In Duffs We Trust

Chapter 33 Beeps

Claire awoke sometime later that evening satisfied she could feel her limbs but was met with a dull pain just below her abdomen. She opened her eyes looking around to see Tom who had fallen asleep next to her in the large hospital chair. It didn't seem that comfortable but she knew Tom could sleep anywhere if he needed too. She pulled her eyes away from his too look at her room. Flowers covered every surface as well as pink bears and balloons. She tried to sit up a bit and felt a pull on her arm and she winced looking down at the IV still taped securely to her hand.

Claire looked around and found the switch to move her bed to a semi sitting position. She softly hit the button as it buzzed to life adjusting her effortlessly. Tom stirred next to her.

"Hey" he spoke softly moving to her side.

"Hi, I'm sorry to wake you" Claire smiled at him.

"Oh, no no love. How are you feeling? Any pain?" He asked standing and stretching.

"Not really. I mean there is a dull pain but nothing painful. Where did all these come from?" Claire asked looking at the flowers, balloons, and bears.

"Everyone" he laughed lightly coming to sit next to her.

"Have you seen Emily?" She asked hoping he had seen her since she had been asleep.

"I have. She is beautiful and doing well."

"Do you think they will let me see her again?" Claire asked wincing at the pull of the IV.

"As soon as you can. They are wanting you to nurse her."

"I faintly remember that" Claire laughed.

Just then the doctor knocked and stepped in.

"Good evening. How are you feeling?" He asked moving to the sink to wash his hands.

"Good, a bit sore but good."

"That's good to hear. The surgery went great. You will have very limited scaring. I have even been to see the baby."

"And?" Tom and Claire both asked earning a laugh.

"She is doing great. Her oxygen levels are great. She is off the CPAP and just has and oxygen tube. Her feeding tube has been removed and she is responding well to the antibiotics. She is the strongest little thing I have seen in a long time."

"When can she go home?" Claire asked meeting his eyes.

"That one is a bit trickier. Even though she is doing great, she isn't where she needs to be with weight or gestation. I am comfortable when she is at 37 weeks but right now she is only at 32 weeks. She will have to stay a bit longer to get ready."

Claire's heart broke. She was going home without Emily and it wasn't fair.

"Let's take a look at your incision and then we will have a nurse come and take you to see your little girl yeah?" He smiled softly at her as if he knew her heartbreak.

Claire nodded and Tom watched as the doctor pulled down the sheet examining Claire's wound. Claire watched as he carefully removed the bandages and came face to face with her incision. A angry red scar was being held in place by ten staples. It looked worse then it actually felt.

"This looks great. We will set up an appointment next week to have them removed and then we will apply sterile strips."

Tom watched as he covered the area with a fresh bandaid before returning to the sink to wash his hands. Claire's eyes drifted to the window sadly.

"Let's get you up to see that baby girl. If you can nurse that will help her tremendously. It will increase her antibodies and she may even go home sooner than 37 weeks."