We ate our food, and I felt sleep pulling at me. Thorn told me to get some rest. “I can handle Laney if she wakes up. You need to heal.”
It didn’t take much prodding on his part. With my belly full of heavy food and a squirt from the morphine pump, I was out.
When I woke up, Thorn was rocking Laney by the window. The sun was well on the way to being up, and it sounded like he was softly whispering a story.
“You let me sleep all night?” I asked as I stretched and adjusted the bed to upright. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind,” he said and kissed Laney’s head. “Miss Laney and I did just fine.”
“I’m feeling better,” I said. “I feel stronger today. I think I might be coming down with a cold, though. I’ve got a bit of a tickle in the back of my throat. I can’t remember the last time I was sick. Maybe never.”
“It’s probably allergies. When it warms up like this, the allergens don’t know it’s not really spring. Or, it could be a mold allergy from all the rain. Now that you’re not as magical, you might have to deal with them just like the rest of us.”
“I’ll ask the nurse for an allergy pill, then. What are you guys looking at?” I asked when I noticed that Thorn was still looking out the window.
“The warmer weather has a lot of people out. Lots of early morning walkers,” he said as he turned back to me. “I should probably let you hold her for a while.”
“That would be lovely,” I said and stuck my arms out. “You can go home and shower if you want. I’m going to send Viv a text and see how Tangerine is doing. I’ve got to arrange them coming to visit too. Is the hospital really only allowing you and two others to visit? I can’t sneak a couple more in?”
“I thought about it, but they’re serious. The maternity ward is full, too. They had to call security yesterday when someone’s feisty grandma refused to leave,” Thorn said.
“Really? Okay, well, I don’t want to be like that. I’ll just have them come on rotation if they want. If they even all want to come here. Maybe they don’t want to visit me in the hospital. Some people don’t like it,” I mused.
“Oh, no, they definitely do. Your mother and Lilith have already worked out a rotation. They will come back. Jeremy and Reggie are coming over together. Your dad and Viv are paired up. Dorian and Isaac are chomping at the bit to get here. It’s all worked out, Kinsley. They are just waiting for you to give the go ahead and for visiting hours to start.”
“Wow, so that sounds like a lot,” I said, feeling suddenly overwhelmed.
“We can tell them no,” Thorn said. “I will tell them no for you.”
“No, that’s okay, but I don’t think I can handle more than that today. And maybe let them know short visits are better for now? We can all spend time together when I’m home.”
“You’re the boss,” he said.
“You could go home and take a shower if you want,” I offered.
“Do I smell?”
“No,” I said with a chuckle. “But I didn’t expect you to stay here for three days without leaving. I got to take a shower, but I don’t think they’ll let you use the one in here.”
“You sure you don’t mind? I’ll stay right here with you the whole time,” Thorn said.
“No, it’s okay, but could you go down to the cafeteria first? Please get Meri some bacon,” and at that, Meri’s ears perked up.
“I can get something for you too,” Thorn said.
“Another Coke, please. I can probably just eat whatever breakfast they bring me,” I said.
“I’ll see what they have down there,” Thorn replied.
“Hey, Thorn,” I said as I thought of something.
“What is it, babe?”
“What about the other Aunties? You didn’t mention Amelda. I thought she’d want to come visit,” I said.
“They’re all throwing you a huge, over-the-top baby shower and welcome home party when you get out of here. Amelda was going to come up and visit with Remy, but she does have a cold. She figured it was better to just wait,” Thorn said. “No sick people around Laney until she’s had her vaccines.”
“But what about me?” I asked.
“You’ve just got allergies,” Thorn said. “But I’m going to head down to the cafeteria and get the cat bacon. I’ll be back in a few.”
“Thank you.”
A couple of minutes after Thorn left, a nurse came in to check on us. She helped me change Laney’s diaper and get a bottle ready.
“I think it’s time for you to come off the pump,” she said. “We’ll switch you over to oral pain management now. Doctor’s orders.”
“I guess it couldn’t last forever,” I said.
“The upside is that it will be easier for you get up and move around. You can’t really go anywhere, but at least you’ll have your sea legs for when we do discharge you.”
“You always hear those horror stories about women being discharged from the hospital hours after giving birth. Am I really going to be here for another two days?”
“The doctor might spring you tomorrow if things are looking good, but you’re here at least tonight. I hate sending women home too early, but the ones that get sent home hours after didn’t have a surgical birth. You get the deluxe treatment,” she said.
“Thorn’s got excellent insurance through his job too,” I said.
“That definitely helps,” she said. “Can I get you anything else.”
“I’ve got a bit of a tickle in my throat. Can I get an allergy pill maybe?”
“Let me grab your vitals,” she said. “I’m going to go get my thermometer.”
She left and returned a minute later. Her thermometer was one she pressed against my forehead, but she did it three times. I could have sworn she’d gone
