Doctor Spellman adopted and raised his sisterâs triplets after she passed away during childbirth. But five years later, his life was turned upside down when the tripletsâ bio father showed up to reclaim the children.
âBreathe, breathe. Itâs all going to be okay,â Thomas gently told his sister, marching alongside her while she was being carried to the operation room on a gurney.
Leahâs sweaty brows furrowed as she tried to take a deep breath. âYouâre⌠Youâre the best older brother I could ask God for, Thomas,â she whispered as they entered the OR.
and the doctors had suggested performing a C-section. But soon after delivering the first baby, Leahâs pulse began dropping, and her condition worsenedâŚ
Thomas cried, his palms wrapped around his sisterâs hand.
âDoctor Spellman, you need to leave, please,â Dr. Nichols said, escorting him outside. Then the doors of the OR were slammed shut.
Thomas sank onto one of the chairs in the waiting area, his tears not stopping. He could still smell his sisterâs scent on his palms. He buried his face in his hands, hoping it would all be fine soon.
But when a doctorâs voice snapped him out of his thoughts, he could tell something was not right. âDoctorâŚhowâŚhowâs Leah?â he asked, jumping to his feet.
âWeâre sorry, Thomas,â Dr. Nichols said remorsefully. âWe tried our best, but we couldnât stop the bleeding. The children are safe and have been placed in the NICU.â
Thomas sank back onto the chair, unable to process the news of his sisterâs death. Leah had been so excited to hold her little angels, cradle them, and give them only the best. How could God be so cruel and take her away so soon?
What am I going to do now?â Thomas thought disappointedly when a voice boomed in the hallway. âWhere the hell is she?! She thought she could deliver the kids, and I wouldnât know?â
Thomasâs rage knew no bounds when he saw his sisterâs ex-boyfriend, Joe, storming into the hospital. âWhere is your sister?â Joe growled.
Thomas grabbed the manâs collar and pinned him to the wall. âNow youâre interested in where she is, huh? Where were you when she spent a night on the streets because of a lowlife like you? And where were you, Joe, when she collapsed four hours ago? Sheâs dead! My sisterâŚshe didnât even survive to see her kids!â
âWhere are my children? I want to see them!â Joe screamed, yanking away Thomasâs arms.
âDonât you even dare talk about them, Joe! Get out of my hospital, or I will call security!â Thomas warned him. âOUT!â
âIâm leaving now, but Iâm going to get my children back, Thomas! You canât take them away from me,â Joe shot back as he disappeared away from the hallway.
For the sake of his three little nephews, Thomas decided he couldnât just sit and mourn his sisterâs loss. He was all his nephews had, and he would do anything to ensure the children didnât grow up under their alcoholic fatherâs care. So Thomas decided to adopt the triplets, and he fought for their custody in court.
âThis is unfair, your honor!â Joe screamed on the witness stand, shedding fake tears. âI am the kidsâ father. How would I survive without those little lives? They are Leahâs flesh and blood, MY flesh and blood, and they are all I have now!â
âLet me get something clear,â the judge told Joe. âYou were not married to the childrenâs mother, Leah, nor did you support her financially while she was pregnant. Is that right?â
âWell, youâre not wrong, your Honor,â Joe sighed, lowering his head. âI work as a handyman and take up small gigs. I couldnât afford to support her, and thatâs the reason why we didnât get married.â
âPardon me, your honor, but my client has text messages and voice notes from his sister where she clearly states that Mr. Dawson is a heavy drinker,â said Thomasâs lawyer. âAnd she refused to marry him unless he entered a rehabilitation program.â The lawyer presented the evidence in court, convincing the judge that Joe was not fit to raise the children, and the court decided in favor of Thomas.
As Thomas walked out of the courtroom, he looked up at the bright skies, remembering his sister. âI had promised you I would do my best to help you. I hope I didnât disappoint you, Leah,â he whispered with teary eyes.