“I’m so proud, baby.” She brushed his hair back.
“Hi, Mommy,” Dona whispered, kissing her cheek. She looked on the verge of crying and it broke my heart.
“Hi, Dona, how are you? I missed you.” Melody kissed her forehead.
“I’m sorry, Mommy.” She hugged her stuffed elephant, Mr. Missmore.
“You’re sorry? For what?”
“I didn’t do anything,” she said softly. “Ethan and Wyatt did everything—”
“That’s not true, Dona! You were really calm and made us calm,” Ethan said quickly, hugging his sister, who didn’t seem to believe him or like her contribution.
“Well, we are going to work on some things too,” Melody said, noticeably not praising her, but then again, it didn’t seem Dona wanted to be praised. “But I’m still glad you are safe.”
“Are you okay, Mommy? You look sick.” Ethan put his palm on her face. Turning to the side, she kissed it.
“Yes, I’m perfectly fine. I’m so proud of you and your brother.”
“Guys, your mom needs to go and rest.” Cora stepped forward to them. “Besides, did you forget about your dad over there?”
All of them looked up to me as if they had just noticed I was there.
“Thanks guys, I see how it is. I guess you don’t love me.” I frowned, nodding goodbye to Melody when they took her away.
“Daddy, don’t be silly!” Dona skipped over to me and climbed onto my bed. I put my hand on her waist to make sure she didn’t fall off. “I brought Mr. Missmore, he always makes me feel better.”
“Why thank you, but it’s my princess that makes me feel better.” I hugged her to me.
“What about us?” Wyatt asked, coming up to my side.
I looked at them both standing shoulder to shoulder. “Sometimes.”
“Dad, you can’t have favorites.” Ethan frowned at me.
“Lean closer, Ethan,” I said seriously and he leaned in. I messed up his hair and he groaned, backing away.
“Dad!”
Laughing, I focused on Wyatt, who glanced behind him as if searching for his mother again.
“Am I boring, Wyatt?” I asked him.
“Huh?”
“You seem to miss your mom more than me,” I said.
His face went red. “No. I miss everyone, but mommy’s a girl, and you have to watch out for girls.”
“Not forever! Mommy said I’m going to be able to watch out for myself.”
“Yeah, but that is going to take a long time, Dona,” Ethan explained, and I leaned back, enjoying watching them fight like this. They were all perfectly stubborn and amusing, and beautiful.
They continued talking and talking, and I could only listen.
MELODY
“Mrs. Callahan, if you need to go anywhere again, please let someone know,” the first doctor said to me as they helped me back in bed.