“I know sweetie, but direct family to the baby. The doctors and nurses have to limit the number of people allowed in the NICU ward because some of the other babies are very sick.” Cheryl explained.
“Is my sister very sick?” She frowned, her brow pinching together.
Cheryl smiled softly. “No, she’s just having some trouble breathing right now. The doctor says she has fluid in her lungs. She’ll be okay in a couple of weeks.”
Sawyer turned to me, frowning a little. “But I wanted Daddy to meet my baby sister.”
“I’ll meet her when she’s home,” I promised, smiling at her. “Today is your day.”
Sawyer’s frown lines smoothed out, and she nodded. “Okay.”
I moved closer to the bed, setting the flower arrangement down on the bedside table. “Where’s Mason?”
“He went down to grab a coffee,” Cheryl replied. “He should be back—oh, speak of the devil. There he is.”
Mason strolled into the room carrying a tray from Tim Hortons and a brown paper bag. He lifted his chin at me in greeting as he passed by, setting his purchases down on the hospital tray.
His jeans and t-shirt were rumpled, and he looked exhausted. Running a hand through his short dark hair, he cast a grateful look at me. “Thanks for yesterday, man. We were so unprepared for this, it isn’t funny.” He chuckled, shaking his head
“Well, you both thought you still had three months,” I replied, surprised to find all the old resentment and anger I’d harbored for him had dissipated overnight.
“Daddy said my sister was excited to see me!” Sawyer piped up, her eyes sparkling with infinite happiness.
Cheryl laughed a little, her green eyes misting.
“I’ll be down in the cafeteria,” I said, deciding that I’d intruded on their moment long enough. Mason nodded, and I strolled down the hall to the elevators.
I took the elevator to the cafeteria, stood in line for a stale coffee, and found a relatively private spot and sat down, bringing out my phone, thoughts rolling through my head.
I hadn’t been to a hospital since Sawyer’s birth, and it brought back a lot of memories, like the first time I held her in my arms. While overcome with nostalgia, my thoughts drifted to Gwen, to how she’d stepped up to help me the night before.
She flowed into everything, filling every dark corner of my once hardened heart. There were so many things about her I didn’t know yet, but so many things I’d picked up on, not realizing how thirsty I was to absorb every detail of her.
For years, I thought there was something wrong with me. I hadn’t fallen in love with Cheryl. I’d loved her for giving me Sawyer, I loved her for being the mother of my daughter, but I’d never felt for her what I felt for Gwen.
Here I was, sitting in the hospital thinking about how I believed a future was possible, that we could fill the house with so much more.
I dialed, bringing the phone to my ear while it rang.
“Hello?” Mom said.
“Hey, Mom. I’m at the hospital. Cheryl had her baby.”
“Three months early? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?” I could hear the concern in her voice as clearly as her pacing.
“They’re both okay. The baby has fluid in the lungs, but is otherwise healthy. Cheryl had a c-section, so she’s going to need a few weeks of recovery. I’ll have Sawyer during that time.”
I could hear rustling on the other end of the line. “Of course. I can be there Friday.” Mom worked, and I knew she had to give her boss notice.
“I can’t ask you to do that. I’m just going to call around and see if any daycares have spots.”
“Alaric, it’s July,” Mom deadpanned. “Spots will be full, and unless you have a friend out there that could help you…”
She had me there. If Mom were right about the daycares, I’d have to hope Russell could give me the next several weeks off. If I did that, I likely wouldn’t have a job to return to, and I couldn’t ask Gwen to take time off.
“All right,” I sighed, running a hand through my hair and leaning back in the chair. “Thanks, Mom.”
“It’s no bother.” She said warmly. “I’ll see you Friday afternoon.”
