The Eighteen Year Fallout

Chapter 22

It had been a hectic few days as Alexa and Isabella were prepared for discharge from the hospital. As the day had gotten closer Alexa found herself getting more and more nervous but luckily Carson had been there to calm her down and reassure her that they were going to do right by Isabella. Weirdly enough, Taylor had been distant in the last few days. There was definitely something going on with her and Alexa made a mental note to talk to her when things calmed down. She felt a sense of guilt knowing that she'd been the centre of attention for months and her problems were the only ones being addressed. She promised herself she'd make it up to her best friend, especially after everything she'd done for her in these last few months.

It was now the morning of Alexa and Isabella’s discharge from the hospital and to say she was excited was a major understatement. As if her excitement wasn't enough her mom’s excitement was on a totally different level, which helped relax Alexa as she was constantly amused by her mom's erratic behaviour.

Lissa had arrived earlier in the morning with a massive bag full to the brim with baby clothes. In all honesty she could have the entire clothing stock of Mother Care stuffed in that bag. She’d pulled out various outfits obviously for Isabella and made her daughter rate them out of ten; a task Alexa really didn't have the patience for on an exciting morning like today.

“Where is Carson?” Alexa moaned for the hundredth time. Before he’d left the previous night, he’d promised he’d be at the hospital for nine the next morning. It was now ten and there was no sign of him.

“He’s probably just caught it traffic.” Her mom muttered preoccupied by the tiny white baby-grow she was inspecting closely, “Or maybe he slept in” she added as an afterthought.

Alexa guessed it was most likely the latter. After all he’d been spending a lot of time at the hospital especially when she was unconscious so he had to be shattered. She needed to calm down and trust him.

Ten minutes passed and still there was no sign of Carson. Feeling restless Alexa got up from the bed and told her mom she was going for a walk. She barely noticed as she sauntered out of the room and into the quiet hospital corridor. She started down the corridor, heading in the direction of the nursery subconsciously. Even though she’d only been down once and Carson led the way, she found the way easily and she was quickly standing outside the nursery, looking into the room through the large viewing window.

Isabella was fast asleep from what she could see so she decided not to unsettle her by going in to the room and standing over her. Instead Alexa stood gazing through the window in astonishment at the fact she had created something so beautiful. God had truly given her something to cherish for the rest of her life.

She was jolted out of her uncharacteristically deep and spiritual thoughts by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her. She didn’t have to turn around to know who it was; she could see his reflection in the window.

“Sorry I’m late” he gushed frowning slightly as she turned around to face him, “I slept in”

Alexa smiled at this revelation; her mom had indeed been correct.

“No worries” she smiled turning back around to look into the nursery. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Carson doing the same.

She interrupted the peaceful silence between them when she realised that time was passing them by and she was going to be discharged soon. Alexa revealed these thoughts to Carson who suggested they return to the hospital room and find her mom. She nodded eagerly, the excitement about going home that had momentarily been forgotten coming surging back.

**

When they finally arrived back at her room after suffering through an awkward silence the whole journey back, they were greeted by Alexa's very over enthusiastic mom. It looked as if a bomb had exploded over the hospital bed as it was covered with the baby clothes which had been previously spilling out of the bag. Her mom was stuffing other items of baby clothing that were laid on various objects around the room into another bag while humming a song that she eventually realised was out of Dirty Dancing. How coincidentally creepy!

“Hey mom” she chuckled as she spun around knocking over the bag she was filling and spilling the clothes all over the floor.

Lissa let out a groan of frustration as she shot her daughter an evil look. In return Alexa gave her an innocent smile, before Carson muttered something about helping and began picking up the baby clothes from the floor. While all this was happening, she began lifting and folding the clothes that were messily thrown onto the bed and piling them into neat stacks.

Their tidying expedition was cut short by the modulation of someone knocking on the hospital door. Placing the last item of clothing onto one of the many stacks on the bed, Alexa turned around and came face to face with Dr Lachlan who was followed closely by a young nurse who was clutching something gently to her chest.

“Morning all” he grinned rubbing his hands together, “All ready to leave?”

Alexa nodded my head excitedly as she saw Isabella nestled in the nurses’ arms.

“Indeed we are” her mom announced happily wrapping her arm around her shoulder affectionately.

Dr Lachlan smiled before launching into an avid explanation of both Alexa and Isabella’s aftercare now that they were going home. She hoped that her mom was listening because she sure as hell wasn’t. Her attention was on her daughter who the nurse had handed to her as the doctor began his explanation.  Carson had somehow without her noticing made his way to her side and was looking down at the bustling baby girl in her arms. Surprisingly his arm was wrapped casually over her shoulder but Alexa ignored this uncharacteristic gesture instead focusing on her daughter.

“So you’re all ready to go”

The doctors’ last sentence jolted Alexa out of her thoughts and back to reality. She beamed at the doctor as her mom lifted the bags of clothes she’d brought before thanking him for all his help. She began to make her way out of the room and Carson and Alexa mirrored her actions.

Making their way down the empty corridor in silence, it finally sunk in that they were going home. The big question though was would Alexa be able to cope? She guessed only time would tell.