The Problem with Dreams

Chapter 80 - Visitors

Six a.m. came, as if they needed any reminder, and with it the daytime activities on the maternity ward began. Dr. Daniels came by for one more visit and declared Susan ready to go home. He wished them luck with Melody on that day and made Susan promise to check in with him again in about a week.

"I'll call for an appointment," Susan promised.

"See that you do," Dr. Daniels said.

Alan and Julie were there by the time Dr. Daniels pulled back the curtain.

"It's a little early for visiting hours," the doctor told them.

"That's all right," Susan insisted. "They've been helping with Melody."

"Oh, okay," Dr. Daniels said. "You can get dressed, Susan. You're okay to leave as soon as you have breakfast."

"Should we come back?" Alan asked doubtfully.

"No. I'm going to shower before I get dressed," Susan said. "You can keep your dad company while I'm doing it."

"Do you have what you need?" Greg asked.

"I think so. I'm going to be so happy to be showering at home from now on," Susan told him as she gathered her clothes.

"Have you heard anything, Dad?" Julie asked once Susan disappeared behind the bathroom door and she and Alan settled themselves on the sofa.

"Not since the nursing staff wheeled her away at five," Greg said. "They told us not to expect to hear anything until seven or seven thirty at the earliest."

"How's Susan handling it?" Alan asked.

"Not well. She's afraid, Alan. Melody is so tiny and her heart is not strong. There are so many things that could go wrong," Greg told him honestly.

"And how about you, Dad? How are you handling it?" Julie asked.

"Not much better than Susan. I am so grateful you both are here, sharing this with us," Greg said. "Thank you."

"Of course. Melody is our sister. I get that after last night," Alan said.

Julie looked at her brother. "You do?"

"Yeah, I do. She's one of us, Jules. She has Gaffney stamped all over her."

"She does, doesn't she?" Julie said with a smile. "She actually looks more like me than either of my boys do. They look like Elliot."

"Jake looks like you," Greg told her. "He didn't when he was little, but I see it more in him as he gets older."

They talked together the whole time Susan was in the shower. Greg heard the water shut off, and after a moment or two, went in to check on her, coming out with a bundle of laundry he put into a bag set aside for that purpose.

"Susan is getting dressed," he said unnecessarily. "She isn't sure what will fit, so she's trying to decide what to wear."

"What did you bring her?" Julie asked.

"An assortment of maternity and regular clothes," Greg said.

Susan emerged a short time later wearing a pair of regular draw string pants and a maternity top.

"The others didn't fit?" Greg asked.

"The others don't have buttons," Susan told him. "I still have to nurse Melody today you know."

"I didn't think about that," Greg said sheepishly.

"Have you seen my shoes?" Susan asked.

"They're in the closet, I think," Greg told her.