyes widened to
within an inch of their life, my jaw dropped and my body broke out in goose
bumps. I glanced at William who laughed at my expression “Oh yes Ava” he
declared and I closed my eyes in relief “Oh William, I don’t know how I’ll ever
thank you for this” I expressed and he placed his hand on my shoulder “Ava
dear, Mason has been a good friend to me, he’s helped me out plenty of times
and I want to see him happy just as much as you do” he stated and I stood and
embraced him, holding him tightly and them planted a kiss on his cheek as I
turned my attention back to the image on the screen.

Robert Delaney was dressed in a pair of tight leather
shorts and he was holding a long black leather whip. Three naked men were bent
over in front of him as Robert whipped each one to within a breath of their
lives. They were laid out on the floor bleeding and comatose as he still continued
to whip them. Then he dropped the whip to the floor and buggered each
unconscious man.

His face was bright and clear on the screen and it would
be impossible to pass this person for somebody else “I also have another little
surprise for you Ava” William grinned wickedly as he ejected the disc and
inserted another “I managed to get hold of this from a friend, I can’t disclose
their name because they want to remain anonymous but…enjoy, if that’s an
appropriate thing to say that to this recording”