“Thank you,” I said, my voice breaking. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You won’t have to find out,” she said, pulling back and giving me a knowing smile. “Now go through the bag and tell me if I forgot anything. I can always run out again.”
Jason glanced at the bags, his lips twitching into a small smile.
“That was quick. I didn’t even notice you were gone,” he said to Meredith.
“Will let me use his car and I slipped out while Natalie went in to see her,” she replied. “Didn’t want to make a big deal of it.”
Jason’s attention was on Bebe. He leaned down, brushing a kiss on her forehead, and straightened up.
I sat down, still holding Bebe’s hand in mine, and opened the bag, my chest heavy with gratitude. I felt like everything might just be okay.
The nurse reappeared, holding a clipboard and glancing between us.
“We’ve set Bebe up in a private room for the night,” she said. “There’s enough space for both parents to stay if you’d like, though it’s a bit tight. There’s a recliner and a sofa bed.”
Jason looked at me and raised a brow. “Do you want to stay?”
“Of course.” Then I turned to him. “I mean, if you want to stay too, that’s fine. I’m sure she’d feel better having us both here.”
Jason nodded, his expression unreadable. “I’ll stay.”
Meredith smiled and gave me a squeeze on the arm. “See? Everything’s handled. I’ll be back first thing in the morning with coffee and breakfast for you guys.”
“Thank you for everything, Meredith,” I said, my voice catching.
“Thanks for taking care of everything, Mer,” Jason said.
“Oh, and I’ll let the others know what’s going on,” she said. “Call if you need anything. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
Once we settled into the private room, Jason pulled the recliner closer to Bebe’s bed while I stretched out on the small sofa bed, the bags Meredith brought tucked under the table. The room felt peaceful, even if we were in a hospital room, as the events of the day finally started to settle. It reminded me of when Bebe was born and the three of us crammed in a small room.
Jason glanced at me over his shoulder, his voice quiet. “She’s lucky to have you.”
I looked back at Bebe, her small chest rising and falling steadily. “She’s lucky to have us both.”
It wasn’t perfect, but for tonight, it felt like enough.
CHAPTER 33
THE MORNING AFTER
NATALIE
Iwoke to the faint hum of hospital light, the steady beeping of machines, the shuffle of footsteps in the hallway, and the faint murmur of voices. My body ached from the unforgiving sofa, but the sight of Bebe sleeping peacefully in her hospital bed made it all worth it. She looked so small, her tiny frame swallowed by the blankets, but her color was better, and her breathing was soft and steady.
The nurse was at her bedside, checking the monitors. She smiled at me as I sat up.
“Good morning. Bebe is doing great. Her vitals are strong, and she’s recovering beautifully. The doctor will be in soon, but if all goes well, she should be able to go home this afternoon.”
I exhaled, relief washing over me. “Thank you,” I said softly, my voice catching.
Jason stirred in the recliner by Bebe’s bed, his hair disheveled and his movements sluggish. He rubbed his face, waking up slowly, then looked at me.
“Everything okay?”
“She’s doing great,” I said, my tone warm. “The nurse said she can probably go home today.”
