The Misunderstood

Loving Husband

Carlton's POV

He lit his last cigarette and threw the crushed, empty pack into the trash can. His back hurt and he was tired. It had been a long day. His stomach growled. Having worked through his lunch again, he was starving. Something that was becoming all to common lately. He was short staffed. It was hard to keep good help. As he put away his tools and locked the bay doors he thought of the supper waiting for him at home. Miranda was a good cook. She was an amazing woman. Kept a clean house and never once complained about any chore. She loved him and their son. No matter how busy she was she would drop everything and help him at the shop. Whether it was something mechanical, or changing semi tires, or doing paper work in the office. He was very proud of his wife. He couldn't imagine life without her.

He went out through the office, setting the alarm and locking the door. It was already dark out. The time had changed recently and he was still getting used to it getting dark early. It was cooler too. At almost forty years old he already ached like a much older man. Arthritis riddled the bones in his hands. He had limited use of his right shoulder. The result of a wreck. The joint had been destroyed. The major nerves severed. Several doctors had all told him the same thing. There was nothing they could do to fix it. Nothing but a shoulder replacement. But they wouldn't consider that surgery until he was at least fifty-five years old. As the replacement joint was only good for about 15 years. And no amount of surgery would ever repair the nerve damage. So replacing the joint wouldn't improve function and mobility. So he just hurt every day.

He had worked hard all of his life. But he never complained, he has a family that depends on him. And he is proud to provide for them. He threw the tool bag into the seat of his work truck and walked around to the back of it. After checking to be sure that the lift gate was latched and the tool boxes locked up on the sides, he jumped inside and fired it up. With one last glance around the parking lot he thought to himself with a big grin, "Supper's waiting at home and I got to get to it!"

Miranda's POV

As Miranda was setting the table her mind was filled with thoughts of her son. She loved him more than life itself and she was very worried for him. She was flooded with memories of his childhood. And then she thought of her pregnancy. She had all but given up on ever having a child of her own. Having experienced three miscarriages before. After the last miscarriage Carlton had told her that he loved her and that it was going to be ok.

She had cried and told him she loved him too. But she had always dreamed of being a mother. She wanted four children of her own. Miranda had always believed that four was just right. As she was one of three siblings. Her sister and brother had always stuck together and excluded her. So she thought two children were too few and three wasn't enough to ensure someone wasnt left out.

She felt like she had failed as a woman and worse than that she felt that she had failed her husband. And that broke her heart the most. He was an amazing man. She new he would be an awsome father. Miranda told Carlton that she couldn't bare him being robbed of the opportunity to father a child of his own. She had even tried to let him go. As much as it killed her to think of him moving on. She loved him too much to be the reason something that wonderful was missing from his life. He responded by taking her into his arms and kissing her passionately. There was so much love in his embrace. When his lips left hers he looked deep into her amber eyes and told her that he loved her. That without her he couldn't live this life. And that he was ok with just the two of them forever. She completely fell apart at that point. She had allowd him to hold her for God knows how long. She cried until there were no more tears to cry and then she had fallen asleep in his arms.

Months later she found out that she was pregnant again. This time there was no excitement. This time she only felt fear. At her second appointment the doctor discovered that her belly was measuring almost double the size it should have for a woman only eleven weeks along. So he ordered an ultrasound to be done. To everyone's amazement there on the monitor were two fetuses!! Twins! She was pregnant with twins! Two healthy little heartbeats sounded in unison. Two perfect little babies were growing in her womb! She and Carlton were so happy and shocked at the news. Neither of them had twins in their families. This was totally not expected! The next few days Miranda felt as though she were walking on clouds. And Carlton was so loving with her.

A few weeks later it happened. Miranda woke up and went to the bathroom. She was bleeding. Her heart skipped a beat and then began to race as the panic washed over her. She screamed for Carlton, who flew from the bed and raced to the bathroom. He knew without asking as soon as he entered the bathroom. He looked her in the eye and saw the terror and heartbreak. Immediately, he turned and ran back into there room. Gathering his keys and wallet he slid a pair of flip flops on to his bare feet. Then sprinted back to Miranda who was standing now in the bathroom, staring straight ahead, seemingly right through the bathroom wall. She was white as a sheet and her whole body was trembling. Carlton scooped her up bridal style and carried her to the car outside. The streets and buildings were a blur. Miranda had barely registered that Carlton was speaking to her the whole way. She had gone numb. Her mind and heart unable to handle what was happening.

Later at the hospital the doctors examined Miranda. They did bloodwork and an ultrasound. Carlton stayed at her side, holding her hand through it all. Their hearts broke at the news. The doctor told her that she had lost one of the twins. The placenta had torn partially away from her uterine wall. And the remaining twin was struggling. She was put on bedrest for the remainder of her pregnancy. At thirty two weeks she had been hospitalized because she suffered from eclampsia. Her legs and face were swollen with fluid and her blood pressure was through the roof. She had to be induced. The induction was scheduled for the following morning at 5 am.

Miranda nor Carlton were able sleep that night. The nurses came at 4:30 am and took them to the labor and delivery room. By 5 am the IV was dripping and the monitors were beeping. There was a lot of activity in the room with nurses coming and going. But Miranda felt lost and alone. She had tried so hard for this baby to be born safe. She rested, staying in bed with her feet up. It had been hard but she had stayed in that bed. Day in and day out. She spent her time praying for her baby. Praying that her body could hold onto him long enough that he could survive in this world. She had taken her vitamins and made sure to make the healthiest choices when it came to food. But no matter, she still ended up with eclampsia and being hospitalized. Now her labor was being induced. She doubted she would be any better at being his mother if he survived all this. Her mind had been filled with all kinds of fears and doubts.

Through it all Carlton had stayed by her side. He had spent every spare moment he had with her. Lovingly reassuring her that it was all going to be alright. He had been amazing. Somehow, he managed to keep house, cook, and keep his business afloat. Miranda and Carlton grew closer. Their relationship stronger than ever. She never knew she could love a man so much. He truly was her rock, her everything.

Miranda labored all day. The nurses and midwife tended her. After 12 hours Miranda was exhausted. She was getting weaker and weaker. The midwife stepped out of the room. Miranda didn't notice. She was slipping in and out of conciousness. Carlton and the nurse kept calling out to her, occasionally patting her face. They encouraged her to stay awake, to stay focused. The doctor had come in. Miranda barely aware of his presence. The doctor took one look at the monitors and demanded that the nurses and midwife prep Miranda immediately for surgery.

The next thing Miranda knew, she was in an operating room. Carlton barely had enough time to get his scrubs on and join her. The doctor worked fast. Within minutes of entering the operating room Miranda heard the most wonderful noise her ears had ever heard! Her baby was alive. Her baby was crying. Tears fell from her eyes as she looked up at Carlton. Then everything went black.

She woke up in the recovery room a couple hours later. Carlton still by her side. Grinning ear to ear. He hugged her and showered her with kisses. She had done it. She nearly died doing it. But she and her son had survived.

"Mom" the sound of Levi's voice brought her back to her current reality. There were tears in her eyes as she answered him, "In the kitchen son." As the boy walked in she met him with a loving smile.