The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 72 - The Hospital

Mr. Abernathy waited by the entrance to the hospital's emergency room entry way for the family to gather before leading their group of thirteen in through the hospital doors.

"Oh my," the receptionist said when she saw them there. "Are you all together?"

"Yes. I believe my daughter was brought in here not too long ago?" Mr. Abernathy said, speaking for them all.

"What is her name?"

Mr. Abernathy told her. The receptionist consulted her computer and directed them to the maternity reception area on the third floor.

"We're supposed to follow the pink line on the floor," Mr. Abernathy told them. "They took Susan to maternity."

"Then it's really happening," Julie commented as they walked. "Dad and Susan are having their baby today."

"Not necessarily," Mrs. Abernathy said as they came to an elevator. "She's caught this very early. They'll try to stabilize her first, I suspect. I image they've taken her for some tests. We may have to wait before we know anything."

"Grandma, is Melody big enough to be born?" Jessie asked as she held her hand while they all got in.

"I don't know, sweetheart. She will be very small if she is born today, or even tomorrow," Mrs. Abernathy warned. "Remember how your Mama told you she might be sick?"

Jessie nodded as the door closed and Mr. Abernathy pushed the button for the third floor.

"I'm afraid if she is born today, she might be very sick," Mrs. Abernathy said.

Mrs. Abernathy looked over at Zack who was holding her other hand. The boy was very pale, but he didn't say anything.

"How are you holding up, Matthew?" Mr. Abernathy asked after studying the expressions of the two boys.

"Good, I guess. I mean, Mom doesn't need anything more to worry about right now, so I'm fine. She doesn't need to worry about me," Matt said as the elevator stopped and the doors opened again.

"That's the spirit," Mr. Abernathy told him in an encouraging tone.

"That's very brave of you, Matthew," Stephen commented.

"It really is," Jenny agreed. "I know you remember what happened last time."

"When what happened last time?" Julie asked while Aaron listened at her side, sensing his mother's concern and the other boys' distress.

"Susan's had this sort of complication twice before," Jenny shared. "Once the year before Zack was born, then again with Zack."

"Was I born sick too?" Zackary wanted to know.

"You were born strong and healthy. Your mother was very lucky to have you," Mrs. Abernathy said.

"But Katlyn wasn't?" Zackary asked.

"She was smaller, more immature than you were," Jenny said.

"Immature ... what does that mean?"

"It means she wasn't ready to be born. That's what Dad said," Mathew told him.

Zackary nodded. He was about to ask some more when they came to a reception area at the end of the pink line.

Again Mr. Abernathy went forward to speak to the receptionist about Susan. They talked for a moment before he returned to the group.

"What did she say?" Mrs. Abernathy asked but everyone was listening for the answer.

"As you suspected Mildred, they've taken her for tests. Greg is with her. They'll tell him that we're here. He'll come tell us when they know anything. There's a little waiting room we can use just down the hall." Mr. Abernathy led the way to a modest sized room that was more or less empty, but it was filled to overflowing as they all filed in.