Page 31 of Eternal Pieces (The Violet Delights Duet #2)

Sitting quietly with her, I text Mad the good news.

After a while, I assume Violet’s fallen back to sleep until she asks, “What about Mom?”

That one word sets my teeth on edge. I was lucky to know a mother’s love until I lost her too young. Violet got to have all those years that I missed out on, but what she experienced can’t even be considered love. It was petty and cruel.

“Gone. For good.” My words are sharp, yet Violet doesn’t flinch.

She licks her dry lips as she loses herself in thought.

There’s a jug of water next to her bed that I’ve been replacing with fresh water every few hours, ready for when she wakes up, and I pour her a glass.

After I help her to take the tiniest sip, she says, “The texts were really from her? I’d hoped they were some pain-fuelled fever dream.

” Turning her head to the window, she sighs.

The sunset reflects in her eyes, her unshed tears glittering in the glow.

“I know it’s supposed to be your call, but I can’t live with myself if I let her anywhere near you again. I’ve been thinking of the best thing to do, and I think you should get a restraining order.”

It’s that or I wring the woman’s neck.

Violet stares at the sunset for a minute longer before looking at me.

“Mad thinks so too,” I tell her. I’ve not discussed it with him yet, but I know he’d agree with it over the alternative.

Violet purses her lips, and I think she’s about to object, but there’s a new fierceness in her eyes.

“You’re right. I’ll get a restraining order.”

I’m genuinely shocked. I thought she would have taken more convincing. Vi’s always been kind and given everyone a second chance, but she’s learning for the better that not everyone deserves one.

“I’ll get Dad to help out with it straight away. I’m not having her anywhere near us ever again.”

“Did she try to come here?”

I was fully prepared to tell her the truth if she needed more convincing, but now that Violet’s already on board with the plan, I don’t want to hurt her.

“Max, please. For my own peace of mind, I’d like to know.”

I’m wrapped around her little finger. “She didn’t. Mad and I got to you, and she called for the ambulance, but she didn’t try to come with us. Dad drove her back to her motel, and we’ve not heard from her since.”

She gives me a quizzical look, and I explain everything I found out about Charity’s recent lodgings.

“Thanks to her, we didn’t get to say I do. She couldn’t have had worse timing. And these three…” Violet stops herself as she holds her stomach and remembers that the babies aren’t there anymore.

“They’re close, sweetheart. You’ll have them back soon.”

The brave face she’s been putting on crumbles, and she breaks down in tears. “I haven’t even met them, yet I miss them so much.”

“Mad sent me pictures if you’d like to see them?”

My question makes her cry harder.

I hold her as close as I can without hurting her and tell her that everything will be alright. This time, I know it will. She’s alive. That’s all that matters.

“I just want to hold my babies.”

“I know.”

“It hurts. It all hurts.”

I can call a nurse to take away her pain, but that hurt she’s feeling deep inside, that loss, there’s nothing I can do for her until she’s able to see her babies. And she will be seeing them soon because my girl is the strongest person I know.

It takes the whole night and most of the next morning of Violet sleeping on and off before she’s able to get out of bed.

Mad and I help her into a wheelchair and take her to the NICU.

He gushes the whole way there about the triplets.

“Just wait until you see her little nose! It’s just like yours.

I think she’s your Olive. They still all need names.

I’ve been waiting for you to see them before we put anything solid down, but Olive is really sticking for me. ”

I have to confess I’m a little jealous he’s created such a bond with them already, but I’d gladly wait however long it takes to make sure Violet isn’t the last one to meet her own children.

She smiles the whole way as she listens to Mad, but I see the sadness behind her eyes. As excited as she is for this moment, she feels guilty for not being here sooner.

“Do you think they’ll know who I am?” she asks as we near the doors.

Mad abruptly stops.

Squatting down in front of her, I grip her hands. “Of course, they will. You’re their Mama, and although they haven’t seen you, they know you’ve been looking after them for months already.”

She sniffles and nods. I wipe away her tears with my thumb.

Mad leans over her shoulder and uses his index finger to angle her face his way.

“Vi, you were brave enough to deal with so much shit this year, you’re more than ready to be the strongest Mama in the world to these three. They already love you.”

I move out of the way for Mad to take her inside.

When I saw our babies from a distance yesterday, I could tell how small they are, but up close, it’s striking.

They’d all be able to fit in one arm if I had the chance to hold them.

Various wires and tubes poke out of them all.

A ventilator helps them to breathe. I hope they can’t feel any of it, or if they can, I pray that they’ll never have to remember it.

“Two girls and a boy!” Violet exclaims, all her worries instantly lifted. “I was imagining having more of you two, but the little guy’s outnumbered by his sisters. Is this Olive?” She leans closer to the middle incubator, and I join her.

“Wow, she really does have your button nose.” They don’t have their eyes open yet, but they wriggle around, making the softest sounds when we’re close. “God, they’re cute.”

“I kept telling you they are.” Mad bumps his shoulder into mine and smiles at me.

“Thanks for looking after them,” I tell him, and I swear he blushes as he awkwardly rubs the top of his head.

“Hi, my beautiful babies, I’m your mama,” Violet whispers to them. Mad and I hang back to give her the space she needs to introduce herself.

When I look at him, he’s crying. “Quit it, you’re going to make me start,” I joke, but I can feel the burn in the back of my throat.

“I can’t help it,” he says quietly to me. “Look at them all together. It’s what I always dreamed of. Our perfect little family. I never thought we’d get to have it together.”

He’s right. We’re so fucking lucky to finally be here. All of us as one. I’m never letting anything or anyone get between us again.