“What about Stephanie? And Jasmine?” Hannah croaked.
“They’re a couple of doors down, just waiting until we give them the go ahead to come see you,” Jade answered. Her voice was thick with emotion. Her job was difficult at the best of times, but moments like this were what made it worth it. It would take some time, but this family would be whole again. It was an amazing win that doctors rarely had the chance to see.
“Thank you,” Hannah smiled weakly as Jade paged the nurses and Lillian, as well as Dr. Noble.
“We’ll get you checked out and then get you two bunked together,” Jade said.
Hannah nodded slightly, her eyes drifting closed again. Jade stepped out of the room before she accidentally ran into Lillian; she just couldn’t yet. She updated the nurses and left them to do their checks with Hannah, and she made sure that they would be moving her into the same recovery room as Stephanie.
She poked her head back into Stephanie’s room with a smile. “Good news,” she said softly. Their eyes turned toward her. “Hannah is awake.”
Tears spilled down Stephanie’s cheeks, and Stella hugged Jasmine close as she choked with relief. Jasmine’s eyes were wide, though she didn’t really understand what was happening. What she could tell was that everyone was happy, and that brought a smile to the child’s face. Jade thought her chest might burst.
“Can we see her?” Stephanie asked and started to shift on the bed.
“You stay put,” Jade ordered, coming to stand next to her. “Very soon,” she added. “I’m having her brought in here as soon as the doctors do a few more checks.
“Do you know what happened?” Stephanie asked as Jade helped her settle back into her bed.
“She had a blockage, it’s actually very lucky that she was here, if it had happened at home, well…” Jade didn’t finish the sentence, cognizant of the little girl in the room.
“A blockage?” Stephanie asked. “How?”
“It could be a number of things, have you flown recently?” Jade asked.
“A week ago, to see her mother, why?” Stephanie said.
“Sometimes clots form when you fly for long periods, since she was otherwise healthy no one would have even thought to look for it,” Jade said. “So, while I would never wish for anyone to go through what you have, Hannah is lucky she was at the hospital when this happened.”
“I was told you had to operate?” Stephanie said.
Jade nodded. “We did, we removed the clot and put her on some blood thinners to make sure we got it all. There will be a necessary recovery period, but she will be fine and back to her old self in no time.”
“Thank you,” Stephanie said, taking Jade’s hand. “Thank you so much.” Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“It’s really Doctor Holder you should thank, she was the one that performed the surgery, and Doctor Noble checked everything afterward to make sure she would be alright. I’m sure you will meet them soon when they bring Hannah in here.”
“Doctor Holder assisted with my surgery,” Stephanie said to Stella. “She’s the reason I’m here, too.”
“Looks like we owe her a gift basket or something,” Stella said with a slight chuckle. She still clung to little Jasmine, trying to keep her emotions in check for the child.
“Momma’s okay?” Jasmine said softly.
“Yes, baby,” Stephanie said, putting out a hand for the girl. “Momma’s okay, we’re both okay—thanks to the doctors here.” Tears started to flow from Jasmine’s eyes, and Jade felt her own throat closing with emotion.
“I’ll be back to check on you both tomorrow, okay?” Jade said, her voice thick.
Stephanie nodded, mouthingthank youagain, though no sound came out.
Jade’s heart was full as she left the hospital. She probably should have mentioned to Lillian that she was leaving, but she couldn’t bring herself to face the woman again. She needed to maintain some distance, or she would drive herself crazy trying to make Lillian fall in love with her. She knew more than anyone that would never work and would just end with Jade heartbroken all over again.
Jade’s apartment was only a couple of blocks from the hospital, and she noticed the damage left behind by the storm as she walked. She found it a not-so-surprising metaphor for the last few days. The storm blows in creating chaos and turmoil, but the people stand together and help each other, so in thedestruction it leaves behind there is also a sense of pride, of hope.
Her hope for Lillian was slim—the woman was tough and unlikely to yield to her emotions, no matter how strong they are—but there was still hope. Pride in the sense that they had saved so many people. Jasmine still had both her mothers. Elizabeth Rourke was an unexpected twist at the end, but it seemed the twist that was needed to put everything in focus. Jade found herself wondering what Lillian was doing. Probably the same as she was, tying up loose ends, heading home. Jade knew she didn’t live far from her, though she had never actually visited her apartment.
She arrived home and slipped her key into the lock. The maintenance had already come out and cleaned the debris, or perhaps there hadn’t even been much, though some broken plants and landscaping were evident from the storm. Jade slowly poked her head into the apartment, almost nervous that there would be some major damage.
Nothing seemed amiss, and she stepped into the apartment. She noticed that it was warm and flicked the switch. She should have expected that the power would be out here since it was at the hospital, but according to the estimates it should be back on by tomorrow.
