Page 46 of The Golden Hour

He presses a hand to the clear wall of the isolette and feels his chest pang when Daisy’s lip curls and pouts out, her eyes scrunching up. She isn’t crying fully, but she isn’t happy either. Probably not happy to be out of that cozy womb so soon.

Probably not happy to be away from her whole world—Honey.

“I know,” he murmurs, watching Daisy make some displeased little noises before she settles again. “I know you want your mommy. I want your mommy too. I’m so sorry, Daisy. I’m so sorry.”

Mason roughly rubs at the tears falling with the back of his hand, focusing on deep breaths to clear the ache in his chest and the sourness of his stomach.

Footsteps behind him have him turning to see Melissa walking toward them. Her eyes are soft, and she smiles when she sees Daisy. She reaches through the porthole to touch Daisy’s bare foot, and he can’t help but smile when her little toes curl. Ticklish like Honey too.

“She’s beautiful,” Melissa murmurs, before chuckling softly. “God, she looks just like Honey did.”

Mason smiles at that before glancing over to his mother-in-law. She had stayed near Honey as they moved her to the PACU, while he went with Daisy to the NICU. He hates the thought of the distance between Honey and Daisy right now, knowing they need each other.

“How is she?” he asks.

“They’re moving her to a room,” Melissa says, not looking at him. “We can see her in a little bit.”

Mason feels both relieved and on edge instantly.

“I need to go see her,” Mason says.

Melissa doesn’t respond. Mason turns to his mother-in-law and waits until she looks at him before he says, “Please stay with Daisy. Do skin-to-skin until Honey wakes up. Please⁠⁠—”

“I have her,” Melissa cuts him off, turning to look at Daisy, where she gently strokes her foot again with one hand. “I have her.”

“Thank you,” Mason says.

He gives one last look to Daisy before he turns and walks out of the NICU.

Before he goes, he hears Melissa whispering softly to his daughter.

“Your mommy is fighting her way back to you. You hear me, little flower? She’ll be with you soon, I promise…”

Mason loses the battle with his tears as soon as he walks out the door.

Mason steps off the elevator and hears Phil and his parents speaking, their voices cutting through the gentle hum of the labor and delivery floor.

“…Honeybee will need it for when we leave this place,” Phil’s voice cracks on the nickname before he clears it to continue, “It should be in their bedroom closet. She packed it early, just to be ready.”

Mason sees his mom place a hand on Phil’s shoulder to comfort him.

“We’ll go get it,” Rob assures him, reaching into his pocket for his keys. “We’ll stop by your place and grab a few things for you and Mel.”

Phil’s tension in his shoulders deflates. “Thank you. Can you get that cushion off the rocking chair? It’s covered in… in her b-blood.”

Mason feels his chest clench and stumbles over his own feet as he reaches them. Honey’s blood. The images assault his mind again, and he clenches his fists into his side, trying to ground himself.

Marlene pulls Phil in for a hug before Rob does the same. His parents turn to see him standing there, and he hates the way their expressions drop slightly. Disappointment is not on their faces outright, but it is there enough that he sees it. It is an apt word to describe him. Kind of sums it all up, to be honest.

As a husband.

As a father.

But at least he was a good doctor.

Was it worth it?

No.