What A Way To Live

Meeting the Feline Inlaws

Hey! Laura yells out as we make our way to the front door and greet Imba and Carissa Ambani. Carter says Hello, My name is Carter, and I am your daughter's husband."" Imba looks Carter up and down and says, "Oh, are you now?" As Laura looks at Carter and laughs and says, "Oh honey, he already knows that because he keeps a tab on his kids!" Carissa was now laughing with Imba and Laura. Imba raises his hand out to Carter, and Carter shakes his hand. Laura hugs them both and says, "Shall we go in, or shall me and my husband need to go get a hotel room?" Imba says, "No, you two may stay here, there shall be no leaving the tribe to stay anywhere else." Carter says to Imba."Thank you, sir, I appreciate you allowing me into your "home. " Imba laughs and says No, you are our son now. " "You are the father of her child, and soon will be the leader of your own cat pack." Carter looks at Imba with shocked eyes? You know Laura is pregnant? Chuckling, Imba looks at Carter and says why yes! I can hear the heartbeat and the purr of the kitten inside her stomach. They all sat down in what seemed to be a formal living room. There are lady cats walking around on things, and some are pawing at strings hanging from the ceiling.

Carter looks around and grabs Laura's hand and says, "So this is where you grew up?" Laura smiles and says, "Yes, but it was a little different back then. My mom basically taught me how to be a lady cat and not a cat napper like all of those girls. Carter chuckles and says, "Cat napper", can you please explain? Laura snickers with him and says yes, they are bum kitties that just sit around and bum off of all the tribe. Carter nodded as he understood. Carter says, "So, why are you all called a tribe? Laura explains that when her mother's parents were little, the Felines were all in a tribe together. Her Great Great Grandfather was a Cherokee Indian. My Great Great Grandmother was the leader of the Feline Tribe. Carissa is now smiling at Carter and Laura, looking at them and saying," Laura, you are very special to me, I see a lot of my mother in you." This child is going to be an exquisite Feline. Laura looks at her mother and says, "we really need to find Dr." Frasier,. I'm at least a week along. I'm not sure. With a concerning face, Carissa looks at Laura and says he is in his office. Let's go talk to him then. Laura stands up and says, "Carter is coming as well." Carter looks at her and says, "Okay, im coming." Carissa laughs and says, "My guess is you guys have been married for 1 week?" Did both of you act like this marriage is fairly new? Laura says Yes, we've been married for a week."" As Imba and Carissa look at each other, Imba says, "Laura, how long have you known Carter?" Carter looks at Laura, and Laura says about a year now, but we've only been dating for 7 months, and now we have been married for 1 week. As they all walked down the hall towards Dr. Fraiser's office, Imba says, "I knew I wanted to marry Carissa the moment I met her. Imba, looking at Carter, asks, "Was it this way for you for my daughter?" Carter, with a serious reaction, says, " Yes sir, I noticed your daughter the moment I first met her, when she moved to the same apartment complex as me. I had a wife before Laura, but certain circumstances took her from me, just like Laura had with her first husband. Mr. Ambani, I have loved your daughter from the moment I laid eyes on her. Imba smiles and says," Well then, I think you will be fine with me saying, thank you for taking care of her when I couldn't. Carter, almost biting his lip off, says," Well then I don't think you would mind me saying that what you had your men do to her was cruel, and if you wanted to see her, just call. You don't have to send men after her. I know this is not the proper way to tell you this, but as I said, I love Laura, and I'll do anything to keep her perfectly safe.

Imba stepped back, looked at Carter, and said, "I'm not sure what you're talking about?" I sent my son to pick you guys up from the airport because I didn't want to send any of my men. As far as I'm aware, it is the only contact Laura has had with me in months. Henry does not call anymore? Laura, now angry, clears her throat and says" Dad, do not act like you didn't have me kidnapped because you wanted me to come home." Now, angry, Imba says, "Excuse me?" You were kidnapped by WHO? I have sent NO men for you, Laura. Your mother made me realize you are grown. I realized I needed to let you be who you are. Carissa went through the same thing when she and I were young. We had to find out for ourselves, who we were, and how to make a life for ourselves. I am extremely proud of you for going and finding your true happiness. I would NEVER send men to kidnap you, Laura. Carter looks at Imba distraught and says, "Then why was she kidnapped and, more importantly, who kidnaped her? Imba, now furious, asks Laura what happened and if she remembers who and where she was? Laura says, "Can we please talk about this when we get out of this office? I'd like to keep all this information between us four, please. Could we not talk about this in the busy hallway? Laura knocks on Dr. Frasiers door. Carter, Imba, and Carissa all look at each other, and Carissa says, the lady has spoken. Let's go check on this, baby.

Dr. Frasier opens the door and says, "Oh Laura, I haven't seen you in so long, dear!" Laura nods back at him and says it's been too long. This is my husband as Carter steps up and shakes his hand. They all walk in and sit around Dr. Frasiers desk. Dr. Frasier says, "Now Laura will come with me over to the exam table, and tell me what's going on." Laura says I'm pregnant, but I'm not exactly sure how far along I am. A regular doctor said that it was a baby, and it was a girl. I've been growing so big the past few days. That's all I know, doctor. Dr. Frasier pulls out an ultrasound device and says, "OK, lay back Laura, and let's have a look." After a few minutes of looking at the screen, Dr. Frasier, with almost a panicked look, says it's definitely a girl. Carter looks at him and says Dr. Frasier, please tell us what's going on? Dr. Frasier says, "Please just call me Roy." I feel different when this tribe calls me doctor. Carter says OK Roy, can you tell us what's going on?"" Dr. Roy says, "Well, the kitten looks to be about 3 weeks along." This is Tuesday, so I look forward to having a baby about next Wednesday. However, Laura's heart was not beating the way it should while pregnant with a kitten. She will need to be put on bed rest, and she shouldn't get too far so I can watch her heart. Dr. Roy walks over to a drawer and pulls out a heart monitor. He says to Carter,. Don't worry, everything will be okay. Let's just get her to a room and all her luggage so she can get comfortable. Once she is settled, I will go to put her heart monitor on. Carter, you are welcome to stay with her. However, any kind of interaction with her that could raise her heart rate is not recommended. As they all look at Carter, they all chuckle a bit. Laura looks at Carter and says, "Please don't leave me." Never says Carter, I got you, babe. Carter says, "Where are we going to be staying, Mr. Imba? Imba says Rosco, Is Laura and Carters' room ready? Carter says respectfully, "Who is Rosco?" As Carissa chuckles, she says that Imbas assistants for all intensive purposes. All the rooms have an intercom to Rosco's office. He is the one who will be running security as well. If you get scared or anything, just yell at Rosco. As Carter looks up, he says, "Oh, okay! Good to know then. Carissa, still smiling, says," Don't worry, Carter, no one is going to let anything happen to your wife and child here. You are in good hands. Carter smiles back at Carissa and says thank you, Mrs. Carissa. She looks over at him and says, "Please call me just Carissa, MRS makes me feel old." As Imba laughs, he says, "Well, honey, we are old." We are about to be grandparents. Carter says, "Oh, you guys are already grandparents. This is just another one." Carissa, with an odd smile, says no, this is our first grandchild. Carter is looking at Carissa and says, "Do you guys not claim Tyler?" With a long grin, now standing beside the exam table, Laura says no, they dont. Let it go, Carter. Carissa was intrigued, saying, if I had a grandchild, I would know it, right? Looking at Laura, Carissa and Imba looked at each other and back to Laura. "Laura, do you have another baby?" Carter realizes that they had no clue about Henry having Tyler. Laura says no mother, I don't have another child. Carter chimes in and says, "Oh, I'm thinking about someone else." I have a terrible memory. Sorry, you guys. Carissa, now staring at Carter, says, "Well, there is a lot we need to sit and catch up on tomorrow." We will come to your room tomorrow to check on Laura and catch up with our conversations. Imba says, "Oh, that must be Rosco," as they hear a knock at the door.

Rosco brings a wheelchair in and helps Laura get situated in it. Rosco lays his palm out in front of Carter and says, "You are new to the tribe, right?" Carter shakes his hand and says," If they have me, I suppose I am. I am Carter. Nice to meet you. Laura says, "Can we go now?" Rosco says yes, let's go, as he pushes Laura to the door and says, "Let's go find your room." Imba and Carissa followed behind them as they headed down the hall to a corridor. A big door swings open, and inside is a huge master suite. Rosco says you both should be comfy here and help Laura out of the wheelchair and on to the bed. Carter says, "Thank you so much, Rosco, as he looks around the big room and all the beautiful details on the walls. Rosco says, " My pleasure." If you all need anything, just press the buttons on the stand by the bed. Do y'all have a meal request ready for tonight's dinner? I can go ahead and tell the chef? Carter, looking confused, then, Laura, without stopping to think a moment, says I want a big juicy hamburger with fries and a coke." Carter laughs and says, "That sounds delicious, me too!" Carissa and Imba say, "Well, we are right down the hall, and if you all need anything during the night, please let us know." We will catch up tomorrow. Have a good evening as they walk out of the room. Carter and Laura look at each other, and Carter says, "Come here, beautiful." Let me hold you while we don't have any visitors for a moment. About 30 minutes went by, and the two fell asleep, while Carter was holding her in his arms. A knock at the door wakes them up. Who is it? Yells Carter "Roy", came to put the heart monitor on Ms. Laura. Carter says, "Come on in as he wakes up Laura and says the doctor is here for your heart monitor." Laura leans up as Roy walks to her side of the bed and says, okay miss, lift your shirt up so I can put these wires over your heart and handed her a little machine the size of a phone. Laura says, "What am I supposed to do with this?" Roy says, "Well, just take it with you, and if the heart rate gets over 90, sit down and relax." Do not let it get over 90 because then you put your daughter at risk for high blood pressure. Laura, looking nervous, says, okay! Dr. Roy leaves and says I'll be back tomorrow to check on you and I can see your heart monitor on my computer, so if it gets high I'll come back to give you a shot to make you calm down. Take it easy, Laura. Dr Roy leaves and shuts the door. Carter looks at Laura and says, "Well, I guess no playing football until after she gets here." Laughing, they both lay back on the bed.

Later that evening, a knock at the door, as the man yells, "The chef has prepared dinner." Carter says I am starving. I'm so happy, as Laura says to me too! He goes to the door and sees a huge rolling tray. The man says hello, I am Chef Cliff. Carter says it's nice to meet you. It smells delicious. They both laugh, and the chef rolls the cart into the room and says I'll come back for the cart when you get done. Chef Cliff says" Just hit the food button on the side table by the bed, and I'll come get it. As Chef Cliff walks back down the hallway, Carter rolls the cart to Laura's side of the bed. Another knock on the door startled Laura as she was grabbing her drink off the cart. Spilling it all over her and her sheets and all, she jumps up and sighs, saying" Oh, I'm so sorry." Carter says its okay. Come sit in this chair and I'll get us some new sheets and blankets. He helps her over to the chair. He walked to the door to see who knocked. It was Dr. Roy, who says hey, where is Laura? Carter looked behind him at the chair. Laura had vanished, the chair was empty and Dr. Roy looked worried. Carter says," Oh, she was just right here, maybe she is in the bathroom." Dr Roy says is there a window open? Carter looks around and sees a curtain blowing in the wind. Dr. Roy says oh no. she must be getting close to going in to labor. Cats usually like to go find a dark, secluded place to have babies, and I was worried her instinct kicked in. Her heart rate jumped high. Then, about ten minutes ago, it dropped out and I've been worried about her. We need to find her now!

Concerned, Carter says," well" what do we do? Where did she go? All of a sudden, Rosco runs in and says he has eyes on her and he knows where she is going. She used to go to this place every time she needed to think. Carter and Dr. Roy follows Rosco down the hall and through more sets of corridors, to a huge glass door. A huge back yard patio with a pool and hot tub to the side, a huge garden in front of them with trails and benches everywhere. Carter says wow, this is huge, she is out here and I see why! It is beautiful. I'd always be out here if I had grown up here. All of a sudden, Imba and Carissa come running out saying what's wrong? Dr. Roy says Laura's heart rate is not stable, and I have a belief that she is going into labor. Imba looked at Carter and said, where were you? Carter says I was there with her, but she snuck out when I got up to open the door for Dr. Roy. Imba, sighing, says, Oh, cats will do that. Carter panicked, says" Can we find her now? Rosco says yes, this way. They all follow Rosco into the garden park with a creek running through the middle of the park. After about ten minutes of walking, they came up to a huge cave by the creek. Rosco says everyone calms down and stay here. I am going to go see if she is here. Rosco walks over quietly to the cave and walks in. After a few minutes, a big beautiful brown and white cat, lion-like, ran from the cave and through the garden. Carter stands in shock, and says what was that? Imba, laughing, says that was your wife, running from Rosco. The cat stops and meows. Rosco comes out and says well, she is definitely scared. She is most likely not too far from giving birth with how she is acting. Dr. Roy says we need to get her to change back and get her to the operating room before she gives birth as a cat.

Carter was still stunned as they all ran after Laura. He stops for a minute and sings the song the two heard in the diner together. They see Laura's cat turn around and comes to Carter as he sits in the grass and sings. Laura purred and sat next to him. Everyone else decided to stop and back away from them for a moment. Carter finishes the song and says, Laura, if that's you, I just want you to know that I am scared too. This is going to be a life-changing thing. Can we please do this together? Let me be here for you as he reaches over and pets her. She lays down and purrs. He says" I love you", I just want you and her to be safe. Laura changed back and said, I love you Carter". I have no idea what happened. I sat in the chair and when you walked away I turned into my cat. I got scared and ran to an old safe place. Relieved, her family comes back over and helps her get up. As they stand up, she starts to scream in pain. Dr. Roy says something is wrong. Get her to my operating room immediately. Rosco, Imba and Carter grab her up and they all run back to the room. Dr. Roy gets the ultrasound machine back out. Laura lies on the table and moans in pain. Carter says, please, I can't see her like this. Could we give her something? Dr. Roy says" No, I have to see what's going on first" and he makes everyone leave the room. They all go next door to a room with a glass wall. They all watched as Dr. Roy looks at the ultrasound and says, oh, the baby is in distress. I have to get the baby out. Dr. Roy calls for his nurses. Rosco runs out and gets tools for Dr. Roy. The nurses come in and they all suit up in blue paper like material. Carter paces in front of the window. Imba says," Boy come here, we need to talk. Carter says, I'm sorry, I'm just worried about Laura. Imba says "I know, I just want to tell you that no matter what happens, that I can tell you my daughter loves you, and you love my daughter. I am very grateful that she found someone that is there for her. This will turn out OK, Dr. Roy is one of the best in the country. Calm down, because Laura will feed off of your energy. Calm down and be the support she needs through this. Carter takes a deep breath and says thank you, I'm trying. Imba looks at Carissa and says honey, you calm down too. We are her support system and we need to be fully prepared.

Dr. Roy closes a curtain around Laura's bed and about twenty minutes go by. They hear a cry from the room and hear the nurses talking, and around the curtain, out walks a young nurse carrying a beautiful baby girl, and walks over to Carter and says, meet your daughter. Carter looks at her and smiles. The feeling of happiness and joy overcame him. He sat down in a chair near by and the nurse handed the baby to Carter. Carter sat for about 30 minutes rocking her and then Carissa and Imba came over and looked at her in awe. Carissa says, can it be my turn now? They both laugh and Carter hands her to Carissa. Carter smiles and says, How is Laura? Looking at Imba. Imba says, Dr. Roy is still there, we are still waiting. Carter stands up and looks through the glass window. There was still a curtain up around Laura's bed. Carter, staring at the window and back at Carissa with his daughter, says we don't have a name for her. Do you have any suggestions? Imba and Carissa both say we love Willow. They all laugh and Carter says, well, I know what your choices are. Dr. Roy opens the curtain and walks over to the next room they are sitting in. Carter says, how is she, Doctor? Dr. Roy says she is okay. I had to do a C-Section because the baby was in distress. She will need to take it easy for the next few weeks. No picking up heavy things and no serious moving around. Carter, with a sigh of relief, says thank you so much Dr. Roy. Dr. Roy smiles and says, congratulations on your beautiful baby. She reminds me of when Carissa delivered Laura. She is beautiful. Carter smiles and says we couldn't have done it without you. Smiling, Dr. Roy says okay, we will keep a check on her throughout the night. You're welcome to go see her now. We need to do a couple of tests on the baby. We will come back in a few minutes to get her. Carter smiles and says, Carissa, may I have her back before she leaves? Carissa smiles and says, of course, She is your daughter. They smile, and Carter holds her. Carter walks over to Laura's bedside. Laura looks at the baby and tears up as she says she is so beautiful. Carter smiles and says, she looks just like you. The nurses come to get the baby, as Carter sits beside Laura and they smile at each other.

Later that evening, they roll Laura back to their room, where they now have a baby crib and a diaper changing station. Carter smiles and says this is such a nice surprise. Laura says we will need them for her. Carter helps Rosco and the nurses get Laura out of the hospital bed and into their bed. Laura says thank you all so much. They all smile at her and say, Congratulations. A knock at the door and it was Dr. Roy and the nurses. In rolls, a small crib sized cart. They say she is perfectly healthy, and all her tests came back completely normal. Carter smiles and says thank you all so much. As he walks over to the crib and sees her sleeping so peacefully. Laura says to Carter, do you have a name in mind? He laughs and says, I don't have one in mind, but your father and mother suggested "Willow". They laugh and Laura says honestly, I kinda love that name. Carter says I like the name as well. Laura smiles and says what about her middle name? Carter says, how about "Tonya"? That is my mother's name. Laura says I love it. Willow Tonya Thompson. They laugh and Laura says, did we just name our baby"? Carter laughs and says yes we did. Carter says speaking of my parents, I need to call them and tell them I'm married and have a baby. Laura laughs and says" well while Willow is sleeping, I am going to take a nap as well. Carter laughs and says OK! He goes and puts Willow beside them and he lays down as well.