“I’m right behind you.”
Debbie stood, and the two women embraced.
Debbie sat back down, and Kensy knelt in front of her. “Dee, we have to be strong. Strong for Gini and for that little girl.”
“I don’t want my baby to die.”
“Nobody has said anything about her dying. Come on, you know as well as I do, this hospital is full of the best doctors. Where’s your faith? Yes, we need to grab onto our faith.” She got up and sat next to Debbie and put her arm around her.
Debbie had her face in her hands and started crying, finally out of the shock and starting to understand the reality.
Alyssa paced back and forth at the front door. She hadn’t heard a word. That was not good—it had been a long time. She opened the door when the car lights flashed pulling up in the driveway.
The pastor wrapped her up in his arms when he got to the door.
“Daniel,” she said, “I’m so worried.”
Vicky walked into the ER waiting room from the hospital side. She was glad to see Kensy with Debbie and walked up to reception. “Have you heard anything?’
“Nope, not yet.”
“I haven’t heard from John; that’s not encouraging.”
“He, Dr. Nelson, and Dr. Young are with her. They’ve taken her up to neurology.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“Vicky.” Kensy stood and they hugged.
Vicky sat on the other side of Debbie and took her hand. “Can I get you some coffee, something to eat?”
Debbie took a deep breath and wiped her nose. “Coffee sounds good.”
“Kensy?”
“Yes, please.”
Vicky’s phone vibrated when she was in the coffee area. It was John.
We’ve got Gini stabilized. Robbie is born and doing well. Cute little guy. Gini had a small stroke on her right side. We are getting some response from her. We treated her immediately, so I think she’s going to be okay. We just have to make sure there are no complications. Robert’s a mess. Where are you?
I’m in the ER waiting room with Debbie and Kensy. Debbie’s taking it hard.
Let me see if I can’t get Robert to take something to calm him down, and then I’ll come to you.
Okay, I’ll let you talk to Debbie when you get here.
Vicky took two cups of coffee to the ladies, then went back to get a couple of jelly rolls and a coffee for herself. She was taking her time so John could get there. When she looked up, Reverend Gilbert was talking to Debbie. She walked to them.
“Let’s take a moment to pray,” he said. “Dear Lord, lift up our spirits and take away our fears. Put Your hand on Gini and Robert and their family in this time of need. We trust Your love and look to You for guidance. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.”
“Amen,” Kensy said. She was holding Debbie’s hand tight and could feel her quivering.
Debbie put her head back and let out a big sigh.
The double doors opened, and Robert walked through with John and Linda behind him.
Debbie immediately ran to them. “Robert!”
They hugged and started crying into each other’s shoulders.
The others followed Debbie and joined the group.
“She’s going to be okay. The stroke was minimal, on her right side,” John reported.
Debbie cried harder and squeezed tighter.
John put his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll have to step up her therapy, but I have all the confidence in the world that she will recover.”
Linda hugged Vicky. “Robbie is a big boy. Although he’s a preemie, I’d say only a couple of weeks early. He has curly dark hair and dimples like his mama, right, Robert?”
Robert pulled back from Debbie and nodded his head, then wiped down his face.
Debbie turned to John. “I want to see her.”
“We’re going to wait for a little while before guests, just to make sure,” John said.
“Why don’t you come to the house and I’ll fix breakfast,” Vicky invited everyone.
“I’m not leaving her,” Robert said sternly.
“Robert, please.” John stepped toward him. “Go and get some rest. I’ll be with Gini.” He gave Debbie a look.
“Come on, Robert.” She had composed herself. “Let’s go see Robbie and then go home. You need to talk to your daughter. We’ll eat and rest there.”
Reluctantly, he went with her. She reached back for Kensy to take her hand.
After they left, John said, “I’m really worried about Robert. He’s definitely not himself. Gini is strong, and he knows that. He needs to calm down, or he’s going to have problems.”
Robert and Debbie both held Robbie a few minutes, and then the nurse swept him away to take care of all the technicalities.
In the car, Robert sat behind the steering wheel for a long time. First he just stared, then he put his hands at the top of the steering wheel and laid his forehead on top of them. “Why is this happening? Can’t Gini have just one joyous moment without suffering?”
Debbie put her hand on his shoulder. “Brain trauma patients have a hard life. The smallest little thing can go so wrong; you know that. Do you agree with John? Was it minimal?”
“For a normal brain. He’s trying to ease the blow for me, but he forgets I know as much as he does. That’s why he wants to watch her so closely. I want to be with her, but Debbie, I’m tired. I’m so tired of being so happy and then boom, it feels like a boxer hitting me in the jaw, and the happiness is gone. This is all my fault, all my fault. I should never have let her get pregnant again.” He started the car.
“That wasn’t all your decision, was it?” Debbie asked softly.
“I don’t know. I
