Karissa still hasn’t woken up.
They told me her bleeding stopped. That she’s stable. That her body needs time. But no one knows how long.
They’ve been calling me “Dad.” The nurses, one of the doctors.
“Dad, you can follow us.”
“Dad, you’re holding her just right.”
“Dad, she’s doing great.”
I didn’t correct them. I probably should have. But I was scared they’d take her away. Tell me I couldn’t be in the room. That I wasn’t technically family.
But I do belong here. Blood or not, I gave Karissa my word. I told her she could trust me. That I’d keep her and the baby safe. I don’t think she believed me at first; she barely knows me. But when she wakes up and sees that I kept my word, that’ll be enough.
The door opens and soft footsteps pad in. It’s Ella. Still in her scrubs, looking tired, but there’s a calmness to her. She walks closer, stopping in front of me with a quiet smile.
“How’s it going?” she says gently.
I nod, my jaw tight. “About how you’d think.”
She looks to the baby and then Karissa. “She’s been through more than most people ever do.”
I look back down at Emma, her breath in sync with mine.
“She didn’t even get to hold her,” I mutter.
“She will,” Ella says. “And she’ll thank you for taking her place in the meantime.”
I don’t say anything because I don’t like taking her place. It feels wrong.
“They think I’m the dad.”
Ella’s quiet for a second before a small laugh escapes.
“Yeah. I figured they might.”
“I didn’t say I wasn’t.”
“Oh.”
“I didn’t know what the protocol was. I don’t want them to kick me out of here or something.” My throat is tight, like just the thought cuts me. “I told Karissa, practically the second I met her, that she could trust me. That I’d take care of her and the baby.” I pause. “So that’s what I’m doing.”
Ella lays a hand on my shoulder. “And she’ll appreciate it, Cody.”
Her words are reassuring.
“She’s gonna need a lot of help.”
“I know.”
“More now, given the C-section.”
“Right.”
“Getting around, going to the bathroom…”
I swallow hard. I hadn’t thought about that part. How raw and real all of this still is.
