Family is Forever (Sequel to Running on Insulin)

Chapter 72

Samantha spent another couple of days in the hospital before being sent home on some oral medications. Since she was discharged on a Thursday, I kept her home Friday so she could recuperate and relax over the weekend.

Jill and Erin came over Saturday and Sarah, Erin and I sat in the kitchen having coffee while Sam lay on the couch and Jill sat nearby and the two girls chatted. Samantha was lively and laughing. It was music to my ears.

"Such a change from Monday, huh?" Erin said.

"When she opened her eyes in the hospital, I literally felt relief wash over me," I said. "And honestly, if it weren't for you two, I don't know how I would have managed. I didn't want to believe she was sick enough for the hospital. So thank you, Erin, for being that voice of reason."

"He did not!" I heard Jill exclaim.

"You girls alright" I asked, poking my head into the living room where Sam was curled up under a blanket.

"Jill doesn't believe that Uncle Brendon did a sort of concert for me at the hospital. Over FaceTime."

"That he did. Scared the crap out of me because I got back to the hospital and saw nurses running in and out of Sam's room."

Jill laughed.

"You are too lucky!" She said to Sam.

"Mom?" Sam asked. "Can Blaine and Morgan come over, too?"

"When?" I asked.

"Now."

"Are you sure you're up to having more people around?"

"I'm not an invalid," Sam frowned.

"Touchy touchy. Sure. They can come over for a little while. But everyone leaves before dinner. Deal?"

"Deal!" Sam said picking up her phone and texting her friends, presumably.

I went back into the kitchen shaking my head.

"What?" Sarah asked.

"Nothing. The resilience of teenagers," I said. "Sam asked if a couple more if her friends could come over."

We chuckled and then went back to our coffees and chatting. Sarah told Erin about Brendon working on a new album and how hard he was working.

The doorbell rang and Sam called out.

"I got it, Mom!"

"Just can't keep her down, can you?" Erin chuckled.

"Nope. Not that one. Amazing how six months ago she was afraid of her own shadow."

"You guys have done amazing with her," Sarah said.

"Not us, her. She's the one who's put in the most amount of work. And getting her an insulin pump was a godsend! It made it so much easier for her to dose herself."

We listened as the four teenagers grouped themselves in the living room and talked. Sam had told us how hard it was to make and keep friends when Stanley was alive. But in a few short months, she had a small group of friends we heard about almost daily.

It was obvious the kids had missed Sam while she'd been sick.

I offered them snacks, and reminded Sam she needed to eat something soon, since her blood sugar was dropping a little and she usually had a snack in the afternoon.

I grabbed some chips and cheese and crackers, reminded Sam to dose and left the kids again. Hearing laughter and chatter warmed my heart.

Around 5, the kids all started heading home. Erin and Jill left and Sam, Sarah and I contemplated dinner.