“Ilooktired? Don’t you meansoundtired over the phone?”
“Nope,” she says, almost giggling.
I feel a pair of arms reach around from behind me and give me a hug. At first, I’m startled but then I turn to see Lilly standing there. I’moverjoyedto see her.
“Lillybean!” I say as I wrap my arms around her in a bear hug. “But how did you—”
Lorna walks around the corner and stands within sight of us with a knowing smile.
“Thank you,” I say as I nod to her for bringing Lilly to the hospital to see me. I’ve had my hands so full here at the hospital that I had asked Tori to go and stay with Lilly at the house. I guess that Lorna had crossed paths with them and taken it upon herself to help out as well.
“I hope you don’t mind,” Lorna says as she walks closer. “But your daughter was just chomping at the bit to come here and see you and Seraphine and the babies.”
“No, of course not. I’m glad she’s here now. Thank you for bringing her.”
“Can I see them?” Lilly asks. “Can I see the babies?”
I start trying to explain about the tiny baby girl, but it would seem that Lilly has already gotten a thorough explanation of the situation from Lorna on the ride over here. Then, the NICU nurse sees Lilly through the big glass windows and comes out.
The nurse makes a point of looking up and down the hall. “You’re a bit young to come in, but if you promise not to tell anyone… Do you want to come in and see her?” the nurse asks.
Lilly’s eyes light up as she turns to me, looking to make sure that I’m okay with it. “Can I dad,please?”
“I will keep an eye on her,” the nurse smiles at me.
Of course, I agree to it and I watch as the nurse escorts Lilly in to see her very small baby sister.
“You should go home and get some rest,” Lorna says.
“Trust me, you’re not the first person to tell me that.”
“I’m sure. You look like shit.”
“Thanks,” I laugh. “But I don’t think I can.”
I peer through the window and see Lilly beaming as she gets to hold her new little sister under the very careful watch of the NICU nursing staff.
“See?” Lorna says as she tries to drive the point home. “Everyone is in good hands here. I will stay with Seraphine for a few hours, and you need to go home and get some rest. Maybe take a shower and change your clothes. I’ll call you if there are any changes. You won’t be any use to anyone if you don’t rest. And Seraphine and the babies are going to need you.”
“We’ve been trying to tell him that too,” one of the nurses at the nursing station calls over to us.
I finally feel as if I am guilted into leaving to go get some sleep, and so I reluctantly concede. I don’t like leaving Seraphine here alone, but I guess since Lilly and Lorna are both here now, she isn’t really alone.
“Fine,” I say with the protest of a child being punished. “Just for a few hours.”
Lorna looks satisfied as I blow Lilly a kiss through the window before I leave. I was so blind to think that Lilly would be put off by any of this. She is absolutelyjoyfulas she peers back through the window at me holding her little sister. She’s going to make a great big sister.
When I get back to my house, it feels much too empty. It feels like Lilly, and Seraphine, and the babies should all be here snuggled up on the couch in front of the fireplace with me. But I try to listen to the words of advice that the doctor, nurses, and even the old woman from the village said, and I know thatsoon, that vision of us being a family here will come to fruition. And when it does, I will need to be rested and ready for it.
I set my alarm for two hours to make sure that I don’t accidentally sleep for longer than I want to be away from the hospital. Then, I sit down on the couch in front of the empty fireplace and lay my head back for what feels like only a second or two, before I am fast asleep.
When the alarm trills, I wake with a start. I didn’t dream, hell I didn’t evenmovefrom the position that I had fallen asleep in. I was so tired that my body went into complete recovery mode. I feel a little better now, with a little bit more energy, although still very fatigued. It’s enough to get me up and going again, and I can’t wait to get back to the hospital.
I check my phone and am relieved to find that there are no missed calls or texts, which means that things must still be good. Regardless, I call Lorna just to check and make sure.
“Everything is just fine here,” she says in her grandmotherly tone that makes me feel silly for having worried. “Take your time, sleep some more if you want. Everyone is right here where you left them.”
I thank her and tell her I’ll be there shortly before hanging up. Then, I grab an ultra-quick shower and change of clothes before heading out the door to get back to the hospital. But on my way, I remember something, and I have a great idea hit me.