Page 72 of Derecho

“That’s barely any different.”

“It feels a whole hell of a lot different…”

The room quieted down as I continued to cry. My sniffles and sobs became the only sound in there as I felt my sister move about the space. Her hand rested on my shoulder just as I began to feel reality slipping back into my grasp.

“Lainey, the paramedics are here. We’re gonna go into the bathroom and get you cleaned up a little bit, and then they’re going to get you ready for transfer to the hospital, okay?”

I nodded, unable to take my tear-filled eyes off of Lachlan. He was such a natural, and the way his arms cradled my son with complete gentleness was a beautiful sight.

My legs felt like wet noodles as Birdie helped me get up and into the bathroom. I cringed when I saw blood all over her beautiful sheets.

“I’m so sorry about the bed. I-I’ll pay for a new mattress when I get things figured out.”

Birdie just smiled as she helped me sit on the toilet. “Don’t worry about it for a second. Juniper went through a horrible reflux stage a few months ago, and we quickly learned how valuable a mattress protector is. Everything’s fine.”

It felt like it took ages for Birdie to help me get everything situated, but after shoving what felt like ten pads into the maternity underwear I had packed in my hospital bag, we were finally on our way back out to the bedroom.

Birdie helped me get situated as best I could on the chair that the paramedics and firefighters were going to use to take me downstairs. I was strapped in, bleeding, broken into a thousand pieces of fragile glass, and I knew the second we were downstairs, the baby would be placed back in my arms to make the journey to the hospital with me.

“I could come with you,” Lachlan offered, running his hand over my son’s head before the medics started moving me out of the room.

“No. It’s okay. We’ll be fine.”

“I’m going with her,” Birdie said, somewhere behind me. It was hard to have a conversation while we jostled about.

“Birdie, no. Honestly. I’ll go and let you know what they say about everything. I’ll probably be discharged tomorrow. Someone can just come get me then…”

“If that’s what you really want?” she asked.

“I don’t want to take you away from Juniper, and I know you don’t like being at the hospital. I’m fine. We’ll be fine. I’ll call and let you know.”

Shit, I didn’t even know if Lach thought to grab my phone.

Hayes’s smile met us at the top of the stairs, just as the first signs of the rising sun started lighting up the sky.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Heard the call come over the radio. Had to be the first uncle to say hi.” He chuckled as his eyes drifted to the bundle in Lachlan’s arms. “Well, I see someone else got the honor of being born on the ranch. Takes right after his Uncle Hay Hay. Though Ma will tell you accidentally giving birth in the field out behind the house was the worst birth she ever had. Can’t imagine how…Lachlan had a huge head. Looked like a freaking alien. It was so big.” I smiled, knowing Hayes was trying to make me feel better about the whole situation. “He’s gorgeous, Lainey. You alright?”

I sucked in my breath as the team of good looking men—kill me now—started moving me down the stairs. “I feel like I got hit by a truck. And then an alien burst out of me.”

“Yeah, that seems about right.”

We made it down the stairs, and I had plenty of help getting from the chair to the gurney.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” I saw the war in Lachlan’s eyes as he handed the baby to me.

“I know how difficult that would be for you, and I promise, I’m okay. I’ll let you know what the hospital says about leaving, okay? And if you don’t want me to come home to your place⁠—”

Lach slipped my phone—thank God—into the hospital bag and handed it to the medic before placing his hand on the baby’s back, leaning in to press his lips against my temple, just like he had while I was in labor. “You both are coming home to me. Promise me, Lain.”

I bit my lip as my chin started to shake. “I promise.”

“Good.” His hand rested on my head for a second before he bent over and kissed my forehead again. “Text me everything they say, okay?”

“Okay.” I was going to cry again.

“She’s in good hands now, Dad. You make your way in when you can.”