STAY

Seventy Nine

I slowly sat up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The pain grabbed me and I bit my lip silently to stifle the cry. I didn't want to wake up Jared, he'd stayed with me overnight and had been tending to the baby. We were both exhausted. Now they were both sound asleep and I wanted to keep it that way a little longer. I stopped the IV drip and quickly disconnected it, then gingerly stood up exhaling, ouch! It really was painful. "Oh my God! Genevieve what are you doing? You're going to fall over, why didn't you wake me?" I heard him say, he was in front of me a moment later. "Shhh, you'll wake her. Go lie down again, I'll be fine" I chastised him. He frowned at me, "you shouldn't be up, you should wait for the nurse" he said. "I'm so stiff, I can't lie here any longer" I said. "Stop disconnecting stuff, you probably still need it" he said looking at the machine nervously. I shook my head, "no I don't, it's fine, I know what I'm doing. Now please go lie down" I reassured him. "No, I won't, you need help" he said firmly. "Just stay in here and keep an eye on her, she might cry" I argued. "I'm sure I'll hear her if she does" he said. "Please can you just leave me, I'll be fine" I pleaded. "What's wrong? Why are you being so stubborn?" he asked frowning. I exhaled frustratedly, "I hate being .... like this, I hate you seeing me like this. I look awful. It's embarrassing, don't you get it?" I admitted. He looked surprised, "Genevieve, I'm insulted. Do you think I only want to see you looking perfect? I'm not that fucking shallow. In any case, I've seen you look worse than this, you forget, you were in a coma. I sat with you for days, I helped wash you, care for you. I love you no matter how you look, that's what we agreed right? For better or worse?" he said. He stood there, his hands out for me to grab them. I nodded slowly and took one, letting him lead me to the bathroom. "Can you just turn around for a minute, just until I get this out?" I said, indicating the catheter. He nodded and gave me his back. All the equipment to remove it was sitting on the bench, I made quick work of taking it out. Thank God I was a nurse, I'd hate to have to wait for someone to help me. Sighing with relief to finally be rid of it. "Okay, you can turn around again" I said. He smiled, "now you turn around so I can undo the ties" he said. I did as instructed and shrugged off the gown, then turning back to face him. I was almost afraid to look down, "it's almost flat again" he said grinning. I chanced a look and saw with surprise that he was right. I ran my fingers across the dressing, it wasn't very big and quite low. "You'll be back in your bikini in no time and you won't even be able to see the scar" he said, leaning down to look at the bandage. I nodded, "I hope so" I said. "How's the pain?" he asked looking worried. "It's right up there" I said wincing. "You're doing better than me, I was a wimp" he said. I smiled, "everyone handles pain differently" I said. "A wimp" he repeated, I couldn't help but laugh. But that was a bad idea, "ouch! Don't make me laugh" I groaned holding my stomach. "Good morning, did you get up by yourself?" we heard a voice, Nell, the midwife who had looked after me on the late shift, poked her head around the open door. "I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen" said Jared quickly, I frowned at him, tattling on me! She smiled, "well, nurses are always a little impatient" she said. "Sorry" I said shrugging, not really sorry in the slightest. "Perfectly fine, you finish up in there and I'll fix your bed" she said disappearing. "I'm going to grab you some fresh clothes and check on the baby" he said. I nodded as he ducked out, stepping under the warm water, it felt amazing. "Genevieve, what the hell? Is that normal?" I heard him say in a panicked voice, minutes later. I opened my eyes, confused. He was looking at the blood running down my legs. "Oh, yeah, it's normal" I said, but he continued to look worried. "Don't look if it's making you queasy" I said, "it's not making me queasy, it's making me worried" he said, "well don't, it's fine" I reassured him. I finished soon after and slowly dried off, letting him help me get dressed. I walked slowly back into the room, the bed was made with fresh clean linen. I gratefully lay back down, exhaling in relief. I glanced over at the baby, she was peacefully sleeping. One hand poking up out of her blankets. "She's so cute" I mused. "I know right, I just want to cuddle her" said Jared standing over the cot. "You can cuddle her if you want, she's your baby" I said. "I don't want to wake her up" he said wistfully. "You won't, she'll sleep in your arms I'm sure of it" I said. He carefully lifted her out of the cot and into his arms, holding her against his chest. She wriggled and let out a squeak then she was quiet. "I want to go home, today" I ventured. His head snapped up and he frowned. "You can't go home yet Gigi, you just had the baby yesterday" he said. "I'll be fine, you'll be there and Caroline and seriously I'm a nurse, I know how to look after myself" I reasoned. "You just had a major operation, you can't ... what if ... no, no, it's not a good idea" he blustered. "Let's wait and see what Eve says" I said waving my hand to dismiss his concerns. Nell came back in handing me some pain killers, which I gratefully took, then picked at my breakfast, sharing it with Jared. Not long after Eve came in. "So I want to go home, what do you think?" I told her. "I guess it's okay. I heard you took out everything this morning, so you're pretty much looking after yourself anyway" she said smiling wryly. "Don't you think it's too soon, I mean she just had the baby yesterday?" argued Jared. "Not really, some women go home sooner than others. As long as she rests at home and has help, which I assume she will and does" she said. "Yes of course, I'm just worried. She never does as she's told" he said. I groaned, "yes I do" I said quickly. "You don't!" he said. Eve was laughing, "okay, okay, let's compromise. Go home tomorrow, give it one more day in hospital. I'm sure that'll make Jared happy" she said. I nodded reluctantly and he did as well. We chatted a little longer and she left. The baby started to cry then, so I slowly got off the bed. "What are you doing? Get back in bed" he said, "no, I want to change her. You've been doing it, I need to start helping" I said. "There will be plenty of time for you to do it, just rest would you. See, this is what I mean" he said shaking his head. I gave a little frustrated growl and got back up on the bed, watching him take care of her. He was smiling and whispering to her to calm her down, she responded immediately, stopping her cries and staring at him as he changed her. Then he came over and put her in my arms, passing me a bottle. "There you go" he said kissing my head, then hers. I nodded, "thank you" I said quietly. My heart fluttered watching her, she looked around curiously as she drank. Her beautiful blue eyes and long lashes were exactly like Jared's. I became aware of him taking photos of us. "You're not going to post them anywhere?" I asked. He shook his head, "no, they're for us" he said. There was a knock at the door and in came a delivery girl with the biggest flower arrangement I'd ever seen, champagne colored long stem roses. It sat about as tall as me! She passed Jared the card, he thanked her and she left us again. "It's from Alessandro, I sent him a photo last night" he said smiling, showing me the card.
'Congratulations on the arrival of the most precious Isabella!! I can't wait to meet my beautiful Goddaughter!
A XX'
"You don't mind do you?" Jared asked. I looked up at him, "about him being Godfather? No, I don't mind. He's a sweetheart" I said. He grinned at me nodding. She was done, so I carefully put her up over my shoulder, patting her gently. "Do you want me to take her?" he asked reaching over and taking her before I could reply. "Okay, sure" I said shaking my head, "you should rest" he said with a cheeky smile. I slowly got off the bed and walked over to the window. "Are you going to go home?" I asked him. He had put the baby on the bed and lay down next to her. "Yeah, just for a little, just so I can change. I won't be long" he said. I nodded. "Is that okay?" he said, he was holding her little hand and kissing it. "Yes, yes of course" I said trying to sound casual. "Are you sure? I can just get my mom to bring me some stuff if you don't want me to leave" he said. "I um .... yes, actually can you, I mean .... ask her. I hate the thought of being in here alone" I admitted with a sigh. "Of course, I'll send her a message" he said. "Thank you" I said gratefully. "Come here and look at her" he said excitedly. I walked over to the bed, she was looking up at us. "She looks like you" he said. "Nah, she looks like you, her eyes the nose. She's perfect" I said leaning over and kissing her forehead. "She really is, her cheeks are just like yours and her chin. Can you believe we made her?" he said grinning. "We did a good job. And we weren't even trying" I laughed. She wriggled and her little hands started rubbing her eyes. "Do you think she's tired?" I said, he nodded. "Yeah, maybe. Let's wrap her up and see if she goes to sleep" he said. A half hour later and after a few tries at wrapping her, she was sound asleep. I lay down, beckoning Jared over to lie next to me. I snuggled into his side and was asleep in minutes. He had fallen asleep as well and we both woke up to her crying loudly. I was also in a lot of pain, tears springing to my eyes. "Gigi, what's wrong?" he asked as he slid off the bed and over to the cot to pick her up. "I think I need some meds" I sniffed, he was frowning as he picked her up trying to calm her down. I reached over and pressed the bell. Nell walked in, then a moment later the 'fan nurse' from last night, acting as though she was answering the bell and hadn't seen someone else walk in right before her. That was the last thing I needed now, I'd had it, "Nell, please ask your colleague to leave!" I snapped. Nell turned quickly and glared at the girl. She had the good grace to look embarrassed and quickly exited the room. I let the tears flow freely now, "I'm sorry, but I'm in pain, I'm tired. The baby is crying and the last thing I need is a someone who's in here merely to fawn over my husband!" I said through a blur of tears. "Gigi, what's come over you? You were fine when you dozed off" said Jared trying to calm the baby down, rocking her gently. "I don't know, but I'm not having her in here making me uncomfortable" I sobbed. "Lie down Genevieve, let me get you some pain medication" said Nell calmly. I nodded, wiping away my tears and lying back. I watched him give Isabella a bottle and she was instantly quiet. "She was just hungry, no patience. Just like her mom" he said with a grin. I dabbed at the last few tears, sniffing quietly. "You okay?" he asked me carefully. I shrugged, "I want to go home, I want my privacy" I sighed. "I know, baby I know. It's okay, we're going home tomorrow" he said reassuringly. "I'm sorry" I whispered. "You have nothing to be sorry about, I completely get it" he said. The door opened again and Nell came over handing me some pills. "Right, now, rest assured, my colleague will not be coming in here anymore. She has been reprimanded" she said, I opened my mouth but she stopped me, "Eve was very strict about your privacy and who looks after you and she would have our hides if she knew you were distressed. Don't give it another thought" she assured me. I nodded, "Nell, do you know who my husband is?" I asked her curiously. She raised an eyebrow, "no, but I imagine he's someone important, given the way all the young ones were arguing, trying to get the chance to look after you" she replied. I nodded, "he's very important, to me" I said softly. She nodded with a smile. "Well, anyway, thank you, I don't know why I overreacted" I sighed. "Well, you're tired, you're in pain. You have a new baby and a ton of hormones. All of this causes you to feel like absolute shit, don't be too hard on yourself. And you weren't overreacting, she was being very inappropriate" she said with a smile. That all made perfect sense, I had read about it, I should have realized. "Shouldn't that happen on day three?" asked Jared knowingly. Nell grinned, "real life doesn't always stick to a timeline" she said. He scowled, he hated being wrong. I couldn't help but laugh.