The nurse smiled warmly. “She’s asking for you.”
My breath caught. I glanced over at Jason. His eyes met mine, and he gave me a quick nod.
“Go,” he said quietly.
I turned to Will. He was standing just a few feet away, his expression unreadable, but his eyes met mine, steady and reassuring. He gave me a single, firm nod.
That was all I needed. My feet moved before I could even think, following the nurse toward the doors. I pushed them open and stepped into the hallway, the beeping of monitors and the sterile smell of antiseptic filling my senses. All I cared about was seeing her—my baby girl.
CHAPTER 32
HEALING TOGETHER
NATALIE
The door to the recovery room creaked open as the nurse led me inside, and there she was, my baby, looking impossibly small in the hospital bed. Her dark lashes rested against pale cheeks, and the soft beep of the monitors filled the room. Her hair was tucked back, a stark white bandage peeking out from under her hospital gown.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I whispered, my voice catching as I moved to her side.
Her eyes fluttered open, slow and heavy, and for a second, she just blinked at me. Then, a faint, sleepy smile tugged at her lips.
“Mommy,” she croaked, her voice scratchy.
I sank into the chair beside her bed, taking her hand carefully in mine, like she might break if I wasn’t gentle enough. Tears burned at the edges of my eyes, but I blinked them back. She was okay. My baby was okay.
“I’m here, Bebe. Everything went great. The doctors said you’ll be back to running circles around me in no time.”
She tried to smile again but winced slightly. Her other hand crept up to her stomach.
“It hurts a little.”
“I know, sweetheart. That’s normal, but they’ve got medicine for the pain. Just rest for now, okay?”
Her head barely moved in a nod before her eyelids drooped shut again, her tiny hand still resting in mine.
The nurse reappeared, her smile soft. “She’ll drift in and out for a bit. She can have another visitor soon. Do you want me to let her father come back?”
I hesitated, brushing a stray strand of hair off Bebe’s forehead. Part of me wanted to keep this moment to myself a little longer, but I nodded.
“Sure.”
Jason stepped into the room, his usual composed expression softened. He glanced at me, and for once, there wasn’t any tension between us. We were just parents, sharing a moment of gratitude that our daughter was safe.
“She’s still groggy,” I said quietly, stepping aside to let him approach the bed.
Jason moved to her side, his large hand dwarfing hers as he gently stroked the back of it.
“Hey, princess,” he murmured, leaning down so his voice didn’t carry. “You gave us a little scare there, but you’re so brave.”
A nurse brought Meredith in not long after, her arms full of bags and looking slightly breathless.
“I ran home and grabbed a few things,” she said, dropping the bags on the chair. “Some pajamas, toothbrush, snacks, and your phone charger. Oh, and I grabbed a few things for Bebe too—a cozy blanket and her stuffed unicorn.”
I blinked at her, overwhelmed. “Mer, you didn’t have to do all that.”
“Yes, I did,” she said firmly, waving me off. “I wasn’t going to let you sit here all night with nothing but hospital coffee and fluorescent lighting.”
The lump in my throat that I’d been holding back all night started to rise again. I wrapped my arms around her, squeezing tight.
