 |
|
|
| Mac woke up to find Harm gone and Evelyn asleep on the chair next to her. She felt so tired. What had happened? Maddie! She sat up with a start, but couldn't really move because of the IVs in her arms. "Evie! Evie!" "Mom?" Evelyn said, opening her eyes. "Mom, it's all right, just lie down!" "I lost her, didn't I?" Evelyn shook her head. "No, you didn't lose Maddie, Mom. She's alive." Mac took her daughter's hand. "Are you sure? Beth didn't give her to me like she normally does. I held each of you right after you were born and she wouldn't give me Maddie." "Mom, please believe me when I say Maddie's all right. She's premature, remember? They just wanted to make sure everything was fine. Dad's with her right now." "Harm... Would you find him for me, Evie?" she asked. Evelyn had never seen her mother so unglued before. She gave Mac a small hug and coaxed her back down on the bed. "I'll get Dr. Michels and Dad." "Thank you, honey." Evelyn was at the door, when she turned to her again. "Mom." "Yeah?" "Dad was really scared. He almost lost both of you. He needs to know you'll be all right." Evelyn smiled sadly and left Mac with her thoughts. ************** "Harm, Maddie's going to be all right." He kept his eyes on his little girl as he answered Beth, "Thank you so much. I don't know what we would have done without you." Beth didn't know if he was talking to her or Maddie, but it didn't matter. The point was that two parents wouldn't be losing their newborn daughter. The two looked up at the sound of knocking on the glass. It was Evelyn. Harm blew a kiss to Maddie, and went out to see what she needed. "Is your Mom all right?" Evelyn smiled. "She's fine, Dad. She wants to see you." She noticed Beth heading over to them. "And I think Dr. Michels would probably want to see her." "Good thinking, Evie," Beth replied. "Smart kid you have there, Harm." "Don't I know it," Harm said, wrapping an arm over her shoulder. *************** "Aunt Harriet, can you explain to us what's going on?" Serena asked. Harriet nodded. They had a right to know. The problem was how to explain it in terms they'd understand. "Your Mom had the baby too early." "Too early?" Nicholas asked. "Maddie was supposed to be in her stomach for nine months." "But Mom has only been pregnant for about seven, right?" Serena said. "That's right," Harriet replied. "She also lost a lot of blood after Maddie was born so they had to stop it." Christiana and Trisha looked at one another. "What about Maddie?" Trisha wanted to know. "Maddie's going to be fine." "And Mommy?" Nicholas asked. Harriet sighed. "The doctor doesn't know, honey." *************** "Sarah, you can't go home for awhile," Beth said. "Your body has been through too much. You need to heal." Mac nodded. "How long then?" "Give yourself, at the least, three days." Harm stifled a laugh at her expression, and Mac just glared at him. "What about Maddie?" "Now that child is a miracle, I'm telling you. She was born two months early and she's only had to be in the incubator for a day. I can't even begin to explain it." Beth smiled. "She must have her parent's resilience." Harm took Mac's hand in his. "I told you she'd be all right." "Well," Beth said. "If you two will excuse me, I have another delivery scheduled." "Thank you for everything, Beth." She smiled at them again. "It was my pleasure!" Mac looked up at Harm after Beth left. "I think we should ask her if she's interested in being Maddie's godmother. What do you think?" "Definitely." *************** Three days later, as planned, the family was leaving the hospital. Beth rushed to meet them outside of the neo-natal unit. "I just received the last of the lab work on Maddie," she told them. "Is something wrong?" Mac asked, looking down at the little bundle in her arms. "Oh, nothing you have to worry about right now. I was just going over everything and I wanted to let you know that there's a possibility that Maddie might develop asthma." Harm nodded. "But that's not serious, is it?" "Normally, I'd say no, but she was premature so it might be more difficult for her to overcome it," Beth replied. "I'm not trying to scare the two of you, I just wanted to give you the heads up." "Thank you, Beth," Mac said with a smile. "Oh, there was something we wanted to ask you." "What's that?" Beth asked. Harm looked at Mac, who nodded. "We'd like you to be Maddie's godmother. You've been so instrumental in caring for her that we decided no one else would be a better candidate." Tears formed in Beth's eyes. "I would be honored, Harm, Sarah. Thank you." She glanced at her watch. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I have rounds to get to." The couple watched her leave. "You ready, Mac?" Harm asked. Mac smiled up at him. "We're both ready. Ready to go home." |
