Jessica
"The water won't hurt you, honey." I try coaxing Ivy into the shower with me, but she only stands at the end where there's no water, looking me up and down. She's never taken a shower or bath, except for as much as I could clean her in that small sink.
"I want to go home." She crosses her arms, pouting. I run my hands over my wet hair, loving the feeling of a real shower.
"We can't go back there, Ivy." I soothe.
"Why not!" She screams, stopping out of the big shower and I listen to her little feet pad angrily on the white tile of the hospital bathroom. I turn off the water, wrapping a clean, fresh towel around myself while wringing my hair out.
"That isn't our home. That's a bad place." I try to explain.
"I miss Jordan!" She screeches, closing her eyes tightly. I have to cover my ears, she's so loud.
"No, you don't." I murmur.
"Yes I do." She argues.
"No you don't!" I raise my voice. I shouldn't have, because she starts to cry. I know that she doesn't know any other life, and she doesn't know any other people besides Jordan and I. She's never seen the outside, felt the fresh air on her skin, breathed in the smell of fresh, home cooked food. But all of that was about to change, and it was all thanks to Ivy.
The one time that I'd let Jordan pick her up, I had gone over the plan with her, and at first, she was against it. He picked her up, and Ivy kicked and scratched him so hard that he collapsed on the floor, and I'm sure he's got some good scratches and bruises, and impaired vision. I hope the bastard rots in Hell.
"I'm sorry, okay. I'm sorry." I calm Ivy down, putting her on the counter next to the bathroom sink. I slip the underwear that the hospital provided with us onto her legs, and dress her the rest of the way with her giving me nothing but attitude. I send her into the room that has two beds, but she's crawled in with me every night that we've been here.
They told me that Ethan was notified that I was here. He hasn't shown up yet. I'm not sure how I feel about that.
I get dressed myself, braiding my wet hair to lay over my shoulder. I tidy up the bathroom before going out and sitting on the hospital bed. I see Ivy inspecting the band on her wrist.
"What's this, Mama?" She sniffs.
"That's a wrist band that you get when you come to the hospital. It lets the doctors know who we are and what room we're staying in."
"It's annoying."
"You gotta keep it on, honey." Suddenly, there's a slight knock at the door, and it begins to open.
"Jessica? There's someone here to see you." The nurse smiles as she tells me this, and I look up to see Ethan standing in the doorway. I abandon my spot by my daughter, nearly jumping into his arms.
"It's you. It's really you, oh God." I put my hands all over his back as I hug him, sobbing instantly.
"It's me, darling." He hugs me as tight as he can, and I can feel his muscles relaxing while he nuzzles his face into my neck and shoulder. I do the same to him.
"There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about you."
"I miss having you in bed with me." Ethan cries, his body shaking against mine. My shirt is balled in his fists, and I feel his lips kissing my neck. My toes curl in my socks. We hug for about ten minutes before I guide him over to Ivy. She's curled in the bed.
"Ivy, baby, this is Ethan. Say hi." My voice is soft, and I watch her peek out, moving her long, brown hair out of her face. She trembles at the sight of him. I gather her in my arms, kissing her cheek.
"Say hi, baby."
"Hi." Ivy squeaks, but immediately buries her face in my chest while she clutches my arms. Ethan chuckles.
"She doesn't-"
"I get it," He sympathizes, but his expression changes as if he's just gotten an idea.
"So you had her with..." I nod. I watch his Adam's apple go up and down as he swallows, taking a deep, shaky breath.
"We've got some yummy breakfast for you, Ivy." The doctor, Dr. Reese, wheels in a cart with containers of food. It looks much better than anything we ever got in the shed. She looks at it shyly before hiding herself against my body again. I set her on the end of her bed, sitting next to her while Ethan just stands there.
"Mmm, pancakes. Why don't we try some." I open the lid to one of the plates, cutting up the pancakes for Ivy. She slinks against my side in fear.
"I-I love you...Jessica." Ethan says while I'm trying to convince Ivy to eat. I look up at him, my chest tight.
"I've gone crazy without you, Ethan. I can't wait to have you back."
