Serendipitous Chapter 18 C

Tyler and Rebeka met 119 days ago. (I put this here because I only post once a week or twice a week, so it seems much longer. This will NOT be in my manuscript.)

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Tyler slipped his arm around Rebeka's waist. "You're getting tired. I'll help you back into bed." He checked his watch. "It's almost time for Jakob's next feeding."

As he said that, a nurse stood at her door. "Excuse me, but only the parents can be present when the baby is in the room."

Christina, Elizabeth, and Lily gave Rebeka a hug and told her they'd return tomorrow afternoon.



TODAY'S POST:

Chapter 18 C
Jakob is about 11 hours old

With Jakob in the room, Tyler stared out the window while Rebeka prepared to feed him. Once Beka was settled and ready to nurse Jakob, she said, "Ty, we're ready."

He turned and grinned as he walked to the bed. "Looks like you're becoming a pro with this nursing."

"I doubt that. Jakob makes it easy. He's eager to eat."

"That's a good sign." Tyler checked his ringing phone. "It's Roger. I'm sure they're curious how things are going."

Tyler answered and Amber and Roger both spoke with Rebeka and Tyler. When it was time for Jakob to switch sides, Tyler took the phone into the hallway and closed the door.

"Are you still coming Saturday?" asked Tyler. When Roger said 'yes', Tyler continued, "Why don't you come by the hospital first? You can see our baby. Beka probably won't leave until after the late afternoon feeding."

Those plans were agreed to, and they hung up.

Tyler knocked on the door. "Is it safe to enter?"

"It is. Jakob's finished." Rebeka sat on the bed cuddling him. "I can't believe this precious baby is ours," she started to correct it to, "is mine."

"Shh, he's ours." Tyler sat beside her. "He's melted my heart."

"Thank you."

Both heads turned as a nurse came to return Jakob to NICU.

Once the nurse left, Heather entered and examined Rebeka. "You're doing great. You need to walk but also rest when you feel like you should. She glanced at her watch. "Remember, less than twelve hours ago, you delivered a baby."

As they visited, Rebeka slowly drifted off to sleep. Tyler and Heather walked down to NICU and visited Jakob.

*****
Rebeka woke up just before dinner. After they ate, Tyler took their trays down the hall. When he returned, he stood in the doorway and watched Rebeka stare out the window. "Buttercup, has your hero gotten himself in trouble again?"

She turned and smiled. "No, he's doing great."

"Have you finished the novel?"

"All but the last scene. I can't decide if they're going their separate ways or remaining together."

"If they go their separate ways, can you do a sequel and bring them back together permanently?"

"Ty, are you a secret romantic?"

He stood behind, put his arms around her, and clasped his hands in front. "Maybe? Is that a bad thing?"

"It's not." Rebeka leaned back a little, resting the back of her head against his muscular chest. "You're comfortable. My safe place."

"Is that good?"

"To me it is."

Tyler started humming 'Keeper of the Stars'. When he stopped, he said, "I feel there's something on your mind we need to discuss."

Rebeka turned and leaned into him. "Maybe."

He took her hand as they walked toward the bed. Tyler glanced around. "Where do you want me?"

Rebeka crawled into bed and then patted it. "How about right here?"

Tyler sat and watched Rebeka. "Your eyes tell me this is serious." He took her hand in his. "What's on your mind?"

Almost in a whisper she said, "My blood pressure is almost back to normal."

"You're correct. I'm happy about that."

Rebeka nodded. "It is good."

"Is there something about it that bothers you?"

"Not really." She swallowed.

"I sense a 'but'." Tyler waited for her to respond, when she didn't, he continued, "Maybe we need to discuss what's on your mind." He raised her hand and his lips caressed it.

She studied her recently kissed hand and swallowed. "There's no reason for you to stay with me tonight. You can even go home."

He tilted his head. "Buttercup, I'm not following. Can you explain a little more?"

"My blood pressure's almost normal, Jakob's doing well, so your presence isn't needed. You can go home," she whispered, "if you want?"

A grin crossed his lips. "What if I don't want to leave? Would that be okay?"

Rebeka swallowed. "It'd be fine." Her eyes averted to the recliner.

"I'd miss not holding you while I sleep."

"Really?" Her cheeks tinged pink.

Tyler slipped his arms around her. "I'm hoping you'd miss not being held."

"I would," whispered Rebeka.

"Good. How about our sleeping arrangements remain the same?"

Before Rebeka could answer a nurse brought Jakob in for his ten o'clock feeding.

As she turned to leave, Tyler followed her out. "Beka, I'll be right back. I have a few questions." He asked the nurse, "Will the baby be brought in every two hours during the night?"

"Close to it. Whenever he indicates he's hungry. He sets his own eating schedule."

Rebeka couldn't hear the rest of the conversation as she prepared to feed Jakob.

*****
Tyler knocked before he entered. When he walked in, Rebeka glanced up. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes. I wanted to check on a few things. Is it all right if they don't bring Jakob in for his two a.m. feeding? I feel you need sleep."

"Do you think that's best?"

"I do, but you're his mom."

"I'll defer to your medical experience."

He sat beside them on the bed. "Thank you." He touched Jakob's little feet sticking out from under the blanket. "It's hard to believe how little he is, isn't it?"

"It is. Did you see Lily when she was a newborn?"

"I did. I held her right after Lori finished feeding her, and she spit up all over me. That was Missy's introduction to me."

"What did you do?" Rebeka laughed.

"Laughed it off. I think being a doctor it didn't really phase me."

"Probably." She glanced down at Jakob. "I think he's ready to switch sides."

"Should I leave the room, or can I check out the stars?"

"Check the stars."

*****
The nurse came in to take Jakob back to NICU. When she left, Tyler said, "Buttercup, I know you're tired. Why don't you go on to bed?"

"I'm already in bed."

He chuckled. "You're right. You know what I meant."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm tired myself. I'll probably join you. Okay?"

"It is." She rolled onto her side.

Before long Tyler cuddled in beside her.

Rebeka felt Tyler's arm go around her. "I probably shouldn't get used to us sharing a bed."

"Why? We've done it for months."

"When Jakob comes home, I'll have to feed him during the night. We'll wake you. You'll have to go to work the following morning and will need your sleep."

"Buttercup, that's a few weeks away. We don't need to worry about it now. Besides, I'm used to getting by on only a few hours of sleep. Get some sleep. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

~~~~~
Rebeka Miller - our heroine, she's twenty -two, a romance award winning author, extremely old fashioned

Dr. Tyler Butler - 'Ty' an ER doctor, raising his niece, Lily.

Jakob Tyler Butler - Rebeka's baby from a forced pregnancy.

Richard Stuart - Rebeka's agent and rich spoilt brat, a not nice person

Amber Wilson - Rebeka's personal assistant and best friend

Peter Dawson - Tyler's friend and part-time ranch hand

Elizabeth - 'Aunt Beth', helping raise Lily and helped raise Tyler after parents died

Christina - Elizabeth's close friend

Lily - 'Missy', Tyler's niece, 5 years old

Lori - Tyler's deceased sister and mother of Lily

Zeke - Golden Retriever mix, family dog

Roger Whitmore - a lawyer and Tyler's best friend

Dr. Heather Sharp - OB/GYN and Tyler's childhood friend

Ruth and Elijah Miller - Rebeka's parents