“Daddy and I love you and Liam very much,” I finally tell her. “Nothing’s ever going to change that. Even if he marries Olivia, she’s never going to replaceyouin his heart. Okay?”
Claire gives me a little nod. “Okay.”
“Want me to read to you?”
She nods again, and I open a copy ofAnne of GreenGablesthat one of the nurses found. After about an hour, Claire starts to doze, and I keep readingAnne,which was one of my favorite books growing up.
Claire wakes up when the nurse brings in a lunch tray. She’s still only allowed to have fluids and jello, and the jello is a really garish shade of green.
“Thanks, Lauren,” Claire tells the nurse politely. I feel a rush of pride for my daughter, who has the manners to remember her nurse’s name and thank her for a truly unappetizing meal.
“The doctor wrote that if you keep that down, you can have real food for dinner,” Lauren says with a wink.
Claire must find this motivating, since she digs into the jello with far more enthusiasm than it deserves. After she finishes the juice, Troy and Olivia return with Liam, who rushes to tell me his news.
“I had banana pancakes!” he says excitedly. “And we went to the park!”
“I thought you might have,” I tease him, glancing down at his clothing. His shirt is stained with a brown substance that I suspect is maple syrup, and the knees of his sweatpants are dirty.
“Do you have a change of clothes for him?” Troy asks.
“No, but I’ll take him home to change while you guys sit with Claire. We’ve been readingAnne of Green Gablestogether,” I tell him, holding out the book. “In case you want to keep going with that.”
I don’t think Troy recognizes the book, but Olivia’s eyes light up. “That was one of my favorites when I was younger,” she enthuses, taking the book from me. “I can read it to you, Claire.”
“Sure,” Claire agrees half-heartedly, and Olivia sits down next to her with the book.
I drive home with Liam, give him a bath, and then takethe world’s fastest shower as he plays with his toy trucks on my bathroom floor. After I brush my teeth, roll on some deodorant, and slip into a fresh sweater and jeans, I’m feeling significantly more human. I quickly pack a bag with clothes for the kids and me, my phone charger, the iPad, and a random selection of picture books.
I’m about to head out the door when I realize I still haven’t eaten today, so I head to the kitchen and grab apples, granola bars, and a couple of sleeves of juice boxes. I can always take Liam to the hospital cafeteria for dinner.
When we get back to the hospital, Olivia is still reading to Claire, and Troy’s talking on his phone. He ends the call when he sees me.
“So you think Claire’s going to be released tomorrow?” he asks.
“As far as I know, that’s the plan.”
“Okay. Olivia and I were thinking of heading back to Toronto tonight.”
I take a deep breath to keep from asking Troy how he could consider going back to Toronto while Claire’s still in the hospital. But maybe I’m not being fair. I haven’t exactly welcomed Troy’s help, and the hospital room isn’t big enough for all of us.
“Sure, that makes sense,” I manage.
“If anything changes, we can come right back,” Troy offers.
“Of course.”
“Do you want us to take Liam and bring him back Sunday?”
Shit. I’d forgotten. It’s Friday, and this was supposed to be the kids’ first weekend back in Toronto with Troy.
“You could,” I say reluctantly. “But with all the chaos, it might be easier for him to stay with me this weekend. I’m set with clothes and books for him, and rather thansending him to Toronto without Claire . . .” I trail off. I know it’s a weak argument, but since one of my kids is sick, I want them both close.
“Fine with me,” Troy says with a shrug, and I let go of a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
After kisses for Claire and Liam, Troy and Olivia head out, and it’s a relief to see them go.
SEVEN
