It's You: Book Two

Chapter Fifteen

Sorry I've been too lazy to post

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Lex and I decided that no matter what, if we had a boy, it would be Grayson Henry, and a girl would be Elaina Jacklyn.

But now, holding my daughter in my arms, I really don't like the name Elaina for her. It just doesn't fit well.

So I decided that when Lexi comes back to me, I will convince her to change Elaina's name.

For now, her name is Elaina, and I'm sticking by that.

After a few hours, I told the nurses I needed something to feed her, because she's hungry and my wife can't do it right now.

They got me a bottle of donor breastmilk, and after feeding her and burping her, she's back to sleep.

Everyone keeps asking to hold her, but nobody is holding her before Alexandra does. When I told them that, they stopped asking.

It's well past ten in the morning, and the nurse came in and told me the doctor is coming soon to talk to us.

I'm scared.

I rub the baby's back as she sleeps. She's so soft and cuddly. Lex is going to love her.

I hope she's okay.

Not having her with me these last few hours, being unable to call her or talk to her is like a punch to the gut. Seeing her heart stop is like somebody ripped mine from my chest.

The feeling of missing her is overwhelming, and I would give anything just to see her, lay beside her...just, make sure she's okay, give her hugs and kisses.

I miss her smile and her laugh and her voice.

I miss her so much.

The door to the waiting room opens, and a doctor I don't recognize walks in.

His eyes survey the room for a moment, coming to a rest on me, the only person in here who has a baby sleeping on their chest.

"Are you Alexandra's husband?" he asks me.

"Yeah." I'm so nervous I feel like I'm going to scream.

I carefully maneuver my sleeping baby so she's lying in my arms and stand up.

"I'm Doctor Richardson. I was called onto your wife's case after her heart stopped." He says. He seems mature, like he's been here a long time, and I know my wife is in good hands.

"How is she?" I ask, searching his face for an emotion, anything I can go off of.

Did her heart stop again? Is she okay?

Is she alive?

"As my nurse told you, her gallbladder ruptured during labor. We were able to get her heart started again, and she made it through surgery. She's in the ICU. She hasn't woken up yet."

"How long has she been out of surgery?" I ask.

"About an hour." He says. "From what I heard about what happened, you have a medical background?" he asks.

"Yes. I went to medical school. I was a paramedic."

He nods his head.

"So you understand that because her heart stopped, she might not wake up. If she does, she may not remember anything."

"I understand." I say, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.

"Other than that, she's okay. Her heartbeat is strong. She's a fighter. Now we just have to wait and see."

"We want to see her." I tell him. "Can we go wait for her to wake up in her room?"

"Of course." He says. "I'll take you up there."

After everyone has gathered their belongings, he leads us upstairs to the ICU.

"Would you like me to bring a crib for your little one?" he asks.

"That would be amazing." I tell him.

He stops outside of a door.

"She's just right through there. If she wakes up, please call the nurse immediately."

"We will." Mary says.

My heart is hammering at the thought of seeing my girl.

I waste no time, reaching out and turning the doorknob.

I push the door open, and my breath catches in my throat at the sight of her.

She has an oxygen tube in her nose. She has dark bags under her eyes, her brown hair all messy from the pain and surgery.

Her chest rises and falls steadily, and the only sound in the room is the steady, consistent beating of the heart monitor. Wires are going into her shirt, and there's an IV in her right hand.

My fingertips itch to touch her. I walk up to her bedside, gently reaching out to touch her arm, and then I reach up and brush the back of fingers against her cheek. She's warm, and her skin is so soft.

I hear the family wandering around the lobby of the ICU, asking for chairs, and after a few minutes, everyone is seated.

The doctor comes in with the crib.

"There you go." He says. "You guys should get some rest. You've been up all night."

With that, he walks out and shuts the door.

I rub my fingers over our daughter's hair, and then I carefully lie her on the edge of Lex's bed and put her pink onesie back on.

I swaddle her tightly, making sure her clothing is covered, and then I lie her in the crib and move it away from the window so the sun won't keep her awake.

I take my place next to Lex's bed, reaching out to grab her hand. I straighten her engagement ring, because it drives her crazy when the diamond goes sideways.

I kiss the back of her hand, and then rest my forehead against her mattress, sighing softly.

I feel better just having her here.

I have no idea what's going to happen.

I don't know if she's going to wake up. I don't know if she's going to remember me if she does.

But what I do know is that she's alive. She's breathing on her own. Her heartbeat is steady.

She's okay for now, so even though I'm scared, I'm alright for the moment.

I've been up since six o'clock yesterday morning because Declan woke me up. I'm exhausted.

It's almost eleven in the morning.

Declan.

I fish my pone out of my pocket and text Anthony.

Me: can you keep declan another night

Anthony: of course. Why?

Me: during surgery lexi's gallbladder ruptured and her heart stopped

Anthony: are you serious?

Me: yes. She just got out of surgery and now we're waiting for her to wake up. I don't know if she's going to, and if she does, she might have memory loss or brain damage. I just need you to keep Declan until I have some answer for him

Anthony: he's here as long as you need. I'm so sorry aiden. What about the baby?

Me: we have a healthy, six pound, one ounce, eighteen inch long girl

Anthony: well congrats on the baby! I'm so sorry about alex though. She's going to be fine. She's a fighter. If you need anything, you call me, okay?

Me: thanks. Love you, and please don't tell Declan lex is sick. He needs to think she's okay for now.

Anthony: I won't. love you too

I pocket my phone and rest my forehead back against her bed.

After a couple of minutes, the beeping of her heart lulls me to sleep.