The Tragic Life

Chapter 33

On day six we leave the hospital, and it's a huge relief. After extensive tests the allergist found two intolerances to Dairy and Gluten, and one allergy to fish. It's going to be an uncertain ride from here, but with the correct medical advice and caution, they're pretty confident that Emmy will be able to lead a normal life.

It's hard to leave her alone, but she's being super cranky, and I know it's because I'm checking her over every two minutes. I'm sure that it's normal to have this amount of anxiety with what we just went through, but when she pushed me away on a shout during her nap time, I knew that I had to back off a bit.

We're back at home now as I thought the comfort of being there would help with the healing. Of course, Yasmin argued with me over this, but we came to an agreement that we would take it in turns to visit each other on the weekends.

Robbie is resting up on my couch having just driven us back from York after a fifty-hour work week. I wasn't going to bother him as Jamie already had his car there, but my brother-in-law pretty much told me I had no choice which I accepted.

This ordeal has upset everybody.

"You don't have to stay if you're tired, Rob. Emily will probably be more sociable tomorrow, anyway," I say, sitting across from him with a bowl of soup in my hands.

He flicks his eyes my way. "Are you sure? I'm absolutely beat."

The spoon makes a noise when it falls to the side of the bowl. "Positive. Please go home to bed. You look exhausted."

It seems he has more to say when he rolls up the sleeves of his sweatshirt. "Moll, are you comfortable with mum seeing Emmy? Of course, I had to tell her when Emily was rushed into hospital, but she's been desperate to see her, and strangely polite enough not to barge. You can say no."

"You'll be here too?" I reply, thinking that it's only fair for her to visit under these circumstances, but with boundaries.

And, under my rules.

He nods fast. "Of course, I'll be here. I'll put her in line if I need to, and will tell her that there's a time limit. If you don't want to be around her then I can make that work too."

Oh, no, I'll be here all right. Waiting for her. Not taking any crap. "Bring her mid-afternoon. Eating times are going to be stressful for me for a while. Emmy will eat around half-eleven, so I want a few hours to settle into the new routine."

It looks like the news pleases Robbie when his shoulders sink down from the tensed up position near his ears. "I feel like I'm majorly stepping over a line by asking you, but she's beside herself, and that baby seems to be the only human she cares about."

I slurp up the cream of tomato soup. "I trust you. You're in a weird position, I get it, but know that I'm not afraid of telling your mum to piss off."

He chuckles as he raises to his feet. "Noted." I stop eating so he can place a kind kiss on my cheek, before watching him depart the room. "You need me then you just ring, okay? Any time. I don't care."

I smile. "I will. Enjoy the sleep. You deserve it." We were talking during the car journey back up here about the nightmare customers he's had to deal with this week. It's been nonstop for him. Entitled arseholes.

It's quiet then when he closes the front door. I anxiously check the baby monitor to see Emily fast asleep on her belly. It settles me enough to carry on eating my soup, letting my eyes fall onto the television.

RING!

RING!

RING!

I almost drop the spoon back into the bowl as I jump to my feet to rush to the front door before whoever's behind it ends up waking Emily by pressing the doorbell again.