“How's the new baby?” I ask. “Did he say? Is Makayla okay?"
“Trick asked the same thing." C nods. "Anvil hasn’t seen her up close, but they told him she's all right.”
I scrub the tears from my face. “Why haven’t they let him see her? If she's okay, he should be able to, right?”
“I don't think it’s that they’re not letting him. I don’t think he’s ready.”
My brows rise, and I lick my lips. “What happened to Rachel is not the baby's fault.”
“What 'Vil said is that it’s his fault. Rachel's tiny. This baby isn't." C shrugs as if he understands this logic. “Vil is preoccupied with getting back to see Rachel. The visiting hours are limited. Trick's making some calls.”
“Rachel will want Sasha with her for sure. She will also want someone to hold Makayla and show her some love.” I blow out a breath. “They probably have restricted visitation for the babies. Usually they would just take her to Rachel and Sasha, right? We'll need to figure out who to talk to, so we can get to her.”
“We'll see what Anvil wants to do.”
“Sasha is wrecked, C. Did you not see the anguish on his face?” I ask gently. “It's good that Trick brought Irina. He won't be able to resist her. But if he's blaming himself and the baby, he's not thinking clearly. Rachel is the one who wanted to have a second child. She's been so excited. As soon as she's awake, she'll smooth things out. Until then, they need us to step up for their new baby.”
“The nurses are taking care of her, Z. Not sure what more you think she needs."
My brow arches, but I get it. I’m the only ‘baby’ C knows how to handle. I need to talk with Trick and Laurelyn, I realize. I kiss his cheek before making my way back to our group.
Trick stands about twenty feet away in the corner, speaking steadily into the phone. When he ends his call, he returns to us.
“Well?” Anvil asks.
“Yeah, he's making some calls. If we don't hear anything in ten, I'll circle back."
“No one's seen Makayla yet, huh?” I say. “Laur, maybe you and I can go to the nursery?”
“Yeah, we need wrist bands,” Trick says. “For security, the nurses need to scan a bar code. I'm working on it." He cocks his head. “Do you want to go now, ‘Vil? You’ve already got a band to get back there, and you’ve probably got a few minutes.”
“No.” Sasha glances out the window. “I'm staying here. A doctor could come.”
“Scott, we should donate blood,” Laurelyn says, with her hand resting on her baby belly. “I can't, but you…”
“Yeah, good idea. The big blood bank is forty minutes away. If Rachel needs more blood, we don't want her to have to wait for it,” Trick says.
“I'll go,” C says. “And I'll round up some crue and their wives to donate.” He takes his phone out to begin texting.
Trick's phone buzzes, and he looks down. “You’re set, 'Vil. No ICU visitation limits for you. A nurse will be out to take you to Rachel’s bedside in the next five minutes."
“That donation was the smartest one we've ever made,” Anvil says. “Glad you suggested it.”
C Crue donates money to a lot of city institutions and causes. It's their way of building loyalty in the community. Some people see them as modern day Robin Hoods. Trick jokes that they're hoods all right, but not of the Robin variety. Apparently they made donations to the hospital.
Trick's phone rings, and he steps away again.
“I'm going to find out where to donate blood. You want to stay, so you can see about getting in to see the baby?” C asks me.
“Yes, I'll donate later," I say.
C gives me a quick kiss and walks away.
Trick strolls back over. “Ash is on her way.”
“Baby G? Thought she was on her way to Cabo?" Sasha asks.
“Cabo will be there later.”
