Overcoming Circumstances by Belinda Slider-Baker (best book club books of all time txt) 📖

“Ian, all I ever wanted was to belong.  Granny raised me the best she could.  Did you know she died in October?  I miss her so much.  The only positive that came out of her dying was getting pregnant for Braelyn.”  

“I know she died, Blythe.  I also know you are a very successful architect here in Lexington.  You designed some outstanding skyscrapers.  I know Granny lived in your cottage.  I have kept tabs on you.  I do love you.  I love you more than you will ever know.”  Ian said very calmly.  

“Thank you for saving my life, Ian.  We can talk more later.  I just want to see my baby.”  

“Okay, Blythe, that sounds great.” 

Maris came walking into the room.  I tried to get up too fast and almost fell forward.  Ian was there to help me.  At first I wasn’t going to let him help me, but I did.  I then asked Thane to come over for a moment.  

“Thane, will you ask someone if they can take the catheter out? It is really bothering me.”  

“Yes, honey, I will go out and talk to the nurse.”  

“Thank you.”

Maris said I would be allowed to go down to ICU and hold Braelyn.  She said a nurse would be here shortly with a wheelchair.  

“Thanks.” 

“Welcome.”

“Maris, where is Coor?”  

“He had to go back to Ohio, but he will be back soon.”  She said,  

“What happened with that whole mess?  Did Thane and Coor get along while I was in a coma?”  

“It is complicated, Bly.”  

“Damnit Maris, it can’t be complicated.  Did Coor hold Braelyn?”  

“No, he didn’t hold Braelyn, but he signed the papers to be her father, but it won’t be official until you sign them.  He didn’t like the fact that Thane was the one who ended up being the one to donate the blood for Braelyn’s transfusion.  They sort of got into a fight about that.  Thane and you have the same blood type.  Thane said you would want him to save Braelyn first.  He knew with her being early she needed the blood first.  Coor disagreed with him.  He said that you were more important.  If he had to choose, you would have got the blood first.”  

Maris said with a very concerned look on her face.  

“How could he do this to me, Maris?  He would sacrifice Braelyn’s life like that.  What was he thinking?”  

“He wasn’t thinking, Bly, that was the problem.”  She said,  

I was livid.  

“So, the hell with a baby, he didn’t want children anyway.  What if I can’t have any more children?  He could have taken the only child I could ever have away from me if he would have made the decision.  By the way, who made the decision?”  

“I did.  You have me down as your next of kin.  I knew what you would want.”  

“Thank you Maris, thank you for making sure Braelyn lived.”  

“You never have to thank me, Bly.  I love you and Braelyn.”  

“I love you too.  Maris, I want Thane to be Braelyn’s father.  He deserves to be.  He has been with me the entire time.  What in the hell am I going to do?”  

“You are going to get in a wheelchair.  Then, you are going to go hold your baby girl.  We can figure out the rest later.  I am just glad you are awake…alive!”

As soon as I got to the ICU and saw Braelyn’s little body lying in the incubator, my heart stopped.  I can’t believe she is here and that small.  I am so scared I will hurt her.  I go into a small room.  The nurse hands me Braelyn.  I am rocking and talking to you.  It feels so right to have her in my arms.  I asked the nurse if I could breastfeed her.  She said I could try.  They made sure not to give me any medications that could affect her if I wanted to try.  I slowly move Braelyn to my breast.  She won’t latch on to my breast.  The nurse comes over and shows me what to do.  Braelyn finally latches on and starts breastfeeding.  It is the most wonderful feeling.  As I look up, Thane is standing in the doorway of the small room I am in.  I wave for him to come in.  The nurse said he was allowed to come in.  He walks over to me and kisses me.  He doesn’t even care that I am breastfeeding Braelyn.  I knew then and there that Thane loved us both, unconditionally.  As Braelyn was eating, Thane was running his hand over her hair.  She didn’t have much, but she had some fine blonde hair.  The minute Thane started talking; Braelyn stopped sucking and tried to move her head.  I truly think she recognized his voice.  I told Thane to sit down beside me in the other chair.  He sat down and grabbed her tiny little fingers.  It was a precious moment.  I didn’t want to leave this moment.  I wanted this moment to be embedded in my mind forever.  The nurse came back in and said Braelyn needed to go back into the incubator for a little bit.  She would come get me later.  

Thane started to wheel me back to my room, but I asked him to stop in a small little area right before the nurses’ station.  

“Thane, thank you for saving Braelyn’s life.  Maris said that you knew what I would have wanted too.  I am so glad she had the say.  If Coor would have had his way, Braelyn might not be here with us.  How could he do that, Thane, how?”

“Bly, I have no idea.  I know how much you love her.  I knew we could find a donor sooner or later for you.  She was just so tiny. I am glad Marisa could come.  My private jet was being prepared right after I hung up my cell phone with Marisa.  I just knew you would want her here, and she would want to be here.  I do what I do for you, Bly, because I love you and Braelyn.  I don’t care about anyone else.  I did meet your dad.  I know you have some major issues with him.  I will never take his side over yours, ever.  I am here for you.  If you need my support with him, you got it.  If you want me to tell him to leave, I will.  You tell me what you want and need, and I will make it happen to the best of my ability.  As for Cooryn, I don’t know what his plans are for Braelyn.  He hasn’t really said what he wants.  I am sorry, but I need to tell you this before he does.  I did tell him that I love you.  I will fight for you, Bly.  I will not let him just come in here and take you and Braelyn away without a fight.”

“I love you, Thane.  I don’t know what Coor wants either.  I guess sooner or later I will find out.  As for now, let’s just go on with our lives.”  

“It sounds like a plan to me, Bly.”

Braelyn and I stayed in the hospital for another week.  Marisa went back to Michigan a few days ago.  While I was sitting on my hospital bed waiting to sign our discharged papers, Coor walked in my room.  

“Hi Bly, I came to take you and Braelyn to your house.”  

“I am not going to my house, Coor.  Thane is going to have a nurse stay with us at his house for a while.” 

“No, Bly, I am going to stay with you at your house for a while.  I will help you with Braelyn.”  

“Coor, why are you doing this?  You made it perfectly clear your whole life and a few months ago you never wanted children.  You are turning my life upside down.”  

“Please Bly, just do this for me, don’t make this come down to a legal battle.”  

“Don’t even start legal shit with me, Coor.  I need to talk to Thane.”  

Thane walks into my room.  

“Coor wants to stay with me at my house and help take care of Braelyn for a while.  I tried to talk him out of it, but he said ‘don’t make this come down to a legal battle’.”  

“You have got to be kidding me, Blythe, why would he do this to you now?”  

“I don’t know Thane, but I have to do this.  I want you to come over and see Braelyn and me whenever you can.  Okay?”  

“I don’t like this at all, Blythe, but you need to do what you have to do.  I will come and see you and Braelyn.”  

Thane had tears in his eyes.  I was crying.  I knew this was going to take a toll on us.  I knew how hurt he was.   My dad went back home, but has been calling and texting everyday.  He said he would be back to see me soon.

Well, Coor has been here with us for two weeks now.  Braelyn is getting bigger everyday.  Coor doesn’t do diapers or late nights.  Imagine that.  He wants all of the fun stuff.  Well, one evening he seemed to be getting cabin fever.  It is in the middle of summer, and he is getting stir crazy.  Thane is only coming over a few times a week for a couple of hours.  We do talk on the phone everyday though.  I can tell he is upset with me and the situation.  He won’t push though.  I am scared I might be losing him.  I have asked him several times to come over and eat dinner with me, but he says he has a meeting or something to do.  When I called his office, his secretary, Jill, said he wasn’t there.  Every time I called his cell phone he would pick up, but lately it goes to voicemail.  Finally, I got him to pick me up.  

“Hey, what are you doing, Thane?”  

“Nothing much, just sitting at the pub with some friends.”  

“I hope you are having a nice time.”  

“Yeah, I am.” 

I then hear voices in the background.  I hear a couple of men and some women’s voices.  

“Sorry to interrupt your date, Thane.  I will let you go.”  

I hurry up and hang up.  Thane calls right back.  

“Bly, I am not on a date.  I am out with friends.”  

“You know what Thane, I get it.  I hurt you.  I am trying to do what is best for Braelyn.  I don’t want Coor to try and take my little girl from me for one day.  I was hoping he would get bored.  Realize this isn't life for him.  I know he is getting restless. I know Coor.  I know him all too well.  He won’t be sticking around.  That is okay though.  I am quite capable of taking care of Braelyn.  You have fun with your friends.  I just want you to be honest with me.  How many guys and how many girls are there out with you?”  

“Bly, don’t do this.  I still care about you and Braelyn.  I just can’t get attached.  There are 3 guys and 3 girls.”  

“I told you a long time ago I would never be with Coor.  He is my best friend.  I am making him see that this isn’t the life for him.  But, I guess what you have been telling me for months doesn’t matter either.  It seems nobody keeps their word anymore.  I can’t sit and argue.  I am tired.  I am barely sleeping and eating.  I am so tired damnit.  Have fun on your date, I hope you are happy.  I hope you do find a special woman who won’t hurt you like I guess I have.  Bye.” 

I hung up and turned the ringer off.  While I am feeding Braelyn, Coor comes up to me and says he is going to go out for a little bit.   I don’t even say anything.   He leaves.  At about 2am, Braelyn is awake and wanting to be fed.  As I am rocking her, I hear Coor’s car pull up.  I hear