The Day You Went Away
Page 14
We stayed like that taking turns holding our child for hours. Kate had said just a few more days in the NICU and then they would move her up to my room. She had pulled some strings for us and made sure that I wouldn’t be discharged before. Kane stood and stretched her long frame. I admired her beauty and reveled in the fact that I could call her mine. The baby had been sleeping for a while now and it was past dinner time. “I’m hungry” Kane said softly, running her hand over our daughter’s head. “Hmm me too” I replied. “Why don’t you go down to the cafeteria and get us something to eat and pick me up back here. I’m just not quite ready to say goodbye yet. Kane nodded. “Sounds like a plan to me.” She replied and made her way towards the door after kissing both me and the baby. I rocked singing softly after Kane had left, never missing the opportunity to kiss her soft head and rub my cheek against her hair. She opened her eyes and looked at me. “Well, hello beautiful.” I spoke softly to her and she seemed to like it. “I know that you saw your brother on the day you were born” I whispered to her, rocking her back and forth. “Can I tell you a secret? I inhaled her scent and watched as she closed her eyes once again. “I did too.”
CHAPTER FIFTY
KANE
The baby had been sleeping with us in Eden’s room for about a week now. She had gained some weight and grew stronger and healthier every day. So much so that Kate had said we could take her home soon and I couldn’t wait. My company had been more than accommodating in giving me the time I needed to be with my family. Caleb had even come upstairs to visit once bringing a gift for the baby. It was a small stuffed teddy bear wearing a little security uniform and looked remarkably like the one I myself wore. “Like mother like daughter” Eden had laughed at the gift and laid it in the bassinet next to the baby. I went home occasionally but I missed them so much that I always hurried back to the hospital. I never wanted to be apart from my girls for too long. Every time I looked at Eden and our child, I physically felt the pieces of my life right themselves and mesh back together. There were scars, and none of the pieces fit exactly the way that they used to but I had learned that was ok. Scars were a sign of a life lived and none of us ever escaped without them. I stood by the room window and watched the sun set. Eden was feeding the baby in the bed and she seemed to be fussy tonight. I turned around to face them. “What wrong butterfly? Are you ready to go home?” Eden looked from the baby to me. “You know” she began. “As adorable as I think it is, we can’t actually name our child butterfly. Don’t you think it’s time we gave this little one a permanent name?” I immediately thought back to the night she was born and the visit from Blake. I remembered what he had whispered in my ear. “Alicia.” I said “Her name is Alicia.” Eden smiled and nodded. “That’s perfect baby.” She looked down at our daughter who was starting to settle. “Just perfect. Welcome to the world Alicia Alexander.”
THE END