I Promise

A Story by Chris Parker

The Sequel to the Switch Up

I Promise

I stared longingly out my third floor window hoping Eric would magically appear at my door. My family had banished him from my life. Forever. I looked down at the beautiful engagement ring on my finger. The cause of the banishment. I could still remember the magical night.

We were walking along a windy beach, my hair and skirt blowing every which a way. I was dark and only the moon lit. our path. I’m terrified of crabs, so when he told me there was a crab beside me I ran. I turned around to see if Eric had followed me but when I turned around he was down on one knee with a small box in his hands. Although we where happy about getting married, I had to tell him something. I was pregnant. His baby no doubt. As I told him the news I was prepared to have the engagement broken off, but he was over-joyed! I was so happy I could have fainted!

It was then I made the mistake of telling my mom and stepdad. Now I’m locked in my room until the baby’s born. By the way I’m Kim I’m 16 and in love. Two years ago my best friend Christina died, when she was hit by a truck. I’m dating and engaged to her boyfriend.

I’m five and a half months pregnant. I told my parents this late because I didn’t want an abortion. I’m naming it after Christina no matter what. “Kim come down here Now!” I waddled down two flights of stairs as fast as I could, apparently it wasn’t fast enough.

“Kim we called you down here five minutes ago.

I’m sorry Mama its hard walking down two flights of stairs.” They both looked at me like it was my fault.

“Kimberly are you sure you can take care of this baby?” Mama asked softly.

“Yes I am. It’s my responsibility and I’m going to be fine!

Do you even know who the father is you little w***e!

Daddy I can’t believe you would say something like that! Of course I know who the father is!

Well have you told him? Is he willing to take this responsibility?

Daddy, Eric is a wonderful boy and he was willing to marry me!

Oh. Its Eric’s baby. That’s it! I forbid you to have this baby! Where putting it up for adoption and that’s that!

Warren calm down your scaring her.

I hate you Warren! I’m going to run away and your never going to see me again!” I was crying hysterically so mom got up to comfort me. “You don’t have to run away its your baby and you can do what you feel is right.” i shock her off and ran/waddled to my room.

“Ring Ring!.” My cell read Eric on the LCD screen.

“Hello?

Hey babe guess what!

What?

I bought well rented an apartment for us!

Are you serious, that’s great.

We can move in next month.

That’s great, I’m so excited! Oh the baby’s happy it just kicked!

Guess what else!

What else?

I found a church for our wedding!

Oh my God you rock! I’m going to tell my parents now!

OK. Love

Bye Doll.”

“Mom Mom!

Yes Dear what is it?

Guess what!

What?

Eric found a church!

Well that’s wonderful

Guess what else!

What?

I’m moving out next month!” The expression on her face dropped and she began to cry.

“Mom what’s wrong?

My baby is growing up so fast and your still so young!

Mom I’m a big girl now I can handle what life throws at me. Besides Maggie’s coming home from college soon you have her.

I know. I’m overreacting. I’m happy for you.”

For the next month Daddy didn’t talk to me and Mama helped pack when I couldn’t. Eric and I moved the ninetieth of October. My six and a half months mark. My bump was so big I couldn’t see my feet. Mom wouldn’t let me help with the unpacking. She told me to sit in the car and wait. The apartment was a small two bedroom two bath condo. The walls and carpet cream and the kitchen white. “Eric its perfect.” He smiled and kissed the top of my head. “I’m glad you like it.” “Kimmieboo I’m parched. I’m off to get some coffee no unpacking and try to stay off your feet. OK thanks Ma!” I waved good-bye and bent over to open a box marked Baby’s Objects when a sharp sudden pain caused me to double over.

“Eric come quickly!

Kim what’s wrong?!

Eric I’m in pain and, ooohhh Eric I think my water just broke!

Kim that’s impossible your only six and a half months!

Eric we have to get to the hospital, quickly!” Eric scrambled around the house looking for car keys and a suitcase to pack my clothes in.

“Eric my keys are in the blue purse and screw the suitcase lets go!”

We jumped into my little blue bug and sped to the hospital as fast as we could.

“Pregnant, six and a half, wife, water, early ,broke, need help!

Name sir?

Eric Hays.

Her Name.

I’m Kimberly Byrd. I’m due in January my water broke and the contractions are thirty minutes apart.” At the point a very painful contraction hit and caused me to throw up. “ Come on I’ll get Doc.Marcel right away.”

Two minutes later I was changed and hooked up to every fetal monitor needed. Eric was pacing back and forth avoiding the fetal monitors and ultra sound machines.

“Hello Kimberly. Didn’t expect to see you for another two and a half months.

I didn’t expect to see you either.

Your contractions are about 25 minutes apart. Oh. The nurse never told me you where having triplets.” before I could answer there was a loud crash.

“Eric! Oh my God somebody help him!” Eric had passed out at the word triplets.

“I’m fine really but triplets nobody ever told us that either.” Eric answered standing back up.

“Wait. Oh my Gosh Eric my mom, call her quick but don’t tell her the news!” Eric left tripping over one of the monitors.

“Kimberly I’m going to run and get your fetal test.”

Two minor contractions later Eric walked in with tears in his eyes Doc.Marcel right behind him.

“W-what’s wrong?

Kimberly you are in dangerous risk of death, you and all three of your children. If nothing changes in the next five minutes I will give you a shot to speed up your delivery.” Nothing changed. Within ten minutes the nurse said I was ready to deliver. With Eric by my side I pushed and pushed but only pain was delivered.

“Eric I can’t do this anymore.

Yes you can I’m not going to lose you. I promise.” I was becoming weaker and weaker. I was about to give up when I heard Doc.Marcel shout. “I see the head.” Three more pushes and baby number 1 was born. After the cord was cut he was sent to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“Doctor she’s to weak to push any more and the next two children have some breathing problems, we can’t afford to send the next two into Intensive Care. I think an emergency C section is in need.

No. I won’t have a C section. These babies are born naturally or there not born at all.

Kimberly you don’t understand they might lose you.

Eric I understand. I won’t leave you. I promise.

Well if there’s no C section I will need another fetal test. Doc.Marcel did what he had to do then left.

The entire time we where waiting I couldn’t help but think, that Eric was holding on so tightly to me because he had lost someone else. I wondered if I was what he held onto when nothing else was around. I wondered if I was his Christina. And then without even knowing my thoughts he proved it.

“Kim do you know what today is?

No. What.

October 19^th Christina’s birthday.” I began to cry and Eric held on to me just like the day back in seventh grade when I fell in love with him, and in these few moments I realized something I never had before. I was his Christina. Without me he would have nothing. He loved me. He really did love me. And now I loved him more than ever. Finally Nurse James called Eric outside.

“Look who I’ve got!” Eric walked in followed by Doc.Marcel rolling an intubicator. Inside that intubicator was the smallest baby I had ever seen.

“Meet Christian James Hays. Baby 1 of 3.

He’s so small. Can I hold him?

No. His lungs aren’t fully grown the intubicators helping, though he might be in it for a couple months.

Hey Doc. Tell her the good news!

Kimberly your no longer in labor.

What! How is that possible?” I was stunned and a little upset at the thought of not being able to meet my other two kids.

“Well you see when I meet you you where 5’4 and in a size 1. Your not big enough to hold three kids. In simplest form you would have gotten so big that the push would have killed you, the first contraction even.

Oh my God!

Well Mrs.Byrd you should be free to leave in a couple of days. As for Christian we need to keep him for a few months until his longs become stronger.

For the next couple days I relaxed and read through bridal magazines. The wedding wasn’t even a month away. After saying good-bye to Christian I was wheeled away. When I arrived home I was startled by an array of surprises.

“Hi everybody!

Where’s Christian?” Mama asked.

“Oh My God Eric we left him in the car.” I answered sarcastically.

That’s not funny where is he?

Turns out he’ll be in the hospital for a couple days, weeks, months!” I started to bawl. Mama got up to comfort me.

“My baby’s almost dead, I’m still pregnant, the wedding is only a half month away, and nothing is planned!

Your still pregnant!

Yes didn’t Eric tell you? I was having triplets now I’m having twins!

Wait are you having triplets or twins?!

Twins now, I already had one baby. Are you sure he didn’t tell you?

No he didn’t he told me where you were and why.

This all sucks!” I stopped screaming and started crying again.

“Its going to be OK. I promise.” Mama was hugging me whispering I promise over and over.

Over the next two weeks we planned the wedding. From appetizers to table charts. I had the perfect satin maternity dress (by now everyone knew about Christian and the twins.) Everything was going smoothly and on November 5^th I was ready to walk down the aisle seven months pregnant.

“Are you ready Kimmieboo?

Yes.

Good.

Your up in two.” Breathing in and out normally the babies where kicking.

“Kim phone its Doc.Marcel.” My Maid Of Honor Kristen handed me the phone.

“Hello?

Hi is this Kimberly Bryd?

Yes. What is it Doctor?

I have some horrible news. Kimberly, Christian died this morning.

Look I-I have to go.” I began to cry all my bridesmaids around me. When my Mother finally made it past the crowd she had heard what happened. “I’m really sorry baby but right now Eric’s waiting.”

I wiped the tears from my eyes fixed my make-up and walked down the aisle.

“Eric Doc.Marcel called.

What did he want?” He whispered back without moving his lips.

“Christian died this morning.” I answered holding back tears. Eric who had a tear rolling down his check sniffed. Disturbing the Pastor. “Sorry go on.” After a couple more minutes of pasturing it was time for the big I’s.

“Do you Eric Hays take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife in sickness and in health till death do you part?

I do.

And do you Kimberly Bryd take this man to be your lawful wedded husband in sickness and in health till death do you part?

I... I think my water just broke!

Soon everyone around me was bustling with excitement. Eric helped me exit the stage and into my little blue bug. “Mama’s calling Doc.Marcel we need to hurry. Go Eric!” We got to the hospital in twenty minutes flat and it was all the way across town!

“Are you Kimberly Hays?!

Yes. I’m pregnant with twins and my water broke about a half hour ago.

Right this way.” I was in a hospital gown before you can say ugly gown 3 times fast. “Hi Kimberly my nurse says your ready to deliver so lets get started!”

Two hours of pushing later baby Madison Harley was born. By then I was to weak to hold my head up, so as they ordered an Emergency C Section I fell asleep. I must have been extremely tired because when I woke up the next day it was around noon. Eric was snoring on the couch next to me. “Eric wake up!” I said throwing a brown bear with a blue Its A Boy banner on the front. “Huh what?” He asked jerking awake.

“Oh Kim its you. How do you feel?

Stiff. You?

I was up until 8am dealing with doctors and people from the wedding.

I’m sorry I screwed up the wedding. You know I was going to say I do.

It wasn’t your fault it was Madison Harley’s and Vivian Claire’s.

Oh Vivian Claire that’s so cute!” I looked around the room.

“Where are they?

Neonatal Intensive Care. They came out about 3lbs 2ozs and their lungs aren’t fully developed.

Oh. Well your tired go back to sleep.” He gladly excepted my offer and was asleep in no time at all, and soon I was to.

“Kim wake-up there’s somebody’s here to see you!” I opened my eyes. Inside to tiny intubicators where Vivian Claire and Madison Harley.

“Oh how cute which ones which?

The smaller one is Vivian Claire.

Have my parents seen them yet?

No they don’t allow visitors in Neonatal.

Mr. Hays we need the girls.” Nurse James interrupted. We nodded our heads and watched him wheel them away.

“When did you get up?

Couple hours ago.

How long was I asleep?

Ugh. Five and a half hours.

What! Why did you let me sleep so long!

You looked peaceful.

So sweet.

Well I need to run some errands, I’m going to leave you with your mother, Bye.

Bye!” After waiting a couple minutes Mama knocked on the door.

“Come in!

Hi Kimmieboo.

Hi Ma.”

“Where are my little darlings?

The nurse came and took them away.

Well that’s OK.” There were a few minutes of silence then finally Mama spoke.

“Now Kimberly you know your father and I both love you very much and we never mean to hurt your feelings. Your father just doesn’t like the fact that your so young and growing up so fast. God I’m only 44 and a grandmother of two. You get the point don’t you? And Daddy is up in heaven right now looking at his daughter and saying That’s my girl, my big girl. I sure do miss your father. He would loved to have been here but he’s in a better place.

Yeah Mom I know. I promise.

Its been five years down the road, I celebrated my 21^st birthday two days ago, Eric and I were remarried and Madison Harley and Vivian Claire where our flower girls. Madison Harley still has some breathing issues and sleeps with a breathing mask at night. Vivian Claire has only had to have two lung surgeries, that’s four less than Doc.Apricot the girls pediatrician suggested! Both girls have visited Christina’ and Daddy’s graves I even had enough happiness to tell them all about their accomplishments and how they died. The girls love filling up the vases with flowers by Christina’s and Daddy’s tombstones. And you’ll never believe it, even after my pregnancy scare I’m pregnant with one baby a boy Christian Eric. And where living the perfect life. I promise.