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Rylee’s sweet blue eyes gaze into mine. They’re her mother’s blue eyes. She’s her mother’s mini, except for the hair that’s almost black like mine. “Baby, it’s about Mommy and the car accident.” My voice cracks, and my body trembles. I hold her tighter to me.
“Where’s Mommy?” She turns her head around the room and is met with Reuben and her gran. Not her mother. The one person she probably wants. Whenever she’s gotten hurt in the past, she’s always run to Anna-Beth, even if I was right beside her, and Anna-Beth started comforting her first. She’s always had a special bond with her mom.
“Mommy got badly hurt in the car accident, and she’s…” I scrunch my eyes closed and take a breath before continuing, “She’s gone to live with Grandpop in heaven.”
Rylee is silent for a moment and then snuggles into me more. “We won’t see mom again?”
Her sadness ripples through me, and I wish I could take away the hurt and pain she’s experiencing in this moment. She’s going to grow up without her mom. She won’t have her mother with her on her wedding day or when she has kids of her own. It’s all on me now. I have to be there for her.
“No, baby, we won’t see her again, but we can always talk to her, and you’ve got your baby sister coming today.” I attempt strength, but the sob from Mom causes fresh tears in my own eyes. Looking up, I see Reuben has her in his arms. I’d be lost without his support today.
“I’m going to miss her.” Rylee sobs into my black shirt, the material soaking up the tears as I tighten my grip and gently rub her back.
“She was mine too… mine too.” Sadness and sorrow ripple through the room. How are we ever going to find happiness again amongst so much darkness?
A light knock at the door draws all our attention. I don’t move from my spot, though. My little girl needs me, and I’m not going anywhere.
Reuben releases Mom and goes to the door, pulling it open and a nurse walks in pushing a baby crib. Inside is a little bundle wrapped in a pink hospital blanket. Ruby. That was the name Anna-Beth had chosen. We hadn’t agreed, but it’s what she wanted, and that’s the name our child will get.
“Mr. King, meet your daughter.” The nurse lifts the pink bundle from the cot, brings her to me, and gently places her in my free arm with Rylee watching closely in my other.
“This is my sister?” She doesn’t look away from Ruby’s chubby, light pink face. Rylee’s was the same.
“Yes, she’s beautiful. Her name is Ruby.”
Mom comes over and takes Rylee from my lap, and I fully take in this little angel. She didn’t come into the world the way we’d planned. Sometimes we’re given these hardships, but this is a new level of life I will have to wade through.
Leaning down, I press my lips to Ruby’s forehead. She squirms a little, and her tiny cries make my heart race. “Shh… it’s okay. I’ve got you,” I whisper, planting another kiss on her head. “Come meet your sister, Ry.”
Rylee walks over with a big smile on her face—her mother’s. “She is cute.” She gently rubs Ruby’s head and plants a kiss in almost the same spot I did.
My new world.
Not the world I wanted, but this is how it is now.
My sweet Anna-Beth is gone. My heart is broken, and I’m not sure how to move forward. I’m sure these two little girls will be able to teach me what I need to do.
After about twenty minutes a knock at the door draws my attention. Glancing up from Ruby sleeping in my arms, the desire to hold both my girls tightly and never let them go tugs at my heart. Rylee lays in the bed with mom. I stand from my seat.
“Mr. King, your wife is ready, if you would like to see her.” Her words catch in her throat, but then she clears it away and waits for my answer.
A lump forms in my throat—I’m not ready to say goodbye.
“Ah, yeah, okay. Mom?” I glance down at Ruby in my arms and Mom rises from the bed and takes her from me. My eyes drop to Rylee who lies there asleep. I hope her dreams are of her mom and nothing bad from the accident.
Mom places a kiss on my cheek. “Give her my love. I’ll watch the girls.”
“I’ll stay here too,” Reuben offers and moves to stand beside mom, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
“Okay,” I respond breathlessly. Turning to the nurse I say, “Take me to her, please.”
With a heavy heart I follow her out of the room and down a corridor then into an elevator. I’m sure my heart could drop us to the ground with the weight it’s carrying. No one should have to say goodbye to the love of their life at such a young age, it’s wrong.
The elevator dings and the doors open. No words are spoken between us, and I really have nothing to say to the nurse or anyone else, I just want to see Anna-Beth.
Finally, she stops at the door. “She’s inside. I’ll make sure no one disturbs you.”
“Thank you.” I swallow the lump and grip my hands together in front of me then release them and grip the door handle, pushing down it clicks, and I push it open.
