I didn’t even think of it like that.
“Where’s Griff?” Charlie asks.
“On the way home.” I grimace. “Let’s just say this road trip wasn’t as fun as the last one.”
Charlie gives me his shocked face. “You mean, Griff isn’t as much fun as the three of us? Say it ain’t so!”
I push his arm. “Ha. Ha.”
A woman in blue scrubs stops in the middle of the room. “Oh my,” she says. “Lots of family.”
Mom and Dad get up, along with Brad’s parents, and they talk to the doctor for a few seconds. Then Mom motions for me to follow them down the hall toward Margot’s room.
I’m not sure what I expect her to look like when the door opens, but she looks…just like regular Margot.
“Hey!” she says when she sees me. I rush to her bed. The parents stay back, giving us some space.
“You scared the crap out of me,” I say. “Are you okay?” I can’t help the tears flooding my eyes, and I have to force myself not to jump in the bed with her. But no matter what, it was so worth the drive down to see a little color in her cheeks and hear the strength in her voice.
“I’m good. So much better now that there’s a little more blood pumping through me. They want me to take it easy for the next few hours, but if my blood pressure lowers, I’ll be able to get up and move around.”
We visit for a few minutes, then Mom starts rotating us in and out so all of the family has a chance to see her. As soon as I leave her room, I grab Olivia and Charlie and go look at Anna through the glass wall.
“I don’t like seeing all that stuff attached to her,” Charlie says.
“Yeah, but she’s gorgeous,” Olivia says with a sigh.
“I’m in love with her,” I say.
As the family trickles out of Margot’s room, they all end up with us at the glass wall looking at Anna. I take this chance to sneak away and get a little more time with Margot.
Mom is the only one in her room when I get back. She makes an excuse to go find some coffee, and then it’s just me and Margot.
I crawl into bed with her just like I did a few nights ago.
“Did you go see her?” she asks.
“Yes. She has the biggest fan club ever. All the other babies are jealous.”
Margot laughs. “I can’t believe all of you drove down here. It’s really so sweet.”
“Both of you are really loved.”
“And we love you. Mom told me about Griffin. Are you really okay?”
I nod. “I really am.”
“Well, good thing, since you have a few more dates to go. Have you figured out who Papa is setting you up with for their party?”
I give her a funny look. “I’m here. I’m not going back until Mom and Dad do.”
She pulls away so she can look at me. “As glad as I am to see your face, you don’t want to stay here. I’m good. Going to be great by tomorrow. And the doctors are going to start weaning Anna off the vent.”
“I can’t leave you,” I whine. And I can’t go back and see Wes with Laurel.
“I’m hoping we’re out of here in a few days. Then you can come back and stay as long as you want. You’d be miserable in the hospital. And I am dying to see how these dates end. Go finish it for me.”
I rest my cheek against her shoulder. “Only because I don’t feel like I could tell you no right now,” I say.
