A different nurse took Amelia out of my arms and placed her on the portable bed. She wheeled her away before we had a chance to answer the question.
“I’m her mother.” Melanie started to move toward where Amelia was being taken to.
“Then follow me. Sorry sir but if you’re not family, I’m going to have to ask you to stay back for right now.”
“Jack, you don’t need to stay. We’ll be okay.”
I looked at Melanie as she stood in the doorway leading back to where they took Amelia. I didn’t want to leave and even though she had just said I could, the look on her face showed me that she’d hope I’d stay.
“I’m not going anywhere, Melanie.”
She tossed me the keys to my truck and the nurse didn’t wait as they made their way to the back of the hospital. I watched as they all went without me. When I couldn’t see them anymore, I went outside, making sure to park my truck in an actual spot since I knew we would be here for a while.
When I pulled out my phone, it was almost one in the morning and I knew who I needed to call next. I had no idea why Melanie didn’t call her brother about Amelia but he needed to know.
When the first call rang and went to voicemail, I hung up and called Alexa next. The phone rang once then Max’s voice came through.
“Why the fuck are you calling me and then my wife in the middle of the night?”
“Amelia is in the hospital with a fever.”
“What?” Max’s shout had me pulling the phone away from my ear.
“Get ready. We have to go to the hospital. Amelia’s there.” I waited in the truck as I listened to Alexa and Max get ready.
“We’re on our way.”
“I’m parked by the Emergency entrance. I’ll be waiting in the lobby.”
“You don’t need to stay there, Jack.”
“I’ll be here when you get here.”
I hung up without another word to Max. I knew he meant well about saying I didn’t need to stay but unlike Melanie, I knew he wasn’t saying it with hope I would stay. He practically gave me his blessing earlier today but I knew with this being about Amelia, it meant something completely different.
I made my way back into the Emergency Room to wait, not expecting to see Melanie for quite some time as they took care of Amelia. I could close my eyes for a few moments in an uncomfortable chair before Max and Alexa got here.
I curled up in the chair, legs folded under me, and rested my head against the wall behind me. My eyes closed too easily and sleep overtook me for the second time tonight.
Just like before, Melanie filled my dreams but unlike when I first went to sleep, I knew that when I woke up, I’d be able to see her again.
It wasn’t just her this time, but Amelia too.
Ten
“Stop,”I said while I waved at the hand that was pushing on me, forgetting where I was until I heard Max’s voice.
“It’s time to get up, Jack.”
I opened my eyes to see daylight pouring through the hospital windows and when I looked around, all of our friends were there.
“Where’s Melanie?” I sat up in my chair.
“She’s in a room with Amelia,” Max said before he sat in the chair next to me. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on but I wanted answers.
Before I could even ask, Max started to explain, “Amelia was dehydrated with a fever and the doctors want to keep her for a few days to make sure her fever doesn’t spike back up. She’s been a trooper but Melanie is pretty shook up.”
“Can I go back there yet?”
