both walk into the living room and she notices EJ right away, fast asleep. I clear my throat, trying to get her attention so we can get this done. I’d like to change and clean up the house a bit before Zane and Mack get back with Harley.
When she looks at me, she looks pissed that I’ve interrupted her staring at my son. Well, you can fuck right the hell off. This is my house. You’re here to check me out and then leave, not ogle my son. “You’re here to check my incision, right?” I say, trying to direct this little get-together.
“Yes, of course. Do you have any bandages left over in case when I take your old one off I need to replace it?” I find it odd that she didn’t come prepared, but decide to just go get the first-aid kit so she can be done with this and leave.
I make it halfway upstairs, but then realize that I never put it away after Zane changed my bandage yesterday, so it’s still in the kitchen. Turning around, I head back downstairs, but when I walk past the living room, I hear something that stops my heart and makes my blood run cold.
“It’s okay, my darling boy. Mommy’s here now and I won’t let that mean old woman near you ever again,” the nurse says to EJ while she holds him close to her chest and rocks him back and forth.
Chapter 17
Picking Up Harley
Zane
The drive to the hospital is silent. I can’t help but think I’m not doing the right thing with Dani. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to leave her alone with EJ when she so clearly didn’t want to be there. But how else is she going to bond with our son? She’s been so distant since we got home, even while we were still at the hospital now that I think of it. I understand where she’s coming from, it about ripped my heart out to leave that day without my little girl too, but that’s what she needed at that time. She wasn’t strong enough to come home yet, but she is now.
Getting out of the truck, Mack and I walk inside together. “You ready for this?” he asks as we make our way to the elevators.
“More than ready,” is all I say, needing to add nothing more. I can’t wait to bring Harley home and finally have my family under one roof.
When we make it upstairs, I can see the nurses getting Harley dressed and ready to go for me. They’ve all become very attached to her and I’m sure they’re sad to see her go, but they’re all so excited as well. My little girl is ready to start her life at home.
Walking through the doors, I make my way over to the nurses and my daughter without stopping for anything. “How’s Daddy’s girl today? Are you ready to go home?” I ask, then lean down and kiss her head.
She’s gained a lot of weight over the last week so her face is filling out and she doesn’t look so small anymore. She’s still not as big as her brother, but I know she’ll get there.
“She’s been a happy little girl today. I think she knew what today was,” the nurse says, smiling and laughing.
Once the nurse has her dressed, I take Harley from her. At first, I was so afraid to hold her; she was so small and had all those wires and tubes attached to her. But since they’ve taken everything off and she’s grown a little, I can’t put her down. She’s definitely Daddy’s princess and she’s going to be spoiled rotten. They both are.
“I’ll go grab the paperwork, then you can be on your way. I know how excited you all must be to take her home, though we’re going to miss her.” She doesn’t wait for me to say anything, not like I was going to anyway, before she walks over to the nurses’ station inside the nursery to gather everything we’ll need to sign Harley out and take her home.
Mack comes over and runs his hand down the top of her head and her back. “Hello, sweet girl. Papa can’t wait for you to come home. We’ve got a big party planned tonight for you and your brother. All your uncles are excited to meet you.” None of my
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