I Think I'm in Trouble {Reimagined}

LIII.

As everybody was slipping into the corridor; Danielle, Catherine, Jeffrey, Shannon and Nicholas---they all ventured towards Robert's room just to see that he was seated in an upright position.

"Hey, old man, how are you?" Jeffrey smiled, settling his hand on his shoulder. 

"I'll be even better once you serve me whatever it is you brought for breakfast," he chuckled.

"Yeah, here..." Danielle came forward with a few paper bags.

"And Nick and I stopped for some coffee," Shannon mentioned, bringing forth a cup holder of Starbucks coffee for both her parents and siblings with Nicholas' help.

"Oh, thanks, honey..."

As Catherine was working on making sure her brother was fed, Danielle couldn't help but take in the fact for the second day in a row that Stevie was drinking caffeine.

"Should you really be drinking coffee in your condition?" she crossed her arms.

"Excuse me?" Stevie wondered, while burning her tongue with the hot beverage. 

"Well, I mean..." she softened. "I mean, you're pregnant. Coffee's not good for the baby," she claimed. 

Robert rolled his eyes as he sipped on his orange juice and coffee.

"We're older than we were and--"

"I've become very dependent on caffeine for headaches in the mornings. My doctor told me I can have only one cup," she cleared her throat. "I didn't start drinking coffee till around the time I was pregnant with Nick and I had the same routine. Just one cup in the morning to relieve the headache and that's all I have..."

"Oh..."

"He turned out fine," she assured, settling her hand on the teen's shoulder.

Shannon and Jeffrey exchanged looks with one another, only glad their mother could be so passive.

"So, you're sitting..." Jeffrey cut in, changing the subject. "I thought you'd still be on your stomach."

"Yeah," Robert nodded. "The doctor checked things out... The incision looks good. She said I'll be able to come home tomorrow or Monday," he grinned.

"That's great to hear, daddy," Shannon smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed with him. "I've been so worried about you, everything you've gone through."

The family of five all acknowledged her reaction was out of having thought the crash was her accident, so it was just a relief for all of them that things were turning out for the better considering where it had started.

"I know," he pressed a kiss to her head. "It's all gonna be great. Your mother and I have all the faith in the world that things are gonna turn out perfect."

"Yeah, and Doctor Hansen," Stevie nudged her youngest son. "She's been amazing and she was gushing about you," she smirked. "She said you've been so nice to Grace, so welcoming and such a gentleman."

He blushed, becoming shy as all the attention turned to him.

She chuckled. "I'm proud of you... You've been so helpful with your dad and everything. I'm sure she'd be happy to mentor you, my love. She adores you."

"She's nice," he agreed. 

Robert smirked.

Glancing at the clock, Stevie sighed. 

"Well, I arranged for a car to pick me up at eleven, so I'm gonna head out," she claimed.

"You're leaving?" Danielle wondered.