“Oh, thank you, Ash. It’s Grandma D now, I suppose.”
I let her go and found Summer and Seth deep in a hug. “Congratulations, Daddy,” she was saying, and he grinned.
“Thanks, Summer.”
“How’re you doing?” she asked him.
“Fine. Tired, but fuck if I’m complaining. Elle’s done all the work.”
They pulled apart, and I saw Summer swipe a tear from her eye. “Is she okay? Really?”
“Yeah. She’s been really strong. And she managed to get a bit of sleep this morning. She’ll be happy to see you, though. I’m just heading out to grab some food for her. She hates the hospital food.”
“Ugh. We should’ve brought something.”
“It’s alright,” he said. “I’ll be back quick. You guys go on in.”
“I’ll join you,” Elle’s mom told Seth. “I’d like a coffee and some air.”
Summer hugged her again and then Seth, Bane and Mrs. D headed away, down the hall.
Then Summer turned pointedly to Flynn, who hadn’t said a word since we’d arrived. “Hi,Flynn,” she purred.
I took the flowers back from him and tried not to roll my eyes. “I’m going in,” I said, to no one in particular, and left them there.
I stepped into the room, and there was Elle, looking pale, exhausted and small. She was lying on the single bed in a hospital gown, a sheet tucked around her waist. Her wrist was hooked up to an IV drip, her long platinum-blonde hair smoothed down around her face.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen her with her hair completely down. Usually she had some kind of elaborate braid or high ponytail or fauxhawk situation.
She smiled when she saw me. “I thought I heard your voice.”
“Yup, it’s me.” I set the massive flower arrangement on the counter, next to the sink and some other flowers.
“Those are beautiful. Thank you.”
“They’re mostly Summer’s doing. She’s here, too. Flirting with Flynn.”
Elle rolled her eyes, but kept smiling. “When is she gonna realize that’s never happening?”
“Tell her that.”
“I’ve tried.”
I walked over to the foot of the bed and stood there, awkwardly. I couldn’t really get much closer. On the far side, there was a chair and an overnight bag, a couple of pillows and what generally looked like a nest Seth had made for himself. On the near side… there was a baby sleeping on a rolling cart thing with high sides.
She was cocooned tight in a little blanket, but I could see her perfect little pink face. She had the tiniest nose I’d ever seen on a human.
“Holy shit, she’s cute. Aren’t they supposed to look weird when they’re first born?”
Elle laughed a little. “Well, I had to have an unexpected C-section, so at least she didn’t get squished going through the birth canal.”
“Yeah, I heard about that. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I was a little disappointed, but it’s hard to dwell on that when a baby needs to come out of your body one way or another. I’m just glad she’s here.”
“Of course.”
“It’ll mean more recovery time for me. You know, from the surgery. But it’s okay.”
