Lauren wakes me up the next morning. “I love not going to school!” she says.
“Don’t get used to it, you’ll probably be going back tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to, I want to spend time with you!”
“I want to spend time with you too, but right now we have to make sure Luke is all better and when he is you both have to go to school and get super smart.”
“Like you?”
“Sure, like me.”
I think you’re the smartest person I know. Well… Fox is pretty smart too… and Jacob is smart… and Amy, and Kylee… All of you are smart.”
“You said your s’s really well that time! Have you been practicing?” She nods and beams. “Do you still like going to speech?”
“A lot!”
Lauren goes and showers all by herself, and I nearly slip and fall to my death when I shower. She went a little overboard with the body wash, and it is now covering the bottom of the tub. I hurry as best I can without falling and then Luke takes a bath. His hip is bruised pretty badly, a nasty shade of purple that’s radius is a gross shade of green. “It still hurts,” he says after getting dressed.
“How would a milkshake make you feel?” I ask. Mom comes out of her room before he can answer. She looks awful.
“Good morning babies,” she says to the twin, kissing them each on the top of their heads, “And good morning bigger baby,” she says, squeezing my hand. I pull away from her. She sighs and shakes her head. “I want to come with you to the doctor’s next time you go. I shouldn’t have to ask, but I will. Can I come with you?”
“I guess,” I say after a minute.
“Have you told anyone about Luke?” she asks, brewing a pot of coffee.
“No, but one of them is bound to call today. I’ll tell them then,” I admit. “You should eat,” I say, letting the caring little girl shine dully. “You know, if you’re going to keep the baby.”
Her face turns white and she smiles uncomfortably, “I don’t know if I’m going to but you’re probably right.”
The nurse calls telling me that Luke’s results came back. I call Fox to let him know we’ll be there soon and Mom rushes to get ready.
Mom sits between Luke and Lauren in the back even though Fox offered a million and one times to sit in the back. She insisted. Fox slides into the seat, his face bright red. He smiles and turns around anyways.
“Ms.…” he says.
“Forrest,” I say.
“Ms. Forrest, you look lovely this morning.”
“Thank you hon, but call me Natalie.” I try not to gag. Fox is too sweet which reminds me of Luke, innocent and too soft for this world. Fox made it this far, so Luke can too. Luke will be perfectly fine, he’s just got to get over this obstacle.
Fox lays his hand on mine, “Penny for your thoughts?”
“Just thinking about Luke. He’ll be okay, don’t you think?”
