Coffin of Hope

Chapter Sixteen

"Daddy!" Mickey ran into the hospital room and headed straight for Josh.

Marcy snatched her up. "Hold on. You gotta be careful not to hurt Daddy."

"Hurt Daddy?" Mickey looked between them in sad confusion.

"Yes. He's in pain."

Mickey's face crumpled.

"Don't cry." Marcy pinched her cheek. "Seeing you smile will make him feel better."

"Promise?"

"I promise." Marcy set her on her feet.

Mickey went over to the hospital bed and patted the top. "Hi, Daddy."

"Hi, my little cupcake." Josh wheezed.

"You sound funny. Why do you have that thing on your face?"

Josh had no answers for her that wouldn't scare her. He looked to Marcy frantically.

Marcy came forward. "Don't you want to show Daddy your cards?"

Mickey brightened and went to Marcy to rummage through her oversized tote for the construction paper.

"Hi, Mally." Greg waved to the little boy.

"Hi, Daddy." Mally went up to his bed. "What's this do?"

"Mally, don't touch that!" Mal jumped to.

Mally pouted. "I wasn't gonna touch it."

"Okay. We have to make sure not to touch anything. We don't want to hurt Daddy."

Mally nodded. "I made cards for you, too."

"Is that right?" Greg smiled. "Show me."

Mally went to Marcy. "Cards, Mommy."

Marcy gave him his cards.

The twins showed off their cards as they explained that Mal helped them write their notes as they were still in the process of learning to read and write.

"We'll go to the cafeteria." Marcy tugged Mal out.

Greg waited for the door to shut before reaching out to disrupt Mally's curls. "Guys, we need to talk."

"Do you like our clothes?" Mickey asked. "Mommy helped us pick them out special for you."

"That's really sweet." Josh smiled. "But Daddy and I have to talk to you about something important. Bring those chairs over and take a seat."

The twins pushed the hospital chairs over to the beds and climbed in them. "What's wrong?"

"Remember how Mommy said Daddy and I would be going to sleep because we were sick?"

"Yes."

"The doctors think it's going to happen soon."

Mickey blinked rapidly. "You won't wake up for a long time?"

"No, sweetie." Greg shook his head.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. "Where are you going to be?"

"Mommy's going to do something special for you so you'll always have us close." Josh wanted to hug her.

"What's going to happen to us?" Mally asked.

"Remember when we asked you if you'd like to live with Mommy and Daddy?" Greg reminded him. "They're going to take you with them."

"Will we forget you?" Mickey scrubbed at her face.

"Mommy promised that she'd tell you stories about us and have Daddy show you pictures." Josh told her.