The ‘den’ Triplets
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2010 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 1

The Arrival

It was 11:oo on the night of December 31 that Jill decided that we needed to go to the hospital.  Her water had broken and she was having contractions.  She looked at me, “Mike, call your Mother and tell her that we’re heading for the hospital and get the suitcase that I have already packed.  We need to go to the hospital now!”

I pulled out my cell phone and punched in Mom’s number as I was going for the Jill’s suitcase.  “Mom, Jill is going into labor.  We’re leaving for the hospital now.”

When we arrived at the hospital, I drove to the Emergency Room entrance.  Jill was complaining, “Michael, move or the babies are to be born in the car.”

I helped Jill into the Emergency Room, and immediately there was an attendant there to help us.  I went to move the car which was still running.  I parked and hurried back to the Emergency Room.  The admitting clerk looked at me, “Mr. Naylor, Dr. Naylor is with your wife.  Your wife is going to be just fine.  We need for you to fill out these forms and then we‘ll have someone take you to the delivery room.”

I was in the delivery room just before midnight.  I was holding Jill’s hand when Aiden popped out at 12:00:15.  My Mom, Dr. Linda Naylor handed him to me,  “Here, hold him, we still have work to do.”

Jaden arrived at exactly 12:03.  Now I had my other arm full while my Mom the Doctor and the nurse went to work.  Kaden decided to be a little obstinate and didn’t arrive until

12:10.  Mom handed the latest arrival to Jill.  The male nurse who was assisting asked, “I need to know the names of the three handsome gentlemen so Doctor Naylor can sign their birth certificates.”

Jill looked at the nurse.  “We’ll name them in A.B.C. order.  The first son will be Aiden, the second will be Jaden and the third will be Kaden.”

Jill had no more than said that than the machine that was monitoring her blood pressure stopped blipping.

The male nurse took Kaden from Jill’s arm.  “Mr. Naylor, follow me, we need to get these handsome young men to the nursery.  They are going to need to be taken care of.”

When we arrived at the nursery we were greeted by the attendant.  She looked at me, “Sir what are the babies names.  I handed her Aiden, the first born, “This is Aiden S. Naylor.”

When I handed the other boy to her, I announced, “This is Jaden J. Naylor.”

I pointed to the son who the nurse had, “That’s Kaden E. Naylor.”

When we got back to the delivery room, Mom came and hugged me.  “Michael, Jill is gone.  There will need to be an autopsy to determine the cause of death.  I think you need to call Jill’s parents and tell them what has happened.”

I pulled out my cell phone again thinking, ‘What kind of New Year is this going to be.  I’ve just been on the roller coaster ride of my life.  First, I had three new sons and then my beloved wife had been wrenched from us.’

I wanted to scream.  When Dad Majors answered the phone I knew he had been in bed.  “Dad, this is Mike, Jill just delivered your three new grandsons.  Something happened and she died.  They are going to be doing an autopsy to find out the cause. .. Okay Dad, I’ll keep you informed.”

I wanted to cry, “Mom, what am I going to do?  I can’t take care of three infants and still support them.  I won’t be able to work from home like some people.  Courtrooms don’t come to peoples’ homes.”

Mom hugged me, “Son, now you know how I felt when your Father died.  We made it and you turned out just fine.  The only difference is that you have triple the pleasure.”

Mom looked at the male nurse, “Todd, do you know anyone who would be willing to stay with the boys while their Daddy, who is my son, works to support them?”

I was surprised by the answer, “Doctor Naylor, I might be interested.  My roommate just moved out and I’m not going to be able to afford the rent.  Besides I’m fed up with this hospital.  They think just because I’m gay that I should be the person to work all of the crappy shifts.  I think they’re just looking for ways to get rid of me.”

Mom looked at Todd, “Todd, this institution has a policy against discrimination.”

Todd was ready, “I know, Doctor Naylor, but the people who work here don’t all adhere to that policy.  You wouldn’t believe some of the things that go on.  You don’t see many black Americans working here in professional positions, do you?  Oh yeah, there are some who work in menial jobs but even they are few.”

I interrupted, “People, I have just lost my wife.  What does discrimination have to do with that?  I need to find a way to take care of my sons.”

I just realized that I hadn’t told you who I was.  My name is Michael William Naylor and I am thirty three years old.  I am about six feet tall and weigh about 175 pounds when I’m wet.  I have dishwater blond hair and blue eyes.  I’m an attorney and have been very successful.

Jill and I had been married for eight years before she was able to get pregnant, and that was only after she had taken fertility medication.  When we found out that she was pregnant, we were ecstatic.  When she went to see my mom who was an obstetrician, she detected multi heart beats.  The ultra sound showed that we were going to be the parents of three boys.

Jill didn’t waste any time.  She decorated the guest bedroom in blue with clowns and balloons.  We had three cribs and two layettes so we could change two of the boys at the same time.  Our parents were out of sight because we were both only children so they sent so many neat things that there wasn’t going to any room for the three expected arrivals to sleep.

Back to the story, enough of this boring background about me.

Mother started, “Michael, why don’t you hire Todd to stay with your boys while you are at work during the day.  He could always work here at night if he wanted to.  I can always come and stay with them in the evenings unless I get a call like I did at midnight tonight.”

Mom wasn’t finished, “You have an extra bedroom, so he could spend the nights there to save money for room and think of the money he would save on gas.”

Todd started to laugh, “Doctor Naylor, aren’t you afraid that I would try to convince your grandsons to be gay.”

Mother started to laugh, “Todd, honey, you don’t convince someone they’re gay.  They either are or they aren’t.”

Mom turned to me, “Mike, go home and get some sleep.  You are going to have a busy couple of days.  You will need to make the arrangements for the services for Jill after the coroner has released her body.”

On my way out of the hospital, I stopped to look through the nursery window at the three boys who lined up against the window.  I was standing there just watching them sleeping when I felt a hand around my shoulders, “Mr. Naylor, your Mother told you to go home and get some sleep.”

I turned and looked at this Todd person, “Yep, my Mom can be a very bossy person.  Todd, this has been one hell of a night for me.”

I was completely unprepared for what happened next.  Todd put his arms around me and hugged me and whispered, “Mr. Naylor, your wife and you produced three beautiful boys.  God must have needed your wife for something, so be the best Daddy you can.”

I looked at Todd, “Todd, I’ll do the best I can, but it’s going to be difficult.  I know Mom and my in-laws will help.  I need to think how I can make it work.”

“Goodnight, I’m mentally and physically exhausted.  I'll come back in the morning to check on the boys.  When do you think they will be able to go home?”

Todd laughed, “Don’t ask me, check with your Mother.  I’m only a nurse.”

When I got home, I just dropped my clothes and crawled into bed.  My mind was going a 100 miles per minute.  ‘Why hadn’t someone picked up that Jill had a problem?  What was I going to do with the boys while I was working?  Why did Todd put his arms around me like he did?  Why does Mom think Todd should come to work for me?’

I woke up the next morning thinking, ‘I hate God and the world.  They had dealt me a completely losing hand.  All I have left to live for are the three boys.  With my luck, something will happen to one or all of them.’

I was shaken out of my self pity by the sound of the phone, “This is the Naylor residence.”

I recognized my Mother’s voice, “This is the other Naylor residence.  The coroner’s office has examined Jill’s body and they can find no cause for her death.  Apparently God felt it was time for her to come to him.   Call Todd and see if he would be willing to be the boys’ nanny while you are working.  They should be ready to come home tomorrow.”

I looked at the phone, “Mom, couldn’t you possibly pack some more information and commands into one phone call?”

“Look Michael, I'm just getting started.  Aiden, Jaden and Kaden are the only three grandchildren I’ll probably ever have and I intend to see that they only have the best.  Call the mortuary and make arrangements for them to pick up Jill’s body and call the pastors and tell them what happened.  The sooner you get on with the rest of your life, the better we’ll all be.”

You have to give my Mother credit.  She sure doesn’t waste words.

With my marching orders in hand, I called the mortuary and the pastor’s and made arrangements to have a celebration of Jill’s life on the fourth.  Jill and I had decided that we wanted to be cremated, but that we would like to have a small burial plot so that our children could remember us if they chose to do so.

I called Mother back, “Mom, I have no idea how to get in touch with this Todd person.  I don’t even know his last name.”

I could tell that Mom was getting frustrated, “Look, Michael, I’m not your slave. I don’t know Todd’s last name either.  I’ll call the hospital and see if I can get the information on him.”

Mother called back after a half hour.  “Mike, Todd’s last name is Stodola.  His phone number is 592-7722.  Now don’t bother me.  I need my beauty sleep.”

I had to have the last word, “Yeah, it will probably take at least a hundred years to see any improvement.”

My mother just hung up on that comment.  I called the number that Mother had given me, and a sleepy voice answered, “This is Stodola.”

“Hey Todd, this is Mike Naylor.  I thought I would call you at my Mom’s insistence to see if you would be willing to come and live with us and take care of the boys?”

Todd was quiet for a minute, “You mean you would still have me live in the same house with you and your sons even though I told you I was gay?”

“Todd, my sons are too young to be involved in sex and I can always lock my bedroom door to keep you out if necessary.  Seriously, I am going to need all the expert help I can get in order to rear the boys.”

Todd started to laugh, “Look Mike, where do you live?  I don’t have a car.  Is there a bus that comes near your house?  I would like to see what I might be getting myself into, if I came to live with you and your three sons before I commit myself to anything.”

This definitely wasn’t turning out to be my morning.  “Todd, we live at 700 N. Beadle Street.  If you need a ride, I can come pick you up.”

Todd started to laugh again, “Forget it Mikey, I can be there before you can even get your car started.  I live in the apartments on Janesview.”

The phone went dead and I wasn’t so sure about hiring this person anymore.  He certainly was cheeky.  I put on some clothes so that I would be presentable when and if he arrived.  I was zipping the fly on my slacks when the doorbell rang.”

Todd was standing there, “Gees, I was hoping I would catch you in a more interesting attire.  Okay, Mr. Mike, where would I be sleeping if I came to take care of the boys?  How many hours a day would I be working and what would my other responsibilities be?”

I looked at Todd, “What is it about all of you medical people.  Don’t you know how to ask one question at a time?  You’re even worse than my Mother.”

Todd laughed, “Look Michael, we medical people can’t help it if our minds work at the  speed of sound and the rest of you mortals think at the pace of a snail.”

This was unreal.  My wife had just died and I had three infant sons that I needed to take care of.   Why was I wasting my time bantering with this guy?

I showed Todd around the house.  I showed him the nursery and the adjacent room that he could call his space if he would chose to move in. 

Todd had some more questions, “Mr. Naylor, where will you be sleeping?  Are you saying that if the boys wake up at night that I am going to need to take care of them?  What are our eating arrangements going to be?  Are you saying that we will need to fend for ourselves?”

I couldn’t handle anymore, “Todd, look, I just lost my wife and am now the father of three brand new infant sons.  I apologize but I haven’t had time to process what is going to happen fully.  I will understand if you don’t want the position, but my Mother recommended that I speak with you, for some reason.”

Todd nodded, “Mike, I am the one who should apologize to you.  I have been coming on a little strong.  Why don’t you go check on your sons.  If you’re still interested in me taking care of the boys, call me.  I will understand if you don’t call me.”

Todd left and I felt like a heel, but I had too many things on my mind.  I went to the hospital and held the boys and the nurse said I could take them home in the morning.  I can’t take them to the celebration service of Jill’s life with me.  They’re too young.

I called Jill’s parents and told them of the arrangements.  Fortunately they didn’t live that far away so they would be able to attend the service and they were going to call Jill’s other relatives. I called my aunt and Uncle and told them what had happened and they were going to notify the other relatives of the plans.

I checked the boys at the hospital one more time before I decided to finally eat something.  When I got home I decided to eat a can of ravioli that we had. I just didn’t feel like cooking.  I had just opened the can and was pouring the contents into a sauce pan when the phone rang.

I picked up the phone and identified myself.  “Mr. Naylor, Dr. Naylor has released the boys.  You can come pick them up and take them home.”

I looked at the clock, ‘Why is Mom doing this to me?’

I turned off the stove and went to get into the car.  ‘Where are Mother and Todd when I need them?’ 

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: How does E Walk do it?  I already like Michael. And Todd is adorable. I can hardly wait to see what will happen next.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 08/20/10