She bursts out crying. “You just had surgery and saved my daughter’s life, and you’re asking ifI’mokay?” Her voice catches, her sobs are unbearable. Tears cascade down her cheeks.
I take her hand in mine and squeeze. “Is she really okay?” I need to hear it from her.
She wipes her face with her sleeve and takes a deep breath. “She’s fine, apart from a couple of scratches and a little shock. She’s perfect. Thanks to you.”
At her words, I allow myself to relax.
“This is all my fault,” she says. A fresh wave of tears assaults her, and the ache in my chest is too much.
“Come here.” I tug her hand. She leans closer. “Accidents happen; it’s not your fault. I’ll be fine.” She is about to argue, but I don’t give her a chance. “I promise, I’m fine. Nothing a little TLC won’t cure,” I say with a wink.
A cute snort leaves her lips, and she smiles. “I can do house visits,” she says with a smirk. “But right now, I need to get Molly home. I couldn’t leave until I knew you were okay and out of surgery.”
There’s a tap on the door, and my mum enters, holding a sleeping Molly in her arms. My chest tightens.
“Olly, don’t you ever scare us like that again,” she whisper-shouts.
Rachel leans down and gives me a chaste kiss before standing and holding out her arms for Molly. “Thank you, Lily.”
I watch them—my girlfriend with my mum—it’s like they’ve known each other for years.
“You’ll message me, and let me know when he’s being discharged?” Rachel asks.
“Of course. Go on, get this little angel to bed.”
They know I’m right here and perfectly able to tell her myself,right?“Wait, hold on, how are you getting home?” I ask.
My mum rolls her eyes. “Your dad is taking her.”
I’ve never been so grateful to have hit the jackpot with my foster parents. Their compassion knows no bounds.
“Thank you again, Olly, I owe you everything,” Rachel says.
“Go get Molly home,” I say and smile as she leaves me alone with my mum.
“Olly, are you okay?”
I let out a dry laugh. “Aching and sore. Was it my spleen?”
She takes the seat Rachel vacated and holds my hand in hers. “Yes, you had a partial splenectomy. But the doctors said you were fortunate, considering…”
“Do you know how long I have to stay?”
She gives me a stern look. “When the doctors give you the okay. They’ll be doing their rounds shortly. Visitation finished hours ago, but they said we could wait until you were out of surgery.”
I sigh and squeeze her hand. “You should have gone home.”
She cups my cheek. “Don’t be ridiculous. I know how much you hate hospitals.”
She stays until a stern ward nurse politely asks her to leave, and it’s not long before I drift in and out of sleep.
RACHEL
I couldn’t leave the hospital until I knew Olly was okay. Joshua carries Molly up to my flat. When I get to my front door, Marcus is sitting there, waiting. He jumps to his feet.
“This is Joshua, Olly’s dad. Joshua this is Marcus.”
Joshua nods, and Marcus reaches out for Molly, taking her in his arms as I unlock the door and push it open. Without a word, Marcus walks in and takes Molly to her room.
