It wasn’t my business, though, so I didn’t ask any further questions.
The babies woke up right after we’d eaten, and Russ went to pick up one of the boys, while Mal handled the other. Aria woke to one of her brothers crying and was upset until Carter took her into the kitchen for some food.
Payton helped me clear the table for the most part, then he said he was going to watch some TV and went to the living room. Soon enough, we heard some cartoon or other start, and Aria perked up.
“No, Miss Thing. You eat first. You know what Mimi always says.”
“Gotta eat,” she said in a very put out tone.
“Good girl,” Carter rumbled.
“So I’ve been thinking,” I started. Once I had his attention, I said, “We’ll have to figure out food for everyone for… however long this thing is going to last.”
I could tell that he wasn’t keen on how I phrased myself, but he understood. “Right.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “I have an idea for the next week or two, depending on what happens. But for tonight, I was thinking of going easy and getting pizzas for everyone. Even if it goes cold, it’ll be good for everyone.”
“’Za!” Aria gasped with stars in her eyes.
“Yes, later, baby girl,” Carter confirmed, smiling indulgently.
She clapped her hands, sending bits of mayo and whatever else around her. “Yay!”
I finished wiping the table everywhere but the part Aria was making a mess of. “True. Okay. Let’s do that, then.
“You can call the pizza order in, but I’ll pay for it,” Carter said firmly.
“Okay.” That was fine by me.
Wren would’ve done it in a heartbeat just to feel like he was helping, but I didn’t have enough news yet to call him.
That changed in an instant about the time Aria was done eating. Mal walked into the kitchen with his phone in hand, reading a message out loud to everyone.
“Crew says ‘She’s got a blockage. They’re going to go in and put in a stent. They’re doing it tonight, so she’ll stay overnight. We don’t have an exact time yet, but once she’s out of the surgery, most of us will come home. I’ll let you know when.’”
I exhaled, my whole body relaxing. I hadn’t known I’d been so damn tense, but getting this news was good. I could get to ordering the pizzas once we knew the timing. That made me feel better, too, somehow.
“That’s good news,” Carter murmured.
“A stent is nothing,” Russ rumbled from the armchair he’d overtaken. “I had one put in nearly a decade ago. Most friends my age have more than one.” He was probably exaggerating on Payton’s account, but I could tell Mal appreciated the thought.
“Daddy can we look up what all that means?” Payton asked, looking a bit worried still.
“Yeah, of course. Let me text your Dad and we’ll google it together, okay?”
“Okay.”
The boys started to fuss, and Russ went to pick up one, then handed him over to me. And that’s how I was put in charge of Little Em again. How Russ could tell them apart, I didn’t know, which I told him.
His weathered face scrunched up as he chuckled, then pointed out the letter E in the tag on the rolled-up tiny sweatpants leg.
“Oh….” I snorted, but didn’t have enough time to feel stupid about it, because Emerson wanted attention and took it by grabbing onto my hair.
I sat on the floor next to the playpen and did my best to be a baby person for a while. He’d tire out soon, right?
Chapter 10
Emery
Dr. Kumar was an older gentleman with a stellar reputation. When he was assigned to Mom’s case, I breathed a sigh of relief. He did dozens of percutaneous coronary interventions a week, and I knew my mom was in good hands.
